Page 6 of The Year of Us: August

“What about that seems unfair to you?”

Reese shrugged.

“Everything I am is for you. I am yours and yours alone. And sometimes, if you want, I can command you to dominate someone else if you would like.” I brushed my fingers through Reese’s hair, my heart swelling at the way it made him melt into me. “What else?” I asked.

“I know we’re together, and it’s serious, and I want people to know about us, but I don’t know if I want to wear a collar.”

“Darling.” I slid my hand down his arm until I came to his wrist. I covered the Rolex with my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I left this behind for you to look after and you chose to wear it. You’ve been wearing it every day since. Why?”

“Because it reminds me that I have you. That you’re mine. That I…” He paused, and I could almost hear the reality clicking into place. “Belong to you,” he finished.

“What is that, then, if not a collar?”

Reese twisted around so he could look at me. His cheeks were flushed pink, his hair was a wreck, and his eyes were narrow, but there was a peace in him that felt like it was new. Like he’d finally started to become okay with these new things he was learning about himself.

“That was sneaky.” He didn’t sound upset by it.

“That wasn’t my intent. My intent was to steal your hoodie, which you need to wear again for me, by the way. I liked the idea of having you with me, and I wanted to give you something in exchange, to make it even. But, for obvious reasons, I couldn’t very well leave you an article of clothing.”

Reese lowered himself back down. “Okay, so I guess I have a collar.”

“It’s only a collar when you want it to be one. The rest of the time it’s just a watch, Reese.”

He mumbled something I couldn’t make out.

“What was that?”

“I said, I guess a collar isn’t that hard of a limit after all. But I still don’t want to share you with anyone else.” Reese reiterated his position.

“I’m all yours.”

“Did you have any new limits?” he asked me.

“I want you to speak up if anything we do makes you uncomfortable. I know that you’re still wrapping your head around how a lot of things are between us. I don’t want you to get stuck in your head, Reese. I want you to talk to me. That’s all I ask.”

“It’s getting easier, you know.”

“I know. And I’m so fucking proud of you.”

My comment prompted Reese to shift around again to get a better angle to steal a kiss from. Our lips no sooner touched when my stomach let out an angry grumble. Reese pulled back and furrowed his brow.

“When was the last time you ate?”

“I made time for a snack on the plane. But I also planned ahead and, while my cupboards aren’t fully stocked, I did have something to eat delivered already. Let me up and I’ll get it.”

“Someone was organized,” Reese teased as he let me get up.

“Someone didn’t want to be interrupted once he got his boyfriend alone. I had the real estate agent give Morgan a key so she could deliver some food yesterday to hold us over.

I went to the fridge and grabbed the charcuterie Morgan had picked out. Of course it had all of Reese’s favorites. There were also some amazing looking sub sandwiches in the fridge for later, but for now I wanted to curl up with Reese and feed him grapes, stay naked, and indulge in him as many times as we could manage.

“You gave Morgan keys to your house?” Reese raised an eyebrow at me as I approached with the charcuterie.

“Why not? She had a key to your apartment. I want your friend to feel welcome here.”

He flopped over and covered his eyes with the curve of his elbow. “Why are you so perfect?”

Before I could answer, he moved his arm and shot me a disarming smile. “Thank you.”