“Timothy John Waterman, get your arse down to the great room. Now!”
Tim froze, his hand on the shelf he was dusting. Master Sam sounded so angry, and he’d used Tim’s middle name. Tim hadn’t even known Masters Sam and Aaron knew his middle name. He placed the cleaning rag on the trolley he used to go from room to room, then headed to the door.
“I’ll be right down, Master Sam.”
Thoughts pinged through Tim’s head as he made his way to where they’d be waiting, wondering what he had done that his Masters would be upset with him. He couldn’t come up with anything he’d cocked up. He’d given them their morning blow jobs, sent them off to work with a kiss at the door, then went right to his to do list. The dishes were done, he’d mopped the floors, and now he was working on the library. It was the same routine he’d done every day since he’d moved in with the two Dommy bears, and they’d never seemed to have a problem. Had he missed a dish or forgotten to take out the trash?
He hit the bottom stair and drew in a deep breath. Whatever it was, he’d face it like their boy. Even if they had to punish him, Tim wanted them to be proud of him. He pushed open the door and found Master Sam standing there, his arms crossed over his broad chest. He glowered at Tim. Master Aaron was sat behind the big oak desk, his hands splayed on top of it.
“Yes, Masters?”
Sam strode purposefully toward Tim, and Tim was just the tiniest bit afraid. Not that they’d hurt him, he never worried about that. More that he’d done something to disappoint them.
“Did you think we wouldn’t find out? I can’t believe you tried to keep something this important from us.”
Tim’s mind was spinning. “Master? I haven’t kept anything from you. Please, what’s this about?”
Sam’s eyes widened. “You haven’t…” He threw his hands up. “Aaron, you talk to him. I can’t right now.”
Clearing his throat, Aaron stood. He was a big man, not like Master Sam, but in his own right he was huge. Occupying a space with the two men always made Tim feel safe and protected. Today he wasn’t sure how he should feel.
“We received a phone call today, and discovered you’ve been hiding something from us. We can’t allow that, Tim. You more than anyone should know better.”
But he hadn’t! After the deal with Sebastian, Tim had done his level best to tell his Masters everything. Tears pricked the corners of his eyes.
“I don’t know what I did, Masters, but I’m so very sorry.”
Sam spun on his heel, and his perturbed look vanished in an instant. He rushed to Tim and swept him into his arms. “Hey, stop that. No crying.”
“I’ve disappointed you. I’m so sorry!” he wailed, as he buried his face in Sam’s shirt.
Just then, another set of arms wrapped around Tim. “Hey, stop. Let us explain to you. We don’t want you to be upset.”
“I’m sorry about how we did this, Tim. Honest.” Sam tucked a knuckle under Tim’s chin and lifted it so their gazes met. “A little bird told us something we didn’t know about you.”
“What could that be? I’ve told you everything.”
“How then, did you never mention tomorrow is your birthday?”
His…oh, wow. It was his birthday. “I’m sorry, I didn’t even think about it. I wouldn’t hide that from you. Who told you?”
Sam cocked his head. “Really?”
It couldn’t be Rob, Ellis, or any of the other guys.
“Maggie.” Of course. “But how did she know?”
“She wouldn’t say. But she’s cross with you, because she wanted to do something nice for you, and didn’t know it was your birthday. Why didn’t you ever tell us?”
Tim sighed. “Can we sit?”
“Of course, sweetheart. On the sofa, in your usual spot.”
Tim took a seat, and a moment later Aaron took one side, and Sam the other. They put their arms around him and squeezed closer.
“I don’t really celebrate my birthday. I mean, I usually forget about it, because what’s the sense? A birthday is something you have when you’re born into a family. I…don’t want to think about mine.”
With his brothers spending time in prison for stealing, Tim was grateful he wasn’t part of that family anymore. His new one, with his real family, was much better. So it could be understood that it slipped his mind.
“We can understand that, but you have a new family, and we want to celebrate you. So, unless you have any serious issues, you’re going to get dressed, and Aaron and I are going to take you to the club to play a while.”
Oh, Tim definitely didn’t have any kind of problem with that.
“I’d like that. What shall I wear?”
Aaron chuckled. “It doesn’t matter. You won’t be wearing it long anyway.”
That sounded nice to Tim. He rushed up to their bedroom and opened the wardrobe. He pulled out a pair of black slacks and jumper. Sam and Aaron always looked at him like they were hungry when he wore it. He dressed quickly, then made his way downstairs to where Sam and Aaron were.
“Ready to go?”
“Yes, Master Aaron.”
They snapped a slender silver chain onto Tim’s collar, then led him to the garage. They each got in, and Tim couldn’t believe how nervous and excited he was. This was the first birthday he’d had since his grandmother died that Tim was actually happy about.
They pulled into the lot of Secrets and got out. There wasn’t a doorman, and there were no lights on the outside. Tim felt strangely disappointed.
“They’re closed.”
“That’s odd,” Aaron said. He pulled on the door, and it opened.
“Maybe something’s wrong,” Tim mused, worry settling in his stomach.
“We should check it out. Tim, it might be better if you stay—”
“Alone? No way!”
Sam snorted. “Fine, let’s go. Tim, can you get the other door while we lock this one?”
“Yes, Sir.” He grabbed the handle of the door, and drew it open when the lights all came on and dozens of voices shouted “Surprise!”
Tim gawped at the crowd of people in the club. He recognized most of them, of course, but he sought out the ones most familiar to him. He ducked his head and made his way to Sam and Aaron who had mixed in with the other people.
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” Sam said, giving Tim a gentle kiss.
“And many more,” Aaron added, as he too kissed Tim.
“What… I mean, why…”
Words escaped Tim.
“We told you, your family wants to celebrate you.” Sam stroked Tim’s cheek. “For the record, we’ve always known when your birthday was. There is very little we don’t know about you.”
They knew? Tim’s face warmed. Life with his Masters was so different than it was before them. They saw him, knew him inside and out, in ways no one else ever would.
“Tim!”
He looked up and found Rob and Ellis gesturing to him from one of the sofas.
“Masters? May I go say hello?”
“Of course. Just behave yourself.”
“You know I’ll always do what I can to make you proud of me,” Tim replied.
As soon as he turned, Aaron gripped Tim’s shoulder. Tim spun to back around.
“We are always proud of you,” Aaron said, his voice cracking. “You’ve made our lives complete, and we both love you so very much.” He tapped Tim on the arse. “Now go.”
Now Tim didn’t want to. He would have preferred to stay with his Masters, to bask in their presence. But his friends meant a lot to Tim, too.
“Go on, boy. We’ll be here when you’re done.”
That made Tim feel a lot better. He walked over to where Rob and Ellis were, and yelped when they each grabbed a hand and tugged him down beside them. A moment later, Tim was enveloped in hugs.
“Happy birthday, mate,” Ellis whispered.
“What he said,” Rob added.
“Thank you both. I was shocked by this.”
“Surprise party. Duh,” came a voice Tim knew and adored.
“Maggie.”
“Happy birthday, sweetheart,” she said, kissing the top of his head. “We have something for you.”
A present? Tim hadn’t expected anything from anyone. Maggie handed him two packages, both wrapped in silvery paper and festooned with a deep blue ribbon.
“The top one is from Sam and Aaron, who both claim they don’t know how to wrap a gift. The other is from the three of us.”
Tim stared at both packages, uncertain which to open first.
“Open the gift from Sam and Aaron first,” Maggie told him. “Otherwise you’d probably burst.”
Tim tore the paper from the slender package and found an intricately carved wooden frame. It was an amazing piece, and as he peered at it, Tim could see it was carved from a single piece of driftwood, and the knots and holes added depth and character.
“This is… I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“Sam talked with a friend, who introduced him to Jed Curnow, an artist who does bespoke pieces of wood. He called him up and told him what he wanted, and Jed said he would be happy to handle it.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?” Ellis wondered.
“His partner, Jonty Trelawn, saved a child from drowning a while back. It was in the papers and on the telly.” Maggie grinned. “You two have something in common. You’re both heroes.”
Tim couldn’t help notice as Ellis’s cheeks pinked. He hated being called a hero, but he couldn’t deny he’d lost something important in service to another person.
“Have you looked at the picture?”
Rob’s voice startled Tim. He flipped the frame over, and he gasped. The picture was all of Tim’s friends, dressed in their best clothes, posing for a photo in front of the Tower of London. They all seemed so solemn. Even Rob was shining.
“When did you get this taken?”
“When Sam said he and Aaron had to take a day trip for a job? We all met them at the tower for this. They hired a guy from Collars & Cuffs, and had him fly out to take it.”
Tim couldn’t believe it. They had to have had this all planned for weeks. He wasn’t sure why, but the thought they put so much effort into something like this for him humbled Tim.
“Now, before you get all weepy, open the other one.”
Tim tugged at the paper on the other gift, his hands trembling. He took the wrapping off, then opened the box. Again, his heart beat faster as he pulled out a jumper, in shades of black, blue, and gold. He’d never seen anything like it before. He looked up at the faces of his friends and he knew the truth.
“You all made this for me, didn’t you?”
Maggie nodded. “We wanted something from our heart, and this seemed the best way to express how much we all love you.”
“Eh, he’s okay,” Rob muttered, then winked at Tim. “You are all the best mates anyone ever had.”
“Tim, it’s time to cut the cake,” Master Sam called out.
Tim got up and went to the center of the room. Eli and Jarod stood there, beaming at him.
“Happy birthday, Tim,” Jarod said, kissing him on the cheek.
“Thank you,” Tim answered, a lump in his throat. He was tearing up. Again. The outpouring of love, of togetherness, of… He turned away. “You’re… I can’t… Master Sam?”
Tim turned and threw himself into Sam’s arms. No one had ever one anything like this for Tim. No one had ever cared for him like these people. Sam stroked a hand over Tim’s back and murmured how it was all okay, and everyone understood it was an emotional day for Tim.
They stood there, holding each other for several moments. Aaron came up from behind and joined in the embrace, allowing Tim to take strength from both of his Masters. Finally, when he’d calmed down, Tim turned and picked up the knife. As he cut into the cake, the room erupted in a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’, and Tim knew, without a shadow of doubt, that no matter what the future held for any of them, today they were family.
And that was good.