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The gesture was so gentle, so caring, that I couldn't help myself. "Daddy," I whispered, the word slipping out before I could stop it.

Saul froze, his eyes widening. For a terrifying moment, I thought I'd made a horrible mistake. Then his expression softened into something so tender it made my chest ache.

"Oh, sweetheart," he breathed, cupping my face in his hands. "You figured it out."

I nodded, relief washing through me. "Chris said you were a carer, but it's more than that, isn't it?"

Saul's thumb stroked my cheek. "Yes, baby. It is." His voice was soft but certain, confirming what I'd suspected. "I didn't want to push that on you. It's a lot to take in all at once."

I leaned into his touch, savoring the gentle pressure of his hand against my skin. "I think I've known for a while," I admitted. "The way you take care of me, how you always make sure I have what I need before I even ask for it."

Saul smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "And how does that make you feel?"

"Safe," I whispered, the truth of it resonating through me. "Cherished. Like I can just... be, without having to be strong all the time."

He pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. "That's all I've ever wanted to give you."

"Is it..." I hesitated, uncertainty creeping in. "Is it okay that I want both? To submit to Chris but also have this with you?"

"More than okay," Saul assured me, guiding me toward the bath.

"That's exactly what we've been hoping for—someone who complements what we both need.

" He helped me step into the warm water, his hands steady and supportive.

"Chris needs your submission, I need your trust, and you need both our different kinds of care. "

I sank into the bubbles with a contented sigh, the warm water soothing my muscles. Saul knelt beside the tub, rolling up his sleeves.

"Let me take care of you," he said softly, reaching for a washcloth.

I nodded, relaxing into the water as he began to gently wash my shoulders. His touch was reverent, almost worshipful, as if each inch of my skin was precious to him.

"Is this what you've always wanted?" I asked, watching his face as he concentrated on his task.

Saul smiled, his eyes meeting mine. "Yes. Chris and I... we've talked about finding someone like you for years. Someone who could be what we both need in different ways." His hand moved in slow circles across my back. "But we never thought we'd be lucky enough to actually find you."

"Lucky?" I couldn't help the disbelief in my voice. "I'm the lucky one. You both saved me."

"We didn't save you, Jesse," Saul corrected gently. "You saved yourself by surviving. We just helped you find your way back."

I considered this as he continued washing me, his touch never demanding, only giving.

When he reached for the shampoo, I leaned my head back without being asked, closing my eyes as his fingers massaged my scalp.

"And what do I give you both?" I asked, suddenly needing to know that this wasn't just about them taking care of me.

Saul reached for a washcloth. "You give Chris someone who responds beautifully to his control," he said, dipping the cloth in the water. "Someone who will challenge him just enough but ultimately trusts his guidance." He began to wash my back in gentle circles.

“But does that mean whips and things?” I croaked out in horror, the reality hitting me in the face.

Saul grinned. “No. He teaches that to other dominants but in the five years we’ve been together and exclusive he would never use one on me because he knows that isn’t my thing.

We have an agreement that he only does it to others if I approve and perform aftercare, or I watch and when he’s done he hands the sub over to someone else to give aftercare.

There are a million different types of domination without causing pain, even the sort that some people crave. ”

I thought about that. And oddly—perhaps—the thought of watching Chris do that didn’t scare me. I focused on Saul. “And you?”

“You my babyboy give me someone to nurture, to protect, to spoil."

"That doesn't seem like enough," I murmured, leaning into his touch. Loving the sweet way “baby-boy” dropped from his lips.

"Oh, baby," Saul said, his voice soft with emotion. "You give us both so much. You give us your trust, which after everything you've been through, is the most precious gift imaginable." He paused, his hands stilling on my shoulders. "You complete our family in a way we’d given up hoping for."

Family. The word resonated through me, bringing unexpected tears to my eyes. "I never thought I'd have that again," I whispered.

Saul pressed a kiss to my temple. "Well, you do now. If you want it."

I turned to look at him, my heart full. "I do want it. So much."

His smile was radiant. "Then it's yours, sweetheart."

I slept in between them both that night, and when I woke up alone I knew Chris had gone to work and by the sounds of it Saul was in the kitchen. I didn’t think it at all odd to find Teddy tucked into my side.