29. Blaise

I'd barely registered Danny's touch before Toby was between us. My master shoved Danny back harshly, his teeth bared. "If you want to be so insistent that you aren't feral and wild, maybe you could stop acting like it."

I blinked in shock. I'd never heard Toby so…angry before. Even that day in Mori's office when he'd tackled me to the floor, there'd been no anger there. And when Sebastian had pushed his buttons, he'd been annoyed, but not like this.

No, there was a quiet fury rolling off Toby that I'd never seen before. Was he jealous?

My heart was hammering in my chest. If he was jealous, maybe there was a chance for us. Maybe he did feel more for me than he was ready to admit.

Danny continued grinning. The wolf either had a death wish or truly didn't give a shit. "Aw, but this is so much more fun."

Toby took a step closer to Danny, his expression oddly blank.His furyhad been wiped away, replaced with a deathly stillness. The calm that came before the storm.

Grabbing his arm, I tried to calm him. "Tobes, I'm fine. Leave it."

"You are not fine," he hissed, shaking me off with ease. He glared at Danny again. "You will not make Blaise uncomfortable in his own home or anywhere else so long as I'm around. Now, do as he's asked, or I'll be teaching you a lesson in manners involving my fangs."

Leo gave a quick gasp, and I knew without looking that Toby's fangs were out. I was too busy trying to hold myself together at the realisation that Toby wasn't behaving this way because he was jealous.

He was doing it because Danny had made me uncomfortable. Because he was my Dom and I was his sub. He was helping me enforce my boundaries.

It shouldn't have hurt. I shouldn't have felt anything other than quiet joy that Toby was fighting my corner.

Maybe I'd feel differently if I knew he'd always be there. In a few short months, he'd be in someone else's life, fighting their battles for them.

And I'd be back to fighting alone.

Danny seemed to finally realise he was playing with fire. Rubbing a hand through his hair sheepishly, he looked at me over Toby's head. "Sorry, man. I was just joking. I didn't mean to take it so far."

"S'okay," I said, shuffling my feet. Toby turned his fierce glare on me and I froze.

"What did we discuss?" He used that tone on me, the one he usually saved for when we were alone. When he was telling me to kneel. To follow. To obey.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Ferry and Leo disappear into the house. "Umm…"

Toby stepped closer, his voice still low. "You don't need to censor yourself for others, Blaise. Your opinions, desires, and needs are just as valid as everyone else's. Do you understand?"

When I didn't respond, Toby's hand closed around my throat. "Boy, when I ask you a question, I expect an answer."

"Yes," I said. "I understand."

"Good." He stroked my throat once, but heat simmered in his eyes, telling me this was far from over. "Let's go back to mine. Ferry and Leo could use some privacy and so could we."

"Can I come?"

This time we both glared at Danny, who was, thankfully, fully clothed. He grinned at us and held up his hands in a placating gesture. "Joking. Well, kinda. This whole dynamic is hot. If you fancy an audience, just shout."

With that, he vanished into the darkness. When I was sure he was gone, I mumbled to Toby, "I know we talked about being watched, but I definitely don't want Danny doing that."

I thought maybe Toby would laugh. What I hadn't expected was the intense stare he levelled me with as he pulled my head down to rest on his. "If he ever hits on you again I won't be responsible for my actions."

Don't get your hopes up, I told my heart. Don't. It doesn't mean anything. He doesn't want you to be his, not permanently.

It didn't matter though, because I wanted him to be mine. This man who would go toe to toe with anyone to defend me. Who refused to let me give up on myself. Who'd taught me that being honest and communicating meant building a beautiful thing.

All I could do was hope he'd one day see me differently. As more than someone to have a temporary contract with. Someone to build a life with.

"Come on," he said, pulling back and giving me a thin smile. "Let's give Ferry and Leo some space."

Toby was on me as soon as we stepped into his flat. He shoved me back against his door, all his usual composure gone. "I'm going to destroy you."

"Yes," I gasped, cool air hitting my skin as he tore my clothes from me. "Ruin me."

"So beautiful," he whispered when I was naked. He glanced up and met my eyes, and it was there again. The hint of longing. That dash of something more. It fed the hope burning within me that this wasn't one-sided.

He cleared his throat, busying himself by rolling up his sleeves. "Turn around. Hands against the door."

Naked, I laid my palms on the door and rested my head against the wood. Breathing deeply, I tried to let myself sink into that submissive place. The one where I didn't need to think or worry.

It was funny how times changed. Toby used to be the person who gave me the relief from the chaos in my mind.

Now he was the one causing it.

Toby left me there for a few moments. When he returned, his fingers were slick against my crease. "Relax, boy."

I tried to. I really did. But the usual calm wasn't there. I couldn't find it. Toby's words were having the opposite effect from what they usually did.

Toby stopped touching me. There was a beat of silence where I could feel his breath against my back. "Blaise, do you want this?"

I traced the grain of the wood in the door. Did I want this? That wasn't the fucking problem. The problem was that I wanted so much more. "Yes."

"Colour?"

I gritted my teeth. If he stopped this right now, I would fall apart. I needed him to remind me that I was his, so I could believe it for a little while longer. "Green."

I could feel his eyes burning into me. Thankfully he took me at my word. "Come on, let's move to the sofa."

I'd expected him to maybe make me lie down on it, but instead he indicated for me to lean on the back of it, keeping himself behind me.

Maybe this would be better. If I couldn't see his face while he fucked me, maybe I could hold it together.

It's okay. You're just going to enjoy this for what it is. We can deal with the fallout later.

This time, when Toby's fingers returned to my crease, I was able to relax. I gripped the cushions on the sofa as he worked me open, small grunts escaping me.

Toby was uncharacteristically quiet. He didn't say a single word as he prepped me or while he sank inside me.

But as he pulled back and thrust forwards, the leash on his voice snapped. "Fuck, you feel so good. Like you were made for me. Do you have any idea what you do to me?"

I couldn't answer. Hot tears threatened, but I held them back.

"It took everything to not do this earlier," he hissed, grabbing my shoulders and pulling me back on him. "To bend you over in front of that fucking wolf and show him just who you belong to."

My cock throbbed even as my heart wept. He said all this, but he didn't mean it. If he did, he wouldn't be putting time limits on us.

Toby fucked me hard, my teeth rattling with every thrust. Then he wrapped his hand around my shaft, and I knew this would be over too soon.

"You're mine, Blaise. Who does this hole belong to?"

"You," I shouted as my orgasm crested unexpectedly. "I'm yours, Master."

"Yes, boy." Toby groaned, his hips snapping jerkily as he filled me. "You're mine."

He doesn't mean it. You're his, but not forever.

I collapsed forwards on the sofa, letting it bear the brunt of my weight. I had to swallow a few times to stop the tears falling. I was so fucking confused. Could you blame me? Toby was throwing so many mixed messages my way.

His hands were still on my hips as he panted behind me. There was a heavy silence, like it was dawning on him what had just happened. Was Toby regretting what he'd said in the heat of the moment?

For a moment, I let myself imagine him sinking forwards. Wrapping his arms around me as he peppered kisses down my spine. Whispering sweet words in my ear, or maybe teasing me for coming too fast.

None of those things happened. Instead, he cleaned me up. Turned on the shower for me and ushered me under it. Had me sit on the stool afterwards while he shaved me. Cooked me dinner and urged me to eat.

It was strange how such care and attention could leave me feeling so hollow. Every act was a reminder that he was doing it because we were bound by a contract, not because he cared.

Well, he cared, of course he did…just not the way I wished he would.