Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Noa wasn’t great at hiding how much that tidbit pleased him. “If I put on any more, I’ll look like I’ve come straight out of a bukkake porno. Tell him that, please.”
I laughed.
“I’ll let him know—in those words.” Lucian was amused. Then he shifted his gaze to me and cleared his throat. “Cameron, unless you have other plans, I’d like a moment with you. We should discuss the wax play for the event.”
Here we go. I’d get my opportunity to apologize and, hopefully, maybe, fingers crossed, we could meet halfway on starting something.
“Yes, Sir.” I turned to Noa and kissed him quickly, and he slid off my lap. “When you get hungry, I put our food in the fridge in the kitchen. Two containers labeled Cam and Noa. Just place the foil wraps on one of the grills for maybe four or five minutes on each side.”
He smiled and nodded. “Even I can do that.”
“I hope so—you don’t wanna waste my quesadillas.”
His mouth popped open. “I love those so much.”
I knew he did. I kissed him once more, then stood up and walked out of the pool.
I grabbed my towel from one of the loungers and draped it around my shoulders. Maybe I was the one who hadn’t applied enough sunscreen. Maybe.
“Where to?” I asked.
Lucian gestured toward the cabins. “I thought we could talk on my porch.”
All right. Looking over there, I noticed he’d made preparations already. The four chairs had cushions, the round table had a cloth, and the umbrella provided the little porch with shade.
“I wanna apologize to you, Sir,” I said as we crossed the patio. “When you approached me for casual play, I was so fed up with the word casual that I overreacted. It’s unrealistic to expect commitment right out of the gate, especially when I haven’t been forthcoming about my status. I’m sorry.”
He tilted his head to me, showing he was listening, and he smiled pensively. “I was surprised to discover your relationship with Noa—and the extent of it.” He stepped off the patio and down onto the lawn. “But I owe you an apology for the same reason. You’ve never been the type of boy who submits for the quick kick of it. I knew that when I approached you.”
He was right. I needed a bit of time to relax into my submission, which required trust. To an extent. I mean, there were different levels of submission…
“You deserve a better cushion to land on,” he said. “I’ve been in a bad place—and I tried to cut the emotional ties out of the equation.”
“It worked with others, I’m guessing?” I didn’t wanna assume, but he hadn’t exactly been celibate since his breakup.
“We can usually fool ourselves for a short while,” he replied ruefully. “That while ran out a few weeks ago when I felt myself slipping into a state of…carelessness. I need my core fetish to be meaningful.”
That’s how I felt too.
I bypassed the wheelchair ramp and stepped up on the porch, into the shade, and dragged my towel quickly over my head. “I guess sometimes we don’t have as much control as we’d like.”
“Truth of the day,” he murmured. “I’ll be right back. I’m going to tell KC that Noa’s the poster boy for sunscreen bukkake, and I’ll get us some drinks too.”
I smirked and plopped down in one of the chairs.
Despite that the Founders’ cabins were lined up only some twenty feet away from the patio, sitting here gave a semblance of privacy. The members having fun in and around the pool didn’t sound as loud here.
Noa had already used his social skills to get friendly with Shay, Ivy, and a few others in the pool, and I had no doubt he’d make a popular addition to our group. Small frame, giant personality. He was impossible not to like.
Lucian returned a minute or so later, carrying a tray with two glasses and a bowl of grapes. I kinda wished he’d change out of those clothes. It was freaking hot outside, and he looked like he was ready to go to the office. Aside from the sleeves he’d folded up.
“Something you said earlier made me curious,” he said, taking his seat across from me. “How would commitment with a Master look to you when you’re already committed to Noa? I take it you’re more than just open?”
I sat up straighter and thanked him for the drink. It looked perfect for a hot day, the crushed ice already forming condensation on the glass. I took a quick sip and tasted fizzy lemon and passion fruit. I didn’t know the soda, but it was delicious.
“I wouldn’t go as far as calling us poly,” I answered carefully. Because it was a bit of a gray area. “I suppose we’ve come to the conclusion that we want sort of what Colt, Mr. West, and Kit have. Or close to it—a version of it. Something between a triad and a poly family.”