Chapter 39
Zeus
“Hello, son.” The sound of his father’s voice, cheery but strained, immediately made Zeus tense. “It’s me…” There was a tiny pause. The sound of brief movement.
“And your mom!” Over the phone, it was impossible to tell if her happy greeting was forced or not. It sounded genuine.
“Since you’re not picking up the phone, we’re leaving a message this time.
” His dad cleared his throat. “It’s been long enough, son.
You need to come home and show your face around town.
People are missing you. And your mom and I can’t take much more of this disrespect.
You need to give us a call back. We’re working on redoing our wills, and I can’t see us including someone in our wills who isn’t including us in their life. ”
There was another tiny pause.
“Please, honey, come home. Everyone’s wondering why you don’t come home more.” His mother’s tone turned more tired, pleading. “We don’t want to cut you out of our wills, but…”
But she would. She would side with his dad. Again.
Zeus didn’t even realize he’d bent forward until Yas reached up to run her hand through his beard, ruffling his hair, the sensation bringing him back to himself.
“Call us, son.” The command was clear.
The voicemail ended.
Sitting very still, Zeus took in a long, slow breath. Let it out. Count to four in. Count to ten out. It was a practiced, automatic response to dealing with his parents. One he’d leaned on more than once after therapy.
“Do you want me to pretend like I couldn’t hear that?” Yas asked after his third breath. “Or should I admit that I did?”
A small chuckle rumbled through him, and he closed his eyes for a moment as warmth in the center of his chest smoothed away some of the cold ache that had settled there from the moment he’d heard his father’s voice again.
“It’s fine if you did. I didn’t mean for you not to.”
If he wanted Yas to be open with him, he needed to be open with her. Telling her about his parents had been the first step. Letting her hear them for herself was the next. He hadn’t known what they were going to say, but he wasn’t surprised.
Not going home… yeah, he was sure people were starting to ask questions. It was important to his parents that they put on the ‘proper’ appearance around town. Zeus was the problem. Not them.
“Do you want to call them back?” Yas’ voice was soft. Nonjudgmental. Like whatever answer he had was fine.
But there was only one right answer for him.
“No.” He wasn’t going back.
If his mom wanted out, he’d be there in a heartbeat to help her and protect her.
But she didn’t. She didn’t want to leave his dad.
She wanted Zeus to come back home and let her keep up the charade of being a perfectly normal family.
Zeus’ absence didn’t just make it more difficult to lie to the town; it made it more difficult to lie to herself.
“Okay.” Still no judgment. Just a deeper snuggling into him, arms still tight around him.
“I don’t think they’re ever going to change.” He stroked his fingers through Yas’ hair.
Tiger came trotting back up to the deck, having finished going around the yard and sniffing everything of interest. He trotted over to Zeus and Yas and gave them a look that made Yas giggle.
“Hey, jealous boy,” Zeus said teasingly, holding out his hand. Tiger made a huffing sound and put his head on Zeus’ knee, looking up at him with big mournful eyes. “No, you cannot get between us.”
Yas giggled as Tiger made another huffing noise and lifted his head from Zeus’ knee, going to the other side of Yas, forcing her to quickly pick up the desserts, and jumping up beside her. He rested his head on her lap instead.
“Hello, Tiger.” Yas started petting Tiger’s head, handing the dessert boxes to Zeus. “Sorry for taking your spot.”
“He’ll live. He just likes to be in the middle. Give him an inch, and he’ll wedge himself into it.”
“Noted.” Yas sighed, twisting slightly so she could look up at Zeus. He looked down at her. “How are you feeling?”
Now, that was a question.
“I’m not sure,” he said truthfully. “A little blank. A little angry. A little sad. Resigned. That might be the right word. It is what it is.”
“Well, it shouldn’t be that way,” Yas grumbled. “I’m just mad.”
Mad on his behalf. A little more warmth spread through him.
“You don’t have to be mad for me. There are a lot of people who had things a lot worse.”
“That doesn’t mean you didn’t have it bad.” She sat up, glaring at him. “That’s like saying your broken leg isn’t that bad because someone else is paralyzed. You still have a freaking broken leg! It still freaking hurts, and—”
Pulling her in, Zeus cut off her adorable little rant with a kiss.
Tiger made a grumbling noise, which Zeus ignored as Yas’ lips softened against his, her body going pliant.
He reached up to cup her face, stroking his thumb over her cheek.
Their tongues met, moving together, and he tightened his arm around her, releasing her from the kiss just enough to allow him to pull her onto his lap.
She scowled at him. “Someone being in more pain than you does not negate your pain.”
“Yes, ma’am.” A smile played on his lips. He liked this fierce side of her.
“I’m sorry your parents suck.”
That simple acknowledgment of the situation made him feel better than anything else she could have said. Rather than brushing it off this time, he cleared his throat to help him through the emotion that was rising uncomfortably inside him.
“Thank you. Me, too.”
“Do you care if they cut you out of their wills?”
“Not really. They’ll probably leave everything to charity in the town, give themselves a good name in the town.
” He shrugged. Did it bother him a little that they’d be able to keep that good name?
Maybe. But he also didn’t need to prove anything to the town that had continually turned a blind eye to the truth, despite evidence otherwise.
“I don’t need anything from them. I’m set. ”
He did wonder if his not going home, not attending their funerals—because he didn’t plan to do either of those things—would make some in the town question the facade.
If they might remember some of the details that didn’t add up about his parents’ stories, they might wonder.
Maybe there would be gossip. But that didn’t make him feel satisfied. Just sad for his mom.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t force her to do anything she didn’t want to do, or he would have already tried.
“Okay.” Yas put her hands on either side of his face and kissed him again. Deeply.
Despite everything, a tendril of arousal threaded through him, and he tightened his grip on her. The kiss deepened. His arousal grew as his hands slid over her thighs up to her ass, and she shifted against him.
This time, when he ended the kiss, he reached to grab hold of her hair, holding her in place for him as he met her gaze.
“Yas. I don’t want to just be fuck buddies.”
Dark, fathomless eyes met his. “Okay.”
“Is there anything else you haven’t told me? Friends? Family? Other secrets?”
Yas shook her head. “Nope. Pinkie promise.” Lifting her hand in front of her, holding out her pinky from her fist, she stared at him solemnly.
Zeus lifted his hand, curling his fingers against his palm, except for his pinky, which he hooked around hers, and they shook on it.
“You know this is kind of ridiculous,” he said.
“Hey, a pinky promise is sacred stuff. You don’t break pinky promises.”
Chuckling, he shook his head and lifted her pinky to his lips to give it a kiss. She grinned at him in response, her eyes flashing. He raised his eyebrow at her.
“You know you’ve been a very naughty girl, right?”
Yasmine shifted closer, her voice turning into a purr.
“I’m counting on it.”
Yasmine
Was she surprised that things turned sexy after a phone call like what Zeus had gotten?
Maybe just a little. But she didn’t blame him for wanting to do something other than dwell on his parents’ message.
She didn’t want to dwell on it, either, because it made her feel like she was going to explode with rage.
Much better to shift those emotions into something that would make Zeus feel good, not worse.
Tiger followed behind them as they carried their desserts into the house and put them in the fridge, hungry for something different now. Tiger whined when Zeus shut the bedroom door in his face, which made Yasmine giggle. She wasn’t going to suggest that they let the dog into the room, though.
There was still one question she had.
“How did you get involved in BDSM?” she asked, sitting on the edge of his bed.
“Ah, wondering how I went from an abusive dad to being someone that some people might mistake as an abuser?” Zeus asked, walking toward her.
Yasmine nodded, pressing her knees together as he put one leg on either side of them, his hands cupping her face and tipping her head back.
“One of my first friends in the Army was kinky. He explained it to me. I wasn’t entirely convinced, but I did a bunch of research.
Went to a club. Saw how it was for myself.
When you’ve seen actual abuse, it’s really easy to see the difference between that and a consenting relationship where the person on the receiving end is enjoying themselves. ”
“Even though punishments aren’t always enjoyable?”
“Well, if you’re getting something out of it that makes you want it again and again and again, even if you don’t enjoy the entire process, I would say that’s proof that you enjoy the experience overall.
” He ran his fingers through her hair, sliding his hand back over her head, then returning to the side of her face.
Yasmine hummed, closing her eyes in appreciation of the gentle touch… then moaned when he suddenly gripped her hair and tugged. Her eyes flew open, meeting his, filled with heat and need.
“Like that,” he said gently, leaning down to brush his lips over hers.
His free hand drifted down to her breast, fondling, then squeezing hard, giving her nipple a rough pinch.
Yasmine whimpered, leaning back and putting her hands behind her to keep her propped up, offering up her breasts to him. “And that.”
“Oh, you don’t have to convince me.” She tilted her chin back in a kind of challenge. “I know I enjoy that.”
“Mmmm, I’m going to have to figure out some way to punish you for lying.” He ran his lips along her jawline, headed for her neck, still playing with her breast while keeping a firm grip on her hair.
Yasmine’s fingers dug into the comforter as she moaned, her insides clenching.
“It wasn’t really a lie… I just didn’t say anything.”
“A lie by omission, then. And no, you’re not going to get away with that, either.”
Yasmine pouted at him, which made him chuckle and dip his head for another kiss.
His fingers pinched her nipple again, and she opened her lips on a moan as the sensation shot through her, straight to her core.
The need she felt for him… how had she ever convinced herself that she just wanted to be fuck buddies?
She was just grateful he was willing to give her another chance.
“So, what’s my punishment, Sir?” She wasn’t really trying to get out of being punished. She wanted it. She wanted him.
“What do you think it should be, princess?” His thumb pressed against her lower lip, and she nipped the tip of it.
“Mmmm…” Rather than answering with her words, she pushed up with her hands, so she was no longer leaning on them, then reached for the leather belt that was almost right in front of her face.
It was dark brown, about two inches thick, and leather.
What looked like a pattern of Celtic symbols was impressed into its surface.
Yasmine wanted to know what it would feel like on her ass.
She pulled the end through the silver buckle as Zeus’ eyebrows went up.
Standing in place, he let her unbuckle the belt, her hands brushing against his growing erection as it bulged against the front of his pants, and pull it free from his jeans.
The sound of the leather sliding through the belt loops was like music to her ears.
Folding it over in her hands, Yasmine lifted it up between their bodies.
“How about this, Sir?”
“Well, if you insist, princess.” His voice was dark. Hot. Full of aroused desire.
Her butt cheeks tingled. Hopefully, she didn’t regret this… but Zeus was right. Even if there were parts of the process she didn’t enjoy—pain was pain after all—she wouldn’t want it so badly if she didn’t overall enjoy the way it made her feel.
“Yes, I do, Sir.”
Every part of her quivered in anticipation as he released her breast to take the belt from her upturned palms.