He couldn’t know how thankful I was for him. River was…just one of the best kink friends a guy could ask for.
“I dunno. I keep crying and laughing,” Noa croaked. “You look funny, Sir.”
River smirked. “Makeup is just one of the things I’ll put on if it makes a sweet kid cry.”
Noa giggled at that, and he grabbed a few tissues. “I can help you.” He leaned forward and started wiping the tissues down River’s face.
I grinned at the two.
“This is my favorite community in the whole world.” Noa’s words heated me up, and I squeezed him to me. “I’m just a little afraid you’re gonna force me to stand up in front of everyone after the event and say you’re the best Sadists ever or something.”
River laughed under his breath, his face scrunched up from Noa’s helpful wiping. “We were thinking the next munch, actually. You can stand up on the table and bow down to our greatness.”
“Oh no,” my boy giggled through a groan. “Everyone will hear me!”
“That’s the point, freckles,” I chuckled.
River eased away and took over, haphazardly dragging a couple tissues over his face, but he’d need to wash off. He was still plenty pale and blotchy. Then he checked his watch.
“We have five minutes till our next couple,” he said. “I’m gonna track down Shay and give him a squeeze. You Littles are dangerous to be around.”
I knew exactly what he was feeling. The constant worry…
“Daddy?” Noa glanced at me. “I should hug him, right?”
I touched his cheek. “I think that’s best.”
He smiled and threw his arms around River, something not many Littles did. River was usually standoffish and used his twin brother as a social barrier. Though, since meeting Shay, something had softened him a bit. It was nice to see.
River grinned faintly, patted Noa’s back, and kissed his temple. “Thank you, champ. I hope we get to wrestle again sometime.”
Noa nodded quickly. “Me too, Sir. And thank you for the scariest scene ever!”
“My pleasure. Definitely my pleasure.” River chuckled and rose to his feet. “I’ll go get you your puzzle piece first.”
I turned to Noa. “And you’re gonna have to help Daddy out of this chair.”
An hour off right now would be nice, but I knew Noa was going to wanna continue with the event after. I had no doubts about that. Besides, it was only one more station. The rest would come tomorrow.
CHAPTER 15
Lucian Leroux
“You know what, darling? That was our last couple.” I loosened my tie and exhaled. It’d been a wonderful kink to host with Cam, but I needed to get out of the darkness, away from all these candles. “You can blow out the candles while I gather our things.”
He rose from the floor with grace, an exquisite sight, and obeyed without a word.
High protocol suited him well. He saw every new rule and addition as a push further down a dark hole where he existed only for me. His words. Unforgettable words.
I flipped the switch next to the door, flooding the room with regular light.
Cameron squinted and flashed me a sleepy grin after blowing out the last candle.
My chest tightened, and I strode over to him, cupping his cheeks. “You are far too beautiful sometimes.” I could see the absolute relaxation and submission in his eyes.
I was forever going to curse myself for not following my gut instinct sooner. How I’d doubted myself the last couple of years with my ex, how it’d felt so wrong to recommit and try harder to force a shipwreck afloat, when I had Cameron in my periphery at every munch, every party.
I ghosted my thumbs over his soft cheeks and dipped down and kissed him. “You don’t know how happy you make me, Cam.”
I didn’t deserve him yet, but I was going to. So help me God, I was going to be exactly what we both needed. He made me want to be a better version of myself. His mere existence forced me to face every lie I’d told myself, most recently how I was going to have a future of meaningless attachments and casual play.
KC had mocked me for it plenty, though that’d been easier to dismiss. Cam’s expression when I had suggested a casual, open arrangement for the two of us, not so much. I still remembered the hurt in his eyes, followed by a frown and a step backward. He’d eyed me up and down and had just said, “No.”
I never wanted him to look at me like that again. Like I was a stranger. Right then and there, he’d questioned everything he’d known about me.
But here we were now…rubbing our noses together as if we were starring in a romantic comedy.
“Let’s get something to eat.” I kissed him once more and drew my hands down his neck and shoulders. “We should be able to catch Noa and KC’s last scene up here too.”