“So you’ve decided on this path for us?” Diachi barely shifted, but the total change in his demeanor was potent as his inner Dom came to the fore. It reminded Hark too much of the final blowout between himself and Diachi before the man un-collared him. It made him want to protect Bryan from the approaching storm of his master’s anger.
Bryan looked down briefly, but lifted his head a moment later. While the submissiveness in Bryan’s stance called to one side of him, the stubborn set of the man’s jaw had Hark sighing with relief. As he’d suspected earlier, Bryan was no push over – even for his own master.
“Yes. He’s worth it,” Bryan repeated before returning his attention to Hark. “So you’re staying put.”
Hark finally found his voice. “I am?” He purposely ran his gaze up and down the smaller man. “Boy, you have a lot to learn. I don’t stay anywhere I don’t want to.”
Bryan glared at him, before dropping his hands to his hips. “Really?”
“Yeah…really.” He couldn’t keep the growl out of his voice even as his dick stirred in his pants. The defiance in Bryan’s expression was a complete turn-on.
“You know what? Actions speak louder than words. I see something worth saving. But since I’ve already earned the mother of all punishments for sticking my nose in something that should be Master’s decision, I’m going to take a hot shower, then we’ll discuss this – like grown-ups. Which means I expect you to be here when I get out.”
“And if I’m not?” Hark gritted out.
Bryan raised a brow. “If not, I know people who can hunt your ass down for me.” He reached up and patted Hark’s cheek. “So save me the trouble, hmmm?” Then he stalked toward the bedroom.
Bryan, aren’t you forgetting something?” Diachi asked, standing motionless – one hand still on Hark’s bag, but with his body canted toward Bryan’s retreating form.
Bryan paused by the door.
For a moment, Hark thought Bryan would ignore his master to slip into the bedroom. Instead, he marched back to Diachi. Then he tipped his head to cover Diachi’s lips with his own. Hark’s discomfort, a mixture of lust and envy, grew as he watched the blond give his former master a slow, but tongue curling kiss. A low moan escaped Diachi and the hand that had been gripping Hark’s bag speared into his submissive’s curls.
Bryan’s cheeks were flushed by the time Diachi allowed him to pull back. He licked his lower lip as if savoring the taste of his master. Diachi’s breathing wasn’t so steady either when they parted, Hark noticed. Standing still, Bryan clasped his arms behind him and tipped his head.
“Welcome home, Master. May I take a shower to wash the grime off, before you deal with my punishment?”
Diachi nodded. “Go. You have ten minutes. Bring me the bamboo switch when you return.”
After Bryan disappeared into the bedroom, the tension between Hark and Diachi grew. A short while later, the shower kicked on. Finally unable to handle the silence any longer, Hark stepped back. “Look – you know Bryan’s heart was in the right place. Take it easy on the guy, okay?” He hefted the bag higher on his shoulder. “I’m not worth whatever punishment you’ll dole out for his disobedience.”
Diachi stiffened. “It doesn’t matter whether you think you are or not. The fact remains Bryan does.” He reclaimed the strap of the bag as if to take it from Hark. “I don’t know what exactly you did to impress my submissive, but there’s not a prayer of you leaving tonight. I refuse to deal with an overwrought sub because you ran like a scared fool.”
Hark inhaled, praying for patience. “Scared? Do I honestly look like I’m scared?” He tugged on the bag, surprised when the other man refused to release it. He clenched his jaw in frustration. “I really need to go. Olivia reserved a room for me and I want to get there before the weather kicks up.”
Diachi locked eyes with him. It was like a test of wills as the other man refused to release the bag. Hark could have easily disarmed his former master, but the last thing he wanted to do was to physically hurt him. He tugged a bit harder, hoping the guy would get the idea.
“Stop it. Bryan wants you to stay. If you leave, he’ll only follow you.” He glared up at Hark. “And like you said…bad weather is coming. Do you really want to be responsible for him being out in it?”
Hark gave a mirthless laugh. “Like you’re going to let him go out if the weather is bad.” Instead of tugging on the bag, he pushed it forward before jerking it back, in hopes the sudden move would surprise Diachi. In the end all it did, however, was yank the smaller man forward and up against his body. He automatically embraced him. His nose flared as the incredibly familiar scent of his former master’s cologne washed over him. Fuck. He strove to stay in control – to keep from responding to the man’s closeness. He didn’t come here for this. “Just let me go, Diachi.”
An unreadable emotion flitted across Diachi’s face, before he stepped back. “I can’t just watch you walk away. Bryan…”
“This has nothing to do with him. It has to do with the facts. I’m not ready for this. Your concern for him is commendable, but I hardly think he’ll worry about me once I’m gone. Just…” He swallowed hard against the lump in his throat. “Look, it’s easy. It’s not as if you haven’t watched me leave before. And this time will be much easier than the last. When he comes out…just do your Dom thing. He’ll have no choice but to accept whatever you say.”
Instead of sighing, Diachi gave a sharp laugh. “You obviously don’t know Bryan very well. What submission he’s given to me, I’ve had to work my ass off to get.” He nodded toward the closed bedroom door. “What you just saw was the result of nearly five years of work. He may be submissive - but he’s no man’s doormat.”
He had to suppress the smile wanting to break free. He’d known from the moment Bryan cussed out his master for not getting the light fixed in the guest room that he wasn’t a meek submissive like he’d thought Diachi wanted. But even as he told himself Bryan’s submission, or lack of it, didn’t matter and he should be leaving, part of Hark longed to know what he would have to do to earn it. He dashed the thought quickly. Diachi didn’t share – period. “I…I have to go. Sorry.”
Diachi seemed to study him for a moment. Then he released the bag. “Me too. I would’ve liked to help you, Hark.”
“I know.” Hark forced himself to move away from the temptation Diachi offered. He’d taken less than half a dozen steps, when the bedroom door opened, sending the smell of Irish Spring soap and water out into the room. He froze. Fuck!
“You better be taking your bag back downstairs.” Bryan’s tired voice had him looking over his shoulder. “Or I’m going to earn another punishment for sure.”
Hark dropped his bags, before stalking back to where Bryan stood, wearing nothing more than his silk robe. His blond curls were wet, as was the collar gracing his throat. He leaned down, using his height to intimidate Bryan, as he got right up in his face. “Let it go!”
Bryan didn’t even flinch. He merely maintained eye contact. “No, not when I know we can help you.” He cocked his head. “I could feel, no, see your pain earlier – what kind of submissive would I be if I ignored it?”
Hark couldn’t stop the growl that rumbled free. If Bryan could see the pain he’d buried deep, he’d either let something slip, or the other man had been studying him more than he’d thought. “Dammit, I don’t know what game you’re playing here, but I don’t like it. You’re Diachi’s submissive. You shouldn’t be watching me.”
Bryan continued to stare at him. “Why not? You’re gorgeous.” He tugged on the end of Hark’s braid. “Most gay men would take it as compliment. Some straight guys as well.”
As Hark tugged his braid free and then tossed it over his shoulder in frustration, he heard Diachi chuckle. “I told you. Submissive, not doormat. Especially when it comes to things he believes in strongly.”
“So you can either stay with us, or have Jude hound you. Your choice.”
Hark narrowed his eyes at
the mention of his sometimes boss. As of late, the man had been looking for excuses to nag him – one of the reasons he’d given in and gone to the club on Friday. If Bryan told Jude how he’d turned tail less than twenty-four hours after agreeing to Olivia’s scheme, he knew Jude would razz him until Hark fled the state. “You wouldn’t.”
Bryan stared him down. “Try me.”
“Fuck.” He muttered the word under his breath. He couldn’t believe he was letting a man smaller and more submissive than him dictate what he would or wouldn’t do. “Fine, I’ll stay. Only one night – ”
“A week,” Bryan countered. “One night won’t work. You’re going to need a couple of days to settle into our routine. I want to see an honest effort. Or I’ll be on the phone to Jude the moment you leave.”
Hark turned toward Diachi in hopes of an ally. The man needed to get a rein on his damned submissive. “You’re going to let him decide this?”
Diachi smiled. “Of course. I’ve learned something about him when it comes to this kind of thing.” He patted Hark’s shoulder. “Once he moves into negotiation mode, it’s best to just let him have his way.”
Hark crossed his arms over his chest. “Unbelievable. You two idiots don’t act like any Master and sub I’ve ever met.”
“So we’ve been told. Perhaps that’s why Olivia wanted you to stay with us?” Diachi held out his hand. “The switch, slave?”
“Yes, Master.” Bryan offered up the twelve inch length of bamboo to Diachi. “Just look it at this way, Hark. No two D/s relationships are the same.”
Hark shook his head, truly baffled for the first time in years.
“Don’t overanalyze it. Just give us ten days to help you find what you found so appealing about BDSM to begin with. If we can’t rekindle one spark of what drew you to the scene, I won’t stop you from leaving.”
Hark glared at him. “Ten days? You said a week.”
“Ten days and I won’t murmur a word of protest if you pack your bags. I’ll even help you carry them to your car,” Bryan offered sweetly. Too sweetly.
“And you won’t call Jude?” Hark eyed him suspiciously. The man could give some diplomats and generals lessons in negotiations, and he didn’t trust him as far as he could throw him.
“For only ten days?” He tsked softly. “Not a chance in hell I’ll agree to keep my trap shut for that paltry number. Make it three weeks and you can beat my ass yourself if I spill the beans to your buddy.”
“Fourteen or I walk right now and Jude be damned.” Hark growled. Two weeks was the most he could handle without giving into his urges.
“Two weeks…” Hark sighed in relief, but it was short lived. “…and you come to work with me three days a week.”
“Fine. Two weeks and I go to work with you. But I’m not sleeping at the foot of your bed, nor am I having sex with either of you.” Even as he added on his own conditions, Hark hoped he hadn’t just jinxed himself. When Bryan nodded his agreement, he sighed. “Can I go downstairs now?”
“No.” Diachi spoke softly for the first time since Bryan had begun his little impromptu negotiation. “There’s a small matter of my submissive’s punishment. For your part in it, you’ll watch.”
Hark stiffened. “Punishment is a private matter between a master and his submissive.”
“Of course it is. Unless the infraction occurs within a club, or involves a third party.” Diachi tapped the switch against his thigh.
Gritting his teeth, Hark resisted the urge to scream. His patience hadn’t been tried like this since the time Alex had painted himself in war paint and ran around the house in a makeshift loin cloth less than ten minutes before his principal had arrived to discuss the boy’s rambunctious behavior in school. “This has nothing to do with me. I didn’t ask him to stand up for me.”
Diachi sighed. “This has everything to do with you, Hark. Not only is punishment a vital part of our relationship, you need to understand why he’s earned it.” Diachi turned back to Bryan. “Loose the robe, slave.”
“Yes, Master.”
The change in Bryan’s behavior was remarkable as he shed his robe. The man seemed to become more pliant and giving. Hark tried to ignore its immediate effect on his libido, but the naked planes of Bryan’s body only compounded the problem.
Well defined shoulders smoothed out into pectoral muscles that seemed to quiver under his gaze. The glint of steel through the raspberry hued nipples caused his mouth to dry out, before tapering down to a six pack and a long, but thin cock and hairless balls. The rhythmic thud of the switch against Diachi’s thigh only prolonged his torment. His hands curled into fists. How the hell was he supposed to watch and not partake?
“Why are you being punished, slave?” Diachi prompted, his stern demand drawing Hark’s attention.
“Because I overstepped my boundaries, Master, by dictating what I wanted done.”
“And tell Hark why you’re not allowed to do that,” Diachi ordered, the switch falling silent.
“Because at the beginning of our relationship, I couldn’t give up control, and turned to cutting myself instead when I couldn’t find the submission I wanted.”
“And?” Diachi moved closer to Bryan.
“So we came to an agreement. Instead of cutting myself, you had control of all our household decisions, and when I tried to resist or fight you, there’d be consequences. Ten strikes with the bamboo switch.”
“Correct. And during that particular negotiation, you also requested I forfeit your safeword as well during said punishment?”
“Yes, Master. For my own mental well-being.” Bryan caught Hark’s eye, his expression open. The easy acceptance of something as drastic as a removal of a submissive’s one out floored Hark. How could the man give up the one thing meant to protect him?
“That’s right.” Diachi sighed. “Yet tonight you reverted back to your old destructive habits?”
“No, Master. This wasn’t about me trying to control something that was obviously your domain. It was me wanting to keep Hark from leaving us.” Bryan’s gaze left Hark to focus on Diachi. “I panicked when I came home and realized he was leaving.”
No emotions showed on Diachi’s face. “And you didn’t trust me to keep it from happening?”
Bryan shook his head.
“Words, slave,” Diachi barked. Hark winced and wanted to interfere but restrained himself.
“No, Sir. I trust you implicitly. I didn’t want to be the reason you turned away another submissive who was in true need.” Bryan bit his lower lip. “Our relationship is wonderful and everything I could ask for. How could I leave another in the same hell hole you found me?” He searched his master’s eyes before lowering his head submissively. “If I can handle returning to that dark place, then there’s no reason you should give up on him.”
Horror washed over Hark. The beautiful submissive in front of him had lost his master? But he was full of light.
“Which is why I’m not going to give you the full ten strokes, only a lesser number. Your motives were honorable, even if misguided.” Diachi tipped up Bryan’s face. “However, we do have two other infractions to deal with. You not only disrespected me by taking over, but you also forgot to give me my welcome home kiss until I reminded you.”
“Yes, Master.” Bryan’s tone was solemn.
“For that you’ll receive one stroke each, plus two more for your misguided motives and doubting my ability to keep Hark with us so we can both help him. In the future, you must remember I treasure our routine and feel off balance when I don’t have it.”
“I’m sorry, Master. I won’t forget again.”
“Let’s hope you don’t.” Diachi stepped back, his expression stern. “Over the couch.”
Bryan immediately obeyed, draping his tall frame over the low back of the couch, exposing the tight ass Hark had lusted after earlier in the day. He’d been right. Tight enough to bounce quarters off of. Diachi soothed his palm over the rounded globes before stepping back.
“Count off.” Then the whistle of the bamboo switch cut through the air before the snap of it hitting flesh overrode it.
Hark winced as a bright red stripe appeared on Bryan’s left cheek. “One, Master.” It sounded as if Bryan was speaking through gritted teeth.
“Good boy.” Diachi let the switch fly again, a little bit harder than the first. It landed on the opposite cheek. Hark was surprised it didn’t cut through the skin.
“Two…Master.” Bryan jerked. His voice broke as he dealt with the strength of the blow. The switch landed again. “Three, Master.” A pained gasp escaped Bryan, but his master was swift in delivering the final blow. “Four, Master.”
“And we’re done.” Diachi helped Bryan up, turning him into his arms. “All is forgiven.” He brushed away the tear that had escaped to trail down Bryan’s cheek. “I love you, sweetheart.”
“And I you, Master.”
As Bryan buried his face against Diachi’s shoulder and Diachi drew him closer, Hark slipped out of the room. Never before had he felt as much like an intruder as he did in that moment. Aftercare was a special time between the Dom and his submissive, and needed no witnesses – especially a broken switch like him.
Chapter Eight
Running his hand up and down Bryan’s back, Diachi uttered soothing words as his submissive cried against his shoulder. He knew this deal with Hark would be hard on his man, but he’d never expected his submissive to take such a strong stance about him staying. His lover truly had a giving heart. He barely glanced up as the sound of Hark’s retreat reached his ears. In his arms, Bryan stiffened.
“Shh, he’s just going downstairs, love.” He kept his voice soft and soothing. “He’ll be here in the morning, I promise.” He slowly moved them toward the same couch Hark had vacated earlier in the evening. Settling down on the thick cushions, he drew Bryan onto his lap, loving the way his submissive wrapped himself around him.
“I’m truly sorry, Master.” The words teased his chest.
Healing Hark (Doms of Chicago) Page 7
