by Nora Phoenix
Dwyer was silent for a few beats. "Indy, can I speak frankly?" he asked, his voice dropping to a low level. "And by frankly, I mean that this conversation stays between us, or at least between me and you and your partners?"
Indy cocked an eyebrow. Where was the man going with this? "Sure."
"This is off the record, and you're at no obligation to accept it, but my brother runs a security firm, and he might be able to provide you with the security you need right now."
"Okay," Indy said slowly, not understanding why the man needed to be this secretive about something like this. "That's good to know."
"He's not only superb at what he does, and he can provide you with plenty of references to back up that claim, but I think he would also be a good fit considering your lifestyle. He's a Dom, Indy. An experienced, trained Dom. You need not tell me anything as this is far outside the scope of my investigation, but from the hints I read in your file, it seems like at least some members of your household may be involved in a BDSM lifestyle. My brother wouldn't bat an eye. He would allow you the freedom to keep on doing whatever it is you're doing. You don't need to confirm or deny this, but I can give you his contact information if you're interested."
Indy grinned despite it all. Wasn't that a surprise, to find out that the somewhat straight-laced DA had a kinky brother like that? "It sounds like he would be a good fit for us, sir, thank you. I'd appreciate his contact information."
This time, Dwyer's sigh was one of relief that was easy to spot. "Excellent. Thank you for considering it, for considering him. It would make me feel better too, to know he's protecting you. It sounds like a horrible cliché, Indy, but I do worry about you."
"Thank you," Indy said. "It sounds like a horrible cliché as well, but I do appreciate it."
"My brother's name is Wander Dwyer, and I will text his contact info to your burner phone. Please use that phone to contact him."
After hanging up, Indy looked at Connor. “Did you get most of that?”
Connor nodded. “Yeah. A private security guy who’s a Dom, huh? That could prove interesting.”
8
Wander Dwyer was not at all what Connor had expected. He wasn't sure why, but when he'd heard Wander was a Dom, he'd imagined someone with a build much like his own. Instead, Wander was almost a head shorter, bald with a neatly trimmed beard and a toned body with a tight build that showed even in his cargo pants and a shirt that hugged his muscles.
His handshake was firm, and he met Connor’s gaze with a pair of sharp, assessing brown eyes. "Nice to meet you, Connor."
Connor observed him as he went around the room, introducing himself to everyone. They all got the same firm handshake, the intentional look that signaled steel wrapped in a thin layer of friendliness. He even kneeled to greet Max, the dog sniffing him before deciding he wasn’t worth the bother.
Connor wasn't sure how the man pulled it off, but he exuded a self-confidence that told you not to fuck with him. It was funny, but in a way, it reminded him of Indy. It was that core of titanium that showed, even if the outside of Indy was a lot less intimidating than this Wander-guy.
Indy had insisted they all meet with him, including Charlie and Brad. He wanted everyone to be comfortable with the presence of the security guys, and if that didn't say everything about his character, Connor didn't know what would.
Connor had assumed Wander would start with explaining how he planned to protect them, but instead, he looked at Indy and said, "Tell me how you envision this."
Indy's eyes widened in surprise before he caught himself. "Well, if I can be absolutely frank with you…"
"I would much prefer that," Wander said. "We'll be spending a lot of time in each other's company, and that will go a lot smoother if we can be honest with each other."
Indy nodded, signaling his approval. "Okay, then. I had not envisioned this at all. In fact, I dislike the very fact you're here, and the idea you’ll be around for as long as the trial takes is not something I'm looking forward to."
Connor almost held his breath, curious to see how Wander would react to this display of Indy's frustration.
"I can understand. As glamorous as having private security may seem to some people, the reality is it's a fucking nuisance. I get that. So let's talk about how we can make this work for you and for your family."
The man had just earned major points with Connor by using the word family. One look at Indy's face showed Indy shared Connor’s assessment.
"I think the most important thing for all of us is privacy," Indy said. "We want to live our lives undisturbed as much as possible."
"I understand, but now I have to be honest with you. That's not gonna happen. If you want to keep yourself and your family safe, we’ll need to adjust your schedules, your routines, and your daily lives. That being said, I can't guarantee you privacy, but I can assure you of a complete lack of judgment."
Indy cocked his head, looking at Wander with curiosity. "What do you mean by a lack of judgment?"
Wander leaned back in his chair, looking around the room. "Complete honesty, yeah?"
Indy nodded.
Wander pointed at Connor. "You're a Dom, and Josh is your sub." He pointed at Miles next. "You're dominant as well, but just with Brad. A different kind of dominant, though. I'm guessing you're his daddy? And while Charlie might look like a sub, he's anything but, considering the way he interacts with you and Brad. Brad, however, is a true sub, one that aims to please everyone."
Connor followed the casual assessment with rising admiration. How had the man pegged all of them so quickly?
"Then there's you, Indy. You're with Noah, who may look like a Dom, but isn't. And you yourself are the farthest thing from submissive. On the other hand, there's definitely something between you and Josh, so if I had to take a guess, I would say the four of you are together, if not for the fact Noah and Connor may not have worked out the specifics of their relationship yet."
Connor's mouth dropped open. What the fuck was the guy suggesting, that he and Noah were together? What the hell did he base that on?
Wander crossed his arms in front of his chest. "How did I do?"
Connor couldn't help it. "He and Josh are together. There's nothing between me and Noah."
He caught meaningful eye contact between Indy and Josh he didn't like at all. At least Noah agreed with him, as he sent Connor a look of approval for speaking up and correcting the security guy.
"I'd say that was spot on," Indy said, ignoring Connor's correction. "So now you understand why we need our privacy. This is not something we can turn off for a few months."
Wander's eyes traveled to Josh as he said, "I agree, and please don’t, as this may have negative consequences. Hence my remark that while I may not be able to guarantee you privacy, what I can assure you of is a complete lack of judgment. Both me and my men are used to a wide range of lifestyles, relationships, and kinks. Trust me, we've seen it all, and we don't judge. We won't intervene, we won't comment, and we’d never try to discourage you."
Indy leaned forward. "But you'll still be there, watching us."
Something stirred in Connor, a flash of an image. Him, dominating Josh, whipping him, fucking him, with Wander watching. Why did that idea turn him on so much? He was oh so grateful he never blushed when Wander’s eyes found his, and a hint of a smile played on the man's lips.
"Yes, we may be watching. Not necessarily in your bedroom, but if your activities take place in common areas of the house, there will be times when we'll be there. That may not necessarily be a negative thing for all of you, though, can I point that out?"
Both Indy and Josh looked at Connor, and he suppressed a sigh. Really, did they have to be that obvious about it?
"True," Indy admitted with a sly smile. "So from what you're saying, I gather your men are all Doms as well?"
"No. Some of them are, but I also have subs on my team and a few involved in other lifestyles and kinks. Most of them are gay or bi, but there are al
so a few straight guys who simply don't care. But all of them are carefully vetted and selected for their tolerance, acceptance, and discretion. I've done a lot of security work for celebrities involved in a kinky lifestyle, and that's why it's almost become a prerequisite to have experience in this if you want to work for me." He shrugged. "It wasn't what I had set out to achieve with my firm, but I can't deny there is a demand for security personnel who have experience with a range of lifestyles."
"But you're a Dom?" Indy asked.
"Yes."
Connor liked that the man didn't feel the need to explain himself, let alone defend himself.
"Do you have a sub right now? Or a partner? Because that might get complicated with an assignment like this," Indy said, and Connor suppressed a grin. It was incredible Indy would worry about the man's personal life, minutes after meeting him. It was such a classic gesture for Indy, always trying to look out for everyone.
Wander seemed to understand the intention behind the question. "Not at the moment. I belong to a club where I participate regularly, but I don't have a partner or a permanent sub right now. It's a tough combination with my job, I've discovered."
"Okay," Indy said. A range of emotions flashed over his face before he let out a sigh. "I guess this is the best solution under these circumstances. Can you please explain to us what your protection would look like?"
For the next ten minutes, Wander went through a series of questions with them all, then explained he would need more information for a detailed plan, but that he proposed to have at least three men present. That was kind of what Connor and Miles had figured out as well when they’d discussed it, so Connor was glad to see Wander arrive at the same conclusion.
“Where will you and your men stay?” Noah asked.
“If you agree to hire my team, I’d prefer to stay inside the house myself, preferably on this couch. That will give me a good spot to keep an eye on things, even at night. My men will rotate shifts, and we’ll book a motel nearby for them when they’re off-shift.”
Noah nodded. “That would work for us.”
After making sure there were no pressing questions, Wander said, "Would it be possible for me to speak with just Noah, Connor, and Miles? I have something I want to talk about to them."
Indy was clearly surprised, but after a quick look at Noah, he agreed.
"Let's step outside for a minute," Noah suggested.
Once outside, Connor shot Wander a questioning glance. "What is this about?"
"I wanted to be clear about our roles," Wander said, looking from Connor to Noah and then to Miles.
Miles apparently understood what he was referring to before Connor and Noah. "You want to avoid a pissing match," he said.
"Yes. We need to make something crystal clear. You were an FBI agent." He pointed at Miles. "And from what I understand, a damn good one. You’re a decorated war hero," he said to Noah. "My sense is you’re kind of the man of the house, so to speak. And you’re a decorated Marine with a stellar career in law enforcement.”
That last part was aimed at Connor, who appreciated Wander had done his research before showing up for his appointment here.
"Aside from the fact you each have qualifications to lead, there is enough testosterone between the three of you to light a fire. So, we need to make clear who's in charge. That would be me. When shit goes down, I have to trust the three of you to follow my orders. There can be no questioning, no second-guessing, no following your own plans."
As much as Connor resented it, he understood. The resentment was all on him, a simple case of his pride being hurt a little for acknowledging someone else as his boss. But Wander was right. If they entrusted the security of their family to him, they would have to let him make the decisions.
"On the other hand, I will in no way infringe upon your role as dominants or daddies or whatever the fuck it is you're doing. It may be intimidating to have someone else watch, a stranger and a Dom to boot, and from what I understand, it's not something you guys are used to. So I promise to stay out of your personal relationships and power dynamics, unless you ask me for advice."
Ask him for advice? Huh, Connor thought, there was an interesting concept. If the man was as experienced as he seemed, maybe they could even learn a thing or two from him.
“Sounds reasonable,” Noah said. “And I think we can all agree on the necessity of a clear chain of command with you at the top.”
“Good. Glad to hear it. Now, which one of you do I talk to when I have concerns or questions?”
Noah and Connor looked at each other, and Connor wasn’t even sure how he knew what Noah was thinking, but he did. “Miles,” they said in unison.
Miles’s eyes widened.
“You have the most experience in this,” Connor said, clamping a hand on the man’s shoulder. “That’s all that matters.”
Wander shot them a look that seemed a hell of a lot like approval, and Noah grinned at him. “We’re not that hard to get along with.”
“Don’t start telling lies now, Flint,” Connor told him. “We both know you’re a pain in the ass.”
Wander smiled. “A pain in the ass, huh? The good kind or the bad kind?”
9
Brad loved being home during the weekends. As much as he liked his job and enjoyed spending time with his students, he couldn't deny it was demanding. By the time the weekend came around, he was usually more than ready for it. And since Miles never worked on the weekends and Charlie often worked either Saturday or Sunday, it was a perfect time for Brad to get extra one-on-one time with his daddy. This time it was different, however.
It wasn't that the presence of the three security guards or whatever they were supposed to call them bothered Brad. Hell, he'd always had a fetish for sex in public, so strangers watching while he performed sexual acts was more a turn-on than a nuisance. But it did bother his daddy.
Brad didn't know if it was because Miles didn't want them to know about his condition, because he was embarrassed, or because he simply wanted to keep sex private, but after a few days with Wander and his men, Brad was about to explode with sexual frustration. And those had been weekdays, mornings and evenings only.
Sure, he still got his daily fix of sucking Daddy off, but it wasn't the same when he had to do it quickly in the bedroom rather than being able to take his time and do it in public. There was something so satisfying about dropping to his knees in front of everybody and taking care of his daddy. Call him weird or perverted, but he loved sucking his daddy off while the man was doing something else. It made him feel used, like all he was good for was sucking that cock. Or taking it up his ass, which was also fine by him. But now all of a sudden, his daddy had become all proper in public, and Brad didn't like it one bit.
At least Daddy still remembered to give him his daily morning spankings, though even those were in private and a hell of a lot quieter. Brad sighed miserably, sitting on the couch with his arms crossed in front of him, staring at the wall. Life sucked right now.
Charlie was at work, and Noah and Connor were in the kitchen, involved in a deep conversation with Daddy about fuck knows what. And judging by the sounds, Indy and Josh were taking a bath together. A bath with benefits. Brad recognized Indy's soft giggle, a clear indication he was teasing Josh in some sexual way.
And dammit, Brad was bored out of his mind. He’d been sitting on this damn couch for an hour, snuggling with Max. He needed something to do, preferably something with Daddy. It had been hours since his last release, so Daddy had to be desperate by now, right? Maybe he could give him a hint he was willing to take care of it. You could say what you wanted, but Daddy was adept at reading Brad's signals.
He got up from the couch and, after a quick look at Wander, who was positioned on a chair near the front door, walked into the kitchen. He only needed to listen for a few seconds to know that conversation would bore him out of his mind. It was something about how the body dealt with trauma. Undoubtedly a stimulating topic for those t
hree, but not something Brad had any intention of engaging in, especially not during a weekend.
He quietly made his way over to Daddy and put his mouth near his ear. "Do you need me, Daddy?"
Daddy patted his leg absentmindedly, never even looking at him. "Thank you, sweetheart, but I took care of it myself. I'm good for now. Go do something for yourself. Enjoy your time off."
He took care of it himself? Since when had that become a thing when Brad was home? Inside Brad, it stormed, but he bit his lip and walked away. He couldn't throw a tantrum now, not with Wander in the room. Daddy would get so upset if he pulled a stunt like that. He'd asked Brad to be on his best behavior while they had guests, and even though Brad didn't always succeed in obeying Daddy, he sure tried. Being punished by Daddy wasn't fun, whereas being rewarded for good behavior usually meant he would spend a few hours taking care of him and Charlie both. So he sucked it up and retreated into their bedroom, where he had more privacy, Max on his heels.
He woke up disoriented, Max still snoring at his feet, then realized he'd fallen asleep while watching TV. A quick check of the clock told him he'd slept for almost two hours. Huh, he'd been more tired than he had realized. Or more bored, which was a plausible explanation as well. Either way, Daddy had to be dying for relief, right?
He got up, dragged a quick hand through his hair and hurried to where he heard voices. He found all of them in the living room, except for Charlie, who hadn't returned from work yet. Indy was telling Wander the story of how he'd kicked Daddy's ass back in Kansas. Brad loved that story, even if he always felt a little sorry for Daddy. People tended to underestimate Indy, because he looked like a fucking elf and yet was deadly in jiu jitsu.
He found his favorite spot, kneeling at Daddy's feet, in the perfect position to suck him off. More out of habit than anything else, he looked up at him and asked for permission with his eyes. But Daddy shook his head, and something inside Brad froze oh so cold. What had he done wrong that Daddy didn't want him to take care of him anymore? Had he messed up somehow without realizing?
