“Sweetheart, something tells me that no matter what else you might be, boring is never it,” Master Wylde said as he squeezed me tight.
I loved the scent of leather and his smokey cologne and hoped, in that moment, that there would be many, many more hugs like this in my future.
Chapter Ten
Thorin
“I can’t believe I burned the meatloaf. I am so sorry,” Payne said, wringing his hands and looking far less put together than I’d seen him since he’d been here.
Wylde was out of his chair even faster than I was, nearly overturning them in our haste to hug and reassure Payne.
“You’ve been going nonstop since you got here,” Wylde said gently. “Sometimes things just catch up to us, and we need a break from trying to do all the things we think we should be doing.”
“But I burned the meatloaf, and now we have nothing for supper unless I thaw something else, and that will take hours, and then dinner will be so late it’ll cut into game time, and I love game time with you guys,” Payne rambled, sniffling as he held back his tears.
“One of the best things about the Ranch is that there is always something for supper,” Wylde said, his voice that low, gentle cadence he used with spooked animals that always seemed to settle them down.
He’d used it on me more than once too, which was the only thing that got me to focus and not lose my shit when I was toodeep in my head. He’d used it a lot when we’d been on the rodeo circuit together, like the day I’d lost my boots. I’d been fully prepared to storm over to Chuck Martin’s RV and demand he give them back to me when Wylde had calmly asked me to think about where we hadn’t looked. I’d growled that I’d searched the damn RV top to bottom and to look at the mess I’d made if he didn’t believe me, and he was the one to suggest that we look outside, before I wound up taking the panels off the walls or something else equally as destructive.
Yeah, that voice was good and soothing, and as he stroked Payne’s hair, it was clearly exactly what our boy needed while we held him.
“You said the other night that you loved Mexican food. Why don’t we go to the restaurant and enjoy some chips and salsa while we check out what’s on the menu?” Wylde asked.
“Not that he’ll order anything but thecamarones en cremahe always gets, but there are plenty of options to choose from, including shredded beef tacos and steak tips in a beautifully spicy cream sauce served over Spanish rice,” I added.
Payne blew out a long, slow breath, clearly thinking about it.
“I think that would be a wonderful idea,” he replied, turning to nuzzle against me too. “Could we… would it be possible… I haven’t seen the Dungeon yet, and I… I think maybe I need a night to just feel and not think about anything.”
“We absolutely can,” I told him. “Were you thinking that you’d like a bit of sensory play or something harder?”
“Can we start with soft and a blindfold? I have a few in my room. I just, it’s always better for me to not see what’s coming; then I can just sink into the moment completely and not lie there trying to think about what might be next.”
“In that case, I have a few things in my bag you might truly enjoy,” Wylde said. “Why don’t you let me clean up the kitchen while you and Thor get ready? All of my things are in my bag,and it won’t take me but a moment to grab a quick shower and dress when I’m done.”
“That would be perfect,” Payne replied, giving me a squeeze. “I think I’ll grab a quick shower too.”
Then he was off, and Wylde turned away and headed for the kitchen, while I stood there wondering what was going through his head.
“I can help,” I said. “Since the shower is about to be occupied and I need one too.”
“I’ve got it,” he replied.
“Okay, what’s going on?”
“Nothing. But if I’m going to help you give him what he needs, then I need to get my thoughts in order. I’ve got ideas already, but I want his first time in the Dungeon with us to be perfect for him, which means I can’t look to you for direction.”
“You can always look to me for whatever you need,” I said, sliding a hand up his back. “It’s how we’ve always worked. Why change a good thing?”
“I-I wasn’t sure if you still felt that way. Thought it was about time I figured out how to be the Dom he needs me to be on my own so you aren’t always left carrying the bulk of the load when it comes to, well, you know.”
“I do know, and I also know that you work better when you go on instinct and impulse, so do that because that is what he needs from you tonight, not for you to try to be someone you aren’t.”
“Thor, I’m trying.”
“Why when you don’t have to?” I asked. “Is it because of me? Have I done something to make you feel like you can’t be yourself anymore?”
“I-I just….” His words trailed off as he turned his focus back on the dishes, though at least he handed me a glass to dry instead of sending me away like he’d tried to do in the first place.