by Brina Brady
“Can we agree to disagree about your actions in San Diego and move on from here?”
“I guess so. Emilio misses everyone.”
“I missed you. We’ve worked together for years, and it hurt when you left without a damn word, not to mention you took Emilio.”
“I missed you, too. I just needed some time with Emilio after the court fiasco and a timeout from you. I think we need to talk more. The other guys should have more input too.”
“Yes, I guess we both needed this timeout to see what’s important.”
“Emilio was saved by this police officer who ran off the guys who jumped him.”
“In the middle of the night? Don’t you think that story is a little fishy?”
“I met the man who took him to the hospital, and that’s what he said.”
“So he walks around the block and guys jump him for no reason? Did they take his wallet?”
“No.”
“I’m telling you that Emilio gets bored easily.”
“Oh, he’s not bored. I can assure you.”
“Okay, if you say so,” Rafe said.
“I’m happy with him.”
“That’s good news. He defended you which kind of made me jealous. But I get it.”
“He doesn’t see us in the same way. He misses you,” Kaden said.
“I’d like you two to come back. What do you say?”
“I guess we could return to Big Bear.” Kaden felt a little emotional.
“Today?”
“Why not?”
Rafe pulled out his phone and read a message.
“James wants to know if we’re both alive.”
Kaden laughed.
When Kaden entered the condo, everyone shouted, “Surprise.”
Multicolored banners draped the top of each door. Balloons were floating all around the room. A stack of presents, wrapped in smooth, shiny paper, stood in the corner of the room. A silk bow had been tied around each parcel. A huge cake, covered in thick chocolate icing and decorated with tiny rainbow sprinkles, sat in the middle of the table surrounded by brightly colored plates along with a jug of Valerik’s famous punch.
“Thanks, you guys,” Kaden said.
“It was all Rafe’s idea since he was the one who remembered your birthday,” Valerik said.
“You mean you guys came here today to celebrate my birthday?” Kaden asked.
“Well, it was twofold,” Rafe said. “We wanted you guys to return to us and what a better day to do it than on your birthday.”
Emilio found his way to Kaden smiling. “So, does this mean we’re going back?”
“It sure does. Tonight if you’re up to it.”
“I feel so much better with our talk after my bubble bath.”
“Bubble bath?” Mateo asked.
They sang happy birthday to Kaden, and he blew out all thirty-five candles.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Emilio
Three months living in Big Bear permitted Emilio to return to school. He ended up testing out of some classes and received a high school diploma. Kaden had encouraged him to begin college, but he wasn’t ready at this point. He enjoyed working with Kaden at the homeless shelter for teens. Mostly everyone was working during the day except pregnant Anouska. She and Mateo planned to leave the group and move to Russia. Mateo had accepted a teaching position in Saint Petersburg. Everyone was excited for them, but also unhappy that they were leaving soon. Rafe had told Emilio that Mateo had always dreamed of teaching abroad.
Kaden and Emilio left the shelter together, and as he started the Jeep, Kaden asked Emilio, “Are you excited about tonight?”
“Very.”
“Did you talk to Rafe?”
“No. I thought you might tell him. I was afraid he might say something negative about it and bum me out.”
“I invited him over for a drink when we get home. I kinda thought you might not tell him.”
When they reached the cabin, Rafe and Alek were sitting on the front porch steps. Kaden let everyone in. After they had made themselves comfortable in the living room, Rafe handed everyone a beer and sat beside Emilio.
“So what’s up?” Rafe asked.
“I figured I’d tell you something in person rather than you hear secondhand,” Kaden said.
“Spit it out,” Rafe said.
“I don’t like discussing my sexual relationship with Emilio, but this is something that needs to be said. Tonight, I’m going to collar him. I’d like you and Alek to attend.”
“What did you say? I didn’t hear what I thought you said, did I?” Rafe had a surprised look across his face.
“Kaden is going to collar me tonight, and we’d like you and Alek to come,” Emilio said in a clear voice.
“Is this what you want?” Rafe asked Emilio.
“Yes, I’ve been doing some scenes with Kaden, using a temporary collar for a couple of months now, and we’ve gone to some clubs too. I hope you’ll both come.”
“I see,” Rafe said without any committal. He tried to digest what they’d told him, but Emilio didn’t see any judgment one way or another.
Alek tapped Rafe’s arm and whispered something in his ear. Emilio couldn’t hear what he was saying, but he was positive it was in support of his collaring. Emilio had shared his BDSM experiences with Alek, which he and Rafe were also dabbling in too. They’d promised each other they wouldn’t mention what the other was doing to their partners. It was their secret.
Rafe said, “That’s interesting because Alek has been begging me to collar him. I didn’t know if it would work in our group setting.”
“James and Dante do,” Emilio said, shooting a smile to Alek.
“That’s true,” Rafe said.
“We’re going to have it outside in an hour. After I collar Emilio, James and Valerik are cooking dinner,” Kaden added.
“Was I the last one to find out?” Rafe asked as if he were scorched with a bad sunburn.
Kaden looked at Emilio. Kaden had told him to talk to Rafe, but Emilio had dropped the ball out of fear of rejection. He should have mentioned his inability to have that conversation with Rafe to Kaden sooner. As always, Kaden had planned ahead and invited them here in the event Emilio didn’t. Luckily, for Emilio, the others hadn’t mentioned anything to Rafe.
“It’s my fault we didn’t tell you sooner. Kaden told me to tell you, but I was afraid you wouldn’t be supportive of it. So would you come?”
“You can tell me anything. I support what makes you happy, and if this is what you want, then I’m all in. So, you really sure about this?” Rafe asked again.
“Yes. I told you we were doing some BDSM scenes and it’s what we both want.”
“Sure, we’ll be there. Are you going to mark him?” Rafe asked Kaden, looking a little uncomfortable. Alek sat closer to him.
“I’ll mark him on his bare ass. He’ll be wearing chaps. If you can’t deal with that, I understand,” Kaden said.
“Ah,” Rafe paused. “I can deal with it. Congratulations to both of you.”
***
The smell of leather from his chaps reached his nose. Emilio was so anxious he wanted to bite his nails, but Kaden had told him to stop. And Emilio didn’t want to disappoint him in any way, especially today. James and Valerik had set up the rented folding chairs. When Emilio saw his friends sitting with their protectors, his eyes filled with tears. He fisted them away.
Kaden had told Emilio to wait until he called him to stand beside him. Then there was the problem of Rafe seeing his bare ass that didn’t sit well, and he battled with wanting him there and not. He certainly didn’t want to cry, but Kaden had said it didn’t matter either way. The important part was that he was openly submitting to him. Kaden was dressed in his leather pants with a vest, and from his leather pants’ loop hung his metal cuffs.
There was no question that Kaden was the dominant partner in their sexual relationship. He was the one who took control, while Emilio was the submissive pa
rtner who avoided any form of control and preferred to have the decisions made by his Dom. Although Kaden had told him many times he was the one in control because if he used his safeword, everything stopped. Nothing would happen unless Emilio agreed.
“We invited you all here to witness Emilio’s collaring.” Kaden motioned for Emilio to stand beside him. Emilio wore leather chaps exposing his ass cheeks to everyone when he crossed to meet his hot Dom. He loved thinking of Kaden as his Dom. Their relationship seemed more permanent because they were more than protector and protectee. They were also lovers, and now they would be Dom and sub.
Their friends clapped, breaking the silence. Emilio caught Dante’s eyes and felt more secure, knowing he was there for him. He had talked Emilio through how he’d felt during his collaring by James.
Rafe and Alek sat smack in the middle on the best seats. Emilio was glad Rafe accepted and supported his relationship with Kaden, though he had worried he would not approve of their relationship. Grateful, they both smiled at him, then at each other. Alek had told him that Rafe had promised to collar him on his birthday. Liam had asked a lot of questions, so Dante had given him the BDSM book. Mateo and Anouska sat beside Rafe, side by side, holding hands, although Anouska didn’t want any part of a BDSM relationship.
Suddenly Emilio recognized his old roommate, Billy Joe, sitting with a handsome man. His rugged features were alluring with his dark hair, which glistened in the sunlight. The man was exactly what Billy Joe would have personally ordered as a partner. What was he doing here? How had he known where he was in the first place? Emilio returned Billy Joe’s smile. He was overwhelmed that Rafe or Kaden had cared enough to invite his friend to attend his collaring ceremony.
“Emilio, I’m going to collar you publicly as a sign of my acceptance of your submission to me. Are you ready to receive my mark as an outward sign of your obedience to me?” Kaden asked.
Emilio’s heart skipped a beat with excitement. “Yes, Sir.”
Kaden led Emilio to the wooden chair for his public marking; the sounds of Emilio’s chaps squeaking along with his new black boots pounding was all he could hear. No one in the audience moved; all eyes were pinned on them.
Kaden whispered in his ear, “Are you ready to bend over the back of the chair?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Emilio caught a glimpse of the blindfold and an imprinted paddle in Kaden’s hand. Emilio’s ass cheeks clenched at the sight of the leather paddle with the raised red, thick lettering in a mirror image that would imprint Kaden’s boy on his ass. Kaden had used this paddle to mark him before, so he was familiar with the pain it caused. Emilio folded his body over the back of the chair as gracefully as he could. He waited in silence. Emilio’s wish in accepting a public marking was to serve and please his Dom. Emilio didn’t want to stain the gift by crying. He would never be able to look at anyone again if he disgraced himself and his Dom in public. Kaden told him it wouldn’t matter if he had cried because the gift of submission was the main point.
No one made a peep. Emilio was at peace now because he was going to be collared shortly after his marking in front of his friends. While Emilio’s mind wandered and wasn’t paying attention, Kaden blindfolded him with a blue silk tie. The darkness helped him focus on what was at hand.
Emilio inhaled. Kaden used ties in place of cuffs to bind him as he didn’t want to trigger any memories from his past. That was what he had told Emilio.
“Stick your ass out.”
Abashed, Emilio moved his ass up as ordered. This was what he had wanted. Kaden had told him he wouldn’t have to be marked in public, but Emilio had wanted to give his marking as his gift and make Kaden proud of him.
“Don’t move.” Kaden secured the other ties to his ankles then to the legs of the chair.
Kaden ran his hand gently over his ass. “Are you ready?”
“Yes, Sir.” His voice trembled from anticipation.
Kaden slammed the paddle down on his ass. Emilio clenched his ass cheeks, preparing for the next blow. The second one came down harder in the same spot. Emilio had a difficult time breathing evenly. Number three struck once again in the exact same spot. Tears moistened his blindfold from the pain and the horrifying sound the paddle made against his ass. It really hurt, but he could get through it. The sound of the paddle meeting his ass and his chaps was almost as bad as the pain from the paddle.
After a number of swats, Kaden whispered, “It’s over.”
Emilio sighed with relief that he made it through the marking.
Kaden set the paddle on the chair.
“You’re mine, boy,” Kaden whispered in his ear. “I’m so proud of you.”
Kaden untied the blindfold and placed it on the chair, then undid the ties from his wrists and ankles. He helped Emilio stand up and led him back to the middle area. Kaden opened the shiny gold box he held. Emilio gasped with delight at the black leather collar engraved with his name, gleaming studs sparkling. He noticed a diamond in the center. Kaden must have added that last night when he was sleeping. This was Emilio’s real collar which meant so much to him.
Reaching out, Kaden placed the collar around Emilio’s neck. Kaden’s beautiful blue eyes looked into Emilio’s eyes with love.
“Emilio,” Kaden said. “I promise to love and protect you. I’ll never violate your trust in me. This collar will be a symbol of your submission.”
He kissed Emilio’s lips.
His friends ran up to Emilio and hugged him. Then Billy Joe wrapped his arms around him. He was a cute blond with blue eyes and about the same size as Emilio.
“How did you find me?” Emilio asked.
“It’s a long story, but I had to get a protector because Marco threatened me. Kaden found me a protector in one of the other Gay Protection Society groups,” Billy Joe said.
“How did he even know about you?” Emilio asked.
“He saw my messages on your phone and called me.”
“I’m so happy to see you and mostly because you’re safe.”
“I have some really good news.”
“Tell me,” Emilio said.
“Kaden invited my protector and me to join your group so we can see each other every day.”
“Wow!” Emilio hugged Billy Joe again.
Then Dante came up to him. “Now, you’re a sub like me. We’re sort of brothers.”
“Yes, we are. We have lots to talk about.”
“Hey, I’m going to get collared soon,” Alek chimed.
“Then you’ll be our brother too,” Dante said.
“What am I, chopped liver?” Liam asked.
“You’re our cute, red-haired brother,” Emilio said.
James told them dinner was ready. Everyone followed him out to the picnic table and took a seat. Kaden had a pillow ready for Emilio to sit on. Dante poured everyone punch and then he sat down beside James.
“It was a beautiful collaring,” James said. “I’m glad you two are together.”
After they finished eating dinner, the boys cleared the table and moved the chairs to around the fire pit. Valerik made the fire with Liam. Emilio noticed Mateo and Anouska had left.
“You two can bring your chairs up here so we can see your gifts,” James said.
The first thing Emilio did was hug Kaden before they sat down. “I’m so happy today because of my collaring, but you took care of my roommate, and he said they’ll be joining our group. I can’t tell you how much that means to me.” Tears rolled down his cheeks.
“I wanted to make you happy, and I figured you’d enjoy seeing your friend again. And when I found out Mateo and Anouska were leaving, Rafe and I thought it would be the perfect time to invite Billy Joe and his protector to our group.”
“Okay, time for gifts,” James said.
“We wanted to do something for you guys, so indulge us,” Valerik said.
They opened the large bag. Spanking implements and bondage equipment overflowed the bag. They thanked everyone for the gifts.
“I love you,” Emilio said.
“I love you too. This is just the beginning of us. We have a lot to look forward in the future.”
The End
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I am from Huntington Beach, Ca. I taught various subjects at a Continuation High School in Los Angeles, California for 27 years. I obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in history, Secondary Social Science Credential and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Reading and Secondary Education from California State University, Long Beach. I also enrolled in some creative writing classes at UCLA.
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OTHER BOOKS
RENT ME SERIES 1-5
“Rent Me” by Brina Brady (Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/Rent-Me-Book-ebook/dp/B00KLNSLBQ/
“Own Me” by Brina Brady (Book 2)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VDQLDZ6/
“Make Me” by Brina Brady (Book 3)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B016B6MZZY/
“For Me” by Brina Brady (Book 4)
http://www.amazon.com/Me-Christmas-Story-Rent-ebook/dp/B018PWUVFI/
“Find Me” by Brina Brady (Book 5)
https://www.amazon.com/Find-Me-Rent-Book-ebook/dp/B01MT9S6PD/
BEND OVER SERIES 1-4
“Bend Over” by Brina Brady (Book 1)
http://www.amazon.com/Bend-Over-Book-ebook/dp/B00P2XO5YM/
“Don’t Throw Me Away” by Brina Brady (Book 2)
