Page 46 of Dragon's Surprise
“Tell me what?” Fallon asked. “Sorry, Oliver didn’t explain.”
“You may wanna take a seat,” Delton said. “This is not a two-minute conversation. Also, before we talk, I need to ask you first if you’re even okay with this. What we want to talk about could trigger you too.”
Fallon sighed and waved his hand. “I’m not triggered by anything. The bad memories are always there. They don’t get worse or better no matter what I talk about.”
Delton gestured at Adar. “You want to do the honors?”
Crap, now he had to go through the whole spiel again, although it was a little easier the second time, also because he’d paid attention to how Delton had explained it and now shamelessly stole some of his lines.
“Fuck.” Fallon rubbed his temples. “I can see why this would trigger Oliver.” He bit his lip. “Can you tell me details? What kind of pain are we talking about? Like getting beat up or something?”
“Not at all,” Adar said quickly. “It has to be a certain kind of pain. Rhythmic, with a specific intensity. Like with a paddle or a whip or even a belt.”
Fallon winced. “Gods, I can’t even…”
“I know you can’t, and I feel like an asshole trying to explain this to Oliver and you.” Adar didn’t know what else to say. How could he even begin to defend himself?
“The difference between what you guys went through and what he wants is?—”
“Consent,” Fallon said. “I can see the difference. It’s just that… I’ve been hit with a belt, and it’s incredibly painful. I have a hard time imagining that could feel good for someone.”
Delton sat up straight. “What if you could see it? What if you could see what it means to Adar?”
Fallon frowned. “How? Oh, you mean…”
“By observing him during a scene. That’s what it’s called—a scene. Because it has a clear beginning and end.”
What the ever-loving fuck was Delton doing? How could he suggest this, knowing what Fallon and Oliver had been through? Then again, the man was a trauma psychologist, so maybe Adar should trust him?
“Both of us or only me?” Fallon asked.
“Both, if Oliver’s open to it, but if not, you. It might help you see the difference with your own experiences.”
“But I don’t have a Dom here,” Adar said. “And I’m not taking them to the club.”
“That’s another problem, but one we can solve.” Delton’s confidence was inspiring, and deep inside Adar, hope bloomed.
Fallon bit his lip again, then slowly nodded. “I’ll need to talk about it with Duer and Yitro. See what they think. And with Oliver, of course. My first instinct is to say he shouldn’t watch, but I don’t know. Maybe you’re right, and it would be good for him.”
“Why don’t you talk it over and let us know?” Delton suggested.
Fallon narrowed his eyes. “Us? What’s your role in this?”
“He’s helping me navigate this,” Adar said. He didn’t want Delton to catch any flak for trying to help him. “I asked him to because he knows about stuff like this, and I was worried about Oliver’s reaction.”
Fallon looked from Delton to Adar and back. “Right. Okay.”
“So you’ll think about it?” Adar asked.
“I’ll let you know as soon as possible. But don’t get your hopes up about Oliver. I have no idea how he will react to this.”
That made two of them. But at least Adar had taken that first hurdle.
Chapter Seventeen
His mom was dying.
Jermon had refused to let the thought in, but he no longer had that luxury. She was dying right before their eyes, and if he didn’t face that reality, he’d regret it forever. She hadn’t gained consciousness since they’d brought her to the ranch, and Enar and Maz had said from the start that every hour she stayed unconscious dimmed her chances of recovering.