Page 6 of The Year of Us: July

When I didn’t say anything, Cory set his phone down on the bed and exhaled quietly, clearly waiting for me to answer. Of course, he wouldn’t prod or poke me for an answer. He never had and I didn’t think he ever would. That wasn’t his style. Cory was dominant in a way that didn’t require posturing or fighting, and I’d never had a choice when it came to him. Submitting to him was as indisputable an outcome as falling in love with him, and I’d done both in record time.

“I’m fine,” I croaked.

“I’m sure you are, but I still want to know what just happened.”

He was being a good dominant, checking in, touching base. He wouldn’t move things forward with us if he didn’t have my consent, and in that moment…he knew he didn’t.

“If—” The single syllable caught in my throat, stuck against the roof of my mouth.

And he waited.

“If I didn’t want to submit to you,” I rasped, the words tasting like bile. “Would you still have said those things? Would you have still wanted to move here for me?”

Cory gave me a small and almost sad smile, then he leaned in close and cupped my cheek in his palm. I leaned into his touch, happy to have him beside me, so warm and willing and loving and mine.

God, I was a fucking nightmare of a boyfriend.

“Admittedly, there are two ways to answer this one, Reese.”

I huffed a laugh, scratching the back of my neck. “Can I have them both?”

“You can have everything,” he whispered before clearing his throat and smiling at me in earnest. “The first answer is… you call this submission?”

I rolled my eyes and smacked him in the middle of his chest. “What’s the second?”

“You are more than enough,” he said, flexing his fingers against my cheek. “In this life and every life.”

I wanted to crawl under my bed and curl up into a ball and rot.

“Is this not submission then?” I whispered.

“My darling boy.” Cory climbed onto my lap and took my face into both of his hands, using his long and steady fingers to direct my stare right toward his eyes. Even if I had wanted to look away, the bondage of his body wouldn’t have allowed it.“That’s why I told you there were two answers. Yes, of course this is submission. It’s worth more than anyone has ever given me before.

“How?”

“Because I understand the cost, Reese.”

He leaned in slowly and when I didn’t push him away, he slanted our mouths together and kissed me softly on the mouth. I wanted to melt. I wanted to cry. I wanted to give him all of the things he deserved in this world.

“I want to submit to you,” I choked out.

“You do,” he said quickly. “You are.”

“You know what I mean.”

He shook his head, expression half amused and half frustrated. “If you think what you’re doing…Reese.” A tired exhale. “If that’s what you want, then go get into the shower. I’m going to order us breakfast. You need coffee and you need to eat.”

CHAPTER 5

Cory

I lovedhim so fucking much, but that didn’t stop me from wanting to shake him sometimes. I also wanted to find out who the person was who’d hurt him. Who had taught him that his best wasn’t good enough? Somewhere along the way, he’d learned that whatever it was he had to offer wasn’t good enough, when in reality, he was perfect.

When I heard the water turn on, I ordered breakfast. Before my departure, Reese had taken me on a little walking tour of the neighborhood, and I knew exactly what he liked. I ordered a fresh fruit salad from a nearby vendor, with a side of tajin to sprinkle on. And from a place around the corner, I ordered a couple breakfast fajitas. I didn’t feel like faffing around with his coffee maker, so I added a couple of drinks to the order and offered a large tip to ensure prompt delivery.

Reese lingered in the shower, and I pulled on a pair of his pajama pants. I loved the way they were slightly too long for me, and I loved the way he looked at me when I stole his clothes.

By the time Reese came out, the food had arrived, and I set everything up on a lap tray.