Caged Sanctuary (3 page)

“Do you have to put up with ignorance like that often?” Deacon asked.

“More often than I’d like.” Kade shrugged, not meeting Deacon’s eyes. “I’ve not actually met her before as she doesn’t visit often, but it’s okay, really.”

“No, Kaden, it’s not. She was completely out of line and rude to both you and Katie.”

“Would you two like some coffee?” Katie interrupted. “I’m just going to clean up some before I join you.” Katie fidgeted as she waited, but Deacon couldn’t figure out if it was due to the stupidity during dinner or over how he and Kade were getting along. He knew Dane had invited him over specifically to meet Kade—that was obvious—but he also knew Dane would never admit his manipulation. Deacon didn’t mind, though, as the shy man beside him intrigued him more than anyone had in a long time.

“I would love some.” He flashed a smile at Katie before refocusing on Kade.

“Sure.”

“How do you take it, Deacon?”

“Black, please. Thank you.”

“I know, Kade. Two sugars and as blond as Deacon.” She smiled again, then reentered the kitchen, letting the door close behind her.

“So, how long has Dane worked with you?” Kade’s voice was soft, but it didn’t have that slightly defeated air to it he’d had when speaking about Jenn’s hurtful questions.

Deacon thought about it a moment before answering. “Close to two years, I believe. He’s one of our best drafters, though I personally believe he should go back and finish his degree and work as an architect, not a drafting tech.”

Kade nodded, visibly relaxing. “I’ve seen some of his designs, ones he’s designed himself from start to finish, but he won’t listen to me either. I’m planning to have my kitchen completely redone and am hoping to hire him.”

“Your kitchen? What for?” He was pleased to see Kade willing to open up a bit if they kept the topic not directly on him, though Kade probably didn’t realize how much he was revealing about himself as he spoke.

“It’s not as chair-friendly as I’d like, plus it’s too dark. All black appliances are fine, but not when the walls and floor are also dark. It’s a bit depressing, honestly. It’s the one room in the house I don’t really like. Well, that and I still need to have the back patio edges leveled so there’s no dip to deal with coming or going.”

Deacon knew some people had to buy and then fix up, but a dentist would make enough to buy what he wanted up front, wouldn’t he? Kade seemed young, though; maybe he hadn’t made it to that level of income and success yet? “You’re still retrofitting the house? Are you having trouble deciding how you want things done?”

“Eh, yes and no,” Kade explained, rocking one hand back and forth. “It’s more that I don’t agree with the last owner on which things are most important, and on layout. That, and the color choices.” Kade’s lips turned up into a slight smirk. “My car is set for me, and my office is tailored to my mobility and height issues, from the dental chairs to our surgery area. It’s just my house that’s still in progress.”

“Mmm, I think I would have been worried about things in the opposite order,” Deacon said, then chuckled. His home met his exact desires and requirements, everything from the lighting to the woodwork and the fixtures to his bed- and play rooms.

“Can’t really do surgery if I can’t reach or see,” Kade countered. “But in time I’ll have things as I want them. It’s just me, so I don’t have anyone to fight about the height or placement of things.”

As they continued to talk, Deacon worked to pull more information out of Kade about his hobby—photography—and work. Every time he tried to direct the discussion into more personal areas, Kade clammed up. Katie brought out their coffee, but then disappeared again, much to Deacon’s amusement.

Sometime later, he paused when Kade yawned twice, back to back. “Tired?”

“Yeah, a bit. It’s—” Kade paused to check his watch. “Oh wow, it’s after ten already. I really should be going.”

“I’ll take our things into the kitchen and then walk you out.” He wasn’t going to ask, not after noticing how Kade responded when ordered. Every time the sweet man obeyed, Deacon wanted him a little more. Pleased when Kade agreed, he collected their coffee mugs and dropped them off at the sink.

“You two seem to be getting along well,” Katie commented when he turned to exit the room. Dane stood nearby, Jenn hovering behind him, looking sullen—
Good
. “He never stays this long or talks this much to anyone he doesn’t know.”

“Kade seems like an adorably shy and thoughtful man,” Deacon replied. “Thank you for inviting me to meet him.”

“I didn’t invite you for that reason,” Katie countered.

“No, but Dane did.” He smirked when Dane flushed bright red, his shoes becoming increasingly interesting. “I don’t mind, this time.”

Deacon chuckled as he left the two standing in the middle of the kitchen, neither willing to meet his gaze. Normally he would have objected, but as Kade had so captured his interest, he would forgive Dane.

When he stepped back into the living room, he frowned when he didn’t see Kade anywhere. A moment later, though, Kade wheeled himself back into the room. “Ah, ready to go?”

“You don’t have to walk me out.” Kade wasn’t meeting his eyes again. He wondered if it was his submissiveness coming through or some form of misguided embarrassment. Either way, he didn’t like it. Not in the casual situation they were in, at least.

“Kade.” He waited until Kade brought his gaze up to meet his before speaking again. “I know I do
not
have to; I wish to, unless there is a valid reason you don’t want me to.”

“I, no, uh….” Kade took a deep breath and squared his broad shoulders. “I would like that very much. Thanks.”

“Good.” Deacon walked to the coatrack, extracted his cashmere jacket, and slipped it on before bringing Kade’s lighter wool one over to him. Instead of handing it over as Kade expected, considering he held his hand out, Deacon stepped around him and held it so Kade could slip his arms inside the long sleeves.

Kade glanced up at him through his long bangs with pink-tinged cheeks. “Thank you, sir.”

Deacon gave a short nod, pleased with Kade’s reaction.

Katie came out just then and smiled. “Trying to sneak off without saying good-bye?”

“Of course not,” Kade countered. Reaching up, he hugged her tight. “Thanks for inviting me, Katie girl.” He looked past her to Dane and nodded. “Have a great night.”

Deacon shook both Dane and Katie’s hands, saying his good-byes, then opened the door. He led the way down the low ramp, walking straight to the only car he didn’t recognize in the driveway.

“Kade.” When he didn’t look up or respond, Deacon tried again. “Kaden?”

“Yes?” Kade paused with his keys in one hand, the other already reaching toward the handle.

“I would like to see you again.
Soon
.”

“Oh.” Kade gulped, tightening his hand on the keys until his knuckles turned white, visible even in the low light surrounding them. “I don’t… I’m not….”

“You’re not interested?” Kade had been attentive and smiled often while they were chatting. Deacon was certain the timid signals he’d noticed told the story of a man wanting the kind of attention he could and would love to give. He hoped he hadn’t misread the man.

“No! I like you. I mean….” Kade held his breath a moment, then spoke again, a gesture Deacon found completely endearing. “I would like that, to see you without the hovering and all, but I”
—
his gaze fell again, and he fidgeted with his keys
—
“I’m just not certain that’s the best idea.”

Deacon cocked his head, taking in the odd tone and wording. “I believe it would be a great idea.”

“Can I ask you something?” Kade didn’t meet his eyes and swallowed hard, staring a hole in Deacon’s chest. “Something personal, I mean.”

Torn between amusement and curiosity, Deacon agreed, eager to hear what Kade would ask.

“Are you a Dom? I just thought, the way you talked…. If not, I’m really sorry,” Kade rushed, the last bit sounding a little like one long word.

Chuckling a moment, he straightened to his full height. Deacon looked Kade over slowly. “I am.”

“I can’t do the things a Dom would want anymore.”

The longing in Kade’s voice broke Deacon’s heart, but he didn’t allow the ache to show. Steeling his voice, he stepped closer, deliberately towering over Kade more. “You’re going to tell me what I do and don’t want in a sub?”

“N-no, sir. I didn’t mean it that way, I just, I can’t….”

He hated how broken Kade sounded and was annoyed with himself for causing Kade’s panic. Deacon squatted beside Kade and placed one hand over Kade’s trembling ones. “Take a deep breath. Hold it. Now release. Again.” He waited until Kade’s breathing returned to normal, slowly running his thumb back and forth over Kade’s wrist. “Better. Now, if I didn’t believe we could work things out to where we could both be happy and satisfied, I would not have asked. Plus, I don’t waste my time or energy if I’m not interested in the sub.”

“Yes, Sir. I didn’t mean to insult you. It’s just, I can’t be a good sub anymore,” Kade added, his voice so soft Deacon had to lean in to hear him.

“Making things work around your leg issues is my job, not yours. Yours is to decide if you want to try. I can be very demanding, but I fail to see why you being in a chair should block you from being who you are. You didn’t allow it to stop you from being a specialized dentist.”

“Huh?” Kade asked, head snapping up, a deep frown on his beatific face. “But I can’t kneel or stand while bound or… I can’t even get into a proper presentation position anymore.”

“First things first. The word
can’t
is no longer allowed. I understand that you have certain physical limitations, but out here, chatting in front of your friend and my employee’s home, isn’t the place to discuss limits and limitations. Now, respond to my original statement, Kade. I wish to see you again. Do you want to have dinner at my place this Friday?”

“I—” Kade broke off when his voice cracked, but he quickly
recovered. “Yes, I would.”

“Wonderful. Give me your cell.” Kade did so immediately, unlocking it and then handing it over. Deacon typed in his personal number and e-mail, hit save, and then pushed call, sending Kade’s number to his cell immediately. Once he heard the ring, he hit end and then returned the cell to Kade’s still open hand. “Now, I will send you my address and gate entry code during the week. I will text, call, or e-mail you daily so we can get to know each other a bit more. I also want you to think about your actual limitations and hard limits before we have dinner. And no, things like ‘can’t kneel’ are not good enough. I am neither blind nor stupid. I know you cannot do those things. However, there are other things you can do and ways around much of what you can’t.”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you.” Deacon raised his brow, knowing there was more Kade wanted to say. “For wanting to take a chance on me, I mean.”

“You’re a sexy, sweet man, and I look forward to getting to know you better.” Deacon pushed up on his knees to stand, then leaned down to brush his lips across Kade’s brow. “Go home and be a good boy. I will expect you to be prompt in returning my messages. If you cannot, then I expect the reason, not an excuse, to accompany the eventual reply.”

Kade looked up but kept his gaze even with Deacon’s throat or thereabouts. “I will. I promise.”

“Thank you.” Deacon stepped back as Kade maneuvered himself and his chair into the car, a soft, dreamy mien on his face the entire time. “Be careful, and I’ll contact you tomorrow,” he added before Kade closed the door and started the car. Deacon continued to wait there until he could no longer see Kade’s taillights, pleased to have extracted the man’s agreement to meet with him. Now to consider the logistics and modifications he would need to employ to make things workable for Kade and himself before next Friday.

Delighted with how the dinner turned out, Deacon slipped into his car and turned toward home, his mind racing at the possibilities and his cock hard and aching at the thought of many of his ideas.

O
NCE
HOME
,
Kade spent time gathering his sleep pants before maneuvering into the bathroom, loving how it was now designed—the waterproof lip he could wheel over to allow him directly into his shower made cleaning up much easier than the old standard tub he used to use. Once bathed and redressed, he returned to his bedroom and settled under the covers in bed. However, instead of dropping off to sleep quickly as he expected to, his mind raced over the conversation with Deacon and their upcoming dinner. He couldn’t wrap his brain around the idea that such a handsome man, much less a Dom, would want him as he was now. When he’d first been released from the hospital and rehab, Kade had spent many, many hours researching the things he loved to do at the clubs and ways to still serve when his legs no longer worked. The problem was that none of the Doms he knew, or had met since, had given him a moment’s thought. The one attempt at a relationship since then had failed miserably.

He really didn’t want a repeat of Gary! Not that Deacon was anything like his asshole of a former boyfriend. Deacon had been gentle but firm when talking with him about his fears and concerns. Not once had Deacon made him feel broken or a bother. Kade had also thrilled to each touch, heated look, and command, even if they had been simple things. Not once had he felt “less than” with Deacon.

As his mind continued to race, Kade wondered if Deacon would really want to keep him as his sub once they got past the meeting part. A tiny part of him hoped they could form a real relationship outside the playroom but would happily accept even occasional scenes if Deacon turned out to be not only someone he could trust but respect.

Turning his mind to his body’s reactions throughout the evening, he trailed his hand down his chest to his groin, but before he wrapped his fingers around himself, the thought intruded that he was possibly moving into a situation where someone would once again control his pleasure. The concept sent a shiver through him and in deference to Deacon, he pulled his hand away, choosing to wait for his possible new Dom.