by Tara Rose
Emme gave her a warm smile. “I call him ‘Master.’ Each Dom is different, and that’s the title Drake prefers. Is that what Stephen and Micah have asked you to do? Call them ‘Sir?’”
Valerie realized she had no idea if Emme and Drake knew what had happened last Saturday. She also didn’t know if she should tell Emme without first checking with Stephen and Micah.
“It’s all right. They told us everything.”
“Oh. Okay.” That certainly made it easier.
“I’m not upset, and neither is Drake, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Thank you. I’m so glad. I was afraid you would be.”
“Your life changed in more ways than one last weekend. Give yourself time to get used to it, okay? You don’t have to make any adjustments until you’re ready to, and you don’t have to decide right away if this lifestyle is what you want.”
“When did you know it was what you wanted?”
They put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher, and after Emme started it, she turned to face Valerie. “I grew up in the same kind of home as we have now. My parents were Dom and sub as well as husband and wife, so it was never a question for me.”
“I know next to nothing about this.”
“You know all you need to know because you already understand how important trust it. They’ll teach you the rest.”
Valerie shook her head, overcome by emotion once again. “I will never be able to thank all of you enough for what you’ve done. This is the second time I’ve been given a home with no questions asked.”
“You know how you can thank me?”
“Tell me. Please.”
“You can love my two youngest sons and make them happy. I want to see them mated. I want to see them settle down with a woman they love. I think that woman might be you. That’s what would make me happy.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask Emme why Stephen and Micah weren’t yet mated, but she kept quiet. That was Stephen and Micah’s story to tell. They went into another room to tackle the basket of clothes to be mended, and the time passed by so quickly that when Valerie heard Drake, Stephen, and Micah in the house again, she glanced at the clock, thinking less than an hour had passed. She was shocked to find that it was almost noon.
Emme put down the basket. “That’s enough sewing for today. They’ll want lunch. Would you like to help me?”
“Of course.”
* * * *
After lunch, Stephen and Micah took Valerie outside where they walked around the perimeter of the home. The snow crunched under their boots, and the crisp air filled Stephen’s senses, clearing his head for what felt like the first time all week. While it was wonderful having Valerie here in the same house, his heart broke because of the pain she was in.
He pointed out the home next door where Saffron, Landon, and Nevada had stayed last month. “Our parents own two other homes as well, one street over on Cactus Lane.”
“It sounds like they own most of the town.”
Both men smiled. “Just about,” said Micah. “But you have to admit they don’t act like it.”
“Oh, I agree. Not at all.”
“And Father would kick both our asses if we ever acted uppity about our wealth or social standing in this village,” said Stephen. He gave her a sideways glance. “Who ran your village?” Was her family as well connected and entrenched in day-to-day life in her village as his was?
“Friends of my father and uncle. It wasn’t like it is here, though. We had tight laws and you couldn’t simply walk up to one of the village council and speak with them, like people do with your family.”
“That must have been uncomfortable.” He couldn’t imagine living that way.
She shrugged. “It was all I knew. Until I came here, I had no idea other villages were run so differently.”
Once they were closer to the lake, they put on the ice skates they’d carried and Valerie took Micah’s offered arm, but she looked a bit afraid to go out on the ice. “Are you sure it’s frozen solid?”
“Absolutely. We were both out here the other night. I’m surprised you didn’t hear us.”
They glided easily over the surface, but Valerie still hung on to his arm. Stephen watched her face. She looked convinced that any second they’d break through the surface and plunge into the icy water. “I’m so sorry. I’ve avoided everyone for the entire week.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” said Micah.
“Well, I certainly have slept a lot. I feel as if I haven’t been fully awake for a month.”
“Grief does that to a person,” said Stephen. He skated past them and began to do a complicated series of turns and jumps. He knew he was showing off a bit, and he had to smile at that realization. The urge to impress her was so strong. He hadn’t felt this way since he’d been a schoolboy.
“Wow.” Valerie stopped skating and watched him with wide eyes. “Where did you learn to do that?”
“Fucking showoff.”
She glanced at Micah and couldn’t help but laugh. “I think someone is jealous of their little brother.”
He gave her a look filled with incredulity and humor. “Excuse me? I think it’s time we had that talk about protocol now.”
“Oh, let her skate first.” Stephen winked at her as he sped past the pair again, and then he executed a triple jump that had Valerie clapping her hands.
“Can you teach me to do that?”
“It would take years,” said Micah.
“Well, I have plenty of those.”
“Yes, you do.” He took her hand and began to pull her around the pond. “And if you’re not careful, you’ll spend them with a sore ass from all the spankings we’re going to give you.”
Valerie was laughing hard now. As Stephen watched her and Micah, it looked like she could barely keep up, but at the same time, she clearly was enjoying herself. “Why am I going to be spanked, Sir? What have I done wrong?”
“Well, let’s see? You laughed at me, you called me jealous, you have a smart mouth, and your attention to protocol this past week has been shit.”
Stephen was on the opposite side of her now, and he took her other hand as the three sped around the lake at breakneck speed. “What attention to protocol? There was none. And don’t forget how many times we brought her food this past week. She should have been on her knees in submission to us each morning, not lounging around in bed, waiting to be served.”
“I’m sorry, Sir.” Valerie’s voice came out in a gasp. She was still laughing, and Stephen wondered how she could speak at all right now. But the look on her face was one of exhilaration, and the faster they went, the more she seemed to enjoy it.
* * * *
“Sorry?” said Micah. “Sorry doesn’t cut it, Valerie. From this point on, you are to address us each as ‘Sir,’ even in front of our parents. You are to kneel before both of us each morning and pledge your submission for the day. And we each owe you one heck of a spanking, which I believe we shall take care of tonight. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
They finally stopped, and Valerie fell over in the snow at the far edge of the lake, holding her sides, still laughing. Stephen and Micah lay down on their backs, one on each side of her. Micah listened to her breathing return to normal as he gazed up at the few clouds flitting across the sky. The air smelled like it would snow later, and that gave him an idea.
“You know what I’d like to do? I’d like to come out here at night and watch it snow. We could even shift so that we could stay outdoors longer.”
She rolled onto her right side and gazed at him like he’d just suggested the best idea in the world. “Can we really do that, Sir? That would be so much fun.”
Micah shifted his weight so that he faced her. “Yes. We’ll do that. After we spank you, of course.”
Stephen rolled her onto her back and crawled on top of her, pinning her arms overhead. Valerie gasped but Micah could see that it was from arousal, and that reali
zation made his dick rock hard. “That’s right. Don’t think tempting us with snowfall at night and ice skating is going to get you out of your punishment.”
“I didn’t suggest the ice skating, Sir. You both did.”
She was obviously trying very hard not to laugh again, but all the emotion from the past week bubbled up and Micah couldn’t contain it any longer. He wanted her so badly again. Last week at the hotel had been the most amazing night of his life, and now to realize that she still wanted them both was almost too good to be true. “Unbelievable,” said Micah. “If I didn’t know any better, I would think she’s trying to get punished.”
Stephen tangled his fingers in her hair and gave it a tug. “Well then, we’ll have to oblige her.” Stephen kissed her, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him, moaning.
“Why don’t we go back inside?” Micah’s voice came out rough and deep. “I think it’s time to let Valerie become better acquainted with a few things inside the dungeon.”
Stephen released her mouth and crawled off her, taking her hand to help her up. “I agree.”
They didn’t speak as they took off their skates and then made their way around the lake. Micah was comfortable with the silence because he could barely breathe right now. His heart was actually racing. He was so excited it was ridiculous. All thoughts of Valerie’s father, her uncle, and the League faded away as he and Stephen led her into the basement, and Micah unlocked the door to their dungeon.
“More protocol,” said Micah, shedding his coat, boots, and gloves. “When you’re in here, you kneel until we tell you to rise.”
Valerie took off her coat, gloves, and boots, and then she dropped to her knees and watched their faces, as if waiting for further direction. Micah had to fight for each breath. This incredible girl was going to be his undoing.
Stephen shed his coat, gloves, and boots, grinning at her as he did so. “Eyes down. Don’t look at us while you’re kneeling until we say you can.”
* * * *
She dropped her gaze to the floor. This was what she’d been craving ever since her fantasies had first begun. She’d wanted this for the entire three months she’d known Stephen and Micah. How many subs had she watched in here do the same thing, and wished she were in their place? Now she was, only nobody else was here. They had the entire place to themselves.
Micah strolled toward the door. “I’m going to get water for all of us.”
“I’ll put on music.” She waited until Micah’s footsteps could be heard outside the dungeon, and then she risked a quick glance at Stephen. He was rummaging inside a gleaming wooden armoire with intricate carvings. She glanced at the floor again, desperate to know what he was taking out of the cupboard, but not wanting to risk getting caught.
When soft music filled the space, Valerie smiled. It wasn’t anything she recognized, but it was soothing and made her think of yoga poses and meditation. She was glad he hadn’t put on any heavy metal or rap. This was more ethereal and would put her in the right frame of mind for losing her mind and body to these two. Not that she had far to go in order to do that.
She caught his scent before she spotted his shoes in front of her. She wanted to look up into his eyes, but waited until he told her that she could. Stephen usually had a twinkle in his green eyes, and there weren’t too many times she hadn’t seen him with grin on his face. But right now, his expression was dead serious. He looked so alpha and in charge that Valerie wasn’t able to bite back her moan in time. This was going to be far more intense than last Saturday in their hotel room had been.
This was their home turf. In this room, they were in charge. She’d never watched them play. Each time she’d been here, they’d only served as Dungeon Monitors. Consequently, she had no idea what to expect, but instead of fearing that, the realization sent shivers up and down her spine. If the subtle but powerful change in Stephen right now was any indication of what she could expect, she was in for the ride of her life.
Chapter Thirteen
Micah walked in and placed several bottles of water on a table near the armoire. Valerie snapped her gaze back to Stephen’s face as Micah approached the pair, not sure if she should have watched him. Micah stared at her for a few minutes, his expression almost identical to Stephen’s. Valerie actually began to tremble at the intensity of their auras. She understood in a way she never had before the change that came over these two once they walked into this room.
“Stand up.” Valerie obeyed Micah’s voice. “Now take off your clothes. You’ll be naked the entire time you’re in here this afternoon. No one will disturb us. This will only be play and teaching you protocol. There will be no sex until we go upstairs later. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.” She felt more self-conscious undressing in front of them than she had when she’d been completely naked in their hotel room. This was entirely different. She’d seen people naked in here before, and hadn’t thought anything about it. But if others were here right now, could she do this? Would she ever reach the point where she was comfortable with that?
“She’s thinking too much already. I can see it on her face.” Stephen crossed to the table where he’d placed everything he’d taken out of the armoire, and picked up a long piece of silk. Valerie forced her hands to keep moving as she finished undressing. She stood in front of them, completely nude, and resisted the urge to cross her arms over her breasts. Their gazes penetrated to her very soul, making her feel exposed and vulnerable.
Stephen held up the silk. “We’re going to blindfold you. You won’t be alone, and we’ll tell you what’s going on. But some subs find this helps them relax more into the moment.”
“All right. Thank you, Sir.”
She couldn’t see a thing through the blindfold, including what little light was inside the dungeon, but she didn’t mind that as much as she’d thought she would. She took a deep breath and caught the scent of their combined colognes, the smell of the snow on their boots, and the odors of vanilla and leather in the room. She hadn’t noticed any of those before. The music filled her head and made her a bit woozy. This had been a great idea. Stephen and Micah had obviously done this before.
“Better already,” said Micah. “Her aura is entirely different now.”
“I had a feeling it would work.” Stephen brushed a finger along her left breast, and Valerie groaned. “You will have three safewords from now on. ‘Green’ for go, just like on a traffic light. It means you like what we’re doing and you want us to keep going or up the intensity. You will use ‘yellow’ for anything that makes you afraid, or if you need something adjusted like a limb. Also use that one if you need water or a bathroom break. ‘Red’ stops the scene immediately, no questions asked. Do you understand these words and their uses?”
Even his voice quality had changed, or perhaps she hadn’t heard the subtle tones before he’d blindfolded her? It almost lulled her to sleep. Valerie felt completely safe and secure. She was totally under his and Micah’s protection now. “Yes, Sir. I understand.” Her voice sounded breathy and far away, as though she was in a tunnel or underwater.
“Good girl.” He took her hand. “Take small steps. We won’t let you fall.” She had no idea where in the dungeon they were. It wasn’t that big, but she also hadn’t studied the layout the few times she’d been here before, so she had no points of orientation as they walked. “I’m sitting down now, and Micah is going to help you drape yourself over my knee.”
She sighed out loud as the image of that floated up. Her breathing grew rapid and her pulse began to race. This was really happening. She was positioned over Stephen’s right thigh, and she could feel his muscles tense through the fabric of his pants. Hands caressed her ass cheeks, teasing, and she began to moan and squirm against him because the lust was overwhelming. One of them clasped her wrists and gently brought her arms behind her back. She felt leather cuffs wrap around each wrist and heard them clip together.
“What color are you?” asked Micah, his voice sof
t yet full of command.
“Green, Sir.”
“Good girl. We’re so proud of you. Remember your safewords. Are you ready for your spanking?”
Oh stars… “Yes, Sir. I’m ready.” Was she? Too late now. This was it.
Four hard smacks were delivered to each ass cheek in quick succession, and Valerie cried out in surprise. It really fucking hurt, but the stinging also sent shock waves of desire straight to her soaked pussy and throbbing clit. Hands caressed her again, and she could actually hear them each breathing, harder now than before. Even their touch was different, but she wasn’t sure whose hand was where, and that made it more exciting.
Her arousal spiraled to crazy heights as the man she assumed was Stephen delivered six blows to each ass cheek this time. Valerie moaned and writhed against his leg, but her mobility was limited because of the cuffs around her wrists. Her ass cheeks were on fire already, but at the same time, she didn’t want him to stop.
When hands caressed her again, this time they also brushed across her asshole and her wet slit. She whimpered with the need to come, but she had a sneaking suspicion it would be a long time before they let her do that.
“What do you think?” asked Stephen. “Has she had enough from me for her first time?”
“I don’t know. Maybe a round or two with this, and then I’ll take my turn.”
“Oh stars,” she whispered. How could she take more, and then the same from Micah, and still walk later?
“Excuse me?” Micah’s voice was hard, and it sent shivers down her spine. “Was that a safeword?”
“No, Sir.”
“All right. Just checking.”
The next sensation felt like a leather strap or perhaps a soft paddle. Whatever it was, it stung like fucking crazy. He struck her ten times in a row with it, and Valerie wasn’t sure she could hold on. But when he finished, her nipples tingled and she knew all she’d have to do was flex her Kegel muscles and she’d come. She’d never been so damn turned on in her life, and she craved more.
