Chapter 25

25

If River hadn’t offered Kacey that hug, there was a huge chance that he would have hit someone. Hard.

He wasn’t clueless. He knew that he was jealous of the way good things came to Sam, but bad shit happened too. Sam had lost his brother. Sam had busted his leg real bad.

But Kacey wasn’t sixteen. He wasn’t a greenhorn kid with no sense. He didn’t want to be laughed at, dammit.

But Ty had told him, just let it go. “You can’t fight it. You have to learn to breathe. They’re Doms. This is part of their process, just like struggling is part of ours.”

He wasn’t sure about that, but he was absolutely sure he didn’t want to talk about things anymore, so he’d apologized and given in.

Now he just had to make it through the rest of their evening here at home without making things worse.

River was undressing, and he thought maybe it was time for bed, which would have suited him fine. But instead of pulling on his pajamas, River was sliding into tight leather.

He was pretty sure River didn’t wear leather to bed.

“Naked, please, boy.” River’s tone was gentle, so he didn’t think he was in trouble, but after the night they’d had, it was hard to be sure.

He stripped down, not thinking too much. He just needed to breathe and try not to let his mouth make things worse.

River waved him over and pulled out his blindfold. “You were brave today. So you get your darkness back tonight.”

Oh.

A wave of relief hit him, not because of the blindfold, but because of River’s words. “Thank you for saying that.”

“You know you were, don’t you? We threw you together to see if you could make some peace, and we didn’t really help. You can be proud of yourself. I am.” River tied the blindfold around his eyes, then stepped up close behind him. Close enough he could feel the warm leather pants.

“I’m glad. I tried hard to do the right thing.” He might not have managed it, but he’d tried. It meant the world that River understood.

“I know. You always do.” River leaned until he had no choice but to step forward, then steered him a few more steps. “So, I’m going to try to teach you something hard to learn, and no matter what happens, you’ll get a wonderful reward for trying.”

He nodded, determined to help River succeed. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good boy. Let’s get you settled on my bench.” River started maneuvering him, placing his hands, helping him shift his weight. Head down, ass in the air. “Move around until you’re comfortable.”

Did other people have one of these in their bedroom? He shifted and found all the places he settled and felt supported. “It’s nicer to be on than it looks.”

“I had it made for me. Funny, it’s barely been used. It’s like it’s been waiting just for your beautiful ass.” River’s hand was hot where it slid over his back and down his spine, finally cupping one of his cheeks.

His toes curled, and his glute tensed before he forced it to relax, like he was shaking River’s hand with his butt.

“I like this bench because it lets your cock and balls hang free instead of underneath you.” River’s hand moved over his skin, gave him a tap on his ass, slid over his balls and down the length of his prick. “You need to work on redefining yourself.”

River’s hand was so hot, and he filled his lungs at the caress. “I don’t know what that means, really…”

“That’s the lesson. So listen carefully. You’re mine. That’s how this starts. When you think about yourself, it’s the first thing that should come to mind. You’re mine. Because after that thought, everything else is easier.” He got a little smack on the ass, and it made a sound that was swallowed up by the heavy drapes, the bed linens, the thick carpet. It was barely audible.

River’s. He loved that, but he thought he was, already. Wasn’t he?

Relax, Kacey Nathaniel. Relax and let yourself listen. River was needing him to hear this.

“So, if you’re mine, then what I think matters, am I right? Say it.”

Which part? “You’re right.”

River chuckled. “The other part, boy. What I think matters.”

“Oh. What you think matters a lot.” He cared about that.

River’s hand tapped his ass again, one side and then the other. “What I think matters and I think you’re smart. Repeat that.”

God, he felt silly, but if he couldn’t be ridiculous here… “What you think matters, and you think I’m smart.”

“Mhm. Harder now.” He got a solid smack to one cheek and then the other. “You’re mine. My boy.”

He nodded, because he so was. He wouldn’t let anyone else in like this.

River started talking then, words just flowing from him and punctuated by a good spanking, solid blows falling in a rhythmic pattern. “You’re mine. You trust me. I always tell you the truth. You’re smart. What I say matters…”

He moaned, trapped in the rhythm of those blows, of the words, and he found himself a little dizzy, and he grabbed hold of River’s will to balance himself.

The room was full of sounds now. Words, blows, breathing. “Tell me, boy. Tell me you’re mine. Tell me everything.”

“Yours! I’m yours. I promise. I love you. You’re the only place I’m not scared and ashamed.”

The blows stopped and Riv—his Master cleared his throat. “Good boy. Such a beautiful, good boy.” That voice moved closer, and he thought maybe River was kneeling near him. “I love you too. I will take care of you. Keep you safe. Let you live the life you deserve. One that makes you happy. I promise.”

He sucked in a shaky breath. “Better than I deserve? Please? I’ll do my best for you. You got my word.”

“All right. Better. You make my life better too. You’re important to me. I want so much for you. I want you to believe in yourself. Redefine Kacey. Find the new man, my man, my sub, and leave the other behind.” River was so close, one hand resting on his back. “You don’t need him anymore.”

“Can you do that? Can we do that? Just be new?” Was that possible? Could River just do that?

“We can do that. We already are. You’re making every day new for me. I’ve never asked anyone to live with me, had a sub that lived with me… this is new. So, yes. We can do that.” There was a quiet joy in his Master’s voice. He could hear it so clearly.

“I’m so scared that I’ll mess up, even when I try.” He sucked in a breath that hurt. “But you always know that I’m trying, right?”

“I always know. You can only do your best, boy. I can’t ask more than that. You don’t have to be scared anymore. About anything. Messing up is how we learn. It’s expected. It’s okay.” Soothing fingers stroked through his hair.

“I don’t remember not being scared. I like your fingers. Your touch.” He was a little loopy, almost floating.

“This is new Kacey. You have no reason to be scared.” He felt his Master move away slightly, but the touching didn’t stop, hands moving over his back, his sides until they reached his ass again. “You’re safe with me, in everything.” That touch slid between his legs again and wrapped around his cock. “So hard for me.”

He nodded, because spanking was hot. He didn’t know why, but it so was.

Blistering.

“Breathe.” He was shocked when slippery fingers pushed inside him, he hadn’t heard River go for the lube. “I promised a reward.”

“Did I earn it?” Oh, yes. Yes, please. He needed that touch, that deep stretch.

“You earned it, my love. Absolutely.” River gave his ass two more solid smacks. “So beautiful, my boy.” His Master’s cock replaced those fingers with heavy pressure as he pushed in slowly.

“Yours.” He keened, his entire body awake, his ass hot and tingling in the best way.

River bent over his back with a satisfied groan and pressed kisses along his spine. “We’re one, boy. You and me, lovers, Master and sub, two halves, one whole.”

“Oh, fuck… feels right.” And he didn’t have the leverage to push back, all he could do was take what River gave him.

“So right.” River rocked into him, building to a quick, hard fuck—using him in the best way. His Master seemed focused on him, hands moving over his back and hips.

Wild noises escaped Kacey, and he didn’t worry whether anyone heard, whether the sounds were too much. He just let them escape.

“Want to make you fly, boy.” River growled, giving his ass another tap. “I want to hear you scream for me.”

He wanted that too. He wanted to be lost and know it was safe. “Please.”

“Mmm. Mine.” River leaned back and took hold of his hips, fingers like vise grips, and laid into him hard. That thick cock filled him up, making them both shiver. “Tight, boy.”

He clenched, squeezing River with all he had. He could do tight.

“Fuck.” River’s groan sounded like it came all the way up from his toes. “That’s it.” River shifted deliberately and nailed him in just the right spot.

Lightning hit him, slamming along his spine, and all he wanted was to feel that again. “Yes!”

He got his wish. River didn’t let up, pounding him over and over. He heard his Master’s harsh breath and knew that River was trusting him too. River wanted him, needed him.

“Master!” He arched, his balls tight and aching as they emptied, his voice echoing in the room.

River howled as he came right after, and he loved the idea that he’d pushed his Master over that cliff. Their moans and panting filled the room with sexy sounds, their sounds, together.

“All yours.” He breathed the words out, his whole body just melting into the spanking bench.

River didn’t speak at first, but his hands said plenty, smoothing over his skin and keeping warm contact as they parted, and River crouched near his head again. “I want to move you to bed. Are you ready to take the blindfold off?”

“It’s not going to just all go away if I do, will it?” The question didn’t want to be asked, but he had to ask it.

“No, boy. You and I will get to see each other better, that’s all. Everything will be just as easy as in the dark.” River’s fingers started working the knot free. “I’m right here.”

“I am too.” In fact, he’d never been more here.

The blindfold came off and he blinked to focus. The room was dim and River was a little hard to see, but he knew his Master was focused on him.

“You’re probably feeling a little odd. Maybe lightheaded, maybe a little disoriented. That’s okay. I’m going to help you up slowly so you don’t get dizzy. You’ve been head-down for a while.”

He didn’t get much of a chance to answer, and maybe he didn’t need to. River lifted him slowly and helped him swing around so he was sitting on the bench, forehead resting against his Master’s abs.

River’s hands stroked through his hair, tangling in his curls, and he was held.

Right here.