21. CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 21

Exhausted, but happy he was to be so, as it meant he'd been successful at the Holiday Festival so far. It was a two-week event that started the week before Christmas and ended on January 2. There were booths for Christmas, Hanukah, and New Year's. It was massive with vendors coming in from all over the eastern half of the country.

Because of the New Year's Eve party at the casino, the decision was made to have the festival on the casino grounds, which allowed them a lot more room. Not that downtown as well as the park nearby was small, but the casino had bought a lot of land. They eventually planned on having campgrounds for both tents and RVs, as well as a few other amenities, but for now it was all available to use for the festival.

"Here's all that was left at Tasty Balls." Mercury walked up with the two-wheeler loaded down with five large totes.

"You are just in time," Dorsey told him with a kiss. "I've got less than a dozen of just three flavors. The others are completely gone."

"Wow, did you have a rush since I left?" Mercury helped him to start unpacking each tote, which contained smaller ones with various flavors.

Dorsey had gone above board in making lots of treats, but after just a week, he'd run through everything he'd made. He was going to have a long night making more. He couldn't wait. Well, he'd rather be snuggled up with Mercury, but still, it meant people really liked his fudge.

Lips crashed down on his, stealing his breath as Mercury kissed him senseless. When they came up for air, he was grinning. "What was that for?"

"You were so happy you were practically vibrating and I wanted to capture it for myself." Mercury's declaration made Dorsey even happier. "Watch it, boy, or I'm going to find someplace private and fuck you stupid."

He had zero doubt his Dom could do it too. "Sorry, sir, but you make me so happy. I can't help but smile."

His mouth was taken again, but when they heard Jesse swear at Ethan, they broke apart. "Damn it, Ethan, you have no right to take my phone."

"You damn well know Parker wouldn't want you taking video of them kissing. He might not be a Dom and would never punish you but you also fucking know he doesn't approve," Ethan told his friend with a whole lot of sass.

"Boy," Bram called out. "That was two that I heard. How many other swear words have you said when I was setting up The Collared Pup's booth?"

Jesse grinned and called out, "Ten. He was complaining that his booth had been put next to Sweet Buns and desperately wanted a scone or three."

Parker, who had been with Bram, placed a hand over Jesse's mouth. "Telling on your friends is not okay, angel. I might not ever hurt you, but that doesn't mean I won't punish you. Since you feel it perfectly acceptable to get your friends in trouble, you're going to help Ethan for the rest of the day in his booth."

Jesse's eyes got really big and when Parker took his hand away, he screeched, "You can't make me do that."

"It's that, or I go home tonight instead of staying here with you in the hotel," Parker told him matter-of-factly.

Jesse gasped.

Based on the way everyone was staring at Parker like he'd grown two heads, Dorsey guessed that had been a first.

"You won't leave me." Jesse was shocked.

"You heard my condition. Deal with it."

"But Ethan likes getting spanked," Jesse tried to argue. "I'm just helping him out."

"Please, you were just mad because I took your phone when you were filming Mercury and Dorsey making out." Ethan winced when his Dom placed a firm hand on his neck. "Watch it, boy, or tonight, I promise you, you won't enjoy a thing."

Pink stained Ethan's face. "Sorry sir."

"Good boy," Bram praised him. "Now get back to your booth and make me proud."

Ethan leaned up for a kiss his Dom easily gave him. Then he headed in the direction of where he was selling the pictures he took and sold.

Parker just stared at his husband, not saying a word.

In true Jesse drama, he stomped away, following Ethan.

Both Parker and Bram grinned at each other. "We both know you never would have left Jesse tonight," Bram said with a chuckle. "You adore him too much."

Parker grinned even brighter. "I do love my angel, but ever since he's become mayor, he's getting a little too full of himself around his friends. It's time I help curb that impulse, even if it means finding ways to make him see the error of his ways."

Dorsey grinned and Mercury chuckled softly. Then they got back to work putting out the rest of his fudge.

"No," Mercury stood in the kitchen of Tasty Balls with pure determination in his gaze. "It's time for you to get some sleep. You've been working yourself ragged for weeks trying to get the pamphlet done, creating more recipes, getting enough fudge made for the festival as well as working the festival. As your Dom, I'm putting my foot down. You will get some sleep."

Typically, Dorsey loved how much his Mercury loved to take care of him, but this wasn't one of them. "I have only a few dozen balls made and that's only for about six of the flavors. Plus," he held up the printed receipts from the online site. "There are over forty orders. Forty, Mercury. There's no way I can get enough made for just tomorrow, much less the rest of the festival as well as New Year's Eve if I sleep."

"I don't care. I want you to get a full eight hours." Mercury was being unreasonable, but no matter what Dorsey said he wouldn't listen. "We are going upstairs and going to bed. Tomorrow morning, we'll get up and start working."

"But I won't have time to get anything done before I have to set up the booth." Why was his Dom not understanding this?

"I will go pick up Harper and Khalid and take them to set up the booth. They both will work it while you make the fudge. With each batch you make, I'll drive it to them as well as check on them to make certain they are doing okay." Mercury sounded so sure, but Dorsey only saw disaster.

Khalid had been another of the kids at The Wilde Side Dorsey had hired to work the register. Although he'd also trained Harper, so it wasn't a bad idea to send them, but it wouldn't get as much fudge made as was going to be needed. Still, as much as Dorsey didn't want to admit it, he was dead on his feet.

His Dom took his hand and led him from the back of the store to the stairs. "We're sleeping and that's that." He sounded so damn confident.

All Dorsey could do was follow all the way to the bedroom and then the bathroom. He heard the shower turn on, and he actually moaned at the thought of getting the sweat and grime of working outside all day off of him.

Firm hands pushed him under the spray before massaging shampoo into his hair. By the time the water had turned off, Dorsey was a pile of goo ready to collapse. With the same care he had always used with him, he was dried and put to bed.

He had no idea how his Dom had the ability to get him to relax when he should be panicking. Yet, he'd done it again.

Mercury tucked him close to his side, pressing his lips against his temple as he held Dorsey closely. He felt…cherished.

Even the sense of doom tomorrow wasn't enough to keep his eyes open as he sank against his Dom, soaking up his heat as he floated. Just as he had lost his battle with consciousness, he felt lips press against his temple as Mercury said, "Sleep, my love. I've got you."

And somehow, he knew his Dom did, allowing him to fall into a deep dreamless sleep, knowing that no matter what disaster happened the following day, Mercury would be by his side, helping him to fix it.