“No one is expecting you to.” He chuckledwhen I glanced toward the backyard and rolled my eyes. “Okay, Asa would love tobe able to snap his fingers and make you completely comfortable with what hewants from you, but he’s realistic. Most of the time.”
That had me smiling. “The part of me thatwants to go slow is completely at war with the part that wants to make himmine. He’d thrive on being completely owned. I just…”
“You just worry because your track recordwith dating sucks and I bet even at the club you get pushback for wanting amore control-based relationship.” Miles wasn’t surprised when I nodded. “Youcan only do what is best for both of you. If I thought a relationship with youwould be unhealthy for either of you, I would say something.”
Another load was lifted off my shoulders ashe continued to lead us through the yard. “Neither of you wants a conventionalrelationship. There’s nothing wrong with that. You’re not two broken peoplecobbling a life together. You’re two unique individuals who fit together like apuzzle.”
He knocked his shoulder against mine.“Enjoy the picture you create and stop questioning how other people will seeit.”
Miles must have realized I had enough tothink about because he steered us toward the backyard. “Come on. Let’s see ifyour boy managed to grill anything or if he’s set the backyard on fire.”
I laughed. “It could go either way.”
“Are you going to be able to tell him ourdiscussion helped?” Miles grinned. “He’s not going to quietly ignore it.”
Rolling my eyes, I nodded and tried not tosmile. “He’s a pushy brat.”
But he was my pushy brat.
It was just time to make sure he understoodwhat that would mean.
****
“I was incrediblypatient.” Asa’s announcement as I helped him in the car made me snort.
“I had to threaten to extend your no-orgasmpunishment through next week before you would stop sighing.” But since Sean wasMiles’s Daddy, it hadn’t been odd to issue the reminder in front of everyone.
Even Asa hadn’t been embarrassed.
I was fairly certain he leaned toward theanyattention is good attentionside of the spectrum, so it didn’t seem tobother him at all. He’d just grinned and promised to behave. Even Miles hadsnickered, his little side peeking out, which had just encouraged Asa.
“But I only asked once, and when you saidwe should talk about it after we were done with the visit, I stopped asking.”His logic had holes big enough to drive my car through, so I didn’t botherresponding as I buckled him in the car and shut the door.
Walking around to get in the driver’s sideonly gave me a few seconds of reprieve. He might not have exactly been patient,but it was time to explain a few things.
As I got in the car and started to drive usback to my house, I tried to decide where to begin, then changed my mind.“Where would you like me to start or what would you like to ask me first?”
That left Asa quiet for a moment as hethought. “Did he help you?”
The simple question made me smile and Ireached over to rest my hand on the back of his neck. “Yes.”
“Good.” Asa leaned into my touch and closedhis eyes, prompting me to tighten my grip.
The sigh he made was sweet this time,instead of the dramatic nonsense from before. After a few moments of quiet, hespoke again. “I know you’re good for me, so I don’t have to ask about thatpart.”
I didn’t want to laugh, but the roundaboutway he took to get me to confirm that was too cute. “Yes, you were right. Hesaid I’m good for you.”
Asa grinned, pressing back against my hand.“I knew it.”
“Because you’ve always been very bright.”My answer had him peeking one eye open and turning just enough to look at myface.
“Did you talk about that? The fact that youknew me when I was younger?” The question was logical and probably one Iwould’ve asked in his position.
“In a way. Not about the age difference orgoing from being your grown-up friend to your Dom, but in the context of makingsure I was the right sort of Dom for you.” Asa seemed to accept my answerbecause he gave me a faint nod and went back to relaxing into my hold.
I could almost hear Miles in the back of myhead pointing out that it was the perfect time to explain about my own past.
“One of the reasons I had a hard timedeciding what to do about your situation when I was younger was that I grew upin foster care.” Asa went very still but didn’t press for answers. It wasremarkable restraint for all the questions that I knew had to be whirlingaround in his head.
