Page 65 of Collin: Episodes 4-6
“What did that mean, Collin?”
Air caught in his throat. He could barely breathe. Tears stung his eyes. He rubbed at them.
Mr. Reevesworth’s hand settled on Collin’s head. “Tell me what sending you the key meant, Collin.”
“That you didn’t…have the capacity…to hold it, sir.”
Mr. Reevesworth dropped to his knees. His arm went around Collin’s shoulders and drew him in. “I’m sorry. I was wrong. I communicated wrong.”
Collin’s shoulders shook. There were more tears, and he couldn’t hold them back. “It’s okay.”
“No, it is not. You gave me something precious and immense, and I appeared to hand it back carelessly.”
“But Artemis…”
“Was not dying.”
Collin rubbed his face. “Could you tell me, please, sir, what you did mean?”
“I knew you had just had coffee before going to see the police. I wanted to make sure you weren’t in pain, so I asked Émeric to meet with you before going to the clinic. I did not communicate with him the gravity of his mission. He did not know it was the first time I’d made such an arrangement.”
“That still sounds like you didn’t have the capacity, sir, to hold it.”
“I could have not let you go out to deal with Ash’s situation on your own.” Mr. Reevesworth wiped tears from Collin’s face. “You’ve done so well, handled so much already, I didn’t think twice of it. But you’ve done well partially because you don’t know how to do anything but be exceptional. Not because you are truly that confident and secure. I must remember that with you. You will do anything to please me. Including harm yourself.”
Collin tried to gulp back sobs. Why am I crying? I was fine like five minutes ago.
Mr. Reevesworth shook his head slowly. “I would revoke punishment, precious boy, except that you do not need any more uncertainty. So, this is what we are going to do. There will be two parts in addressing your choices. First, I will hand you over to Damian. As the main one here you should have turned to, you need to learn to trust him and his role in our dynamic more than your own need to not cause a disturbance. And then, tomorrow, after you are hydrated, you will be edged again, like you were before.”
Collin shuddered. Was it relief? Anticipation? It didn’t feel like fear.
“And you are not the only one who will be corrected.” Mr. Reevesworth pressed his forehead against Collin’s. “I bear as large a role in this as you. I will clear communication with Émeric. And with Damian. Now come, and whatever I say next, to Damian or anyone else, you are not to speak until given leave to speak. Follow orders but nothing else. Understood? This does require a verbal answer.”
“Yes, sir.” Collin nodded, sniffling.
Mr. Reevesworth drew Collin to his feet and guided him into the living room, his hand wrapped around Collin’s. Collin let himself be led, keeping his eyes on the floor. The last thing he wanted was to be dragged out in front of someone else to see, cheeks still wet with tears, but that was exactly what his dom was demanding.
Just inside the living room, Mr. Reevesworth paused. He gestured to the floor. “Down.”
Collin knelt where he stood, right beside Mr. Reevesworth. His skin was hot and cold, and he couldn’t stop his hands from shaking. He shoved them in between his thighs. It was probably outside of proper manners, but he hadn’t been taught yet.
“Damian,” Mr. Reevesworth said. “A word.”
Papers rustled and the sound of a phone being laid down echoed in the room. Footsteps approached from across the room. From where Collin was staring at the carpet, he saw the ends of Damian’s house shoes enter the edge of his vision.
“Sir?”
“You’ve had a difficult day with that client today, yes?”
“It’s been rough. But I think we figured it out.”
“How long have you been working?”
“Since six a.m., sir.”
“It’s now past three, nearly four.”
“Yes, sir.”
