An Unlocked Mind (Secrets #2)(54)

“That’s stupid,” Rob groused. But what was in his head was something entirely different.

I want to try this again.





Chapter Sixteen


THAT BOY couldn’t lie to save his soul.

When they started, Vic couldn’t concentrate on his book as he watched Rob from the corner of his eye. He needed to be ready at a moment’s notice, should Rob begin to struggle or if he used his safeword. When that hadn’t happened, Vic allowed himself an inward sigh of contentment and relief.

Watching Rob as he started to relax had been a revelation. The changes that had overtaken him might have been unhurried, but they were definitely noticeable. His facial features, which had been tense, smoothed out, as did his breathing. Everything about Rob became placid. If Vic didn’t know better, he would have thought Rob reached subspace.

Maybe he did. Subspace—and what it took to attain it—changed from one person to another. Vic knew that from experience. What took one person several scenes to achieve had been accomplished by another within the space of an hour. And since Rob was like no one else Vic had ever met, why should Vic expect him to react like anyone else? Maybe simply forcing him to stay still for a time, to reflect, had made it possible. Either way, for a brief time, Rob had let go of his problems.

Now they could begin solving them.

“I think we’ll make this something to do on Sunday when neither of us has to work. You did really well, and I’m impressed. In fact….” He paused dramatically. “I think you deserve a reward for your efforts.”

He climbed off the bed and went into the wardrobe. The box he’d previously gift-wrapped in metallic blue-and-red paper sat on a shelf above his show rack. He couldn’t help smiling to himself at the thought of Rob’s expression when he opened it.

This is going to be good.

He carried it back to where Rob sat, perched at the end of the bed, rubbing his wrists. Vic frowned as he placed the box on the bed. “Do they hurt?”

Rob shook his head.

“Care to tell me what’s wrong, then?”

“You’ll think it’s stupid,” Rob replied.

“Try me.”

Rob shifted slightly, turning so he could face Vic. “I can still feel where they were.”

Vic didn’t like the sound of that. He took Rob’s wrists in his hands. There was a slight reddening to the skin, but nothing Vic thought should cause Rob discomfort. “They look okay.”

Rob jerked his hands from Vic’s grasp and locked his fingers around his wrist again. “I don’t mean they hurt,” he growled. “I mean… I can feel where they were. The weight of them on my wrists. And it bothers me that it doesn’t bother me. Does that make sense?”

Not at all. Vic considered how best to respond. “As far as I can tell, we’ve just found something you enjoy, that brings you a measure of peace. Why should that bother you?”

“That’s just it!” Rob protested. “It doesn’t bother me. I thought it would, but it didn’t. I… I liked it. I didn’t want to. I really figured we’d try this and I would hate it. Even as I lay down, I was getting ready to tell you that this wasn’t for me. I’d made up my mind that it would be a waste of time.”

“And now?” Vic asked. He wanted to know where this train of thought led. “What’s on your mind at this moment?”

Rob glared at Vic. “You’re a bastard, you know that?”

Vic was taken aback for a moment. “Me? What did I do?”

“What did you…?” Rob threw his hands up in the air, then got off the bed and paced around it. “Why couldn’t you have just been an arsehole that first night? Why did you have to turn out to be this nice guy who rescues wet guys and brings them home? Then turns around and makes breakfast for them the next day? You had to be the kind of guy who was worth coming back to see, didn’t you?”

Vic snorted. “Yes, I can see why that would annoy you. Yeah, it’s all my fault for being a decent person. Would it help if I apologize?” He couldn’t hold back on the sarcasm.

Rob’s expression tightened. “It might.”

“Okay, then. Rob, I’m very sorry I was a decent guy and didn’t kick you to the curb like I should have. It was rude and thoughtless of me, and I promise the next time I see you in a BDSM club, I’ll make sure they kick you out.” He gave Rob a mock glare. “There. Is that better?”

Rob laughed, and the sound warmed Vic’s heart. He needs to do more of that. Vic had only glimpsed Rob being lighthearted a few times, and he wanted to see more of it.

“So what’s that?” Rob asked, pointing to the box.

“Oh, yeah. Almost forgot.” Vic picked the box back up and handed it to Rob. “Thought you might like it,” he said casually.

Rob tore the wrapping off the package, and his eyes widened. “Holy shit. It’s a Mac.”

“Don’t get too excited,” Vic told him. “This is last year’s model, but it’s a good, solid machine. It was mine, but I upgraded to the new one and thought you might like this one.”

Rob turned the laptop over in his hands. “I don’t have a good track record with laptops.”

“Oh, really? Now you tell me?” Vic made a show of trying to grab it back. “I might have changed my mind.”