Page 53 of Unfettered

“This is arnica cream,” he tells me, showing me the label. “I’ll come by to check on him tomorrow, but should he need soothing before then, you can rub this on his ass; it’ll help with the swelling and bruising—though I quite like the bruising, but maybe my Princess doesn’t?”

“I…want to wear your marks, Sir.”

Jayden grins. “Very well. Only on the most prominent welts, to help ease the pain a little. Though I’m sure a masochist such as the Princess enjoys that too.”

Ignacio lets out a needy moan, and he fucking blushes as Jayden talks about him and his desires like we’re all sitting around having fucking tea, and not…whatever the hell that was.

Jayden turns Ignacio over and cleans his hand and cock with the other washcloth before returning everything to the bathroom. “Okay,” he says when he returns. “Bed. All of us.”

Jayden grabs Ignacio and maneuvers him where he wants him, into the middle of the bed.

“Maybe I should⁠—”

“No,” Jayden tells me firmly, his eyes meeting mine. “You were part of the scene, Roman, which means you also get aftercare. Under the covers.”

Knowing better than to argue, I curl up against Ignacio’s side, relaxing when he wraps an arm around me.

Jayden picks up his phone and types on it for a few minutes before sliding into bed on Ignacio’s other side, throwing an arm around him.

Pressing my face against my lover’s chest, I find it hard to keep my eyes open. The endorphins working their way through my system begin to dissipate, and everything I learned in the meeting, and just now, crowd my mind.

The quiet, soft breathing from both men helps ease me further, and I don’t fight it when I finally close my eyes. My last thought as I begin to drift to sleep is: I should probably talk to fucking Ian.

Sitting at the small table in our suite, I massage my temples, wondering what the hell to do. It doesn’t take a genius to understand that Carter still has feelings for Cristian. However, I also know he is completely devoted to Marcus and me. The last thing I want is to be a stumbling block in his life. I want to lift him up and be that safe space. Hell, ever since he called me Daddy… I never truly understood just how much power one word can have.

Marcus comes up behind me, rubbing my shoulders as he says, “Was it that bad?”

“Eh, Tennant took us to task pretty hard, but it was fair. I certainly didn’t realize the level of harassment both Cristian and Allesandro were going through. Fuck, I hate to admit it, but I actually have more respect for Cristian after hearing that. It would have been easy for them to give up, but they both continued to show up. That’s true inner strength.” I make a face, still hating that I have to give the asshole credit. “And…fuck. I need to let go of my anger toward him. It won’t do any good because I know Carter still cares for him.”

“Hmm… So, the same situation you were in with me,” Marcus responds sympathetically. “You hated Il Padrone, but you stayed for me. How did you overcome that?”

Snorting, I think back to those chaotic months, wondering how the hell I went from helping to hold my Tease captive and planning to destroy Il Padrone, to not only letting the guy live, but joining his Organization as a Boy when there’s barely a submissive bone in my body.

Casting through the memories, some of which are horrendously painful, I finally manage to say, “It was a combination of you and Lio.”

Marcus hums quietly, and seems to study me and my words before asking, “What do you mean? I guess I could see you letting go of your anger because you wanted me, but what does Lio have to do with it?”

With a wry smile, I shake my head. “Because here’s this hell, at the time, twenty- or twenty-one-year-old kid, who has survived fucking hell and still finds something in Il Padrone to cherish. Their love was—and is—completely genuine. When I gave him the option to escape his captor, Peter, I honestly thought he’d run far in the other direction, instead of straight to another monster’s arms.

“Lio taught me patience and forgiveness. He has his limits, mainly if you hurt someone he considers his, but overall? That boy is too good for this world. And Allesandro knows it, but manages to cherish it. That… I respect that. As a Dom, seeing another Dom show a submissive care and love…that provided a connection.

“It then let me see that my perspective of him and his relationship with all of his Boys was off. I was trying to define them by my own moral compass. I had to realign that, but once I did? I saw his dedication to all of you. He earned my respect—and yes, the right to call me one of his Boys and an inner circle member.”

“Then it seems to me that you need to get to know Cristian more. And perhaps, through Carter’s eyes, instead of as an outsider being protective of a man you love. If Cristian was able to raise a son as strong and full of life as Roman, and was smart enough to love Carter, there has to be something there.”

Sighing, I turn sideways in the chair, gesturing for him to come in front of me. As soon as he does, I draw him into a hug, letting my exhaustion and frustration seep out. This. This is why my Tease will always have my heart. And, perhaps, he’s right. My heart needs to listen to Carter and, unfortunately, to Cristian.

“Love you,” I murmur. I feel the brush of his lips against my head as I tighten my grip on him. “Thank you, Tease.”

“Always. No matter what, you and I? We’re solid. And remember, we opened our lives to Carter, but there’s always room for more. Your heart is large enough to carry us, and I’ll be right by your side.

“But for now, I think I’ll take Cole out to see the goats for a bit. He’s been quieter than normal today. This will give you time to talk to Carter without him being overwhelmed.”

I drop my arms, enjoying the kiss he gives me before he sets off. He’s right that it’ll be easier to talk to Carter when it doesn’t seem like an inquisition. It’s just difficult because I thought I had all the answers already, and fuck, that’s hard to let go of. But for love? There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for Carter or Marcus. And perhaps Carter just needs to see that.

Blowing out a breath, I wait for our Love to join me. Thankfully, it doesn’t take long. I stand as soon as he comes in, opening my arms. My poor Boy comes willingly—eagerly—soaking up every bit of support I can offer. I hug him tight, trying to say with my body what words can’t thoroughly express.

“That meeting…” Carter groans against my chest, not able to finish his words.