Thorns And Roses

Chapter Thirty-three

Theo tried to hide the wince as he shifted in the dining room chair. A blush permanently coated his cheeks. The movement reminded him of what just happened not even three hours ago. He really shouldn't have told Demi's father the truth. He regrets it big time now.

"Are you okay, Mr. Mateo?" Theo looked up from his plate of food, to give Elizabeth a weak smile. His eyes then went to Demi who was filling up his father's glass with wine from a pitcher. He glared at the snide smile that was on his mate's lips. He then looked back at Elizabeth.

"Yes, I am fine. Thank you for asking." He looked back down at his plate, trying and failing to ignore everyone's eyes. The pain and heat coming from his ass made it hard to pay attention to anything going on around him. Pulling him towards it every time he got distracted.

Theo didn't think that Demi would spank him as he did. He only hit him with the palm of his hand. Light taps that barely hurt, that he could hardly feel. Then they started getting harder and soon Theo was reduced to a puddle of tears at the pain. He didn't know how long he laid across Demi's lap for but he knew it was long enough to make his ass a bright cherry red.

After he had apologized for every wrongdoing he has ever done towards Demi, the Omega had helped him up and lead him to the bathroom. He drew him a hot bath, put lavender-scented soap in it, and took care of Theo. He praised him the whole time, making him feel warm and a little light-headed. When he was done with his bath, Demi rubbed cooling lotion on his ass and they took a nap together.

When they woke up, Demi had called him a good boy again and told him that he was forgiven now. They had talked about using corporal punishment for some time and they were both all for it. If it really was too much for Theo, then he could have safe worded. It's there for that exact reason. But he knew what he had done wrong and needed Demi to correct it. Which he did. They even talked about it before Demi laid him across his lap. Asking explicitly for Theo's consent. And Theo gave it to him whole heartedly.

Even his therapist thought it was a good idea to help heal him. Allowing Demi, trusting him enough to dominate him was a way for Theo to gain his confidence and control back. It was like a game of tug-of-war. Where Theo had been forced to submit at Joseph Anderson's hand, losing that part of himself to the other man, he's now able to gracefully and willingly give it up to Demi. The man he loves and trusts with all of his heart. A man he would submit to with every bit of himself.

As Demi rounded the table to his chair to pour him another glass of wine, Theo gently took his hand in his and caught his attention. Theo could see the stress lines around his eyes and the firm set of his mouth. He was very displeased that his family had arrived days before the ceremony.

"Sit down for a minute, babydoll. Take a break and eat." He was worried that Demi was running himself ragged just to please his family.

Really Theo should have said something to his father when he said that Demi was cursed. Like a disease. Which he was not. Just because he couldn't get pregnant did not mean that he would cause Everett to have a miscarriage or anything like that. It was stupid really and Theo should have said something in Demi's defense.

"I'm okay, Theodore. I'll eat later." Theo saw the lie for what it was and growled up at his Omega. He knew Demi would not eat later because his family caused him discomfort and pain.

"Sit." The demand came out more Alpha than anything and Demi instantly obeyed. Setting the pitcher down as he took the seat to Theo's right. A plate of food was given to him and Theo let the praise slip out as he watched Demi pick up his fork.

"Good boy." He could practically feel Demi shiver at his words. Just like he said before, Omega's eat that shit up.

"Demitri, I need more wine." Theo snarled over at Demi's father before he even got the last word out.

"If you would like more wine then one of the maids will get it for you. Demitri is not your personal slave." They had come to a silent pact that they would be using each other's full names in front of Demi's family. Just to seem more normal, more put together in front of them. Theo didn't like it because every time Demi said his name he felt like he had done something wrong.

"He may be your mate, Theodore but he's still my son." Theo wanted to laugh at such audacity and he did. He laughed right in Alexander Rose's face.

"Excuse me, but if I remember correctly you told me that you wanted to get rid of him. That he was more trouble than he was worth. All because he couldn't find an Alpha. Well, he's mine now so you have no right to ask anything from him." No one spoke after that. Leaving Demi to eat in peace. That was until after dinner when he was obligated to clean up. With a firm hand on his thigh, Theo kept him in his seat. He leaned over to whisper to Theo.

"I have to get up, Theo. Please." Reluctantly Theo let him go. He watched his pretty Omega stand up and clear everyone's plate away. Including his. When he stepped into the kitchen, Theo shifted in his seat and grimaced. In his anger-induced haze, he forgot about his burning ass.

It was quiet until Demi returned with dessert. He plated everyone a piece of chocolate moose pie and sat down afterward. He looked at Everett an uneasy smile across his lips. The only one that Demi seemed to like was his sister.

"So, what are you having?" He asked Everett who was eating his pie all delicate and shit. It grated on Theo's nerves honestly. He was used to Demi's way of eating, which was usually throwing things at Theo when he wasn't paying attention to him.

"A girl." They all seemed proud of Everett for his efforts if the smiles on their faces were anything to go by.

"Girls are very hard to come by in our species, so we are very happy for Everett and Oliver." Elizabeth tacked on. Bringing Theo into the loop. Theo looked over at Demi and saw a sad smile on his face. He patted his thigh in comfort hoping it made him feel a little better. He then turned to look back at Everett.

"Congratulations, Everett. I hope she's as healthy as can be." That's all he wished for. Theo didn't have a reason to hate Everett or Oliver. They're not the ones that have ruined Demi's mood every five seconds. It's his parents and fucking Robert. The man's mate barely even talks. Caitlin was as quiet and docile as a mouse. He's probably beaten her until she broke.

"Thank you. And me too." He whispered, his dark eyes going soft as he stared down at his round belly. He rubbed at his stomach and went back to eating his pie.

"When will the baby shower be? Is there anything that you would like to have?" They were innocent questions asked by Demi who just seemed genuinely curious.

"You will not be attending the shower and he won't need anything," Alexander told Demi with a curl to his upper lip and a snarl to his words. It shut Demi up real fast. Pissing off Theo even more.

"Watch your tone, Alexander. I will not have you disrespecting my mate in my own home. For someone that sold more than fifty percent of his business to me, you should know better than to get on my bad side." Multiple gasps went up in the air as Theo released another secret. He smirked at Alexander who gaped at him with wide eyes.

"Is that true?" Demi asked him in a whisper as everyone started shouting at his father.

"Yup. It was the only way he could convince me to take you. What he doesn't know is that I'm willing to give it back if he would just fuck right out of your life. I would be happy to sell it back to him." Theo could feel the grin on his face grow menacing but all Demi did was giggle at him. A snort followed right after as he tried to cover it up with his hand.

"You evil, evil man. God, I love you." Demi reached over grabbed his face in his hand and kissed him in front of everyone. Theo licked at his cheek in such an animalistic way that it made Demi giggle again.

"I love you too."