(Pictured above is Master Kael)

Chapter 29  Dream a Little Dream

Payton

"I don't care about your explanations Remy, one of my subs was hurt, maybe not physically, but I'm also responsible for their emotional well-being, it's just as important. You were my guest, at the club and in my home..."

"No, I'm not upset that Christophe hired you, I know you'll be a great asset for the business, this has nothing to do with that, this is my club and when a Dom fucks up, whether they're my cousin or not, there are repercussions. If you want to become a member when you get back to Chicago, you're going to have to abide my punishment first."

"Hang on a sec. Whoever is outside my door get your ass in here now!"

I freeze at Master Matthias' booming voice. I really didn't mean to be eavesdropping. I adjust the armload of files I came to return, but what I heard as I approached his open door a few seconds ago stopped me in my tracks. I look back down the hall to the door of the office where I'd been entering in all of last week's payables and receivables and wonder if I should just sneak back down.

"Don't make me come out there!"

I immediately run in, almost spilling the files all over the floor. Master Matthias has his hand over the mouthpiece of his phone and lets out a deep sigh when he sees me. "I, um, have the files for you, I'm all finished with them and Penny said you needed them back as soon as possible." I keep my voice quiet, almost a whisper, not wanting to be heard through the phone.

"Sit down," he says, nodding to a chair in front of his desk, "you might as well hear the rest anyway."

I sit down, adjusting the files in my lap, and stare down at my feet. I'll probably get in trouble for eavesdropping. It's okay. I deserve it. I should have just walked back to the other office the minute I heard him on the telephone. It's just...I heard his name and...

"I'm back," he says, putting the phone up to his ear. "Thirty days, Rem, starting when you return to Chicago. When you get back, come pay your membership fee and then the clock starts, you'll have to wait 30 days, and after that we'll have a good long talk before I'll let you loose in my club. This isn't France, you're going to have to learn to play by my rules."

"Whether or not you realize that, I'm going to drum it into your head, so let me know when you get back in town and we'll start the paperwork, if you're still interested."

"No, no family discount."

"I don't care if you're kidding, you need to realize you don't get any special favors. You'll be put on the waitlist for a private playroom if you want one, just like anyone else joining, and you'll have to wait as long as it takes for one to come available."

"Yes, he got your letter, he has a contract with Kael now, so don't try to contact him again." I could feel Master Matthias' eyes on me now, but keep my own on my shoes, as if the grey suede Vans I'm wearing are the most interesting thing I've seen all day.

"Fine, just do as I say and we'll talk again when you're back in town and no, I won't pass on any messages."

"Good bye Remy," Master Matthias says firmly and then hangs up the phone.

One-one-thousand, two-one-thousand, three...I start to count in my head, waiting for him to say something. I get to 24-one-thousand before I can't take it anymore and look up at Master Matthias. Nerves of steel, the man has. He's staring at me, his eyes completely unreadable, as usual.

"Here are the files?" I ask rather than say as I pick them up off my lap and go to put them on his desk.

Master Matthias is quiet for another minute, his steady gaze still on me and his eyes betray nothing, until he finally speaks. "How are you doing Payton?"

"I'm fine Sir." I sit back down on the chair when he gestures to it.

"And Master Kael? How is your arrangement with him going?"

"Master Kael is great, Sir. He's taught me a lot. I'm, um, very grateful to him."

"Good." His eyes glance down at the files before looking back at me. "Are you finished with your work?"

"Yes, Sir, but I still have forty-five minutes, is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No, why don't you take off early, you do your work twice as fast as most people, go do...whatever it is you do." He flicks his hands towards the door and I can't help but smile.

"Thank you Master Matthias. I have a paper to write, I'll just go back to the dorm and get working on it." I stand up and walk to the door. "I'll see you Friday, Sir," I say before leaving and when I look back he's already tapping away on his computer. I grab my coat and my bag from the office that we all use, say goodbye to Penny, wave to Scotty and Jacobi who are organizing the bar for the smaller crowd that comes mid-week, and run down the stairs to catch the 4:20 bus back to campus.

It's about a forty to fifty minute ride to the stop just outside of campus, depending on the traffic, but I like the time. I people watch and think. I don't allow myself to think about him. Instead I let my mind wander back over the last several weeks with Master Kael. From the first scene we did together - Master Kael fulfilled the promise he made when I met him, during my training in Master Matthias' office. He had made a comment about wanting to make my ass redder than my hair. He did and it was amazing. And when he was done, he fucked me like I've never been fucked before. Okay, so, I know that statement doesn't mean much with my limited experience, but it was pretty awesome all the same.

Master Kael likes to play with me, I'm not just referring to what we do in his playroom, but that whole late thing? I now know it was just a game he likes to play with me, to tease me or pick on me. Not maliciously, I think it's his way he shows affection, and I'll be the first to admit, I make myself an easy target. He likes to 'keep me on my toes'. It's all in good fun, so I don't get angry, but he'll do things that will make me screw up, just so he can send me to the punishment cards often. He thinks he's some kind of a comedian and gets a real kick out of himself, and I just go along because it's fun to see that side of him.

I sit back in the seat, thinking about that night, my first scene with Master Kael, my first scene ever.

Master Kael blindfolded me and had me lay down on my stomach on a kind of multi-purpose bench. They have a lot of them at the club I'd noticed. At first I was nervous about the blindfold, I thought I would feel too out of control, but I actually liked it better. It kept me focused and not looking around at objects in the room that would distract me and pull me from my head space. To be honest, I liked not knowing what was coming next. It was exciting.

"Relax Payton, you have your safe words and I already know your hard and soft limits. You need to trust your Dom in order to get the most out of a scene."

"Yes, Sir...I mean, Master." I didn't realize I was even tense until he began massaging my back and shoulders. I let out a few breaths and felt my body melt into the bench. His hands moved down to my lower back, and then down further, but just massaging, until he had warmed up my whole body. He explained things along the way, how his massage would bring the blood flow up to my skin, making it more sensitive and 'ready'. How I shouldn't hold back any sounds, that he wants to know what feels good and what doesn't, and the sounds I make, along with the reactions of my body, tell him what he needs to know, and I shouldn't be embarrassed about any of them.

"Payton, I'm going to spank you first, which will warm up your skin even more. This is for pleasure, not for punishment."

"Mmhmm, yes Master."

"I won't make you count, I usually reserve that for a punishment spank, so just relax and enjoy." SWAT! He'd barely finished speaking when the first spank came and I think it was on purpose, so I wouldn't expect it. It felt good. Really good. It wasn't very hard and it left me with this tingling sting. His large hand rubbed the sting away and that felt...comforting, even though the spank didn't hurt. He continued his spanks, keeping to different parts of my butt until pretty soon that entire region was buzzing and I was squirming to make room for my erection which was not so comfortably pressed between my body and the bench.

"Don't move so much pet," Master Kael said, giving me a harder swat that stung a lot more than the others. A warning. I stopped.

"You liked watching the caning," he said, and I assumed it was a rhetorical question, so I remained silent. "You know how I know?"

This time I was pretty sure he wanted an answer. "No, Master, how?"

"I could see it in your eyes, in your face, your whole demeanor as I watched you. The way your lips went dry and you licked them. The way your hands clenched and your breathing changed. Little things that not even you may have noticed. You see Payton, it's my job, as your Dom to watch you, to learn everything about you and then use that knowledge to take care of you. That's one of the things I love about being a Dominant. Getting to know my sub and watching my success as he reacts just as I expect him to, or even the surprise, when he doesn't because that's another lesson I've learned about him."

As he spoke I could hear him moving around the room until his voice returned and he was back at my side. Before I could think another thought I heard a whoosh of air and felt the sting of what I recognized from the sound, was a flexible cane, like the one used earlier in the showroom.

"One of the reasons I wanted to work with you Payton, is that you're so open, like an open book. Honest and un-jaded. You can't hide your reactions; I see it on your face, I see it in the way your skin tone changes so easily and I see it in your posture. That can be so very...fulfilling for a Dominant. Very gratifying. It makes me want to do so many things to and with you Payton, just to see your reaction."

Master Kael was now dragging the cane down my back, over my ass and down my legs, then he began a series of swats, very fast and very shallow all over my calves, thighs, butt and a few on the fleshy part of my back, avoiding my spine with precision. It was definitely more intense than the spanking, but again, it felt exhilarating. It made me feel...alive. Like I never had before. It continued for several minutes, my body heated up and the stinging changed to a thrumming, like a vibration going through my entire body. My pulse and breathing picked up and I began to let out moans and small cries of pleasure. Master Kael was saying things; telling me how good a boy I was and how well I was doing and how much he liked my reactions, that added to the whole experience making me feel the way I do when I'm standing on the bow of a boat, racing through the wind, exceeding hull speed, the wind whipping across my face. It's a feeling of freedom that I've only felt from sailing, until now.

Something else begins to form as he continues, a feeling of awe towards Master Kael. Awe and appreciation...for bringing me here, for showing me how much I was missing, how much I could feel. I owe him so much, I'm so thankful and I'll be such a good pet for the next month for him. I'll do whatever he tells me to do.

When he stopped, all these amazing feelings continued, and I wanted more. I wanted to feel more and I wanted to please my Master, to make him feel good too. But I wasn't sure how to verbalize it, I wasn't sure how to say much more than a few words like 'please' and 'Master' and 'so good' or 'more'. Luckily my Master knew what I needed and when I felt his naked skin against mine, I let out both pleasured and needy sounds.

"Are you sure you want this pet? Are you sure you're ready?"

"Yesss, please Master, I need you," I whined and within seconds his hands were massaging my body again while I rubbed myself against him like a bitch in heat. If I wasn't in such a state, I would have been embarrassed, but all I could focus on was him and more. I began moaning as soon as my Master began preparing me; lubed fingers massaging around my entrance and then slowly entering me, gently stretching and pushing against my walls while I moaned and moved my hips for more.

"Just relax pet, I'm going to go slowly, but you need to tell me if I'm hurting you. You're still new to this."

"Unggmmmm," I moaned in response and moved my hips, go as slow as you want, I still want more.

I started to feel impatient and he must have noticed because I heard a chuckle before his fingers pulled out and I heard the sound of a condom package tearing. "Your ass is so red and beautiful, pet. I can't wait to make it mine." I wiggled my ass toward him to show him I was in complete agreement, causing him to let out a hearty laugh.

Large, strong hands gripped my hips and pulled me higher so I was up on all fours. Master Kael kneeled behind me and pressed his shaft against me a few times, teasing around my hole, chuckling some more. I whined and tried to move each time, to line myself up, but he just gripped me tighter. When he was ready, he slowly pushed in and I gasped, losing my breath. He was bigger than Guillermo and I thought Guillermo was big. He had prepared me well though, so it didn't take long for the discomfort to ease and once his well-lubed cock was sliding in and out the pleasure overtook any pain.

He went slowly at first, saying words of encouragement and praise, but slowly his own breathing got harder and more ragged and his pace picked up. His grip on my hips was so tight I knew he'd leave bruises, but that was a thought that pleased me rather than bothered me. The more pleasured sounds I let out the faster he went, every now and then he'd let go with one hand and spank my ass, his words sounding more guttural and coarse. The Dom in him was coming out.

I met him thrust for thrust though. I felt pleased, I held my own...and I loved everything about it. It was different than the romantic time with Guillermo, but it awoke something in me. A fire. A hunger. And I wanted more and more. I vocalized those needs which made Master Kael even more...animalistic. He pulled out, flipped me over and pulled my legs over his shoulders, going even deeper in this new position. Then he ripped off the blindfold and I could see a fire in his eyes; a crazy, sexy need as he pounded into me. It made me feel powerful.

I'm hard as a rock and dripping all over my stomach as he slams into me. He's got one hand on my collar bone, holding me down and showing his possession, though not choking me at all. The other moves to my shaft and starts pumping me and within minutes I am so close I feel like I'm going to explode. "Please Master, may I cum?" I plead quickly. He squeezes the base of my cock and tells me to hold on. My vision blurs as a wave of heat flows through me, I feel fevered.

"Please, Master." I whine, his tight grip barely keeping me at bay.

His thrusts become harder and more erratic and he pumps a half dozen more times before he growls out, "Cum for me pet." His hand slides up my shaft and with it, my orgasm rips through me. I feel myself tighten around Master Kael which causes a deep sounds to escape him as he thrust forward one more time and holds himself there, his cock deep in my channel, pulsing against my walls as he releases.

It was.

Well.

Fuck.

It was...

Several loud students break me out of my reverie as they board the bus and I realize the bus has reached the campus. I hop up and scoot down the aisle towards the door, extremely aware of the uncomfortable erection caught in my tight jeans. Luckily I can hold my knapsack in front of me for cover. I hop off the bus, a smirk on my face and make my way towards the dorms.

Tommy

"Please, Sir, please may I cum?"

I feel so on the edge, I'm shaking. I'm not sure if I like this feeling, I feel like I'm going to lose it and just start bawling. Casey's never teased me for this long or pushed me so hard. He has me standing in his playroom, my hands and feet are in cuffs chained to the floor and ceiling so I look like I'm doing a jumping jack. I'm naked, blindfolded, and he almost put a gag on me, but I asked him not to, so of course he listened.

He'd warmed up the skin on my ass, thighs and parts of my back with a crop and started stroking my cock in between swats. Then he put a vibrator in my ass and set it on high. A flogger was next and the bite and sting of the tails has me so worked up, I'm practically vibrating. And shocked. I can't believe how much I like the way it makes me feel, especially the rewards in between. Kisses, more strokes, his tongue on a nipple, pumping the vibrator in and out, more strokes or a squeeze to my balls. Then, after a more lengthy string of swats, he kneels down in front of me and takes me all the way into his mouth and sucks the life out of me. I think I can actually feel his tonsils teasing the head of my cock. Though maybe that's my imagination because it seems, impossible or at least improbable.

"It's okay baby. I've got you. You're doing so well. Just let your mind go, you're thinking too much, that's why I push you, to get you out of your head."

I want to explode from my head, but it's not the head he's talking about.

I can hear Casey get up and then I feel him behind me, pulling me into his body, an arm wraps around my middle as he holds me close, towering over me, so I feel cocooned in his body.

"I just...really need to cum, Cas...Sir," I whisper, desperation heavy in each word.

"I know, and you will, when I'm ready. I promise you, it will be worth it, just hold on, clear your mind and let yourself float."

"I can't, if I don't focus, I'll probably cum. All I can think about is holding back."

Casey steps away and my body physically aches for the loss, but within seconds he's back and I can hear the sound of the bottle of lube he keeps down here. 'Yes!' I cheer in my head, now we're getting somewhere.

"Ah!" I gasp as suddenly the vibrator is pulled out. "Ungh," I moan, a long and languorous sound as I'm filled by my man's ample cock, stretching me in such a sublime manner that I drag out the sound until I have no more breath. "Yessssss. Thank you." I lean forward to take him as deep as he can go.

Casey let's out a chuckle and strokes my back with one hand as the other grips around my middle to keep me from falling forward.

"You've done so well tonight, you deserve a reward."

"Mhm." I agree.

I hear another chuckle as his hands move to either side of my hips. He pulls out, nice and slow, as slow as he entered me, but then I let out a scream as his hands grip me tight and he starts pumping in hard, fast bursts.

My ass is going to be sore after, but it's so worth it as his cock hits my gland over and over and over and over. I feel myself getting even harder as precum drips onto the floor.

"So. Fucking. Sexy." He says each word as he drives into me, my body practically dangling from my hands. Luckily the cuffs I have on are wide and lined with something soft. I feel like a ragdoll as I'm bounced around with each thrust.

"Don't stop," I whine, feeling yet another build in my core, but I know he'll let me cum this time. Though if he's going to stop, so he can tease me more, it will be a good thing that I'm chained up or I'd jump him; Dom or no Dom.

Casey doesn't stop though, his hips whip even faster and harder and unable to move, I just take the ride with him. The faster he goes, the more I feel almost ethereal, if that's the right word, like I'm floating and not part of my body. I no longer feel focused on trying not to cum. I'm completely in tune with him, and he'll make it happen at the right time.

"Faster, more, please Casey," I say, because it's such an amazing feeling I just want it to keep going, and build even more.

"Yes, baby, that's it. You got it."

I don't know what I got, but I like this.

Casey's breathing gets louder and more ragged and he lets out grunts and other sounds as our bodies work together like a cohesive, well-oiled machine.

"Okay baby," he says and then an arm grips me around the middle again, the other reaches around and grips my length, pumping me at the same pace as his thrusts. "I want you to cum with me, can you do that?"

"Mmhmm." I've lost my ability to form words by this point.

My body starts to heat up to a feverish degree and I open my mouth to gulp in oxygen. Casey lets out a growling sound and then slows down his thrusts, making each one hard and more deliberate.

"Now, baby, cum with me now!"

I feel every synapse in my body flash, I jerk in his arms and cry out as my orgasm overtakes me. Casey has made a final thrust into me and holds my hips tight as he spills deep inside. We stay in this position for a minute or so, neither of us able to move or speak until finally Casey starts to pull out.

"I love you baby, that was exceptionally amazing."

"I love you too," I breathe out tiredly, barely able to keep myself upright now. Casey doesn't let go of me, reaches up and releases my wrist cuffs, then bends down and does the same with my ankles. Then with a swoosh, he lifts me up into his arms like I weigh nothing and carries me into the bathroom.

"Shall we take a warm bath?"

"I'll probably fall asleep, maybe we should just shower."

"If you fall asleep, I'll carry you up to bed."

I let out a chuckle, "well alright then."

He places me on the counter to sit and I sway back into the mirror. My bones feel like jelly. I watch his glorious naked body as he draws a bath in the oversized tub. When it's ready, he picks me up again and puts me carefully down into the tub, climbing in behind me. I'm in heaven, leaning against his massive chest while he glides a washcloth over me, beyond relaxed...until my eyes begin to droop and I don't remember anything after that, until I wake up the next morning tucked into Casey's arms in his cozy king-size bed.

------------------

"Payton, wake up!" I say as I walk into our room after Casey drops me off at the dorms. I can tell Payton's having a weird dream by the way he's tossing and turning. Not necessarily a nightmare, but he's mumbling and his brow is furrowed more than normal.

"Pay, come on, wake up!" I say it a little louder now, getting a bit frustrated and shake his shoulder. His eyes snap open and he looks at me in utter confusion before looking around, as if getting his bearings.

"Tommy?"

"Yeah Pay, you were having a dream."

"Where am I?"

"In our dorm, of course."

Payton sits up, rubbing his eyes. When he spots his phone on his night table he picks it up, staring intently at the screen with the time and date.

"Are you okay buddy?"

"Oh, yeah," he says, his eyes looking up quickly as a blush forms over his face. "I had the weirdest dream."

"I could tell. Are you okay? Was it a nightmare?"

"I'm fine, nah, it wasn't a nightmare. It was actually kind of cool, just the end got really weird."

"Tell me, I don't have to leave for class for another half hour. Here," I say, handing him a bottle of orange juice from our mini-fridge and then tossing him the box of his favorite cinnamon oatmeal breakfast bars.

"Um..." he pauses, taking a few sips of his orange juice. "Well, it was like a future dream, I mean, we all looked a few years older. You weren't as skinny..."

Payton pauses as he sees my glare.

"You weren't fat or anything, just more muscular, like you'd been working out and stuff."

I smile and flex my bicep, looking at the muscle that's starting to show from training with Casey.

"What else?"

"Um, Chris had this goatee thing, Ashton...well, he just seemed older, Tai looked the same...um...Lane! Oh my god!" A big smile crossed his face as if it was all coming back to him.

"What about Laney? Did he have a beard, he was asking me the other day if he should grow out his beard."

"No! But he and Master Matthias were getting married. The dream was about their wedding!"

"Serious?"

"Yeah, totally. I remember that we were having a bachelor party for him and we got him a stripper. I think that was my idea," he adds, blushing again. "The stripper was really sexy, I might have made out with him in a drunken stupor, but that part's fuzzy. It was either me or Chris making out with him, or maybe both."

"God Pay," I say, shaking my head as I sit down heavily on my bed. He chuckles as he throws the covers off and swings his feet over the side of his bed. I smirk at the Popeye boxers he likes to sleep in. "So what else happened?"

"Hmm, the next part I remember is the wedding. We were all dressed up the same...wait, we were in the wedding party, that's why! Me, you, Ash, Tai, Chris and Denny was Lane's best man...and Master Matthias had Rowan and his brother and some other guys I don't really remember."

"Where was it? Hawaii? Mexico? Bermuda? I hope they get married someplace tropical if we get to be in it."

"Huh, I don't really remember. It's all starting to fade, I hate how I always forget my dreams so quickly."

"Yeah...wait," I pull my journal out of my night table, "I'm writing this down before you completely forget. Since you don't keep a journal, I'll put it in mine and then if, or when, they actually get married, we can pull this out and see if any of it really happens that way. Tell me everything you remember, what were we wearing?"

Payton rolls his eyes and flops back on the bed, before giving me as many details as he can remember. I know it's just a silly dream, but it's for fun.

"I don't remember what was said, only that I cried through the whole ceremony," he says with a chuckle, I laugh as well, since I'm used to him crying at anything romantic or overly touching. Heck, I'm usually crying with him. "...And, we're all standing up there in front of everyone, you know, while they're saying their vows...and I look down, and I have no shoes on. I'm standing there in socks. It was totally embarrassing."

"No way! That's so bizarre."

"I know, right. It's like one of those dreams where you look down and you have no pants on, or those dreams I kept having in High School where I'd get to class and everyone's handing in their homework and I have no clue what it even was. Anyway, so then...we were dancing at the reception, like formal dancing, you know, with partners." He closes his eyes as if trying to see the scene in his head again. "You were dancing with Casey!" He says excitedly.

"Yes!" I fist pump the air. I honestly don't know what the future holds for me and Casey, but I really like him. Well, I love him, so I hope we're still together in a few years or whenever this supposedly happens.

"Who else?"

"Well, of course Lane and Master Matthias were dancing together, they looked so great in their black suits. Denny and Master Michael..."

"Ashton?"

"I couldn't see, his partner had his back to me, same with Chris and Tai," he says glumly. Then he's quiet for a bit and I finish writing what he's said so far.

"And what about you?"

"Pay?" I ask when he doesn't answer.

"I was...I was dancing with..."

"Who?"

"I was dancing with Master Remy," he says very quietly.

"Really?"

"But then..."

"What?"

"Guillermo was there, and he was trying to cut in."

"Really? The guy you..."

"Yeah."

"What about Master Kael?"

"I think he was there too, but not with me. Our contract is almost over Tommy, we're parting ways then."

"Aww, I just hoped...you two are cute together."

"I like Master Kael, but not like you like Casey. He's taught me so much, I'm ready to see what other Doms are like too."

"Like Master Remy?"

"No, I don't want to go down that road again. One of the things Master Kael taught me is to think with my head, not with my heart."

"That seems...cold. Not at all like you Pay."

"Well I've grown up a lot in the last couple of months T."

"Yeah, but I think you should find a balance between your head and your heart." When Payton doesn't reply, I change the subject. "So what happened, I mean, in the dream. You were dancing with Master Remy..."

"It was just a dream Tommy, it didn't mean anything."

"I know, just tell me what happened next."

"I walked away from Master Remy to Guillermo."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Payton has a smile on his face when I look over at him.

"So you want to meet up with him again? Guillermo?"

"In real life? Nah, that was a one night thing, I barely know him anyway and it's not like I can ask Brody for his contact info, he's been avoiding me ever since that night."

"Yeah, he looks pretty embarrassed," I say with a laugh. He should be, passing out like a high school freshman at his first party.

"But what happened next was the weird part, just before you woke me up."

"What?"

"Master Remy and Guillermo got in a fight...I guess over me. So I just start backing away, like I want to get away from both of them, and I back into someone and they put their arm around my waist."

"Who was it?"

"Master Saber."

"Really? Of the freaky foursome? Weird."

"No, he's different. I like him. In the dream I let him lead me away...it was just him."

"No brother or the other scary ones?"

"Nope. It was just a dream though, I think in real life they come as a package deal."

"Well I hope you never go back down to them, you've heard Chris' stories."

"I won't, Master Lucien scares the shit out of me."

"Good. Anyway, I should head off to my psych class now."

"How is it? I was looking at your text book the other day, I'm thinking of taking it next semester as my elective."

"It's really cool, you should. I'll let you have my book when I'm done so you don't have to buy one."

"Awesome. I'll see you later, we're meeting the guys at the usual place for lunch?"

"Mhm," I say, grabbing my backpack and taking out the books I don't need before putting in the ones I do. "Are you working at the library this afternoon?

"Yeah, 2-5."

"Alright, love ya!"

"Love you too!" He calls out as I head out the door.

As I'm walking to my class I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. When I pull it out, I can't help but grin. It's a text from Casey.

Casey: Good morning love

Tommy: Good morning (even though I barely just left you)

Casey: I miss you already, will you come to my place tonight?

Tommy: I have a study group at 7, it usually goes until 10

Casey: Come after, I'll pick you up

Before I can reply, he sends another message.

Casey: I won't keep you up late

Tommy: Says the man who edged me for 3 hours last night

Casey: I'm sorry baby, you're just so sexy when you're begging

Casey: Please baby

Tommy: Who's begging now? What's in it for me?

Casey: A backrub, sweet gentle loving and the breakfast of your choice in the morning

Tommy: Pick me up outside my dorm at 10:00

Casey: That's my baby xx

Tommy: xoxo

Payton

"Hi Payton, there are three carts of books to be put away, they're pretty much sorted by section, so just grab one once you're punched in and get to work. If you can't get them all done, just leave whatever's left for the next person."

"Okay Mrs. Crandall," I reply before she turns back to the girl she's helping at the front desk.

I put my knapsack in the back room and go grab the first cart. It usually takes me about an hour per cart, since my shift is three hours, I'm sure I can get them all put away. A lot of the workstudy students don't put much effort into their campus jobs, but we're getting paid and the work isn't that hard, plus the shift seems to go by faster when you're keeping up a good pace. It also keeps me from getting bored if I challenge myself with how fast I can get each cart put away. Yep, I'm a library geek, but I love books and I've come across some really interesting ones putting them away.

I roll the cart over to an elevator and take it to the third floor, where these books are from. I put in my ear buds, and stream some music on Spotify while I work steadily for the next two and a half hours, getting all of the books on all three carts put away. After I return the third cart, I still have half an hour so I tell Mrs. Crandall I'm going to work on the 2nd floor collecting books that people have left on the tables and putting them away to finish up my shift since I saw a lot left out there.

This is the research floor and luckily most of the books I find are from the nearby stacks, any that aren't I leave on a table for the next shift to collect.

Stacking up a huge pile of anthropology books, I head to the far back where I know these go. When they're put away, I find another stack of books left on one of the tables in the back. I let out a sigh, and look them over, and then pile them into my arms when I realize they're all philosophy books and go in another area. There are 14 books and they're all heavy, but I don't want to make two trips so I just pile them into my arms and walk quickly down the small aisle way.

I turn a corner and gasp when I bump into someone coming the other way. Luckily the books don't drop, well, they don't until I look up and see who it is. Then all the books slip from my arms.

"Master Remy?"

"Payton."

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to talk to you."

"Why? I mean, there's really nothing to say...I got your letter, so I understand what happened. You don't need to explain any further."

"It's important to me, to...ah, well, I just wanted to see how you were doing and answer any questions...but mostly apologize."

"I don't have any questions, and I accept your apology." I turn away quickly and then crouch down to pick up the books. Master Remy crouches down too and picks up some also.

"I've got them," I say.

"I want to help."

I let out a huff as he has most of the books before I can do anything and stands up. "Where do they go?"

I look at my watch, "my shift is over now, I'll just leave them on the table over there, the next person will be doing a sweep anyway."

"Then can we talk?"

"I..I don't know Sir."

He follows me to the table by the elevator where the staff leaves books and we add them to the pile that's already there.

"Please, call me Remy, Payton. I won't take up much of your time. Now that I'm back in Chicago, I'd really like to make things right with you."

"I need to punch out and get my stuff."

"Why don't I meet you on the steps out front."

"Yeah, I guess." What am I doing?

Before I can take it back, he reaches out and gives my shoulder a squeeze. "Thank you!" He flashes one of his big smiles and heads to the nearby stairs.

I text Tommy for back-up.

Pay: REMY'S HERE!

Tommy: What? Where?

Pay: On campus, at the library. :/

Tommy: What does he want?

Pay: To talk to me

Tommy: Cool! :) So what's the problem?

Pay: I don't know what to say

Tommy: Just hear him out and say what you feel

Pay: Don't wanna :(

Tommy: Just talk to him

Pay: Why you so mean to me?

Tommy: <<hugs you tight>> Just go talk to him, you can always leave if you're uncomfortable

Pay: I'm uncomfortable now

Tommy: :|

Pay: Okay, I'll see you after then

Tommy: Yes! I'll be waiting to hear everything

Pay: :)

Tommy: :)

"Payton, did your friend find you?" Mrs. Crandall asks as I go to punch out and grab my stuff.

"Yes, Ma'am. Thank you."

"Good." She gives me a big knowing smile and I have to wonder exactly what it is she thing she knows. "Quite a charmer, your friend, so polite too."

"Hm...I hadn't noticed." I give her my best deadpan look before I go to the back room. Luckily she's busy helping someone when I leave. Mrs. Crandall is really nice, but she can be really nosy and talks way too much about everyone else's business for my liking. I take a deep, slow breath and exhale before heading out of the main library doors, to see Master Remy waiting on the steps for me.

I walk over, but don't make eye contact. Not because he's a Dom, but because I don't want to get upset and if I look him in the eyes I'm afraid the hurt I've been suppressing will come back up. Part of it is that I don't feel like being hurt was justified, he didn't owe me anything, and I shouldn't have let myself start to fall for him.

"Thanks for agreeing to talk to me Payton, I know I don't deserve it..."

"I don't have a lot of time," I interrupt, maybe it's rude, but I just want to find out what he has to say without all the apologies.

"Why? Are you, going to the club tonight?"

"No, I just have studying to do."

Remy looks around, spotting the trendy coffee shop across the street. "We can go get some coffee, I'd just like 15 minutes."

"I don't like coffee."

"Tea? Do you like tea?"

"Only in the morning."

Remy lets out a sigh and takes a few steps down towards the sidewalk, looking further down the street. "Do you like ice cream?"

"Yeah," I say, and suddenly, for a reason I don't quite understand, I smile. Remy looks back at me and his face slowly softens into a return smile.

"Let my buy you some ice cream." He points at the old fashioned ice cream shop half a block down.

"Can I get a chocolate malted milkshake?"

"Yes."

"Okay, Sir. I'll come."

Damn, he may have just found my weakness.

Once we're seated at the counter and the waitress has taken our order, I look around the shop, twirling on my stool a few times to look at all of the old fashioned pictures on the walls, giving the place a 1950's feel. Anything to avoid looking at him, though I can feel his eyes on me the same way I can feel when Master Kael is watching me. Doms, they seem to exude this power. Maybe it's their superpower, maybe it's like X-Ray vision, or maybe mind control, or maybe...

"How's your semester going?"

Really? He stalked me at the campus library to ask me that? I wonder what Master Matthias would think if he knew he was here with me, I'm pretty sure he doesn't know.

"Um, it's fine. My classes are good and I got my grades back up."

"Were you having a problem?" I finally look up at him and his eyes are soft with concern.

"I just got...a bit unfocused at the beginning of the semester, but...Master Kael has helped me a lot. He's a really good Dom. A bit strict, but it's been really good for me."

I guess that wasn't quite what he wanted to hear, I think as his shoulder's stiffen and his mouth goes into a firm line. "I'm glad, things are better." He bites out and I can tell he's trying keep his words even and unaffected.

"Thanks." I decide to go in for the kill. "How's France? How's Fabien?"

He looks confused. "I thought you read my letter, I'm not with Fabien anymore."

"Oh, yeah. Sorry, it was a while ago that I read it, I guess I may have skimmed it a bit."

I look down. I wanted to hurt him with my words, which I guess I have as he lets out a long sigh, but it doesn't feel good. As a matter of fact, it feels really bad. "I'm sorry," I say.

"No, I deserved that."

The waitress comes back and puts a large metal cup in front of me and a cup of coffee in front of Master Remy. She pulls a straw out of her apron, putting it down next to my shake with a smile and then gets a small tray with sugar, sweetener and cream which she puts near Master Remy. "There you go guys, need anything else?"

We both tell her no thank you and she bops down to some customers at the other end of the counter.

"Listen..." we both say at the same time.

"You first," Master Remy says, but I'm not sure where to begin now. He's patient and fixes his coffee silently while I gather my thoughts. The good thing about sitting up at the counter is that we're both facing forward, not towards each other.

"I guess I just want to say that...it's fine. I'm fine. It was...a shock I guess and I wasn't prepared for it, but, I got over it. I, um, I'm not the same person I was then. I'm...more experienced now," I add, figuring he'll get my drift. "Less naïve. Things are going well for me now. You don't need to keep apologizing. There's nothing to make up for. I just want to keep moving forward, not dwelling on it."

"I'm sorry," he says, then looks down as I glance over. "Okay, I'll stop apologizing, as long as you know how sincere it is."

"I do."

"You're happy then? With..."

"Master Kael? Yes. It's not long term, he's kind of like...my Dom training wheels," I say and we both laugh, "though I mean...we do everything like a real Dom and sub do, you know..."

"I know what you mean Payton," he says flatly.

I blush and take my first sip of the chocolate malt before me. "I wasn't saying it to be mean, I just, I wanted you to know I'm not the same person."

"I can see that. Well, I see the same sweet, quirky, funny guy, but you also seem more confident now. More self-assured. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks," I say. "So, you're...moving to Chicago?"

Master Remy lifts his hands with his palms open, gesturing around him. "Here I am." He gives me one of his charming laughs and I smile. He takes a sip of his coffee before turning his stool around to face me. "I'll be travelling quite a bit in the beginning, getting to know my clients and letting them get to know me. Once I have an understanding of their businesses, I'll be able to do most of my work from here, just travelling maybe a week a month at most. So much is done by Webex now, you know."

I nod, even though I don't know because I'm not in business and the career I'm working towards is all hands on, you can't 'Webex' physical therapy.

"I was hoping..."

Oh no, here it comes.

"When your contract ends with Master Kael, I was hoping maybe we could..."

"Sir, Remy." I interrupt. "I don't think that's a good idea. I don't think, that would be good for me." He looks at me, his mouth still open, then closes it, an unreadable look on his face, must be a family trait. "I just, I want to try lots of...experiences. Keep things casual, no ties, no deep feelings. I'm a college freshman, I just want to have fun." Master Remy opens his mouth to speak again, but I put my hand on his arm to stop him. "It's...with you, I think my feelings would get too caught up in it, even if you said it was just play or casual, I don't think I can do that with you. I'm sorry."

Master Remy doesn't say a thing and I catch the waitress' eye. "Can I get my shake in a 'to go' cup?" I ask as I stand up. Master Remy stares straight ahead, his jaw set. The waitress quickly pours my shake into a paper cup, puts a top on and hands it to me with a fresh straw.

"Here you go hun, you have a good night." She looks at Master Remy who still stares straight ahead, but then she moves away to help another customer.

"I've got to go Sir. Master Kael will call me soon and I'm supposed to be studying this evening. I don't want to have to tell him I'm not."

Master Remy clears his throat. "I understand Payton. It was good seeing you."

I pause for a second, but when he still doesn't look at me, I pick up my knapsack. "Bye, Sir," I say, then walk away, out the door and to my dorm, counting my steps. Concentrating on the steps and numbers like a mantra, pushing anything else deep down. Back to where it belongs.