24. EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

Who would have ever thought so much would have changed in three short months? Not Dorsey, that was for certain. Since the New Year's Eve event, he'd renovated the apartment above Tasty Balls into a huge industrial kitchen with loads of storage and demolished the old kitchen to expand not only his display case but the seating area.

It was absolutely…well, perfect.

More importantly, he'd trained two people to help him make all the fudge that their online presence, as well as the festival-goers, seemed to demand. There was also two new front of the house staff to help with the customers that came in.

It was everything he'd ever dreamed about, yet so much more. Mostly because he had moved in with Mercury and if he wasn't wrong, his Dom was considering either marrying him or collaring him. Then again, he could be completely off and just imagining all of that.

More like wished it to be true.

If only he could read Mercury's mind as easily as he seemed to know exactly what Dorsey was thinking.

"There you are, sweetness." Arms wrapped around him from behind as lips pressed against his neck as if Dorsey was the most important person in the world to him.

That's what was so damn frustrating. Was he really? If he wasn't worth making permanent or marrying, why were they even together? Unfortunately, he was finding it harder and harder to hide his agitation.

Maybe it was unreasonable, but Dorsey needed to know he was everything to his Dom. He craved it like a drug.

Was he being unreasonable? Probably. Okay, so he knew he was. They had only been together for six months. Most of the couples they knew had been together far longer before deciding on an actual happily ever after.

But Dorsey didn't think he could wait another minute before knowing if Mercury wanted him enough to truly claim him. Not just with sex. Damn it, he either wanted a ring on his finger or a collar around his neck.

Was that really too much to ask?

"Talk to me, sweetness." Mercury turned him around to force Dorsey to look into his eyes. When he didn't say anything, Mercury placed a steadying hand on the back of his neck, his gaze never leaving Dorsey's. "Now sweetness."

Damn. Why was it when he got that hard, determined tone that Dorsey crumbled like cheap paper? Yet, he had once again.

The emotions bubbled up, spilling out of his mouth without any thought. "Why don't you want to marry me or collar me? Am I not good enough? Are you trying to find a way to kick me to the curb? I thought you loved me, but I'm beginning to think you just wanted a distraction after moving here instead of wanting me as your permanent sub."

Shit! Was that too much? Yet, he'd actually held back. He wanted to rant and wail and barely managed not to cry.

His hand was taken and he was led into the living room. Mercury sat on the recliner where they had a comforting scene. "Kneel." It wasn't a request and Dorsey was helpless to disobey.

The blindfold Mercury often used on him came out and was placed over his eyes. Then his hands were brought together and another silky piece of fabric was wrapped around his wrists, not allowing him to separate them.

He honestly didn't know if it was Mercury or himself that had his head resting on the top of his Dom's thigh. Yet even as he felt the tension and fear start to subside, a strong, sure hand stroked over his head, down over the nape of his neck and along his spine as far as Mercury could reach, and damn if Dorsey didn't sink further against the one person who seemed to know exactly how to ground him.

How?

He honestly had no clue, especially when Mercury was causing the turmoil that had been churning within him. Yet, his breathing evened out and the ache in chest eased until it was no longer there.

"I love you, sweetness," Mercury said over and over again as the panic subsided until he was more like a limp noodle against his Dom. "You are mine. Now, always. Nothing and no one will ever separate us."

The words poured into him and despite being uncertain before, he believed them with all his being. So why had he been so scared before?

The thing was, he wasn't so uncertain any longer. Had he been too much…

"Shh, sweetness. Your focus needs to be on me only." Mercury's words were like a balm to his soul.

Dorsey had no clue how long they sat like that, but in some ways, it felt like forever, and he never wanted to leave.

But then Mercury's free hand touched one of his. No. Not a hand. It was more malleable.

"Open your eyes, sweetness," Mercury said when he took off the blindfold. Once again, there was no denying the request. Actually, that time, it was. Usually, there was a demand, but this time, Mercury seemed to almost plead with him.

Not one to ever deny his Dom, Dorsey let his eyes flutter open to stare at a chain that was delicate, yet beautiful. He assumed it was either white gold or titanium interspersed with a blue gem that reminded him of Mercury's eyes.

He looked from it to his Dom, not quite understanding.

"You are mine. Absolutely, no question. And I want you to wear my collar." Even as Mercury spoke the words, Dorsey feared they weren't true.

Then lips claimed his in a kiss so searing it was more of a branding and Dorsey dared to believe it was real. Then he produced a small jewelry box and opened it. "I also want you to marry me. Please say yes to both."

"But…" Dorsey was so confused he honestly wasn't certain which question to ask, but he finally settled on the most important one: "Why both?"

Mercury smiled at him and leaned into a kiss. "Because I want you tied to me in as many ways as possible."

Dorsey had no clue how he'd gotten there, but he wasn't about to question it.

Not when every single one of his dreams was coming true.

Throwing his arms around Mercury's neck, he cried out, "Yes, to both, all, anything else, I'll be yours forever."