The Mormon and the Dom by Nix Knox Read Free Book Online Page B

anything wrong?”
    “Because the very idea bothers some people. Just like your reaction to pain play.”
    “I just don’t understand it. I never said no one should do it, and I didn’t go on a campaign to make the people who do it feel ashamed of themselves.”
    “I agree. But some people are so threatened by something they don’t understand, they want to make it illegal for others to do it.” Ronan took the chair to the right of Noah. “You know that it was illegal for different races to marry at one point, right?”
    “That was based on ignorance.” When his own words caught up to him, Noah blinked several times and looked away.
    Ronan understood. Having indoctrinated views challenged was never easy, but for Noah to break out of his self-imposed isolation, he needed to see things for what they were. He had to start looking at the world with his own eyes and not those of his parents or his church. Again, Ronan wasn’t knocking those who did; he was only trying to broaden Noah’s view.
    “In your own religion, blacks weren’t even allowed into the priesthood until 1978.”
    “How do you know—”
    “You’ve practically got Mormon written all over you. And we are in Utah.”
    “You’re not, though.”
    “Nope. I was raised in an alternative household.” When Noah raised his eyebrows, Ronan explained, “I had two dads.”
    “Your parents were gay?” Noah’s eyes widened.
    “My dads were. But my mom was straight.” Ronan had always loved the way he shared his parents’ unorthodox relationship. He could have just said he had a mom and two dads, but that wouldn’t have been nearly as much fun.
    “You had a mom and two dads?”
    “Yep.” Ronan nodded. “I actually thought everyone’s house was like ours.”
    “And no one picked on you?”
    “I don’t think anyone really cared.” Ronan shrugged. “But we lived in San Francisco.”
    “Why did you move to Salt Lake City?”
    “I won a scholarship to the U.”
    “You went to the University of Utah?”
    “Why do you sound so surprised? Did you think I was an uneducated pervert?” When Noah looked stricken, Ronan teased, “I’m actually a highly educated pervert.”
    This time, Noah laughed. “Nothing really bothers you, does it?”
    “Not really.” Ronan had a powerful urge to touch Noah but refrained. “Do a lot of things bother you?”
    “Everything. Well, they don’t really bother me. I just feel so out of place all the time. I feel like everyone’s always looking at me and judging me. If they knew I was here with a man like you…”
    “What? You’d be tarred and feathered?”
    “Metaphorically, yes.”
    “So you have the mask you wear in public, and doing this is a way to take that mask off?” It was actually a fairly common reason people sought out BDSM.
    “Does that make me a coward?”
    “Not at all, Noah.” This time, Ronan followed his instinct to take Noah’s hand. His hand was warm, a little sweaty, but what struck him was the way Noah gripped on to him as if he were a lifeline. “Everyone wears masks.”
    “Even you?”
    “Even me.”
    “But you seem so strong.”
    “I am. But that doesn’t mean I feel the need to share everything about myself with every person I meet. Take this house and the shop. I didn’t get this place by going into the bank and telling them everything about me. I told them what they needed to know.” Ronan straightened up. “I put on my best suit, cleaned my fingernails, and presented myself as a businessman.”
    “But that’s not a mask, since you are a businessman.”
    “And I’m a Dom, too. It’s not a lie to withhold things about yourself. It’s prudent. Call it wearing a mask, call it putting the best foot forward, or just call it selective sharing. It’s normal, and everyone does it.” Ronan used his other hand to stroke over the back of Noah’s hand. “You might think people in public are looking at you, judging you, because you think you’re the only one wearing