Page 83 of Sass in the Grass

“Yes,” he answered plainly, and made Jovian take a sip of coffee.

“That doesn’t seem fair.”

“It’s not fair to earn the good things you receive in life?”

After opening his mouth to say something shitty, he thought better of it and closed it.

“If ever it’s too much, my punishments or my rewards, do you want a safeword?”

“That’s just for the hard, kinky stuff.”

“No, it’s actually not. For us, we can use it if ever the other is…hurting us, in any way. Emotionally, physically, sexually, anything. But know this, Jovian, I won’t fuck you if you’re being punished just because you use it. That’s not how this will work.”

“I get that. Okay. Okay, sure. I guess. But…I’m not really…I mean, I’ve never been a good…”

“Good boy? That’s what training is all about, baby.”

Suddenly, a bright smile slowly gained momentum on those beautiful, full lips. “Does this really mean that…you want to…like be with me for a long time?”

“Yes. It does. But either of us is free to change that, if we’re not getting what we need from the relationship.”

“You could eventually figure out you don’t want me?”

Cherokee’s heart broke as he heard the cracking of his voice, the sheer emotion in it. To Jovian, the thought of Cherokee not wanting him was devastating. “I meant…if you ever don’t want me, Jovian. I can’t imagine not wanting you.”

The food was forgotten as Jovian held him around the neck and cried. It nearly broke him to hear that, to feel his body shaking with the sobs. Cherokee’s hand ran up and down his back and side, shushing him gently, holding him that way as well.

“Baby boy, I’m not everything you wanted.”

“You are now!”

A smile snuck in when Jovian said that through his tears. “I’m glad, baby. I’m glad.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Themorninghadshakenhim. Cherokee said things, and made Jovian say things that had rocked him completely.

It did something else. Jovian knew he was in love with the man. There was not one doubt in his mind.

Pure, sweet, total love. Jovian felt like he was flying and yet grounded for the first time. It was a crazy feeling, but he embraced it.

After leaving Cherokee’s and making it back to the camp, he told his friends what was happening. “I couldn’t even sleep. I really need to help.”

“We’d like to help too, Jovian,” Kathy said. “How, though?”

“Well, it’s got to be in a city. It’s got to be. If you guys can make it and bring a few friends…”

“Well, I can, for sure,” Alan offered. But most of the folks here are from smaller towns. They come here for friends like them.”

“Doesn’t matter. I think with my contacts, with Ciana’s, and a few of our snob friends who have fifty million followers on Insta and Snap, I think we can get in the crowds. What you all need to do is help me organize and keep the others from knowing.”

“Others? Like whom?” Kathy asked.

“True, Bernie, and especially Cherokee. I mean…it’s in the city, it’s hinging on all my wealthy friends, and I’m going to get the money from my mother to do the marketing and decorating. He’s going to hate that, and right now…I would die if he got angry with me.”

“How could he possibly?” Mike asked him. “You’re trying to save that camp. That’s huge!”

“One, it might not work, and I don’t want to look like a failure to him. Two…I’m getting the money from my mom. That’s not exactly a plus for him, I’m sure.”

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