Page 21 of Expanding Command

"I didn't want to do wrong by him," Miles murmured, jaw tensing, conflicted. "But every choice that I had was going to hurt him, every option. I couldn't... give in. I couldn't hurt him more."

"It's okay." Darren kissed the furrow between his brows, stroking his fingers through his hair. "He understands, love. This can be your chance to set it right. You can be everything you wanted to be for him then. And I'll be here with you."

"Thank you." Miles raised his head to claim a long, slow kiss. "I'd really like that. All of that. If it's not... wrong of me.”

Darren shook his head. "Not wrong if it's right for both of you. Some masters are Sir, some are owners, some are Daddy... Being an older friend or mentor isn't really any different. If it doesn't bother you the way 'Daddy' does."

Miles's lips twitched into a sweet, shy smile, and he shook his head.

"Excellent," Darren purred, and couldn't help but claim another kiss from that smile. "That will be a wonderful dynamic to explore for you."

"I hope so." Miles let out a breath, more tension leaving his shoulders. "But what about Leander?"

Darren couldn't help but smile, remembering their time in the garden. "I get the impression he'd be very much into that."

"And you want that? If this is all just for my sake - "

Darren shook his head. "Leander needs this. For Tristan's sake and his own. I very much want to be the person to give that to him, with you. We have time to work out the details."

"Alright." Miles relaxed more, cuddling into him. "I think I also need to be upfront about... the alcoholism. Everything that happened back then. I know it's been years, and I'm happier now and better than I've ever been, but... I'm not the same person I was when he knew me."

"I don't think anyone would expect you to be. He won't be either, you know."

"I know. But he hasn't.... You know. I just need to be honest about everything, if we're going to do this."

Darren nuzzled his temple. His instinct was to question putting so much information in front of Tristan all at once, but if Miles felt it was important, he shouldn't try to dissuade him. "Alright, love. Just tell me what you need from me."

"I will." Miles traced his fingers up the line of his husband's spine, letting out a long breath. "Is it normal to feel absolutely terrified of fucking it up?"

"Very." Darren gave a soothing hum, stroking his fingers into his hair. Then he drew away, holding Miles's gaze seriously. "Husband. Listen carefully. Those two beautiful, eager subs I just met? Their kink needs are not that complicated. I need you to trust me when I say that I could dominate you and both of them, at the same time, blindfolded, with one hand tied behind my back. Everything else we'll work on together. Alright?"

Miles chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. "Alright. Since I just had a taste of that... I trust you."

"Good," Darren said, pulling him into a warmer kiss. "Now we should go to bed and talk about what we want to happen next."

Miles melted into him, stroking his hands down to squeeze his ass. "Mmm... and I should reward you for helping me take care of my little bunny, Sir."

Darren smiled, happily starting to unbutton his jeans again. "Or while I reward you for having been so very, very good to your brother's best friend so long ago."

~~~

Leander Chase-Morgan

Despite the evening not going how Leander had hoped, he didn't allow himself to be disappointed. How could he be, when Tristan had found something far more precious than a mere casual sex partner could ever be? Still, he couldn't push away his wistfulness. His experience with Darren at the party had been electric, and outside of the party, he'd proved as adept a conversationalist as he was a dominant, even fully clothed. He ached for more of that.

He yearned for more of both of them. Tristan's old friend and his husband were lovely to look at and even more wonderful to talk to. Leander had been very glad they'd agreed to come home and continue their conversation, and very sorry to have to beg off and go to sleep when he hadn't been able to keep his eyes open.

Secretly, part of him had hoped that he'd discover the next morning that Tristan hadn't come to join him at all. But at some point, he half-woke to Tristan snuggling into bed beside him, and Leander sleepily opened his arms to his husband and put all thoughts of threesomes and foursomes out of his mind.

In the morning, he carefully slipped from the warmth of Tristan's sleeping embrace, kissing his hair and going downstairs to make an espresso. He sipped it on the back veranda, looking over the garden and the pool, the morning sunlight filtering through the trees. It felt nice, he decided, knowing that Tristan's old friend and his husband were asleep in the pool house. He could get used to it.

Miles wandered up the path as he was finishing. He raised a hand in greeting, his smile sleepy.

Leander stood to meet him. "Was everything alright with the guest house?"

"I think it's bigger than our first apartment together at home," Miles replied with a soft huff of a laugh. "It's great. Just saw you up and wanted to come talk to you."

Curious. Leander tried not to worry. "Coffee?"