his feet and headed out of the bedroom, Craig picked up his bag. He found what he was looking for in an inner pocket. He drew out the key on a thin black leather cord and placed it around his neck.
Louis returned with the cock cage and went to his knees again, offering it to Craig, who accepted the stainless-steel device.
“Why am I doing this?” he asked.
“Because I came without permission,” Louis said.
“And who controls your orgasms?”
“You do. I’m sorry, Daddy.”
Craig grunted. “Go lie on the bed.”
Louis did as he was told, and Craig expertly encased his cock in the chastity device.
“How long do I have to wear it for?” Louis asked.
Craig frowned and then decided it was a fair question. They hadn’t played like this for a while. “I’ll take it off you tomorrow evening.”
Louis sighed.
Craig sat down next to him and entangled their fingers together. “How are you feeling now?”
“Better,” Louis admitted. “Calmer. I didn’t know what was real and what was dream, you know?”
“I know. I think you need to see a therapist.”
Louis grimaced, but he said, “I’ll make an appointment.”
“I’ll go with you,” Craig promised.
“What happens now?” Louis asked.
“Now Carter is in custody?”
Louis nodded. “I guess that’s the end of the assignment.”
Craig held Louis’s hand against his heart. “I don’t know,” he admitted. “But I’m not going anywhere. I can’t lose you again.”
He could see the burgeoning hope as well as the doubt and uncertainty in Louis’s eyes. But he needed to be honest first.
“Louis, I don’t want to be your head of security. I don’t want to be employed by you. I couldn’t find the way to tell you that before.” Louis tried to pull away, but Craig held onto his hand. “Wait. Let me tell you my idea first.”
“I can’t take you spending months away from me on assignment,” Louis said, his voice shaky. “I told you that before.”
“You did. And I stupidly ran, thinking life here would trap me.”
It had been the worst mistake of his life. Louis had told him to go, and he had. Craig would never be that stupid again. He was the one in charge of this relationship.
“So what do you want to do now?” Louis asked.
“Dominic wants to talk to me about a job based in Seattle, and Graham wants me to settle here to help him with our community. I think Dominic’s job is office-based.”
“You always said you didn’t want to do that. You hate the idea of working in an office.”
“I did, but the idea of being close to you appeals far more.”
“So what are you saying?” Louis demanded.
Craig pressed a kiss into the palm of Louis’s hand. “It’s very simple. Will you take me back, my boy?”
Epilogue
Louis
Louis couldn’t focus. Instead of listening to his newly promoted manager, he stared out of the window at the rain sheeting down. The raindrops chased each other with abandon down the panes of glass.
“What is wrong with you?” Jamie said in exasperation.
They were in his office because Louis’s was being converted into something less formal. Louis was going to work from home for a while, and come occasionally into the club if he needed to hold a meeting.
Louis had finally acknowledged to Craig that he couldn’t work at the club again. The conversation with his staff wasn’t easy, but he confessed he had PTSD following the attack and that he didn’t feel safe in the club. None of them had looked at him as if he were weak and useless. He’d been smothered in hugs and kisses from the women and firm handshakes from the men. Ben, one of his bartenders, had quietly admitted he’d suffered from PTSD since leaving the army, and had offered help. Louis eyed him thoughtfully and thought he might just talk to Ben again.
Now Louis looked at Jamie. “I’m an idiot.”
“I know that.” Jamie paused. “Why are you an idiot?”
“Craig’s going away.”
Jamie nodded, still looking confused. “I know that too. He and Ryder have got a meeting with Josh Cooper and Liam Quick in London. You told me that last week.”
“It’s our compromise. He gets to do some traveling while I manage the businesses here.”
“Louis, boss, much as I enjoy these conversations about the love of your life, I know this already. What are you worried about?”
“What if he doesn’t come back to me? What if he decides he loves his freedom so much he stays away?”
Jamie furrowed his brow. “Are you an idiot because you think he will stay, or you think he