by Xenia Melzer
They had also talked to Julio about Dean calling Richard Sir or Master and Richard referring to Dean as boy. To their mutual relief, Julio had just shrugged. “It’s like other couples calling each other darling and honey. Emily will grow up knowing this is an endearment. Don’t worry about it.”
Dean put down Richard’s foot and smiled happily. Everything was perfect. Richard chuckled. “Such a blissful expression, boy, and I haven’t even mentioned anything kinky.”
“You don’t have to. I’m so happy, I could scream—not that I don’t like you getting kinky,” Dean added hastily when he saw Richard’s eyes light up with predatory intent. His master leaned back, sprawling Emily over his broad chest.
“What do you think, little princess? Shall I make your Daddy pay for his little slip?”
Emily waggled her little fingers and grabbed Richard’s nose. “Dada!” she exclaimed proudly. Richard lifted her up to drop a kiss on her forehead.
“Aren’t you the cutest thing around, princess?”
“Dada!”
“Come here, boy.” Richard held out his hand, and Dean rose gracefully to his feet. He snuggled close to his lover, tickling Emily in the ribs when she reached for him. Richard pulled Dean close, nuzzling his neck. “I’ve been thinking about getting a kitten. The house is certainly big enough, and it would be nice to have something furry running around.”
“Why don’t you buy her a pony? The yard is big enough.” Dean tried his level best to keep the sarcasm out of his voice and failed miserably. Richard pinched his left nipple through the shirt, rubbing the tip when it grew hard. Dean tried to flinch back but had nowhere to go.
“Ouch!”
“That should teach you to be more respectful toward your Dom. And just for the record, if Emily wants a pony, she’ll get one, but I’m aware that she has to be old enough.”
“I was just teasing, Master. I think the kitten is a great idea. Do you want to get one from the shelter or from a breeder?”
Richard pinched Dean’s nipple again, biting his earlobe at the same time. “Don’t think you can distract me, boy. Once Emily is in bed, I’m going to take my sweet time punishing you. I think you need a firm spanking to remind you of who is the boss around here.” Richard paused with an evil grin on his face. “And I think we should get a kitten from the shelter.”
Dean groaned in anticipation. “You’re a cruel man, Master.”
Richard bent down and kissed Dean deeply. “I know.”
THE NEXT day, they met with Aaron at their new house. When they got out of the car, they couldn’t stop staring in awe. The crumbling stone wall surrounding the property had been repaired and the formerly rusty metal gate returned to its former glory. On their approach, it swung open to reveal a gravel path now free of weeds and broad enough to let a car through. Thor and Donar went off to explore the huge yard whose wild state had not been tamed, but slightly altered.
The trees still guarded the estate, and in many places, the bougainvillea and high grass had been left untouched. In others, a certain order could be detected. In a clearing, the landscaper had set up a playground with swings, a teeter-totter, a slide, and a sandpit. There was also a stone basin where fresh water welled up in the middle and could be directed through three different openings that all had open pipes attached. With wooden planks of different sizes, the water could be staunched and released. There were buckets and sieves and wooden ladles to move the water around. It was a perfect playground for children.
Richard’s father took the spot in and whistled. “Your landscaper is a genius. And he knows what children like.”
Richard grinned broadly. “Yes, she is pretty good.”
His father let the patronization slip, too busy taking the yard and the view of the house in. Emily was squirming in Richard’s arms. When he sat her down, she crawled over to the sandpit, looking expectantly at her grandfather. He smiled. “You two go on and inspect the house. Emily and I are here.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Richard slung his arm around Dean’s shoulders and led him to the front door. When they climbed the marble steps that were still broken but had been set together again like a big puzzle, Richard squeezed Dean’s ass. Dean yelped at the sting. “Master!”
Richard grinned, a steely glint in his eyes. “Complaining, boy?”
Dean gulped. “No, Master. Never. Please forgive me.”
Richard stepped next to Dean and kissed him on the lips. “I’ll think about it.”
Before Dean could answer or plead some more, the door opened and Peyton stared at them. “Keep the kinky stuff for after the tour.”
“Good day to you too, Peyton.” Richard didn’t let the interior designer ruffle his feathers. “Show us around.”
Peyton huffed, trying to keep up an indignant front, but failed miserably. He radiated excitement as he bounced into the hall in front of them. “Ta-dahh!”
Richard and Dean stood there and stared, the same way they had done in the yard. Richard was the first to get his speech back. “You really are a genius, Peyton.”
“I know. And you haven’t seen the best parts yet.”
If Peyton had sounded more pleased, he would have started purring. “As you can see, Jeff and Mike were able to preserve almost all the original materials.” Peyton gestured toward the handrail on the twin stairs and the wooden frames on the doors and windows. “They took off all the old paint and put in new glass so the house is insulated according to the latest standards. It’s also burglarproof with a high-tech security system provided by Martin, but you know that. The wood floors have also been cleaned and sanded. That nice smell is from the oil they used.”
Peyton led Richard and Dean to the kitchen. “I went with the style of the old kitchen. I know you’re probably never going to use it, but the kitchen is the heart of the home and I couldn’t do less than the best for you. So top-line appliances all around. I had to bring some new wood in here to get the contrast I wanted.”
Richard looked in amazement at the kitchen wonderland Peyton had created. The fronts of the cupboards and drawers were made from old, silver-gray fir with wormholes in it. Richard furrowed a brow.
“When I say new wood, I mean wood we couldn’t get from the house. It took me almost a week to hunt those boards down. Luckily, I heard of the demolition of an old house only a few miles outside Miami and was in time to get the boards. They wanted to throw them away, can you imagine that?” Peyton shook his head at the stupidity of humankind in general. “Anyway, with the glass and the steel, it makes for a nice look, don’t you think?”
“It’s perfect, Peyton. Beautiful.” Dean smiled at his friend. The designer had outdone himself this time.
“Then come on, you have to see the second floor and, of course, the attic.”
Richard and Dean followed Peyton upstairs to marvel at Emily’s nursery/playroom that was both modern and retro style. They gaped at their master bedroom, where one wall was decorated with wooden planks in different states of decay while the others remained bare. The floor had hand-scraped hickory planks, and the bedframe was covered in black leather with discreetly hidden hooks for chains and cuffs at all the right places. The attached bathroom was a symphony in warm earth colors with a grand view of the backyard.
But it was the playroom in the attic that made Richard add another zero to Peyton’s tip. Most of the light came through the skylights in the roof. Peyton had used the roof pitch to full advantage, with built-in wardrobes on the low sides of the walls. The St. Andrew’s cross, spanking bench, and other furniture for torture were strategically placed around the space, and Richard realized he could have a view of the yard and the sky from each of them. The huge bed stood a little aside, directly under a smaller skylight.
Out on the roof garden, Peyton had installed a Jacuzzi and another bed with a retractable canopy. Dean squeezed Richard’s hand, and he could smell his boy’s arousal. His need had to be almost as great as his own.
“Peyton, you tota
lly outdid yourself. This is beyond perfect.”
Richard looked at the designer who had not only found their home for them, but had also made it perfect. Peyton blushed a little bit. “It was my pleasure.” A grin stole over his face. “Besides, it’s a good thing you’re so overwhelmed. That will make it easier for you to pay the bill.”
Richard shrugged. He had no illusions concerning the amount of money he’d have to spend on the place. He also didn’t regret even one penny. This place was their home, the place Emily would grow up in. He had more than enough money, and compared to the joy he found with his boy and his daughter, it didn’t hold as much allure.
Being rich was nice. Being able to recognize what truly made you rich was even nicer.
“It’s fine, Peyton. I didn’t expect this to be cheap. You did an excellent job, and you were even faster than I had anticipated. When can we move in?”
“Give me one more week for a few minor tweaks.”
“What do you think, boy?” Richard kissed Dean on the cheek. “Can we wait one more week?”
Dean smiled happily. “We can. But I wouldn’t waste that week with waiting. I’d say we have a lot of packing to do. And a kitten to find.”
“My lovely boy. Let’s get started, then.”
Chapter 27
“WELCOME TO our new home!”
Dean stepped aside to let Leeland enter the house. He was one of the first guests to arrive for their housewarming party, and Dean couldn’t wait to show his friend around.
“Dean, this is awesome!”
“Thank you, Leeland.” Richard sauntered over from the kitchen where he had checked on the catering. Not that it had been necessary—Mamma knew what she was doing—but he had managed to steal a bite or maybe two, and that made him happy.
Leeland had automatically averted his gaze, used to their interactions at Whisper.
Richard shook his head. “Don’t, Leeland. This is a normal party tonight. No Doms and subs, just friends. Speaking of which, can I talk to you for a moment?”
Leeland nodded a bit insecurely and followed Richard into the spacious living room. Richard smiled at the beautiful man. “I wanted to thank you, Leeland. You were there for Dean when I had my head stuck up my ass. I don’t know how Dean would have fared without you.”
Leeland smiled back. “Dean is my friend. That’s what friends are for. There’s no need to thank me.”
“I’m doing it nevertheless. And I want you to accept this.” Richard held out an envelope to Leeland, who took it tentatively. “I know you are a proud man and that you are fully capable of taking care of yourself, but I wanted to express my gratitude by helping you the way you helped my boy.”
With furrowed brows, Leeland opened the envelope and gasped when he read the content. He stared for a long time at the deed in his name to a five-room apartment located in the Keys area. When he looked up, his almond-shaped eyes twinkled in amusement. “I’d say you don’t have to go to so much trouble and give me something so valuable, but I know that this won’t make even the slightest dent in your bank account, which is why I’m going to accept your noble gift with gratitude. Thank you, Richard. This is much appreciated.”
He took a deep breath. “Just for the record, I would have helped Dean no matter what. And I will keep on doing so, without expecting thanks in material form, but I might call in a favor in the form of nonmaterial help someday.”
Richard slapped Leeland’s back. “And you shall have whatever you need. Thank you, again, Leeland.”
“No problem, Richard.”
“Are you two done in here?” Dean poked his head through the glass door. “The other guests are arriving, and they’re asking for you, Master.”
Richard went to his boy. “I’m here.”
They greeted Julio, Jonathan, Martin and Olivia, Peyton, Mike and Jeff, and Richard’s father, who handed them Emily. She had spent the day with her grandfather so that Richard and Dean could prepare for the party. When Richard took her in his arms, she snuggled against his neck, clearly tired. Dean looked at his father-in-law. “What have you done to her?”
The general laughed. “You better ask what she has done to me! We spent the entire day outside. She just didn’t want to go in, and she missed her lunch nap. I tried, but she didn’t want to sleep at all.”
Richard kissed Dean on the temple. “That’s a good thing. If we manage to keep her awake for another hour or so, we might get lucky, and she’ll sleep till eight tomorrow.”
“That would be nice!” Dean beamed.
“Ahem, I don’t want to interrupt, but I think the dogs have just killed the kittens.” Martin sounded worried and gestured toward the still-open entrance where Donar and Thor stood, both with a limp feline body dangling from their snouts. The other guests looked horrified as well, but Aaron, Richard, and Dean only chuckled.
“Don’t worry,” Richard said. “They’re just playing.”
“Bit of rough play, don’t you think?” Olivia muttered behind them.
Richard’s father winked at her. “Watch.”
They all watched as the dogs strode in with the kittens and sauntered to a pile of pillows and blankets under the stairs. They dropped their booty and flopped down next to each other. The kittens shook their little paws and made mewling sounds while they started climbing the two dogs, looking for the perfect spot to lie down. The black kitten with the white dot on the forehead was the first to settle, digging its tiny claws into Donar’s thick fur until it curled up in the crook between his shoulder and belly. The tabby took a little longer until it stretched out on Thor’s belly, purring loudly. The two dogs didn’t move, and when the kittens had settled, they lowered their heads and closed their eyes.
“When those four first met, we thought it would end in tragedy.” Richard sounded amused. “The dogs bounced in, saw the kittens, and went straight for them. We had that meeting planned carefully, but the dogs were simply faster than us. Anyway, they approached Wilma and Fred, and we all thought they would eat them then and there. Instead, Wilma and Fred started hissing, puffing out their fur like they were already grown cats, and when the dogs got close enough, they swiped them with their little claws. They didn’t hurt them, but I guess their show of bravery impressed Donar and Thor, because from then on, they were as thick as thieves.”
They all looked at the serene picture in front of them. “Cozy,” Olivia muttered under her breath. Richard flashed her a quick smile before he ushered his guests into the living room. “Make yourself comfortable. The food will be served right away.”
As if on cue, the two waiters Mamma had brought with her entered the space and started placing plates laden with antipasti, baskets filled with fresh bruschetta bread, as well as bottles of wine and water on the tables. Everybody inhaled the delicious aroma of the different foods. “Enjoy your meal.” Richard spread his arms in an inviting gesture.
After the antipasti, Mamma’s waiters served five different pasta dishes, grilled scampi and octopus, and saltimbocca. Dessert consisted of tiramisu, panna cotta, and fruit salad. When Dean put Emily to bed after they had all eaten, Martin met Richard at the little bar Peyton had built into one corner of the living room.
“You look good, Richard. Content.”
Richard smiled at his friend and business partner. “I am. Content, I mean. And genuinely happy.”
“You sound surprised.”
“Well, it’s definitely not what I had expected. When Emily came into our life, I was afraid to lose all the freedom and good things I had with Dean. And I’m not going to lie to you, I still miss going spontaneously on trips with my boy.”
“I’m sensing a ‘but’ here.” Martin lifted a brow.
Richard poured him some wine and nodded. “There is indeed a ‘but.’ Before Emily, everything I had with Dean, I took for granted. Going on trips, having sex whenever and wherever and however I pleased. Basically doing what I wanted to do. I never questioned our lifestyle. It was what we did. Now I’m grateful
when we have an entire evening to ourselves, and I’m willing to get down on my knees for a night of unrestrained sex where we don’t have to keep in mind that we have to get up at six in the morning. Granted, I don’t share as many scenes with Dean as we did before, but they are even more intense now. This feeling that he trusts me not only with his own life but with that of Emily as well—it pushes all my Dom buttons. I’m truly happy.”
“Amen to that.” Martin emptied his glass. “Listening to you makes my own love life look even sadder.”
Richard refilled Martin’s glass. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“There’s not a lot to talk about.” Martin sighed. “It’s the same as always. I just can’t find a boy who is willing to stay with me, not with my money. I had two dates with a guy called Rufus. He was the perfect little twink, airheaded, a little clumsy, absolutely stunning in the one scene we did together. We sat down to talk about a six-month contract, but when I mentioned that I wanted him to stay at home and let me provide for him, he got downright angry. Told me he would never mooch off a guy no matter how much money he had. I couldn’t explain to him that I didn’t think he would. He was out the door in under five minutes.”
Richard shook his head. “And apparently, he was a good guy with no intention to use you for your money. Perhaps you should rethink that particular hard limit of yours. Would it really be so bad if your boy earned some money for himself?”
“That’s not the point and you know it, Richard. I’m not asking them to stop working and keep everything on hold for me. I would pay the monthly amount they would earn in their job into a trust they could use when things don’t work out between us. Rufus wasn’t impressed. He said he wanted to be more than a burden. That he wants a Dom who is proud of all of his achievements.”
“And he’s not wrong. Especially if he’s as airheaded as you said. Then everything in his job must be an achievement for him. Taking that away—I can see how that would make him feel unappreciated.”
