Page 13 of Collin, Episodes 7-9 (The Residency Boys #3)

“Change is hard. They’d had hope for that factory for years. They came around, eventually, when the money showed up. And this time, it’s a sustainable business model.”

“That’s what I want to learn more of.” Collin sighed, nuzzling his head into Mr. Reevesworth’s shoulder. “There wasn’t more than a class or two on long-term models in school.”

Mr. Reevesworth pressed his lips to the top of Collin’s head. “Which is why you’re coming to London with me, if not this coming month, then in February for the expo.”

At three that afternoon, Mr. Reevesworth gave a quick statement to a few handpicked reporters in the lobby.

Collin accompanied him, mostly to be seen, and Mr. Reevesworth did not hide the bandage on his hand.

Someone asked Collin to take off his glasses and pose for a picture, but Mr. Reevesworth held up his hand and reminded everyone they had been instructed that flashes were not welcome.

“Mr. Ryker’s physician was very clear in the ER last night that certain steps are necessary. And as I would like my assistant back to full health, we’re going to follow those directions. After all, isn’t that why we have specialists, so we can listen to them?” He smiled, and the reporters chuckled.

One of the more daring ones leaned forward. “Would Mr. Ryker like to say anything concerning last night?”

Mr. Reevesworth turned to Collin. “I don’t think he prepared a statement.”

One of the reporters sighed. “Come on, Richard. Please. Give us something. You know what the rumor mills are saying. If we don’t write anything, that’s only going to fuel the gossip. They’ll have you riding a unicorn in Tahiti by next week.”

Collin laughed despite himself. He glanced toward his dom and stepped forward. “I don’t think any of us want to be riding unicorns. I’m told the real ones are either narwhals or rhinos.”

The reporters chuckled, and even Mr. Reevesworth’s lips twitched. “Do narwhals have anything to do with aquaponics, Collin?”

“Not that I know of, at least not for commercial use.” Collin bit his cheek and looked at the reporters.

“So, I’ll say two things. One, none of you are as scary as my mother.

” A few wry laughs filtered back. Collin went on.

“Two, I’m very honored that my work caught Mr. Reevesworth’s eye and that I’m getting this experience of working with him. ”

“What about the rumors that you live with Mr. Reevesworth?”

Collin shrugged. “That’s probably not a rumor. I changed my mailing address already.”

“So, you admit it.”

Collin frowned. “I think I just told you I moved. Like, called the post office, told them to forward my mail? Considering we walk to work every day, not sure what you’re trying to imply.”

Someone groaned. “Everyone wants to know if you’re gay.”

Collin grinned. “Please check my closet. If I’m not in it, the answer’s probably yes.”

One of the reporters groaned. “Please just tell us you’re in love with your boss and his husband. After the footage last night, I think you’ll crush several million dreams if you say no.”

Collin blushed. “So, what I’m hearing is that I’m not allowed to date and disappoint everyone?” He shot Mr. Reevesworth a smile.

“Indulging the media’s fantasies is not part of your job description.” Mr. Reevesworth stepped in smoothly. “Now, before Collin sues me for allowing sexual harassment in the workplace, does anyone else have a more serious question?”

“Do you think the act yesterday evening was a sign of the state of mental health in the city or a criminal act?”

“Actually, I think it’s both.” Mr. Reevesworth shrugged elegantly.

“Desperate people turn to all sorts of things to help them cope. Extreme and imbalanced forms of religious fervor is one of those coping mechanisms, just as much as drugs or alcohol. Like I’ve said for years, caring for mental health is not merely having enough hospital beds or therapists but also creating human environments and social norms that value living balanced, healthy lives. ”

Collin nodded. “Crimes of all kinds go up during periods of social unrest and economic pressure. We all want to create change in our communities for the better. But when we give up hope in our greater social ties and cling to our insular ties, we end up with incidents like last night.”

At home that evening, Collin collapsed on the couch as soon as his shoes were off. “That’s it, I’m done peopling.”

Damian threw himself down on the floor beside Collin and pulled off his belt, dropping it on the coffee table. “Agreed. Unless I count as people.”

“No one here counts as people.” Collin raised his face and accepted a kiss from Mr. Moreau.

“What am I, then?” Mr. Reevesworth inquired. He leaned over the back of the couch beside his husband, looking down at his two submissives.

Collin fell back on the pillows. “You’re Master, he’s Sir, and Damian is Pup. See? Not people.”

Mr. Moreau chuckled. “Dinner is sushi, and it’s arriving in fifteen minutes. Collin, you were supposed to have your first therapy appointment, but I had it moved back to next week. She couldn’t add you to tomorrow, and you’re traveling after that.”

Collin groaned. “I completely forgot. Thank you. I don’t think I could handle any more talking.”

Mr. Moreau kissed the top of Collin’s head. “Would you like to not talk for the next hour?”

“Speech restriction?” Mr. Reevesworth said.

Mr. Moreau nodded.

Collin rolled the idea around in his head. And actually, it felt nice. “I’d like that, sir.”

“Very well then. No more talking. If you need something, you know how to ask for attention. Richard, I’m going to go bathe the kitten and do his medication. I already took care of Artemis. What can I do for you?”

Mr. Reevesworth leaned forward and kissed his husband. “Hold me tonight in bed.”

Damian giggled on the floor. “Somebody’s daddy dom is showing.”

Mr. Moreau walked around the couch and squatted down over Damian’s head. “Takes one to know one, doesn’t it?”

Damian opened his mouth, then sputtered. “I’m not a daddy dom.”

“There’s time. I can’t wait to see you tied up in knots over a boy and spoiling him rotten.”

Damian shook his head. “Nuh-uh! You’ll be old first. I’m way too young.”

Mr. Moreau smirked. “Age has nothing to do with being a daddy.”

Damian flushed. “Stop it. You just want to be a pervy kink grandpa.”

Collin giggled. He could totally see Mr. Moreau being a kinky grandpa and feeding a horde of subby boys and girls while Mr. Reevesworth lectured their doms and dommes about proper care and handling.

“Pervy is in the eye of the beholder. Now what do you need, Damian?”

Damian’s face softened, and he actually looked up at Mr. Moreau. “Are you worried about me holding down the fort while you’re all gone?”

“Considering we have private security outside the door and two of us were in the hospital last night, yes, I am.”

“Would you rather I went with you or Mr. Reevesworth, sir?”

“I’m not your dom.” Mr. Moreau bit his cheek. “And I do trust you, Damian.”

Damian reached up and put a hand on Mr. Moreau’s leg. “I have Linda. And my team at the office. Eleanor is a lioness. And Ellisandre would burn the city down if I needed them to. I’ll be all right, I promise.”

Mr. Moreau sat down on the floor. “I don’t like how alone you are sometimes.”

Damian scrambled up on his knees and turned to face Mr. Moreau.

Mr. Moreau sighed. “I know I’m not your dom, Damian. But I care, I care about you a lot. You know you’re one of my boys.”

Damian shot Mr. Reevesworth a look and then moved forward, straddling Mr. Moreau. He looped his arms around the older man’s shoulders. “You’re not my dom. But you are like an uncle. I’m fine being one of your boys. So, tell me what you need.”

Mr. Moreau didn’t seem to know what to say, but his arm came up, and he hugged Damian.

Collin leaned toward Damian and stage-whispered, “So bossy. You’re totally a dom, dude.”

“Hush.” Damian mock glared. “You’re on speech restriction.”

Collin’s hands flew to his mouth, and he turned toward Mr. Reevesworth.

Mr. Reevesworth smirked. “émeric, I think kitten has earned a spanking tonight.”

“Excellent.” Mr. Moreau reached out and ruffled Collin’s hair. “I look forward to it. We can do it after his bath.”

Collin grumbled and buried his face in the couch.

“What do you need, though, émeric?” Mr. Reevesworth said. “I find myself agreeing with Damian. You’re looking after everyone else.”

“I need you all to be all right. And to be safe.” Mr. Moreau let out a deep breath. “I almost don’t want to go to Kyoto, not with all this going on. I don’t want to leave all of you.”

“Have you talked to Ami?”

“Not in a few days.”

“Is she awake yet?”

Mr. Moreau checked his watch. “Another hour or so, and she’ll be able to take calls. She won’t even look at her phone till she’s finished cleaning the jinja .”

“Ami never steers you wrong.” Mr. Reevesworth leaned down and squeezed Mr. Moreau’s hand. “Ask her what she thinks.”

Mr. Moreau huffed and nodded. He wrapped both arms around Damian and hugged him, head buried in the younger man’s neck. Damian let him, slowly rubbing Mr. Moreau’s shoulders and nuzzling his head.

Collin stood still on the shower mat, letting Mr. Moreau dry him from head to toe. The shower had been relaxing, but now he was about to be spanked. Was he supposed to be nervous? More than half of him was looking forward to it.

Mr. Moreau hung up the towel and came back, pulling Collin against him in a hug.

He kissed the top of Collin’s head and ran his hands up and down Collin’s back and down to his buttocks, curving his hands around each of Collin’s ass cheeks one at a time.

Collin groaned and leaned into Mr. Moreau’s chest. He still wasn’t allowed to talk, of course.

“We can do this two ways, mon petit chaton . It’s been a big day, so we can do it here on the couch in the bedroom over the lap, and then I wrap you up in a fuzzy robe, and we have dinner in the living room with Richard and Damian, or…”