AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Robert took a couple of deep breaths. “I’m blowing it up out of all proportion, aren’t I?”
Therewas his Robert.
“And now you’re going to hand over all that anxiety.” Toby smiled. “On your knees.”
Robert’s eyes bulged. “Seriously? This is not the—”
“On. Your. Knees.” Toby locked gazes with him, and this time Robert stilled. He sank to his knees on the rug, swallowing.
Toby gave a nod. “Hands on your thighs.” He waited a moment. “Now take a deep breath, hold it for four seconds, then let it out, slowly.” Robert’s chest swelled, and he nodded once more. “Again. Keep doing it until I tell you to stop.”
He could almost see a layer of calm settling on Robert’s shoulders, easing them down. Toby left him like that for ten minutes, until he was sure Robert was once again in control of himself. Toby opened the drawer in the chunky coffee table and removed a couple of lengths of jute. He placed them on the couch, making sure Robert saw them.
He couldn’t miss the moment when Robert’s mind connected the dots.
“Thank you, Sir.” Robert’s voice had lost all of its previous edge.
“Take off your shirt.”
Robert’s fingers fumbled a little as he unbuttoned the cotton shirt, shucked it off, and placed it on the coffee table. Toby set to work creating the rope harness, taking his time, twining the rope around Robert’s upper body. As soon as he’d tied the first overhand knot, Robert’s breathing caught and he closed his eyes.
“That’s it. Feel it hugging you, sliding over your skin.” This wasn’t sexual—this was changing the dynamics from boss and lover to Dom and sub. Then he realized Robert’s eyes were glistening. Toby didn’t say a word, but let Robert weep, seeing the tears for what they were. This was nothing to do with his panic attack—this was a reaction to letting go of all his inner turmoil. Eventually, the tears dried up, and by the time Toby was done, Robert was at peace.
Toby helped him to stand, and wiped his eyes and cheeks with gentle fingers before guiding him backward until his calves met the couch. “Sit.”
Robert complied, and Toby sat beside him.
They had all morning, and he was going to use all of it to get Robert’s focus back where it should be.
Robert Thorston had never felt so free.
Which had to be the most ironic feeling ever, seeing as he was lying on the couch wearing only his jeans, bound in a Shibari harness. His head rested on Toby’s lap, and Toby was reading. Occasionally he would stroke Robert’s head, his shoulder, or chest, but there was always that connection between them. He couldn’t return the touch—his hands were bound too.
Robert loved it when Toby did this. Being fucked while tied to the bed was amazing, butthis… Shibari was so much more intimate and emotionally binding.
He smiled to himself at the intentional pun.
“What just went through your mind?” Toby set his book aside on the small table next to the couch.
“Me, trussed up like a turkey. I should feel trapped.”
Toby smiled. “But you don’t.”
Robert managed a slight shake of his head. “Quite the opposite. It feels as though I’ve let go of everything that was worrying me.”
“That was kinda the point.” Toby caressed his cheek. “You’ve been worrying all this past week, haven’t you?”
Robert nodded.
“That’s why I had to do something.” Toby leaned over and kissed him.
“And I trusted you to take it all away.” He swallowed. “I… I’m sorry I cried.” He hadn’t been able to stop the tears, and he had no clue why he was weeping.
“Hey, never apologize for something like that. It happens, sometimes,” Toby told him. “But they were happy tears. I guess you could call it a kind of euphoria.” He gazed into Robert’s eyes. “What are you feeling right this second?”
Robert smiled. “Connected.”
Toby’s face lit up. “Me too.”
