Chapter 24
After the night Mike broke Aiden’s bed, they became closer than ever. Aiden leashed Mike often, regardless of whether or not they were having sex. Sometimes Mike even asked for it himself. It was as if the leash bound them to each other in a way that went past the physical tie of the slim strip of leather. And they both enjoyed that feeling.
Today, Mike lay back relaxed on Aiden’s new bed. The collar and leash had been removed earlier and safely placed on the nightstand. Mike watched his lover across the room. He was dressed in a brief pair of black dance shorts, a cropped, off the shoulder sweatshirt, and a pair of black leg warmers that came up past his knees. Aiden stood at his barre, going through a series of stretches and moves, his toned body gracefully gliding from position to position. Even though the moves were simple, it was as if Mike was front seat at a private show. He was at peace laying in the spill of late afternoon fall sunshine that turned everything warm and golden while soft music played and his lover danced.
The music came to an end. Finished with his workout, Aiden took a drink of water and blotted his forehead and chest with a towel before he came over and sat on the bed next to Mike.
“My parents are hosting a cocktail party fundraiser for the St. Louis Metropolitan Ballet. I’d love it if you came as my date.”
The sudden invitation surprised Mike, but his answer was easy. “An invitation to spend an evening with you is always a yes.”
“You’ll be meeting my family. Are you okay with that?”
Mike nodded. “I am as long as you are.”
A small smile curled Aiden’s lips. “Good.”
“What are you dancing to tonight?” Mike asked as he caressed his lover’s bare shoulder.
“I’m doing my diamond routine.”
“Hmmm... I like that one.” It was a slow, sexy dance to the Ariana Grande song. Mike especially loved the outfit Aiden wore during the performance. Sheer black leggings with sparkling rhinestones with a gem encrusted jockstrap beneath them and a domino eye mask covered in crystals. The gloves he wore were also black and sheer, elbow length and fingerless. “If you want, I can put your crystals in your hair for you before you go.”
“I might take you up on that.” Aiden leaned down and pressed a kiss to Mike’s lips.
When they parted, Mike stared up into his lover’s golden eyes. He opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. Aiden smiled at him and brushed a thumb over his mouth. The sparkles that followed his thumb left a pleasant tingle on his lips.
“What?”
“I want to show you my scars.” The words surprised him—he hadn’t planned to say them. But now that they were out there, he didn’t want to take them back.
“Are you sure?” Aiden asked with a small, concerned frown. “You know you don’t have to.”
“I know. But I’m ready,” he said as he sat up. Aiden sat up too, scooting back a little to give him room. Mike closed his eyes, pulling in a deep breath. His hands gripped the hem of his shirt but they didn’t move to pull it off.
“Take your time.”
Aiden rubbed his arm, the material of his sleeve shifting between his palm and Mike’s arm. And in that moment, Mike was certain that he no longer wanted this cloth barrier between them. He took in several more of those deep breaths before he finally tugged the shirt over his head. Holding it bunched up in his fist, he looked at Aiden. His golden eyes were still on his face. This time he was the one waiting for permission.
“You can look,” Mike told him
Mike turned to the side so that Aiden could see his back. He knew what he looked like. Now, he waited for Aiden to take it all in for the first time.
“This is all from the venom attack?”
He nodded, breath too tight in his chest to speak.
“Is it okay if I touch you?”
The heat of Aiden’s hand hovered over his skin as he waited for his answer. Mike appreciated that he asked first. “Yes.”
Warm fingers gently touched one of his scars. Mike shuddered. It was the first time since the injury that anyone other than a medical professional had touched his bare skin. Aiden’s fingers glided over the raised flesh, dipped into the pits of dented muscle.
“Does it hurt?” Aiden immediately made a noise as though he were annoyed with himself. “Sorry. That’s a silly question since this is a couple years old.”
“It’s not silly, actually. Some of the scar tissue can ache sometimes. One of the reasons I regularly work out is to keep the skin and muscles from tightening up. Applied heat helps as well.”
“What about massages?”
