Chapter 6

6

Doing a favor for Thomas? This had gone well beyond a simple favor and not because Thomas had asked for more. This situation was entirely River’s doing.

He had an adorable, deeply broken boy dozing on his couch who’d done every single thing he’d asked since last night, never questioned him, and trusted him again and again more or less unconditionally.

What he had was a sub. Not that Kacey knew that. Not that he’d want that if he understood, which he clearly didn’t. Kacey had no understanding of Sam’s relationship with Thomas.

It didn’t change the truth of it though. Kacey called to him, and he felt the same way.

He felt a chemistry, a pull.

He poured himself another cup of coffee, wondering what the hell he thought he could do for this boy. Really. He’d never had a live-in sub, and he certainly never tried to convince anyone that they should be one, let alone be his. He wasn’t even sure yet if he was ready for that either.

He had something in common with the boy that way. He had no idea what he was doing. None.

He grabbed his phone and headed for his office. Noel. He’d call Noel. God knew his best friend and mentor knew about live-in subs. Tyson had lived with Noel for as long as he’d known him, and together those two were… stunning.

They were passionate and explosive and hilarious, a little flamboyant, and totally in love.

That said, there was no question whatsoever what their relationship was, or what the power dynamic was. It was a beautiful thing to see, if a touch overwhelming.

Like being in the middle of a tornado.

He closed his office door and made the call on speaker.

“’lo?”

“Tyson. You shouldn’t be answering your Master’s phone.”

“Oh, is it his? I just grabbed. How are you, my favorite River?” Someone was in fine form.

How was he doing? He wasn’t sure, but did he want to tell Tyson the truth anyway? “I am well. I’m looking forward to seeing you both next month. Are you ready for your trip to the Big Apple?”

“Oh my God!” The shriek had him pulling the phone from his ear. “I so am. We both miss you like death, and we want to see everything and hug your face and meet all your new friends!”

His friends weren’t new, but usually he went to New Mexico to see Noel and Tyson, rather than asking them to make the trip. Tyson did love to travel though. “It’ll be a good time. Master Noel is going to be cross with me for getting you all wound up. Would you put him on? It’s good to hear your voice, boy.”

“I miss you too. So much. Hold on, Sir.” There was a pause and then, “Master! River’s on the phone!”

“Why did you have my phone, boy? You’re not allowed on TikTok for another two days!”

He laughed out loud. That was Tyson tip to toe, and Noel was going to have entirely too much fun punishing him. Again.

“Hey, River. How goes? How’s the big city treating you?” Noel’s voice always reminded him of two huge stones grinding together.

“Hello, Noel. I have been perfectly comfortable, and a hundred percent satisfied until last night.” Somehow he was neither this morning.

“Uh-oh. What’s up? Boy, make me a coffee. Now.”

“Do you want it like normal or one of your fancy espressos with the froth and stuff?” Tyson didn’t sound the least bit contrite.

“The fancy one. Take your time.” He could hear Tyson head outside. “Talk to me.”

“God, I don’t know where to start.” He thought for a second. “Thomas, a very accomplished friend of mine, has a sub whose friend appeared on their doorstep the other day. Suffice to say that he caused enough chaos that I took this kid off Thomas’s hands just to separate the subs and give Thomas and his boy a little privacy.”

“Oh, man. Is he on his own because he and his Dom lost each other?” That was a delicate way of asking if someone had died. Noel could be so odd that way.

“No. Thankfully no. But he was outed at a rodeo somewhere in Texas, I think, and this is where he ran. He’s in bad shape, not made better by the bender he took Thomas’s boy on last night. We spent half the night in the ER.”

“Oh, man. A cowboy, huh? Or just a spectator? Either way, you’re a ways from Texas.” He could see Noel take his glasses off in his mind’s eye, rub the bridge of his nose. “So, that’s not the end of it, I know.”

“No. That’s just the beginning. Now I have a broken, lonely, beat-to-hell boy sleeping on my couch who trusts me for no reason, and who is really quite… lovely.”

“Ah.” Noel chuckled softly. “It’s heady, isn’t it? When you discover that, and it’s a surprise?”

“It’s dizzying. I’ve known this boy less than twenty-four hours. I know nothing about him other than he… everything about him…” Even his hair, his eyes, the way he looks at me like I’m from another world… Jesus, what was wrong with him? “Everything just draws me in.”

“Listen, I’m supposed to warn you, tell you to be careful, but I’m not that man. I believe in shit like fate and forever and that magic fucking moment when you’re handed something you weren’t looking for.” Noel chuckled softly, the sound settling in his belly like an old song that always made him smile. Noel’s energy was a lightning storm, a dust devil that popped up, sweeping everything away, and then left it scoured a little. “Sometimes you jump. Sometimes it’s a huge mistake, but the times it’s not? Fuck, River. That’s why we’re here.”

“Shut up.” He chuckled. “I don’t think he even knows what a sub is. He sure doesn’t know his friend is one. What do I do with him, Noel? What if he thinks I’m… twisted?” He sighed. That word, twisted, that was the reason he’d left for New York at twenty-three. He was done scaring people he was trying to take care of.

“What if he does? Let him show you what he needs. You know he will. If it’s real, it’s a little twisted up.” Noel murmured his thanks to Tyson along with an order to go sweep the front porch. “I mean, I’m a little jealous. Beginnings are exciting. Well, my boy is exciting and challenging, and our beginning was a nuclear explosion, but you get my drift.”

“That’s not a drift, Noel. That’s more like a riptide.” Sure, beginnings were exciting. And excruciating. And often incredibly disappointing because they implied endings. “Let him show me what he needs? He’s fragile. I don’t want to fuck this up. He’s just nowhere right now. He has nothing.”

“No, he has you.”

The words dropped like weights onto his psyche.

River took a breath and let it out slowly. Noel was right. This is what he was here for.

“I hate you.”

“I know. I love you too. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“If he’s still here, you will. Thank you. See you in a month.” He needed to go check on his boy.

He hung up the phone, breathing, in and out, filling his lungs and emptying them totally. Noel had always had a way of cutting through the confusion for him and shining a light so he could see. One way or another, Kacey needed him. Kacey was his. It didn’t matter what the future looked like; right now, it was all about making it until tomorrow.