Page 57 of Sin Deep
“And this is his third visit. He started at Mardi Gras!” Winter chuckled. Talk about a trial by fire.
“He came with Ollie to Mardi Gras, didn’t he?” Callum asked. “That boy isn’t exactly subtle. And they’re friends. You can see how much Ollie cares about Harley when they’re together. It’s sweet.”
“I hope Harley makes many friends. Enough to make him want to stay. New York is…big. But I think he’s taking to it.”
“I’m trying to remember what Sam’s complaints about the city were when he first arrived. I remember he said that no one touched him here. No hugs, and you can see what a hugger he is.”
Winter nodded. “I remember that myself.” Though when he’d first arrived, no touching was a good thing. It had taken him a while to warm-up to people again.
Clint tilted his head. “It was good for us to have fresh ideas, new needs. We all grew.”
“Don’t let Sam hear you say all of that, because he’s already got a big head.” Thomas was teasing, he assumed. Sammy had never been anything but humble that he could recall.
Clint chuckled, but it was Callum that laughed loud. “That’s O’Reilly for you. He knows his place in the world.”
That was a lovely compliment for both Sammy and Thomas. He recalled a time when Sammy was far more timid, the newbie sub hiding under the brim of his cowboy hat, shielding his eyes, hard to read. Thomas had somehow managed to bring out the best in the boy, find his confidence, and Sammy owned that now. “It’s rather remarkable, isn’t it?”
Thomas somehow managed to look both humble and proud. “He is. Remarkable, I mean.”
Winter thought his boy was as well, and was handling himself nicely for being out of his league. That did seem to be one of Harley’s finer qualities—the ability to jump into new experiences.
He’d never been terribly brave; he liked his routine and didn’t often step out of his comfort zone, but Harley was making him want to try new things too. He couldn’t remember having more fun than he’d had on his birthday, and now, tonight, seeing his boy begin to belong.
When Sam brought his boy back to him, he was blushing dark, but smiling, and Sam wore a vaguely wicked expression.
Thomas patted the stool for Sam to sit beside him. “Was it a good tour, Harley? What do you think of the place?”
Good lord. Thomas was as wicked as Sammy. Winter held a hand out and pulled Harley into his seat.
“It’s eye-opening for sure, but everyone was real nice.” Harley chuckled softly. “And I got a hug from Ollie.”
“Oliver?” Thomas turned to Sammy. “Is Raymond here tonight?”
“I believe so, Mister. Oliver was corseted to the nines. He looks amazing.”
“Oliver wears a corset so well,” Winter agreed. “Just beautiful.” Hot, too. Not that Oliver was someone he coveted, he just liked to look. “Didn’t you think so, petit?”
Harley nodded. “There are some in Jackson’s closet. So fancy and complicated. I was scared to touch them.”
“They’re not scary, though some of Jackson’s favorites were complicated.” He put a hand on Harley’s knee. He’d love to see the boy in a corset, but he needed to tread carefully, it had been a big night already. “One day you might like to try one.”
“Maybe. I thought it was a tube top, when I saw them the first time.”
He laughed. “Everything is so new. I almost envy you, learning all of this, trying new things. It’s easy to feel jaded, to feel like you’ve seen it all. But I’m seeing everything new again with you.”
“I don’t mind learning new things. That’s one of the reasons why I decided to come here. Having a bigger life.”
New York was certainly bigger. The club, bigger still. “So tell me…of everything you saw, what was your favorite?”
“When you knew I needed a hand at the bar.” There was zero hesitation, even if that wasn’t what he’d been asked.
“You’re a good boy, petit.” He kissed Harley’s cheek. “Oliver pointed me in your direction, and I knew immediately what I’d done. I apologize for all of that.”
“No. You fixed it. Thank you, sir. It’s been a fascinating evening.” Harley took his hand. “Are we going to dance tonight?”
“Yes. Yes!” He smiled at his lovely boy. He loved to dance with Harley. “I would love to. Shall we?”
“Yes, please, sir!” Harley stood and held one hand out to him. “If all y’all will please excuse us?”
