Page 20 of Family Matters

“You… took care of my cousin?” Tears started to pool in Callum’s eyes, threatening to spill. “Thank you, thank you so much!” After a few moments of silence, the young man raised his head, like he looked into the librarian in the eyes. “Where is Oisin now? Does he have a good life?”

“I don’t know if anyone told you, but I work as a librarian in a center that offers shelter and guidance to the victims of sexual and domestic abuse, children and adults alike.” Brian started to explain in a calm, warm voice. “It used to be a conglomerate of dilapidated warehouses in the middle of nowhere, but now it’s a town in its own right. Nico, the founder’s favorite nephew, runs a vet clinic and animal rescue center there, and that’s where Oisin and his fiancé, Ian O’Donnell, work. They both study to become vets.”

“You said O’Donnell?” Callum was utterly shocked by the librarian’s words, and for a while, he didn’t say anything. “Those two will never be happy, the men in that boy’s family are as homophobic as my father.” The young man finally managed to articulate in a voice tinged with pain.”

“Only two of Ian’s brothers, Eamon and Patrick, are like that; his parents and other siblings approve of Ian’s relationship and support him. However, due to some special circumstances, they don’t really stay in touch.” Brian wanted to continue, but his phone buzzed. “Well, Nico is calling me, I’m putting it on speaker and asking him if your cousin is around, so you can talk to him.”

“Guess what?” The head of The Base’s veterinary clinic abruptly started. “Those two rascals eloped and got marriedwithout telling anyone anything. I’m talking about Ian and Oisin.” Nico felt the need to explain. “We are getting drunk off our tiny asses, like Martino would put it.”

“I’ll drink to that, too.” Brian said, and the young bodyguard sensed the happiness in his voice. “And also Callum here, who, you’d never guessed, is Oisin’s cousin.” He inhaled sharply before continuing in a thick voice. “Thank you for the great news, Nico. Everything is the way it’s supposed to be, true love won once again.”

CHAPTER 15

“I'm happy...all thanks to you. I'm loved and appreciated.” Luca whispered in a faraway voice, a dreamy look on his face. “I, the unwanted child, have a beautiful family. Thank you, stubborn librarian.”

“I loved you from the minute I saw you. I will always love and need you.” Brian spoke passionately, placing butterfly kisses on the other man’s neck. “I would never have made it this far without you”

“I hated you, because you could see how broken I really was, how lonely, and it angered me, because that wasn't the image I wanted people to have about me.” Luca confessed, his eyes filled with sadness.” But, in your infinite stubbornness and wisdom, you continued to help me, time after time, and made me love myself...and fall for you.”

“I love you.” Brian stated, capturing his sub’s lips in a tender, long kiss.

“I love you, too. And I love Martino with all my heart and soul. I still can't believe I’m the father of the most beautiful boy, the son he carried for nine months next to his heart.” Luca buried his head in the librarian's shoulder. Can you believe he was the first and only one I topped?”

“Oh, really?” Brian was surprised by the other man’s revelation.

“Yes, really.” A small frown creased Luca’s forehead. “You know what's strange? I don't remember how I lost my virginity. It's always a blur in my head when I try to remember it.”

“The past doesn't matter.” Brian whispered, kissing his partner’s hair. “What you have now means everything.”

Then, he started to undress Luca, revealing his gorgeous body bit by bit. It was a reenactment of what Bart and him did some time before, only that at a somewhat quicker pace. As he unbuttoned the other man’s pristine white shirt, Brian prayed he would never remember the horrible circumstances of him losing his virginity.

When Ottavio, less than twenty-four hours before being killed, told him about Luca being gang-raped at fifteen, the librarian was shaken to the core. His archenemy did everything in his powers to keep that memory from resurfacing, and took the secret to the grave with him. Although no one asked him to, Brian made a silent promise to do the same.

Back in the present, he finished undressing Luca, who stood still the whole time, without even blinking, then took a few steps back so he could admire the sublime work of art his sub’s body was. Eyes filled with a mix of admiration and love, he took in every plane of muscles, inch of skin, every angle and curve.

When Brian talked to Callahan about the challenges Luca faced as a new father and both of them needing to let some steam off, the seasoned Dom suggested a session of impact play.At first, the librarian was reluctant because of his sub’s history of sexual and physical abuse, but his friend told him that pushinghis own limits was precisely what the man needed. Besides, he could use his safe word at any given moment.

Brian started to undress himself at the same slow pace he used when he removed Luca’s clothes. His slow, almost sensual moves drove his sub crazy with desire, affecting certain parts of his anatomy. A smirk appeared on the librarian’s lips when he saw how the other man fought to maintain his composure, trying to ignore the raging hard-on he was sporting.

Once stark-naked, Brian went behind Luca and blindfolded him, which made the sub relax visibly, because sensory deprivation, especially temporary lack of sight, was one of his favorite things when he and his Dom were together. With a small nod and a smile of satisfaction, the librarian headed to the small walk-in closet, from where he took out several brown paper bags, which he emptied onto the king size bed.

Frowning, Luca stayed focused on the noises in the room, trying hard to figure out what the other man was doing. From the corner of his eye, Brian watched him as he was making an inventory of the bags’ contents: padded wrist cuffs, a flogger, a riding crop, paddle, belt and a rope and pulley system. The librarian installed the latter into the eye hook mounted in one of the exposed beams of the ceiling.

One end of the rope was hanging down, attached to a large, round ring to which Brian attached the cuffs using spring hooks. The other end of the rope extended back to the wall and was tied to another eye hook, so it could be released, raised, or lowered as needed. The whole system was designed to hold up to sevenhundred pounds, the owner of the store from where he bought the eye hooks and the rope informed the librarian.

The guy, who sold many systems like that to the people from the BDSM community, also said it was ideal for a swing, but Brian was sure Luca wouldn’t want to try that. On the other hand, he saw Bart and even Martino, at some point, very willing to experiment with it. That bratty husband of mine may even love the swing, the man smiled at the thought.

Brian fasted the cuffs on Luca’s wrists, then, in the slightly commanding voice he used sometimes when the two of them were together, he told his sub to raise his arms. The man obeyed the order without hesitation, and the librarian hooked them to the ring. Going over to the rope tied to the wall, he raised it just enough so the other’s hands were up over his head, and he could just hold his weight up with his feet.

From the items on the bed, Brian picked up a small spreader bar, only about two and a half feet wide, and secured the cuffs on each end around Luca’s ankles.The Sicilian felt exposed and a little helpless, but trusted his Dom and knew the man wouldn’t do anything to hurt him, so he stayed more relaxed than he thought he would be.

“Now, pet.” Brian started to talk in a gentle, yet firm voice, instantly getting the other man’s attention. “We discussed trying impact play, and everything is ready. However, if you changed your mind, please let me know. I’ll uncuff you and everything stops here, no questions asked.”

“No, Master.” Luca anxiously licked his lips. “I mean, I’ll go through it. BDSM is about control and discipline, but also about knowing your limits and testing them.”

“Good.” Brian fugitively ran his fingers through his sub’s hair, making him completely relax under the touch.“I have here a belt, a flogger, a paddle, and a crop. Which of those would you like to try?”

“To be honest, I’d prefer your hand, Master.” Luca’s answer came after a moment of hesitation. “From what I’ve read, nothing compares to the skin on skin contact. However, I’m willing to try everything once.” He added the last part after another brief pause.

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