Page 51 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 9-12
Jun nodded. He made no move to get off Richard’s lap. No wonder Collin so rarely sat in his own seat. Richard’s lap felt like the safest place in the world. While he waited for Damian to reply to that picture and Émeric to calm down, there was no better seat to take.
“I’m worried about Damian. I’ve told him as much already. But I wanted to talk to you directly.”
Fuck, the man was smart. Jun straightened up and turned so he could see Richard’s face, but didn’t leave his perch. Richard moved around in the seat to accommodate. His arm stayed behind Jun’s back, anchoring him.
He’d been afraid for years that Richard would one day talk to him about Damian, but it was hard to think that Richard was trying to take Damian back when he had Jun in his lap. He’d always envisioned being called into an office, the powerful business mongrel passing down decrees about what Jun could and could not do from behind a massive desk.
Cuddled up in Damian’s dom’s lap in a dress and stockings had never entered the equation. Ever.
“I want to give Damian downtime—as my Pup. I’m not going to interfere or take Damian’s choices or try to take on his burdens and make them go away, but my commitment to him includes stepping in and making him stop when necessary. He needs rest or at least release. I intend to force the issue this weekend. I’ve talked with the security team and Cedric as well as Hypatia and Matthew. The kids will be covered. You’ve never experienced Damian submitting to me before. What do you need?”
Need? What did he need?
Jun blinked twice. Maybe more. He was half out of his body. The idea of Damian submitting to Richard was suddenly and unexpectedly scary. His Alpha wouldn’t be there for him. He’d be in this big country all alone. If anything happened, there’d be no one.
Almost on instinct. Jun curled up tighter.
“I’m not taking him away, Jun. I’m not interfering. It’s a few hours and however long he needs aftercare once we’ve stopped playing.”
Jun shook his head and swallowed. It was hard getting words out. Fuck, this might have been better if Richard wasn’t holding him and making him feel safe enough to have emotions. Then he could have gone all cold and businesslike and just said “Yes, I’m glad and that would be good for Damian. When should I come back?”
But now, he was sitting on Richard’s lap feeling things.
“What are you thinking, bright one?”
Jun’s cheeks tingled so hard. Bright one? Good grief. He was not falling in love with Damian’s dom, but could he please, please, get adopted like a grand-sub or something?
“I want him to play with you. He needs it.” Jun summoned up courage. “I’ll be all right. I’ve relied on him too much.”
Richard listened, pausing a beat to digest Jun’s words. His hand stroked Jun’s knee like a slow, steady heartbeat. “When I take Damian out of his responsibilities, they become mine. When Damian surrenders to me, I take on his power. That’s part of our power exchange. With his power comes his responsibilities, including you. Though in this case, I can’t exercise that power on his behalf without your consent.”
“I don’t understand,” Jun whispered.
“You and Damian don’t have a contract, or a formal arrangement, as of yet. You two both spoke about that two nights ago. I’ve never had a submissive who already had a dynamic with someone else that was dependent on them except for when I was training a dom or sharing a submissive with another dom. This is new to me.”
Jun’s cheeks burned. He played with the seam down the front of Richard’s shirt.
Richard laid his hand over Jun’s. “I don’t know if Damian would be comfortable with you seeing him submitting to me. These days he doesn’t do that publicly. But I can promise you that while he’s not in his top space for you that I and Émeric will do anything for you that you need.”
“Can I be here?” The idea of being “on” and with the kids while knowing Damian was submitting to Richard was too overwhelming.
“Yes. I’ll talk to Damian as well. It may not be until right before I step in and order him to step down.”
Jun nodded. A cup clinked. He glanced toward the sound. Émeric had come back at some point. He had three tea cups, two on the table, one in his hands.
“I’ll be here, Jun,” Émeric said, voice steady this time.
Jun nodded, and then because he couldn’t help himself, he sputtered, “You’re the scary one, though.”
Both Richard and Émeric chuckled.
“Enzo was the last one to say that,” Émeric said, fondness and a touch of grief in his voice.
Jun took a second look at Émeric’s face. “Enzo was your submissive before Collin?”
“Years ago, yes. He was hit by a car.”
Jun flinched.
