Balance

another rope through it to fasten it. Then when it’s over, you pry out the second rope, and the ties loosen.”
    “Damn, it works for me.”
    “I could use some more practice,” Nando admitted. “I was surprised it worked so well.”
    Cooper pulled his arms up, the loose brown rope giving way so he could chuck it before turning around to face Nando. He took Nando’s face in his hands to kiss him.
    “You can practice on me any time you like, but will you come home with me now?”
    Nando nodded.

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    “I have a much more comfortable bed there than we have here. You said yes, didn’t you?” Cooper said.

    NANDO was surprised how easily he’d taken to sleeping next to Cooper in the next few weeks. Yes, the man was easygoing, but there was still this nagging voice in his head, telling him he was getting too involved and it would all end up badly again. Nando pushed it away, telling himself that Cooper was different, that he was getting involved, but that didn’t mean he was selling his soul to the devil. What would it hurt to get to know the guy better? He still had his own life, still had his own apartment, was spending more than a full-time job at the shop.
    And now there was Cooper, who never failed to pick him up at the shop around midnight. This habit had started early on in their relationship, and Nando hadn’t resisted it, since he was always pretty tired at the end of a long working day and Cooper was always there to take care of him. Nando had to admit he liked having someone to go shopping with at the local supermarket after midnight, and he enjoyed sharing his stories with Cooper too. He’d never had the feeling he was missing a partner in his life until he realized that having a captive audience to listen when something weird happened in the shop was just what the doctor ordered to wind down. Even the repetitiveness of their life, with a visit to the club every Friday night, didn’t seem to bother him, although that had always been his number one reason not to get involved with someone steady. His Shibari technique had certainly evolved, although he only had one Balance | Zahra Owens
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    victim and they had no intention of showing it off in the Pit.
    For now, Cooper was more than enough for him.
    In the early hours of the morning, Nando couldn’t resist crawling closer to Cooper and snuggling up to his sleeping lover. He slowly caressed Cooper’s shoulder, where the faded tattoo used to be. Now it sported a shiny new one of a bucking stallion, lovingly put there by Nando.
    They’d fallen asleep, tired and sated from their session at the club, but now Cooper stirred and mumbled something Nando didn’t understand, so he kissed him softly.
    “Time to get up?” Cooper mumbled again, this time more eloquently.
    “No, we have hours.”
    “Mmmh,” Cooper replied appreciatively, twisting so he could cuddle up close to Nando and kiss him. Slowly the kisses became more passionate and the touches more intimate until Cooper was lying on top of Nando, grinding into him. There was no urgency, though, no need to rush.
    These middle-of-the-night bouts of lovemaking, both of them half asleep, not talking, just feeling, were one of Nando’s favorite parts of being a couple. No need for negotiating or setting parameters, only guided by what felt good and what they knew would make the other feel even better.
    Nando spread his legs, wordlessly inviting Cooper to move to the next stage. They still used condoms, but they’d had “the conversation,” so it wouldn’t be long now. Nando saw Cooper smile just before he slowly pushed into him and Nando threw his head back on his pillow, bliss on his face as their coupling became more intense.

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    There was a balance to their lives now, one Nando never imagined he’d enjoy so much. Their fun and games at the club was Cooper’s time to bottom, but in their own bed, which was usually located in Cooper’s more spacious apartment, it was always Nando on the receiving end. Just as Cooper willingly gave into Nando’s every whim at the club, Nando enjoyed it when Cooper took care of him when they made love at home. It balanced out perfectly.

    THE Friday after that, Cooper arrived at Nando’s shop to pick him up about ten in the evening.
    “I expected you this morning,” Nando said, clearing up the last of the debris from his work station.
    “This morning?” Cooper replied.
    “The repeat inspection?”