Three hours later, Kota was a pack mule.
A very tired, very sore pack mule.
His arms were laden with sixteen separate shopping bags, their handles cutting into his fingers and leaving deep red grooves in his skin.
Thirteen of those bags were allegedly his, despite the fact that he had protested every single purchase. Theo had waved off every objection with a breezy
"Nonsense, darling, you deserve it" or "That color brings out your eyes" or "I'm buying it anyway, so you might as well accept it."
Kota had tried to be a gentleman.
He had offered to carry the bags. It was the right thing to do. The chivalrous thing. The thing his dad had taught him about how a man should treat his partner (though he didn't expect he'd do it for a guy). But now his shoulders were screaming, his spine felt like it was compressing into a diamond, and his hands were about to fall off at the wrists.
Theo noticed his suffering and wrapped both arms around one of Kota's bag laden biceps, hugging it tight against his chest.
"You're such a gentleman, darling. Carrying all my things without a single complaint. When we get home, I'm going to spoil you rotten. I'm going to draw you a bath. I'm going to massage your shoulders. I'm going to do that thing with my tongue that you like so much."
Kota shifted the bags, trying to redistribute the weight before his arms gave out completely. "You better. My hands are about to fall off. I think I've lost circulation in three fingers."
"Only three? Then you can carry more next time."
"Next time? Theo, please. Can we leave now? I'm begging you."
Theo pouted, his lower lip jutting out in that exaggerated way that Kota had come to recognize as his "I want something and I'm going to be cute about it" face. "Fineee. But we didn't even have that much fun. We should do this again later this month. There's a new boutique opening on the south side that I've been dying to visit. They specialize in imported Italian leather. You would look incredible in a leather jacket."
Kota sighed, the sound long and defeated. "Sure. Later this month. But right now, we need to go home before I collapse in the middle of this mall and you have to explain to security why your boyfriend is unconscious on the floor."
They made their way back through the Galleria, past the ice rink and the palm trees and the luxury storefronts, until they finally emerged into the parking lot. The late afternoon sun was warm and golden, and the McLaren sat gleaming in its spot like a beacon of hope. Kota practically ran to the trunk, dumping the bags inside with a series of heavy thuds. His arms felt weightless. His fingers tingled as the blood rushed back into them. He climbed into the passenger seat and let out a sigh so deep it seemed to come from his very soul.
Theo slid behind the wheel and started the engine, the car purring to life. As they pulled out of the parking lot and merged onto the main road, he glanced at Sebastian in the rearview mirror. "So, Sebastian. How was your first shopping trip with us? Was it everything you hoped for?"
Sebastian, who had been staring out the window with a dazed expression, snapped to attention. "It was—it was remarkable. Truly. I've never experienced anything quite like it. The variety of stores. The quality of the merchandise. The=the changing booth situation. Which I will not be mentioning again. Ever. To anyone. I've already repressed it. What changing booth? I don't remember a changing booth." (No war in ban sing se"
Theo laughed softly. "Don't worry. What happens in Blush and Bind stays in Blush and Bind. That's the rule. Although I do hope you'll join us again sometime. You're surprisingly fun to shop with."
"I am? I mean—of course I am. I'm a delight. I've been told. By people. Who exist." Sebastian's voice cracked on the last word, and he stared determinedly out the window to hide his blush.
The drive back to the Hawthorne mansion passed in comfortable silence, broken only by the soft hum of the engine and the occasional directions from Gerald the AI. The sun was beginning to set by the time they pulled up the long, winding driveway, painting the massive estate in shades of gold and amber.
Kota grabbed the bags from the trunk, his arms immediately protesting the renewed weight. Theo, in a gesture of mercy, took two of the lighter bags himself, leaving Kota with the remaining fourteen. They climbed the grand staircase together, Sebastian trailing behind with his single small bag from the suit store.
As they reached the top of the stairs, a door burst open and Elliot emerged from his room. He was shirtless, his pale skin glistening with sweat, his ginger curls damp and sticking to his forehead. The smell of sex and sweat wafted out of the room behind him, and his massive ass was barely contained by a pair of tiny shorts that looked like they had been hastily pulled on.
"What are all those bags for?" Elliot asked, his eyes scanning the mountain of shopping loot in Kota's arms.
Theo sighed, the sound long suffering but fond. "I bought some things. And I got you a little something too." He handed Elliot one of the bags, a sleek black one with silver tissue paper peeking out the top.
Elliot snatched it eagerly and peered inside. His eyes widened. "No way. No way. You got me the limited edition strawberry cookies from that bakery I like? And the flavored condoms? The good kind?" He rummaged deeper, pulling out items one by one with increasing delight. "A remote controlled vibrating butt plug. A double ended dildo with the swivel feature. The warming lube that smells like vanilla. A cock ring with the bunny ears attachment. The silicone ball gag with the breathing holes. A set of silk restraints with the fleece lining. The prostate massager with the rotating beads. And—oh my god—the suction cup dildo that sticks to the shower wall. You remembered."
Elliot reached up and patted Theo on the head like he was a particularly well behaved puppy. "You're a gooooood brother. The best brother. I'm going to use alllll of this on Grayson tonight. Every single thing. He's going to be so wrecked tomorrow he won't be able to walk."
"Have fun with that," Theo said dryly. "Try not to break any furniture this time. Camilo is still recovering from the last incident."
Elliot was already retreating back into his room, clutching the bag to his chest like a precious treasure. "No promises!"
Theo led Kota and Sebastian down the hall to his own bedroom. The door swung open, revealing the familiar space. The massive four poster bed draped in burgundy velvet. The floor to ceiling bookshelves packed with leather bound volumes. The Persian rugs in jewel tones. The marble fireplace. The bay window overlooking the infinity pool. Everything was exactly as Kota remembered it.
Theo set his two bags down on the writing desk and turned to face them, his cheeks already flushing that pretty shade of pink. His fingers moved to the top button of his lavender shirt, undoing it slowly, deliberately.
"Now then," Theo murmured, his voice dropping into that breathy, seductive register. "It's time for me to model for my boyfriend."