Chapter 26

26

It had been a wonderful visit, but all good things must come to an end. River helped Noel and Tyson get their bags out of the trunk of the black car and set everything on the sidewalk.

Kacey had been quiet on the ride, both boys had in fact, and he knew this was going to be a tough goodbye for them both. They’d become such good friends.

“It’s been so good having you both here. I’ve really enjoyed every minute.” He stuck out his hand to shake and Noel pulled him into a hug.

“Going to miss you, my friend. Bring your boy to Santa Fe soon, or Tyson will have a meltdown.”

“I never have meltdowns,” Tyson said through dramatic tears and threw his arms around Kacey. “I will miss you, baby cowboy sub.”

“I’ll miss the hell out of you, you crazy-assed drama queen. Call me?”

“Every day. Help me with my drawing homework next semester?”

“Absolutely.”

“Deal. Be good to this guy. He loves you.”

River chuckled. “This guy? That’s still disrespectful even if it’s true.” He hugged Tyson hard. “Be good. But not too good.”

“Never. Take care of him. He loves you so much.” Tyson was getting genuinely teary now.

“You’re killing me. We’ll come visit. Don’t miss your flight.”

Noel gave Kacey a gentle hug and obviously whispered something, but he had no idea what it was. “Take care, boy. It was a pleasure to meet you.”

“Same here. We’ll go out to the rodeo and visit, I promise.” Kacey waved and went back to the car.

“He told me that watching someone leave was bad luck.” Tyson was sniffling hard now.

“It’s certainly not easy, is it?” He gave Tyson another hug. “I’m going to take his advice and get in the car. Safe travels. Please let me know when you land.”

“We will do that.” Noel put his arm around his boy and they each grabbed a suitcase. “See you soon.”

River nodded and joined Kacey in the back seat of the sedan, sliding an arm around his boy’s shoulders. The driver already knew they were off to brunch and moved out into traffic as soon as he’d closed the door. “I will miss them too.”

“Yeah. They’re amazing houseguests.” Kacey took a long, slow breath. “I’ll miss them.”

“It’s good to have friends. I’m glad that you and Tyson hit it off. He’s a sweetheart.” He was very fond of Tyson. He’d had a soft spot for the boy since they’d first met.

“He’s a turd, but he sure makes me laugh, and we had a ball. And Noel was so kind.”

Noel was his mentor as well as a friend. The man was grounding, validating, and generally a good soul. But it was time to let them go for a bit or he and Kacey would be depressed all afternoon. “I’m thinking about blueberry pancakes smothered in butter and syrup.”

“Mmm… you going to have bacon?” Kacey drew patterns on his jeans.

He nuzzled Kacey’s curls. “Sausage, I think. They have the yummy patties instead of the links. How about you?”

“I want… waffles. With strawberries and whipped cream and crispy bacon.” Kacey chuckled softly. “Or maybe grits…”

“Have both.” He grinned. “And coffee.”

They rode quietly for a bit, but the trip back into the city from the airport was never quick, so he decided to use the time wisely. “What do you think of your decision to take a call from Tyson at Thomas and Sam’s the other night? Was it a good one?”

“Yes and no. No, because it hurt your feelings, and I never thought it would, but yes, because I was fixin’ to be mean, and I needed to be talked off the ledge.” Kacey traced his fingers. “I was caught up in old shit, I think, like habits and feelings. I needed a shot. I was stupid mad.”

“That’s my job, you know. To talk, or otherwise, get you off the ledge. I’m your Master. I have that responsibility. So while you were right that you needed help, you were wrong in how you went about it. When you have feelings you can’t manage, you need to tell me. Ask me for help. You’re mine, your worries are mine, your needs are mine to see to. If you can’t articulate it, find another way to let me know.”

“I was trying to give you a signal, but I didn’t know how, I guess.” Kacey shrugged and shook his head. “I needed to get out of the situation with Sam for a hot minute.”

It wasn’t good that Kacey had been trying to communicate and he missed it. Or perhaps he’d deliberately ignored it while Thomas was holding him back. “Well, I did eventually get the signal, though it was a bit overt. I hope you understand that in that kind of situation, you come to me. Always to me. If you can’t come to me, there’s a problem, and that requires a safeword.”

Kacey tilted his head. “Even, like at Sam’s? Like just say it?”

This was an around-the-clock, every day relationship. They weren’t creating scenes only in the club like he did with the single subs. “Even everywhere. If I’m not hearing you, if you’re not getting something you need, just say it. That’s what it’s there for. That I will always understand, won’t I?”

He swore he saw a light come on in Kacey’s eyes, and he got a confident nod. “Okay, yeah. I can do that. I can totally do that.”

He kissed Kacey’s forehead. “Perfect. Thank you. Because you didn’t hurt my feelings, but it was kind of embarrassing in front of another Dom that you excused yourself and didn’t ask permission. Permission is another important thing you need to think about.”

That got him another of those head tilts. “I excused myself…”

“Yes, you excused yourself. You’re mine. You need to ask my permission and I will excuse you if I feel it’s appropriate. That moment was not appropriate.” This would apply less at home than out, but Kacey didn’t need two sets of rules right now.

Kacey searched his gaze, a tiny frown line appearing. “That’s a little… uncomfortable.”

“Really? Why? If you’re focused as you should be and putting my needs before your own—as a sub should and as I know Tyson explained to you—then whatever you’re excusing yourself for should be something I want to allow.” He understood, Kacey wasn’t a child and asking permission had a certain connotation. But the boy needed to understand the lifestyle fully, and giving over needs and desires was a big part of it.

Kacey’s brain was chewing on this—River could see the smoke coming out of his ears.

“Let me say it another way. You’re not asking because I don’t trust you, or because I think you’re incapable of making your own decisions. You’re asking because you want to please me.” Huh. He actually preferred that simple explanation better himself.

Kacey’s eyes widened. “Oh… you mean more ‘is it good with you if,’ instead of ‘can I’?”

Ah. Good. He was starting to understand his boy better. “Yes. More like that. I’m not going to tell you you can’t pee or something. In fact, it’s rare that I would say no to anything, I’m sure. But the simple act of asking is what’s important.”

“Unless I want to answer the phone in the middle of a fight, right?” That was a naughty little wink.

He snorted and raised an eyebrow. “That’s one. No, make that two. It was extra naughty.”

“Extra naughty?” Kacey’s cheeks went pink, but there wasn’t anything but focus in his boy’s eyes.

“Yes, extra naughty. Maybe I’ll make that three for questioning me.” That look and the way Kacey was responding to their talk made him want to puff out his chest and pound on it. He was a stud.

“Now that wouldn’t be very fair.”

He loved how he made Kacey wiggle in his seat.

“No, it wouldn’t, would it?” He grinned. This was fun. “But I’m doing it anyway. Because I can. I can make that perfect ass of yours pink as roses if I want to.”

“You can. I—” Kacey shook his head, blush deepening. “I never would have guessed what that was like.”

Something about Kacey had called to him from the minute they met. He hadn’t been positive then that the boy was a sub, he’d just been very sure he could help. “I’m glad it was a good surprise and not a bad one. Hopefully, we’ll have more good surprises between us.”

“We will. We only know a little bit about each other, still. There’s a lot to figure out.”

“Brunch. And then I’m going to tell you all my plans for you.” He just put that out there for Kacey to chew on, letting the boy’s mind go wherever it wanted to.

“Pancakes and sausage, I remember.” Kacey chuckled and winked. “Blueberry ones.”

The car pulled up to the curb just then and the driver got out and opened the back door. He climbed out and offered Kacey a hand. “We’re here.”

“Thank you, sir.” Kacey waved to the driver, offering him a smile. “It smells like heaven!”

“It’s a little bit fancy, but it’s worth it.” They were seated at a nice table and handed huge menus. They had water and coffee in seconds.

“Wow. Look at all this…” Kacey frowned and peered around his menu. “Do you realize that it’s super expensive? That’s okay with you?”

“Did you pick the place or did I?” Surely Kacey had figured out by now that he was not worried about money.

“You did. I’m just trying to protect you, yeah?”

“Thank you, but you needn’t worry. Money isn’t an issue. You can have two orders of waffles.” He winked at Kacey.

“I’d look like a snake that swallowed a goat but thank you.” Kacey snorted and patted his belly. “Maybe I’ll order a glass of orange juice.”

“That’s it, splurge!” He put his menu down and picked up his coffee. “I’m hungry. You?”

“I am. I feel like… like things are changing. Like—” Kacey rolled his eyes. “I do think I’m going for waffles.”

He took Kacey’s hand. “I can’t blindfold you in a brunch place, boy, so finish your sentence, please.”

“I feel stupid saying it, though. I just feel like we’re having a start—it’s fixin’ to be fall, Ty and Noel are gone—I don’t know. It’s just how I feel.”

“I agree.” Kacey was ready to move forward. They’d hashed all of that out, hadn’t they? And he’d finally found someone that he could grow with, not just teach. “We’re starting new. New Kacey, new relationship, new us. We’re working through everything together now.”

“I hope you like it—being with me, I mean. Because I do. You’re…” Kacey held his hands open wide.

He found Kacey’s hand again a held it tight. “I’m yours. We talk a lot about how you’re mine in a different sense, but let’s tell it like it is. I’m yours. I love you.”

“Yeah.” Kacey swallowed hard and lifted his chin. “I love you, and I love that we can say it and that you’re not ashamed of me.”

“I’m proud of you. Don’t I say that all the time? I mean it. We got thrown together all of a sudden, but I knew as soon as I got you home… I just knew.”

“You did.” Kacey doctored his coffee. “You just folded me in like I belonged.”

That was it. Kacey belonged with him. Period.

The server took their orders, and he laughed as she walked away. “We’re going to be taking home doggie bags.”

“Ruff ruff.” Kacey blinked at him. “You know, we’ve never done this before. I mean, just gone out, alone, to a restaurant.”

He nodded. “I know. I did this on purpose. I thought, now that our houseguests are gone, we needed to focus on each other. Just be us. Do some normal things.”

“This has to be new for you, too. Tyson told me you had a lot of men at the club that were into you, and now you have me.”

“Tyson has a big mouth.” He sipped his coffee, giving himself a second to figure out what to say. “The subs at the club were a sometimes pastime for me and sometimes… necessary. Everyone needs an outlet. I needed some Dom time. I needed… to be needed. And they weren’t the only ones who thought I would just be available forever.” He never had any intention of settling down with someone, having a sub and a lover at home. He never thought he could do it.

“So… can I ask what you did with them, or is that not decent?”

He chuckled. “Every sub has different needs, boy. You can ask, but are you sure you want to know?”

Kacey took a minute to answer. “I don’t care about them. I want to know about you.”

“Hm.” River thought about what Kacey was really asking. “You mean what did I need? You want to know my why.”

“I want to know everything about you, so yes. I want to know your why all the way.”

His full story was long and complicated and involved therapy and several weeks of stern schooling by Clint at the club, but he didn’t think Kacey needed all of that information. Kacey wanted to know why he wanted this relationship.

“I want to be in charge. It’s deeply important to me for a number of reasons. It’s also fulfilling for me to take care of someone. I like to feel needed, I like to protect, nurture… I get a lot out of that. It makes me feel good about myself. It’s validating. And, on a much baser level, it’s a turn-on. It’s sexy or raunchy or sweet… whatever I want. So, those boys at the club… we both had needs and we meet to consensually give each other what we were craving.”

“Met.” There was no hesitation in that word.

He nodded, holding that serious gaze. “Met. Never again. I don’t need anyone but you.”

“Thank you. You have all of me, so that’s a fair trade.” Kacey lowered his voice. “Sexy, raunchy, sweet—I got you covered.”

“I know you do. You’re very, very hot.” He picked up his fork and winked at Kacey. “Genie.”

“Eat your pancakes.” Kacey’s laugh suited him, though, and the way he licked the whipped cream off his fork was worth watching.

He did, humming as the warm blueberries exploded in his mouth. “It’s a little bit of a turn-on that you’re the jealous type, boy.”

“I don’t share. That’s not what this is about. You and me, we’re a thing now.”

Kacey was so serious, growling like a young tiger. It was new for him, and he found that he liked being spoken for. “You’re just going to have to trust me, boy.”

“I do.” Kacey winked over, licking strawberry juice off his lips. “Everyone else except Tyson and Sam? No.”

“Ah. Master Thomas, Master Noel, Master Clint.” There were others too, Kacey would meet them and trust them in time. “They will always have your back.”

“Does everyone call them that? I mean, I guess it’s just normal for them?” Kacey carefully built himself another bite.

“Every sub, yes. Including you.” He cut a bite of sausage and barely contained his chair dance as he chewed. “Oh this was such a good idea.”

“It’s yummy. Want a bite of bacon?” One slice was offered over.

“Yes, please. Have some sausage.” He took the bacon and pushed his plate in Kacey’s direction.

“Thank you, sir.” Kacey cut off a bite, and ate it with a snap. “You got any questions for me? I been grilling you.”

“I think I’ve asked a lot of questions of you, but I do have one more.” And he couldn’t have asked for a better opening. “You’re going to take an art class. Any idea what you’d like to take?”

“What?” Kacey shot him a confused look. “I didn’t sign up for a class.”

“Not yet, no. But you’re going to. Think about what you’d like to do, there’s a whole list of classes. I have the information at home.” He took another bite of his pancakes, enjoying the real maple syrup.

Kacey shook his head. “I don’t think this is a great idea. I don’t know anything about learning stuff…”

All Kacey did was learn. He was a sponge and he didn’t even realize it. “Because you’ve learned nothing since you came to me. Hm?”

“Shit, I’m barely keeping up with all the stuff I have to learn. It’s a whole new way of doing things.”

“But you already know art.” He picked up his coffee. “You sketch and color amazing things every day.”

“But not… I don’t think I can. I’m sorry, but you think I’m better than I am. That’s so special…”

Special. “I think you can, and you’re going to try.” Period. Kacey had something big to get past. And if there was some real issue, he’d see it for himself and they’d deal with it.

“Who would let me in? This is just like a thing at the Y, right? It’s not real?”

“It will be real. It will be a class at a local college. All you have to do is give them your GED paperwork.” And it would be one credit toward something bigger.

“I’ll have to see if I can find it. I mean, I know how to get online and all. That’s how I got the stupid fucking thing to begin with, right? I don’t have to do any math or anything, right?”

He’d only suggested one class, but Kacey was obviously stressing it. “It’s an art class, so I doubt it.” Eventually maybe, if this turned into something bigger than a couple of classes, but for now, he didn’t think it would be an issue.

Kacey was ramping up now, though, growling and worried and cursing like a sailor.

“Eat your waffles, boy. You’re hangry.” But it was more than that, and they both knew it. He’d handle it when they got home.