Barbarian (Jericho’s Boys #3)

Bonus Epilogue

Nico stared at his reflection in the full-length mirror, leaning against their bedroom wall. He turned this way and that, noting in the reflection that Seven—who was sprawled on his bed—was no longer paying attention to him but his phone. Whatever. Nico knew he looked good and he didn’t need a mirror or Seven to tell him so.

He did love this mirror, though. It was one of his favorite purchases when they’d furnished their new place. As soon as Mal and Nico had moved into their side of the duplex, the first thing they’d done was buy a real bed—with a sturdy frame and headboard. The second thing they’d done was buy the large mirror now leaning against the wall.

It had been more than what Mal had budgeted for them to spend on furniture, but the moment Nico saw it, he had to have it. He knew it was a violation of rule number six, but when Mal had grimaced over the price, Nico assured him it was multi-functional.

Rule No. 6: (HoH) controls the finances. HoH pays all the bills, both his and TiH. HoH makes the monthly budget. TiH has an allowance that is agreed upon by both and that increases as HoH’s income increases. Going over his allowance results in punishment unless approved by HoH beforehand.

Mal had looked amused as Nico listed all the reasons why they needed the mirror on his fingers. One: it made the room look huge. Two: it let them see their whole outfit from head to toe. Three—and in Nico’s opinion, the most important—they could watch themselves fuck.

He’d asked Nico what he was willing to sacrifice, furniture-wise, to get the mirror. When Nico had pouted that he didn’t want to give up anything, Mal gave him two options: take it out of his allowance or work it off in trade with an activity of Mal’s choosing. Nico had eagerly chosen option number two, which led to him spending the next hour getting railed in the backseat of Mal’s car in the parking lot of the furniture store.

It had most definitely been a worthy trade with both parties walking away satisfied.

In the beginning, Nico had to push Mal into enforcing the rule. A rule Nico had asked for. Mal didn’t want Nico ever feeling trapped by money. But money caused Nico anxiety. Jeremiah, his therapist, said he had financial trauma due to having an unstable financial situation as a child. Mal helped create that stability.

Now that Mal took freelance jobs from Thomas, their money situation had improved a lot. They weren’t exactly the Kardashians, but it brought in enough for Mal to pay the bills—both of their bills—and for Nico to have an allowance. Nico also got to keep the money he made working at the bakery.

If he wanted to buy something on his own, he had the means; he just liked when Mal decided for him.

“Do you think he’ll let me wear it?” Nico asked Seven, running his fingers over the sheer black lace of his shirt.

He turned, looking at his reflection over his shoulder, noting how his leather pants clung to him like a second skin, highlighting his perky ass. Seven glanced up from where he lay sprawled across Nico’s mattress, dressed in baggy jeans and a shirt so tight Nico could count his abs.

“It's your birthday,” Seven said. “And he’s coming with us. He might be in the mood to show you off.”

Rule No. 10: No revealing clothing unless approved by HoH.

Nico heard their front door open and close. For a second, his heartbeat quickened, but then deflated as he heard Shiloh and Ever’s voices. They often chose to let themselves in without warning. They’d only been traumatized by that decision once so far. Well, Shiloh was traumatized; Ever was delighted, the adorable pocket-sized pervert that he was.

“Oh,” Ever gushed when he saw Nico’s outfit. “I like it. Do you think Mal will let you wear it, or are you hoping he’ll get mad and punish you for it?”

Shiloh and Seven looked at Ever, his big brown eyes alight with excitement at the idea.

Seven huffed out a laugh. “I’m starting to think Ever here is jealous of your daily spankings.”

Ever pulled a face, then stuck his tongue out at Seven. “I get spanked whenever I want, thank you very much.”

“We know,” Nico teased. “You’ve got that man wrapped around your…finger.”

“Speaking of spankings, did he already do it?” Seven asked. “Your birthday spanking?”

Shiloh whined like a dog. “Come on. I don’t want to hear this.”

Seven rolled his eyes. “Plug your ears.”

“Or go grab a glass of water,” Ever added, giving Shiloh his sweetest smile.

Shiloh shot Ever a wounded look. “Et tu, Ever? Et tu?”

Ever shrugged. “I want to know. Actually, I want to see.”

“You want to watch my brother”—Shiloh shuddered—“spank him? You really are kind of a perv.”

“No, I want to see the aftermath. Is it red? Did it bruise? Does it hurt to sit down?”

Shiloh gave a frustrated growl, then turned on his heel, probably heading to the kitchen to help himself. Ever flopped down on top of Seven, who grunted, then patted Ever’s tummy.

“I kinda want to see, too,” Seven said begrudgingly.

Rule No. 4: Nobody sees TiH naked except HoH. Only medical exceptions are permitted.

Nico shook his head. “I’m not taking another beating tonight.”

“Where’s Arsen?” Seven asked, seeming like he just noticed his absence. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you out at night without him.”

“He’s helping Jericho with one last car before he gets ready. He told me to go with Shiloh ‘cause I was bored, which is code for I was bugging him and he couldn’t get anything done,” Ever said, rolling off Seven dramatically to stare at the ceiling.

“So, did he?” Seven asked, looking back at Nico.

“Did he what?” Nico countered, playing dumb.

“Give you your birthday spankings?” Ever said, kicking his feet like a child. “Keep up.”

Nico grinned and flopped down beside them. “Yeah, he let me choose what I wanted him to use, too. He’s so sweet.”

Ever rolled onto his side, propping his head on his hand, close enough to Nico for him to smell his spearmint gum. “And you chose…”

“The ruler,” Nico said smugly.

“Doesn’t that hurt worse than, like, just his hand?” Ever asked.

Nico closed his eyes, thinking about the way Mal’s palm had soothed over his stinging skin after every swat. He missed him. He hoped he would come home soon.

“That’s the point,” Nico said. “I wanted it to hurt. The ruler is perfect because it leaves stripes like a belt but he has more control over where it goes so he can hit me harder. It also makes the best sound when it hits my skin and it burns for hours afterwards.”

“I can’t believe what a pain slut you are,” Seven said with a laugh.

Shiloh returned. “Are we done talking about my brother’s sex life? ‘Cause I’m not doing your makeup if I have to hear about my brother’s dick.”

“We’re done,” Nico said, hopping off the bed and walking over to wrap his arms around Shiloh from behind, trapping his arms at his sides and rocking him in place. “Unless you want me to tell you about that time I let him put his?—”

“You shut your whore mouth right now, Nico Michaels, or you will be spending your birthday in the ER while they surgically remove a kabuki brush from your ass.”

Nico cackled while Shiloh struggled in his grasp. When he glanced at their reflection in the glass, he noted Shiloh also had makeup on, shimmery silver eyeshadow smeared over his pretty eyes, black liner that made his lashes look ten miles long, and lip gloss so shiny it made his mouth look lacquered.

He was surprised by the other boy’s outfit choice.

When Shiloh noted his interest, he said, “What?”

Nico shrugged. “You just usually dress a lot more scandalous when we go dancing.”

Shiloh looked down at his white cropped jacket with the gold trim and the black flare-leg jeans he wore.

“Oh, that’s ‘cause this isn’t my outfit,” Shiloh said with a grin.

Nico frowned. “Then what is?”

Shiloh unbuttoned the two buttons of his jacket, letting it fall open to reveal the silver and pearl body chain that ran down the center of his chest and under his pecs.

“This is my outfit,” he said proudly, holding his arms up so the jacket parted, revealing more of his bare chest and stomach.

“You look hot,” Nico said. He pulled his phone free and pointed it at the other boy. “Pose.”

Shiloh struck a dramatic stance without thinking twice. Nico sent the text to the group chat and tagged Levi.

Nico

Your boyfriend’s looking really slutty tonight.

Nico showed Shiloh, who laughed, basking in all the heart eye emojis and near pornographic praise from their friends.

Mal

And what about you, Fidget. What do you look like?

Nico

Why don’t you come home and find out?

Nico immediately received a text from Mal in their private chat.

Mal

Are you sassing me, Fidget? You still haven’t gotten your maintenance spankings. Do you really want to spend all night dancing with your skin on fire?

Nico

Kinda, yeah.

Mal

*side-eye emoji*

Nico

I’m lonely. When are you coming home?

Three dots began to bounce almost immediately. He was probably finished with his classes now.

Mal

I know for a fact that there are three other people in our house right now. How are you lonely?

Nico

Not people. Seven, Ever, and Shiloh. It’s not the same.

Mal

Are you whining, Fidget?

Rule No. 2: TiH will not whine, complain, or use disrespectful language when speaking with HoH.

Nico

*shrugging emoji*

Mal

Someone is asking for it tonight.

Nico

I’ll beg for it if it makes you come home any faster.

Mal

I thought getting the ruler this morning would at least curb some of this brat behavior.

Nico

Guess you were wrong, Bunny.

Mal

Let’s see if you keep that same energy later… You always talk a good game but then change your tune when you get consequences.

Nico

*sticks out tongue*

Mal

See you soon, Fidget.

It was about forty-five minutes later when he heard Mal unlock their front door. The others had headed over to Shiloh and Levi’s next door to start pregaming before their night out. As soon as Mal entered their bedroom, Nico launched himself into his arms, knowing he’d catch him without a second thought.

The moment Mal’s hands landed on Nico’s ass, he wrapped his limbs around him like a koala and slanted their mouths together. Mal let Nico deepen the kiss, walking them both farther into the room, then sitting on the edge of the bed with Nico in his lap.

Nico couldn’t stop kissing him. Mal didn’t seem like he was in any hurry to stop him either. Nico sighed into his open mouth, accepting his tongue when it swept inside, loving the feel of Mal’s soft lips on his.

He didn’t know how long they stayed like that, mouths meeting and parting, with no demand for anything more than that. When they broke apart, Nico moved lower to lick over Mal’s neck, groaning at the taste of salt on his tongue. Maybe Nico was gross, but he loved when Mal came home without showering first, loved the way sweat tasted on Mal’s skin.

“Don’t get carried away, Fidget,” Mal said softly, even as he tilted his head to give him better access.

“Do you like my outfit, Bunny?” Nico asked as he sucked another bruise into the skin just below his ear.

“Let me see you,” Mal said, gently pushing him so he would stand.

Nico slipped from his lap and did a slow turn, so Mal could see him from all angles.

“You look very pretty,” Mal said. “I like your makeup. Makes me not want to let you leave the house.”

Nico dropped onto Mal’s thick thighs. “Does that mean I can’t wear it out tonight?”

Mal gave him that super intense look that used to scare Nico but now just made his dick hard. “You can wear anything you like, baby. You know that.”

“But it violates our rules,” Nico reminded him hesitantly, knowing Mal knew this.

Mal cupped Nico’s face. “That doesn’t mean you can’t wear it, just that you’ll have to face consequences if you do. It’s up to you whether you feel it’s worth it or not, Fidget.”

Nico shivered. Fuck, this part got him so hot. Participating in his own downfall, being the architect of his own destruction. Nico had created half his own rules all by himself.

Rule No. 7: All clothes must be folded or put in the hamper when removed.

Rule No. 2: TiH must submit to maintenance spankings daily. If refused, they will be added to the next day’s tally.

Rule No. 3: TiH will thank HoH for said punishment in whatever way Hoh demands.

Rule No. 5: TiH must feed the cats twice daily.

These were all created by Nico himself. Mal’s rules for him were almost always to Nico’s benefit, not Mal’s.

Rule No. 1: TiH must remember to take his medicine daily.

Rule No. 8: TiH must drink eight glasses of water a day and document on his water tracker.

Rule No. 9: TiH must remember to eat at least three meals a day.

Rule No. 11: TiH is only permitted one dessert a day.

This one came only after Nico started working at Sweet Eats, a bakery run by a former surgeon who retired to live out her dream of making dessert for the rest of her days. Nico was learning so much while helping her make that dream a reality, but he was also spending so much time sampling the menu, he was making himself sick.

When Mal had first suggested domestic discipline, Nico hadn’t quite understood how it would work on a day-to-day basis. But the truth was, not much had changed. Despite the rule that Nico had to take his meds daily, Mal almost always brought him his pill and a glass of water each morning to do so. They still snuggled with Kimchi and Nori while they watched anime. They still texted each other a hundred times a day. Now, it was just mandatory.

Rule No. 12: TiH will inform HoH of his location and check in to let him know he’s arrived safely.

Despite this rule, Mal always did the same for Nico, letting him know where he was and when he’d return.

Rule No. 13: TiH may not turn off their tracking app for any reason.

There were rules about health, rules about safety, rules about household responsibilities, and rules about sex. They had all been created and agreed upon together. They had also created a list of rewards: video game time, desserts, a new phone, even a weekend trip out of town. There were also punishments—spankings were the most common, but there were others that Nico dreaded far more. Writing lines, corner time, orgasm denial, overstimulation…it went on and on.

Nico even had a super-secret chart where Mal rewarded him with gold stars. Nico loved it, but was afraid even Seven wouldn’t get how much he craved the validation, the praise, the attention. Their relationship worked for them. Mal adored him, worshipped him, even. Their friends joked that there was nobody more whipped than Mal was for Nico. And maybe that was true.

Nico didn’t know how to show his love as obviously as Mal did, so he showed him by following his rules, submitting to his punishments, gratifying him sexually, and making sure he understood there was nobody more important in his life. Nico would never submit to anyone else like this. He would never trust anyone else with something so monumental.

This dynamic worked for them. It excited them, especially Nico. As much as he hated consequences, he craved them. He loved pushing Mal’s buttons, seeing just how far his Herculean levels of patience stretched before they snapped.

Mal was an excellent HoH, not only because Nico could trust him, but because he slipped on personalities like most did a favorite pair of pants. He had no problems being cold when he needed to, being condescending or degrading, treating him like a sex toy to be used and discarded. It all got Nico so horny sometimes that he wanted the world to know just how good he had it.

Shiloh had assured him that anyone who had been unfortunate enough to share a floor with them in their old apartment building probably already knew.

“If I choose to wear this, will my punishment be in addition to my maintenance spanking or instead of it?” Nico asked, dropping back into his lap.

“Why do you ask questions you already know the answer to?” Mal responded, smiling softly at him.

“Because I like it when you tell me all the things you’re going to do to me,” Nico countered with a pout.

Mal studied him, like he was thinking about it. “Okay, Fidget. Because it’s your birthday—and only because it’s your birthday—I’ll let you pick your punishment. But you will still get your maintenance spanking.”

Nico shivered. “But you’ll still choose my thank you?”

“Don’t I always?”

“Do I have to decide my punishment now?” Nico asked, cupping Mal’s face just because he needed to touch him.

“Nope. We can talk about it when we get home from the club, provided you’re sober enough to consent to anything, that is.”

“It’s in our rules that I don’t have to be sober for you to fuck me. It’s in our rules that I don’t even have to be awake for you to fuck me,” Nico said, thrusting his jaw forward, ready to pout again.

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t fuck you, Fidget. I said I wouldn’t punish you. It’s not good for you to exert yourself like that when you’re intoxicated. If you get too sloppy, we will just do it tomorrow,” Mal said.

Rule No. 17: TiH will refrain from getting too intoxicated while outside the house unless given permission by HoH.

It sounded perfectly reasonable. But Nico knew that getting too drunk tonight meant two days of maintenance spankings and two punishments as well as two sexual favors as thank yous tomorrow. That was a lot even for him.

“You won’t give me permission to get drunk on my birthday?” Nico asked, pooching out his lower lip.

Mal grinned. “Do you want permission? I’m sure I could be persuaded.”

Nico hugged Mal tightly, burying his face in his neck, craving his warmth, almost wishing he hadn’t agreed to go out at all that night. He kind of just wanted to stay in with the cats and Mal.

When he said as much to Mal, he said, “Let’s go have a few drinks at Shiloh and Levi’s. You’ll probably feel differently once you’re with everyone else. If not, we’ll go for an hour, dance, and then come home. Nobody will care.”

“Okay, Bunny,” Nico agreed, then rubbed his nose against Mal’s cheek. “Snuggle me.”

Mal laughed but fell backwards on the mattress, gathering him in his arms, tangling their legs together. “I still have to shower and get changed.”

“Snuggle first. Snuggle time is sacred. Thirty minutes starts right now. No exceptions. They can wait.”

“Do you want your present now or later?” Mal asked suddenly.

“Is it something you can give me in bed?” Nico countered, holding on tighter.

“If you let go of me to let me get to my bottom drawer, you can open it here in bed,” Mal promised.

“Okay, deal.”

Mal huffed out a quiet laugh, then leaned over, dangling off the bed, returning with a flat square jewelers box with a red ribbon around it.

Mal sat with his back to the headboard, letting Nico sit between his thighs, his back to Mal’s chest, tucking his chin over his shoulder to watch.

Nico’s stomach swooped nervously, his heart thudding heavy against his ribs. Why was he nervous? He carefully pulled the ribbon from the box, then tugged it open, gasping at what lay inside.

“Do you like it?” Mal asked, sounding adorably uncertain.

Nico stared down at the gift, then traced it with his finger. He’d never seen anything like it. On one end was a silver scorpion with diamonds for eyes, and its tail became the rest of the necklace with the stinger on the opposite end. But there was no clasp.

“How do I…”

Mal reached around him to take it from the box. Nico shivered as the cool metal touched his suddenly overheated skin. Once it was around his neck, Mal took the stinger and threaded it through the scorpion’s claws, leaving about an inch of the tail dangling. Mal pulled a tool from the box, then used it to do something Nico couldn’t see. When he tugged gently, there was no give.

“It only comes off with this,” Mal said, showing him the small little screwdriver. “Do you like it?”

Nico couldn’t stop touching it. It was so smooth against his skin, the scorpion just flat enough that it wouldn’t be uncomfortable to sleep in. Tears pricked at the back of his eyes, but he blinked them away. Shiloh would kill him if he ruined his makeup. “I love it. I love it so much. I love you.”

He laid back against Mal’s chest, sighing as his arms came around him, his chin propped on Nico’s hair. “I love you, too.”

They fell into a comfortable silence, Mal’s hands around Nico’s waist. Nico played with Mal’s fingers. “Can I pick your outfit tonight, Bunny?” Nico asked.

Mal didn’t hesitate. “Sure, Fidget.”

“Can Shiloh do your makeup?” he asked.

“Anything you want, baby.”

“Anything I want?” Nico teased.

Mal maneuvered him so he could tip his head up to meet his gaze. “Anything. Anytime. Anywhere. Always.”

Nico’s heart squeezed in his chest. “You can’t just say things like that. I wasn’t ready.”

“You gotta stay ready, Fidget. I’m gonna love you like this for the rest of our lives.”

Nico sighed. “Sounds good to me, Bunny.”

Mal pressed a kiss to Nico’s head. “Me too, Fidget. Me too.”

the end