Chapter 9
Nine
Kingston
Staring at him, I let my hands drop. It was so tempting to pick up the challenges he was throwing down, but we didn’t need the distraction.
There were serious conversations to be had, and as the Daddy it was my job to make sure we stayed on track.
As much as I wanted to pick up Reed’s challenge, follow through on my threat, and show him how things were going to be, we had bigger fish to fry at the moment, and now that I was fully awake, I needed to talk to him about Eloise.
“I’d like to have coffee and breakfast and talk to you. You need to know about last night. When I brought our girl home, a lot happened.”
“Our girl? When you left she wasn’t either of ours. Wait. You can’t make that sort of decision….” Reed rubbed a hand across his lips.
I didn’t correct him and leaned back against the dresser, letting him come to his own conclusion.
“Okay, well actually, King, excuse me, Sir… you can. I trust you. But what the hell happened? Did she say she wants to be in a throuple?”
“Nice save. I’m glad you’re intrigued. I’d love to explain everything after we are properly caffeinated.”
“Not yet.”
Shit. Why was my boy so much in his head? “Do I need to hunt down the leather strap I know you’ve got buried in your closet and chase away the rest of your attitude or do you want to go downstairs?”
“You’re not funny.”
“I’m hilarious, but if you mean the way I’m handling you, then take a minute. If your submissive was pushing back after you were beyond patient, spanked them, and fucked them? What would your next step be?”
He glared slightly but then I watched the wheels turn. Making him think about his behavior and how he would work through the challenge gave him something to process.
Reed pinched the bridge of his nose then dropped his hand.
“I’d think my submissive was screaming for attention at that point,” he answered bluntly.
“So, I’d make sure to leave them sore. Especially if they were a brat.
It’s kind of a game. I don’t mean they are playing games, maybe a battle of wills is more accurate.
I have a tendency to push and pull in my relationships and dynamics.
I never dated a brat tamer, but then again, I’ve never had a Daddy either. ”
“Not exclusive to each other. There’s literally every combination and role you can think of dynamic-wise. I can and will handle whatever you toss in my direction. I promise. However, you might not enjoy my methods.”
“No, I likely will not like them, Sir.”
“Very good. Now, I want you to think very carefully about your answer to my next question. Are you ready to have coffee and work on your assignments?”
“What do you think, King?”
“Oh, Reed. You’re going to be so fucking sore.
From today until the end of time.” I turned without another word and walked into his closet.
Rummaging through the gorgeous implement and toy cabinet he had added a few years ago, I found a well-used leather strap.
Even if he liked the sting for pleasure, he wouldn’t crave it for a punishment.
Not after I handled him. Spying a pair of thick leather cuffs, I grabbed them for good measure.
Returning to his bed, I watched him adjust his stance, nervously shifting from one foot to the other.
I shouldn’t love the way he squirmed, but I did. “Have something to add?”
“I may have been a bit snarky, Sir.”
“Yes, you were. Get on the bed. Lay on your stomach and spread your arms out.”
“I didn’t mean to answer your question with another question.”
“One.”
Reed looked up at the ceiling and then back to me before taking off his towel. He climbed onto the bed, his arms spread as he moved into position.
“Look who’s finally listening.” I slapped his right asscheek hard enough to make him jump. Affixing the leather cuffs to each of his wrists, I took my time securing each one to his headboard.
“Sir–”
“No more talking until I say so, unless it’s your safeword or your colors. I’m also not referring to your reactions. I don’t plan on going easy on you.”
Reed whimpered. I would play that hot little sound in my head on repeat the next time I questioned my own worth. Drawing such a raw, needy noise from his mouth immediately made me hard. Testing the binds, I ran my finger underneath the pulse point in each wrist. “How do these feel?”
“They are okay. Not too tight, Sir.”
“Good.” Leaning into his neck, I inhaled and traced my tongue down to his collarbone.
Reed moaned, struggling to stay still. He panted as I moved along his spine, sucking and nibbling a path downward.
Reaching his glorious muscular ass, I kissed the top of it.
He whimpered again. If I could hear nothing else but that sound, I’d die a happy man.
Lifting the strap in my hands, I glanced at his skin.
His earlier spanking hadn’t left any distinguishable markings.
Forgoing a warmup, I struck the middle of his bottom cheeks.
“Ah! Fuck.” Reed fought against his restraints but they held fast.
“Breathe. We are nowhere near done. In fact, we are just getting started.” Allowing him to calm, I rubbed my fingers into the small welt left from the implement.
He hissed but did not fight. Striking each of his upper thighs caused a long line of curses to fall out of his mouth.
He would struggle to sit comfortably for at least the rest of the morning and probably later on once I was done.
“What color are you, Reed?”
“Green.”
“Interesting.” Landing several more long, harsh strokes against the full expanse of his ass, I gave ample time in between each one.
I wanted to leave a lasting reminder without pushing him over the edge of his pain threshold.
Pausing, I rubbed a hand across my cock which was painfully hard.
His muscular body, taut in all the right places, made me want to worship every single inch of it.
Instead I was punishing his beautiful ass and thighs.
“Are you a sadist, Sir?”
Leaning across his body, I bit down on his shoulder blade, sucking the skin in between my lips until he groaned. Reaching under his hips, I wrapped my hand around his hard cock. I rubbed him a few times, then let go. “Did I give you permission to talk, Reed?”
“No, Sir.”
“Then don’t do it again.” I shifted him up onto all fours so he wasn’t truly uncomfortable. Picking up the strap again, I targeted each side separately.
“Fuck, that one hurt,” he said muttering into the mattress. “Sorry, Sir.”
“Keep that mouth shut or I’ll gag you,” I warned.
He clamped his mouth closed.
Landing one harsh stroke to his upper thighs drew a pained groan from him but he didn’t speak.
“There’s my good boy. A few more.”
As promised, I delivered the last few strikes since the strap would leave a lasting reminder.
The implement bit harder than my hand or a paddle.
I trailed my fingers across his ass, cherry-red and hot to the touch.
Setting the leather strap on the mattress, I was satisfied that I’d drilled the lesson home.
His chin touched his chest, his shoulders raising and falling as he cried.
It brought me no pleasure to see him reacting in such a way.
Harsh punishments weren’t my style. Unfortunately he kept pushing back until I responded.
Undoing the cuffs, I carefully rubbed each of his wrists before rotating them to bring back the circulation.
Shifting him upward, I pulled him to lay on me.
Kissing his forehead, I gave him space to allow whatever emotions were bogging him down to release fully.
After a little while, he looked up at me, his gorgeous brown eyes red-rimmed from crying.
“You can speak freely, babyboy.” I ran my hand through his hair.
“That fucking hurt. Are you a sadist? Because I didn’t think you were.”
“No, I’m not. Some sadistic tendencies in specific scenes perhaps, but not all the time. Anyway, If I left you mildly sore, do you think you’d learn the lesson?”
“Maybe?”
“You have battled me with every breath today. Whatever I suggested or ordered you to do, you pushed back harder. I promised you a spanking if you continued. You kept going even with a very clear expectation set. I delivered.”
“Yes, you did.” Reed rolled off his bed slowly, standing up and stretching his arms over his head.
“Do you feel better?”
“Define better, Sir.” He held his palms up. “I’m asking legitimately.”
“Whatever bullshit was trapped in your head when you opened those gorgeous eyes of yours this morning, is it gone or not?” I tugged on my clothes and watched as he dressed.
“Yes, Sir. Part of it was waking up next to you. I should have probably said that.”
“And I wish you would have. What else is bothering you, Reed?”
“You mentioned Eloise being our girl? She wasn’t as of last night.”
“Yeah, that’s an entire conversation on its own. I had sex with her last night.”
“You didn’t have to bed us both in less than twelve hours to prove something.”
“I thought I took care of your brat.” I stepped toward him.
Reed walked backward, his hands covering his very red ass.
“You did! I promise. I don’t think you were trying to prove something. I’m very sorry, Sir.”
“I forgive you. Are you upset I had sex with Eloise?”
“Of course not! Something was missing. You. Your balance, dominance, whatever you want to call it enhances everything in our connection. I’m not blowing smoke up your ass, Sir,” he insisted. “I’m trying to make a point here, but maybe it’s not needed.”
“Do you think I had sex to make a point, babyboy?”
“Uh, well. I don’t know. Did you?”
“No.” Placing my hand on his lower back, I guided him down the grand staircase, our movements in sync.
Leading Reed down the hall, we walked down his grand staircase in sync.
When we got to the kitchen, I set his fancy coffee machine to brew.
“I had sex with the two of you because I wanted to. I am serious about the three of us being together. Whatever I said last night is moot. Hang on, because your lip is twitching. I meant the part about being a referee and not a participant. I’m all in. Are you?”
Reed had a moment of panic in his eyes before he shook his head and then nodded. “Yes, Sir. I’m on board.”
“Wow,” I mused. “You had to stuff that brat deep down again, huh?”
“You have no idea, Sir.”
“Are you going to let me lead?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good choice.” Grabbing heavy cream from the fridge, I added a teaspoon of vanilla and two tablespoons of brown sugar before putting it into the frother.
“What the hell are you doing to my cream?”
“Making it better.” I grinned. Pouring us each a large mug of coffee, I added a generous dollop of the sweet creamer on top. “Sit down.”
“I’d rather stand.”
Sighing, I set the mug in front of the chair by the island. Turning toward him, I grabbed the middle of his ear and half dragged him to the stool. Reed grumbled the entire way but did not fight as hard as I thought he was going to.
“Sit.”
“Yes, Sir.” Reed sat but as he attempted to get comfortable several groans fell from his lips.
Releasing my hold, I watched him adjust his posture. The thick cushion did not soften the blow, judging by the way he winced. “I’m picking Eloise up at the bar tonight. Since the two of you are both on board with a throuple, it should be a much easier conversation than originally planned.”
“Earth-shattering orgasms probably improved our moods too.”
Chuckling, I grabbed my mug and sat next to him, leaning my hand on his thigh. “Yes, that’s true. I admit pulling those whimpered moans from our girl and from you? Mmm. My ego is adequately stroked.”
“You’re so fucking hot. Do you know that?”
I kissed his cheek. “It means a lot to hear you say it. You naughty thing. You’ve been attracted to me for a while, haven’t you?”
Reed clenched and relaxed his jaw. “This is the best cream I’ve ever tasted.” He deflected the question.
“Wait until I let you suck me off.”
“If you expect me to get anything accomplished today it would be great if you didn’t tease me, Sir.”
“Tell me something. Have you thought about being mine?”
“I’ve been attracted to you for way longer than I care to admit, but I wasn’t thinking of becoming your submissive.”
“I’m so glad you’re willing to give us a chance.” I squeezed his hand, while tears pricked the back of my eyes.
Looking away, I took a minute to breathe. I did not get emotional. Not when I faced down bad scenes in the field. Not when I lost people in my life. Certainly not over coffee on a weekday afternoon at my best friend’s house.
“King?”
“Keep the title until I give you permission to use my name.”
“We haven’t established rules yet.”
“Do what I tell you to. Be respectful. Be honest. Will you do that for me?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Very good, babyboy. We’ll be just fine.” I patted his hand.
“I’m going to keep questioning until I drive you crazy. It’s not because I don’t believe in you. It’s because I’m having a hard time believing in myself.”
“When Eli is giving you her submission and you trust in my dominance it’s going to get a lot easier,” I said with conviction. “But what I’m emotional over right now is my mood. I haven’t been this happy in a long time.”
“I want you to be happy, Sir. You deserve it.”
Reed wrapped his arms around me. I leaned against his chest, and a warm, languid sense of peacefulness filled my entire body.
Though I kept insisting that Reed and Eli not worry about me or my needs, their presence in my life suddenly filled a void I didn’t know I had.
I wasn’t the sort of man to chase after happiness.
My childhood wasn’t traumatic. I didn’t have to fight hard for most things in my life, but I wasn’t handed everything either.
In Reed’s arms, I suddenly knew what had been missing.
Somehow the three of us were meant to be together and it would all be worth it.