7. Toby

Suggesting I showered him had definitely been a step too far. I'd known it before it'd even come out of my mouth, but I hadn't been able to stop myself. Something about Blaise called to me unlike anything had ever before.

You need to be careful, I reminded myself as I tidied away the breakfast dishes. No falling for this one.

If I repeated it enough, maybe it would stick.

By the time Blaise emerged in a cloud of steam with one of my fluffy towels tucked around his wide hips, I was ready. There were fresh sheets on the bed and the blackout blinds had been drawn over the windows to block the morning sun.

Blaise came to a halt, eyeing the bed and the pair of sleep shorts I'd laid on top suspiciously. I may have made a few purchases online a few days ago, just in case I ended up in this exact situation.

"Are you really going to make me nap?"

"Yes." I pulled back the duvet pointedly. "You've been pushing your body to the brink of exhaustion. I can't begin to fathom how that's even possible for a supe, but I assume it's connected to your insane workout regime coupled with the lack of sleep."

Blaise fiddled with the towel around his waist, not meeting my eyes. "I exercise so much to try and wear myself out enough to sleep."

I know, my darling. That was what I wanted to say, but that would have been crossing lines. Not that we'd officially agreed to any yet, but they were already there in my mind. They had to be, for my sake if not his.

"That makes sense, but I think we can both agree that it's not working. You need to nap now, then we can come up with a plan that'll help you find more of a balance. If we can sort the rest of your life out, hopefully sleep will follow."

Blaise might not have been saying much, but his thoughts were written clearly over his face. He was torn between wanting to believe me and doubting it'd ever happen. That was okay. Him wanting it to work was enough. The rest was down to me.

And I hadn't failed anyone yet. Well, except Sebastian. My approach with him had been a catastrophic failure—one I'd learned from.

I wasn't going to repeat that now. Not with Blaise.

When he was wearing the shorts and in bed, I tucked the duvet in around him with efficient movements. "Sleep now. We can talk later."

"Wait." His rough fingers circled my wrist. My breath caught in my chest, everything in me focused on the few inches where our skin touched. "Can you…Will you stay with me?"

I smiled, not showing a hint of what was happening inside me. The fierce protectiveness that was rising at Blaise's vulnerability. The desire to creep under the sheets beside him and hold him in my arms. To stroke his hair until he relaxed enough to sleep.

I didn't though. That would have been selfish—the worst thing a Dom could be. Instead, I gently shook off his grip and nodded to the chair in the corner. "I'll stay. I'll be right there when you wake up."

Relief glimmered in Blaise's eyes before they slowly drifted closed. I watched him for a few moments before forcing myself to retreat to the other side of the room.

Careful, Toby.

Blaise slept for three more hours. Like I'd promised, I was in the exact same position when he woke up.

I hadn't even tried to pretend to read this time. I'd just watched him, wondering what layer of himself he might reveal next and how I could prepare myself for it. Protect myself from it.

After he blinked himself awake, I smiled at him calmly and told him to join me in the kitchen when he was ready.

Then I fled.

I fucking ran out of that room like my arse was on fire. Metaphorically, of course. I didn't want Blaise to know I was starting to spiral. Not when I was supposed to be the one in control, the one guiding us down the correct path. I just needed a minute to breathe without his scent clogging my throat. Maybe then I'd be able to think clearly.

Maybe I just needed to feed. That was it. My thirst was confusing me, making me want things I had no business desiring.

You fed this morning.

Ignoring that pointed thought, I grabbed a bag of blood from the fridge. I didn't bother to open it properly, instead letting my fangs descend and puncture the plastic.

The familiar flavour filled my mouth and my racing heart started to calm. It wasn't the same as drinking from the source, but after decades of using blood banks, I barely noticed the difference anymore.

I didn't allow myself to consider how different it might be to drink from Blaise. That couldn't happen for many different reasons.

Once I was done, I retracted my fangs and started to make lunch for Blaise. There. Everything was okay. I was calm. I wasn't obsessing about the man in my bed or panicking that he might be another one I might want to keep there.

I'd just finished slipping the omelette onto the plate when Blaise appeared in the doorway. I froze as I stared at him, the spatula held in mid-air.

I'd had him naked beneath me last night, but I'd been too distracted by his mental state to truly appreciate him. Same with when I'd seen him this morning. Seeing him now, well rested and barely clothed, it was like I'd been struck with a dumbbell.

His hair was dishevelled from sleep, his now clean-shaven face revealing just how sharp his jawline was. The sleep shorts I'd given him clung distractedly to his thick thighs, the imprint of his soft cock evident. His torso had more abs than I'd thought possible, while his broad chest was covered in a smattering of dark hair. Fuck, what I wouldn't give to smother my face in it. To just inhale him.

Blaise was dangerous. A fucking temptation I'd never be able to resist.

My heart was hammering again, all the progress I'd made by feeding erased by the sight of him in my doorway.

Clearing my throat, I forced myself to look away. "Hope you like eggs."

"I like everything."

He shuffled forwards and slid onto one of the high stools at my counter. Taking the plate I held out, he gave me a tentative smile. "Thank you."

The walls around my heart crumbled a little more. "You have a beautiful fucking smile."

Just like that, the shutters came down behind Blaise's eyes. "Thanks."

Pouring him some juice, I sat on the stool opposite him. "Hmm. How about we have that chat about the contract?"

Blaise chewed his food slowly before answering. "Why do I feel like you want to get it in place so you can punish me?"

"Because you're smart." I smirked for a second before a serious expression took over my face. "But really, because I think we'd be a good fit. You need someone to guide you, and I need someone to guide."

Blaise looked doubtful, so I ploughed on. "How about this—I'll tell you what I foresee in the contract, and you interrupt me at any point. You can tell me if it's something you want, don't want, or aren't sure about. If you're not happy about a rule, it won't be included. You get the final say on everything that goes into the contract."

Blaise stopped chewing. "What? Why?"

"Because you're the sub," I reminded him. "This isn't about you serving me, it's a power exchange. You're willingly letting me take charge of you, but only within the boundaries you've set."

"Remind me again what you get from this?"

"Control. And the power to see you bloom under my direction."

Blaise studied me suspiciously, so I decided to try and lighten the tension. "And, hopefully, many orgasms."

As I'd hoped, Blaise rumbled a laugh. It started in his stomach, working its way up his throat before the musical sound was set free.

If I'd thought his smile was dangerous, it had nothing on his laugh.

"Well I won't say no to that," Blaise said, forking up another mouthful of omelette.

I stayed quiet while he finished it, taking a few seconds to pull myself together.

Once he was done, he pushed his plate to the side and cleared his throat. "So, what you said about this being just a contract, not a relationship…are you set on that?"

"Yes," I said briskly, glad he was clarifying that. The last thing I wanted was to misread any of this as him having actual feelings for me. Been there. Done that. Got the fucking T-shirt. "It's what's best for both of us."

Something flashed in Blaise's eyes—was that disappointment? My gut coiled. Shit, should I…

He spoke again before I could even finish that disastrous thought. "That's fine."

A breath whooshed from me. "Good. Great, even. I'll pull up a contract I've used in the past and we can get started."

Blaise listened intently as I carefully explained each section of the contract. Despite us not living together, what I was proposing was still a twenty-four seven dynamic. Blaise would be expected to follow my rules even when I wasn't around. He'd have to check in periodically throughout the day. Other than that, he was expected to spend as much time with me as possible. Ideally, I'd have him move in entirely, but I knew in my gut that Blaise wouldn't be amenable to that idea. Not right now, at least.

"Then, if you need me, you just message or call me and I'll come." I tapped my phone where it lay on the counter. "If you've had a bad dream, if you're spiralling, or even if you just need a friendly ear, I expect you to pick up your phone, Blaise. No more suffering alone in silence. Remember, the key parts of this are honesty and communication. If we don't have those, then we can't build trust and the whole thing will fall apart."

"What if you're working?"

"Doesn't matter." I tapped his chin to make sure he was looking at me. I didn't want any misunderstandings, not where this was concerned. "If you're in a contract with me, you come first. It's that simple. Doesn't matter if I'm working, sleeping, or even doing some of the world-saving shit that crops up occasionally. You. Come. First. Always. If you need me, I'll be there."

There was silence for a moment, a small crease forming between Blaise's brows.

"I can't compromise on this," I said reluctantly, hating to do anything that might put an end to this before it even started. "I have to know that you'll communicate with me, especially if you're struggling." I hadn't realised I was holding my breath until Blaise gave a small nod. Trying to hide my relief, I ploughed on. "Do you have any other questions so far?"

"Just one. What do I call you? You said you're not into Daddy kink, so what would you prefer?"

I gave a half shrug. "Usually I leave it to my subs. Some like to use an honorific, others prefer not to. Either way is fine. I'm in control regardless."

"But do you like it?" Blaise pressed. "If you could choose, would you have me call you something?"

I toyed with my lip ring as I remembered him on his knees the night before. I knew what would make the picture perfect, even if I wouldn't push for it.

Honesty. I'd promised him honesty.

"Yes."

"What? Sir?"

A shiver ran through me. "That's one of the ones I prefer, yes."

Blaise considered it for a moment, his lips moving as he soundlessly spoke the word. Like he was trying it on to see how it fit. "I dunno. It feels like you're my teacher or something. And I was never very good at school."

My lips curled, his brattiness fresh in my mind. "No idea why. It's fine, though. Like I said, we don't have to use one."

"But you want to, so I want to. You're doing so much for me…let me do this for you."

I wanted to argue that that wasn't the point of this, but Blaise was new to all of this. It was going to take him time to adjust to the fact that by letting me care for him, letting me dominate him, he was pleasing me. He didn't need to do anything else.

I didn't want to push too soon, not over something as trivial as this.

"What other names have you been called? You said ‘one of,' so what's another?"

"Well there's only really one other that I've been called in the past, but if you thought Sir was too formal, you'll definitely think this one is."

"Why don't you let me be the judge of that?"

Fine, let's see how deep Blaise's need to please me ran. Leaning over the counter, I closed the gap between us until all that remained was a few inches of air. "Master."

Blaise's fingers twitched on the counter. I could've sworn I saw a spark or two. "Fuck. That should not be hot. Why is that so hot?"

I couldn't help it. All my instincts came roaring to the surface, both Dom and supe, encouraging me to tell Blaise exactly where he'd stand if we walked down this path. "Because it implies that you belong to me. No one else. That your role is for you to only worry about pleasing me. Doing what I tell you to do. You'd be mine, and I'd be your master. That's all you'd have to concern yourself with."

Again, my lungs seemed to stop working as I waited for Blaise's response. It felt like an eternity before he gave a shuddering breath. His lips curved as he said three perfect words. Not the ones I'd always longed to hear from a sub, but close enough.

"Sounds good, Master."