Tears pooled in Cailan’s eyes, blurring his vision. He felt adrift, lost in a sea of confusion and hurt. A single tear escaped, rolling down his cheek and over Liam's thumb. “You don’t have to do anything drastic. I know I can’t have everything I want.”

“I’m trying to understand what you want. I’d like to make you happy, if I can.”

“I only want you.” Cailan took a shaky breath, struggling to find the right words. “But you’re right. I’m a jealous slave. I won’t be satisfied regardless, so it’s my problem to work on. I’m sorry to be so much trouble. I’m sorry I ruined your fun with Hamish.”

Liam reached out suddenly, his strong arms enveloping Cailan and pulling him into a tight embrace. “And I’m sorry that in all these years, I still haven’t managed to convince you that you deserve better than this.”

Cailan swallowed thickly, his face pressed against the crook of Liam's neck. “You never asked for this. For me. How could I expect anything from you? You do your best for me, but you still have a right to live your life how you choose. Even if we were equals, it wouldn’t change that.”

Liam gently disentangled himself, pulling back just enough to look Cailan in the eye. “I understand what you’re saying, and I’m glad you’re able to speak to me so frankly. You’re right, of course. The two of us are bound together, and neither of us chose it. When my father started talking about marrying me off, I ran off to join the military on a whim. It felt like the only way out of a world I didn’t belong in. I should have talked to you about it first. These choices I make impact us both.”

"Well, I'm glad you didn't have to get married," Cailan murmured, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth despite the heaviness in his chest.

Liam's laughter burst forth, a warm, rich sound that seemed to lighten the air around them. "Yes, so am I.” His expression sobered, becoming serious once more. "You're happy here?"

Cailan took a moment to truly consider his answer, to look beyond his ingrained desire to please. "I’m… content," he concluded. "I think this is the best place for us."

"Content is good. We can work on happy." He paused, a smile slowly creeping onto his lips. “And you’d like me to stop fooling around, hm?”

Cailan’s eyes went wide. “I would never ask you to—”

Liam held a hand up to silence him. “Of course you wouldn’t, because you are a slave and that is not your place. But that’s silly, isn’t it? How empty is it if I call you my love, my world, my treasure, and then turn around and tell you that you can ask nothing of me because you’re merely a slave?”

"But if you don't want to..." Cailan said, his voice trailing off uncertainly. 

Liam's hand moved to cup Cailan's cheek, his touch reverent. “You’re the most beautiful person I’ve ever laid eyes on, and the most important person in the world to me. If you truly want to be with me, Cailan, then monogamy is no sacrifice." A playful glint entered Liam's eyes. "Though we’ll see, hm? Maybe you’ll decide I’m not what you want once you get a proper taste of me, and if you do, I’ll accept your decision as you would mine.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that. I’ve thought about this every single day of my life since the day we met. I want you, Liam. I’ve wanted you for years.”

“And you shall have me," Liam said, a warm smile spreading across his face like sunlight breaking through clouds. “But things between us are… complicated. That can’t be ignored. You are my slave and I don’t have the option to free you. If you’d like, we can set that aside entirely whenever we’re away from prying eyes and I can treat you how I would any other lover.”

Cailan dropped his head and gave it a firm shake. “I’m not any other lover. I want to be yours.” He lifted his gaze, green eyes meeting Liam's with an intensity that belied his usual submissiveness. "I want you to guide and protect me. I want you to tell me I'm a good boy and correct me when I falter." His voice dropped to a whisper as he added, “I don’t want ‘us’ to change.”

"You know," Liam murmured, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from Cailan's face, "I've never stopped loving that you're mine, but I don't object to redefining what that means. Nor do I mind being yours in return."

His fingers trailed down, tracing the line of Cailan's jaw. "But we have a lifetime to figure out the details, to decide what we like and what we don’t. I’m so proud of you for talking about your feelings, for being open and honest and brave. You are my good boy, Cailan. You always have been and you always will be.”

Cailan couldn't help the smile that overtook his lips, his whole face lighting up with joy. The words seemed to settle deep within him, making his heart sing. "Thank you," he breathed, leaning into Liam's touch.

“Ours is different from a typical relationship between master and slave in many ways, but there is one difference that is particularly important. This has always been true, but if we’re to be getting into areas of physical intimacy, I feel I ought to explicitly state it." Liam’s voice dropped, becoming more intimate. "Are you listening carefully?"

Cailan nodded. “Always.”

"If you give me a clear, firm no to anything, ever, even to the most reasonable of requests, I will respect it." His eyes locked with Cailan's, intense and unwavering. "If you need something between us to change in order for you to be happy, even if it's well outside of what you've been taught to expect as a slave, I will do it. I will do anything. I know none of that will come naturally to you, but I need you to understand that you are what is most important to me. Please do not ever let me make you unhappy."

Cailan was silent for a long moment, his teeth worrying at his lower lip. “I think that I don’t always know what I want or how I feel, but I’ll try to be honest with you. I’ll do my best.”

“That’s all I would ever ask of you,” Liam said. “And I’ll give you my best in return.”

Cailan's gaze flicked towards the tent entrance. "How long do you think the others will be gone?" he asked, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "Do you think we have time to...? I suppose it doesn't matter if they're here, but..."

Liam's laugh was warm and rich. "Cailan, you are my treasure," he said, his voice tinged with affection and amusement. "And if you're to be my one and only, do you really think I would let your first time be a quick rut? Let me make this special for you. For both of us.”

"Of course," Cailan said, dipping his head in acquiescence. But when he looked back up at Liam, there was a coy smile playing on his lips. "But do you think I could have a kiss? I'm told I'm four years overdue..."

A smile blossomed on Liam's lips, slow and sweet as honey. He cupped Cailan's chin, tilting his face upward. Time seemed to slow as Liam leaned in, closing the distance between them.

It was just a simple press of lips against lips, lingering for only a moment. But for Cailan, it was as if the world had suddenly burst into vivid colour. A flood of heat and desire coursed through his body, starting from where their lips met and spreading outward like wildfire. The softness of Liam's lips, the warmth of his breath, the faint taste of him—it was all overwhelming in its intensity.

As they parted, Cailan felt slightly dazed, his breath coming in short, quick gasps. He knew he could wait until Liam was ready to give him more—he'd waited for so many years already. But now, with the taste of Liam on his lips and the memory of his touch still tingling on his skin, Cailan found himself hoping that the wait wouldn't be too long.

#

That night, Liam arranged the sleeping mats in the centre of the tent and produced a pack of cards. The four of them gathered around, using a pile of sweets as betting chips. 

The first game was a comical affair; Cailan deliberately played poorly, trying to let the humans win, while Tris and Roope subtly held back, clearly assuming Cailan was unfamiliar with the game. It wasn't until Liam whispered a gentle reproach in Cailan's ear that the tide turned. Suddenly playing with genuine skill, Cailan accumulated a small fortune in sweets before Tris and Roope caught on and rose to the challenge.

For Cailan, the simple act of having fun with others besides Liam was a revelation. To be part of something, even something as small as a card game, filled him with a warmth he hadn't known he was missing. Though they played for only an hour, by the game's end, Cailan felt the walls between him and the other men beginning to crumble. Even his bond with Liam seemed to breathe easier, as if a fresh breeze had swept away some unseen tension between them.

As night deepened, Liam asked Cailan to choose a book and read aloud to the group. Despite his initial worry that Tris and Roope might find it annoying, Cailan obeyed. His concern melted away when, upon finishing the chapter, Tris eagerly requested they continue the next night. Cailan's eyes sought Liam's, looking for direction, and found only an encouraging smile. Agreeing felt right, a small but significant decision of his own.

That night, nestled in Liam's familiar embrace, Cailan sensed a new depth to their connection. The arms around him were the same ones he'd known for years, but now they held a new promise. He had always been Liam's, heart and soul, but now, in this quiet moment, he felt that Liam was finally, truly his as well.