by Xenia Melzer
Dean knew he was staring. His mouth was hanging open. Richard smiled, sweetly and full of love. “That doesn’t mean we can’t have more or that I won’t play with you spontaneously when the opportunity presents itself. This is simply a basic guideline, and I’m keeping it simple so we can reach our goals. I also think we should have at least two dates per month. Dates where Emily is included. We could go to the zoo or wherever children her age like to play.”
Now it was official. The lack of sleep had caused Dean to hallucinate. Richard had not just suggested to do something together with Emily. “Don’t look so startled. I’m not a heartless bastard.”
Dean grabbed Richard’s hands and kissed the tips of his fingers reverently. “I know,” he whispered. “This is just—it’s all I’ve been wishing for, and you’re giving it to me just like that. I don’t know what to say.”
Richard chuckled and kissed Dean on the lips. “Then say nothing and listen to what else I’ve cooked up. I was thinking we also need another safeword.”
“Why?” Dean sounded clearly confused.
“Because, my love, part of what went wrong was a lack of communication. Or, to be more precise, the lack of getting our points across. We did talk, yes, but neither of us was able to convey the meaning of our words. We can’t let that happen again.”
“What has a safeword got to do with our inability to put our feelings into words?”
Richard grinned. “We choose a word each of us can use at any time when we get the impression that something is not working out right. It’s like a time-out card. When we say that particular word, we both know that there is a problem. Then we each go into our corner and think about what is wrong. After that, we try to talk it out. If that doesn’t help, we get a referee.”
Dean frowned. “A referee?”
“Somebody who listens to both our sides and hopefully helps us see clearer.”
“Any particular prey in mind? I’m sure there are tons of people out there who can’t wait to listen to our relationship problems.”
“I love it when you get all sarcastic and snarly. Makes my hand itch to give you a spanking. And yes, I do have two candidates in mind. My father, for the more domestic situations, and Martin, for anything to do with BDSM. How does that sound?”
“Like a well-thought plan. I’m in on it. So what’s the word? Given how you’ve already worked out everything else, I assume you have one in mind?”
“If you must ask…. How about taraxacum?”
“The Latin word for dandelion? Good idea. We’re not likely to mention it on accident, and it does have a certain symbolism. Get rid of the weed in our relationship.”
Richard pulled Dean close and kissed him. “Taraxacum it is. Also, for the record, I would have never thought about that metaphor. I just like the sound of the word.”
“You’re something and then more. Have I mentioned how much I love you?”
“Only a few times, boy. I’m going to put all the changes in the contract, and then we can sign it anew. I’m looking forward to that.”
Richard straightened up, and the Dom tone crept into his voice. “Now tell me everything about that house.”
Chapter 25
“IT LOOKS nice enough.” Richard didn’t sound as if “nice enough” was something to be desired. Dean rolled his eyes but was careful to do it when Richard wasn’t looking his way. It had been four days since their spectacular reconciliation, and things were almost as perfect as they had been before Emily’s arrival.
Richard was trying his best to get to know Emily. He had even started to change her diapers, feed her, and play with her, which she enjoyed a lot. Richard had also discovered, much to his apparent surprise, that he could redirect his constant urge to dominate and care for Dean into looking after the little girl. Not that Emily could be dominated—she was more like a bag of fleas—but Richard had quickly started worrying about her future and planning for every eventuality with the same determination he used for his and Dean’s scenes. This redirection of Richard’s energy proved healthy for their relationship, even though looking for the perfect house was turning into an odyssey. After reading a bunch of books on childcare, Richard had decided that Emily needed proximity to nature to gain her full potential.
Dean chuckled inwardly. The indifference Richard had shown before was now completely replaced by overcaring. Not that Dean minded. He was so happy, he wanted to scream it from the rooftops.
“Dean? Are you coming?” Richard’s voice was a little impatient. This was only the second house they were looking at today, but there were three more on the list, and it didn’t seem as if this one would be the winner. It wouldn’t even make it into the second round.
Dean smiled. “Coming.” When Dean had told Richard about the house he wanted to purchase, Richard hadn’t been as averse to the idea as Dean had thought he would be. On the contrary, he had immediately faxed the documents to his lawyers to find out if the purchase could be accelerated, which it could not. But after they had visited the house together, Richard decided it wasn’t what they wanted anyway. Dean stepped back from the contract, and now here they were, hunting for the perfect house to raise a little girl.
Dean glanced at the list Richard had printed out for every house they were going to visit. It had two columns, one for positive and one for negative things, as well as differently labeled boxes. “First impression,” “Size,” “Proximity to educational facilities,” “Number of rooms,” and so on and so forth. There was no box for the actual price, because that wasn’t something Richard bothered with. If they liked it, they would buy it.
Dean glanced around and put a cross in the negative column under “First impression.” The house was neat, well-groomed, and obviously prepared for potential buyers, but it was also cold and soulless. When Dean imagined Emily running around on the perfectly manicured lawn, he couldn’t suppress a shudder.
“I see we’re on the same page concerning this monstrosity.” Richard’s breath tasted of coffee and cinnamon. Dean accepted the deep kiss and slung his arms around his lover’s waist.
“Will we ever find the perfect home?”
Richard sighed. “We will. But it might take us more time than I had assumed.”
Dean snuggled closer into Richard’s embrace. “I’m not sure if I still want it when it’s such a hassle.”
“I know what you mean. Looking for something too hard can make it slip away completely.” Richard stroked Dean’s back. “Let’s look at the houses we have scheduled for today. If we don’t find one that fits our needs, we’ll go back home and wait for our house to come to us. How does that sound?”
“Like a perfect plan.”
Dean was about to kiss Richard again when his cell phone rang. With a sigh, Dean pulled it out, recognizing the ringtone as Peyton’s.
“Peyton?”
“Hi there, sunshine. Why so grumpy?”
“House hunting.”
Dean didn’t have to say more. Peyton made a sympathetic noise.
“Aww, poor baby. But rejoice, I have the solution to all your problems. Come to the address I texted you.”
“What, now?”
“No, in ten years. Of course now.”
Peyton managed to sound indignant, as if Dean had offended him with his moronic question.
“Peyton, you are aware that Richard and I are on a tight schedule to visit three more houses today? We can’t just—”
“Trust me, Dean. You can.” Peyton hung up. Dean groaned in frustration, knowing that he and Richard would go wherever Peyton wanted them to go because his instincts about everything interior living had yet to fail them.
Richard raised a brow. Dean’s cell beeped, announcing an incoming text. When he looked at it, it was an address on the outskirts of the city. Dean showed the screen to Richard.
“Peyton wants to meet us there. He claims to have found our house.”
Richard groaned the same way Dean had but climbed into the car nevertheless.
> AFTER A forty-minute drive, they pulled up in front of a jungle. Dean looked around as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. He and Richard jumped from the car, both completely caught up in what Peyton had found. The interior designer approached them with a smile. “Did I promise too much?”
Dean was still busy staring, so Richard answered for him. “Since I don’t know what you promised, I can’t tell. What is this, Peyton?”
Richard gestured toward the grand but completely run-down house. It stood on top of a slight incline, looking out over the biggest freaking congregation of trees, weeds, and tall grass one could imagine, complete with a crumbling brick wall surrounding the perimeter. There were no other houses nearby, the closest estate almost half a mile down the road.
Dean was already opening the creaking metal gate, his gaze fixed on the house that was flanked by gigantic oak trees. “It’s perfect.”
Richard stepped next to his boy and had to admit that Dean was right. They had found their house, even though, at the moment, it was more of a charity case than anything else. “How long will it take to fix all this?” Richard looked expectantly at Peyton.
“Well, the bones of the house are still good. Of course, there’s a lot to be done. New plumbing, the roof needs fixing, you have to decide which walls you want to be gone, where you want your playroom, and where the nursery should be. Depending on how much money you want to invest, between three and nine months.”
Richard chuckled. “You know my pockets are deep, Peyton. We want to move in as soon as possible.”
“Then I better call Mike and Jeff. Good news is, the house itself and all that lovely space are probably the least expensive part of this bill.”
Richard waved Peyton off. His boy was tugging him along the weed-covered gravel path toward the house, his excitement radiating off his body like a bonfire. And Richard could understand it, felt it himself. This house was something special. It had character, a gothic charm that called to them both.
They reached the huge entrance door by climbing three partly broken marble steps. The door itself was made of oak that apparently had never seen any paint. Dean trailed his fingertips over the withered wood and brought his nose close enough to inhale the scent. Richard did the same and smiled. He knew what his boy was thinking. “I’d like to keep that door. But I promise, I’ll find one just as old and have it commissioned into a spanking bench just for you.”
Dean shuddered visibly. His breath hitched. “Oh yes, please.” He grinned and pressed a quick kiss on Richard’s cheek. “You know me too well.”
“That’s my pleasure, boy. Shall we?”
They pushed the door open and entered a huge hall with twin stairs leading up to the second floor. The wooden railing had peeling paint and some of the steps were broken, as well as about half the marble tiles on the floor. To their right, a glass door in a withered frame led into a room with a window that looked out into the jungle surrounding the house. To their left was the kitchen, a run-down space with lots of promise.
“It needs some work done, but I think it’s perfect for you two, or shall I say three?”
Peyton sounded utterly smug, but Richard decided to let it slip for once. The designer had earned a little smugness.
“We want as much of the old substance preserved as possible. Like the door and the railing. No paint, just the natural wood.”
Peyton nodded. “Understood. Mike and Jeff are on their way. Have you decided where the playroom should be?”
Richard shrugged. “We just entered the house. I have no idea of the layout.”
As if he had been waiting for that cue, Peyton produced a blueprint of the house and laid it out on a wobbly old table that had apparently been forgotten when the previous owners moved out. “In my opinion, you can either go high or low. I can turn the attic into a playroom, or part of the first floor. It’s your choice.”
Richard didn’t have to look at Dean to know what his boy wanted. “The attic. With huge skylights.”
Peyton grinned. “Excellent choice. The master bedroom is here”—he pointed to a spot on the blueprints—“and I can build you a walk-in bathroom right here.” He pointed at the squares on the blueprint. “Then we can set up Emily’s room here, which leaves two office rooms and a guest room on the first floor. The attic will be the playroom, of course complete with bathroom, Jacuzzi, and a roof garden when you want to get kinky under the night sky.”
Richard chuckled. He loved how well Peyton knew their needs.
“What about the yard?” Dean looked through the open door into the wilderness surrounding the house. “I kind of like it the way it is.”
Richard put his hand on the small of Dean’s back. “It does have a certain charm, but we won’t be able to find Emily if she decides to hide out there. It has to be at least a little trimmed.”
“Can we keep the trees?”
Richard looked at Peyton. The designer held up his hands. “I’m not a landscaper, but I think it shouldn’t be a problem. They’ll have to check if the trees are still safe, though. But Jeff knows a very good landscaper who should be able to work out the details with you.”
Richard nodded. He trusted Jeff’s judgment of people way more than he did Peyton’s.
“Then see to it that Jeff brings that landscaper in. I assume I can leave this house in your capable hands?”
Peyton grinned. “Of course. I’ll go over the plans and talk to you later about any decisions where you need to be involved.”
Richard nodded and patted Peyton’s shoulder. Even though the man could be a pain in the ass sometimes, he was also a reliable contractor who always made sure that his clients’ wishes were met. “Thank you, Peyton. I appreciate it.”
Peyton rolled his eyes and focused on the blueprints again. Richard took Dean’s hand, and together, they explored their new home.
Chapter 26
Three months later.
DEAN WAS sitting at his computer, trying to figure out how to get Laura Ashbourne out of an ingenious trap her archenemy Sheila, aka the Black Rose, had created, when he heard a happy squeal from the living room.
“Dada!”
Dean smiled, saved the file, and rushed out of his office room to greet his master. As usual, Emily had beaten him to it. At almost ten months, she was like a whirlwind on all fours and already making attempts at standing. Dean watched as Richard picked up a laughing Emily and whirled her around before planting a kiss on her rosy cheeks. Then he settled her against his right hip like a pro and extended his free arm toward Dean. Smiling, Dean approached his master, his lover, sank into his embrace, and accepted the searing kiss.
“Welcome home, Master.”
“It’s good to be back, boy.”
Richard had been on a business trip for the last three days. Dean and Emily had missed him like crazy. Behind them, Julio got up from the floor where he had been playing with Emily.
“Hi, Richard. I’m leaving you three now.” He turned to Dean. “You sure you’re covered for tomorrow?”
Dean smiled back. “Yeah. Aaron is coming over in the afternoon so Richard and I can have some adult time.”
Julio winked knowingly. “Have fun.”
“Get out!” Laughing, Dean pushed Julio in the general direction of the door. The nanny managed to press a quick kiss on Emily’s forehead before he left the apartment. Richard sat down on the couch with Emily in his lap, tickling her with his fingers. While Dean listened to her happy giggles, he silently thanked the gods for having sent Richard his way. During the last three months, Richard had embraced their new life wholly and had turned into the best father a child could hope for. He even went on night duty now and then, and to both their surprise, their love life was thriving. Of course, there had been changes. Most of the spontaneity of the time before Emily came to them was gone, and sometimes Dean missed the old days. Then again, both he and Richard had learned to appreciate the predictability of a well-planned and scheduled seduction. Their days had become more struct
ured, with Richard trying to be home at appointed times, which gave Dean a heightened sense of security. Once Richard had realized that the routines Emily forced on them were actually good for their D/s relationship, he had sat down and put out some ground rules.
Another thing they had learned—and which surprised them a lot—was that babies loved routines as well. Thanks to Richard’s efforts, Emily was now sleeping a solid ten hours every night without waking up once. Julio had explained to them that most babies thrived on structures and set routines, a knowledge that made it easy for Richard to sink into his new double role as Dom and father.
Dean sat down at Richard’s feet, took off his shoes and socks, and gave him a foot rub. Richard groaned in appreciation. “Dean, so good.”
“I’m glad you like it. How was your trip, Master?”
Richard groaned some more. “Exhausting but successful. We found the perfect place for the new club in Berlin, and all the contracts are signed. If everything goes as planned, we will open next year.”
“That’s good news.” Dean started working on the other foot. “I’m almost finished with my next Laura book, and I have an idea for a comedy. Oh, and Peyton called. The house is almost finished, and he wants to show us everything.”
“Excellent. We can go tomorrow, take Emily with us.”
“Then we have to ask Aaron as well.”
Richard looked puzzled for a moment before realization dawned. “You’re right. We can’t inspect the playroom with Emily around.”
They both took great pains to keep the kinky side of their relationship from Emily. Although she couldn’t understand yet, Dean and Richard thought it better to get used to keeping their sexual preferences from her. Once she was old enough, they would explain everything to her, but until then, the door to the playroom would be secured with not only a lock but also with a handprint identification pad.
