Page 30 of Sir Avery's Wish
“Hey. Look at me, Eli.” Avery’s voice was soft and soothing, but the thunder in Eli’s chest was overpowering. “Whatever happens, I'll be right there with you. You’re not alone in this anymore, remember?”
Eli nodded shakily. “I remember.” Avery’s promise to be with him through anything he might face seemed as if it were the only thing holding him together. He took a deep breath, drawing in the rich scent of Avery's cologne, an intoxicating aroma that reminded him of cedar and rain.
“Okay.” Eli managed a small smile. “Let’s go.”
Avery’s hand remained steady at his back as they made their way to the exit, and Eli found himself matching the older man’s confident stride. The cool air hit Eli’s face as they stepped outside into the night. Eli spotted the hotel’s black sedan waiting at the curb, which he hadn’t expected. He’d assumed they would be taking Avery's car, not what looked like a company vehicle with a driver.
Eli tamped down the disappointment crawling its way up his throat. It probably meant Avery would be leaving him at Zane’s before going back to his hotel office suite and spending the night there. Avery had told him all about how he barely stayed at his Cambridge home anymore.
“I thought it might be better if we weren’t driving ourselves tonight,” Avery regarded him with a wrinkled brow. Eli figured Avery had picked up on his worried vibe. “After we’re finishedmeeting with Zane and Rogen, we can have the driver drop us off at the hotel parking garage where I left my car.”
Eli stared up at Avery. “Us?”
Avery offered him a small smile. “Unless you’d rather stay at Zane’s tonight. Whatever makes you comfortable is what we’ll do.”
“What I’d like to do is you.”
Eli dropped his jaw open. Clearly, his brain-to-mouth filter had been obliterated at some point. Not that he was painfully shy or anything like that. But he wasn’t prone to such blatant drooling.
Avery laughed, a warm, genuine sound that made Eli’s heart skip. The sparkle in Avery’s eyes suggested he wasn’t offended or put off by Eli’s bluntness.
“Well,” Avery said, his voice dropping to that low register that was responsible for making Eli’s pulse quicken. “I appreciate your honesty.” The corners of Avery’s eyes crinkled from his amusement, but in Avery’s gaze, Eli caught something darker, hungrier. “Though perhaps we should save that particular conversation for after our meeting.”
The driver opened the rear door, and Avery gestured for Eli to slide in first. The leather seats were buttery soft against his back, and he caught another whiff of Avery’s cologne as the man settled beside him. Close enough that their thighs pressed together.
Avery leaned forward. “Zane’s place, Mitch. Thank you.”
He pressed a button that raised the partition between them and the front seat. The ride across town to Zane, Ryan, and Ty’s Beacon Hill home was quiet at this time of night, the steady hum of the engine beneath them and the soft glow of streetlights filtering through the tinted windows.
Eli tried to focus on the city passing by, but his awareness kept returning to Avery’s presence beside him. The way Avery’shand rested casually on his thigh, his thumb tracing small circles through the fabric of his jeans. Such a simple touch, but it sent heat and calm through his entire body.
They arrived about fifteen minutes later, and Eli had to admit that Avery’s instincts had been spot on about having a driver. Being able to relax with Avery in the back, to rest his head on his shoulder, and have Avery’s touch was the exact grounding he’d needed. Before they reached the steps, the glossy black door swung open.
Ryan bounded down to meet them. “You're here!” He grabbed Eli’s hand and tugged him forward. “Hello, Sir. Master said Rogan is on his way.” Ryan broke into a grin. “You guys, Ty made these amazing appetizers. I think you’ll love them soooo much, Sir, that you’ll want Ty to be your sous chef.”
“Ryan?” Avery’s voice was kind but also conveyed that he meant business. “It would please me if we could focus on Eli’s situation tonight. I haven’t forgotten Ty. However, this is the priority right now.”
Ryan ducked his head. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” He turned to Eli. “Are you doing okay? Master wouldn’t tell me anything because it’s your decision whether I know. But when he told me Daddy Rogan was coming by to see if he could help, I knew it was serious.”
Eli clasped Ryan’s hand. “I’m okay. Sir Avery has been taking care of me.”
He glanced up at Avery, who was staring down at him with an affectionate gaze.
Ryan’s face lit up, and he squeezed Eli’s fingers. “Good. That’s what he does best.” His eyes darted between them, then grinned wider. “Oh my God, you two are totally—”
“Ryan.” Zane’s voice carried from the doorway, warm but firm. “Let them get inside first. Rogan will be here soon.”
Saved by the Master. Eli wasn’t trying to hide anything from Ryan, but the stress of the night ahead was all he could handle right now.
Ryan winced. “I’ll behave. Come on.”
He tugged on Eli’s hand, and they climbed the steps of the elegant, historic brick home. Zane greeted them, and they hung their coats on the oak hall tree in the entryway. As they got settled in the living room, the urge to climb on Avery’s lap burned inside him. Ryan did that all the time with Master Zane when he was Little.
Ty had done it once since Eli had been staying with them, cuddling on Zane’s lap one night when they were all watching a movie together. Ryan had sat on the floor, resting his head against Zane’s thigh. Ty had explained to Eli after they first met that he never regressed, so it didn’t seem to be an exclusively age-play thing.
Eli scooted closer to Avery, and Avery wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Eli let out a contented sigh. Maybe someday, if they stayed together, he’d feel comfortable enough to crawl onto Avery’s lap in front of their friends. He snuggled against Avery’s solid frame. He sure hoped that happened.
Ty appeared from the kitchen, an apron around his waist. “Good evening, Sir. Eli.” Ty’s knowing smile was warm as he nodded to both of them. “Can I get you anything to drink? Coffee, tea, some sparkling water?”
