Take Me Down The Rabbit Hole (BDSM | 18+)

XLVII

Days passed faster in the time that Aspen didn't spend in Alan's company. He slept in his apartment, went to work to go after his business, and briefly stopped at home to take a shower and change before he joined Leo for more sit-in-sessions at Aphrodite.
During that time, he also finally got to explore Thea's playroom, but Thea had left him entirely to Leopold.
Friday night, after Leo had sent his evening client out the door, Aspen joined him in his office again.
"Here," Leo said after having pushed a paper and a small jewelry box across his desk.
"What's this?"
Leo chuckled. "Your collar tag, as a keepsake. And—"
Aspen had already pulled the document closer. "A legally binding document," he observed.
"I know you know your way around them," Leo joked.
"What am I agreeing to shut up about?"
"Meeting me."
Aspen pursed his lips. "As long as you have your reasons."
Leo sighed. "It's not forever," he said gently. "I'm sure you have your opinions about me going zero contact with Alan, but I—" Leo halted for a moment. "I didn't want him to think I was his only option. I'll be honest, I don't think I am the man for monogamy, much less for a committed relationship, and I didn't want to break Alan's heart."
"Alan is engaged."
Leo shook his head. "You're smart. Why do you think I waited until now to try and meet him again? It's really a shame he got sick, but," Leo grabbed a pen and offered it to Aspen, "I'd prefer to talk to him before you reveal that you met me."
Aspen had let his eyes drift over the fine print while Leo was talking and then snatched the pen from Leo's hand. "It's whatever. None of my business," he muttered and put his signature on the designated dotted line.
"It was a joy to finally meet you," Leo said, getting up and extending a hand for Aspen to shake. "I will see you for the wedding."
"I will find you and come after your ass with a belt if you don't, Mr. Silva," Aspen threatened. "Alan doesn't deserve an asshole of an ex like you."
Leo chuckled. "Until then, Aspen. But don't get your hopes up, and be nice to my sibling, you hear me?"
Aspen just nodded.
He knew Leo was a busy man, but he didn't anticipate that Leo only stayed in New York for a week at a time.
What happened to his clients in the meantime?
Aspen was tempted to turn around, but his phone rang: Spencer.
"I have to take this and get home after," Aspen said. "See you some other time."
Leo's laughter followed him out of the door.

Aspen hadn't planned to return to Alan's apartment so soon, but Spencer was relaying the order to meet him and Alan at a restaurant to ring in the weekend, and of course, Aspen couldn't say no.

"I've missed you, Pet," Alan whispered in his ear when they hugged in the restaurant's parking lot.
It was then that Aspen realized: He'd missed Alan too.
Thea had filled a lot of gaps in what Aspen had missed in a relationship — mostly the romantic bits — but she wasn't Alan, the man Aspen has had a helpless crush on since he'd been 14.
"I've missed you too," he returned, well knowing that there was no way to hide the blush on his cheek.
Alan smiled, and then he reached for Spencer's hand, offering the other to Aspen. "Let's go. I heard this place was really good, and I have news to share."
Aspen slid his hand into Alan's and trotted along, the knowledge that he'd met with Leo — multiple times — behind Alan's back weighing his mood down just a little.
Not forever, Leo had said; and that he would see Aspen for the wedding. That had to mean something, right?
Aspen was still lost in thoughts and didn't register sliding into a booth seat on one of Alan's sides, or the fact that Alan ordered them a family-style lasagna to share.
He only perked up when Alan announced:
"I found a venue for the club. It's freeing up in a few months, and then Wonderland is officially a go."
"Congratulations," Aspen said softly, and they clinked glasses.
Spencer began talking their ear off about kink furniture and whatnot, but Aspen was too preoccupied with Leo.
What had he hoped he'd gain from meeting the man? A giant revelation about his dominant next to him? That Leo would open up like Pandora's box and unleash more chaos on Aspen's life than Thea and Alan already had?
Alan nudged him. "Are you okay, Aspen?" he asked gently, and put another portion of lasagna on Aspen's plate.
"It's been a long week," Aspen mumbled. "My routine is out of the window."
"Did something happen between you and Thea?"
Aspen shook his head. "No incidents since she caught me getting off, Sir. It's just... work, and I've learned a lot of things and I just noticed how tired I am."
Alan responded by shifting just a little closer and directing Aspen's head on his shoulder. "That's okay. I'm here."
A moment of silence before he added, "Thea called me earlier. She's hosting a shibari class and she would love for both of us to come so you can learn some more ties, how's that sound?"
"Is she teaching?"
"No, somebody else is. She specifically invited both of us, and Spencer would love for us to go so he can have his biweekly movie night with June at our place. So, think about it, yeah? I know you love bondage, and I would let you tie me up just this once."
Aspen closed his eyes and got comfortable against Alan's shoulder. "In that case, it doesn't sound like an opportunity I would pass up, Sir," he mumbled, fighting the urge to add 'I met your Master last week and he let me try the most complex suspension tie free online resources could come up with on one of his clients, but then he made me sign an NDA, which I just broke, that says I can't tell you any of this.'
"Good boy. I'll text her later and sign us up," was the last thing Aspen heard before he fell asleep.