Page 28 of Shattered Dreams
Shit.He’d just snapped at the dominant his wife had struck and been punished by. It wasn’t Elliot’s fault he was on edge. Well, it was in a way, because he’d come to the realization that he wanted what she’d received – not the punishment itself, but the stability the other man had shown. Regardless though, he shouldn’t be lashing out at him. “Sorry. I was expecting a call earlier, and my mind was playing tricks on me. This is the first time someone has punished Lizzie without me being physically present.”
“Forgiven.”
That one word sent a wave of relief through Max. He hadn’t fucked this up yet. “Anyway, how is she?”
“Sleeping with her nose buried in my armpit. I doubt that she’ll be going to the banquet tonight that Storm mentioned earlier. She is truly exhausted.” A thread of humor bled through the line. “Thank you for allowing me to deal with the situation. I realize it had to be hard considering the circumstances.”
“A little bit. Thank you for asking me to watch. Storm said you requested it.” It almost galled him to thank a man he barely knew, but he realized that Elliot could’ve just doled out the punishment, then allowed Storm to report back on it.
“If she had been my wife, I’d have wanted the man punishing her to do the same.”
“Still, I appreciate it. She can be a handful, especially when she’s in a bratty mood. With everything that’s happened I haven’t been able to be her dominant the way I should be.”
“Give yourself a break, Maxwell. You were shot, for God’s sakes. You’re not superman and I know she doesn’t expect you to be.”
“Still, it doesn’t change the fact, that it’s my job…”
“That’s one.”
Max stilled, his inner sub peeking out at the words. “Excuse me?”
“I’m not about to allow you to berate yourself for something that’s not under your control. So that’s your first and final warning. Do it again, and you’ll find out what it feels like to be on the receiving end.”
“I…” He wasn’t sure how to respond. He wanted to say “yes, Sir.” But they didn’t have that kind of relationship. “I got it.” He sighed. “Sometimes it’s hard to remember that there’s more to me than the Dominant that everyone is familiar with.”
There was a brief moment of silence, before Elliot spoke again. “Perhaps you need someone to remind you of that every so often.”
“Maybe,” he conceded. “You don’t seem to have any issues with doing it.”
“I don’t pull my punches, Maxwell. I don’t lie, and as I told your wife, I cannot abide liars, especially in a relationship like I hope to pursue with you and Lizzie.”
Max stilled. “You still want a relationship with us? You didn’t call or anything. I figured that you were just being nice in offering.”
“That’s two.” Elliot sounded more than a little displeased. “I told you that the ball was in your court, and I meant it. All you had to do was pick up the phone and call me. I don’t offer to help just to be nice. I am interested in both you and your wife. To suggest otherwise, is an insult to my integrity.”
“Shit.” The word slipped out unbidden. He was really fucking this up.
“Language.” Elliot corrected. “I realize you’re a man, but I still don’t like to hear curse words in casual conversations.”
“But you can use them? I heard what you said earlier to Lizzie.”
“Touché.” A chuckle filled his ear. “Let’s make a pact. We’ll only use curse words during sex, and we’ll both clean up our language, which will set a good example for Elizabeth.”
Max relaxed at the olive branch Elliot was offering. Was this how it was going to work if he gave the man’s offer serious consideration? They would work together to give Lizzie what she needed? Or would it be more? He wanted desperately to ask, but he realized that was for a conversation in person. So instead of broaching the subject, he choose humor. “Okay, you twisted my arm.”
Elliot sighed. “That will do for now, I guess.” There was a moment of silence. “Storm told me you’re coming home tomorrow?”
“Yeah. That’s the plan,” he admitted, not sure if he should be pissed that Storm has spilled the beans about his release.
“Then I’ll see you in the morning.”
“You will?” A niggle of hope teased him.
“Storm suggested I stay tonight with Elizabeth. She seems okay right now, but he’s worried she’ll backslide overnight. It’s either that or I leave her with Storm and Raine at the club. I think she’ll sleep better in her own bed. She was sobbing when I took her into the aftercare room. More than a paddling would warrant, or so Storm tells me.”
Max nodded, then realized that the other man couldn’t see him. “I trust Storm. If he says that you should be on hand, then it’s better to be safe than sorry. I trust you to not take advantage of her.”
“Never.”
