by Cara Adams
Piotr slung his sports bag onto the backseat of Alex’s car, noticing a parcel there. “What’s in the box?” he asked as he slid into the passenger seat.
“I bought a gift for Tatiana. I’ve never given her a gift before and I wanted to.”
Pain stabbed him. He’d never even thought to give her a present. How selfish was he? On the one hand he was busy saying he loved her so much he needed to protect her. Yet on the other hand, never once had he bought her flowers, or chocolates, or all those things a man was supposed to give his date. He was a selfish, self-centered, arrogant beast, and didn’t deserve her at all. It was just as well Alex had his head screwed on properly and could teach him to be a more caring person.
“I never even thought of that. Would you mind if I copied you and bought her some flowers on the way there?”
“Of course I don’t mind. We’re on the same team here. Our aim is to win Tatiana back.”
Alex was more generous than he deserved. It wasn’t Alex’s fault Tatiana had left them. It was totally due to him, yet Alex hadn’t reproached him, just helped him.
“You’re a good man, Alex. I don’t deserve your kindness.”
“Oh well, someone else already punched you, so I don’t have to do that.”
He laughed. “Thanks.”
They drove slowly through the small town and Alex parked at the mall so Piotr could go in and buy the flowers. He didn’t even know what kind to get. There were so many pretty bouquets and baskets.
The saleswoman came up to him. “Can I help you?”
“I don’t know what she’d like,” he said helplessly.
The middle aged woman stared at him. “If you’ve upset your woman, and don’t even know what her favorite flowers are, I suggest you apologize first, then make an effort to learn more about what she likes. Then she might like you better.”
That was good advice. And just one more thing he should have thought of for himself already. “Purple. She likes purple,” he said, remembering her fingernails.
The woman handed him a bouquet and he took it. “Thank you. You give good advice as well as sell pretty flowers.”
“Good luck with your lady,” she replied.
He hurried back to Alex’s car and laid the flowers on the backseat with Alex’s parcel, then got in the passenger seat again. “Okay, now for the hotel.”
Piotr was terrified she wouldn’t even let them come up to her room. That she wouldn’t talk to them. He thought she must have agreed to something, or the Alpha wouldn’t have told them where she was staying. But perhaps she’d have changed her mind, or maybe she’d just tell them to stay away from her forever. Or perhaps just him. After all, none of this was Alex’s fault. It was all down to his attitude.
I love her, surely she knows that. But will it be enough? It has to be.
Chapter Six
Tatiana had first gone to the gym and had a good workout. After sitting on airplanes and waiting in the airport it was good to stretch her body again. She’d followed that up with a swim in the pool. At first it seemed strange to see men and boys in the pool complex as well. She’d gotten used to the ladies-only sessions in Izmir. Now she was showered and changed into regular clothes once again. She’d loved the bright colors and delicate embroidery on the clothing in Turkey but jeans and a T-shirt suited her, too.
She sat cross-legged in the center of the bed thinking about herself and Piotr and Alex. Tatiana was content that she’d find useful work at the castle. There was her existing sewing job, plus the entertainment for the banquets, and the idea of making dress-up costumes for children. Likely she could do some office-style administration work from time to time too. It was enough. She wouldn’t feel she was taking advantage of the pack. She could be useful to them and a lot of what she would be doing would be tasks she’d enjoy.
She’d spent a lot of time thinking about herself and her feelings. She’d decided on the few areas she wasn’t prepared to compromise in. But she hadn’t really thought about Alex. Alex had tried very hard to see both sides of the problem. He’d remained calm and reasonable. It was he who’d carried on with their assigned task, getting the man who had a message for the Alpha away from the area, and then sending the message to their Alpha.
Now that she’d stopped thinking about everything from her own perspective, it was very obvious that Alex was the one who’d really achieved their aims. He’d stayed calm, cool, and focused on the task. He’d done the job. Then when Piotr was yelling and she was getting all defensive, it had been Alex once again who’d stayed calm and focused, trying to guide them to a mutual, achievable middle path. She made a mental note that if she began to feel upset again, she needed to listen to Alex and heed his advice.
Tatiana pulled out her cell phone and looked at the time. It was almost six. Odette had said the men would call her sometime around six thirty. That was logical as the chapel bell would ring to tell the tourists the castle was closing at six, but it always took a few minutes to ensure the last ones had gone and then to lock up the stores. She wondered if they’d call her immediately or change out of their uniforms first in the hope of meeting up with her. She’d already decided to talk to them, to rebuild their relationship straightaway. Talk, eat, go to bed. The talking was the essential first step so they wouldn’t fall into the same trouble again and again. But going to bed together was important as well as she wanted to demonstrate to Piotr that she was content to obey him in the dungeon and the bedroom. It was just out in the world he needed to remember she was an individual and capable of looking after herself.
But neither man would know her thoughts, so likely they’d ring first and get changed second. The hotel had several different restaurants. Tatiana jumped off the bed. I’ll go look at them and tell the men which one to meet me in. That’ll just fill in my time nicely before I talk to them.
She shoved her wallet and her key card in one pocket of her jeans and her cell phone in another, then walked to the elevator. Each button inside it listed what was on each floor, so she pressed two to look at the more formal dining room first, then changed her mind and pressed one. The casual one would likely be more her style.
She saw the restaurant sign hanging from the ceiling and walked toward it only to have a male voice say, “Tatiana?”
“Alex.” She turned around and there they were, Piotr and Alex, coming toward her, both looking a little hesitant. Alex was carrying a parcel and Piotr a bunch of flowers. She was happy just to see them, but bringing gifts as well! That was something she hadn’t even considered. They both stopped a socially polite few feet away from her and Alex said, “I didn’t really know what you liked, but these were so pretty I couldn’t resist them. I thought of you as soon as I saw them.” He handed her the box.
Piotr moved a little closer and held out the flowers a bit awkwardly. “I’m afraid I didn’t even think of a gift until I saw Alex’s parcel. But I promise to be more thoughtful in the future.”
“I’m touched. Thank you both. May I open the parcel?”
“Of course,” said Alex.
“There are chairs just back here a little way if you’d like to sit down.” Piotr gestured behind him.
She nodded and walked with them to a grouping of chairs with coffee tables between them and sat in a deep, comfortable armchair. She set the flowers on the table, turning them to face her so she could admire them, before untying the ribbon around the parcel. Carefully she unstuck the tape on one end, then the other end, opening the gift without hurting the wrapping paper. The paper was so pretty it seemed wrong somehow to just rip it to pieces and throw it away.
Inside was a box of six tiny tea candles in pale, pretty colors—cream, lilac, pale green, baby blue, soft pink, and lemon. Impulsively she leaned forward and kissed each man. “Thank you. They’re wonderful gifts.”
“You were going somewhere when we stopped you. May we come with you?” asked Piotr.
“I was just going to the restaurant to see if I wanted to have dinner t
here tonight. There are two restaurants here. A formal one on the second floor, and the more casual one on this level. Of course you can come with me.” She folded the wrapping paper neatly, rolled up the ribbon and tucked it into her pocket, then held the gift and paper in one hand and the flowers in the other. “Maybe we’d better take these back to my room first and put the flowers in water.”
They went back to the elevator and Piotr held the door for her while Alex took her key card and swiped it then said, “What floor?”
“Seven.”
Tatiana arranged the tea candles in a row on the counter, then took the flowers into the bathroom, dripping some water into their container before bring them back and placing them on the counter with the candles. “Okay, now I’m ready.”
Piotr took both her hands in his and said, “Tatiana, I’m so sorry for destroying what we three had. I didn’t mean to upset you or to be so boorish. Truly, I was just so scared you’d be hurt. When that man punched me I was terrified for you. Only for you. I know my reaction was over the top. I know you’re an adult. A capable, confident woman. I guess I’ll always worry about you but I promise to work much harder to control my fears in the future.”
“It’s my fault, too. I should have stayed calm and explained myself to you instead of leaving. I only left because I was so very angry. I should have reacted in a more mature manner, too.”
“Can we start afresh, please?” asked Piotr.
“Let’s start from before we argued. Pick up the relationship from after the message was delivered. There’s no need to go back any farther than that.”
“Thank you. I can assure you I’ve learned my lesson. You do understand it was because I love you? Because I care?”
“Yes, I understand. I think that’s why I reacted so strongly, too. And we made you suffer through it all even though it was none of your fault,” she said, turning to Alex.
“I love you as well. I felt so helpless when everything went wrong. I was watching a train wreck and had no idea how to save anyone. It was the worst moment of my life. I’ve missed you so much. It’s been like part of me had been cut off.”
Alex still looked as if he was in pain. Tatiana understood. As much fun as it had been going to an ocean-side city and experiencing so many new and wonderful things on what was almost a vacation, she’d missed both men incredibly as well.
She stepped forward and pulled Alex into a hug, then hugged Piotr.
Alex cleared his throat. “Do you want to go look at the restaurants now?”
Tatiana laughed. “Ready for a steak again are you?” she teased. Everywhere they’d gone, Alex’s first choice from the menu had always been steak. She’d eaten something different every time, but not him.
They all laughed and just as easily as that, their old relationship was back in place. Tatiana hoped they’d all learned enough to make sure it stayed like that, especially if things went wrong in the future.
* * * *
Alex was glad everyone liked the casual restaurant. He just wanted to sit with Tatiana, to hold her hand, to watch her as she ate, and to enjoy being together again. The past week had been horrible and he never wanted to live without her again. Piotr had been a different man, filled with anguish and despair. Alex much preferred the Dom in his usual assertive, knowledgeable role.
Because they were in public, they had to speak a bit circumspectly, but they were used to that after their time in Vienna. Soon they’d shared the last of their news and Piotr said, “Have you been staying here ever since you left us?”
“No, the manager sent me to Izmir.”
“Where’s that?” asked Alex. Geography wasn’t one of his best subjects, possibly because he’d never really considered traveling.
“On the ocean, in Turkey. It’s in the far west on the Aegean Sea not all that far from Greece. It’s a truly beautiful place. There’s a whole old city there that used to be called Smyrna.”
“Ah, now I understand. You were sent there as a result of the message we all received,” said Alex, remembering what the man on his motorcycle had told him.
“That’s right. The boss sent me straightaway to get some idea of the places the other teams might be interested in, before they’d actually started sending their people to stay there. It was a clever idea. I had a wonderful vacation and now he has the information he needs to brief the professional people who’ll be helping him in the job,” said Tatiana.
“Who was there with you?” asked Piotr. Alex thought his voice sounded very flat, almost monotonous, and guessed Piotr was trying very hard not to sound jealous or interfering.”
“No one. I was there by myself.”
“What?” Alex and Piotr both spoke together.
“It was amazing. The hotel had a ‘women only’ floor. There were ‘women only’ times to use the swimming pool, and I even had a female tour guide and lady taxi drivers. I don’t expect any of the other teams had even arrived yet, but if they had, logic would suggest they would be men and therefore not able to mix with me at all. The idea was purely brilliant.”
“I thought Turkey was a Western nation.” Alex was beginning to think he’d neglected more of his geography studies than he’d previously thought.
“It is, especially in the capital, I’m told. But the other culture is very powerful. Officially Turkey is a secular state with freedom of religion, but more than ninety percent of the people are Muslim, and Muslim prayers are held in every school. More than half the people take their religion very seriously, so there are provisions everywhere for women who wish to remain apart from men. All of which was perfect for me.”
Alex sat back and watched Tatiana. Her bright blue eyes sparkled and her face glowed as she told her story. Every movement she made was graceful, and he wanted to hold her so badly his dick was in agony. Finally, she had returned to them, not just safe and sound, but with renewed enthusiasm and a story of her own to tell.
He liked the way she’d done her hair. He’d watched her make that hairstyle once. After brushing her hair thoroughly, she’d parted it in the center, slid her thumb into her hair on the right side of the part, and pulled that much into her hand and braided it. She’d done the same on the other side of the part, then pulled the two narrow braids to the back of her head and braided them together tying off the end. Then her hair itself was keeping the rest of her hair off her face and neat without needing any pins, combs, or clips. It was so neat and pretty.
Right now they were doing far more than sharing their news of the past week. They were rebuilding their love and trust in each other. Laying stone on stone, replacing the walls they’d so carelessly and thoughtlessly torn down in anger. But he was certain both Piotr and Tatiana would be all the stronger for having been apart for a week. It had made all three of them realize how much they wanted and needed each other. Not that he ever wanted to experience such agony again.
After their meal they sat and talked some more holding their coffee cups and simply looking at each other, enjoying being together again. Finally Piotr said, “May we come to your room, please, Tatiana?”
“Of course. I don’t suppose you brought any of your toys with you, did you?”
“I did, but I’d also like to light a few of your tea candles, if I may.”
Alex’s breath hitched. He knew what a Dom could do with a lit candle, and tea candles were perfect, burning at a lower temperature than some other types of wax. It seemed Tatiana knew, or guessed, as well, because her mouth formed into an o and she gulped and nodded. Alex stood and pulled out Tatiana’s chair for her. His dick was screaming to be let out to play. It was time to go back upstairs.
* * * *
Piotr collected his sports bag from Alex’s car and then stopped at one of the stores in the hotel to buy a box of matches. He was thrilled when he arrived at Tatiana’s room and found both his subs sitting naked on the bed waiting for him. Quickly he got out the blindfolds, handcuffs, and ball gags then blindfolded them both.
His next step
was to insert the ball gags, then he said quietly, “Lie on your stomachs now.”
The bed didn’t have a headboard, so he had to just cuff their wrists together, stretching their arms above their heads for a little extra tension. The cuffs not only prevented them from interrupting him, but they should also give them a heightened sense of helplessness and of being under his control. He knew they wouldn’t try to cheat and hold each other’s hand or anything like that.
Piotr let them stay like that while he left the room to visit the ice machine, filling the bucket. He wondered if Tatiana would guess what was about to happen. Likely Alex would, but that should just increase his anticipation. Not being able to see, they would both be hyperalert for any sounds such as the door opening and closing, and the slight metallic clink as he picked up the ice bucket. The question would be, if they guessed what he planned to do with some of the candle wax, would they take their guesswork another step and realize he’d use ice on them as well? All would be revealed soon enough.
Piotr left the ice bucket on the counter with everything else and undressed. His cock was aching with desire. He seemed to have spent the entire past week in the depths of despair that he’d irretrievably ruined their relationship, or unbearably aroused by thoughts of Tatiana’s delightful body. She was a healthy weight, neither so thin that her bones stuck out everywhere, nor with rolls of extra flesh, just a delicious roundness to all the places that screamed “woman” to him. Her breasts and hips, her ass and belly.
He took his flogger out of the sports bag and cracked it in the air, wondering whether they’d recognize the more muted sound of the flogger, or think it was his whip, or even a length of rope. Standing on the same side of the bed as Alex, Piotr flogged Alex’s ass hard, then used the strands more gently on the other man’s shoulders and thighs, before returning to lay three hard strokes on his ass. Then Piotr walked around to Tatiana’s side of the bed. Her skin was more delicate and he was always a lot more cautious not to strike her as hard or as frequently. Half a dozen sharp strokes on her ass, then one each on her shoulders and thighs was enough he thought.
