Page 97 of Innocent

Chapter Twenty-One

While Elliot uses his walker to ease himself into the shower and onto his shower chair, I finish stripping and join him, moving the walker before pulling the shower door shut behind me. He’s got a handheld showerhead to make his life easier.

“I think we’re going to be taking long, hot soaks in the tub when we’re in DC,” I tell him as I grab the showerhead and turn on the water. “That soaking tub of yours probably doesn’t get nearly enough use.” It’s a gorgeous, huge, sunken soaking tub with all the bells and whistles, and it takes up the corner of the bathroom. You could easily fit three people in it. Maybe four, if they’re cozy with each other.

Enough room for Leo to join—

I snip that thought off, because who even knows if Leo will want anything to do with either of us when he learns about our new arrangement?

I turn to Elliot and spot the amusement quirking his lips. “What?”

“I don’t think I’ve ever used it the whole time I’ve been here.”

“Not even once?”

He shakes his head.

“Come on. Everyone likes a long soak every once in a while.” I test the water and bump it a little warmer.

“I have in hotels, where it’s easier to get in and out of a regular tub. Especially if I don’t have a shower chair, for some reason. Not here.”

“Ah.” I put the showerhead in his hands and kneel so I can get a better look at his leg before hot water turns his skin pink and I can’t tell if it’s from that or from Duck chafing him.

I notice how he tenses when I touch him, then he looks a little guilty for doing it.

“Does that hurt?” I run my hands all over his stump as I watch his face.

He shakes his head. “No, Sir.”

I arch an eyebrow at him. “Standing order—if anything I do hurts in a bad way, if you have any hint of pain about your leg, youhaveto tell me. None of this being stoic crap. That’s different, obviously, from when I’m spanking you, or otherwise deliberately torturing you. Got it? We can’t afford for you to have skin breakdown when we could take a few minutes for me to help you change things out or adjust something.”

A hint of his smirk returns. “Yes, Sir. So you’re saying therewillbe spankings in my future?” He sounds hopeful.

“You can guarantee it, boy.” I’m not exactly sure how I’ll find the will to do it, but I’ll figure it out as we go. I’ve always been the spankee, not the spanker. That was Leo’s job.

I realize there are now a lot of things I’m going to have to master, and quickly. Things I never dreamed would be my job.

Literallymy job.

I grab the soap and a washcloth and start bathing him, moving to his back first and firmly scrubbing.

His head droops a little, some of his tension easing as I take my time with this.

Dammit, Leo. You had to train us exactly the same, didn’t you?

Except I’m not upset. Not really.

It makes my job easier in a few ways.

One thing it will make more difficult is setting up unique rituals with Elliot that aren’t anchored around Leo for both of us. I’ll have to do that so Elliot’s focused on me, onus, and not on Leo.

Not sure how I’ll do that, either, but I’ll also figure that out as we go. It’s all on-the-job training, I suppose.

I’ll need to have a long talk with Kevin at some point.

If anyone has good advice to offer about this sitch, I know it’ll be him. He’s one of the minuscule number of people Icantalk to about this.

One of my first tasks as Elliot’s Sir will be to find my boy an appropriate day collar. Still not sure if I want it to be a necklace or a bracelet. Has to be something unassuming, very vanilla. Something not readily visible, and which won’t draw curiosity or questions if it is spotted, which is why any kind of ring would be right out.