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Lake had bought the outfit on a whim, hoping he’d be a brave boy one day.

He was brave. Had been brave. He’d gone after what he wanted for the first time in his life. Lake didn’t have doubts about him and Jesse. Lake just wondered how he’d gotten so lucky.

“You are beautiful,” Jesse whispered to him. “Both on the outside and the inside.”

Lake peered into Jesse’s eyes. They were practically the same height. That had always bothered him in the past but as Jesse led Lake to the table being laden down with food, he found that he no longer cared.

His friends had been telling Lake that when he found the right partner, all the pieces would fit into place. That was how it happened for them. Lake had wanted to believe and yet it wasn’t until that moment that he understood.

Lake had thought his pieces were bent on the edges because he was still hiding something that was vital to his true self.

Jesse pulled out Lake’s chair and Lake slid into his place. Jesse sat beside him.

“I love that outfit on you,” Dom said as he sat across from Lake.

“Me too.” Lake smoothed out the bottom of the camisole.

“It’s a very good cut,” Jesse said. “Nice material. We should get some more.”

This was what support felt like. Lake took a deep breath. “I think I would like to explore more clothes like this.”

“Of course.” Jesse rubbed the back of his neck. “Anything in particular?”

Lake looked over at Dom, who was smiling and nodding in encouragement.

“I wear the lace bodysuits because they’re easy to cover and I do like lace. I wanted to try some other materials though. Maybe more like the one I wore on our first date. I felt good wearing that.”

“This will give us so much to explore,” Jesse said with a smile. “And I know of a store on the way to my brother’s that has gorgeous custom pieces made for men.”

“I want to go!” Dom demanded. “I like to dress Lake up!”

“He’s not a doll,” Remi reminded his boy.

“But he’s so pretty,” Dom argued.

“And he’s mine,” Jesse declared. “I get to dress him up.”

“I can dress myself,” Lake offered.

“No, no,” Dom said. “Be my pretty doll!”

Jesse grabbed Lake’s chin and turned his head. He pointed to the hickies on Lake’s neck. “Mine.”

“I could bite him too,” Dom said. “As long as he promised not to squeal like he was doing last night.”

Lake gasped.

Remi dropped his head. “I told you not to say anything.”

“And I’ll never say anything ever again if Lake agrees to be my pretty doll so I can dress him up and paint his face.”

Lake stared at his friend. “That’s blackmail.”

Dom grinned. “Is it? Oh, by the way, is Jesse spending the night again? If he is, I need to take a nap later in case I’m woken up again.”

Jesse chuckled and leaned closer. “I did warn you to be quiet.”

Betrayed, Lake snapped his head to Jesse.