* * * *
Diachi heard the door slam shut and looked up from where he’d been tossing a salad to go with the linguini he’d made from scratch. Pleasure washed over him. His men were home. He’d noticed how empty the house was while they were at work and had looked forward to each night – even though the tension radiating off Hark kept growing. But there’s nothing I can do until he comes to me. I promised we’d go at his pace. But he knew himself. If Hark kept ignoring his desires, he’d eventually take the choice away from the stubborn man. But at the moment, he was merely happy they were home. Pushing his concern away, he wiped his hands on the towel over his shoulder. He was walking toward the short hall leading to the garage, when Bryan flew into the house, tears running down his face.
Concern swamped him and he barely caught Bryan as the man dropped to his knees in front of him, wrapping his arms around his waist. “Whoa. What happened, sweetheart?” But when Bryan continued to cling to him, he looped his hands over Bryan’s shoulders. At times like these, it was best to let Bryan cry it out – then talk to him. “Shhh. Let it out, hana.”
As he rocked Bryan, his suspicions grew when Hark didn’t appear in the doorway with his cheeks ruddy from the cold, and dark, wary eyes. What the hell had happened? He kept up the soft crooning until Bryan finally seemed cried out. “Anger or hurt?” He asked the question softly. He was prepared for either answer. If it was hurt, he’d go out and find the bastard who’d hurt his hana, but if it was anger, a trip up to the playroom would be in order to put things right.
“Both, Master.” Bryan whispered.
He bit back a sigh. The last thing he wanted was Bryan to think he was exasperated with him. No, this had all the earmarks of a Hark tantrum. When will the damned fool learn to ask? How many times am I going to have to whip his ass until he gets it through his thick skull?
Bryan’s shuddering sigh brought him back to the man in his arms. “I only know of two people who can cause such turmoil. And since one of them is in front of me, I can only assume Hark has finally snapped.”
His hana’s head bobbed briefly before a soft, “he’s so dark and angry,” reached Diachi’s ears.
“I know.” He helped Bryan to his feet. “Come with me. We need to talk.” He steadied the slightly swaying man before guiding him to the great room. Sinking down on to the couch, he pulled Bryan into his arms. A loud, shaky, exhale teased his collarbone as Bryan relaxed against his shoulder. Idly Diachi began to finger comb his sub's hair. Bryan would talk. He just had to be patient, while the other man processed and sorted out his thoughts.
Finally after several minutes of total silence, he spoke. His first words shocked Diachi down to his soul.
“He misses you. He needs you.”
His fingers stilled. “What do you mean? I haven't gone anywhere.”
Bryan toyed with the button on the front of Diachi's shirt. “No, you don't get it. He needs you to take control. You've been here physically, Master, but you haven't dominated him.”
Diachi paused. Leave it to Bryan to cut to the root of the matter like a skilled surgeon. “I know, but we promised we would let him set the pace.”
Bryan looked up at him. “Yes, we did. But he's withdrawing again, hiding from his needs. It's one thing to dominate me, but when it comes to submitting to you, he keeps pulling back. It's like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. And he proved it tonight when he ran.”
Diachi studied his hana's upturned face. “And what do you suggest we do?”
A watery chuckle escaped Bryan. “I'd say drag his ass back here and tie him to our bed.”
A grin tugged at the corner of Diachi's lips. “The idea has merit.”
Bryan slowly sat up. “Unfortunately I don't think a little kinky slap and tickle is going to fix the issue.”
“No it won't.” Diachi picked up Bryan's hand, needing the connection. “So what do you think will work?”
Thoughtfully chewing on his lower lip, he squeezed Diachi's hand before answering. “He needs some one-on-one time with you — whether it's over a spanking bench, against a St. Andrew’s Cross, or bound to a pillory. He needs you to break past those walls he's hiding behind.” Bryan smirked. “He needs you to be his damned Dom, not just a friend with good intentions.”
Feeling a bit like an idiot at his sub's reprimand, Diachi sighed. “Leave it to you to point out the obvious.” He lifted their joined fingers to his lips. “Forgive me, but I was trying to handle him like I would you. I forgot he's not the same man or submissive as you are.”
Bryan nodded. “I don't claim to understand what exactly caused you to end your relationship originally, but Hark's just waiting for us to give up on him.”
Diachi growled. “It won’t happen. He’s a fool who should know better. I finish what I start, and we all agreed to give this thing a shot.”
“I know we did. But for whatever reason, he's ignoring the obvious. He thinks we're merely doing this out of pity — that we're going to kick him to the curb eventually, instead of trying to build a future together.”
Anger rose inside of him at the idea. “After I explain a few things to the stubborn fool, I'll prove exactly how serious we are about making this work. Maybe a warm ass will remind him we're not going away.”
Bryan chuckled. “Well, it would make my eye candy at work even more enjoyable knowing he's being reminded of your possession, even as he takes care of me.”
“Of course it would. You're such a brat.” He ruffled Bryan's hair. “Now we only have to figure out where he went.”
As if it were an omen, the phone rung next to the couch. He was tempted to ignore it in favor of hunting down Hark, but when Olivia's voice came over the machine, he snatched up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Care to tell me why the hell a damned injun just stormed through my front door looking like he's going to rain all over my parade?” Olivia's voice was waspish.
“Because I'm an idiot.” Diachi squeezed Bryan's hand. “Can you keep him there?”
“Give me a good reason why I should? I sent him to you for healing, not for you to fuck him up even more.”
He prayed for patience. “Have you ever heard the expression some things have to get a little messy before they get better? Well consider this one of those times. I may have fucked up, but Hark’s expecting me to just let him go.”
“And?” The tart question would've had him smiling if he wasn't pissed off at her little game.
“And it's not going to fucking happen. Bryan and I have too much invested in this to just let him walk without a word edgewise.”
Her sigh filtered through the phone. “So what are you going to do?”
Relief flowed through him. She, at least, was listening. “I'm going to go all Dom on his ass and remind him just what he's giving up if he walks away again.”
“Good. You have thirty minutes. If I don't see you come through my front door by then, I'm giving his stubborn ass to Jude to handle. I'm not going to risk having him tear up my club in a fit of rage.”
“I'll be there.” He released Bryan's hand and stood. “Just don't let him wander off.” Then he hung up without saying good bye. “Come on, he's at Olivia's.”
Bryan remained seated and slowly shook his head. “No.”
Diachi froze. “What the hell do you mean no? He has to realize we both still want him —”
“He realizes I need him. But you on the other hand? He's not so sure.”
“What?” Diachi wanted to pull his hair out. “I've gone to bed with a hard cock for the last week. The fool is too damned observant to miss my hard-on.”
Bryan stood and cupped his cheek before whispering a kiss across his cheek. “But you did nothing about it. You held us and ordered us to sleep.”
“So...I'm the Dom.” He was really trying to figure out what Bryan was driving at.
“Of course you are.” He looked at Diachi expectantly. “Aw, come on. What was it you once told me? That one of the foundi
ng tenants of BDSM is that a Dom puts his subs needs first, then indulges his own pleasure?”
“Yeah?” Then it was like a light bulb went on in his head. “He needs me to strip away his control. He needs me to force him to submit. It’s not just enough for him to see I desire him.”
Bryan nodded slowly. “Exactly. He's so tough on the outside, his walls are too high for sweet talking or rationalizing to work. You're going to have to push — to force the issue.” He wrapped his arm around Diachi and tipped his head to speak directly into his ear. “He needs you to be his Dom.” Then he pulled back. “So instead of arguing with me, why aren't you on the road? The Edens is a mess and you're going to be pushing to get there on time.”
The desire to do that was riding Diachi hard, but first he had to make sure Bryan could handle his absence after his earlier crying jag. “Will you be okay?”
Bryan's cheeks were flushed as he pulled back. “Yes, Master. He said some harsh things, but I've been there. I know it was more than likely frustration yelling at me, not my Sir. The tears were because it hurts to see him so torn up.”
“There’s my soft-hearted Bryan.” He jerked Bryan's head down and sealed their lips together.
After a short but thorough kiss, he released his hana loving the soft moan that escaped the other man. “We'll finish this later.'
Bryan nodded happily as he trailed Diachi toward the door. “Yes, Master.”
He grabbed his keys off the hook, then shoved his feet into his loafers. “Okay, I'm out of here. If you need anything, call Olivia at the club.”
“Will do. I'll even shower and take care of dinner.”
Diachi's heart melted. “Damn, I love you. Only you would take care of things here while I race off after another man.”
A cocky expression crossed Bryan's face and he placed a hand on one hip. “Try it with any other man than Sir and you'll find out I'm not all that lovable.”
Diachi couldn't stop the chuckle from bursting free. “I'd expect no less.”
“Good. Now you better haul your ass.” Bryan shoved him toward the door. “Go show Sir the error of his ways, then bring him back here. I have a bone to pick with him about his stupidity.”
* * * *
“I hope you realize the wrath you just brought down on your head.”
Hark stared down at the drink he'd been toying with for the past half hour as Olivia slid on to the barstool next to him. The scent of the scotch was potent and very tempting. But he'd promised both himself and Zhenya he wouldn't drink anymore. Especially after what his last bender had resulted in. But the need to loose himself in its fiery embrace was strong.
“Ignoring me isn't going to work. Or save your ass.” Olivia rapped on the bar to garner the bartender's attention. “Give me whatever he's drinking.”
With a towel over his shoulder, Darin nodded. “Sure thing, Mistress Olivia.”
While waiting for the drink, she turned back to face him while Hark wished the floor would swallow him up. The last thing he wanted to deal with was a nosey mistress bent on matchmaking. “Look, I came here for a little peace and quiet.”
She arched her eye brow at him, and lightly tapped her crop against her leather covered thigh. “Fat chance of that happening. The club has three demonstrations going on tonight. Master Caelan is teaching an advanced shabari class with Master Gabriel in the observation room, while Master Josh is holding a beginner's class for whip basics in one of the smaller classrooms.”
Realizing she'd only listed two, he looked up from the smoky amber liquid. “And the third?”
A devilish glint entered her eye as she downed the shot Darin had just delivered. “Oh, I think you'll enjoy it. It's going to be in the main room.” She patted his arm. “So everyone will get a clear view of Master Rai's demonstration on how to deal with his stubborn submissive.”
The bottom of his stomach dropped out at Diachi's name. Of all the fucked up nights to come in here, I had to pick the one Diachi and Bryan had a demo planned. He ignored the sting of pain in the region of his heart, one neither man had bothered to mention it to him, as he reached for his shot. Screw it. I need this.
But before the glass touched his lips, it was whisked away. He stared dumbfounded at his empty hand before a low voice teased his ear.
“There’ll be none of that, koibito. This will be done sober.”
Hark swallowed hard. Damn his luck, he didn’t want to deal with Sir at the moment. He wanted to hide. “Fuck.”
“Eventually we'll get there.” Diachi's expression hardened. “After I deal with you. Present.”
The firm command washed over Hark. Instead of freezing at the dark promise on his Sir’s face, something broke free inside of him. Diachi had come after him. And not just as a fucking friend.
Chapter Twenty
“No.” Hark crossed his arms over his chest.
Diachi narrowed his eyes and prepared himself to lock wills with Hark. “Are you safewording?”
Around them the club grew silent. He normally would've been leery to have this power struggle with a sub in front of others, but this time was different. Having an audience would drive home his point in a way Hark would be hard pressed to forget.
“No, I'm not.” Hark glared at him. “Because for me to need a safeword, I'd have to have a Dom.”
A slow smile crossed Diachi's face. “You do, you just don't seem to remember the fact.”
Hark's lips thinned. “Says who?”
“Says the man who drove through the hell of Chicago’s rush hour traffic to retrieve you.” Diachi moved closer, until their chests were less than an inch apart. “And the same man who's going to break through those damned walls you insist on hiding behind.”
Hark growled and tried to move away. “I'm not a damned package, nor am I a keep you can lay siege to.”
“No, what you are is a submissive who can't seem to follow orders.” Diachi fisted Hark's braid and drew his submissive's head down, loving how the man's breath caught in his throat. “But we'll deal with your disobedience later. For now, I'm going to make sure you never doubt your place in my life again.”
“And how do you plan to do that?” Hark smirked, obviously still trying to top from the bottom. “Last time I checked actions speak louder than words.”
“You'll see.” Then without breaking their connection, Diachi called out to Olivia, somewhere behind him. “Mistress Olivia, if you’d be a dear and grab the black bag out of my locker, I'd appreciate it.”
“Of course.” Before she left, Diachi could hear her consulting with Darin. The bartender disappeared to the other end of the bar, but Diachi wasn't going to worry about the man’s whereabouts. Not when he had a stubborn submissive to deal with.
Hark suddenly looked uncertain. “I don't —”
Diachi tugged on his braid once more. “Unless it's to safeword, I don't want to hear a word of out of you. It's time for you to quit hiding behind empty protests and put your money where your mouth is.” He waited for Hark to protest again, but he remained silent.
“Good.” He nodded. “I want your shirt off.”
Hark's lips thinned and it looked as if he were going argue with him. But before he could say a word, Diachi gave him one last warning.
“Go ahead. Do it, but if you do just remember there’ll be consequences for disobeying a direct order from your Dom.”
Hark flushed, his hands remaining at his sides.
“The same goes for ignoring a request from me.” Diachi nodded down at the dress shirt still covering Hark's chest.
Hark's hands slowly moved up to unbutton his shirt. As the edges parted, Diachi nearly drooled. Hark's chest was a work of art. Taut muscle lay over thick bones and an all-over golden tan. It drew his touch now just as surely as it had over ten years ago. He had to fight to keep his voice level. “That's a good start.” He lightly traced the opening. “But I want it off.”
Hark nodded and shrugged the material down his shoulders. When it caught at his elb
ows, Diachi caught the bulk of the shirt and twisted it, effectively restraining his arms behind his back. A low sound came from Hark when he stepped even closer.
“This is mine.” He cupped the obvious erection tenting the front of Hark's dress pants. Then he released Hark and slid his hand up across his abs to come to a stop directly over his sternum. “As well as this.”
Hark actually whimpered. “But —”
“But nothing. As soon as I get a few things through this thick skull.” He lightly tapped on Hark's temple. “Everything else will fall into place.” He leaned forward and nipped Hark's lower lip.
Hark blinked rapidly. “Can I ask a question, Sir?”
“Since you asked me so nicely, yes you may.”
Hark took a deep breath, his chest expanding before Diachi's very eyes. “Why are you doing this? I'm nothing more than a temporary guest in yours and Bryan's relationship.”
Instead of his earlier anger at the assumption, Diachi recognized Hark's statement for what it was. A plea for reassurance. “Because temporary is a word that’ll never apply to you. You're a dynamic Dom. Bryan can't sing your praises enough. But you're not just a Dom. I can feel the submissive you try to suppress and, before we leave here tonight, we’ll free him.”
A lone tear spilled out of the corner of Hark's eye. “What if he can't be freed?”
Diachi gave his braid a warning tug. “Nonsense. There’s always hope. I promise you this: not only will I break your inner submissive free, but there’ll be no doubt in your mind I've claimed every part of you.”
Hark's head bowed, hiding his eyes from Diachi.
“No, you won’t hide those expressive eyes from me.” He gave another yank on Hark's captured hair.
The soft fragrance of Olivia's perfume teased his nose, telling him the Mistress had returned with his bag.
Healing Hark (Doms of Chicago) Page 18
