Barbarian (Jericho’s Boys #3)

Epilogue

Nico heard the door of their new apartment open and close, a shiver of anticipation rolling through him, overshadowing the small tremor of fear. He glanced around, listening, but couldn’t hear much. The walls in their new place were much thicker.

Thank God.

The four of them had a million long talks about whether they should get one apartment or two before they’d finally compromised and found a duplex. They were now neighbors. They still shared a wall, but it wasn’t a bedroom wall, and both couples had solemnly vowed not to fuck near or against that wall in particular for the sake of everyone’s sanity.

Nico had worried about being away from the cats, but due to the landlord’s pet policy, they had no choice but to divide the five cats between them. Nori and Kimchi were now theirs, while Levi and Shiloh kept the other three. They still had playdates weekly though, so they didn’t get lonely.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” Seven asked, his hands flying over the keys as he battled an orc.

No. “Yes,” Nico said, voice full of false confidence.

“Liar.”

“Look, I have a solid week off school and I plan to use it to recover from the dirty, disgusting things I intend to get Mal to do to me.”

Culinary school was fun but stressful. Working at the cafe had taught Nico that he was actually really good at decorating cakes. Now, he just had to get good at making them. And he was getting there. Slowly. And Mal was always there to cheer him on or push him when he needed it. It was in their contract.

Ever since he and Mal had gotten their own place, they’d been exploring domestic discipline full-time. Nothing much had changed. Mal still guided most of Nico’s day-to-day decisions, freeing him from an anxiety he hadn’t even known he had until it was gone. Mal was never bossy or overbearing, he never ordered him around like an employee. Usually, a single look could make Nico fall in line.

Unless the goal wasn’t a reward.

Unless the goal was punishment.

Like now.

Before Mal left work, he’d texted him a direct order. An order he was currently ignoring. He was meant to be naked on their bed, on his knees, hands behind his back and head down, belt in hand. Instead, he sat at his computer in a pair of tight black boy shorts and a crop-top that just said, ‘Make Me.’ He hoped the outfit would possibly provide a distraction should things get out of hand.

Adrenaline shot through him as the bedroom door opened, Mal pausing in the doorway. Nico didn’t acknowledge him, just kept playing his game. He could see him in his periphery, just…watching. He could feel his eyes on him like a brand. He was glad that the desk hid how bad his knees were shaking.

He tried not to stiffen up as Mal materialized behind him. Nico watched his own camera, licking his bottom lip when Mal’s black t-shirt rode up to show an inch of his flat tummy. Nico shivered as Mal leaned in, his nose nuzzling behind his ear, pressing a deceptively soft kiss there. Warmth flooded his insides, his cock twitching with interest.

“You okay, Fidget?” he crooned.

Nico missed a shot as his fingers fumbled on the keyboard. He smirked, presenting his cheek for Mal’s lips. “Do I not seem okay, Bunny?” he chirped.

Mal wasn’t shy in front of their friends. He had no qualms about playing their games right in front of them if Nico pushed him. “You look fine to me,” he said, looking him over like he was assessing him. “Good enough to eat, even. That was the plan anyway. But since you disobeyed my direct order, I figured you must be sick.” His voice was silk over steel, cutting deep in the best possible way. “Are you, Fidget? Are you sick?” He pressed the back of his hand to his forehead.

“No, Bunny,” Nico said, mouth dry.

Some people called their doms sir, master, Daddy, any number of things. But they’d decided to stick with Bunny. It was gender neutral, which suited them, and people were used to hearing Nico call him that if he slipped up in public.

Mal tilted his head, taking Nico in, expression unreadable. “No?” He leaned in close once more. “Are you just so desperate for punishment that you’re acting out already? Did I go too easy on you this morning?”

Yes, he had, but Nico wasn’t going to tell him that. Not yet.

“No, Bunny. I just wanted to do this instead,” Nico said, giving him his biggest puppy eyes and the pout he knew he couldn’t resist. “Can’t I?”

Mal crouched down beside him so they were eye-level. He caught Nico’s chin between thumb and forefinger, costing him another shot, not that Nico cared. Mal’s touch burned through him. “Of course, Fidget.” The smile that spread across his face was bone-chilling. “You have free will.”

Goosebumps erupted along Nico’s thighs. Fuck. He’d sort of hoped Mal would lose his cool, that he’d drag him away from the computer and put him over his knee right then.

“Th-Thank you, Bunny,” Nico said, breathless.

“Sure, Fidget,” he said, getting to his feet once more. “I’m gonna shower. Join me in the living room when you’re done with your game?”

“We’ll see.”

Seven’s mouth fell open at Nico’s boldness. Only Seven truly understood the depth of Mal and Nico’s dynamic. To the others, it was just a silly little kink thing. Seven knew the truth. Nico was happy to have him to talk to. He’d adamantly tried to talk Nico out of this, but he was determined.

Mal pressed his lips right to Nico’s ear. “Somebody’s feeling brave.”

It was barely more than a whisper, but it lanced through him like a spear, sending a jolt through his whole body, making him shiver.

Mal didn’t miss it. “Let’s see if you keep that same energy later.” Before Nico could respond, he picked up his hand and kissed the back of his knuckles softly. “Enjoy your game, baby,” he said sweetly.

“Thanks, Bunny,” Nico managed.

“See ya, Seven,” Mal said, waving.

He felt more than saw Mal moving around the room, grabbing a change of clothes before heading to shower. Had he planned on leaving Nico on the bed, belt in hand, while he’d showered alone? It wouldn’t be the first time.

It was only after the door shut that Nico collapsed into his chair. Seven stared at him with wide eyes. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Nico grinned, then shrugged. “Do I ever?”

Seven caught his gaze and held it. “He didn’t look ready to snap.”

“Not yet, anyway,” Nico countered. “You know how annoying I can be.”

“Bruh, you’re crazy,” Seven marveled. “Like, the calmer Enzo is, the more worried I get.”

They continued to play their game for another thirty minutes. Was Mal finished with his shower? Was he cooking? Was he watching television? Was he just lying in wait for Nico to finally finish his game?

“I think you should go, dude,” Seven said. “There’s pushing your luck and then there’s a death wish.”

Nico snorted, relying on sheer bravado at this point. “What’s the worst that can happen?”

Seven’s mouth fell open. “Well, I mean he’s not gonna kick you into a meat grinder, but that’s a really low bar.”

“That’s the problem. He’s too soft. This morning, I was supposed to get spanked one hundred times. One zero zero. We stopped after fifty. He said I was crying too hard, and he didn’t want me to be too sick for work.”

“What an asshole,” Seven deadpanned. “It’s almost like his job is to take care of you.”

“He gives in too easily. It’s because I’m so cute when I cry. I just want him to stop acting like I’m some novice.”

“You are some novice, idiot. You know how I know? Because an experienced sub would know to be way more nervous than you are right now,” Seven said.

“I’ve been researching for a while,” Nico said defensively.

“If you got on a plane and the pilot told you that he didn’t have any actual flight experience but he’d read a lot of books, would you get off the plane?” Nico pondered the question until Seven snorted. “You’re crazier than he is. I swear you won’t be happy until he hospitalizes you.”

“I thought you would understand,” Nico said, pouting.

Seven wrinkled his nose. “Ew. Don’t make that face at me. I’m not Mal. The only one who can make that face and get away with it is Ever.”

“Come on, be my friend. Be on my side,” Nico whined.

“What if he doubles your punishment? You’re not gonna be able to walk for a week.”

“I can take it. As long as he fucks me after, I can handle anything.”

“What if he decides on a non-physical punishment?”

That brought Nico up short. “He wouldn’t…would he?”

Seven leaned in close to the camera, then crooked his finger for Nico to do the same. When he did, Seven said, “Listen, I’m not supposed to tell you this, but they’ve been talking.”

“They?” Nico asked, frowning.

“Mal, Enzo, and Enzo’s brother. The one who owns that sex dungeon. Mal and Enzo are friends. That should scare you. Mal let it slip that he’s been going easy on you so he doesn’t push your body past its limits when you’re too stupid to safe word when you should. Now, they’ve been trading secrets.”

Nico let that information sink in. He’d known that Mal had stayed acquainted with Enzo. He’d gotten him out of about a dozen trumped up charges. That kind of created a bond. That they had similar interests in their extracurricular activities worked out well for everyone. Especially Nico…except, maybe for now. He hadn’t known they’d talked lately.

“Listen, I really think you should just go out there and apologize and act cute. Abandon your dignity and your underwear and maybe you’ll keep your skin on your body where it belongs.”

Nico’s heart rate shot into overdrive. Mal hadn’t said anything about talking to Enzo lately. Fuck. Was Seven just bluffing?

“Uh, I’m gonna go,” Nico finally said.

“Yeah, good call. Text me if you need anything to help the pain.”

The moment they signed off, Nico’s heart plummeted into his ass, every ounce of bravery gone in an instant. Despite the long list of punishments they’d created together, they’d mostly stuck with spankings. He was used to spankings. He was comfortable with spankings.

Please, let him just spank me.

He left the room, legs wobbling like he was a baby deer. Mal sat on their new sofa in only a pair of soft black pajama pants, his feet braced on the coffee table, looking fresh and clean from his shower. His hair wasn’t damp, which meant Nico had kept him waiting long enough for him to dry it.

“Hi, Bunny,” Nico said.

An icy shock rocketed through him when Mal didn’t acknowledge him but, instead, just pointed to the corner. Fuck. Nico hated when Seven was right, but he hated it more when the consequences of his own stupidity manifested so quickly.

Nico didn’t go to the corner. Instead, he went and kneeled beside Mal’s legs, looking up at him. Mal’s eyes stayed on his phone, where he appeared to be playing a game of his own.

“Not the corner, Bunny. Please? I hate corner time. Can’t we do the rest of my punishment from this morning first?”

“Bunny?” Nico tried again. “Please? I’m really sorry.”

When Mal finally acknowledged him, his look of indifference had Nico’s blood supply diverting south, his cock swelling in his now too-tight shorts.

“You’re only making this worse for yourself, Fidget. Clothes off, on your knees, corner. Now.” Nico opened his mouth to protest or plead his case, but Mal cut him off. “I’m adding a minute to your time every time you speak, starting now.”

Nico snapped his mouth shut. Fuck. “Yes, Bunny.”

“That’s two minutes,” Mal said.

Nico’s mouth fell open. When Mal arched a brow, he shut it again. Stupid cat bunny.

Nico rose to his feet, reaching for the hem of his shirt. His hopes soared when Mal said, “On second thought—” Only to crash back down when he finished his sentence. “—keep the shirt, lose the underwear.”

Why was that so much worse?

He slipped his thumbs into the band of his underwear, loving the feel of Mal’s eyes on him. He let the fabric pool at his feet, then picked them up and folded them neatly, setting them on the couch beside Mal.

When he made no move to go to the corner, Mal looked at his folded clothes. “I hope you’re not expecting some kind of reward just for that, Fidget.”

Nico’s heart sank. He kind of had been. He knew better than to speak.

Mal went back to his phone but said, “You don’t get rewarded for the bare minimum. Now, go before I decide to start improvising.”

Nico’s walk to the corner felt like the green mile. This was his least favorite punishment. That was why Mal didn’t use it very often. There was nothing worse for his overactive brain than having to sit still with no distractions.

When he reached his designated spot and went to kneel, Mal said, “Face me.”

Nico froze for a moment.

That was new.

He dropped to his knees, facing Mal.

“Hands behind your back, eyes on the floor. If you speak or fidget too much, I will start your time over again.”

Nico did as he was told, staring down at his painfully hard cock already drooling pre-cum all over their new carpet.

Time dripped by like molasses, the soft carpet starting to feel like a bed of nails the longer he knelt there. He would definitely see the indentations for hours after. But he had the feeling that would be the least of his problems. Seven was going to be so smug about this. Fucker.

Just when Nico was contemplating using his safe word, Mal said, “Stand up.” Nico had to use the wall for support but managed to get on his feet. “Go take a shower, as hot as you can stand it. Don’t bother getting dressed again. Just dry yourself off and come to me. Don’t drag it out by hiding in there for hours either.” Nico had only made it three steps when he added, “And don’t even think about touching yourself.”

The or else was implied.

Once in their bathroom, Nico peeled his shirt off and turned the spray as hot as he could stand it as ordered. Mal joked that Nico would bathe in lava if he wouldn’t melt. He wasn’t wrong. But standing there, choking on the steam rapidly filling the room, the water no longer felt soothing.

By the time he made it back to the living room, Mal was no longer on the couch. He was leaning against the kitchen counter, a few of their toys laid out behind him. How could any man look so good just standing there? Nico’s fingers itched to touch him.

While Nico was in the shower, Mal had moved their small dining room table so it was closer to the center of the room.

“Come here.”

Nico hurried to do as he asked, surprised when Mal caught his chin with his finger, tilting it up. Before Nico could ask, not that he would dare, Mal kissed him, tongue sweeping past his lips to lazily explore his mouth. Nico couldn’t stop the whine that escaped.

Mal immediately broke the kiss, and Nico made a noise of complaint.

“I only did that so you’d have one nice memory tonight,” he said coolly. “If you had just behaved yourself, you’d probably be well on your way to your third orgasm of the night.” His hand slid around his neck, holding him in place. “You have nobody but yourself to blame for everything I’m about to do to you.”

Nico shivered, cock twitching.

“Bend over the table.”

Nico dry-swallowed but did as Mal ordered. The wooden table felt cool against his skin, his nipples hardening on contact. He didn’t know what to do with his hands so he placed them on either side of his head and waited. He could hear Mal moving behind him but couldn’t see what he was doing.

That was somehow so much worse. When his hand curled around Nico’s ankle, he jumped. Mal’s thumb soothed over the bone there before running his palm up Nico’s calf, like he couldn’t help but touch him. The thought soothed Nico. But only the tiniest bit.