Page 40 of Oh, Sacred Dark
Finally, Tyler had to speak up. “You okay? You seem a little restless.”
Roman stilled at once with a quick, “Sorry.”
“It’s not bothering me. I just wanted to make sure you were good.”
“Aren’t you…aren’t we going to do anything?” Roman mumbled.
It took Tyler a few seconds to realise what Roman was talking about. “You mean scene?”
Roman shrugged, which was also out of character.
“I’d be happy to if you wanted,” Tyler suggested.
Roman stared at his knees, offering no response.
Tyler managed not to sigh. “Do you wanna kneel for a little? I can check up on you in five minutes, see how you’re feeling, and we can continue if you’re feeling good. Just kneeling, though, okay?”
To Tyler’s relief, Roman actually reacted to that, giving him a small nod. Tyler grabbed a kneeling pillow and put it between his feet.
“Facing me or the TV?” Tyler asked.
Roman took a moment to say, “You. Please. If that’s okay.”
“Totally okay.”
Something Tyler hadn’t even known was misaligned slotted into place as Roman got to his knees gracefully. Just like the first time they had done this, Roman was initially tense, but gradually relaxed as Tyler stroked his hair.
“There you go,” Tyler murmured. “You’re doing so good. You can let go now. I’ve got you.”
Tyler squeezed the nape of Roman’s neck, and the sub slipped down into subspace from one second to the next.
The expression on his face was so peaceful, it was hard to look at—a stark contrast to Roman’s usual demeanour. Tyler stroked a thumb under one of Roman’s eyes, across a cheekbone.
He was so beautiful, it made it hard to breathe.
Just as promised, Tyler checked in when five minutes had passed, but all Roman did was mumble something incomprehensible and burrow his cheek against Tyler’s thigh.
It was easy to focus on the movie after that. Tyler felt perfectly calm. In control. Every piece of him was in place.
It had been a long, long time since he had felt that content. Even during their last scene, he had been a little on edge, wondering how the aftermath would go, but the worry seemed far away and manageable now.
They stayed there until the movie ended, a little bubble of quiet, apart from the rest of the world.
CHAPTER EIGHT
ROMAN
Life had become incredibly strange.
Everything about Tyler had softened towards Roman with little explanation—or not one that made any sense. Sure, Tyler and Dr Elisesaidthey were doing it for Roman’s health, but that didn’t make any sense.
What would they get out of it? Roman spent sleepless nights thinking about it, but he just couldn’t figure it out.
Still, as the weeks passed, Tyler didn’t hit him, or humiliate him, or lock him away somewhere. Didn’t insult or belittle him. He just put Roman on his knees and stroked his hair and made Roman feel better than he’d ever thought possible.
It was those blissful minutes of subspace that Roman began to both dread and covet—he knew nothing that good could come without a price.
All Roman could do for now, though, was wait and try to enjoy the ephemeral peace he’d been allowed.
