chef and walked out into the Dom’s dining room. Bull was in his black leathers, and Caden wore a grey collared shirt and a grey sweater with black slacks.
“Don’t you look preppy?” Reed said as the came over to the table. “Join me. You know you can wear your leathers to work.”
“I’d rather meet with the business people without them seeing kinky bastard. It sucks, but I’ll get more respect that way.” Caden sat down and slid over making room for Bull.
“We’re going to have to put in a bigger table so Caden here can sit with us when he offers a contract to Masato,” Bull told Reed.
“I’m not offering anyone, anything just yet. We’ve only played once,” Caden protested.
“But you’ve been eyeing each other up since the wedding,” Bull said, laughing.
Reed added, “Too true and now the subs are involved. Bull, we sit with the walking dead, he just doesn’t have the sense to lie down yet.”
Caden said, “Asshole,” under his breath. Reed cracked up.
“So is the beauty in question showing up this evening?” Reed asked.
Caden blushed.
“He is beautiful, so exotic and mysterious looking. What are you going to use?” Reed asked.
“I went to my storage locker last night and took out a cat-of-nine-tails that thuds and stings. I need to know if he can take what I give out,” Caden said honestly.
“He can take it. Masato did demos and lessons with Bull, those were rough. He didn’t come in for three days afterward. I don’t think you’re out to hurt him like that, not if you want that tight little ass later,” Reed said.
Bull tapped his cheek to get his attention. “Did you reserve Room One?”
“Yeah, for five until ten pm. One of the bouncers wrote it down in the book. I’m paying extra to have oysters and a shrimp platter plus some mussels in white wine and the potato skins he loves in the dining room, before the scene. I’m going to feed him some finger foods first and then after he’s digested the food, we’ll start. For afterward, I ordered some lasagna with a nice dry red wine and Italian bread. We’ll end the meal with white and milk chocolate covered strawberries and an aperitif.”
Bull said, “Sounds nice, but are you sure blowing a wad of cash for what is only your second scene together is a good idea?”
Caden smiled thinking of the small gift he had for Masato, his old dog tags. Back in the day, after discharge, gay soldiers exchanged dog tags like diamond rings . I’ll feel better with those around his neck marking him as taken until I know enough about him to collar him.
“You’ve got that look on your face. I’ll start looking for collars. You want leather, right?” Bull asked.
“No, actually I’m thinking of braided white, yellow and red gold. And a matching ring. I have them already.” Caden thought back to the collar and rings he’d seen in the high end fetish shop in Germany. He’d sent regular payments since and brought it home with him when he left. The collar was large, almost puppy weight, but Caden didn’t want to fuck around; he wanted the best for the boy he eventually chose and now, maybe, he’d finally found him and what was even better, could afford him.
§ § §
Johnny hoped that the others would keep his secret, at least for the time being. It had just turned five when Aubrey pulled into the driveway and left him off in front.
“What time do you want me to come back?” his chauffeur asked as he opened his door.
“Would eleven be too late, Aubrey? You won’t wake Henry if you pick me up that late, will you?” Johnny worried about Aubrey’s grandson.
The older man chuckled. “Mr. Johnny, if you worried half as much about yourself as you do everyone else the missus and I would be much happier. Henry will be fine. He hasn’t had an attack in months.”
“Okay then, as long as Henry is getting enough sleep. I’ll drive myself tomorrow so you can sleep in.”
“Why do you want to do my job Mr. Johnny? I’ll be
C. J. Cherryh
Learning to Kill: Stories
John O'Riley
Brenda Sinclair
Christopher George
Stephen Lloyd Jones
Karl Iagnemma
Celya Bowers
Jill Gregory
Aria Cunningham