Page 91 of His Surrender
“Your date.” Andrew’s face appeared to fall a little. “Of course. You wouldn’t be here alone.”
“Just as I’m sure you aren’t alone either.”
Andrew glanced to the left at a young dark-haired man who stood holding a glass of champagne. Two women stood beside him, and he smiled nervously as they flirted with him. He seemed shy and probably introverted. The perfect submissive boy, I’m sure.
“He’s sweet but a little young for me,” Andrew said, moving his gaze back to mine.
“I thought you liked them that way. They’re easier to train.”
He pressed his lips into a thin line. “You’re not the only one who’s changed, Jay. I treated you horribly. If I could go back, I’d do everything differently. Fear makes us do despicable things, and I’m sorry you were caught in the middle of mine. You deserved more than I could ever provide you.”
Even though I was angry at him, the apology lifted some of the weight off my chest. For so many years, I had let this man control me, even when he was no longer in my life. And with the apology, I felt like I had the closure I’d greatly needed. Some of it anyway.
The rest would come when I talked to Remi.
“I have to go.”
Andrew’s hand clamped back down on my arm. “I said no. I see the years without me have made you forget your manners.”
“My manners?” I hissed through clenched teeth. “You mean obedience.”
There was a spark in his eyes. He released my arm and touched my jaw. “You were my perfect, obedient boy, Jay. Beautiful and always so willing to please me.” He stepped closer, and even after so long, I recognized the scent of whiskey and cinnamon. I used to hold his pillow close to my chest when he left me in the hotel room, inhaling that same scent. “I miss you so much, sweet boy.”
A whine tore through my throat.
“Andrew?” The dark-haired man approached. “Who is that?”
“No one,” Andrew answered, his eyes pinned to my face.
No one.
Goddamn him. How did he still have the power to hurt me?
“Go wait at our table,” Andrew told the man without looking at him. “Do as you’re told.”
The man nodded and walked away. Obedient to a fault.
“It was lovely seeing you again, Jay.” Andrew glided his finger along my jaw and to my lips. “You might be with someone else now… but you’ll always belong to me.”
“No,” I croaked.
Andrew left me then, and I stared at his retreating form, feeling panic bubble in my chest. I felt lost. Broken. So damn broken.
Chapter 20
Remi
Jay was gone for a while.
“Pardon me, gentlemen,” I said to the men in front of me. We’d been talking for thirty minutes about jazz, life, and how much things had changed in the world since they’d been young men. “I should go check on my…” On my what? What was Jay to me? “On my friend.”
He was so much more to me, but we hadn’t specified what we were.
“Is that what you call him?” a man named Vern said. “Your friend is quite the looker. Back in my day, he’d be one I would’ve liked to knock boots with.”
“Ah, shut your trap, Vern, you old perv,” Tom said. “No one wants to imagine your old wrinkly behind knocking boots with anyone. You’ll give the kid nightmares.”
I laughed and excused myself, hearing them continue to bicker from behind me. Jay had left to get us drinks, and unless the bar was super busy that night, he shouldn’t have been gone so long. My thoughts automatically wanted to jump to the negative—like him finding some guy to flirt with—but I knew he hadn’t.
