Resisting Double Trouble (North Bay Pursuits Book 8)

by Kenzi Bond

  Malcolm covered his ears. “No, I don’t want to know about you or my brother being horny. What did you want, anyway?”

  “Oh, someone wants to speak with you both. Jackson and Lucas Xavier. Should I show them in?”

  Drake got up, dropping his Kindle on the couch. “You know who that is, right?” he asked, all playfulness gone from his face.

  Malcolm knew who they were. Beau and Dean’s parents. If they were here, that could only mean one thing. Trouble. No use putting it off. Better to face the music now. “Show them in, Ronny.”

  Drake joined Malcolm behind his desk and waited. Jackson Xavier entered first. No introductions were needed. Everyone knew who Jackson was. He had it all—fame, money, and looks. When he had first adopted the twins, Malcolm couldn’t turn on the television without seeing his image or hearing about him falling in love with the psychologist who had been brought in to work with the boys. Even though Jackson had once been known as the sexiest bachelor in their town, Malcolm had never been attracted to the man. But he made a striking figure, with his black hair waving loosely around his shoulders, his full mouth pulled tight, and his dark eyes glaring. He was wearing a business suit that screamed money.

  Malcolm’s eyes flicked to Lucas, who looked more approachable. He was casually dressed in pale slacks and a polo shirt. With a broad smile, he stepped forward with his hand out.

  “Hello, I’m Lucas, and this is my husband, Jackson. Thank you for your time. Do you know who we are?” His voice was warm and friendly.

  Malcolm shook his hand before offering it to Jackson. “I’m Malcolm, and this is my brother, Drake. Let’s not play games, shall we? You’re the adoptive parents of Beau and Dean. Please take a seat and tell us why you’re here.”

  As the men sat, Malcolm glanced at Drake, who had dragged another chair over. Drake gave nothing away. He might be more laid-back, but he wasn’t a fool, and he wouldn’t say anything until they knew what was going on.

  Jackson cleared his throat. “It has come to our attention that you have had some interactions with our boys. I know they can be headstrong, but you as the adults should have contacted us the first time they entered this—” Jackson paused as if trying to find the right word. “—establishment.”

  “No,” Malcolm interrupted. No way was he going to let that comment stand without challenge.

  “No? What do you mean, no?” Jackson demanded, apparently not used to the word. Lucas’s face flashed with a grin before it disappeared.

  “No, we had no obligation to contact you. Beau and Dean aren’t the first underage young men to try and get into one of our clubs. They weren’t here to get drunk or get laid. Their intentions were good; they just wanted to help a friend. We don’t call the parents of all the other men, so why should we be expected to call you?”

  Jackson crossed his arms. “Are you serious? You know who my boys are. They’re not like those other men.”

  “No, they’re not. They’ve been through things we couldn’t begin to comprehend. They are self-reliant and pushy, but I’m not sure if that’s nature or nurture. I wonder if they get their arrogant ways from you, Mr. Xavier,” Malcolm taunted. He felt like he was pulling the tail on a lion.

  “How dare you?” Jackson stood so he towered over Malcolm, who remained seated. “I shouldn’t be surprised. After all, you’re the type of man who puts a collar on a teenager.”

  Malcolm saw red. He stood and moved to lunge across the desk, only to be stopped by Drake’s firm grip on his wrist. “Stop. The boys wouldn’t want this,” Drake whispered.

  Malcolm saw that Lucas had his hand on Jackson’s shoulder, holding him in a surprisingly firm grip.

  “Be careful what you say, Mr. Xavier. You don’t understand the arrangement we made or the circumstances,” Drake said.

  Sitting back down, Malcolm took a breath to calm himself. “Beau and Dean have the misconception that they need to have a master. With all the work you have done to help the boys adjust, they still believe that one day they will belong to someone. I am sure they have come a long way since you first met them, but they insisted that they wanted us to be their masters. If we had said no, they would have kept looking, and you and I both know that someone would have gladly taken them up on the offer. Trust me when I say that others would not have shown the boys the same restraint. We have no desire to have the boys become our submissives.. We see the potential for Beau and Dean to grow. We also hope that by the time the boys turn twenty-one, they will want something very different for themselves.”

  Jackson reached for Lucas’s hand. “I’m sorry. You’re right. Dean and Beau would have kept looking. We’ve tried so hard to help them overcome what was done to them as children.” He placed a kiss on the back of Lucas’s hand.

  Lucas smiled at his husband. “We did the best we could. I remember a time that the boys wouldn’t let you out of their sight. It’s been difficult, but we managed to help them with their issues. Wanting a master is the last problem we haven’t managed to overcome. This gives us time to keep working with them. Besides, I think I know why the boys were taken with Drake and Malcolm. They remind the boys of you.”

  Malcolm didn’t like that thought. Did they see him in some sort of daddy role? Hell no. No way was he into daddy kink.

  Lucas laughed. “Your face is so expressive, Malcolm. I didn’t mean that way. From what I hear, you rescued them when they put themselves in danger. Just like Jackson saved them years ago. You also do things that they would find familiar. For example, when you got upset, Malcolm, Drake put a reassuring hand on your wrist. That calmed you instantly. The boys reach for each other the same way. They would also have been drawn to the close bond you seem to have with each other. Finally, I would say they are attracted to you because you are older. They can’t relate to boys their own age. How could they? Most people haven’t been through what the boys experienced at such a young age. Even their closest friends are much older.” Lucas smiled at them. “They are also the same amazing young men who started a foundation for trafficked and exploited children. Jackson has a board in place to run the charity. However, both boys put themselves out as the face of the charity and participate in promotions. The work they do is not something the average youth would undertake.”

  Drake and Malcolm knew all about the foundation and made regular donations to the worthy cause.

  “Why are you here today? Has something happened?” Drake asked.

  Jackson stared at them both before speaking. “They received your gift. I wanted to know who you were, and they tried to avoid answering me. They have never done that before. I was curious. The boys were excited, evasive, and…I don’t know how to put it, but I’ve never seen them look so happy.” He rubbed his hand down his face in frustration. “I’m not explaining this well. It’s not that they’re not happy, but they were glowing with happiness. I was going to get a friend to investigate you. He has extensive skills at uncovering everything there is to know about a person.” Jackson appeared to be ashamed by this. “Well, the boys absolutely lost it. We argued, and they told me about you. You can’t imagine how furious I was. Not only did I not know what the boys were doing in their spare time, but they let someone who I had never met give them collars. Our discussion went downhill from there.”

  Malcolm could imagine how the boys had responded. Like Jackson, he doubted the boys were told no very often.

  Lucas chuckled. “Let’s just say they’re grounded.”

  Jackson’s face fell. For the first time, Malcolm felt sorry for him. “How did that go?”

  Jackson seemed unable to speak, so Lucas spoke for him. “Beau told Jackson that he hated him.”

  Malcolm felt the smile cross his face before he could hide it.

  Drake thumped him in the arm. “Don’t be an asshole. You can see Jackson’s upset.” He turned to the other men. “How’s Dean? He’s more sensitive. That would have upset him, seeing Beau and Jackson at odds.”

  Lucas’s face showed his surpris
e. He glanced at Jackson before speaking. “I’m surprised you would know that. Most people assume because they’re identical, they have the same personalities.”

  Drake and Malcolm let out a bark of laughter. “Beau is feisty. He tries to act submissive, but the flash of anger in his eyes gives him away. He’s a born leader, and more often than not, he will take the initiative. Dean, on the other hand, is content to let Beau make decisions. He is not submissive, either, but he is less dominant than his brother. He’s sensitive to the moods of the people around him, especially his brother. They may seem identical, but they are nothing alike,” Malcolm said.

  Looking back at Jackson, Malcolm was surprised to see Jackson smiling. “I think we’re done here. I’m sorry I accused you of anything. You clearly have the best interests of the boys in mind and understand them. Thank you for your time, gentlemen.” As Jackson stood, he glanced down at the plans spread out on the desk. “That looks interesting. Are you redesigning the club?”

  Malcolm loved the idea that he could talk to someone about his thoughts. Leaning forward, he pointed out areas on the plan and quickly told Jackson about their new business venture, where people could meet in a safe environment. They had taken ideas from the membership process at their BDSM club and a combination of speed dating and dating apps.

  “People pay a membership, and they’re vetted to make sure their profile is accurate. We’ll take precautions to identify false profiles. The first floor will be the meeting zone. Members will wear special bands to indicate what they are looking for—friendship, sex, or a relationship. Colors will be used to highlight members’ sexual orientation. If someone connects with another, they are welcome to move to the next floor, which is designed for getting to know someone. Mood lighting, comfortable lounges, food, drink, and entertainment. We hope to showcase local musical talent, and we also intend to provide visible security to ensure our clients feel comfortable and safe. The whole setup will be classy. We’re thinking of having another floor set out like a gaming room with mini putt-putt, pool tables, air hockey—”

  “And pinball machines; that was my idea,” Drake said.

  Jackson’s face lit up. “That’s a fantastic idea. Do you mind if I look at the designs?” he asked.

  “And…I’m out,” Drake said. “What about you, Lucas? Do you like looking at plans?”

  “Nah, not my thing, but I don’t mind waiting for Jackson to have his fun.”

  “I was thinking of getting a cup of coffee. You can come with, if you want. Do you like to read?” Drake asked as he steered Lucas toward the door.

  Malcolm wondered what Lucas would say about the type of novels Drake like to read but was distracted by Jackson pointing out a problem with the plan.

  In no time at all, he was engrossed in the insightful recommendations Jackson made. He took extensive notes and found himself smiling at the lively way Jackson talked. Now more than ever, Malcolm was excited about their future.

  7

  Dean

  T

  he month of being grounded came and went without much disruption to their lives. They didn’t socialize much, preferring to spend their time together.

  Dean stared down at the single word he had written on the page of his journal.

  OBEY.

  It was one of the first things their father had taught them.

  For some reason, he found himself thinking about his father a lot lately. If one of them had made a mistake, they had both been punished. A memory echoed in his head.

  “Beau-Dean, what did you do wrong today?” His father’s voice was calm, but Dean knew he had shamed his father in front of his friends.

  Dean glanced at his brother before responding. “I didn’t remain quiet.” They had often been instructed to kneel quietly at his father’s feet, but this time he had become restless. His knees had hurt and his feet numb. He had only wanted to stand for a little while. The look of disappointment on his father’s face when he asked to get up worried him more than being yelled at.

  “Get into position. You will both remain kneeling until I’m satisfied you can do as you are told,” his father had said.

  Dean couldn’t recall how long they had held the pose, but he eventually failed. Their father hadn’t said a word as Dean had slumped over in exhaustion. His father had dragged them over to the dog cage he kept for punishment. “This hurts me more than it hurts you. If you only learned to do as you were told, I wouldn’t have to put you in here,” he said before pushing them in and locking the door.

  Dean carefully wrote his next thoughts down on the page. HE SAID IT WAS OUR FAULT.

  On the next line he wrote three words that Lucas and Jackson had taught them.

  HE WAS WRONG.

  He wrote the line five more times, the pen pushing into the page almost tearing the paper.

  For the longest time, he had believed his purpose in life was to be perfect and obedient. He dreamed of the day that he would fulfill his destiny and have an owner who would care for them. Did he have to obey to belong with someone? His mind drifted to Drake. Was he wrong to want to belong to Drake?

  The words on the page drew his eyes.

  HE WAS WRONG.

  Staring at the words, he thought about the way they had demanded to be collared.

  He looked over to Beau, who was lying on his bed, writing in his own journal. “He was wrong,” he said.

  Beau looked up. He didn’t ask who Dean was talking about. “Yes, he was.”

  “If he was wrong, why do we feel the need to have Drake and Malcolm’s collar?” he asked.

  Beau touched the small padlock. “He might have been wrong, but I like the idea of belonging to someone. And it was our choice. We weren’t forced to be the perfect boy for some stranger.”

  Unease filled Dean’s mind. They were strangers. They hardly knew the Tallon brothers, and yet they had forced the brothers to collar them. “But they didn’t want us. Father said we would be a prized possession. He said our owner would shower us with love. Drake and Malcolm didn’t do that. If anything, they were upset. Father was wrong. Maybe we were, too?”

  Beau sat up and reached his hand out for Dean. Taking his hand, Dean sat beside him on the bed.

  “Do you want to give the collars back?” Beau asked.

  “I don’t know. I think about father and how he never gave us a choice. We don’t need to belong to anyone. That’s what everyone kept telling us, but we didn’t listen,” Dean said.

  Beau stared at their joined hands. “They didn’t really want us. I wanted it so much, but I didn’t feel loved when they gave us the collars.” Beau reached for his laptop. He opened up a page with a link to Tallon & Tallon Enterprises. “Let’s email them,” he said, opening up the contact form.

  They debated what to say but finally agreed on a message.

  Dear Malcolm and Drake,

  Thank you for the journals. We have done what you asked and thought about our lives. We were wrong to make you collar us and hope you can forgive us. Would you like us to return the collars?

  From Bean and Dean

  It had taken over an hour, before a response came through.

  Beau & Dean

  Thank you for contacting us. We are both very pleased you have taken our words to heart. We only want what’s best for you. Keep the collars, we don’t need them.

  All the best

  Malcolm & Drake

  Beau hit Reply without thinking about it. He knew if he did, he would lose courage.

  Malcolm and Drake

  Would we be able to remain in touch as friends? We won’t come to the clubs or anything, but it would be nice to be able to email you now and then. Or we can text you?

  Beau and Dean

  A message came back from a different email address.

  Dear Beau & Dean

  We are sure you have friends you can speak with. However, if you want to keep in touch, that will be okay. As friends.

  Regards

  Mal & Drake

/>   Dean felt a sense of rightness as he read the words. He touched the collar. “Do you think we should take them off?” he asked Beau.

  “I’m going to keep mine on. I like it. And it’s pretty. They said we didn’t have to return them,” Beau said.

  Dean stood and looked at himself in the mirror. He admired the way it rested on his neck. “I’m going to keep wearing mine, too. It’s not like we can’t take them off if we want.”

  He walked over to his desk and sat down. Turning the page over, he started a new paragraph.

  Beau and I were wrong to demand to be collared. We emailed Malcolm and Drake, and they have agreed we can be friends. I wish Drake liked me the way I like him, but he doesn’t.

  He closed the journal.

  8

  Beau & Dean Eighteen

  Drake

  D

  rake read the latest email from the twins. He felt like crossing his legs in sympathy as he read the anecdote about their friends Brandon and Shane. Over the last year the boys had described in detail the people in their lives. Through their stories, he felt like he knew each and every one of them.

  The boys claimed they didn’t have people in their lives; however, Drake and Malcolm had needed to create a flow chart in order to track who was who. He knew without having to check the chart that Brandon and Shane were Joel and Kasey’s guardians. They were also the agents who had infiltrated the trafficking ring and broken the case wide open. So many children had been saved along with the twins. In Drake’s mind, they were heroes.

  Bean and Dean explained how the men had gone on a short vacation together. They had returned early after Brandon had fallen asleep on a nudist beach and received significant sunburn to his delicate areas. Poor guy had ended up in quite a bit of pain.