Caged Sanctuary (24 page)

“He confused me, but mentioned something about—”

Before he could continue, two subs sauntered up, smirking. He knew the tall, thin man named Riley, but not his slightly shorter but much cuter companion. “Oh, hello there, Kade. What are you doing here?”

“Visiting Jake and his Master with my Sir, Riley. Who’s your friend?” Kade had never liked Riley; the man was much too manipulative and often enjoyed tormenting the new boys.

“This here’s Zeek. What are you doing hanging around with a Master like the one who just left? I might have to go over and see if I can’t have a scene or two with him. He’s yum.”

“Wonder if he’d like taking on two?” added Zeek, his gaze fixed in the general direction Deacon had gone.

“He’s taken, Riley,” Kade snapped, trying not to sound as growly as he felt. Poaching was bad enough, but trying to take his Sir? No!

“By who? Not you,” Riley oozed. “You can’t be a sub anymore. Hell, you can’t do much of anything a man like that needs.”

“Riley!” Jake snapped, but Kade shook his head, not wanting Jake in the middle. He had never let others fight his battles; he wasn’t going to start now.

Riley looked at Jake but then glared back at Kade and said, “What, it’s just the truth. You’re nothing but a cripple. You may have caught his fancy for now, but soon enough, he’ll get bored of what little you can still do and want a real sub to play with.” Zeek laughed, and Riley joined him. “You’re a curiosity, not a sub.”

Kade tried counting to ten in his head, but that didn’t help. Balling his fists at his side, he glowered up at the two jackals and snapped, “You don’t get to decide who is and is not a sub, Riley. If one of us isn’t a
real
sub, it’s you. It’s all a big game to you. And as for my Sir wanting me, he does and he will. The cage I wear, the welts I bare, the cuff I never remove”—he held up his left wrist to show off the bracelet Deacon gave him—“plus the way he cares for me every time we’re together tells me what kind of man he is and that he wants
me
, not some cheap ass like you.”

“How dare you,” Riley screamed, lunging toward Kade but coming up short when powerful arms—Kade knew exactly how powerful they were—grabbed him from behind and held him tight.

“I know you were
not
going to put your hands on my boy without permission, now were you?” Deacon growled, his voice darker than ever. It was a sound Kade hoped never to have directed at him. “Because I know I didn’t give you permission, and I know there’s no fighting allowed in the club or on the grounds.”

Kade hadn’t realized Deacon and Sam were there. He briefly wondered how much they’d heard but was more concerned with the venom-filled glare currently pointed in his direction. “Sir?”

“Don’t mind this idiot, boy. He’s just jealous. Sam? You want me to take out the trash or do you want the honors?”

“I’m not trash!” Riley screeched. It was only then that Kade realized Zeek was no longer there. He hoped that meant the sub had at least a bit of intelligence and would leave them alone now. “He isn’t even a real sub,” Riley continued to argue.

“Maine,” Sam barked, waving one hand above them as Deacon continued to restrain Riley.

A huge black man pushed through the crowd a moment later, arms rippling with muscles and a scowl deeply etched in his face. Without a word, he took Riley from Deacon as the man continued to fight the restraint.

“I want him removed, now,” Jake ground out, looking up at the man named Maine. “As for you,” he continued, glaring at Riley, “you’re banned from Club Fierce. Permanently. I will not tolerate anyone abusing a sub. Ever!”

“You can’t ban me!”

“He can and just did,” Sam snapped back. He motioned to Maine, who quickly carried Riley away. Once the screaming faded, Sam stepped up onto one of the nearby chairs.

The music stopped almost immediately.

“Just for clarification, neither Jake or I will allow anyone to abuse or degrade a sub.” One hand came up when a series of murmurs spread through the club. “You all know the difference between abuse and kink, so don’t start the crap. A sub may kneel at a Dom’s feet, but that does not mean they are trash. Jake has the same ability to have you removed as I do, and we will. Period.”

Sam hopped down as Jake leaned down to Kade. “You’re not any of those things, Kade. The idiot’s jealous of you, that’s all.”

Kade nodded, thrilled Jake and Sam had stood up for him, but he still waited to hear what Deacon would say.

“Kade?” Deacon squatted down beside Kade’s chair.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I didn’t mean to fight with Riley.”

“Boy,” Deacon said, his voice softer as he circled one large hand around Kade’s throat, using the thumb to force Kade’s gaze up to meet his, “I heard what you said and what he said. You did nothing wrong, and… you’re right. You are wanted and cherished. Don’t let people like him ever try to determine your worth or tell you what you can do. You’re my boy. Period.”

Kade nodded, unable to sort through all the jumbled emotions assaulting him. Instead of trying to respond, he pressed his cheek into Deacon’s hand and closed his eyes.

“I think it’s time we go home, Sam. Thank you for an eventful evening, and thank you for staying with Kade, Jake. That means a lot to me.” Deacon took a few moments to pet Kade as he continued to press and rub his cheek on Deacon’s hand, then said, “You ready to go home, boy?”

Though he knew it really was a question, it didn’t feel like one. Deacon wanted to go, as did he. “Yes, Sir. And thank you for everything. You too, Jake and Sam. I’ll call you tomorrow,” he added, and looked at Jake, who nodded.

A little while later, they were back at Deacon’s home, snuggled up together in Deacon’s bed, not in the playroom. They didn’t make love that night, not with their bodies, but something inside Kade had changed. How he saw Deacon had changed too, and all he wanted was to be held tight by his lover as he slept, a wish Deacon granted without him having said a word.

D
EACON
PACED
in his home office, impatiently waiting for Sam to arrive. He had another house design to work on, the sketches scattered across his desk, but he couldn’t care right then. It had been ages since he had considered what he planned to do, but needed to talk it through with someone he trusted and was in the life. Ever since the night at the club, Kade had been different, but in a good way. He was more confident outside the playroom and more spontaneously demonstrative of his joy being with Deacon.

His mind turned again to the first time Kade kissed his feet, and groaned. It was not something he would have demanded, but it was something he enjoyed every time Kade did that—which was more than the one time. Even more, though, was the night after, when that asshat, Riley? Randy? Eh, his name didn’t matter to Deacon, only how Kade had responded. Watching his boy sit up straighter and defend his right to be with Deacon as his Dom had been sexy. But hearing Kade announce to everyone in earshot that he knew Deacon cherished him as his boy, that he had the right to be Deacon’s boy…. His heart still hurt when he thought about those words.

Kade had taken many risks that weekend. Deacon hoped he had it in him to take another, this one more demanding and, hopefully, permanent.

When the doorbell rang, Deacon jumped at the sudden sound even though he’d been waiting for it. He strode to the front door and opened it, pleased to see Sam without Jake. He knew Jake would be a part of his plans eventually, but right then wasn’t the time. “Hey. Thanks for coming over.”

“You said you needed to talk,” Sam said as he stepped inside, gazing around the foyer before he shrugged. “I’m assuming it’s about Kade since you’re only twitchy about him anymore. What’s up?”

“Yeah, it’s about Kade.” Deacon led the way to his office, where part of what he wanted to discuss was laid out on his drafting table. “Well, it’s about both of us actually and our future.”

Sam nodded and grinned. “What’s your boy done now that’s got you all tied up?” he said, then laughed loudly.

Not appreciating his friend’s humor, Deacon scowled. “
I
don’t get tied up. I want to show Kade the plans I have for my new house, but I’m a little worried he will panic.” Pacing again, he continued, “Also, I intend to ask for a contract with him, and I want you and Jake to be our keepers.”

“Contract?” Sam cocked his head and stared at Deacon. “Well, the contract doesn’t surprise me any, not really. It doesn’t take more than thirty seconds of seeing you two together to realize how much you care for each other. Have you told him you love him yet?”

Shaking his head, Deacon grumbled, “No. Well, not so he’s noticed. He was in subspace, and it slipped out, but I’m pretty sure he didn’t hear what I said.”

“That’s no way to tell him something like that! Idiot,” Sam snapped, his glower darker than Deacon could remember. “That boy is kind and smart, but he’s also scared you aren’t going to keep him. That you’re gonna get tired of his limitations. You want a contract, you’re going to have to start by making him not just know, but believe you love him.”

“I know that! I do.” Deacon sighed and thumped down on his drafting chair. “That’s part of why I want to show him the design I have
before
any discussion of a contract. I want him to realize this is a permanent thing, if he wants it to be.”

“Well, then, I think you need to show, then ask, but it needs to be more than just you handing him the plans and informing him. And not while he’s still raw and open from an intense scene, either. For now, though, show me these blueprints of yours, and then we can plan your proposal.”

B
EING
INVITED
over during the week for dinner or a movie wasn’t an odd thing for Deacon to do, but when Kade entered the large home, he was baffled at the sight before him. Deacon stood before him, smiling and holding a double blue-silver rose in one hand. It resembled the green leather and lace rose Deacon had given him early on, but this one was a matching pair of dual-colored roses entwined together with silver, metal-studded stems and black leaves. The top rose was a bright Technicolor blue that faded to silver, the bottom rose the exact opposite in coloring. There was no lace between the petals this time, but the beauty and effect stopped Kade’s breath.

“I have dinner waiting for us,” Deacon said, his voice deep and smooth, his gaze soft.

“Th-thank you, Sir.” Kade finally managed to reach out and accept the flowers. He smiled when he realized the thorns were sharp.

“You’re welcome.”

When they entered the dining area, Kade noticed his cushion was sitting out, but not at his spot. Usually, when he wasn’t to use it to eat, like at most dinners, it was put away. Otherwise, it was where Deacon wanted him to be. Its placement was unusual, and he wasn’t certain what to do. “Um, Sir?” he asked, staring at the site. “Where do you wish me to sit?”

“I have a few things to discuss and a question for you while we enjoy our evening together.” Deacon took Kade’s hand. “However, I will give you the choice to stay in your chair or sit at my feet, boy. Either way, I will accept nothing but open and honest communication and responses.”

Kade looked up at Deacon, then back at the table, considering what he wanted and what he thought Deacon would prefer. “The cushion, please.”

Deacon’s wide smile told him he had chosen right. Pleased, he waited while Deacon placed things how he wanted, and then lifted Kade and set him on the high-backed beanbag he adored. He loved being at his Sir’s feet. Whether they were in the playroom or at dinner, he usually chose the floor if given the option. Once comfortable, he placed his rose beside him, not wishing to let it away from him yet.

A few minutes later, Deacon fed Kade between bites of his own food. After he’d eaten part of the beef tips and steamed asparagus, Kade cleared his throat and asked, “What was it you wanted to discuss, Sir?”

After a sip of wine, Deacon flashed a smile, though it seemed tinged with worry. Kade couldn’t figure out why Deacon would be worried or nervous, unless…. No, you didn’t invite your boyfriend and submissive to dinner, offer gifts and choices, and then dump them. But he couldn’t make sense of the odd behavior. “Sir, Deacon?”

“When we are done eating, we will go into my office where I have the plans for our new home laid out for you to look over. I still need your input for layout in a few places and, of course, you will help choose such things as colors, textures, and such as well.”

“You’re moving?” Where would he move? How far away?
Wait! Did he say our?
“Did you say
our
?”

Deacon nodded and smiled, though it was still thin, brittle. “I did say our. Not long before we met, I purchased some land and began designing a new home. I like this one, but I want something that is more me. Well, now us.” He reached out, taking both of Kade’s hands in his larger ones. “That is, if you would be willing to move in with me. I’m not easy to live with as I’m exacting in how I like things, but I believe we could be happy together.”