“Cool. I’m proud of you. I know being out among all these people is hard for you. This kind of effort deserves a reward.”

  “It is hard. Thank you for understanding.” He needed that. He needed to be heard.

  “I wouldn’t be much of a friend, let alone Dom, if I wasn’t sensitive to your issues.” Rene squeezed his hip and drew him out of the way of a group of clearly drunk people fumbling their way along the sidewalk.

  “Yes, but I know it’s an inconvenience. I’m so much better these days.”

  “I imagine we all have things that make us an inconvenience to someone.”

  “Yes. That’s just humanity, right?” He’d been working a lot on learning that lesson.

  “Yeah. Much as many of us Doms like to think we’re superior, we’re really not. We don’t read minds. We don’t know everything.”

  Gavin nudged Rene. “Oh my God. You don’t know everything?” Oh God, he loved Rene’s laugh. It was full and deep, and it made him feel good to hear.

  “Rene? Rene, is that you?” A young man rushed up and hugged Rene hard. “I expected to hear from you before now.”

  Rene took a half step back. “And why is that?”

  “Well, I thought our last night together was memorable….”

  Oh, this was awkward as hell. Seriously. He looked to Dev, who was right there, close.

  “You mean our only night, Dennis? Our agreement that night was a single scene. We both outlined what we wanted, and that’s what we did. You’re going to make someone a great boy, but I never led you to believe that someone would be me.” Rene’s arm was still around Gavin’s waist, and he could feel the tension in Rene.

  “But… I did everything you asked.”

  A group of people flowed around them, nearly knocking into them. Rene tugged Gavin a little closer.

  “I hope you find what you’re looking for, Dennis. I’m afraid that isn’t me.” Rene stepped to the side and then forward.

  When the guy tried to interrupt, Dev moved up, rumbling softly. At that point Dennis backed off a little, and Rene surged forward, bringing Gavin along.

  “Come on, boy. Dev has this.”

  “I’m with you.” Gavin was so proud of Dev.

  It was only another block to the parking garage, and Rene didn’t stop until they’d gone down the stairs to the underground structure.

  “I don’t know where you’ve parked.”

  “We’re right up here, but Dev has the keys.” He looked behind him, eyes searching for the big guy.

  “Right here, Gavin. I have you.”

  He took a deep breath in relief, and Rene turned him, giving him a hard hug. Then they followed Dev to the SUV. Dev clicked the fob, unlocking the door, and Gavin and Rene climbed into the back together.

  Rene sighed. “I’m sorry about that.”

  “Are you all right?” He understood that. He was grateful no one had really recognized him.

  “I’m fine.” Rene shook his head. “A little angry. I didn’t want to hurt him, but he put me in a position where I had to. Our scene together was almost a year ago at one of the clubs I frequent when I need to do a scene. I’m always very upfront about not looking for more than the one scene. I have never promised anyone more than that before you.”

  “Well, I can’t blame him for wanting more of your attention.”

  Rene cupped his cheek and slid his thumb across the corner of Gavin’s mouth. “Thank you. For the compliment and for being understanding.”

  “Let’s go pick up supper and go home now. Please?”

  “Yeah, that sounds perfect. And I promised you a reward for the great strides you made tonight.” Rene smiled wickedly as Dev started the car. “I have a few ideas about that, but I want to hear what you think would be the right reward.”

  “I want a long bubble bath.”

  Rene hummed, sounding pleased. “And your tub is more than big enough for two. I think that would be a wonderful post-supper event.”

  “Yeah? We could soak together. Relax.” Oh, that sounded like so much fun.

  “Perfect. Let me order supper so we don’t have to wait too long for it when we get there, and then I’m all yours.”

  Gavin couldn’t think of anything that sounded better.

  Chapter Twelve

  RENE LAY back in the tub, the warm water all around him. So decadent and lazy to soak in the tub like this. Amazing to have Gavin in front of him, leaning against his chest as they floated there together. The rest of the world seemed far away, like only the two of them existed.

  Music filled the air, sensual and easy on the ear, and he loved the way Gavin hummed along.

  He began to touch Gavin, idly at first, his fingertips lingering on the smooth, warm skin.

  Gavin hummed softly, curling in with a soft sigh.

  “I love how there’s a perfect you-shaped space here in my arms.” Rene rubbed his thumbs along Gavin’s thighs, not going near Gavin’s cock. Yet.

  “So poetic.” Gavin didn’t sound sarcastic in the least. In fact he sounded pleased.

  Smiling, he kissed Gavin’s shoulder, then licked his way from there to Gavin’s neck. He loved the scent that gathered there, how the taste matched it. He wrapped his lips around the skin over Gavin’s artery and began a gentle suction. He made sure to nuzzle in, licking and nibbling at Gavin’s skin.

  Gavin undulated against him, bringing their bodies together in long, wavelike motions. How incredible, having Gavin dance for him, riding his thighs in slow pulses.

  Sliding his hands up and inward at the same time, Rene skirted Gavin’s cock to get to the lovely abs. He could really feel them beneath his fingers as Gavin moved.

  Such a lovely boy. So much hidden strength. Rene had been sure Gavin would cancel on him. Gavin’s endurance made him proud. And pleased.

  He liked to think that he’d been as much of a draw as the music, and certainly it had been his presence that had turned things around at the last minute.

  It had been more than a little delicious to swoop in and play the hero.

  Rene hummed against Gavin’s skin and drew his hands up along Gavin’s torso. That earned him a stretch and a sweet, low moan. Someone liked that. He stopped before he reached Gavin’s nipples and sent his fingers dancing downward to trace one dark tattoo after another, nails dragging over the marked skin.

  “So beautiful.” He nibbled at Gavin’s earlobe.

  “Thank you. The ink keeps me sane, hmm?”

  “Yeah? Is it all from the last five years?” He was fascinated by the lines and swirls, how they accentuated Gavin’s muscles, his beauty.

  “Mostly, yes. I had some before, but they’re all covered over.”

  “You really wanted that part of your life erased, didn’t you?” Rene supposed that made sense, given what had happened. He could understand the urge to wipe everything from then away and not have any reminders. “You can’t tell there’s any cover-ups. You’ve got a good artist.”

  “I do. And he makes house calls.”

  Rene had to chuckle at that. Chuckle and give Gavin a hug. He squeezed tight, then went back to stroking, to teasing all that lovely skin between nipples and cock without touching either.

  Gavin didn’t fight him; instead he relaxed into Rene’s arms with a soft moan. He loved that Gavin knew what he needed, wasn’t afraid to take it.

  Up and down, he dragged his fingers over all that wonderful skin. Soon he began to hear soft, relaxed little moans.

  That was his cue to touch the tip of Gavin’s now-hard cock, then the points of his nipples.

  Heated, hot, hard—he was addicted to Gavin already.

  “Feel you,” he murmured. “Already eager for me.”

  “How could I not be, Sir? You make me giddy.”

  “I like that.” The idea of it. He turned Gavin’s face and gave his boy a kiss, his tongue sliding along Gavin’s, tasting him.

  Gavin turned and moved to straddle him, legs wrapping around his waist. “Hey.”

  His hands automatically went to Gavin’s ass and wrapped around it. He squeezed and smiled as their cocks bumped together in the water. “Hey, yourself.”

  “You like my bathtub?”

  “I do.” He licked from Gavin’s throat up to the bottom of his chin, then to Gavin’s lips. “You know what I like best about it?”

  “No, what?”

  “You.”

  Gavin hummed softly. “Thank you, Sir. I could get to need this. Easily.”

  “I think I already do.” He brought their lips solidly together, the kiss deep right from the start. Gavin moaned and pressed them together, opening for him so easily. So eagerly.

  Tugging on Gavin’s ass, he encouraged those movements. Thrust his hips up to meet Gavin’s body.

  “What do you want, Sir?”

  He met Gavin’s gaze and held it. “This right here is good. I’m going to keep bringing you in.”

  “Bringing me in.” Gavin moaned softly, licking at the corner of his lips.

  “Uh-huh.” Fuck, that felt good. Everything about Gavin did.

  “Your body makes me dizzy. You make me want to write, to get ink, to come.”

  “Gavin….” What did you say to such poetry? “Do it. Do it all.” He clutched Gavin’s ass and bucked as he pulled Gavin closer, dragging them together.

  “Um-hmm,” Gavin moaned, breath gliding over Rene’s wet lips.

  They moved faster, Gavin’s ass settled into his palms like that’s what it was made for.

  “You make me daring, Rene.”

  “Good. I want you to be everything you can.” And most of all, he wanted Gavin to be with him.

  “I want to be fearless.”

  “You don’t need to be fearless, Gavin. You just need to be brave enough to push past the fears. Which you proved today that you are.”

  He thought Gavin knew that too. His boy was beautifully self-aware.

  “Touch our cocks, boy. Hold them together and make us come.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Gavin grabbed their cocks and began to work them, jacking them good and hard.

  Moaning, Rene arched, bringing his balls in contact with Gavin’s. “Fuck yes.”

  “Beautiful man.” Gavin watched him. Every single motion.

  “Ditto.”

  The grip around his cock tightened, those fingers squeezing hard enough to steal his breath. Groaning, he jerked and raised his hands to curl around Gavin’s waist. For a simple hand job, it was so damn good. Rene suspected it was the who that was making all the difference.

  “Don’t stop, boy. Don’t stop.”

  “I promise.” Gavin offered him a wild, happy grin.

  “We’re going to come together. Both of us at once.” He groaned and closed his eyes as Gavin slid the fingers of his free hand across the tips of their pricks.

  “Are we?” Little tease. Sweet, sexual tease.

  “We are, boy. Or I’m going to have to put you in a cock cage.” Wouldn’t that be something? Sitting at work and knowing that Gavin was caged up, waiting for Rene to come and free his cock.

  “I’m good, I promise.”

  “Don’t like the idea of the cage?”

  “I don’t… I don’t know. I can’t think.” Gavin arched up, arm moving furiously now.

  He would have laughed, but he didn’t have any breath, Gavin stealing that and his ability to think or talk. “Boy….”

  “Yes. Yes, Sir. So close.” Gavin stared into him.

  “Then do it. Come with me.” Not for him but with him. They were in this together.

  “Together.” Gavin joined his hands, jamming their cocks together, working the tips.

  “Yes. Yes. Yes.” He bucked and moaned, Gavin’s touch so damn hot. Then he shouted, “Now!”

  He emptied his balls, the heat from Gavin answering him.

  As the pleasure coursed through him, he shuddered. Then he collapsed against the side of the tub, panting. Gavin ended up draped over him, cuddling in close.

  The water was still warm, so he relaxed and stayed where he was, his boy right there with him. This bath was a reward for both of them. And he was going to enjoy every second of it.

  Chapter Thirteen

  GAVIN SPENT an afternoon in the studio. Maybe more than an afternoon.

  At some point Silas brought coffee, and once Dev brought sandwiches, but he was busy and couldn’t be assed to leave. The music was flowing through him like magical blood.

  Out of the blue, he heard Rene’s voice. “Gavin. Boy.”

  “Master?” Was he dreaming? He thought he might be.

  “I’m here, Gavin.” Rene touched his shoulder. “Sorry to show up unannounced, but you wouldn’t come to the phone for days. I was worried.”

  “I was working….” He stood and reached for Rene, his fingers blistered and raw.

  Rene wrapped his arms around Gavin and pulled him close. “Is this a good thing? That you work to the exclusion of everything else?”

  Gavin didn’t have an answer. He simply held on, breathing in his lover, his Dom.

  “I have you,” Rene said again. He eased into Gavin’s chair and pulled Gavin onto his lap, seeming perfectly happy to simply hold him.

  Gavin dozed for a while, resting hard as they breathed together. At some point Rene must have carried him up to his bed, because he woke up there, curled in Rene’s arms.

  He stumbled to the bathroom, did his business, and staggered back to crawl in again.

  Rene pulled him close. “You doing okay, boy?”

  “Yes, Master. Sore, but okay.”

  Rene rubbed his shoulders, his back. “Does this happen often?”

  “Sometimes. I get busy.”

  “And is it a good thing?” Rene asked again. “Are you happy to have it happen?”

  He didn’t know how to answer that. Part of him loved the drama, the work. Part of him loved that Rene had come for him. “I don’t know.”

  That made Rene chuckle, chest moving beneath his cheek. “I like that answer—it was honest.”

  “It was. It feels good, you know? Having you here to talk to me.”

  “You can talk to me anytime you need to, Gavin. You have my number. Anytime.”

  Gavin reached up and kissed Rene, the connection sweet and slow but so deep. Holding him close, Rene kept the kiss going. God, Rene did it for him on a deep level.

  He moaned low and allowed himself to melt into Rene and cuddle.

  “Fair warning. Your beasts let me know that you’ve hardly eaten, so before anything happens, you need to eat.”

  “Traitors.” He was going to beat the twins with a stick.

  “They’re doing their job—making sure you’re safe. That includes not letting you die of starvation.”

  “Did they call you?”

  Rene snorted. “No, they didn’t get a chance to. I called. A lot. I was worried about you.”

  “I’m sorry. I was lost.”

  “I found you, though.” Rene pushed his hair off his face. “I will always come find you.”

  He stared, his entire body buzzing. “Always.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I said. I meant it too.” Rene pressed their foreheads together. “I never met anyone like you, Gavin. We fit.”

  “Yes, Sir.” He lifted his chin and took a kiss.

  Rene was right there, returning it before backing away. “The things I want to do to you.”

  “Good things?” he teased, moaning deep in his chest.

  “Fuck yes. So very many wonderful things.” Rene spread kisses across his face. “Things to make you scream.”

  Oh, how wonderful. “I don’t scream.”

  “No? You’ve never screamed? How unfortunate for you. I’ll have to fix that.”

  God, Rene’s confidence was incredibly sexy.

  “I’m happy to have you try.”

  “Yeah, that would make me happy too.”

  He hugged Rene tight, sharing this little moment of joy.

  “Come on, let’s get you a protein bar or a bowl of cereal or something so we can do what we both want to do.”

  “Do I have to eat?”

  “Yes.”

  “Dammit.”

  “Well, it wouldn’t be much fun if you fainted from hunger in the middle of a scene,” Rene noted.

  “You’re always using logic against me.”

  Rene chuckled. “I didn’t realize logic was a bad thing.”

  “No?” He cuddled in tighter. “I could have some toast.”

  “What do you want on your toast?”

  “Strawberry jelly. You?”

  “Do you have raspberry jam? That or marmalade?”

  “Oh, the twins are jelly whores. There are all sorts.”

  “Jelly whores.” Rene snorted, then laughed. “I love it.”

  “I do too. They’re good men.” They weren’t Rene, but they were good.

  “They take care of you, and that makes them all right in my eyes.”

  “They do.” He sat up, stretching tall. “Let’s grab a snack.”

  Rene reached out, hands sliding along his body, fingers lingering. That didn’t make it easy to get up, not at all.

  “I can’t seem to keep my hands off you. It’s like your body calls to me.”

  “I ache for you.” It was like an addiction.

  “Good.” Gavin must have expressed surprise, because Rene went on, “I don’t want to be in this deep on my own.”

  “No. No, we haven’t been good at staying shallow.”

  “Hey, we did well for the first couple of days. Weeks even, maybe. Sort of.” Rene smiled. “To be honest, I can’t remember a time I wasn’t falling in love with you.”

  Oh. Oh, he understood that. “I feel the same way, you know. I keep falling harder.”

  Rene didn’t beam or hug him tight, but a look of bliss and peace came across his face. “Do you know how amazing that makes me feel? How full?”

  He did. And they hadn’t even begun to explore their lives yet.

  “Maybe you do, hmm?” Rene rubbed their lips together. “Just maybe you do.” Rene licked along his lips now.

  “I do, Master. With all my heart.”

  “Do you have a place here where we can do a scene?”

  “I hid everything in the closet, all my toys. We could make a space here, though.”