Make Me Soar (44 page)

“Oh?” Alan sighed. “That feels heavenly.”

Dorian smiled and switched feet. “The headline caught my eye. It said something like, ‘At 16, rejected by your family, homeless, hungry, and now on the streets of a big city… how would you cope?’”

Alan’s brow furrowed for a moment; then he nodded. “That sounds like it came from the Albert Kennedy Trust. I make a regular donation to them, plus I’ve donated the royalties from a couple of books in the past. Was it an appeal?”

“That’s right. It was about LGBT youths who’d been thrown out onto the streets. The Trust was appealing for donations to support their carer program.” Dorian’s heart raced, and he breathed deeply in an effort to calm himself.

“Do you want to make a donation? Is that it?” Alan regarded him quizzically.

“Not exactly.” Dorian’s stomach clenched. This had been far easier in his head when he’d rehearsed it. He wouldn’t have been so nervous if it hadn’t mattered so much.

Alan laid a mug-warmed hand on his thigh. “Hey,” he said softly. “This isn’t like you, baby.”

Dorian jerked his head in surprise at the unexpected endearment, his cheeks burning, and Alan smiled. “Sorry. It slipped out.”

“No, I liked it,” Dorian replied quickly. Two months of living with Alan since their ceremony and his lover still managed to surprise him now and again.

Alan put down his mug and held out his arm in invitation. “Come over here. You’re too far away, and the foot rub can wait.”

Dorian shifted on the couch until he was leaning against Alan, head on his chest. That strong arm slipped around his shoulders, holding him close.

“That’s better. Now talk to me.”

Dorian inhaled, breathing in his lover, his master, letting Alan’s calm seep into him.
Just
tell
him
.
The worst thing he can do is say no
. Except that
would
be the worst thing. Dorian wanted this.

He peered up at Alan. “How… how would you feel about becoming a carer?”

“Whoa.” Everything went very quiet. Alan stared at him. “Where did
that
come from?”

Dorian’s heart sank.
He hates the idea
. “I started thinking about it when I read that letter.” Before Alan could say anything he hastened on. “It went on about how demand for beds had gone up by 162 percent last year, and how the trust operates on a shoestring budget but still manages to support thousands of young people. And all these kids need is someone to care for them and provide them with a safe, supportive home—”

“Okay, okay,” Alan said quietly. He stroked Dorian’s hair. “This really got to you, didn’t it?” Dorian nodded, head once more against his chest. “You really want us to do this, don’t you?”

“It’s all I’ve been thinking about since I read the letter,” Dorian admitted.

Alan drew in a deep breath. “It’s a big step.”

“I know. And then you mentioned the flat. I’ve been thinking about that too. I want to give it to the trust. It’s mine to give, after all, and I don’t need it, not now we’re living together.” He didn’t want to stop, not once he’d got going. “The trust could use it as accommodation for young people once they’d left their carers. They could charge rent, and although some of that would go toward the flat’s upkeep, the rest would go straight into their bank account. More funds for them.”

Alan chuckled. “Wow, you
have
been giving this some serious thought.”

For the first time since Dorian had started talking, there was the faintest glimmer of light on the horizon. “Do you think you could be a carer? Do you think
we’d
make good carers?” He sighed. “I really want to do this. I keep thinking about Maslow’s hierarchy of basic needs. These kids haven’t even gotten the first tier yet. They’ve been rejected by the very people who should be providing them with a home, security, support, all those things we take for granted. I mean, this is their
parents
who’ve done this to them, and why? Because they don’t fit in with their view of how things should be.” He stared at Alan. “Think about this. What if things had been different and Luke had run away from home? What if his parents had chucked him out because he was gay? Wouldn’t you like to think there’d have been someone out there, ready to help him, like I want to help?”

Alan became very still, so still that Dorian’s heart went out to him.

“We’d be offering these kids a lifeline. Think about it. Living with a gay couple means they could be feel free to be themselves. And we have the means to help them.”

Alan let out a soft sigh, and Dorian knew he was thinking about Luke. Then he stiffened.

“We?” Alan pulled his arm free. “Sit up for a sec.”

Dorian straightened, his pulse quickening.

“
You’re
the one with enough finances to be able to consider doing this. My books sell, sure, but we’re not talking
New York Times
Best Sellers list here.” He smiled. “And I don’t imagine anyone would become a carer for financial gain. Surely the trust would only pay expenses. So I say again
. We
have the means to help them?”

Dorian felt the heat bloom once more in his cheeks. “We’re a couple, aren’t we? What’s mine is yours, isn’t it?”

Alan stared at him, and Dorian’s heart sank.

“That’s a point. Would we be acceptable as a couple?”

Alan stroked his chin. “Maybe we’d be taken more seriously as a couple if we were legal.”

Whoa
. “What do you mean?”

“Well, if we were civil partners, that might give us more credibility.”

Dorian stared at him. “That… that wasn’t you proposing, was it?” His head was in a whirl.

Alan laughed. “No, because I think neither you nor I are quite ready for marriage yet. But I’ll admit, you threw me with the ‘what’s mine is yours’ line.”

It was Dorian’s turn to laugh. “Why? Would you mind having a partner with more money than you? Because I don’t give a damn about that. My money is your money.” He gazed at Alan earnestly.

Alan sighed. “Okay, if I’m honest….” He met Dorian’s gaze. “I’m the Dom here, yeah? I’m supposed to provide for
you
.”

Dorian shook his head. “But you
wouldn’t
be providing for me. Once I’m qualified as a counselor, I’ll be earning too. I’m not suggesting you become a kept man and live off my trust fund, if
that’s
what you’re thinking.” He leaned forward and kissed Alan on the mouth, the pressure fleeting. “You will
always
be the one who takes care of me, Sir.”

Alan smiled. “I think we’re getting ahead of ourselves here.”

“Then it’s no?” Dorian’s belly did a flip-flop.

“I’m not saying that. I was going to suggest that you do your course, which lasts a year, right?”

Dorian nodded.

“Okay, that needs to be your focus for now. When you’ve qualified,
then
we can look seriously into becoming carers, if you still want to. And before we get to that point, we can also look at the idea of a civil partnership.” Alan’s gaze was warm. “Again, if you want to.” He pulled Dorian astride him and locked gazes with him. “The fact that you’re thinking of these kind of plans for our future makes me see how much thought you’ve given to
us
.”

Dorian’s heart swelled with love. “Your name is on my back,” he said softly. “Why do you think I said yes to that, if I didn’t want this to be permanent?” He leaned forward and slowly kissed Alan, exploring him with his tongue, loving the low moan that slid from between Alan’s lips. Dorian broke the kiss with a sigh. “I’m not going anywhere, Sir. You’re stuck with me.” He grinned. “So there.”

Alan reached around him and stroked his back, where the tattoo lay hidden under his T-shirt. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Dorian arched, rolling his hips, heat growing in his groin as it always did when Alan touched him there. Suddenly he knew
exactly
what he wanted to be doing.

Those agile fingers made a detour under his T-shirt, and Alan tickled him, making him squeal like a girl.

“You sod!” He leaped off Alan’s lap and darted out of the room before Alan had time to grab him. He dashed up the stairs. “Last one into bed has to bottom!” he yelled gleefully.

“Oh, you little shit!” From below came the thud of Alan’s feet on the wooden floor of the hall. Dorian scrambled up the last stairs and dove through their bedroom door, laughing breathlessly.

Life with Alan was never going to be dull. He’d see to that.

Dorian
loved
their life.

An Unlocked Heart

Collars & Cuffs: Book One

By K.C. Wells

Since the death of his submissive lover two years ago, Leo hasn’t been living—merely existing. He focuses on making Collars & Cuffs, a BDSM club in Manchester’s gay village, successful. That changes the night he and his business partner have their weekly meeting at Severinos. Leo can’t keep his eyes off the new server. The shy man seems determined to avoid Leo’s gaze, but that’s like a red rag to a bull. Leo loves a challenge.

Alex Daniels works at Severinos to scrape together the money to move out on his own. He struggles with coming out, but he’s drawn to Leo, the gorgeous guy with the icy-blue eyes who’s been eating in his area nearly every night.

Leo won’t let Alex’s hesitance get in the way. He even keeps him away from the club so as not to scare him. And as for telling Alex that Leo is a Dom? Not a good idea. One date becomes two, but date two leads to Leo’s bedroom… and Alex discovers things about himself he never realized—and never wanted anyone to see.

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Trusting Thomas

Collars & Cuffs: Book Two

By K.C. Wells

Christmas is a time for goodwill to all, but Collars and Cuffs co-owner Thomas Williams receives an unexpected gift that chills him to the bone. A Dom from another Manchester club asks Thomas for his help rescuing an abused submissive, Peter Nicholson. Thomas takes in the young man as a favor to a friend, offering space and time to heal, but he makes it clear he’s never had a sub and doesn’t want one.

Peter finds Thomas’s home calm and peaceful, but his past has left him unwilling to trust another Dom. When Thomas doesn’t behave as Peter expects, Peter’s nightmares begin to fade, and he decides he’d like to learn more about D/s life. A well-known trainer of submissives, Thomas begins to teach Peter, but as the new submissive opens up to him, Thomas finds he cares more for Peter than he should. Just as he decides it’s time to find a permanent Dom for Peter, they discover Peter’s tormentor is still very much a threat. With their lives in danger, Thomas can’t deny his feelings for Peter any longer. The question now becomes, can Peter make it out of the lions’ den alive, so that Thomas can tell his boy that he loves him?

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Someone to Keep Me

Collars & Cuffs: Book Three

By K.C. Wells & Parker Williams