Tag Team (28 page)

“You sound much like Blake when I first met him.”

“Really?” Mason asked in disbelief, looking at the beautiful silver collar around the man’s neck.

Ty smiled and absently stroked a finger across the metal. “How the two of us ever got past all our heartbreak and pain, I don’t know. But we did and we can now appreciate each day, each moment we have together with a clarity and appreciation that neither of us had before.”

“You just don’t understand,” Mason said. His eyes burned with unshed tears, and he was suddenly tired. So very, very tired. Defeated.

“I may not know what it’s like to have lost someone to death, Mason. But I have seen what grief and anger can do to a man, firsthand. And I know how someone special can step in and help to overcome loss.”

“What do you mean?” Mason murmured, still not able to lift his head and meet Ty’s eyes.

“When Blake met me I was at a very dark place in my life. I was so filled with rage and self-loathing that I was speeding out of control straight down a path of destruction, and I didn’t care who I took with me. I let that anger fuel me, and I did some pretty nasty things and hurt some good people that I’m not too proud of.”

“It’s not the same,” Mason said miserably. “I’m not angry any more. I’m just kind of….” He sighed heavily. “Numb.”

“But it is the same. I was lost too. Lost to the anger and I let it control me. It owned me, just like your grief owns you most of the time. Just like Blake’s loss and grief owned him.”

“What do you mean, Blake’s loss?”

“Blake’s first collared submissive was murdered by a very sick man. Blake not only had to deal with the loss of his lover, but on top of it all he had this massive amount of guilt over not being able to protect Eli from someone he had introduced his boy to.”

“Oh God, that’s horrible,” Mason croaked and met Ty’s gaze. Ty nodded, and his sad smile forced Mason to lower his eyes again, not wanting to see any more sadness.

“Blake really is the strongest man I’ve ever met. He saw me heading in the same direction as Eli’s killer. My obsession and anger with another man had consumed me, and Blake recognized it. He saved me. He put his own pain and insecurities aside and he saved me, and for however long I walk this planet, I am his and he is mine,” Ty said confidently.

“I used to feel like that,” Mason said, barely above a whisper.

Ty placed a finger beneath Mason’s chin and lifted it gently until Mason met his eyes. “And you still have forever. Gregory and Charles will always be a part of you, but that doesn’t mean you can’t love again or that someone else can’t be part of that forever. I didn’t replace Eli in Blake’s heart. He simply made a little extra room to invite me in.”

When Ty’s hand dropped away, Mason didn’t lower his eyes. He met that sincere look head-on as the words sank in, spreading out like warmth through him, and the tension around his chest eased ever so slightly. Why hadn’t he thought of that before? Ty was right. Gregory and Charles
were
his forever. Not in the physical sense anymore, but he’d never, ever lose the memories of them or what they had brought to his life.

A small piece of Mason’s missing soul fell back into place with Ty’s shared story of pain and loss, and yet it sparked another question. One Mason had been struggling to find the answer to, but was too afraid to voice out loud to anyone. So much death. Gregory, Charles, Stephen, and now Eli added to that list. Mason had been afraid to ask Rig and Bobby, had held back from asking the question to Max, but Ty, for reasons Mason couldn’t quite understand, he felt he could.

“Do you think we are being punished for who we are?”

Ty’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What do you mean?”

Mason rolled his shoulders and took a deep breath. It was a touchy subject, but he suddenly needed to get it off his chest. “God. I’ve never been a big believer, but what if we are being punished by some higher power?”

“For what?” Ty asked again, still confused. “For being gay or for living an alternative lifestyle?”

“Both,” he admitted. “I mean, when I was growing up I heard it all, how I was an abomination, a sin, but I never believed it. I’ve heard just as many nasty things being said about being with Gregory and Charles, the way we chose to live our lives together. And now….” Mason ran his damp hands along the denim material covering his thighs. “Now Charles, Gregory, Rig and Bobby’s sub, your Blake’s Eli, so much death and maybe—”

“No!” Ty said adamantly cutting him off. “Bad things happen to good people, Mason. It sucks, it’s not fair, but it happens. Gregory and Charles didn’t die because they were gay or because they were Doms. They died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, and it was nothing more than a terrible, horrible accident.”

“So many in such a small group,” Mason argued.

“And ten times as many in that same group haven’t had to deal with anything like we have. Why we are the ones who have to deal with such horrible shit, I don’t know. But if you believe it was God or fate or whatever the fuck it was, then you have to believe that
it
also brought us all together for a reason.” Ty grabbed Mason’s hand and weaved his fingers through Mason’s. “Look, Bobby told me how he had this strange feeling when he woke, an overwhelming need to go check on you. So, whatever unknown hand was involved in taking away our loved ones would be the same hand that brought new ones into our lives to help us deal with the loss when we needed them the most.” Ty squeezed Mason’s hand gently. “Whenever it gets really bad, think about that, think about Bobby and Rig, Max, and even me and Blake. We’ve all been there, we know what you are going through, and we’re here for you if you need us.”

Mason did something he’d never done, had never been compelled so strongly to do with a stranger. He threw his arm around Ty and hugged him. “Thank you…. Just….” His voice cracked and he squeezed his eyes shut, but the tears still leaked out. “Thank you,” he said, the words muffled against Ty’s shoulder.

Ty released his hand and wrapped both arms around him, pulling Mason into a tight hug. “You’re welcome,” Ty said and just held him.

They sat like that for long drawn-out moments until Mason was able to get his emotions under control. He was so thankful for everything Bobby and Rig had done for him. Asking Ty to come visit, talking to him, hugging him, for the clarity the man had given him, were just more things he needed to thank the two strong and gentle Doms for.

Chapter 26

L
EANING
against the wall of his playroom, Bobby pressed the palm of his hand to his growing erection, enjoying the warmth of arousal and the way it twitched against his hand, as he watched Mason disrobe. Mason’s back was to him as he unbuttoned his jeans and let them fall to the floor before hooking his thumbs into the waistband of his black silk boxers and pushing them down his trim thighs. Mason bent, giving Bobby a wonderful view of his firm ass. The muscles of each creamy globe flexed as he pulled his underwear and jeans off his feet. Mason hesitated, his hand on the clothing, teasing.

“Boy,” Bobby growled.

“Sir?” Mason answered him, slowly standing. He haphazardly rolled the garments and tossed them toward his shirt and shoes. He turned, eyes down respectfully, with a slight grin on his face.

Bobby didn’t call his boy out on the tease. Instead, he rubbed the large bulge in his own pants as he allowed himself to appreciate the sight of Mason gloriously naked, for a moment longer.

“On your knees, boy.”

Mason gracefully lowered himself into the position Bobby instructed, sitting back on his calves and grasping his hands together and arching his back. The position displayed Mason’s tight erection perfectly. Bobby bit back a moan. Mason’s beauty often left Bobby breathless and struggling to keep control of his reactions.

There had been some kind of breakthrough in Mason during his visit with Ty. He and Rig had set up the meeting knowing that Ty would be able to understand Mason’s struggle with trust issues. They didn’t know what the two subs talked about, nor had they asked, but whatever transpired between the two men, Mason had walked away with a positive outlook and a deep calm Bobby hadn’t witnessed in him before. The best part was that Mason was opening up, trusting them, and finding happiness in his submission. He no longer struggled with calling him and Rig sir; it now flowed naturally from his lips.

Bobby pushed himself away from the wall, and with measured steps walked over to the boy who had stolen his heart and made it beat faster. He ran his hand over Mason’s head, petting the silky strands. Fuck he was a lucky son of a bitch. To have such an amazing creature kneeling before him, trusting him, giving himself to not only him, but to Rig as well, the thought made him want to weep with joy.

Continuing to pet Mason’s hair, listening to his slow, even breaths, helped to still the storm of emotions raging inside and allowed Bobby to focus on the task at hand. Tonight they would be presenting Mason to their friends. Bobby had spent the last week helping Blake with the final preparations for his grand opening, and while Mason wasn’t ready to attend the crowded event, Bobby, Rig, and Max all believed he was ready and would be able to handle a small, intimate get-together before the festivities.

“I am so proud of you, Mason,” Bobby praised. “And so honored to have you at my side tonight.”

“Thank you, sir. I’m honored to be there,” Mason said, but Bobby didn’t miss the nervous strain in his tone.

“I know you’re nervous, but I also know you
can
do this,” he said, keeping his voice steady, letting Mason hear the confidence in his words. “I wouldn’t ask you to come if I didn’t believe that.”

Mason took a breath, blowing it out slowly as he often did when he was concentrating hard, trying to ground himself, and then nodded. “I trust you, sir.”

It wasn’t a lie. Mason was apprehensive, but trusted Bobby and Rig enough to accompany them to the club. However, Bobby knew they hadn’t earned his complete trust yet, as evident by the collar around Mason’s neck. Mason still held on to the past, and Bobby had to force himself to remember how long he had held on to Stephen and had to believe that eventually he and Rig’s collar would replace the one that held the honor now.

The door creaked, and Bobby looked up to see Rig enter the room with Mason’s attire for the evening and quietly close the door behind him. They had spent the day preparing both Mason’s mind and body for the evening until they had the quiet and pliable man who now kneeled at Bobby’s feet.

Not wanting to disrupt the mood, Rig silently made his way over to them and laid the clothing next to Mason before he spoke. “Stand please.”

Mason went to his feet, keeping his eyes respectfully low, and allowed Bobby and Rig to dress him in the new leather pants and soft black silk shirt they’d purchased for the special occasion. Bobby wrapped his arms around Mason, pulled him close until his back pressed against Bobby’s chest, and held him, breathing in Mason’s intoxicating scent as Rig bent and helped Mason into the heavy-soled boots that would complete his outfit. The outfit they’d chosen was subtle; they knew Mason wouldn’t be comfortable in anything that drew too much attention. Bobby didn’t point out they could dress him in a burlap sack and his beauty would still draw eyes of admiration.

Once Mason was dressed, Bobby pressed a kiss to the side of his face and released him. Mason instantly went to his display position to allow Bobby and Rig to inspect him.

Bobby watched in awe as his once hard-core and gruff lover struggled to hide his emotions as he placed Mason’s newly oiled, rubbed, and repaired collar around his neck. Mason had irrevocably changed something in Rig. While they both still enjoyed the lifestyle and were thankful for Mason’s submission, Bobby knew without a shadow of a doubt that if Mason never uttered “sir” again or Rig never wielded another crop or stepped foot into the club or the playroom, Rig would still love Mason and be completely happy. In that moment, Bobby realized he would too, and suddenly the collar around Mason’s neck took on a new meaning. It belonged there.

Rig surprised Bobby further by, instead of giving him a command, leaning in, placing a soft, almost chaste kiss to Mason’s collar and then lips, and saying, “Thank you,” before turning on his heels and walking out of the room.

Mason looked up at Bobby questioningly. Bobby smiled at him. “It’s okay,” he assured him softly. “I think you have officially tamed the grizzly.” Bobby winked and took Mason’s hand in his and led him from the room.

F
LANKED
on either side by Rig and Bobby, Mason allowed himself to be pulled along into the Guards of Folsom. He knew some of the people who would be in attendance: obviously Rig and Bobby, also Max and Ty. He was looking forward to seeing Ty again and meeting his partner. Since his visit, they’d spoken on the phone or texted each other every day, but even his excitement in seeing both Ty and Max again didn’t help calm the nerves that were wreaking havoc in his gut.

Bobby had warned him about Micah. Apparently the man was very high-strung and could be overwhelming. In fact, while Bobby mentioned Micah was an absolute sweetheart, he was also quite the handful for his Dom, Tackett, who Mason would also be meeting for the first time tonight. Bobby made sure to try and alleviate some of Mason’s fears by informing him he’d spoken to Tackett, discussing some of Mason’s social issues, and he believed Micah would be on his best behavior. He hoped. Yeah, well, sweet or not, high-strung people scared the shit out of him. They tended to make the crazy first-meet ramp up to insanity.