by Shaw, Leia
“I don’t know.” She stared into her coffee. “I just know I want to try and that I will try.”
That sounded like he was her last resort. He sat back, feeling the back of the chair dig in. If this had just been anyone, he wouldn’t hesitate to say no. But Ivy – he doubted he’d ever grow back the part of his heart he’d gifted to her.
Then there was Reece and Scarlet. For a second he was tempted to tell Ivy he was involved with them. But he wasn’t really, was he? Any day he expected them to announce he’d taught them all they needed to know. They were too nice to just kick him out but he couldn’t stick around forever as a third wheel Dom. Ivy though – was that any healthier?
“What are you thinking, Malachi?” She reached across and sneaked her hand under his. The shock of her skin on his after so much time had passed woke him up like grabbing a live wire.
Zap. One gorgeous sexy woman sat here, with her hazel-green eyes all watery, waiting to see if he wanted to take charge of her. How could he say no?
“I’m thinking that I need to think some more. That’s all I can promise you, girl.” But he squeezed her hand and smiled at the grin that flashed across her face.
“Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Another deep breath as she rallied but he kept his focus higher with a monumental effort. “Ahem. And thank you again. I know I didn’t treat you very well when I left. I appreciate your forgiveness.” She rose and pecked him on the cheek, lingering there an inch away as if expecting him to meet her mouth with his. But after a second or two, he shook his head.
When she lightly kissed him anyway he still kept himself from upping the ante. Gently, he pushed her away. “You’re welcome, Ivy. If I did say yes though, we’d both have to change a bit.”
“For sure.”
They chatted some more and caught up on news until she had to leave for a shift at the jewelry store.
Funny, all he could think of, when he waved goodbye from the gate, was not about her. Ivy’s small kiss had brought back the memory of how Scarlet had met his lips and moaned under him. He’d worked hard at showing her that a man could kiss as good as any woman, used every technique he had – gentle and rough, tongue, lips, and teeth, even at one stage, his hand caressing her nape and her back and a little lower. Another few inches southward and he’d have had her ass under his hand.
Domme or not, lesbian or not, she’d enjoyed that. Fuck, so had he. Maybe she was thinner than the girls he’d always gone for, but her eyes drew him in. And her personality. What other woman would play video games with him late into the night, smack-talking and swearing like a sailor? Reece, of course, was another matter. Even her lectures about keeping his feet off the couch were adorable. The two of them together...he gazed unseeing along the dust-clouded road...together they were a dream.
Maybe he had a chance with them, if Scarlet was bi?
With Ivy it was sex appeal and fun times and kink, and love – he’d been sure it was that too. While with Reece and Scarlet, he seemed to just slide into their life and be friends and the kink wove into it all in some fantastic way, and he didn’t quite understand what the difference was but he felt more alive around them.
What if that kiss hadn’t been an accident and a one-off like she’d protested after? Damn the woman had gone so beetroot red. She’d kissed him with her eyes shut with Reece doing whatever it was she was doing to her throat. And those sexy, low-pitched sounds Scarlet had made against his mouth.
Then he refocused on the dilapidated timber of the gate in front of him. On the splinters and the peeling paint. Get real.
He smacked himself on the head with his palm. “What the fuck am I thinking?” He was intruding on their lives.
He should give up. The thought fought him tooth and nail, but he had to stop kidding himself. There was no future there, as much as he cared about them.
But could he actually change enough to make Ivy happy?
There were plenty of submissives out there. It was a pity he always liked the unattainable ones or the ones who wanted him to be what he wasn’t.
He leaned his forearm on the gatepost and tried to think past the ache in the middle of his forehead. If it weren’t for Reece and Scarlett already being in love, he’d have asked them if they’d consider going further with him. Risk and gut-wrenching disappointment were as much a part of loving someone as joy. He knew that. He could stand the pain of a no. It wasn’t that.
“I’m better off seeing if I can make it work with Ivy,” he muttered.
Then he turned away and headed for the back of the house where the woodpile lurked. One of the jobs his grandfather had liked giving him was chopping wood for his old stove. He didn’t have a wood stove here but it was the best exercise for getting rid of bad moods.
That thought triggered memories of the welcome his family had always received when they visited Grandpa. The man had so few visitors. To Malachi, his farm had been like a small jewel in the countryside. He recalled the stark beauty, but also the loneliness on his grandfather’s face when they waved goodbye at the end of each visit. That had tugged at his heart, every time.
The woodpile was in front of his feet and he leaned down and levered the axe from the log, breathing in a hint of the fresh timber smell.
He sank the axe in the wood. What was the point of owning a piece of beauty if he was the only one out here?
***
It was early evening when he and Reece arrived back at the girls’ apartment. The walk along the beach in front of the boardwalk had used up a fair bit of time, although Scarlet still wasn’t home. She and Jude had been working on a house in Felix and had to drive back late.
Strolling along the shoreline with Reece by himself had only made him sad, strangely. Despite the differences between tattooing and fashion, they clicked in so many ways. Art was art, he supposed.
The intricate whorls of a shell were something any adult had seen a thousand times. But when he’d shown her a conch shell he’d picked up from the swirling froth of the shallows, she’d smiled, studied it for as long as he might have then tucked it into a pocket. Then she’d kissed him and said thank you. On more than one occasion, he’d spotted her with it out of her pocket simply smoothing her thumb across the shell.
That attitude toward beauty spoke to his soul. Not everyone got that. They looked at his tattoos and figured he rode motorcycles and listened to rock music. Which wasn’t far from the truth but nobody guessed he enjoyed raising chickens and painting with oils.
He stood on one leg to get his shoes off. Tracking sand into the apartment apparently warranted the death penalty. At the other end of the little entranceway, next to the umbrella stand, Reece was bending over brushing sand off her foot with her fingers. The view was enticing. Her red shorts shaped up into her butt, and at the very bottom of the shorts, the white lace of her panties showed.
She looked past her thighs and spotted him looking at her.
“Nice ass.” He grinned. “You don’t seriously expect me to resist that display?”
“I’m not sure whether to be grateful for the compliment or outraged.”
“Both?” He patted his shorts. “Damn.” He’d left his wallet in the car’s glove box. The pocket on these shorts had a rip so he’d stashed the wallet in the car while they walked.
Reece raised an eyebrow then straightened.
“I left my wallet in the glove compartment. I’ll be back in a minute.” Shoes? He frowned. No, he wouldn’t need them.
“I’d make a joke about you getting forgetful in your old age...”
Hand on the door, he half-turned and rose to the bait, laid out a challenge. “Be careful, baby girl.”
She waggled her hips. “I was just going to point out that your brain’s suffering due to all your blood rushing to your hard-on.” She stared pointedly at his groin with her tongue on her lip in blatant mockery.
Maybe yesterday he’d have laughed but now, after Ivy’s visit, he had a need to assert himself. And why not Reec
e? Scarlet had recently declared it open season on her sub, where he was concerned.
Besides, that cheeky grin was begging for it.
He pointed a finger at her with the hand on the door. “We’ll deal with that sass when I come back. Wait for me in the kitchen.” Close to where he’d find pervertibles if he needed them.
“What?” Her mouth fell open and doubt flooded her eyes.
All the way down to car and back he had an extra bounce in his step. Still no Scarlet... Punishing Reece, all by himself. Now that really gave him a hard-on.
He found her waiting where he’d told her to, next to the kitchen table, even if she was fidgeting with the back of a chair and pretending to be fascinated by a speck of something. That was the most blatant show of nerves from her he’d ever seen. And he’d chased her around the apartment the other day.
“Now listen, Scarlet wouldn’t like you punishing me when she’s not here.”
Interesting. She was admitting that he could do something though. “You heard what she said. I can discipline you if I think I need to.” He smiled evilly. “And I do need to.”
“I don’t think she meant now. Maybe we should wait.”
“Is she your Domme?”
Deep breath. “Yes.”
“Did she say I was allowed to if she wasn’t here?”
“Yes.” Her small scowl spurred him on.
“Good.” He couldn’t resist taking this further. “And the only thing she said I wasn’t allowed to do was?”
The rest came out in a rush and her cheeks flushed. “She said you couldn’t fuck me or ask for sexual favors.”
“Exactly. Bring me that chair.”
“I’m –”
“Now.”
Though she flinched, she brought it to him. Obedience to his command. Nice.
He pulled the chair around and sat. “Undo the drawstring of your shorts and loosen them then lie down across my lap.”
The cute thing was that along with that flushed look on her cheeks, he could see her nipples poking up the shirt material. The poor girl was more than embarrassed, she liked the idea of him punishing her. As for himself, he could’ve lit a small fire with his eyes. And already he was imagining her ass under his hand.
“Nooo.” Then she pouted. God take him to hell and back, she pouted.
“You do know that’s like catnip to a Dom? Pouting at me.”
“So if I pout you’ll come over and rub yourself all over me and purr?” Her eyebrows arched.
“If I have to come get you, your ass will be sore for a week. Here! Now!” He pointed.
“Okaaay. Don’t get all growly.”
“Sir. That comment earned you a few extra swats.”
“Fine. Don’t get all growly, Sir.” Her guilty expression mixed with the brattiness of her tone was so fucking adorable he almost let it go.
“You really ask for it, don’t you, girl?” He sighed and shook his head. “And here I thought you were an easy one. You could give Gemma a run for her money.”
She smirked. “Does that mean you find me so hilarious you won’t spank me?”
“No, it means if you don’t stop the mouthiness, you’ll be doing corner time too.”
Like any Dom’s dream, her eyes widened for a moment. Then her mouth contorted and she lowered her eyes. “Sorry, Sir.” Without further prompting, she slowly undid the little white bow at the front of her shorts and wiggled the waistband outward.
Dayum. The way her hips and belly worked the eyes – he could observe that dance of muscle all day. And Reece obeying him when he was the only Dom in sight? Fuck. He cruised his gaze down those curves – the girl made him drool whenever she swayed her sexy ass across a room. He really needed to thank Scarlet for this present.
When she bent and slid across his lap, ending up nicely balanced with her hands on the floor, he patted her behind. “Good girl.”
She didn’t reply to that but she did wriggle the smallest amount. Talk about hard-ons, his couldn’t be comfortable for her to lie across. Which added to the fun.
Without hurry, he hooked his fingers in the back of the waist and worked them down as far as he could. Exposing skin. The warmth of her flesh made him want to bite her. What a terrible fucking pity, her underwear came down with the shorts. He laid his palm fully on the best part of the lower curve – the sweet spot. He’d once gotten Ivy to come with spanking her there plus a little clit stimulation.
“Hey,” she shouted and reached back to cover herself. “No getting me naked.”
“Shush. It’s my decision how I punish you, not yours. If your shorts stay on they’d protect you from my hand and we don’t want that do we?”
“I do!”
He chuckled. “Besides, it’d be a crime not to do this with your ass bare.”
“Don’t know what country you come from,” she muttered, “but here in the USA pulling down women’s shorts against their will and staring at their asses is a crime.”
“Ah. The feistiness returns. That’s five more. Let’s get this show on the road. Twenty will do. Move your hand.”
“Twenty!”
“Yep. And if I have to tell you to move your hand again, it’ll be twenty-five.”
Her hand flew to the floor and he laughed. He smacked her, grinned at the first yelp then began working his way up in force. Taking his time seemed like a great idea, especially when he could sightsee along the way. She squeaked again now and then, her breathing hastened and her ass blushed red and pink.
“Ten.” He stopped yet again to admire the jiggle of her flesh then to smooth his hand in circles. The last three had been hard ones. And her gasps had sounded half-choked. He had a desire to see how much this girl could take.
“That one hurt!” She shifted on her hands. “Get it done.”
“Bossing me? If you want a longer spanking, all you have to do is ask.”
“Malachi!”
“Yes?” He grinned down at her, half hoping she’d give him another excuse.
She grunted in clear exasperation. “Nothing.”
The front door slammed and she whispered, “Now you’ll get it.”
He didn’t think so and he did another five while he waited for Scarlet to tramp into the room.
“Ow! Ow!” As she struggled to move, Reece clawed at the floor, but he pinned her down.
“Oh my!” Eyes widening, Scarlet stopped dead. She slung her bag over onto a chair. “What has she been doing, Malachi?” She came closer and went to one knee before Reece. “Hi, kitten.”
“Being a naughty little brat.”
“I told him you’d be mad. Now unleash your fury on him.” The indignant tone only resulted in Scarlet smiling.
She chuckled. “Poor, kitten. At the mercy of two Doms.”
Reece growled.
“I need all the help I can get keeping you in line. And anyway this is an excellent sight to come home to.”
He winked at her. “I saved you the last five.”
“Perfect! I have something new too.” She scrambled to her feet, went to her bag and rummaged, only to return triumphantly holding a large wooden spoon. “I brought reinforcements.”
“What! Scarlet, no!”
Reece made as if to rise so he pushed her body down again to his lap and leaned on her. “Holding down a wriggling woman is one of my favorite hobbies. If you’re using that, I’ll keep my fingers up here.” The murmured small curses Reece was directing at the rug made him smirk. “Hurry up before she gets herself in more trouble.”
At that Scarlet came around to stand next to his chair, raised the spoon and delivered five hard smacks with the flat spoon. Each one extracted a loud yelp from Reece and a scream on the last one.
At that both he and Scarlet scoffed a little. He tickled between her legs. “It wasn’t that bad, girl.”
“I was going easy on you.” Scarlet pulled her to her feet and held Reece while gently helping Malachi to tug her shorts back up. “You’re a good actress though. If I di
dn’t know you so well, I might have thought you didn’t like it.”
“I didn’t!” She had her head half buried in Scarlet’s shoulder as her Domme rubbed her back and made soothing sounds. “The two of you need to go to Dom boot camp or something. That hurt way too much and you’re not supposed to tease me.”
“Awww.” Scarlet kissed her head. “I’m sure it’s a Domme privilege to point out when their sub is being dramatic.”
Malachi couldn’t help grinning at that explanation. Sounded right to him. Though the way Reece was snuggling in went to his heart. They were such a cute couple.
Hesitantly he stood and went to them, standing to one side of and a little behind Reece. He tucked a few strands of her hair behind her ear and squeezed her shoulder, wishing he could do more. Aftercare had always been one of his favorite things too, after holding them down, and doing the punishment, and...hell he had a lot of favorites.
“Come here,” Scarlet whispered, crooking a finger.
Slowly, he stepped in and put his arms around them both. Only lightly, especially with Scarlet.
Despite his questioning look and raised eyebrows, Scarlet just smiled. “Malachi needs a hug too, I think, kitten. It’s hard on a Dom, punishing a pretty girl like you.”
The one eyed peek that Reece gave him was soft and innocent. God, if his heart melted anymore he’d be a puddle on the frickin floor. These girls...
His eyes weren’t watering were they? They had better not be. He sighed and tightened his hug.
***
Funny how proud he was of this place. With his foot, he held the spring-loaded front screen door open for Scarlet and Reece. On the sunlit lawn he spotted Esmeralda the dumb chicken that escaped every second day. Showing the girls around the outside of the farmhouse had really tickled him even if it was only a rundown hundred-acre place.
“So, are you turning into a farmer, Malachi?” Reece asked as she flopped onto the couch. Scarlet slid in next to her.
He didn’t bother sitting since he knew where this was heading. “I wish. Not today or even next year. Not until I can afford to do more. Right now, I’m more a weird tattooed and kinky guy who likes pseudo farming, fresh air, and a place where I don’t elbow somebody whenever I walk to the mail box.”
