Page 87 of Unfettered

“No,” I agree. “But that doesn’t mean it won’t help. Unless you think being on your knees makes you weak?” I raise a brow, and he curses.

“I’ll even let you hold onto me,” I tell him as I encourage him to wrap his arms around my leg, while I guide his head to rest against me. “No one else gets this privilege when they kneel.”

He huffs, but adjusts himself on the ground, laying his head on my leg and looking up at me before he matches his breathing to mine, nice and slow.

He begins to relax, and I run my hand through his hair, noting how greasy it feels—a shower will be the next thing on our agenda…if he trusts me enough for that.

Javi’s eyes close, and while a frisson of tension still lives within him, he’s mostly relaxed. I rub the back of his neck, encouraging the muscles to relax further, wanting him to slip as deep into his restful place as he can for his first time.

Javi may present himself as dominant to everyone else, and I believe, with the right partner, he is, but there’s also a part of him that wants to be on his knees for me. He might hate that he wants it—needs it—but he does, and I’ll do everything in my power to make it good for him.

After a while, I pick up my phone and send a text. I don’t want to take Javi from his place too quickly, but I also don’t want him to hurt because he stayed down on his knees for too long. Eventually, he’ll be able to kneel for me for as long as I desire, alongside my Boys, but right now, we’re not training for that. Just giving him the space to get out of his head for a bit.

I look up as movement in my peripheral gets my attention. Reginald glances at the remnants of our breakfast, and I shake my head when he meets my gaze. I don’t want anyone startling Javi by moving around too much.

He sets the present I had him hold for me down gently and bows, stepping out of the room as silently as he entered.

Javi doesn’t even flinch, and that’s the best compliment of all, knowing he trusts me so much that he didn’t realize we weren’t alone.

Carefully, I card my fingers through his hair, pulling a little more firmly than I had been. “Time to come back to me, Javi.” He moans. “Shhh. I know. But I want to see your eyes. Come on.”

He blinks his eyes open. They’re still red-rimmed, but the tears are dried on his cheeks, and he stares up at me with clarity that wasn’t there before.

“That’s it. My sweet, crazy little duck. I have you.”

He lets out a breath. “Why was that so nice?”

I smile. “Because you trusted me to take care of you. Something I’ll always do.”

“What about your lovers?”

“They’ll understand. I can guarantee Antonio is probably with the twins right now, fantasizing about what we might be doing. You’ve already touched Ten, and Hollis gave us blanket permission with you for it.”

He scowls. “He fucking stabbed me. Twice!”

I huff a laugh. “I know. I’m sorry. I’ll make it clear you’re off limits now.”

“Because I’m yours?”

“Exactly.” I tap a finger to his lips before saying, “I got you a present.”

He lights up. “A present, for me?”

“Of course. Close your eyes.”

He holds his breath as he does as he’s told. Smiling, I can’t help but lean forward and kiss him softly before getting up to get his present.

Unzipping the carrying crate, I huff when I get a handful of dark fluff as Javi’s present tries to escape.

Making my way back to the couch, I sit and hold the wiggly thing in my lap as I tell Javi to open his eyes.

When he sees the solid-black kitten, he turns to mush. There are no other words to describe it.

“Oh, look at you. So beautiful,” he coos. He holds his hand out to the kitten. “It’s mine?”

I nod. “I went to the shelter after you kicked me out of your office the other day.”

“You…you’ve had this planned for days?”