“Do you have someone that you work with? I mean a club or someone special?”

  “I’m still a member of the club where I met Master Tom. I do scenes with him and his sub sometimes. Or with subs I know from the club. But no, I don’t have anyone special.” He already knew the answer to that question from Gavin’s side.

  “Hmm.” That was an interesting sound.

  “Are you happy to hear that?”

  “That would be selfish, wouldn’t it?”

  “I won’t take it selfishly if you are.”

  “I’m pleased, yes. I have… hope.”

  “Hope is good. I like that. A lot.”

  Gavin grinned at him, spearing a pineapple bit. Rene watched as Gavin brought the fruit to his mouth, the juice dripping onto his lips. He bit back his groan and managed not to lick his own lips. Barely.

  “Do you have a question for me?”

  “What are you looking for in a Dom?”

  “Someone strong, loving, kind, firm. I miss being stretched, pushed.”

  “Those are good qualities in a Dom.” Qualities he liked to think he had.

  “I think so, yes.”

  “So, I know we’re going relatively slowly, but can we at least admit we’re interested in each other in a Dom and sub way?” He didn’t want to rush Gavin into anything, but pussyfooting around the subject seemed coy to him, and he wasn’t the coy type.

  “Yes.” That was immediate, sure, easy. “I like our pace, our discussion, but I am interested in submitting to you, yes.”

  How refreshing.

  “And I’m interested in dominating you, but know that I’m happy to take it slowly, to see what develops.” The more emotion that was involved, the deeper they could go together.

  “Have you ever had a long-term sub? A full-time one?”

  “No. As I said, I’ve worked with Master Tom’s boy and with boys at the club. I’ve dated some, but….” He shrugged. He hated “dating.” He much preferred meeting people through others at the bar where small talk consisted of safewords and kinks preferred and if you wanted to be pushed or not.

  “I was lifestyle, twenty-four seven, for five years.”

  “Was it wonderful?” He wanted that, to have someone he cared about so much they lived that lifestyle full-time.

  “It could be hard, but it was so necessary. Of course when it was over, I thought I was going to die, so….”

  “But it was worth it while things were good, eh? I guess the real question is would you want to do it again?”

  “That’s complicated. Because I have to think about what I want and what I need, what’s safe for me, what satisfies me.”

  “That’s part of what going slow is about, isn’t it?”

  “It is. Yeah.” Gavin nodded and smiled.

  “Any more questions for me?” He liked talking about this with Gavin. It meant they were both serious about their intentions.

  “You said you’re into orgasm denial, ass play, what else?”

  “I love a little slit play to go with the ass play.” He did love the way Gavin inhaled, licked his lips. “A penis plug is a great way to indulge in both slit play and orgasm control.”

  “Yes, sir.” Gavin nodded, licked his lips again.

  “That sounds like something you’d be interested in, hmm? Being controlled, being denied what you think you want.”

  “I respond well to a firm but fair hand.”

  “I like to think those are words that describe me. What do you think about service?” Master Tom and Derrick had practiced it. Tom had said it was one of the ways they honored the lifestyle all the time.

  “I’m willing to negotiate for that. I’m not a spoiled brat, but I can get lost in my work for days. It wasn’t like that for me before.”

  “You didn’t get lost in your work before? Do you think that’s because you had a Dom and were full-time in the lifestyle?”

  “I was touring. He was with us. Now I… spend a lot of time in the studio.”

  “You need someone to ensure discipline so you stop to eat, sleep, make love.”

  “I would love that.”

  “Mm.” He was pretty sure he’d love that too. Or rather, he’d love to be the “someone.”

  Gavin leaned back, soaking in the sunshine.

  Hedonist. That’s what Gavin was, could be if he wasn’t so tightly wound. Rene wanted to reach over and stroke the lean, inked belly. He wanted to give Gavin everything he needed. And more.

  “How’s your food? Okay?”

  “It’s great, really. The company is even better, though.” Sitting in the sun, getting to know Gavin some more. What could be better?

  “Flattery. It is lovely to visit together.”

  “It is. I’m really glad you had me stay overnight. Thank you.”

  “It’s been great. I don’t want it to end.”

  “My calendar is clear until tomorrow afternoon.” Slow didn’t mean they couldn’t spend time together.

  “Oh? Would you like to stay? I have some soft pajama pants. We could order something silly for supper.”

  “That sounds delightful. We can learn each other more. Goof off.”

  “Yes. Get in the eternity pool, if you’d like? It’s heated.”

  “I’d love that.” He hadn’t worked out in several days, which was unusual for him, and it would be good to get some exercise. “I take it skinny-dipping in it will be fine?”

  “I’ve never worn a suit in.”

  “I love the way skinny-dipping feels. Free and naughty.”

  “Yes. I love the water. Love it.”

  “That’s good to know.” He liked to give rewards that were truly appreciated and not necessarily related to sex.

  “The beach, the pool, the shower—I’m a fan.” Gavin leaned close. “I have attachments too.”

  “Oh, I’m going to have to see those. Play a little—we don’t have to be serious to play with each other’s attachments….”

  Gavin laughed for him, the sound tickled. Merry. He loved that sound. He thought he could get used to that sound. He thought he could come to crave it.

  He smiled. “So, tell me. Do you keep toys here?”

  Gavin’s blush told him the answer was yes.

  “Tell me. Or better yet, show me.”

  “After lunch?”

  “I’m almost done.” He shoved the last quarter of his sandwich in his mouth.

  “I’m still picking.” Little tease.

  “I could give you a hand,” he suggested.

  “What would you like?”

  He deliberately answered the question in a different way from how it was meant. “To make love to you again. To see what toys you have in this luscious space. To get to know you better.”

  Gavin’s smile was like sunshine, and he wanted to bask in it, as cheesy as that might be.

  “Tell me about the toy you’re going to show me.”

  “Which one? I have a lovely case to hold them. It was a gift.”

  “You’re going to show them all to me? Excellent.” He was looking forward to it. Anyone who had a special case to hold their toys loved said toys. Took care of them.

  “I will. I haven’t unlocked it in a while.”

  “I’m honored that you’re unlocking it for me.”

  Gavin smiled, then reached for him. “Thank you for giving me a reason.”

  Rene took Gavin’s hand in his own, twisting their fingers together.

  “Shall we wander up to my closet?”

  “I thought you’d never ask.”

  “Come on, then.” Gavin gathered up their plates and took them to the kitchen sink.

  He was going to offer to help wash them up, but Gavin left them there, and he figured there was someone whose job it would be to do them. He took Gavin’s hand as they went back upstairs.

  The robe was soft, moving against his skin, exciting him, making his prick fill. Anticipation was the best aphrodisiac ever.

  Gavin opened up french doors, revealing a walk-in closet that was huge but oddly empty. There was a lovely standing chest in the back, the inlaid doors locked.

  “That’s a beautiful chest.” It was intriguing.

  “A friend of mine made it for me. It’s precious to me. It’s just—it was made with love.”

  “Your former Master.” He slid his hands along it, the craftsmanship obvious.

  “No. No, my friend Rick. He’s a good man, so talented.”

  He was glad about that. He didn’t really want Gavin to be keeping things given to him by his former Master. Especially something as wonderful and personal as this. “It’s beautiful.”

  “It is. He made it for me, promised me that one day I would share it with someone again.” Gavin actually teared up, hands trembling.

  Rene reached out automatically to comfort Gavin. He put a hand on Gavin’s shoulder and squeezed. “He was right. You will.”

  Gavin turned to him and hugged him close. Such a sweet boy.

  He wrapped his arms around Gavin and let Gavin hold him for as long as he needed. One of his jobs was support, comfort, strength.

  “When we define what this is, you’ll have to let your friend know that he was right.”

  “I will. He’ll like you, I think.”

  “Is our getting together contingent on that?”

  “No. No, I just think he’ll approve, that’s all. He’s such a good man.”

  “Cool. I don’t want to have to jump through anyone’s hoops but yours, though.”

  “The man who would have had hoops is very busy training a sub in Chicago.”

  “That’s nice and far away,” Rene noted, pleased.

  “Yes. I drove him out of the country.”

  He chuckled, then stopped. “That was a joke, yeah?”

  “No. It was bad. When the defense lawyers got wind of the fact that I was in the lifestyle, it became brutal. He lost his clients, he lost his privacy. He will always be a freak, a pervert. He writes every so often, sends pictures of his new husband, his new life.”

  “Why did they go after your friend and not your Master?” That didn’t make any sense.

  “That’s who I’m talking about. Rick is my friend. He owns the bar I play in. You’d said jumping through hoops. My former Dom, he would have been the only man who would have given you hoops.”

  “Oh, sorry, I got lost there a moment and thought we were talking about your friend Rick still. Your former Master didn’t want to stick it out with you here, eh?”

  “No. And Rick? Not a Dom. He’s a big gentle giant of a man. A teddy bear.”

  He picked up on how Gavin didn’t want to talk about the ex, so he went with it. “I’m glad you have a friend like that. Now, can we see what’s in this magical chest of yours?”

  “Yes.” Gavin stared at him. “This is incredibly intimate, isn’t it?”

  “It is. And I did ask to see one of your toys, so if you’d like me to go sit on your bed and for you to bring me just one toy, I’m happy to do that.”

  “Oh, is that better for you?”

  “I’m considering what’s better for you, Gavin.”

  “I want to share.”

  “Then share.” He smiled at Gavin, cupping his jaw. “Come on, boy. Show me.”

  Gavin smiled and nodded. He used a tiny golden key to unlock the cupboard. The doors opened to expose a line of plugs and dildos, cages and rings, a beautiful teak paddle, and a heavy set of leather cuffs. Then there were drawers.

  “This is fantastic,” Rene noted quietly. “What’s in the drawers?”

  “Jewelry. Clamps. Chains. The big drawers have ropes, spreader bars, anal beads.”

  He almost purred. “You have an amazing collection!” He was very impressed.

  “Thank you. I wanted lovely pieces.”

  “Do you have a favorite?” He wanted to know everything about Gavin. Absolutely everything.

  Gavin stepped up and opened a padded drawer. Inside was a lovely cock cage with a jeweled penis plug built in.

  “Uhn….” The noise he made was almost as obscene as the cock cage itself.

  “There is a matching anal plug,” Gavin whispered.

  “Fuck, I’m hard as diamonds here.”

  “You want to see or do you want my mouth?”

  “Both.” He wasn’t stupid; he wanted to have his cake and eat it too.

  “Yes, sir.” Gavin knelt before him.

  His attention was split between looking at what else was in the drawer in question and watching Gavin on his knees. The plug was metal and thick, fat enough to be a real challenge to take, and the jewel in the end assured no sitting at all.

  He moaned, the sound elongating as Gavin’s lips wrapped around his cock.

  There were clamps, a sheath that surrounded a sub’s cock completely. A lovely set of sounds.

  “You have wicked, wonderful needs, Gavin.”

  Gavin nodded, taking more of Rene’s prick in deep.

  “And a wonderfully wicked mouth.”

  Gavin cupped his ass, hands sliding over his skin as he sucked and swallowed. Fuck, Gavin was good at this. Very good.

  He slid his hand through Gavin’s hair, wrapping it in his fingers.

  Those pretty eyes stared up at him, warm and hungry.

  He tugged slightly, pulling Gavin’s head back. Then he slid his cock along Gavin’s tongue, pumping his hips.

  Oh my, look at that sweet cockhound. Gavin was born to be on his knees.

  He moved faster, cock going deeper, and Gavin took every inch.

  “God, Gavin…. God.” He didn’t have any other words; it was too good.

  But those words simply made Gavin redouble his efforts, head bobbing. Rene felt each pull in his balls, the tug going deep. He reached out, stroked the cock cage, imagining it on Gavin’s prick. Between that and the plug that went with it, Gavin would go insane.

  His balls tightened, pulling up against his body, and he pushed in twice more before crying out, spunk erupting from his cock. Gavin took every drop, swallowing convulsively around the tip.

  That made him shudder with aftershocks, Gavin extending his orgasm beautifully.

  “Such a good boy. Perfect mouth.”

  Gavin seemed to blossom under his praise, looking blissful as he licked Rene’s cock clean. So Rene kept murmuring softly as Gavin worshipped him.

  Every moment he spent with Gavin he was more and more sure that he wanted this, that he wanted to be Gavin’s Dom.

  “Thank you.” He cupped Gavin’s jaw, stroking his skin gently.

  He didn’t make Gavin stop as clearly the man took comfort from sucking, from worshipping his cock.

  “I could let you adore me for hours, boy. Let you kneel on a cushion and hold my cock in your lips.”

  Gavin’s moan told him he was on the right path.

  “I’d put you in the cock cage first, of course. Use both ass and penis plugs. You’ll look amazing.”

  Needy. Perfect.

  Submissive.

  He moaned, not getting soft at all. Gavin cupped his balls and rolled them, so gently.

  “You keep me hard and I’ll make love to you,” he suggested.

  Gavin moaned softly, nodded as he began to suck again.

  “Damn. You’ve got a mouth made for sucking.”

  Gavin hummed for him, slow and low, the sound vibrating against his cock.

  “I think we should take this to your bed.” Before he shot another load in Gavin’s mouth. Gavin definitely deserved to have pleasure too.

  Gav leaned back, kissing the tip of his cock. “Yes, sir.”

  He groaned happily. “You really do have the most amazing mouth. You were made for sex.”

  Gavin blushed, ducking his head. Rene slid his hand beneath Gavin’s chin and tilted it back up. “Never be ashamed of that. It makes you unique, special.”

  And he would bash any man who made this lovely sub feel less than.

  He helped Gavin up and led him over to his bed. “In the middle, boy. Spread eagle. I want to admire.”

  Gavin’s motions were sinuous, graceful—like dancing. He could imagine how much better that would be if he were wearing a plug. Yum. God, he had so many ideas, so many things he wanted to try.

  His taking-it-slow plan was beginning to shatter around the edges. He was going to have to leave soon if he didn’t want to take this to the next level. He had promised to make love to Gav, though, and he would do that first.

  Bending, he kissed the tip of Gav’s big toe.

  Gav’s chuckle was soft, gentle.

  “Ticklish?” he asked, running his fingertips up along the sole of Gavin’s foot.

  “A bit. Just a bit.”

  He ran his fingers along Gavin’s sole again, only this time he touched harder so he didn’t tickle, but caressed instead. Then he did it again on Gavin’s other foot. Gavin’s toes curled and he hummed.

  “Gonna touch you all over. Make sure you’re aware of every inch of your body.” He would take his time, sensitize Gavin everywhere before making love to him. That worked for taking it slow, right?

  He was sure it did. He wrapped his hands around both of Gavin’s ankles and stroked his skin. Bony ankles.

  The scars on the poor feet were horrifying. Sweet love. He traced the scars, then ran his hands up along Gavin’s shins and around to his calves. He grabbed them, squeezing gently.

  “Your skin is warm and smooth.”

  “I’m sorry for the marks. I’ve done everything to have them removed.”

  “They’re battle scars, eh?” No reason to be ashamed. They meant Gavin had survived.

  “Yes. Yes, they are. I have been through six surgeries.”

  “That’s incredible. And crazy.” He stroked Gavin’s knees— knowing that would be a little weird, and not caring. This was about making Gavin feel.

  “It is. But it’s over now.”

  “It is. And you lived through it, got to the other side, and I’m going to make you feel so good.” He slid his hands up along Gavin’s inner thighs, the skin so soft there.

  “Oh….” Gavin’s eyes rolled up in his head.

  “I love finding erogenous zones.” He stayed on this one, kneeling between Gavin’s legs and kissing one inner thigh, letting his hair tickle along the other.

  Gavin rolled up, shoulders leaving the mattress, the sweet body dancing on the sheets. Stunning. He turned to kiss the other side, making sure he rubbed with his head again.