Neutral Zone Trap - Bianca Sommerland Page 0,53
the glass of water Ryan handed him, taking a few sips before giving it back so his Dom could place it on the rolling tray now pushed over beside the bed. “Can I tell you how good I’m going to be to make sure you want to keep me?”
That got him a chuckle. “I plan to keep you either way, my boy. If you’re ever naughty, I’ll set you straight. If you’re good, you’ll be rewarded. No matter what, you’ll be mine.”
Whatever uncertainty remained faded to nothing at Ryan’s words. Braxton stopped trying to force himself to stay awake, to hoard every moment like he’d miss it when it was gone. This wasn’t something he was reaching for alone, not anymore.
Not for a while now.
It was something he and Ryan were building together. They’d already laid down the foundation.
And nothing had ever felt more solid in his life.
Chapter 18
“Don’t you dare lift a finger.” Ryan crossed the kitchen in the afternoon sun, biting back a smile at the way Braxton groaned. They’d been back for a week, and with Braxton’s strength beginning to return his need to serve had him all too ready to push himself, too hard, too fast.
No way was Ryan having it. He’d seen Doms get lazy, accepting their sub’s need to please and giving very little in return. A power exchange was only one part of a relationship. A deeply woven one, but not all about giving and following orders. Taking control needed to include taking care of the person who handed it over. Seeing to their needs.
And right now, Braxton needed a firm reminder that it was both Ryan’s responsibility and pleasure to give him the time he needed for a full recovery. With constant checkups and meetings with the team doctors while they worked out the expected timeline for beginning physical therapy and his slow return to practicing with the team, Braxton was already doing plenty. But for a young man used to being on the move nonstop, it probably didn’t seem like much.
Sitting on the edge of a chair, looking like it was a struggle to stay there, Braxton gave him what came very close to a pout. “Sir, these are my friends coming over. I don’t want to make more work for you. Maybe this was a bad idea.”
Brow lifted, Ryan held Braxton’s gaze as he leaned over him, one hand braced on the table. “It was my idea, love. Are you saying your Dom was wrong?”
“No…” Braxton frowned. “But you’ve taught me enough that I would if you were.”
“Good boy.” Ryan gently patted Braxton’s cheek. “One day, I’ll have a few of my friends over and you can show me all those cooking skills YouTube has taught you. Tonight, I’ll finish tidying up and then we’re ordering pizza. Keeping things simple.”
“Yes, sir.” Braxton’s head came up at a knock at the door. Standing too fast, he swayed a bit. “They’re early, I—”
Shaking his head, Ryan lifted Braxton into his arms to carry him into the living room. He spoke loud enough for the men to hear him outside. “It’s not locked, you can come in!”
The way Braxton’s face reddened as his teammate came in just in time to see him being lowered to the sofa was too fucking cute. He ducked his head against Ryan’s arm, and Ryan stayed close, giving him a moment to compose himself.
More perceptive than Ryan would’ve given him credit for, Scott immediately began the small talk. “This is a nice place you guys have here. Casey, baby, take off your shoes, you’ve been jumping in mud puddles.”
“Sorry, Demmy.” The little girl gazed up at her second...step-father? A dimple showed under the dirt on her cheek as she began undoing the velcro on her little pink shoes. “Don’t tell Daddy, he’ll be sad that I ruined my new dress.”
Scott made a dismissive sound. “No he won’t, baby. He’ll be happy you were having fun. I’ll show you when we get home how easy it is to get the dirt off in the washing machine.” Crouched down in front of the child, Scott glanced over at Ryan. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought her? Becky had a meeting and Zach’s been house hunting.”
“Not at all.” Ryan adjusted a blanket over Braxton, then went over to greet the three men and...the little lady. He grinned as he put the movie the situation brought to mind on the lists of the ones he wanted to watch with Braxton.