“I know you are.” He toyed with the blond curls resting against his shoulder. “But somehow I think your disobedience was worth every stroke you received tonight.”
Bryan tried to shift away, but Diachi refused to let him go. “No. If I wanted you to move, I’d tell you. Now be still.”
“Yes, Master.” Bryan’s head dropped back to Diachi’s shoulder and his frame relaxed again him. “Now we’re going to discuss the reason you didn’t feel comfortable admitting the truth to me in front of our guest.” He continued to stroke his hand up and down Bryan’s back.
“Reason, Master?” The weary tone in his submissive’s voice assured his suspicion was correct.
“It isn’t merely your desire to not leave another submissive in the hell I found you that caused you to lash out tonight. I know you. You have a big heart, but not that big. You found out something today about Hark, didn’t you?”
Bryan nodded.
“I need words, slave, not head nods. What did you find out about our guest that changed your whole view of our situation?”
“Easton knew him.”
Surprise flowed through Diachi. It wasn’t completely illogical that Bryan’s right hand man might know Hark, but where would the quiet soft spoken man have met his former submissive? “Easton knows a lot of people. So why would him just knowing Hark be so important?”
Bryan lifted his head to stare up at him, his blue eyes wet. “He knew him from the service, and to hear him talk about it, it’s a miracle because —”
“Easton never talks about his time serving our country,” Diachi finished. “So Easton knew him while they were both in the service. What did he do that left such an impression on our friend?” Diachi drew his finger down Bryan’s check.
“He beat a man to death in Korea because he attempted to rape a female soldier, and put three other men in the hospital before nearly dying himself. When Easton asked him why, he said no woman deserves to be raped. What kind of men would we be, if we let such a selfless man hide in the shadows, when we have the ability to bring him out?”
Diachi sighed and decided to play Devil’s advocate. He needed Bryan going into this without blinders when it came to Hark. His former submissive was a good man, but a man nonetheless. “Perhaps what you and Easton see as an honorable action may not be what it seems.”
Bryan sat up, and eyed him warily. “What do you mean?”
Diachi squeezed the bridge of his nose. “Hark’s mother was raped by his father.”
A scowl crossed Bryan’s face. “That doesn’t make the crime any less heinous, Master. It probably only made him more adamant about how women are or should be treated. The idea that you’re suggesting he’s only out for revenge is just sick. Hark is far from perfect but the way Easton spoke of your former sub - Hark considered all the men of Easton’s unit to be his family. That he’d lay down his life for any of them. Which tells me he’s a protector.” Bryan crossed his arms. “Just like you.”
Amusement at Bryan’s outrage bubbled inside of Diachi as he realized his sub wasn’t blind to Hark’s faults. But he wouldn’t give into the urge to smile. “And your point is?”
“Well, think about it. How would you feel if I died tomorrow? Even if it wasn’t your fault? Wouldn’t you be torn up inside?”
Any humor Diachi felt died instantly. “Don’t even joke about that. I will not lose you.” He dragged Bryan back into his arms.
Bryan relaxed against him. “I’m not saying you will, Master… just put yourself in his moccasins. Even if you did everything right and still lost your family, how would you feel as a man, as a protector? It’s that part I want to appeal to. The part I want to bring back. If I can get him to care about me, maybe we can bring him back.”
It suddenly dawned on Diachi what his sub was trying to say. “That’s why you wanted him to agree to accompany you to work? He’s going to be a bodyguard of sorts?”
Bryan tipped his head back. “Yes. In a way. He’ll work with me. There’s something fishy about the situation with my new line. Hark has admitted he’s worked with Jude in the past. I want him to do some discrete investigating. Perhaps see if he can find something the investigator my uncle hired hasn’t.”
Diachi turned the idea over in his mind, weighing the pros and cons. “I don’t think the job is going to be enough,” he finally said.
“What do you mean?” Bryan toyed with the edge of Diachi’s shirt.
Covering his sub’s fingers, he tried to explain. “If a job would be enough, the one Olivia asked him to undertake when Zheyna and her child were in danger, he wouldn’t be here. He needs more.” He looked into Bryan’s eyes. “Do you trust me? And know I’d do nothing to hurt you?”
Bryan gazed at him uneasily, but the love in his eyes never wavered. “Of course, Master.”
“I want to give you to him during your hours at work. He needs to be reminded what it means to be responsible for another. He needs to know his actions or lack of them will affect another.”
“Master?” The bewilderment in his tone wasn’t a surprise but the hint of panic was.
“Shh, I’m not tired of you. He’ll merely be an extension of me while you’re at Sterling Foods. He’ll report any infractions back to me, and generally take care of you as I would.”
A shuddering breath escaped Bryan. “An extension? What if he asks me to service him, Master?”
Diachi struggled with himself before answering. “Then you have my permission to do so, but I know Hark. I doubt as skittish as he is that he’ll ask such a thing. The man I remember will be reluctant to take something that isn’t his.” He brushed his fingers over his lover’s cheek. “But if he does, and you feel comfortable doing what he asks, then I want you to do it.”
Confusion filled Bryan’s face before he turned his head into Diachi’s chest. “You’d let me cheat?”
Diachi lifted his sub’s face. “If I know, it’s not cheating, love. Would it be any different than me turning you over to Olivia or one of the other masters for a scene or punishment?”
He could almost see the wheels turning in his sub’s mind.
“That’s different, Master. Even if I play with others, I’m still yours.”
“As you will be when you submit to Hark.” He brushed his thumb over Bryan’s lower lip before letting his touch drift to the symbol of his ownership resting around Bryan’s throat. “As long as this collar remains, you’re mine.” He sighed. “Once you told me you dreamed of belonging to two men. Of being able to serve them both with no jealousy.”
Bryan stiffened. “That fantasy died when Steven attacked my former master. I’ll never again allow my selfish needs to ruin my relationship with my master.”
“This has nothing to do with your selfish needs, but perhaps mine.” He tilted his head back. “If you could’ve seen how you looked squaring off with Hark.” He pressed Bryan’s hand against the length of his erection. “It was very erotic.” He guided Bryan’s fingers inside of his loose bottoms.
“You want him?” Bryan tried to pull away from him.
He sighed. How did he answer this in a way his sub would understand, without hurting him? “He’s an attractive man and I’d have to be dead not to…”
Bryan scrambled away from him to stand next to the couch. His chest heaved even as his expression remained closed off.
“I…no…dammit, Diachi! If you want him, why didn’t you just take him? I would’ve never known? Why rub it in my face?”
Snagging Bryan’s wrist, he hauled his lover back into his arms. Then he buried his hand in Bryan’s curls. Jerking his head back, Diachi growled. “I love you. I’d never act on my desires for him if you’re not committed to the same path as me.”
“Then why are we talking about this?” Bryan’s eyes searched his.
“Because you’re willing to revisit the hell Steven left you in to bring Hark out of the shadows.” He rubbed his nose over Bryan’s, their breaths mingling. “Why not ask that he give you something i
n return? Can you say your need to be shared has faded?”
* * * *
Those words weighed heavily on Bryan as he entered his work the following morning. It also made him vastly aware of the tall shadow hovering behind him. After talking privately with Diachi this morning, Hark had been withdrawn and had only stirred when they’d pulled into the underground parking ramp. Bryan stopped by the security desk in the lobby of Sterling Foods. As usual Marius, his head of security, nodded to him before standing to check his badge – a policy Bryan himself had insisted upon shortly after the sabotage had begun.
“ID, Sir?” Marius stepped out from behind the desk. “Standard procedure.”
Bryan half expected Hark to refuse, but in the end, all he did was tug a battered leather wallet out of the back pocket of his pressed khaki’s. The man had paired it with an ivory polo shirt and trim leather belt at his waist. He’d even pulled his long hair back into a single braid, which only accented the harsh planes of his angular face. “Here.” After fishing out his license, he placed it on the counter within easy reach.
Marius took it with a smile before entering the pertinent information into their security system. Once finished he set the driver’s license back on the counter. “Thank you…Mr….Ah-kull-a?”
“Ah-cool-a,” Hark corrected absently before shoving it back into his wallet.
His head of security took the correction in stride. “Very good. Now, if you’ll please place your thumb on the scanner?”
Hark tipped his head and studied the man, then the small thumb pad.
It was another innovation Bryan had insisted upon since the ongoing thefts continued. But in light of the scowl across Hark’s face, this might just be one time he should second-think his newest security policy. Prepared to use his clout as the CEO to get Hark past security, a sigh of relief escaped him when Hark laid his left thumb on the pad to be scanned. Less than thirty seconds later there was a low beep behind the counter.
“Here you go, Mr. Akula.” He handed Hark a small plastic badge with a bar code on it. “Please be sure to wear this at all times when you’re within both the plant and the offices.”
“Of course.” Hark hooked it to the collar of his polo shirt. The bright yellow badge contrasted sharply with the creamy white material. After making sure it was secure by tugging on it, Hark nodded to him. “Please lead the way.”
Once they were in the elevator, an uncomfortable silence filled the air as the tight space rose steadily skyward. “So now that you have me here at your mercy, what exactly is your plan? To have your way with me? I can assure you I don’t submit to just any man.”
Bryan’s laugh sounded forced to even his own ears. “As if I’d ever try that.” He rolled his shoulders. “When it comes to my men, the more dominant they are the better. I don’t have a single desire in my entire body to be in charge in the bedroom.”
Hark seemed to study him before turning his attention back to the closed doors. “Then why did you insist on this three times a week thing? I could be at your place working on my sculptures. Or is it you don’t trust me to be alone with your Master?”
“Master can take care of himself. Even if you threw yourself at him, I’d trust him to honor his promises to me.” He met Hark’s eyes. “Trust is a vital part of our relationship. If we don’t have that, then we have nothing.” There was a ding as the elevator reached its destination. Moments later the doors slid open and revealing his dark outer office. “That’s odd. Sharonda is usually in before me.”
Hark stilled and a quiet change seemed to wash over him. His hand wrapped around Bryan’s arm, stopping him from exiting the car. It wasn’t any one thing he could put his finger on, but it was as if the man had shifted out of friend mode into protector mode. Gone was the grumpy artist and in its place was the dark warrior.
“Stay here.” Hark canted his voice low. “Let me check everything out.”
Bryan opened his mouth to protest. “But…”
The glare Hark gave him shut him up. “Diachi would kill me if I let something happen to you. Stay put, or I’ll disable the elevator with you inside it. I need less than five minutes to clear the room.”
“You wouldn’t dare.” Bryan’s hands went to his hips and he narrowed his eyes.
“Want to try me?” Hark seemed to grow before his eyes. “We both know you like being paddled, but let me assure you, you won’t like the ass warming I’ll give you if you don’t do as I say.”
Bryan clenched his jaw and ignored the way his body responded to the threat. Hark was right — he did so enjoy a good spanking, flogging, or paddling. Even those Master sought to use as punishment. “I haven’t given you the right to punish me.”
Chapter Nine
Every sense alert, Hark made a quick tour of the outer office before slipping into Bryan’s inner sanctuary. The heavy oak furniture didn’t surprise him, nor did the wall-to-wall shelves filled with knick knacks, books, and framed pictures. However the thin Japanese silk screen set in the corner seemed a bit out of place. Slipping over to it, he did a quick glance behind it, expecting to see nothing more than an empty space or possibly a wet bar. The crumpled body on the floor sent a chill down his spine. Crouching down next to the dark haired woman, he felt for a pulse. Relief washed over him as the faint beat throbbed against his fingertips.
“Miss?” He spoke softly, not wanting to scare her if for some reason she'd been attacked by a large man. Her low moan barely reached his ears then her eye lids fluttered. He kept his voice soft as she slowly came to. The last thing he wanted to do was scare her.
“Listen, my name is Hark and I'm going to check you for injuries. Don't move.” Calling on years of combat medical training, he checked her neck before sliding his hand down to her shoulders.
She whimpered slightly when his fingers found what he suspected was a break in her collarbone. He barely contained his growl.
“Fuck, I think it's broken.” He gently prodded at it.
She groaned in pain.
“Shit, I'm sorry.” He pressed her down when she tried to struggle into an upright position, her eyes wild with pain.
“What? Where am I? And who the hell are you?” She pushed at his restraining hold.
“Stop it.” He kept his tone level. “You’re inside Bryan’s office and I'm a friend of Bryan's...” He struggled with how to refer to Bryan’s relationship with Master Rai. If Bryan wasn't out at work, he didn't want to unwittingly out him - especially to the man's assistant. “Look, Diachi Rai asked me to keep an eye on Bryan at work until this whole corporate espionage thing is over.”
Some unidentified emotion flittered across her face before relief shone in her eyes. “You know Master Rai?”
Intimately. But he couldn't tell the woman as much. “Yes, we met in college years ago.” He helped her into a sitting position while supporting her shoulder.
She hissed, a tear slipping free. “Is Bryan okay?”
He nodded. “Yeah, I locked him in the elevator and told him if he came out before I gave the all-clear, I'd kick his ass.”
She bit her lower lip and gave a small laugh. “Hate to burst your bubble but he'd probably like that.”
“Probably.” He chuckled softly, then sobered. “I need you to be very still. I think you may have broken your collarbone. Is there any place else that hurts?”
She squinted. “My head hurts. I think I struck it on the corner of the counter when I went down.”
He winced. “Ouch. Where did you hit it?” He didn't see any blood matting her hair, but with its dark color it could be hidden.
She winced as she tried to lift her right hand, then groaned before letting it drop back to her side. “Shit, that hurts.” He took a deep breath. “Okay, let's not do that again. Why don't you just tell me where?”
She licked her lips. “Right side, behind my ear.”
He shifted his position and moved to get a better view. “Okay, I'll look. While I do, do you want to tell me what happened?”
<
br /> “I came in early, just like I always do. That way I can have Bryan's schedule ready for him, and fresh cinnamon rolls.”
Hark arched a brow at the mention. “And here I thought Bryan was diabetic.”
She flinched when his fingers found a lump behind her ear. “He is. I sneak those little Cinnabon minis in once or twice a week for him. Don't tell Mr. Rai. He'll probably kick my butt for enabling Bryan.”
He shrugged his shoulders. Neither promising nor denying the possibility. “So you came in early. What happened after that?”
“I don't know. I had my back to the door as I was pulling files. I wasn't really expecting anyone. Usually Marius buzzes me if any visitors are here for Bryan. I had just pulled out the new food line reports when I heard something, but when I turned to see what it was there was this shadow. He pulled out this slender black stick like thing to hit me. I think he may have been aiming for my head but I threw the file at him. It must've of fouled up his aim, because the next thing I remember was a burning in my shoulder before I fell backwards. Then it was lights out.”
“Well you definitely have a bump back here. Lucky for you no blood, but I still think a trip to the ER for x-rays wouldn't be amiss.”
She giggled. “My mama always did say I had a hard head.”
“And thank goodness for that.” He slowly rose to his feet. “Don't move. I'll have Bryan call for the ambulance.”
“There's really no need.” She struggled to rise. “I'm sure I can have one of the guys downstairs take me.”
Hark gave her his best stern look. “There is. You were attacked on Sterling Foods property. I'm pretty sure Bryan is going to insist upon it when he finds out.”
“But —” She nibbled on her lower lip.
He crossed his arms over his chest. “Unless you want a little of what your boss receives when he disobeys, I suggest you do as I say.” He winked at her, hoping to lighten the situation.
She sighed. “Fine. But I'm coming back here as soon as possible. Bryan has a full schedule today. One he'll need my help in coordinating.” She winced as she reached across her body with her left hand to touch the lump behind her ear. “But right now, a strong painkiller and an ice pack sound pretty good.”
Healing Hark (Doms of Chicago) Page 8
