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"Shhh, don't be sorry, sir," Wyatt said hastily. "It's not like you've been treating me like anything
but your sub and lover -- you just tend to relax a little."
"I suppose I do -- or rather, I let opportunities to be very firm with you slide by." He nodded to
himself. "Part of that is because it's difficult to order you to your knees, pet your hair and then
turn to speak with Dave and ask his opinion on a painting or a book or something and not merely
tell him what I think. The switch over takes a bit of work."
"I imagine it does," Wyatt said softly. "Never mind, sir. I'm sure things will--"
"No." Des shook his head. "Absolutely not, Wyatt. You are my priority, and having a
relationship with Dave was my idea. I have a responsibility to you and it's one I chose and
continue to choose. You have every right to ask that I am the best Dom I can be, and you deserve
to preen for your other partner of choice. Not only that, but it will reflect well on me; I need to
earn Archer's respect as well as yours."
"But. Dave?"
"Dave and I will talk. He's very reasonable and I'll try my very best not to get my words tangled
up. He can be very forgiving, and he understands enough to know that this is important."
Desmond nodded. "I'll speak with him, I promise."
Wyatt turned on the couch, pulling away and almost sliding to his knees. When he was kneeling
next to Des, he bowed his head and put his hands behind his back, lightly clasped at his waist.
"Thank you, sir."
Des bit his lower lip, thinking hard. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?"
A Torquere Press Chaser - 22
"No, sir." Wyatt held himself completely still, his voice low.
"All right. Turn off the music on your way out and go run a hot bath. Put towels on the warmer,
and then wait for me by the tub. Naked, of course."
"Yes, sir."
"You may go."
Wyatt rose to his feet and turned on his heel, his face carefully neutral. Des watched him, once
more almost shocked to see how absolutely Wyatt's height and breadth could take over a room.
His sub, his quiet, mild philosophy professor of a sub, had the physical presence of a linebacker
and when Desmond was seated, curled into a corner of a couch; it showed off the contradiction
to its very best.
Wyatt turned off the stereo and started to leave the room, but stopped at the end of the couch,
pausing with apparent reluctance. "Sir? Are you all right?"
"I love you." If he'd said it any faster, it would have been blurting.
Wyatt's sudden smile lit the room. "I know, sir. Thank you. I love you, too."
"Bath." Des said quietly, hoping that his voice was firm enough to make up for his declaration
and to recover a bit of his mastery.
"Yes, sir." Still smiling, Wyatt continued on his way to fulfill his orders.
"Well," Des said to the empty room. "I suppose that could have gone a lot worse." He got up and
went to his library, the room full of the shelves Dave had built, and sat in his reading chair.
He had plans for one more shelf in the room, a glass case for the best volumes; it would go right
there by his chair and Dave would make it. There was talk of dovetails and inlays and beveled
glass; Desmond was waiting until the fire station was livable before he started pushing for more
than talk. He had to save up for it, anyway; even with a discount on the cost of labor, the
materials were going to be expensive.
Listening to the water run, he picked up the phone extension by the chair and dialed Dave yet
again.
This time, thankfully, Dave answered. "Des," he said warmly. Under his voice, there was a
rhythmic banging. "Hang on; let me get to somewhere quieter."
"Sure." Des waited a moment and the banging fell away, not so much muted as muffled, made
into something resembling the baseline of a song. "Are you at the fire station or the inn?" he
asked curiously.
A Torquere Press Chaser - 23
"The station." Dave groaned softly and there was a squeak of something needing a shot of oil.
"Sorry I didn't answer earlier -- it was really, really loud then and I missed the call entirely."
"That's okay." Des heard the bathroom door close. "I only have a moment, actually. I'm returning
your call and I'd like to see if you're available on Saturday night this week."
"Oh." Dave sounded pleased. "Yeah, I think so. I was actually calling to let you know Friday
would be a poor choice to pay up."
"I assumed so, given how hard you work during the week." He smiled and leaned back in his
chair, soaking up Dave's voice. "You sound exhausted as it is and it's only Wednesday."
"Uh-huh." Dave sighed. "The final push on demolition happened today, and we dragged
ourselves over here to tear down a wall. We've got vapor barrier plastic up to keep the dust out of
the bedroom, but it's pretty messy in here. I think we're going to go stay at the condo for a few
nights."
"That would probably be best," Des agreed. "You don't need to be breathing all that garbage in if
you don't have to."
"Right, that. Archie says he'll wait another month before putting the condo on the market; I think
it's costing him more than he thought, hanging on to it. We're going to ramp up making this place
livable, so we might be pretty tired for the next while."
"I'll keep that in mind -- and pass it along to Wyatt. Would you like to skip this weekend?" He'd
already made plans, but he could make new ones if it would be easier.
"No," Dave said easily. "I'm really looking forward to getting out and away from it all, actually.
Archie and I are going to knock off early on Friday, kick back with a movie and get some sleep.
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