Caged Sanctuary (22 page)

I
T
TOOK
Kade another two weeks to get up the courage to ask Deacon to take him out again. This time, though, it wasn’t shopping or to some huge event. No, Kade wanted something much scarier and more personal. But first, he decided to call Jake and ask his advice, so he wasn’t surprised when the knock on his office door came, but he still was uncertain he wanted to answer. Swallowing the sudden lump in his throat, he said, “Enter.”

Jake poked his head inside Kade’s office, a huge smile on his beautiful face. “Hey, Kade.”

Kade returned the smile and motioned him over to a chair, then wheeled around the desk so they could talk. “Hi. Thanks for coming over.”

“No problem, hon. What’s up? You sounded really nervous on the phone, and you look it now that I’m here too.” A shadow passed across Jake’s face. “You’re okay, right? Deacon didn’t mention anything to Sam yesterday.”

“Slow down, Jake.” Kade reached out, grasping both of Jake’s hands as his fingers twisted around each other enough he worried Jake might hurt himself. “I’m fine. I just went to the doctor, in fact, and he says I am healthy. He even checked my back to make sure that Deacon was being safe when using things like his floggers and cane on me.”

Jake looked up at Kade and stared at him. “You told your doctor? You….”

He chuckled at the incredulous look in Jake’s face and nodded. “He’s a very open-minded man, Jake. Actually, he’s the same doctor I had before the attack. He’s known about me for years.”

“I’m just surprised, is all. I mean, you won’t even tell your best girl, Katie, you’re a sub.”

“You remember Ty, one of the Doms that frequented Fierce, well, until he moved away about a year before…?” Kade paused and took a calming breath. Allowing his thoughts to obsess on why he stopped going to clubs wouldn’t help him get through the reason for asking Jake to stop by. “Anyway, the point is Dr. Brady was a friend of his and very kink-friendly. He recommended him to me once after a caning broke skin. Ty wasn’t the Dom wielding the cane, just the one that made the referral for me. I don’t know if my doctor is into the lifestyle or not, but he doesn’t bat an eye at things like discussing Deacon’s toys or the rope work he uses to restrain and position me during a scene.”

With a nod, Jake relaxed. “Yeah, finding a good doc can be hard. Too many people don’t understand and think it’s abuse.”

“Yeah, been there, done that. Not interested in a repeat, thanks. But, yeah, he’s good with it, and my checkup went fine. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about. I, um….” Kade’s voice faded, much to his annoyance. If he couldn’t even talk to Jake about it, how was he going to ask Deacon?

“Hey, just breathe for a minute, then tell me what’s up. I’ve got all day, so no stressing.”

Jake squeezed Kade’s hand and after a few slow deep breaths, Kade felt better, more able to manage this next part. “Sorry. Okay, you know about the gala and how Deacon acted that night. I even told you about the bizarre dance thing.” He couldn’t help but smile at the memory. Since that night, Kade had actually researched wheelchair dancing and found a dance studio in town that had dance lessons designed around different mobility issues. He was still considering, but he thought taking lessons with Deacon might be fun, even if they only used it at events where dancing was expected, like the gala. “Well, I made a decision that night, but I’m scared to act on it.”

“I thought him dancing with you was really sweet, but what decision?” Jake bent forward and hugged Kade tight. “And what’s it got to do with why I’m here, eating up your lunch break?”

“Well, I think I want to go back to Fierce. With Deacon. Just to visit,” Kade said, haltingly. He hated how his pulse raced and his palms slicked at the thought. He really did want to do this with Deacon, he just didn’t want to deal with stupid people or disappoint Deacon somehow. “Not to do public scenes like we used to, but… I know he would like to take me, he mentioned he would, and you’ve invited me more than once, but, um, do you really think he’d want to be there with me once we actually got there? And could I even get around in there?”

“Really? That’s great!” Jake crowed. “And of course you can come visit. You know full well no one is ever forced to do anything they don’t want. Safe, sane, consensual is the rule, and yes, it is very much enforced.” Jake bounced slightly in his chair. “And yeah, getting around is fine. If anyone has an issue with having to move out of the way for you to get through, I’m certain Sam or Deacon can handle them. If not, we have bouncers built like tanks—hell, one actually goes by Tank,” he continued, then laughed. “I can’t wait to tell Sam.”

Kade shook his head. “No, you can’t.” When Jake frowned, Kade scrambled to explain. “I haven’t asked Deacon if he’ll go with me yet, so you can’t tell Sam. I know for a fact they discuss us, and even if they didn’t, all it would take is Sam slipping and Deacon would know before I could broach the subject with him.”

“When do you see Deacon next, then, and when are you planning to come visit?”

“Tomorrow night. We don’t see each other every night, even though I kind of wish we did, but I stay over every weekend and tomorrow is Friday,” Kade explained with a shrug. He hoped he could get the nerve up to actually say the words this time. He had tried the previous night when Deacon took him out to dinner, but he’d chickened out at the last second.

They spent a bit longer chatting before Jake left and Kade got back to work. He knew it would be a long day and that the next would be even more so, now that he had committed to not just the idea but to actually asking to go.

By the time Kade arrived at Deacon’s house the next night, he was shaking slightly. He’d been so nervous he hadn’t eaten all day. He’d taken extra time cleaning up and preparing for his lover and Dom before driving to the gated community. As he approached the front door, it opened, revealing an older man he didn’t recognize, though he did have an uncanny resemblance to Deacon. He was at least six feet, with tan skin and mostly white hair, albeit his still had a touch of red sprinkled throughout. The strange man also had that same imposing air about him Deacon did.

“Oh, hello,” he said, looking Kade over slowly. The perusal wasn’t heated like Deacon’s or assessing like Sam’s. This was more calculating and made Kade’s already jumpy nerves worse. “Are you Kaden?”

Kaden with the n? Deacon only uses that when I’m freaking out or he’s upset. “I’m Kade, and you are?”

“Dad, stop picking on my boy,” Deacon said from inside. “I said you could stay to meet him, not intimidate him. You’re not in the courtroom.”

The man flashed a wide smile which completely transformed his face, just like Deacon’s did. “Sorry, son.” He held out one huge hand, which Kade immediately took. The handshake wasn’t hard, no trying to crush his hand, nor was it weak, thankfully. “Mackenzie James, but you can call me Mack.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Deacon appeared in the doorway behind his father. “Move out of his way, Dad.
He
was actually invited.” The chuckle both let out belied the words. When Mack stepped back inside, Kade followed, moving straight to where Deacon stood.

“Your dad?” Kade mouthed, not in the mood for surprises.

“Why don’t you join us in the kitchen, Kade? Dad’s cooking but
not
staying for dinner.”

Mack grinned at Deacon’s emphasis. “I’m giving your housekeeper the night off, and this is how you thank me,” the man groused, the smile not dimming in the least. “You see what I put up with out of my own son?” he asked, looking back at Kade as they entered the kitchen.

Kade laughed despite his nerves. “Yes, sir.”

“Mack,” the man countered.

“Huh?”

“You’re his partner, so it’s Mack, not sir.”

“Oh, okay.” Kade looked to Deacon for help. Was Mack serious? Accepted that easily?

“Kade didn’t have parents like you, Dad. Go easy on him.” Deacon stepped to Kade’s side and slipped his fingers lightly down Kade’s throat. “Why don’t you have a drink and relax. Dad won’t behave, per se, but he won’t bite either.”

A nod was all Kade could manage.

“Good. I’ll go pour you some brandy.” Deacon stepped out of the room, leaving Kade and Mack alone.

“From what my son says, you’re a dental surgeon and a sweet person.” Kade nodded. He was a surgeon at least. He hoped Deacon thought he was sweet, thought he did considering how often his lover said it. “I’m really glad he’s found someone who makes him happy. Just know that I won’t tolerate anyone hurting my boy.” Kade opened his mouth to defend his and Deacon’s relationship, but Mack kept talking. “I know he’s a grown man, but he will always be my son, and I want what’s best for him. I’m not accusing you of not being good enough, just hoping you will turn out to be worthy of him.”

“I’ll try my best, s—Mack. I care for Deacon a great deal and have no intention of hurting him. Ever, if I can help it.”

“Good. So, tell me about what it is you do, son. You don’t look old enough to be a dentist, much less to have gone through the extra schooling to specialize.”

Kade laughed and smirked. Most people thought that at first. “I’m thirty, and my partner, Harold Daniels, will probably retire in another five years or so. I mainly do reconstructive dental surgery.”

“You do surgery from your chair?” Mack asked as he continued chopping vegetables—broccoli, carrots, and spinach. “Glad to see you didn’t give up your dreams.”

He tensed at Mack’s words but as he continued to speak, Kade realized Mack wasn’t like others he sometimes dealt with—a fact he was doubly thankful for, considering the man was his Dom’s father. “No, I don’t give up that easily. I was lucky though to find an established dentist willing to take a chance on me, not everyone is so lucky. And yes, I do. Everything in my half of the office is designed for me, including the specialized chair I use.”

Deacon returned then and handed over a couple fingers of golden liquor. “Is he behaving?” Deacon asked, gesturing to his father.

“Just getting to know each other,” Kade replied. Taking a sip of his drink, Kade worked hard to keep calm. “By the way, what is he making?”

“Lasagna. Don’t give me that look,” Deacon added with a grin when Kade stared at him.
Since when does lasagna require broccoli?
“His vegetable lasagna is the best I’ve ever had.”

They spent the next half hour or so chatting and joking around. Kade was still in a state of mild shock when Mack shook his hand and patted him on the shoulder as he said good-bye. After the front door closed, he turned to Deacon. “What’s with you and surprising me with people? I about had a heart attack. More than once!”

The casual shrug was not amusing. “If I had called and told you, you would have spent the entire day worried he wouldn’t like you, which he did.”

“But I’d already spent the last day and a half freaking out before you dropped your dad on me!” Kade snapped his mouth shut and turned away.
Dammit!
He had not meant to say that.

“Kade?” Deacon asked, stepping up to Kade and cupping his cheek, tilting Kade’s face to meet his gaze. “What do you mean?”

“Can we have dinner now? I’m hungry.” He wasn’t, but he also wasn’t ready to have the discussion he’d come over intending to have.

Deacon nodded as he continued to stare at Kade. “I will serve dinner. Grab yourself something to drink. I want the wine I have out already.” Kade spun around to gather their drinks but stopped when Deacon spoke again. “But we will also discuss whatever upset you before you arrived.” With that, Deacon turned, and by the time Kade had two glasses of wine on the table and was at his place—the spot without a chair—Deacon was setting down two plates of a white veggie dish that smelled wonderful, though he didn’t know how much he would actually be able to eat.

Kade honestly tried to eat, but mostly just pushed his food around his plate. He answered when Deacon directly asked him a question, but he couldn’t seem to quiet his nerves, and the longer they didn’t discuss things, the worse it got for him.

Eventually, Deacon put his fork down, hard, and glowered at Kade. “Do I need to feed you to get you to eat? That’s usually a special time for us, but if that’s what it takes to get the food in you, I can use it in other ways.”

“I, what, huh?” Kade mumbled, confused.

“You haven’t eaten anything that I can see. Now either eat and talk, or I will feed you and then discipline you, and I promise, it will not be playful.” The anger in Deacon’s voice took Kade aback. He’d never heard Deacon so angry. Not at him. Not at anyone.

“I-I’m sorry, Sir,” Kade whispered, then scooped up a bite of the lasagna and popped it in his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, though his stomach didn’t appreciate the nourishment. “It’s very good. I’ll have to thank your father if I see him again.” His hands shook, but he took another bite, determined to make Deacon happy.

“Kade,” Deacon interrupted, his hand coming down gently on Kade’s, stopping his hurried attempt to eat. Before Kade could process what was happening, Deacon scooped him up out of his chair and sat him in his lap. “Look at me, boy.”

Kade gulped, trying to stop the tremble in his hands as he looked up and met Deacon’s gaze. Instead of the anger Kade expected to see, though, all he saw was concern and care. “Sir?”

Deacon reached over and pulled Kade’s plate closer. “I’m going to feed you, but not as punishment. We will discuss what’s got you so upset and scared, but I also won’t allow you to hurt yourself.” He nuzzled his lips against Kade’s temple, kissed his jaw, and soothed his hands up and down Kade’s back for a few minutes. Voice now soothing, Deacon continued, “Now, take a bite for me.”

Doing as instructed, Kade calmed more, enjoying the closeness and even the food as Deacon continued to eat, feeding Kate every few bites from his own plate. Every so often, Deacon would press his lips to Kade’s again, melting Kade a little more each time. When he’d eaten most of his meal, he felt more at peace than he had in days. His worry seemed further from him and not as frightening.

Instead of being returned to his chair, Deacon carried him into the sitting room and set him on the couch. He returned moments later with his chair and special cushion. Once the high-backed cushion was situated in front of the couch, Deacon placed Kade on it so he faced the couch. “I know you’re still dressed, but present yourself to me, then we are going to talk, boy.”