nexus_stables | [[Open to simply_ellie only.]] Warning: Language and suggestive

Blinking, she has to lean into him. Having a friend own something like this is beyond her wildest dreams, and she hopes he'll let her come over frequently.

"Yes, wow. I... I had no idea. When did you buy the stable?" This -- the stable -- has to be it, right?

"Thursday... once I saw the place, things moved pretty fast." There's still paperwork in progress, but the money has changed hands and everything's in order. "We have plenty of space, some really great horses, a lot of countryside, and if you want, next time your parents have a fillie to sell, she could come here."

Yes, he's used we, without even consciously noticing it. In his mind, the Stables aren't his as much as theirs.

Ellie is still quite agog. "So when you went out to do errand during lunch Thursday, this is what you were doing?"

That 'we' makes her blink. He has to be talking about his girlfriend, right? Or maybe he went in on this as an investment with his parents? I'm not sure, but I don't think he and Dad had discussed Muscut, and how the stud service pays for a lot of things on the farm.

"This is is just wonderful! I'm sure your girlfriend is going to love it too!"

"This is what I was doing, yes." Crap, the imaginary other woman again... he hates lying, so how to finesse it... "Oh, definitely. I really caught the riding bug from you. Want to see everything? You can tell me if there's anything I need to get."

"Yes please! I want to see everything!" She's still overwhelmed at the moment, thinking that she's probably still missing thing right in front of her. Both literally and figuratively, really.

"Have you brought your girlfriend here yet?" Ellie's certain that she'd love it too; otherwise, the woman would be crazy!

Oh God. "You're the first person I showed this to... you're the one who'll appreciate it most."

There, not actually a yes or a no, so not a lie in any posible sense, right?

"You have no idea what an honor this is!" Impulsively, she hugs him tightly and kisses his cheek. "Thank you so much!"

"I'm sure she'll love it when she sees it though. How could she not?"

He hugs her tightly in return. "You're welcome."

He kisses her cheek, and then cringes at her next question.

"Who wouldn't? This place is amazing."

Duck, duck, duck, duck... crow. He's going to be eating crow.

"I'm sorry to bring this up now, but it's been bothering me since last night. Does she happen to read the Chicago society magazines? Because if she does, I owe her a huge apology."

Biting her lip, she's felt so guilty since Sharon had showed her those magazines last night. I should've been better behaved, and I hadn't been. I am so sorry, Michael.

"Well, uh..." Crap. "I didn't think she read the society magazines... I guess she might, though. But... I guess maybe I should see whatever this is?"

I am so fucked. I am completely fucked.

The marmalade cat keeps winding around her legs, begging to be picked up. She obliges it, and gives it a kiss on the top of its head. Yes, she'd like something to snuggle while discussing this.

"There were pictures of us on your boat. Once, with your parents; the other was the weekend before we went to Indiana, and um..." She doesn't want to embarass them both there.

"I had dinner with Sharon last night, and she was curious about where I was working. And well, she remembered your name..." Biting her lip, she hopes he's not angry with her. Way to ruin a great night, Ellie!

"Oh. God. Elise, I..." He swallows. All of the pictures he bought -- and he thinks he bought the entire series -- were purchased using his real name. Including the ones he told her he owned as Master Simon. "I didn't realize they were you until you told me you posed for Alex. I really didn't."

In his shock, he's completely forgotten about the paparazzi pictures she mentioned.

"I know, it's okay. Really and truly." Giving him a reassuring smile, she's being completely honest. "It is nice to know that they were sold to people who like and understand the lifestyle. But if you'd rather return them, so your girlfriend won't wonder who the woman in the photographs is, I think Sharon would be willing to take them back."

But Alex's prints aren't the ones that would likely cause the most stir, especially since his girlfriend would more than likely be a sub. "The thing is... the paparazzi captured quite the moment, one that I didn't even realize we had. And I really hope she hasn't seen it. I am so sorry, Michael."

"I... if it's okay with you, I'd really like to keep them? And... I think if she'd seen it before now, I'd, uh... I'd have heard about it."

He's completely lost as to how to discuss this with her. There is no other woman, and he doesn't want to tell her any really elaborate lie. He wants to be totally honest with her.

Oh God, Kitten, this is so complicated. I didn't mean to invade so many parts of your life the way I did... did I?

"Sure, that's fine with me, as long as she's comfortable with it too." Trying to put this delicately isn't working, and she'd really hate for his girlfriend to see the one of him massaging lotion into the backs of her knees. Working up the nerve, she kisses the cat again.

"If she has any of the magazine's issues in her house, you um, might want to have them disappear. You were..." Blushing a deep red, she has to force herself to keep going. "Very excited. Your clothes fit differently." Hopefully, that will make sense to him.

I am so sorry about all of this! I really don't want to hurt her feelings, and it's all my fault that happened!

Oh... shit. Of all possible moments for a photographer to catch, it had to be the one where he was seriously considering breaking the masquerade and simply taking her.

"I get you... I'll um... look around and make sure any issues like that disappear..."

Dear God, has my mother seen that picture? He groans in horror at the thought. While on one hand it'd only confirm her accurate suspicions that her son is madly in love with a beautiful woman... he doesn't want his mother seeing him with a hard-on!

Concerned, she quietly watches him for a moment, still holding the cat. It's purring loudly now, and it's such a contrast to how he must feel. There's no way to ever say how sorry I am for having to tell you about all of this.

"Sharon said the gossip columns all seem to think some 'blonde mystery woman' is your girlfriend, and all the pictures of them... well, they're me." God, have I ruined his life?! "And I know that if I were her, seeing that would really hurt."

Now he's the one who needs to sit down, and he does, on the nearest bale of hay. It's one that Dobson must have dragged into the stalls area to use as fresh covering, but hadn't actually unbaled yet.

"I..." He closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. "She's... not going to be hurt..."

Just say it, you goddamn coward.

Biting her lip, she's worried that she's pushed too far and gone into territory that isn't hers to discuss. Judging by his reaction, she thinks there are two possible explanations: either he's poly, as is his sub; or, this girlfriend simply doesn't exist.

She hopes he won't mind that she takes a seat next to him on the bale of hay. At least the cat seems pleased, now having two warm laps to plunder. "I'm so sorry, Michael. You're so nice and generous and wonderful..." Shouldn't she be saying these things to Simon? "She has to be just as good a person, and..."

She sounds like a better person than I could be, to overlook those kinds of things.

Seeing her start in on the self-recriminations -- sometimes he feels like he can read her mind and spot it when she starts berating herself -- is what breaks it open. He can't tell her a lie that's going to make her hate herself. He absolutely can't.

"There's no one else." He closes his eyes and swallows, because the words came out so hoarse they were only just audible. "There never was anyone else."

Watching him makes her heart twist, feeling utterly horrible for the way she's treated him at various times. This is one of them. Easing the cat from her lap, she leans over to hug him tightly. Her eyes start to well up with tears, for the both of them. I am a horrible and selfish person for making him feel so uncomfortable, and for wanting to be his. But things didn't work out this way, and he deserves someone so much better than I could ever be.

"I'm so sorry..." Instead of letting him go like she knows she should, she only hugs him tighter.

He pulls her closer, and the cat grumbles and jumps down out of the way.

"It's okay. It's not your fault... I just... didn't want you trying to find someone else for me. I had to say something to stop you... it was the only thing that came to mind."

He still doesn't have the right to tell her the real reason why... not completely. He wants to unmask for her, end all of her confusion...

...But he doesn't have the right to.

Her thoughts and emotions in total riot, she's not sure how to make things better or even if she can. What she had tried to do -- find him someone of his own -- had been meddling of the worst kind and she won't forgive herself for doing that, even if he does.

"I'm so sorry I made you so uncomfortable, I should never have done that. It's just..." Biting her lip, she has a confession of her own. "You're one of the best friends I've ever had and I only wanted you to be happy."

You're my best friend, Michael. God, possibly even more than Anne or Simon or anyone else.

"I know..." He takes a deep breath, inhaling her scent. The truth is, he's happier than he's ever been in his life, with her close to him. "I just don't want anyone else..."

Oops.

Saying that as Simon would be one thing; saying it as Michael... big mistake.

Ellie swallows hard, overwhelmed by what he's just said. Oh, God. Why do people like us have to hide the way we do? What if we'd been able to tell each other what we are that first day? Would things have been different? I would've wanted you as my Dom too.

Blinking, the tears begin to roll down her cheeks. This is wrong, Ellie, and you need to stop it. What would Simon think? He's been so incredibly kind to you, and this is how you'd repay him for that?

"I..." I don't want anyone else either. God help me, but I do.

[[Open to simply_ellie only.]] Warning: Language and suggestive

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