AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You have a flair for a lot,” I laughed.
“Well, there’s no arguing that.”
He wiggled until I let him down, and he went into the kitchen, calling me to follow. There were boxes and crates everywhere, on every surface. “This is…a mess.”
“Temporary mess. Oh, and Devin came by, and I spoke to him. The pigs he’d already…euthanized are in the smoke now. He’s doing two more tomorrow and two the day after that.”
“Dale! His name is Dale.”
“Whatever,” Theo said, irritated. “Aren’t you proud of me?”
“Yes, Theo, I’m very proud.”
Brett entered the kitchen and rolled up the sleeves of his navy sweater. “This is workable. Hud, please help Ryan with the heavier things. Mattresses are waiting in the back bedroom, he said. I’ll pitch in with Theo here.”
As I saluted and started to leave, I heard Theo begin to chatter. “Tell me all about the house! And I’ll help you get what you need for it, but the way the dungeon was decorated was so beautiful, but that doesn’t match the area here, and….”
I went out of earshot and found Ryan pulling out one of the mattresses. “Like some help?”
“This is huge. I need one this size.”
“Theo was sweet to get this. I fit on it,” I said, grabbing one end of the mattress. We got that up the stairs and set on the frame Ryan had already put together while we were gone.
“So, the house, he seems to love it.”
“It’s great. Big enough for you all, but not huge. It’s all by itself, like this place. Perfect for hiding, sure, but you won’t feel hidden if you get me.”
“I’m not in a cave under the ground. I feel free already.”
“A cave? It’s a cave?”
After we got it in place, Ryan sat on the mattress and said, “It’s amazing. It’s a dome under the earth. I have no idea how it got there if it was most natural, and if they built it up or what. If you were to look down on it, it would look like a child’s drawing of a sun. A big circle with rays heading out in all directions. Those rays are where all the old cells are, that are bedrooms now, and the end rooms, the biggest cell areas, where the common areas for the slaves and Masters are. Kitchens, sitting areas, televisions, books. Upstairs, though, it’s a complex. The main house sits directly over the dungeon, where we lived, in a small apartment, and then the house itself is huge, has guest rooms, a big kitchen, a long dining room, and things like that. The offices.”
“Are you supposed to tell me all this?”
“I’m leaving out the location, so it’s fine. You wouldn't know where it is unless you want to fly over Mexico with ground-penetrating radar.”
“Oh, sure, sure.” I sat down on the end of the bed, facing away from him because I thought it would be easier for Ryan to speak the truth. “You’re…floundering.”
“Yes. I sure am. I didn’t know it was obvious.”
“It might not be to others, but I know that look. It’s like you’re afraid but can’t show it. You’re in unfamiliar territory. If it makes you feel any better, you’re not alone.”
“I know I have Brett.”
I laughed sardonically. “That’s not who I meant. I meant me.”
Ryan turned, and I felt the mattress dip, so I turned to him and stared into his icy green eyes as they searched mine. “What do you mean?”
“I have never lived out here, in the country. I’ve never been in love like this. I have never even thought of being a full-blown Master. I’m floundering too, and in fact, turned down my Theo for sex this morning. I made a pitiful excuse, but…”
“Wow, I didn’t think. I’m sorry, Hud.”
“No, I didn’t say it for sympathy any more than you did. We’re just being truthful, and for two men like us, that people have always looked to for guidance, protection, strength, that’s not easy to deal with. Floundering isn’t allowed.”
He held out his hands like he wanted them filled with the words that would tell him what to do. “Where do we go from here?”
“We let them guide us for once. Theo and Brett those two have the strength right now. They’re not floundering, at least not like we are. We’ll follow them until we gain our own footing.”
