Celebrate Read Online Free PDF

arms gave way. He started to topple forward.
    Raynard slid one arm around Ori and caught his weight just in time to slow his descent. He lowered Ori gently to the ground and encouraged him to roll onto his side. Barely separating their bodies, Raynard spooned behind him.
    Ori automatically pressed his back against Raynard’s chest, desperate to be as close to him as possible and unable to hide that desire when his instincts were so close to the surface.
    Raynard’s body was warm against Ori, but even those bits of him that weren’t benefiting from Raynard’s body heat didn’t feel cold. Ori smiled, hazily pleased that the weather had fallen in with Raynard’s inclination to play in the park, just as perfectly as everything else had.
    He let out a happy little sound as Raynard slipped his collar around his neck and fastened it in place.
    “Does that mean you think that us flying together was a suitable way to start celebrating your birthday, fledgling?”
    “Start?” Ori asked. “You mean finish, sir.”
    “I know what I mean,” Raynard corrected. “And we both know your birthday started at midnight.”
    Ori closed his eyes and silently cursed himself for every kind of fool. “You didn’t forget.”
    “A few weeks ago, it would never have occurred to you that I would have forgotten. And, if you had thought it, you’d have spoken to me about it.”
    Ori threaded his fingers through the grass in front of him.
    “Your confidence was growing very nicely,” Raynard pointed out.
    “Everyone seemed so determined to remind you that… Everything was about me being a… You never wanted to own a swan,” Ori finally rushed out.
    Raynard’s grip on him tightened. “I never expected to,” he corrected. “I never knew a swan would want to submit to anyone; that I could teach a swan about submission without hurting him.”
    Ori shook his head. Squirming against his master’s body, he turned around so they lay face to face. “You’ve never hurt me, sir.”
    Raynard smiled at him in the gloom. “I know better now.”
    Ori studied him carefully. “You still would have preferred…”
    “Have I said one bad word about you being a swan since I put this back on you?” He gave the tag on his collar a sharp tug.
    Ori shook his head.
    “I said I’d find the type of submission you were most suited to, and I did. As it happens, it’s a kind that I’ve found is very much to my taste.”
    Ori glanced up and met his gaze. There could be no doubting Raynard’s honesty, or his certainty.
    “But hiding the things that worry you from me, lying to me by omission? Not acceptable. I told you before that I’m the only one who decides what constitutes good behaviour in this relationship. I decide when a matter is closed and you no longer need to worry about it. And I told you that you didn’t need to worry about being a swan a long time ago.”
    Ori swallowed. “The punishment, sir?”
    Raynard considered him seriously. “On this occasion, we’ll say that you’ve punished yourself enough by putting yourself into such a needless panic for the last fortnight.”
    Ori opened his mouth to object, but Raynard covered his lips with his hand. “I’m being lenient because it’s your birthday, and I intend for us to enjoy the day together. Do not push your luck less than thirty seconds after I’ve reminded you who defines acceptable behaviour and decides upon punishments.” He took his hand away. “However, you certainly will be punished if you make the same mistake again.”
    Ori nodded. “Yes, sir.”
    “To be clear—if anything makes you doubt your place with me, or whether I want you as my submissive, you will tell me. If we are alone, there’s no excuse for you not to do so immediately. If we’re in company, you may wait until we are next alone. You won’t be punished for having doubts, but you will be punished for not telling me right away. Any questions about that?”
    Ori shook his head.
    “Any questions