Page 21 of Learning to Trust

“I fucked up with David.”

“What did you do, Andrew? You’ve known the man barely a week.” Leon pierced me with an accusing glare.

"David found out about us and asked if he could be my Sub."

My friends groaned.

Cody shook his head. “Didn’t you learn anything after what happened with Cy?”

Years earlier, Cy was a man who had been a new member of the club, and he had approached me to play. I'd been a Dom for six months at the time, so I was still considered relatively new to the scene. Like I'd been taught by my mentor, we discussed hard and soft limits along with his safe word. It turned out he was more vanilla than most men I'd been with before joining Twenty-Six. After we'd played, I'd explained we weren't compatible and that he should find someone else. Cy hadn't taken it well.

Over the next few months, Cy had stalked me, vandalized my truck, and turned up at the club, where he'd screamed at me and said I'd used him. Although I'd produced our agreement clearly stating he had initiated the scene and we had discussed limits, he still refused to admit the truth. The club had canceled his membership, and I'd been forced to take out a restraining order.

One year later, I heard Cy had murdered a Dom on the other side of the country, where he'd moved in search of work. The Dom had refused to take him on as a full-time Sub. I'd dodged a bullet—literally. But David wasn't like Cy. In my gut, I knew he was a genuine guy who could be trusted.

“David is nothing like Cy,” I protested.

“So tell us what happened.” Simon sat back in his chair and crossed his arms.

I explained about the contract David, and I had gone over together, his limits, his joining the club, and how I'd spoken with Jean-Roy and Alain, who had agreed to a scene so David could get a taste of what was common on the premises.

"David was aroused by what he saw and seemed eager to go with me to a private room." I outlined what had taken place. "He allowed me to take care of him, and although he was dazed and quiet, he seemed fine. After I helped him from the bath, dried him off, and applied lotion, I encouraged him to take a nap—"

“I’m not sensing a problem to this point,” Kyle stated.

"He refused the nap, dressed, and demanded I bring him straight home. Not a word left his mouth on the drive home, and I assumed he was sore and thinking about what had happened. I tried to speak with him in the garage, but David dismissed me, saying he wanted to be alone." I felt tears burning my eyes, and my voice thickened. "It went against my better judgment to leave, but David looked defeated, and I was afraid if I pushed, I would destroy our friendship if it hadn't already happened."

"You did nothing wrong, Andrew, but he needs to be talked down. It sounds like he was close to subspace. I understand why you left him alone, but he needs someone. I'll go and speak with him. As a Sub myself, he might be more comfortable telling me what he's feeling." Leon pushed up from the table.

"Thanks." I doubt he'll answer the door, so I suggest you use the garage's side door. I left it unlocked.

Leon clapped me on the shoulder as he passed. “I’ll take care of your man.”

My man? Was he my man? I doubted it; we barely knew each other. So why did it hurt so fucking much knowing David was hurting?

Chapter Nine

DAVID

After Andrew left, I dragged myself from the car and upstairs to the bedroom, where I pulled back the covers and dropped into bed, ignoring the fact I was wearing shoes and was still fully dressed.

My ass hurt like a fucker, but I was too drained to traipse back downstairs for painkillers. So instead, I positioned a pillow at my back and lay on my side.

Tears trickled from my eyes. I'd fucked everything up and let Andrew down. I was pathetic; no wonder Tristan had found someone else.

“David, can I come in?”

If I’d had the energy or given a fuck, I would have startled and jumped to my feet, but I was too damn stuffed to confront the stranger in my home.

I peeled my eyes open to find Leon, whom I’d met next door the previous weekend, standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing here, Leon? I don’t need anyone to tell me I’m a failure. Leave me alone.”

Instead of leaving, he took it as an invitation to come and sit on the bed. He placed a hand on my shoulder.

"David, you are not a failure, and the single worst thing you can do after a session is refuse to talk to your Dom. He needs to know he hasn't pushed you too hard or caused you harm. You're new to Andrew, and he is still learning your limits. Will you tell me what happened—Sub to Sub?"

I rolled onto my back, wincing at the pain that shot through my limbs.