Chapter 220: We’re in public, watch your mouth
Kellen had never been in a shop like this before. He’d mostly ordered everything he needed online, and thus, was more familiar with pages upon pages of toys and other things. He’d never had to stand, face to product, and actually observe what people were buying and putting in their bodies.
It was a rather shocking experience, as was entering the storefront that had been rather discrete. No windows, nothing obvious. It was a store on a main road, but made to look less obvious. They also weren’t the only ones inside of the store.
It was actually quite busy.
Kellen almost ran into someone as soon as he came into the store, and it wasn’t an employee. It was a rather large-looking Esper, with an orange gaze that told Kellen he was in a danger zone as he carried a large bag out with him from the store. Kellen blinked, realising that there were several single Espers in the store, and a few more discrete couples lurking as well. The shop didn’t have just one clerk, either. It had several.
They had picked this place on a whim, something they had spotted as they were on their way back from dinner. What had they walked into? The best sex toy shop in town? Or...were all sex shops this busy in this town? Kellen’s head spun at the implications.
Kellen held onto Rhys’ hand like a lifeline, his eye big and wide as he scanned the area around him. Rhys watched him, smirking, his expression warm as Kellen practically flinched as someone came too close to him.
"Nervous?" Rhys asked, keeping his voice quiet so that the conversation was between just the two of them. Kellen let out a soft breath.
"Not nervous, just...overwhelmed, I think. I haven’t had to look at everything in such detail before. It’s...a lot." Kellen admitted. Even some of the things he’d bought with Brent were here, and Kellen had a hard time looking at everything. His head was on a damn swivel.
Rhys squeezed his hand, chuckling.
"We’re here for condoms at the very least, remember? Let’s focus on what we need first." Kellen liked plans, and eagerly agreed to what Rhys said. Rhys scooped up a basket as they moved away from the front door. Rhys tucked it into the crook of his arm, allowing him the freedom to move his hand while he let Kellen scan the store again, but with intent instead of the big, startled eye he had been using before.
Kellen was able to focus thanks to Rhys’ words, and his pulse slowed slightly as he looked for the part of the store that held just condoms and eventually found the area. It was tucked away in the back, away from the...larger displays that made Kellen’s head spin a little. He was no prude, but it was a lot for someone new to this to take in. He’d only had the basics, the easiest to use and the simplest things that one could carry on the front lines. The other toys that Rhys had bought, and then the toys that Kellen had bought while thinking of Rhys had still been tame in comparison to one of the displays that Kellen caught a glimpse of.
He didn’t even know people could twist in that position.
It should have bothered him that there was no one else around them looking at condoms, but Kellen was just glad that the looks of others, especially in this store, were diminished. He did not like the way that others were checking out Rhys, especially right now.
Rhys was rather serious as he looked over the condoms, weighing the differences that some of the packages advertised. Kellen was hit or miss about it all. It was just a piece of thinly crafted...plastic? Organic matter? What could it really change?
When Kellen said that out loud, Rhys turned to him with a devious look.
"Oh, we’ll take everything then. We have time to test them all out." Rhys said with a wink. Kellen grew a little wary. They didn’t, if he wanted to try them all out tonight. They did have time if they spread it out.
Kellen wasn’t exactly sure if that was Rhys’ plan, though.
"We have to see my parents tomorrow, Rhys. And Brent. They are going to want details about how it went." Kellen warned him and Rhys blinked, all big, innocent yellow eyes. Kellen narrowed his gaze.
"What? Are you implying that I wouldn’t give you any rest tonight? I thought it was going to be the other way around? You already said that you wanted to take control, or was that a lie?" He looked like he was going to cry and Kellen grit his teeth.
He reached for Rhys with his free hand, gripping onto the back of the other man’s neck in a hold that was only possessive. Rhys’ eyes went wide and Kellen leaned in, his breath washing over the other man’s face.
"Rhys, I never said that I wouldn’t, I just also know you. I’m setting guidelines, or is that not allowed?" Kellen asked. "I already had to tell you no last night because of today, and the whole time we were traveling. Do you think I am so patient now that I have you?" Kellen stared at him, his blue eye glowing slightly. Rhys’ whole body trembled slightly.
"That internal strength is going to drive me crazy." Rhys whispered. "God, I shouldn’t be this hard in public." Kellen felt his lips curl up slightly.
"That’s the second time today. Maybe you’re the one that needs to learn to dry orgasm instead." Kellen wasn’t as quiet as Rhys had been, and he had his back to the rest of the store. He had no idea that every Esper in the store jerked their heads towards him, their jaws on the floor while Rhys looked like he was exactly where he wanted to be.
"Ugh, enough. I get it. I’ll be on my best behaviour." Rhys said, trying to diffuse the situation. Kellen stared at him for a long, heavy moment before his thumb rubbed against the side of his throat. Rhys’ face grew hot.
"Good boy." Kellen murmured, his own face warming at the two words. Rhys was hooked.
From that point, Kellen was led around the store to areas that Rhys thought Kellen would enjoy. There were paddles, ropes, and harnesses that he was fairly certain would be up Kellen’s alley. Kellen was rather interested in the ropes, especially ones that were silky, soft, and advertised to withstand an S Class Esper.
Both Kellen and Rhys chuckled at that, knowing that wasn’t the case. They would both have to be in full control of their strength, but Kellen had a feeling that was an always thing when you became as powerful as Rhys.
It was tragic that at a base level Kellen wouldn’t be as strong as Rhys as an S Class Guide, but he would catch up. He always did. He’d been as strong as a B Class Esper when he was a C Class Guide, and he was sure he’d been working his way up when he’d been allowed to work out.
He would be pinning Rhys in no time, in and out of the bedroom.
"Do you think I’ll ever be able to spar with you?" Kellen asked, turning a bright, curious gaze to Rhys. He hadn’t considered it until now, and Rhys paused as he considered the differences between the red, black and white rope.
"Hmm. I hadn’t ever considered that before." Rhys murmured, taking Kellen’s words rather seriously. "I wouldn’t say right now. The eye patch alone makes me hesitant because it puts you at a disadvantage. When your eye heals fully, we can work on it." Rhys gave him a strange look. "I won’t lie and say that I don’t have mixed feelings about it. On one hand, you’re my partner, my fiancé. I would hate to hurt you." Rhys’ eyes glittered. "On the other hand, to be able to spar with you? I can’t even begin to imagine the thrill."
Kellen felt a big, silly smile touch his lips.
"I completely understand what you mean. I probably need to have as many advantages as possible, but what if my powers work in a way that I’m able to predict your moves? That would be so damn cool, but I’ll be patient. I was just thinking about how strong I’ve become, and how much stronger I’ll get." Rhys subtly scanned his eyes down Kellen’s body, blinking very slowly before he slid his gaze back to Kellen’s eye.
"Mm. I’m excited to see it." He admitted and Kellen laughed.
"You’re showing off that you have a type, Rhys." Kellen joked. Rhys leaned in, pressing a kiss against Kellen’s cheek.
"Yes. My type is Kellen Woods." Rhys pulled back, his eyes sparkling. Kellen couldn’t believe he was this happy.
In the end, they decided on the white rope. Rhys was going on and on about a honeymoon and how white tied into that, even though they hadn’t even begun to discuss the wedding. They also got nipple clamps. Kellen wasn’t sure what the benefit of that would be, but Rhys gave him several thumbs up, looking pointedly at Kellen’s chest.
"I think you’ll really like it." He promised. Kellen was a little hesitant to trust him, but not enough that he said no. They also got two of every condom offered, and a large pack of Esper condoms. It should be noted that most of the condoms were rated that they would be able to survive in any body, and Kellen wondered if there were Espers out there that could melt condoms.
He thought of Carlos, and shivered.
He was going to not consider that line of thought ever again.
They left the store, both happy with their purchases and Rhys gave Kellen the bag to carry as he carried everything back to the Phoenix Guild.
When they got back to the city tower, the building was quiet. Everyone had gone home, and they had to use the clearance cards they had been given to get back into the building. Rhys muttered something about balconies, but Kellen quickly shot it down.
If they were not able to get along with most of the people in the city, and there were a lot of Espers who could fly, that was a very bad decision. Rhys still grumbled about it, upset that he couldn’t get Kellen up to the room fast enough, and Kellen just rolled his eyes and took the Esper’s hand in his own.
He was just complaining because he wanted to be touching Kellen faster. If that was the case, he would let him do so. Kellen held his hand, and even let Rhys take the bag back as they rode the elevator up to their apartment. Kellen leaned his head against Rhys’ shoulder, his heart warm.
"I’m glad you said yes." Kellen said softly.
"You thought I would say no?" Rhys asked, horrified. Kellen shook his head.
"No, but...there was always a chance." Kellen mumbled.
"Oh sugar." Rhys said with a sigh. "You are so damn sweet."
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