Marcus
“Did you know I got some good surveys back today? And my referral numbers are up. I sent three callers over to get quotes for life insurance today.” Eric’s words tumbled out as he searched for something else to say.
We’d been sitting in the parking lane along the side of the carpenter's shop for several minutes, and it didn’t look like he was any closer to being ready to get out of the car than when we’d arrived. I’d thought giving him a few minutes to relax would have helped the situation, but it seemed to have made it worse.
“He builds spanking benches.” Eric nodded, completely changing the subject again. “And all the pieces for the club. Even the ones upstairs. Not that I’ve seen the ones upstairs.”
I did my best not to laugh. The way he’d rolled his eyes and the sideways look I got made it impossible. He was distracted and not so nervous anymore, though.
“How about we go this weekend and I’ll show you?” I let my voice go deep, a thread of excitement weaving its way through it. We’d explored the first floor together but hadn’t made it up to any of the private or semiprivate rooms. The way his confidence was growing let me know he was ready for more. “I’ve got to find something sexy for you to wear if we’re going upstairs. I want to show you off a little.”
His eyes got wide and he licked his lips, shifting in his seat just a little. “Show off?”
Fabulously naughty things had to be running through his mind because I could see the need that flashed through his eyes before he dampened it. Reaching out, I pressed my hand to his chest and teased at his nipples. “My lover is sexy and incredible. And I know every Dom there would be jealous…but they couldn’t have you…because you’re all mine, aren’t you?”
Eric’s breathing got heavier and his gaze turned slightly glassy. He was too tempting. I leaned in and kissed him gently, then pinched down on one sensitive nub. He yelped, but it was more surprise than pain because his hips thrust up, highlighting his erection.
When I finally released his mouth, he slumped back in the seat. His head jerked up and down and his voice came out husky and needy. “All yours…yes…”
“Don’t forget that.” Giving in to temptation, I kissed him one more time and let my hand caress down his torso to cup his fully erect cock. “Who do you belong to?”
“You, sir…God…you…please…” He moaned and his dick jerked under my hand.
I might have gotten a little bit carried away with the distraction.
“Let’s go. When we get home, I’m going to stretch you out on the bed and help you remember that.” And now I had a matching hard-on. At least we were meeting someone in the lifestyle. He shouldn’t be surprised, no matter how we showed up.
Eric absently nodded, staring at me with a fuzzy expression. In the time it took me to climb out of the car and go around to his door, he’d found his brain, but his stress hadn’t completely come back. He was clearly still wary, but the rambling reminders that the carpenter wouldn’t think we were odd had stopped.
He let me unbuckle him and help him out. That, right there, showed me how nervous he still was. No smile or comment, just a tight grip on my fingers while he took a deep breath and looked down the row of old buildings. The carpenter's shop was in an old warehouse, but the area seemed fairly well kept. We walked over to a small door that was half shut and looked like it used to be an office. Hearing voices coming from the building, we stopped for a moment.
From the directions in the email, I thought I was in the right place, but it didn’t hurt to be too careful. It wasn’t a bad part of town, but it was almost deserted, even though it wasn’t even seven. It took me a minute to make out the words.
“They won’t think it’s weird if I call Master…well, Master…right?”
I could hear someone giggle, but I missed the reply.
“You’re sure? I mean…” There was a pause and part of the conversation was too muffled to hear but then he got louder. “…crib…yeah…they’d have to be okay.”
More laughter bubbled out, and I started to be able to make out more of the other side of the conversation. “They’re in the lifestyle. You’d probably have to do something pretty outrageous before they would even notice.”
Eric’s hand started to relax in mine. Looking down, I saw a grin starting to peek out, and he was standing straighter. Knowing someone else was as nervous as he was seemed to have helped. Whispering low so we didn’t surprise the men speaking, I leaned in close. “Are you ready?”
Nodding, Eric glanced up at me. “Yes, Daddy.”
With a quick kiss to his forehead, I knocked on the door. “Hello?”
Footsteps grew closer and then a head popped out from around the door. “Shoot, I forgot to close it. Master’s going to have my hide.”
“Again.” The laughing voice called out from the back of the building. “He’s going to have your hide again.”
The short man blinked and nodded. “Well, yes.”
Sticking out my hand, I introduced myself. “I’m Marcus. I think we spoke by email about the custom furniture piece?”
There was no point in giving too much away if we were in the wrong place. However, between the conversation we’d overheard and the young man’s enthusiastic nodding, we seemed to have found the carpenter.
He shook my hand and stepped back, almost bouncing as he walked. “I’m Wyatt. I make…Well, I made…I…” He tripped over…air, possibly, and barely caught himself. “I’m making the crib.”
“Thank you. We can’t wait to see it.”
Eric’s grip was back to bone-clenching tight, but he was watching the slightly nervous carpenter with big eyes. Wyatt looked around to see what he’d tripped over but shook his head when there was nothing there. “Um, come on back. I have a friend with me, but he’s…Well, don’t worry…I think…You…”
“What he’s trying to say is that he thinks we already know each other.”
The other voice came from off to the side and I looked over to see a familiar face. “Carter. Nice to see you again. I didn’t know you knew Wyatt.”
Eric’s gaze was bouncing back and forth between both men, but he’d started to relax and actually spoke. “Hi.”
“Hey, when I realized the new project was a crib, I thought it might be you guys.” Carter seemed to ignore the blush that was creeping up Eric’s face. “It’s going to look great. And since Garrett doesn’t like Wyatt working here late on his own, I volunteered to come hang out.”
Glancing over at a much calmer Wyatt, Carter grinned. “Someone keeps forgetting to lock the door, making his master nuts.”
Wyatt frowned at him and shook his head. “I’m doing better. And you’d better not tell.”
“I already had to hide the cookies from Grant and threaten to tell every one of those nuts where they’re hidden to keep him at home. I make no promises to you.” Carter’s wicked grin was aimed at Wyatt, and when he turned back to us it was less evil and more honest humor. “Wyatt’s master is Grant’s brother. The whole family is nosy and crazy. They were curious about the crib.”
I think Eric was too relieved that Grant and his brothers hadn’t invaded to question the fact that everyone knew about the crib. I didn’t mind, but I had a feeling that once he thought about it, the idea that so many people had seen it would make him uncomfortable.
Wyatt found his voice again, because he jumped in, talking about the piece he’d designed. “I think it’s going to turn out great. I went with a modified daybed idea, but for this one, I’m keeping with the crib feel more. I understand that you guys have a separate nursery, so privacy really isn’t an issue. Come look at what I’ve got so far.”
He took a breath before leading us deeper into the warehouse and charging right back into the discussion. “I’ve had a few requests for pieces of furniture for people in similar relationships, but I haven’t had anyone to talk to about modifications and needs. If something doesn’t feel right or should be adjusted, let me know. I did some research online, but that can only get you so far. It hasn’t been stained yet and I’ve got some tweaks to make to the look, but the overall design is finished. And you won’t hurt my feelings if something needs to be changed. Like I said, this is something new.”
The nervous rambling stopped as he led us around a large workbench. He pointed to something, and it took me a second to see the crib amidst the half-finished spanking benches and pieces I couldn’t identify. Eric’s sharp inhale told me the moment his eyes found it as well.
It was beautiful.
The wood was smooth and had obviously been sanded, drawing my gaze along the sides and down the legs. The bottom looked sturdier than a typical crib, with thicker posts on the corners. Three sides had the same slats that would be in a typical crib but at a lower height, since it didn’t have to keep anyone in for safety purposes.
He was right, made up properly, most people would have assumed it was a daybed. The mattress was a little high off the floor for a traditional bed but that could easily be explained away as wanting the extra storage space.
Eric just watched, slightly guarded, so I held his hand tight and let him take it all in. Looking over at Wyatt, I pointed to the bed. “I’m assuming the open side will have a panel as well.”
He nodded, walking over to point at some joints going down the side of the posts. “Yes. These openings will be easy to hide if it needs to look like a daybed, but for you, I’m going to install the last piece so it slides up and down for easy access. It would be slightly different for people who don’t want it to stick out, but I’m glad you guys don’t need to hide it. I’ve been able to play around and explore the concept more.”
“And the base is sturdy enough for sleeping.”
Wyatt nodded and pulled up the mattress. “Instead of the wire base that cribs usually have, I’ve gone with wood slats so that it can support the weight of a grown person. It makes it heavier than you might expect, but with a piece like this, I’d rather it be steady than easy to move.”
“I agree. I can’t see us moving anytime soon and I’d rather he was safe.”
I was serious, but Eric gave a low laugh. He could tell I was confused, so he explained, “I was just remembering the first conversation I heard you have about the crib and about how safe you wanted it to be. I don’t think you have to worry.”
I gave him a quick kiss. “You’re right. I could tuck you in and not worry that it would break while you took a nap.”
It was probably pushing him, but I wasn’t going to completely ignore what it was for. Wyatt didn’t think there was anything wrong with it, and I wanted Eric to see that. Eric’s blush came back, but he nodded and looked back over at the bed.
“I designed the sides so that they’d be the same width as traditional cribs, so any mobiles or toys will attach the same. Does the nursery have a theme? I forgot to ask and want to make sure any designs or extras fit the theme.” Wyatt glanced earnestly back and forth, not stumbling over the idea that Eric had a nursery.
Eric cleared his throat and managed to reply, “A zoo…the theme is zoo animals.”
“Oh, that’s fun. I started a list of themes that might go in a nursery so I can have some things ready in the future. That one had some fun bedding that can go with it.” Wyatt nodded excitedly, gesturing with his hands.
“The twin bed is probably a little long for what you need, but it will be easier to find sheets with the right patterns. And I thought a regular-sized mattress would be more comfortable for sleeping in for any extended period. The idea could be adapted, though. Does the longer mattress work for you? It’s what we talked about but seeing it in person can change the perspective.” Wyatt glanced back at the crib, frowning in concentration.
“It’s fine. Any shorter and I’d worry about leaving him in it for longer periods. A nap would work curled up on the shorter mattress, but this fits in the space just fine and will be more comfortable in the long run.” Eric sleeping in a shorter crib just wasn’t practical.
“That’s what I was thinking.” Wyatt started walking around it and mumbling to himself about stain and other things.
As we watched Wyatt wander around the furniture, Eric finally released my hand. His steps were slow, but he wasn’t going to back down. When he finally reached the crib, he lifted one hand and trailed it over the rail and down to the mattress. He glanced back at me and I got a hint of a smile. “It’s going to be beautiful when it’s done.”
“I agree.” He didn’t try sitting on it, but that wasn’t a surprise. He’d get there, eventually.
Moving back over to my side, he took my hand. It was relaxed and loose, nothing like his hold when we’d first walked in. Carter must have realized the stressful part was done because he finally came over. “I think it’s turning out great. Have you guys talked about colors with Wyatt? He gets distracted when he starts planning, but we can pull him back to the real world.”
I shook my head, enjoying Wyatt’s enthusiasm. He’d picked up some kind of small tool and was starting to work on the crib again. I wasn’t even going to begin to guess what he was up to. “We’ve talked about it. I won’t disturb him anymore. I think it’s going to be incredible when he’s finished.”
Carter nodded. “He does a great job, and it’s nice that he’s getting to work on something different. He’s been focused on the furniture for the new club for so long, the new challenge was good for him.”
“It’s much better quality than anything I found online. I was just glad to see how close he was. I’m not sure how I’d ship this across the country.”
Carter laughed. “After hearing about some of the things he’s made for people, I’m convinced you can ship anything now.”
Laughing, we made small talk for a few more minutes. Eric came out of his shell more once we moved away from the crib a little, and he and Carter started talking about doing dinner again and plans for getting together closer to home.
Carter gave us fair warning that we’d probably be invaded by more of their family, but that didn’t bother me, and Eric didn’t seem to be upset at the idea. Meeting more people in different relationships would be good for him.
Realizing it had gotten late, we started to make our way to the front of the workshop. Carter glanced back at Wyatt and called out to him, “Hey, when is Garrett picking you up?”
“Master said he’d be here about…” Wyatt looked around to find the clock on a shelf. “Now, actually.”
He started putting things away, giving the crib one last long look. It was clear he was planning the next part of the project in his head. It only took him a second to remember us. “Oh, I’m sorry. I got distracted. I should have everything ready in the next couple of days…a week, tops.”
“That’s fine. Just let me know when it’s ready.” I’d have plenty of time soon to figure out the installation. Although if the restaurant worked out the way I thought it might, I wasn’t going to have as much free time as I’d expected.
Wyatt buzzed around the space, moving things and organizing. “Great, I’ll let you know.”
As we let ourselves out and headed toward the car, I could almost hear Eric’s thoughts buzzing around in his head. I’d expected it to be about the crib, but as I got him settled and buckled him in, he started to talk.
“He has a collar on.” His voice was calm but curious, so I responded to what I thought was an unasked question.
“Yes, from what I understand he’s a full-time submissive to his master. I think I’ve seen him at the club a few times, but I don’t remember him being with anyone then.”
Eric relaxed back in the seat as I pulled the seat belt across him. “I guess it’s like me calling you Daddy most of the time.”
I couldn’t decide if it was a question or statement, so I went with question. “Yes, kind of like that. They probably have rules and a special way of doing things like we do.” Giving him a kiss, I straightened and shut the car door before walking around to the driver side.
Eric was still thinking when I climbed in. “He really wasn’t surprised. He was excited.”
“Like it was a new toy or something. I think it’s that way with a lot of artistic types.” I shrugged and started the car. “I’m not going to say I told you so.”
He just laughed and shook his head. “Thank you, Daddy.”
“You ready to head home?” I reached out and cupped his face.
Leaning into my touch, he nodded and gave me a grin. “Yes. I think there might be some leftover cookies.”
“Possibly. So, cookies and then relax?”
Eric’s gaze heated. “Maybe relax first…then cookies after.”
Pulling his face close to mine, I gave him a long, slow kiss. “Relaxing it is.”