Suited

Twenty Five

As of Tuesday morning, I was officially Signore Alberici's submissive. The bed was empty when I woke but I knew he'd been in here if the change of cuffs, open curtains, and sore jaw were any indication. I knew I didn't have the latter when he woke at four, so he probably wanted attention. Actually, now that I was up, it was coming back to me. The in and out of consciousness from then. Had I passed out? I needed water. Stat.

There was a water bottle on the dresser. I texted him that I loved him.

Nothing new was in my inbox so I started on chores, wearing my sexy little apron and nothing else while I tackled the kitchen. I'd neglected it last night. Signore made me. He wanted to go to bed.

The day was spent playing catchup at my center. Being as we all missed a day, things were crammed in differently than usual but it was okay. Some of my group sessions were interrupted to talk one on one. This was my last week so I was working on a plan for when I was done. I'd still have therapy with Evert and I had school in December, but until then I needed something to keep myself occupied. I know it sounds lazy, but I didn't want to get a job. I'd never had one and I wasn't that type of boy. I wanted to be like Kai and stay home and be cute. I was good at that.

I decided to sneak off and talk to Medu during my short break. I wouldn't say we were friends but we were friendly. I don't know much about her life outside of New Pass because she was a therapist but she knew a hell of a lot about me and my art. She was also brilliant.

"Do you think your boyfriend would mind you keeping some extra art supplies around?"

Signore was adamant that I didn't need permission to have paint. I just had to be neat with it and clean up. So, when he picked me up, I asked if we could make a stop at the store Medu recommended. I promised to be quick but he said to take my time so I did something in the middle, checking the list I was given of all the things we used in class. Signore came in with me and held the basket while I found my things. A little easel, paper, canvases at Signore's request, brush cleaner and a drying rack, a glass tabletop palette, and a storage container. All of it went on my shelves in the office. I was officially a painter again.

My emails were answered. Signore received glowing reviews aside from Dom Ryker and Dom Bailey. They were worried and the latter sent me an entire dissertation that wrapped up with he wasn't sure. While I almost took his words at face value, they were two of five people and Atlas didn't know Signore that well. He'd never been close to him but his current reputation was concerning to him. Everyone was surprised I reached out and Ms. Heidi was the only dom who vaguely knew who I was because she knew Gabriel. Well, she didn't know me. She knew my name but she was really nice. Kai was more shocked that I emailed him rather than just getting his number from Juni but I wasn't allowed to and he only had good things to say, all things considered. Bill said good things but requested we set a date for coffee. I said I'd ask Signore about it.

I was given a new plan at the center. Instead of the intensive program I'd been doing, I was brought down to standard. I'd see Evert on Mondays and Bentley every other Tuesday for forty five minute sessions. I could use the amenities if I wanted to since Dad was still paying for them or I could book a group session but otherwise, I was out in the real world. I was almost two months clean and, compared to before, kind of thriving.

Signore was taking a different route than normal Friday evening which was totally unlike him. I didn't realize where we were until we were stuck in the traffic that always seemed to congregate by the mall. I couldn't get my hopes up. "Sir, where are we going?"

"Your congratulatory dinner for completing your first phase of treatment. Your parents and Jessie will be there. As will I."

I didn't say anything until we were in the parking lot, next to the Cadillac Jessie always chauffeured us in though it was empty. "Are you sure you want to go? We could go home. I have steak marinating in the fridge."