Page 62 of Tender
“Sorry,” Miles said in a rush.“I don’t know why I asked that.”
“It’s a fair question.And no, I don’t think so. She spent a lot of years asking us to pretend like we weren’t a couple so we didn’t embarrass her, or that she was adopted so she didn’t have to tell people her trans dad gave birth to her.I think even if she did suspect that things between me and Mo were different, she wouldn’t acknowledge it. But this was also something we wanted to keep for ourselves, so we took great care to keep it private when she was young.”
“I don’t know why she’s so ashamed of,” Miles started, then stopped.
Emmett sighed and walked over to a cupboard, pulling down two plates and pressing them into Miles’s hands.“I know what you want to say.And I don’t understand it either.”He punctuated his sentence with a swift kiss to Miles’s jaw.“It’s better if we don’t talk about that now.”
Miles couldn’t agree more.What he wanted was to enjoy his breakfast, and he planned to do exactly that.
The meal was different than their previous breakfasts together.Cosimo knelt beside Emmett’s chair, still gagged, dick caged, twitching from the vibrator nestled in his ass.Emmett carried on eating and smiling like it was nothing.It would be something Miles would get used to, he supposed.But it was difficult to concentrate with a raging hard-on.
“…thinking that we can move your stuff in here tomorrow night once Mo’s back on his feet.”
Miles blinked, tuning back in to the conversation.“So you really want me here for good?”
“Was I not obvious?”Emmett looked concerned.“The pool house is there if you need space, sweetheart, but Mo and I both want you close. The last week wasn’t some kind of test.”
Miles bit his lower lip and glanced down to where he could see tufts of Cosimo’s hair peeking above the edge of the table.“Will it be like this tomorrow?”
“No. He’s going to come out of this in a little while.”Emmett set his fork down and folded his hands under his chin.“Does this bother you?”
“No,” Miles said in a rush.“I just…don’t know what to expect. I know you said it’s not always a twenty-four seven thing with him which is fine.But where do I fit when he needs this? He doesn’t even know I’m here.”
Emmett smiled softly and took Miles’s hand, kissing the back of it. “Trust me, he knows exactly where you are.”
Miles let out a breath. “Okay, I can accept that, buthe and I haven’t even had the chance to decide what we want to bewith each other. I think I need more communication before I participate in all this.”
Emmett looked torn, glancing down at Cosimo, then back at Miles.“I can’t pull him out right now, sweetness.”
“No, no. I’m not asking you to.I understand it.AndI’m the interloper here.”
Emmett blinked at him in surprise.“The interlo—baby.We invited you in.I drove all the way to the apartment, and I was prepared to drive around the city to find you that night.And it wasn’t just because we felt bad about everything crashing down.There was something about you.Mo and I both wanted to explore it.”
“Even though I was technically in a relationship with your daughter?”
Emmett shrugged, his expression unrepentant.“Do you want me to apologize for that?It’s not very moral, I get that. I was willing to do whatever it took to get you away from that situation, but I had selfish reasons for it too. I didn’t even know if you liked men, but I was willing to take the risk and hope.”
Miles licked his lips.There were things he wanted to ask, but he wanted them both present.He pushed his plate away.He hadn’t eaten much, but it was enough to keep Emmett satisfied by the look on his face.“I’ll move into the house for good.”
Emmett’s smile lit up like the sun.“Alright.And I’d like you to stay with us when you’re ready. In our bed. For now, we’ll keep taking it slow.”
Part of Miles wasn’t sure he wanted that, but he knew he needed it. And the bigger part of him wanted to prove to both himself and Emmett and Cosimo that he belonged with them.
If he was brave enough, maybe they wouldn’t want to let him go.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MILES
After the morningCosimo needed to be brought down from his mood, things returned back to normal. He stayed in bondage for most of that day, let out a few times to piss and eat, but mostly he was under Emmett’s total control.
By dinner, he was exhausted. He had showered, dressed, managed a half a sandwich, then kissed Emmett thoroughly on the mouth, laid a chaste kiss on Miles’s jaw, and put himself to bed.
The next day, it was like nothing had happened at all. Emmett worked from his office, Cosimo went to the hospital, and Miles was feeling a little turned around.
At least, until after dinner.
Until Emmett gave him a look, then drew him into the bedroom by the hand. Cosimo was in there waiting for them, blindfolded, but he wasn’t wearing earplugs or a gag this time. Miles hovered in the doorway, waiting.
