Caged Sanctuary (5 page)

Once dressed, he fixed his hair, then wheeled over to his dresser again. He looked at the small black bag sitting there. His nerves amped up as he opened it and considered what was within. Deacon had said to bring his cage and the keys. He checked the lock again, making certain it worked and was ready for use. Kade had cleaned and wrapped it carefully prior to storing it—when he’d given up finding a Dom to desire him—but once he’d known Deacon wanted him caged, he’d dug it out and made sure, repeatedly, it was still good. He’d even considered going out and buying a new one, but didn’t want to do that. He wanted to offer to his new Dom the one he had picked and knew fit perfectly.

Satisfied with his preparations, Kade put all the pieces back into the bag, set it on his lap, and then headed out to the front room where his backpack awaited him. He carefully placed it inside the pack, then took one last look around, making sure he had everything he needed before locking up and rolling down the ramp to his car.

Half an hour later, he pulled up outside a gated community, one that screamed money. He retrieved his cell to check the code he needed to punch in to gain entrance. Deacon had sent it to him Wednesday, and Kade had dutifully saved it to his note pad, the saved texts file, and e-mailed it to his smart phone, just in case.

He pulled through the beautiful entrance and slowly drove along the pristine streets. He followed the directions that had come with the code until he stopped in front of a large, two-story Victorianesque residence, the large yard immaculately manicured, flowers and trees placed just so.

Kade swallowed hard as he looked up at Deacon’s home, intimidated and nervous at the same time. He had never thought to ask about the house’s layout.
How am I even going to navigate in a place with stairs? Oh God, this isn’t going to work.

Fighting down his impending panic, Kade noticed the front door was open, and waited to see who came out of Deacon’s place. Deacon strode out onto the front porch and looked directly at Kade, his face serious but welcoming. Kade held his breath, trying to calm down as Deacon walked, more sauntered really, toward him.

D
EACON
DID
not wait for Kade to open his car door, doing so himself. He looked down at Kade, a soft smile gracing his beatific face. “Come inside, Kade.”

“Yes, Sir.” Kade glanced from Deacon to the house behind him once more before getting his chair in place and moving over to it. He grabbed his bag and placed it in its usual spot, then followed the most perfect backside ever.

He took his time, enjoying the view as Deacon led him up to the porch. Dressed much as he had been last Saturday night, he was in an expensive pair of black suit pants, expertly tailored to fit him well. The shirt was bright blue, but that seemed to be the only real color the man ever wore, unless one counted the heavy gold watch on his left wrist, the same as the first time they met.

Kade’s heart sped again when he realized the porch had steps up to it, or rather, that it had multiple steps. Then he noticed a new ramp set up at the opposite end of the porch, allowing him to easily roll up to the front door. He took a moment to look around, taking in the quaint little white wrought iron table with two chairs next to it to the right of a large window. He would have to roll right past it to reach the entrance.

“A ramp?” Kade whispered, shocked someone who had only met him the one time would have gone to such lengths for him already.

“I doubted you wanted me to carry you up the steps,” Deacon commented, humor lacing his words. He stepped aside, holding the door open. “Come inside, boy.”

“Yes, Sir.” Kade did as commanded, still half in a daze at the thoughtfulness Deacon had shown him.

Once inside, Kade boggled at his surroundings. The foyer was huge and two stories tall, the floors beautiful, gleaming wood, with a small accent table and an old, carved coatrack near the door. Deacon led him to a spacious front room where two couches and a couple of overstuffed leather chairs were situated in such a way the fireplace was the focus. There was a large, ornate rug over much of the floor. Kade stopped his chair at the edge of it, not wanting to damage it with his wheels.

Deacon walked over to a bar in the corner, then turned, one brow arched, the serious look back on his face. “Is there a reason you stopped in the entryway?”

Kade nodded. “I don’t want to damage it,” he explained, gesturing to the expensive floor covering.

Deacon chuckled, the sound again shooting up and down Kade’s spine. “You won’t. It looks delicate but it’s not. I am not going to ask you to do something and then lash out at you. I invited you to my home, into this room. Accept that if I direct you with words or actions, I also accept any consequences that may occur.” He motioned to the bar. “Wine or bourbon?”

Alcohol?
He never drank prior to any form of play. It was too dangerous. Disappointment flared a moment when he realized that meant they probably would not be playing, but before he could answer, Deacon added, “Only one before dinner. I want us both clearheaded and alert tonight.”

Hope blossomed again. “Wine, then, thanks.”

Deacon poured him a glass of wine and a couple fingers of bourbon for himself. Kade positioned his chair next to the couch Deacon settled into. After accepting the glass, he took a sip and smiled. “It’s very good.”

“I’m glad you like it. You found me okay? No trouble with the gate?”

“No, no trouble. I’ve never been inside one of these communities. It’s beautiful, as is your house.” He was still in awe of the splendor but could not imagine living is such a place all alone. His small home got on his nerves with how empty and creaky it seemed at times.

Deacon shrugged, a careless yet sensual motion that drew Kade’s attention to his broad shoulders. “I value my privacy and am rather particular about my home.” Deacon took another sip of his drink, then set it down and shifted to face Kade. “Does my home or the community bother you for some reason?”

“No.”

“Don’t lie to me. Ever. I saw your face when I came out to get you. You were about two seconds from driving away.”

Kade considered how to explain his panic and worries, unsure it would make sense to someone else. He sighed, frustrated with his fears more than Deacon’s insistence on asking things he did not want to answer. “I’m not in the same income bracket as you, obviously, and a two-story residence is going to have stairs, something that’s a bit of a problem with my chair. I’ve never been to a Dom’s home before either,” he added, his eyes firmly fixed on his hands.

“Hmm…. For now, I will ignore your income paranoia, as you can more than take care of yourself financially. As for the stairs, that seems an odd reason for you to run. Explain. Also, look at me when we are speaking. If and when I want that level of submission, I will tell you.”

“Yes, Sir.” Kade raised his gaze tentatively to meet Deacon’s, getting lost in how beautiful his eyes looked. The hazel picked up the brilliant blue of his shirt, giving them the most hypnotic bluish-silver color he had ever seen. After a long moment, he shook himself out of his daze. “The stairs mean I will be limited to the first floor, and in homes like this, things like, um, some rooms we might need later are usually upstairs.” He could feel the flush spread up his cheeks and down his throat as he spoke. Looking away again, he added, “I…. Sorry?”

“You are too precious!” Deacon laughed. “You mean you worry the playroom and bedrooms are upstairs and that is your justification for considering leaving?” he asked when he finally sobered.

He liked the idea of being precious to his Dom, but he did not like his rather valid concerns being laughed at. Kade sat up straighter. “It’s not funny.”

“Yes and no. That you would think me so shallow is not funny, you’re right. That you would let something so mundane interfere with things is. But yes, my playroom is upstairs, as is my bedroom, guest rooms, and a few other rooms I like to use at times.” Deacon sobered. “Did you remember that I promised to find ways around your mobility issues?”

“Well, yes, but….”

“And have I not already made it so you can enter and exit my home without assistance?”

Kade thought about the new ramp outside and nodded again, feeling more and more foolish. However, he still didn’t see how the upstairs issue would be worked around. A simple ramp wouldn’t suffice for a full flight of stairs. He’d caught a glimpse of them when he first came in. They were wide, wood with some kind of fancy runner, and had an ornate, carved banister. No way would anyone want to damage them just to accommodate him. Hell, he would not want it damaged just for him. “Yes?”

“When the time comes for such concerns, I will assist you up the stairs, just as I have researched and devised ways for you to still serve as my sub even though you cannot do certain things commonly expected.” Deacon reached out and gently took Kade’s hands, rubbing his thumbs back and forth across his wrists lightly. “But we have a ways to go before that’s a concern. I have questions, and I expect you to have many for me, as well.”

He nodded, thrilling at the way Deacon touched him. “I do. About both in and out of the playroom.”

“Good.” Deacon looked him up and down, a curious smile spread across his face. “Do you always sit separate like this, or is it simply nerves? I know some people in chairs seem to stay in them all the time, but I dislike the distance it creates between us physically.”

Kade smiled in return. He knew some like that, but he hated being in his chair all the time. “No.” He shook his head for emphasis. “I usually move to the couch when home or over at Katie’s. I didn’t the other night because I didn’t know you and, well… was embarrassed, I guess.”

“No need to be. We should move into the dining area now, but later I wish for you to join me on the couch. I want to get to know you, not simply play with you and send you home.”

Head reeling, Kade trembled at the words. He wanted a Dom, but he wanted a chance at a full relationship with the sexy man before him. He tried not to let his hopes build too high, but already knew he would be horribly disappointed if they were only about sex—not that he would turn that down, but…. “Thank you, Sir.”

“You’re welcome. Please, follow me, as I am hungry, and I did offer to feed you.”

T
HOROUGHLY
ENJOYING
his dinner, Kade watched Deacon as they chatted about Asheville and the surrounding area, the house, their businesses, and more, but never really touching on their prospective relationship. The food was wonderful: rosemary shrimp scampi skewers with carrot couscous and fresh chives, all served with toasted baguette slices, steamed fresh whole green beans, and roasted mushrooms. Better than the food, though, was watching Deacon eat. The man was fluid in his motions so even something as simple as eating was extremely sensual.

If it had been a date with someone outside the life, Kade would have been much more at ease with that fact that their proposed relationship was skipped over. As it was, he was more than a little bemused. He had expected them to discuss limits, what they each hoped to gain from their time together, but as it was, Kade was torn between being frustrated and bewildered.

When he finished the last bit of his dinner, he set his fork and knife down as he had been taught as a child, then waited for Deacon to finish, which only took a few moments.

“Full, Kade?”

“Yes, thank you. It was delicious.”

“Wish I could claim credit for the preparation, but I’m sadly rather useless in the kitchen.” Confused, Kade opened his mouth to ask who had done the cooking, considering he hadn’t seen anyone else in the house, but Deacon continued before the words managed to escape. “I have a housekeeper who also happens to be a wonderful chef. She made everything for tonight.”

“I didn’t see anyone.”

“Her name is Rose, and she left as you arrived.”

“Oh.” Well, that wasn’t that weird. His parents had had a cook and housekeeper when he was little. “Please relay my thanks and appreciation to her, then.”

A look of pride—maybe?—crossed his face. “She will appreciate that. Few people think to thank the people who work behind the scenes. Now, if you would return to the front room, I will make us coffee, and we can discuss all the things that have had you on edge throughout our meal.”

“Do you wish me to clear the table first?”

Deacon’s right brow arched, the corner of his pink lips curving up slightly. “No,” he replied simply, and motioned back toward the archway into the room.

“Thank you, Sir.” Kade wiped his mouth one last time, then set his napkin beside his plate. Giving Deacon one more look, Kade spun his chair around and wheeled into the other room, taking the time to maneuver onto the couch, as Deacon had said he wanted before dinner.

Once situated, he pushed his chair around the edge of the couch so it wouldn’t be in the way when Deacon joined him. It didn’t take long before he smelled the rich scent of the coffee. Moments later, Deacon entered the room, carrying two fancy coffee cups, a soft look on his face.