“Oliver,” August says as he cradles the younger man to his chest. I think that’s the first time he’s used our boy’s name. I like the way it sounds on his tongue. “Tallis and I are not ashamed of you. Yes, what we do in our home is private. But I would like to take you over to Albertson so we can browse all the stores together, the three of us. And if I want to hold your hand or kiss you, I hope you’ll let me without worrying about who’s around.”
“I know he’ll let me, Augie Pie,” I interject coolly, “because Oliver is a good boy who wouldn’t deny himself something we’d both enjoy just because he was fretting over strangers judging his Master.”
He looks tearful as he glances between me and my husband. “You really wouldn’t mind going out in public with me? You’re both so…” He scrunches up his face, apparently searching for the right words. “You’ve got your shit together and I’m the complete opposite of that.”
August laughs, breaking the slight tension that was building. I don’t like being questioned or having to repeat myself. But I really don’t like my property acting like it’s anything less than superior. Nobody in Albertson will have anything to compare to the two men sitting before me, because I’m the one who has chosen and molded them.
They are mine and they are perfect.
“Oh, baby boy,” August says kindly, carding his fingers through Oliver’s sandy blond hair as they snuggle again. “Something you’ll learn as you get older is that no one truly hastheir shit together. Definitely not all the time, at least. We’re just like everyone else. Faking it. But our pride to be seen with you wouldn’t be fake.”
“And I already have new clothes for you to wear,” I add. “If that’s what you’re worried about.”
Oliver raises his eyebrows at me. “You bought me clothes, Master?”
I allow myself a smug little smirk as I start dishing food onto plates. “I had a strong feeling my husband would want to take you out and show you off, so I had to be prepared. Now, come sit back down and eat before your breakfast gets cold.”
For a second, Oliver looks like he can’t quite believe what’s happening. Joy dances over his face before he slides off August’s lap to sit in between us. “I think you mean mysecondbreakfast, Master,” he says with quiet glee. “My first one was already quite yummy.”
August snorts as I fix our squirming naughty boy with a stare. “I see you’re angling for a bit of punishment after all, little treat.”
He giggles and cuts his pancake into bite-sized squares. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Master.”
I hum and try not to show how pleased I am. He won’t be up to anything too adventurous yet. But I can see a light spanking in his not-too-distant future.
“Is there anything in particular you’d like to go shopping for, little treat?” August asks cheerfully, steering the conversation to a less sexually charged topic. He can probably sense that I don’t want us to scene again until we get back home from our outing. But if Oliver keeps teasing me, I won’t be held responsible for my actions.
“Um…” Our boy pushes some eggs around his plate as he frowns in thought. “I don’t know. Well, actually, groceries would be amazing.”
It’s my turn to frown. “We have plenty of food, sweetheart.”
He gives me a one-armed shrug. “I meant to take home with me. It would be nice to get some tasty treats without keeping to my usual tiny budget. But if that’s not okay?—”
“No, of course we can do that,” August interrupts. His expression betrays the same mild horror I’m feeling, but when Oliver looks up, we both school our features back into encouraging smiles. “We’ll make sure to send you off with bags filled with scrumptious goodies.”
Oliver smiles bashfully. “Well, not too much,” he says as he goes back to his pancakes. “People might steal it from the kitchen we share. But things I can keep in my dorm room would be awesome.”
I’m glad his attention is back on his meal, so he doesn’t witness the fury that no doubt flashes across my face. August gives me a warning look, and I appreciate that now isn’t the time to make a fuss.
But Iknewhe was too fucking skinny. He can’t afford the food he wants and has to worry about other students taking what he does have off him?
I’m not sure what can be done about that in the long run. However, I take a breath and reassure myself that for the next two days, Oliver is ours to feed and spoil as much as we physically can.
“Today,” I announce, “we will go to Albertson and frivolously spend my husband’s hard-earned cash on shiny things. Tomorrow we will stock up on perishables. For now, we eat.” I make a point of emptying a generous amount of maple syrup over the pile of food on my plate. I offer the bottle to Oliver and arch an eyebrow at him. “You know how I feel about watching you eat, little one, don’t you?”
He blushes and shares a knowing look with August before sliding back into his own chair. “I’ll be a good boy for you, Master,” he promises.
I know he will be.
After all three of us have had a good amount of food in companionable silence, I see August lift his gaze a couple of times to study Oliver. He’s not just watching our boy eat like I have been. Something’s on his mind, I can tell.
And I can probably guess what it is.
When our little treat finally looks up at the same time and their eyes meet, August smiles and places his cutlery down, wiping his mouth with a napkin before speaking. “Oliver?” he begins. “I’ll be thrilled to buy you some presents. But did Tallis also mention that I’d very much like to send you some money as well? That way, you can decide what you want to do with it yourself.”
Called it.
Oliver mimics August by putting his knife and fork down. I frown, not wanting him to allow his food to go cold. I’m not convinced he’s full. But this is a tricky conversation, so I can appreciate that he would feel vulnerable trying to talk with his mouth full.