An Unlocked Heart(Collars & Cuffs Stories) (14 page)

Both men fell silent as Pietro reached them and stopped at Miles’s side with his eyes downcast. He was covered with a light sheen of perspiration.

“You did well tonight, boy.” Leo spoke quietly, noting Pietro’s shy smile of delight as he reacted to the praise. “Your Master is very pleased with you.” Despite his lowered gaze, there was no mistaking the flash of joy that flitted across Pietro’s face. But still he lingered, clearly hesitating. “Pietro, is there something you wanted?

Pietro kept his eyes low. “Master Leo, may I ask…. Is Alex all right?” There was an anxious edge to his voice.

Leo smiled. “Alex is fine. He went to work this afternoon, and doubtless you’ll see him tomorrow.” He chuckled. “He got a good night’s sleep… among other things.”

Miles snorted, and then looked abashed as Leo speared him with a look. Pietro was clearly trying not to smirk, and Miles cuffed him lightly about the head.

“Get all that put away,” he said. Leo could tell Miles was aiming for stern but failing miserably. “Then into the shower with you.” Pietro nodded, but Leo smirked as the sub bit his bottom lip in an attempt to keep himself from smiling. Miles laid a hand on his upper arm. “And, pup? Master Leo is right. You did me proud tonight.” Miles favored the sub with an affectionate look and then handed him a clean towel from the edge of the stage. Again, Leo caught the sub’s flash of joy. Pietro gave a slight nod in their direction before continuing toward the equipment room, obviously not bothered in the slightest by his nudity. Pietro turned back on reaching the door, the sub’s gaze falling on his Dom.

Leo caught his breath. Oh, he knew
that
expression very well. He kept his eyes on Pietro until the sub was no longer in sight and then turned back to face Miles.

He wasn’t the only one watching Pietro’s exit. Miles’s gaze was fixed on the door, a faraway look in his eyes.

Leo gave a wry smile. “How are you getting along with Pietro?” he inquired, trying to hide his delight.
Could
both
men be that oblivious?

Miles broke into another wide smile. “He’s great. He’s so responsive, Leo. He anticipates me, he reacts quickly―”

“And he’s in love with you,” added Leo with a warm smile. He waited for a reaction.

Miles stilled immediately, his gaze moving swiftly to fix on Leo’s face. “What did you just say?”

Leo gave Miles a knowing smile. “Your sub is in love with you, Miles.” As Miles’s eyes widened, Leo chuckled. “It’s not a bad thing.” Miles’s intense gaze went from Leo to the door and back again. “I take it that’s good news?” The expression on Miles’s face changed as Leo’s words sank in. Miles looked radiantly happy at the thought. Oh, it was
definitely
good news.

“Would you excuse me, Leo?” Miles set off in the direction of the equipment room, moving swiftly.

Leo watched his departure, a huge grin on his face.

“What on earth did you say to him?”

Thomas was standing behind him, wearing an equally large grin.

Leo winked. “Ask me no questions….”

Thomas lifted his chin. “You’re in a great mood today. Need I ask why?” That grin was still in place.

Leo smiled enigmatically as he headed for the group room to check on its state, but Thomas stopped him by laying a hand against his chest. Leo gazed down at it in mild surprise before looking back at Thomas’s face.

“Leo,” Thomas began, his voice affectionate. “It’s good to see you happy again.”

Leo stared at him for a moment, but no words came to him, because no words were needed. Thomas had him nailed: Leo was happy.

Thomas nodded as though privy to Leo’s epiphany. “It’s a good look on you, boy,” he added affectionately. Suddenly his face cracked into a delighted smile. “Well, well, now
there’s
a sight to gladden an old man’s heart.” He spoke softly, his gaze fixed on something over Leo’s shoulder.

Leo turned.

Miles and Pietro were standing by the door to the group room—and they were kissing. Miles held Pietro in his arms, and the expression of pure joy on Pietro’s face as he was kissed tenderly, again and again, made Leo’s heart soar. Miles’s eyes were open, and he was staring at his sub in what could only be described as wonder as he took Pietro’s mouth in a succession of increasingly passionate kisses.

“I don’t know what you said, Leo,” Thomas said with a wide smile, “but whatever it was, I’m damned glad you said it.” He patted Leo’s arm and walked away, shaking his head and chuckling quietly.

Leo watched as Master and sub kissed, both men totally lost in a world of their own.
As it should be
, he thought. He loved the way Pietro’s face simply
glowed
with love. There was no other word for it. And not for the first time that day, Leo’s thoughts were of the boy in his bed that morning. Early days, of course, but Leo found himself hoping one day he’d see a similar look on Alex’s face.

And in that instant Leo had another epiphany. He was starting to fall for Alex.

P
IETRO
felt so light, he could have flown across the shower room.

Master loves me!

He was standing before the full-length mirror, staring unseeing at his reflection. All he could see was Miles’s face as he’d finally confessed his feelings, much to Pietro’s joy. Pietro had been Miles’s sub for just over a year, and had come to love his Master, though he would never have dared admit such feelings to anyone. He’d hoped, of course, but it had been enough to serve Miles with his body. No one ever said a Dom had to love his sub, but that hadn’t stopped Pietro from wishing.

“Nice stripes, babe!”

Pietro jumped, startled from his reveries. Dorian was standing behind him, eyes wide as he gazed at Pietro’s back. Pietro tried to catch sight of his new badges of honor in the mirror, half twisting himself in the process. Damn, his Master had a fine hand when it came to caning.

He grinned at Dorian. “Look good, don’t they?” He smirked, unable to stop his joy from bubbling up.

Dorian’s eyes grew wide. “What’s happened to you?”

Pietro couldn’t stop himself from spilling his news to his fellow sub. Dorian’s smile seemed halfhearted, however, and it took the edge off Pietro’s happiness. He regarded the sub with concern. “Is something the matter, Dorian?”

Dorian shook his head, seeming almost angry. Pietro waited patiently, and the sub caved. “Why doesn’t he want me, Pietro?” he whined plaintively.

Pietro should have guessed.
Leo Hart
. Dorian had been carrying the biggest torch for Master Leo for about six months. All the subs knew about it. Dorian complained on an almost daily basis that Master Leo didn’t even notice him. Dorian claimed to be in love, but as far as Pietro could see, it was merely a healthy case of falling in lust.

And it was clear to all of them Leo knew exactly how Dorian felt and was avoiding him. Pietro didn’t blame him. Dorian had a tendency to be pretty full-on at times. A thought occurred to him. Dorian needed to know Leo Hart was definitely off-limits.

“Dorian.” There was no easy way to say this, but maybe if he did, Dorian would finally get the message and stop going on about a man he couldn’t have.

Dorian must have caught a nuance of something in his tone, because his head snapped up.

“Dorian, you need to know….”
Damn, this was hard
. Pietro took a deep breath. Better to rip off a Band-Aid in one swift movement. “Master Leo has a boyfriend.”

There was a moment of silence. Beyond the shower room, Pietro could hear laughter of subs in the locker room, just arriving for the evening. Inside the shower room, however, the temperature seemed to have dropped several degrees.

Dorian’s expression was stony. “No, you’ve got it wrong. Master Leo’s—”

“Master Leo has a boyfriend,” repeated Pietro, more firmly this time. “And it’s serious,” he added, trying to make sure Dorian got the message loud and clear. Dorian’s jaw set, and Pietro could almost hear the cogs whirring inside his brain.

“I thought he wasn’t going to take on a new sub!” Dorian’s tone was petulant, but Pietro could hear a note of anger creeping in.
Oh, this wasn’t good….

“Alex isn’t a sub,” he explained.
Uh-oh… there was that silence again.

Dorian’s eyes blazed, and Pietro recoiled in the face of such a reaction. “Alex? The guy he was talking about with Master Thomas a few weeks ago?” Dorian’s eyes narrowed. “He’s going out with a guy who isn’t even into the lifestyle? Why would he contemplate doing such a thing? He’s a
Dom
, for fuck’s sake! He should be with a partner who fully understands his needs!”

Pietro was beginning to regret mentioning Alex. Judging by the look on Dorian’s face, he’d made a serious mistake. “Dorian,” he began helplessly, but Dorian cut him off brusquely.

“It’s okay, Pietro. You did the right thing telling me.” Dorian seemed to be calming down.
Thank God
. “I’ll just have to hope Master Leo comes to his senses and sees what a big mistake he’s making, won’t I?” And with that, Dorian turned on his heel and left the shower room.

Pietro was left feeling decidedly guilty, as if he’d inadvertently opened a
very
big can of worms—and once the lid was off…. That last remark had come perilously close to criticizing Master Leo, something that made Pietro uncomfortable. And very nervous.

Twelve

A
LEX
let himself quietly into the house, trying to make as little noise as possible. He’d worked the late shift, and it was already past midnight. The house was quiet except for the ticking of the clock in the hallway and the odd distinctive rumble from upstairs. He grinned—however had his mum put up with his dad’s snoring all these years?

It was the first time he’d been home since the previous evening’s revelations, and he’d been dreading this moment all day. Thankfully, he’d been able to go straight to work from Leo’s apartment, as Alex always kept a clean uniform at the restaurant. No need to go home.

He was dying for a cup of green tea, however, and the house was quiet enough to risk putting the kettle on. Everyone must surely have been in bed for a while by now. He crept into the kitchen and set about making himself a drink, and all the while he kept an ear toward the door, listening for any sign he was about to be discovered.

He crept silently up the stairs and into his room, the fragrant tea teasing his nostrils invitingly. It had been a very long night. After putting down his tea and duffel bag, he slipped out of his clothing and crawled under the duvet.

He intended to stay awake just long enough for the tea to cool, and then he’d be out like a light. Stretching out on his back, he laced his fingers behind his head and stared up at the lampshade above his bed. There had been barely a moment to breathe tonight, let alone think, as the entire restaurant had been booked by a wedding party. Alex, Vittorio, and Adam had been run off their feet. Alex chuckled. Pietro couldn’t have chosen a better night off, although the head chef, Luca, had slowly become more and more frazzled as the evening wore on without his trainee beside him to share the workload.

Alex closed his eyes, preferring to dwell on much more pleasant matters. Behind his lids swam visions from Saturday night and Sunday morning, images that instantly brought the blood rushing to his cock. He reached down under the duvet…

…just as Rob slipped quietly into his room.

Alex let out a low groan of frustration. “What the fuck do you want?” Alex whispered, glancing at the alarm clock beside his bed. Rob moved silently across the room to perch himself on the edge of Alex’s bed. He stared intently at Alex for a moment or two.
Oh, not this routine again
….

“I suppose you think you were pretty clever, eh?” Rob sneered. “Pity you didn’t stick around. You could’ve heard what Mum and Dad
really
think of having a faggot for a son.”

Alex didn’t need this right now. He was bone tired, and besides, something in Rob’s expression led him to think his brother was lying just to get a rise out of him.

“Go to bed, Rob,” he whispered resignedly. There was no way he was getting into an argument at this ungodly hour. “And just… just leave me alone, okay? Stay out of my life.” Alex rolled over, ignoring his brother as he switched off the light and plunged the room into darkness. He heard Rob’s grunts of exasperation as he groped his way back to the door and left. Alex didn’t give a fuck. He just wanted to sleep. At least in his dreams there was some hope of escaping the little fucktard.

M
ONDAY
morning, the first of August… and it was raining.

Alex gazed gloomily through the kitchen window at the rain, which seemed to be coming down in
lumps
, there was so much of it. Typical soggy Manchester summer, he thought. He sipped his coffee, listening anxiously for the footsteps of his parents. No one else had gotten up yet. Alex had awoken before his alarm, feeling apprehensive. In his heart, he knew Rob was a lying little shit, but that didn’t stop Alex from dwelling on his brother’s last words. What if his parents really
didn’t
like the fact that he was gay? What if they’d been disguising how they really felt? How hard would it make life at home?