Page 85 of Sin Deep
Ollie nodded, but he got a squinty-eyed look. “He is a great guy…but?”
“I know! Why is there a but? How can there possibly be a but? I love him!” What was wrong with him?
Ollie shrugged. “Well, I don’t know. When did the ‘but’ start?”
“I—maybe when I got hurt? Around then?” He thought so anyway. He wasn’t sure exactly.
“Oh.” Ollie frowned. “Well, that explains why you didn’t come talk to me sooner. I was on a bit of a bender, huh? Sorry about all that.”
Damn. That sounded intense. “Are you okay? I mean, you’re feeling better?”
“I’m good. Raymond is…you know why Raymond and I work? Because I’m a mess and he’s good at cleaning a mess up.” Ollie waved his hand. “But we’re talking about you, honey. So. What happened after you got hurt?”
“I just… I feel like he thinks I’m…breakable, maybe? Fragile?” And he wasn’t.
“Breakable? He-Man Harley the furniture mover? You can lift three of me. How can he think that?”
“I think it scared him—the stitches, the blood. I’m used to it. And then…” He freaked out about Oliver and all the…bondage?
Ollie leaned forward. “What? Did you faint or something?”
“No!” He sighed softly. “No, but it was big for him, and then I sort of…well, I saw you all gussied up and sort of…psyched myself out, to be honest. I’m sorry.”
“Me, all…? Oh…” Oliver’s eyes went wide. “Oh, that wasthatnight. With the leash and the…ooh. You didn’t like that, huh?”
What was he supposed to say about that? He didn’t want to be an asshole.
“That’s cool. It’s not everybody’s thing, you know? It’s my thing, and it’s Raymond’s, thing so we work. Master Winter doesn’t like leashes, I don’t think.”
“I just…it was shocking. I didn’t say anything much to him. We never talked about it.”
The intercom buzzed and Ollie let the delivery guy in. A few minutes later he had a slice of pepperoni in his hand.
Ollie took a bite of his weird pesto and something white pizza and leaned back in the couch. “Okay. So. You never talked about it at all?”
“No. No, it never came up.” Was that weird? He figured if it was a thing, they would, but they hadn’t. “And we’re having a good time together. I’m not unhappy.”
“You don’t look unhappy. But…let’s talk. I mean about the whole leash and leather thing. What’s bothering you? You’re not going to hurt my feelings, I promise.”
“It just creeped me out, you know? It felt…” Seriously, was he going to admit it was scary? No way. “I just didn’t understand.”
“What are your needs, Harley? That’s what it’s about. I need to give up control sometimes you know? And if it’s not getting high, it’s Raymond. Raymond is better for me for sure. What do you need? Have you told Master Winter? Does he know?”
He didn’t know how to answer that; he didn’t think. He just didn’t want to have to be…treated with kid gloves.
“He doesn’t know.” Ollie frowned. “Well, you know what they say; the Doms may be all toppy and macho, but the subs are the ones with the real power. So, do you know what he wants?”
“For me not to hurt him, not to leave him, and I’m not interested in doing that at all. I love him.” Harley rubbed the back of his neck. “I just want him to look at me like I’m the hottest thing ever. Like—he wants me so bad he stops thinking about the guys that did leave him.”
Ollie’s frown shifted slowly into a wicked grin. “He already thinks you’re the hottest thing ever; everyone sees it. But if you want to eclipse a long line of broken hearts? Maybe…maybe you should dress the part.”
“Dress the part? I got my good jeans on, man.” But Winter liked makeup. “Will you help me do my eyes up?”
“Your eyes, yes. Your good jeans, your boots, and a little surprise under your dress shirt, I think.” Ollie stood up. “Come in my room.”
“Okay. You get it, huh?” He sort of felt like he needed that. Someone who was in his shoes a little bit.
Ollie turned and gave him another hug. “I get it, sweetheart. My kinks aren’t your thing, yours aren’t Jesse’s thing…that fine. That’s good! We just want our friends to be happy. You’ve hauled Master Winter out of a long funk, you know? He loves you, right? He just needs a little shock to leave it behind.”
