Free The Rules of Love by Morticia Knight Page A

We’re going to get the man you love.” Aaron’s voice was gentle. “You know, you encouraged me with Sam and you told me how you had to counsel Vincent that it was okay to give into his affections for Juan. Why should it be any different for you now that you’ve found the right one?”
    Saul dropped onto the heavily cushioned velvet love seat then pulled one of the burgundy colored throw pillows to his chest. Vulnerability was an emotion he’d been unfamiliar with for quite a while. Kenneth brought that out in him. He was finally ready to accept that there was nothing wrong with that.
    “Yes.”
    Aaron arched his eyebrows. “Yes?”
    “I’ve verified that Edna Robinson is indeed safe. I’d had a notion that Preston was full of horse puckey when he declared he could get to Kenneth’s aunt, but my people in Chicago have moved her to a protected location until all this is over with. Just in case.”
    “Oh?” Aaron shook his head. “I can only imagine how she might’ve reacted to that.”
    “Mmm. She was none too happy, but they explained that it related to Kenneth and she went along with it. From what I understand, she’s been quite worried about him because he’s been out of contact for years.”
    “Hmmph. I bet I know why.”
    “Yes, old sport. I bet I do too.” Saul set aside the pillow then rose from the small sofa. “I believe we have a board meeting to begin?”
    “We do. Are you going to be able to hold yourself together? We can’t raise any suspicion.” Aaron gave him a tight smile. “We could always claim you’ve taken ill.”
    “I’m not that far gone. And I need to be there. This is much too important.”
    Aaron clapped his shoulder. “Good man. Let’s gather the other members together then we can get started.”
    Saul had arranged earlier for Javier to bring in some coffee for the men at the start of the proceedings. Most of them were either going to seek out a willing partner or two to play with after the meeting, or they would be enjoying the submission of their permanent boy, so they needed to keep their wits about them. It wouldn’t do for Saul to allow a thrill at the thought he might someday experience a permanent partnership with Kenneth, but in his heart he knew it was too late. The excitement at the thought had already coursed through him.
    Gradually, all the members gathered. There was some happy conversation between the nine attendees—they all knew and enjoyed one another’s company. Much of their time at the club was spent participating in their chosen activities, so the twice monthly meetings always turned into somewhat of a social interaction. Both Aaron and Thomas were the newest elected to the board, Aaron for almost a year and Thomas for six months. Since Thomas and Aaron had already been well acquainted, Thomas had eased into their little group without any difficulty.
    After ten minutes or so of chitchat, Saul was too anxious to get everything underway, so he piped up. “Gentlemen, there’s a rather serious issue we have at hand that I want us all to take into careful consideration, so I’d like to get started.”
    The murmurs of the men subsided and a few took a seat, while others leaned against the mantle or the back of the long sofa. Saul had rehearsed what he wanted to say, and both he and Aaron had discussed the main points they wanted to get across. It couldn’t be about Kenneth. It had to be a generalized discussion of whether a proper, agreed upon set of rules protecting the submissive men at the Hampton Road Club could be successfully employed.
    “First off, there have been two incidents that have occurred at the club recently that have greatly concerned both me and Aaron. One involved a harsh demonstration where the submissive didn’t have the ability to plead mercy and the other involved a rape attempt. These separate instances alerted us that perhaps we should have some boundaries at the club.”
    Otis, one of their longer termed members crossed