Riveted (5 page)

Alongside their entwined initials were the words: Forever His.

“Before you say yes, know that once it’s riveted on, it won’t come off.” Blake ran his fingers gently over Ty’s where he held the collar. “It’s permanent and indestructible, Ty, just like my commitment to you.”

Ty took a deep breath and wiped his eyes before meeting Blake’s gaze once again. “Scars and all?”

“Scars and all,” Blake echoed with a soft smile on his handsome face.

Blake then helped Ty to his feet. He was a little off-balance with the swell of emotions surging through him, but Blake steadied him and took the collar. “Jason, if you’d be so kind,” Blake said, holding the collar out. “My boy has accepted.”

The applause, shouts, and whistles from their friends snapped Ty back to where they were and his cheeks heated. The embarrassment of having an audience for such a private moment was quickly forgotten, however, as Blake ushered him over to where Jason stood next to a small table.

“Display,” Blake ordered before he walked to the table and picked up a small silver band.

Ty’s hands went behind his back, and he shifted his feet slightly until his position and posture were perfect. His body responded to the elation of what was about to happen, his flesh warming and his cock hardening.

Blake brought the band over and showed it to Ty. It was almost identical in design to Ty’s collar, the same silver metal with gold lining, only smaller in size. Blake tilted it and moved it closer so Ty could read the inscription. It was identical to his.

“It works both ways,” Blake said softly.

Ty swallowed hard and nodded. Everything just seemed so surreal, or maybe he was just dreaming. The last year had certainly been a fantasy. Blake coming into his life, moving to New York City, he was a club owner for God’s sake, and now a commitment not just as Blake’s submissive but as his partner in every sense of the word. Damn, he didn’t know if he wanted to laugh or cry.

Both emotions battled for supremacy and as an effect, Ty stood there trembling with his heart in his throat. He more than likely looked like a complete and utter fool since he was also aroused as hell, watching as Blake sat down in a chair next to the table where Jason had his tools laid out.

Blake, however, looked completely composed and sure of himself as he rolled up the right sleeve of his dress shirt, winking at Ty as he laid his exposed forearm on the table. “You don’t think I would allow anyone to do something to you I hadn’t tested out first, do you?”

“No, Sir,” Ty responded hesitantly.

His hesitation had nothing to do with the question. He knew Blake would never do anything to him that wasn’t completely safe, but he was confused as to why attaching a collar would be dangerous or something that would need to be tested first. A trickle of unease seeped into him as he watched Jason run a thick strip of leather and a wide piece of metal between Blake’s wrist and the bracelet. Blake’s entire forearm and hand, except a small section of the metal around his wrist, was then covered with some kind of heavy material.

Ty’s brow furrowed, his anxiety level rising, as he observed Jason reach into what he’d thought was an ornate fire for decoration with a pair of tongs and pull out a red hot piece of metal. Unable to keep his eyes lowered, Ty looked to Blake in alarm. Blake, who could read Ty so well, smiled and said soothingly, “It’s okay, focus right here on me.”

There was a loud sound of metal hitting metal and Blake winced. Ty shot a look toward Jason and glared.

“Ty.” Blake’s voice was like the snap of a whip, one that couldn’t be ignored, and Ty focused his eyes back on Blake’s.

Clenching his fists where they rested against the small of his back, Ty forced himself to keep his eyes locked with his Dom’s. As much as he tried, he couldn’t completely ignore the sound or the steam billowing up as Jason poured water over Blake’s wrist to cool the metal before setting the next rivet. Ty took a deep breath and held it. The effort it took to keep still caused his tense muscles to vibrate. He’d endure anything for Blake, any amount of pain—hell, he craved, often begged, for the erotic pain his lover could inflict. The thought of Blake being hurt, however, almost made him physically ill.

Jason was quick and when he patted Blake on the shoulder and said, “All done,” Ty let out the breath he’d been holding.

Blake muttered his thanks to Jason, already moving toward Ty to stand behind him. “I’m officially yours, Ty. Are you ready to be mine?” he whispered, brushing his lips against Ty’s ear.

“I already am, Sir,” Ty answered without hesitation, meaning every word. He was Blake’s in every sense of the word.

“Then let’s make it official.”

Ty allowed Blake to lead him to the leather bench and help him lie out in the proper position. The back of his head, neck, and shoulders were draped in heavy leather, but Ty was barely aware of what Jason was doing. Blake had gone to his knees in front of him, those dark eyes holding his as the Dom caressed Ty’s cheek. Through the entire riveting process Ty felt no pain, none of the heat. He wasn’t even aware of Jason or anyone else in the club as he lost himself in Blake’s eyes and soothing touch.

He’d spent his entire life yearning to belong, to be wanted and loved. Even when he’d lost all hope of ever having a family, convincing himself he didn’t need one and people weren’t worthy of trust, on some level he’d never stopped dreaming, hoping.

Blake loved him, protected him, and brought so much happiness to his life. Wasn’t that what family did? As he continued to stare at Blake, his eyes so warm, his expression one of pure bliss as Ty lay there accepting his symbol of commitment, it occurred to Ty that it didn’t matter what kind of family you grew up in—the one you made was what was important.

Ty tried to blink back his tears, but one escaped and rolled down his cheek as he came to the realization that Blake and Martha had made him part of theirs.

Blake wiped the salty droplet from Ty’s cheek and whispered, “I love you.”

And Ty knew it, felt it in the center of his being that Blake loved him, and he in return loved Blake with everything he was. But he couldn’t say it, afraid he would lose it and break down and weep like a baby. Instead he swallowed hard, keeping his teeth clenched, and nodded.

When the covering was pulled away and barrier between his neck and collar removed, Blake helped him to his feet and Ty nearly collapsed. There had been no pain, no physical hardship to endure; it was the full weight of the commitment behind the metal circling his throat that nearly drove him to his knees. He didn’t fall, however, but stood in the center of the stage; with Blake at his back and in front of those gathered, Ty puffed out his chest and proudly displayed Blake’s collar.

“Although this collar represents Ty’s submission to me,” Blake announced, “it’s also a symbol of my devotion and commitment to him and his to me. It, as well as the band around my wrist, is a constant reminder of the promise we made to each other. It is the promise of forever, and I’ll work every day to be worthy of him.”

As everyone stood and applauded, whistling and calling out congratulations, Ty reached up and lovingly stroked the collar.
Forever.
Ty gave in to the overwhelming emotions, throwing his arms around Blake and burying his face in Blake’s neck as the tears started to blur his vision.

Blake held him tightly, giving him a minute to get his emotions under control before pulling back slightly and lifting Ty’s chin. “Go show it off so I can take you home.”

Ty sniffed and grinned as he wiped at his damp cheeks. “Yes, Sir.”

He started to pull away, but Blake stopped him and leaned in close, speaking against Ty’s ear. “And when we get there, I’m going to fuck my beautiful boy through the mattress.”

A shudder went through Ty at the harsh growl in Blake’s voice, and he groaned loudly when his cock was grabbed in a tight fist and pumped a couple of times. Ty practically ran off the stage. The sooner he accepted the congratulations from their friends, the quicker they could go home.

B
LAKE
had seduced his mind and demanded his focus, and in return Ty had given him his body to command. Yet in the end, Blake had found his soul and given him the home and family he was always missing, and Ty was his forever.

Author’s Note:

Thank you
to everyone who followed the Whispering Pines Ranch Series and demanded Ty’s happily ever after. I hope I was able to do Ty and Blake proud. These two men have some very interesting friends who deserve to have their stories told. Watch for a new series coming to Dreamspinner Press April 19, 2013, called Guards of Folsom. Book #1
Pup
features Tackett and Micah.

~Hugs~

Jo

http://sjdpeterson.blogspot.com/

SJD P
ETERSON
, better known as Jo, hails from Michigan. Not the best place to live for someone who hates the cold and snow. When not reading or writing, Jo can be found close to the heater checking out NHL stats and watching the Red Wings kick a little butt. Can’t cook, misses the clothes hamper nine out of ten tries, but is handy with power tools.

Visit Jo at http://www.facebook.com/SJD.Peterson;

http://sjdpeterson.blogspot.com; https://twitter.com/SJDPeterson; and

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4563849. S_J_D_Peterson.

Contact Jo at [email protected].

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

Chapter One

I
N
ELEMENTARY
school—first or second grade, the exact date elusive now—Tackett Austin had discovered he was different. He’d shown up on the playground late for recess, the groups already decided. Some boys played ball. Others used index finger and thumb as a pretend gun, running, ducking, rolling, and shooting at each other. Then there was the group of girls playing hopscotch, boring game, while another group of girls sat on the monkey bars watching the boys and their antics. Tackett, without hesitation, joined the girls on the monkey bars and watched the boys. He took a lot of ribbing for that choice, got called names like sissy, freak, bullied by the other boys, but he didn’t pay them any attention and never questioned the decision he’d made.

During his teenage years—while experimenting, learning blowjob etiquette and Tapping an Ass 101—he realized he had a propensity for kink. Tackett didn’t want a guy just sucking his dick, he liked to force them to take it. Vanilla didn’t do much for him, even when it was new. Without questioning the reasons why, he sought out like-minded kinksters. And the rest, as they say, was history.

Not usually one for self-introspection, rarely questioning his decisions or choices, Tackett was a little stunned to find himself sitting at the bar several decades later, questioning everything, every choice he’d ever made. Hell, he was staring at an empty glass, for fuck’s sake, debating if he should say screw it and order a double shot of bourbon or stick with water.

Tackett knew the exact moment it all changed.

He hadn’t been in the Guards of Folsom since the night of Ty Callahan’s collaring, six weeks earlier. He was impressed with the changes Blake and Ty had made to the place. Bobby, the previous owner, hadn’t done much to it over the years. It was always a great place to play, even if it was a little outdated.

The twenty-year-old booths had been replaced with soft leather couches, the scarred and worn tables gone and new black shiny ones brought in. Instead of the medieval feel it had previously, the club now had a warm, comfortable ambiance even with the dark color scheme and low lighting. The power play being exchanged between Doms and subs, leather and sex the prevalent scent in the air—that was still the same, but now in a sleek new modern setting.

Perhaps it was the modern part that bothered him, reminding him that, like the previous décor, he was outdated. However, he knew there was more to it than that. Ty’s collaring ceremony had been beautiful, and as Tackett watched, he’d known he was witnessing something he’d never experienced before, although he’d seen hundreds of collarings. This one, for some reason, had caused him to look at his life, and he wasn’t very happy with where it had taken him.

Forty-five years old, and what did he have to show for those years?

Sure, he owned a successful financial company, had more money than he could ever spend, all the toys afforded by wealth, good friends, and a steady diet of sweet little sub boys to delight in. What was there not to be happy about? And he
had
been happy, or at least he’d thought he was, until he’d seen the love between Blake and Ty and realized what was missing from his life. How empty it truly was. Had envy kept him away these past six weeks? Perhaps, but it was more than simple jealousy.

Life had become a predictable series of events. Wake, eat, work, fuck, sleep, repeat. At his age, how long did he have before the fawning subs would find a new Dom to worship? When he no longer had the strength or the energy to satisfy, what then? Maybe not next week, or even next year, but it would feel like the blink of an eye and he’d wake up one day an old man, alone.