“Yes. Have a seat.” I gestured to the wooden armchair in front of my cluttered desk. “I wanted to check in with you. How are things with Juno?”
Charles flushed and scratched his chin, where a light shadow of stubble was visible. It looked good on him—usually he was clean shaven. “Much better. They’re back to their”—Charles tilted his head and raised his eyebrows—“normal level of…” He shrugged and laughed, as if he couldn’t think of a word to describe Juno’s regular state of being.
I laughed too. “I get you. Well, that’s good to hear.”
“Thank you, Nic. You, Vincent and Matteo—and Taylor, as well—have been so helpful. And now Juno knows they have friends who will stand by them.”
I frowned. “Yes. I’m going to make sure they continue to know that. It’s not fair for you to shoulder all the responsibility for Juno’s happiness.” I put my chin in my hands. “They’ve always been a little on the high needs end of things. It can be exhausting if it’s not spread about.”
Charles regarded me with a frankness and confidence I found reassuring.
“I love them so much,” he said. “As soon as I met them, I knew I wanted to be, somehow, important to them.” He shrugged. “I’m pretty sure I was simply a boy-toy for a month or so. Then, every time I was convinced Juno was going to say they’d had enough of me, they surprised me by keeping me close. And soon, I realized we were falling for each other. I still can’t believe it, half the time.”
“I think you are good for Juno. And I think they are lucky to have you.”
Charles blinked quickly and nodded. “Thank you. It means a lot.”
“Now, look… I have a crazy idea for this art exhibit. Would you be willing to serve as a living food platter? You know, lie on a table and have food displayed on you, for guests to sample?”
Charles smiled. “Sure.”
I squinted at him. “Have you done this before?”
“No, but I’ve always wanted to try it.”
“I’ve asked Vincent as well. The two of you will make quite the statement, while being perfectly quiet and obedient.”
“Oh!” Charles agreed. “Has Vincent done it before?”
I shook my head and smiled. “Never. It will be quite the experience for you both. Are you comfortable being caged, Charles?”
Charles blanched. “Um. You’re going to put me in a cage?”
I laughed, although it was an understandable interpretation of what I’d said. “No, no, I mean, I’m going to put yourcockin a cage.”
Charles blinked. “What?” His eyes widened and his lips parted.
“For the event. Not right now.”
Charles seemed to scramble for some mental purchase. “Oh. I don’t know. I’ve never…what exactly does that mean? Is it—painful?”
I grinned. “Only if you become aroused.”
He frowned. “Oh.” He looked like he was going to say something else, but didn’t.
“I don’t have to cage you, darling Charles. Only I think you would look lovely all vulnerable and restrained by a metal device on your privates.”
His forehead creased. “Will Vincent be…caged…also?”
“Oh yes. He would prefer to be caged than fully erect, as that would be conspicuous and embarrassing.”
“Oh, right.”
“But it’s your choice, Charles. I think that Juno would appreciate how lovely you’re going to look, although I don’t doubt you’d look gorgeouswithouta cock cage.”
“Sure. I can try it, I guess.” He didn’t seem convinced.
I put a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Look… I’ll touch base with Juno about this, because I want to make sure they’re okay with it. And maybe they could try putting you in one for a few hours or a couple of days—”
