Submitting to Fate (A Collection of Strays Book 5)

by Toby Wise

  “Are you serious?”

  Cameron laughs so hard that his face is red. “Oh my gods. Looks like this pile is for me!”

  Dad steps up, his mouth opening and closing over and over. “I don’t even know what to do with you, brat.”

  Cameron wipes his eyes. “You could start by giving me my present.”

  “I think I’m gonna keep your present and use it myself,” Dad tells him, gently shoving Cameron over with his foot.

  “Okay, okay,” Cameron murmurs, looking around at all of our unimpressed faces. “Raise your hand if you got me a serious present.” This time only Dad and Sam raise their hands. “That’s what I thought,” Cameron says, nodding his head like he had this entire thing planned already. “Here’s the deal.” He bends down, pulling a giant bag from the back of the tree. “I bought everyone presents knowing you’d all be getting me something hilarious. That way everyone actually gets something.”

  Jace comes to sit beside Cameron. “You’re such an ass,” he says but there’s a little smirk on his lips as he says it. “You’re very lucky you’re cute or I’d be really pissed right now.”

  Cameron rolls his eyes and leans over to kiss Jace’s cheek. “You all love and adore me.”

  “Keep telling yourself that,” I say with a shake of my head.

  “Okay. So I have couple gifts for everyone,” he declares standing up. He slides a Santa hat onto his head before digging into his bag. “This one is for Sam and Isaiah!”

  Isaiah takes the package, their eyebrows screaming how suspicious they’re feeling. Which honestly I don’t blame them one bit. Sam helps tear the paper away and they pull matching coffee mugs free. Okay, so I was expecting much worse.

  “I know how much you two love drinking coffee together in the morning,” Cameron says with a giggle.

  Isaiah turns the mugs around so everyone can read them. Isaiah’s says ‘I like his’ with a picture of a rooster on it while Sam’s reads ‘I like their’ with a picture of a donkey. I can’t help but snort. Wyn giggles against my side, no doubt the ‘adult hot chocolates’ hitting him. “I like your ass and cock,” he says muffled against my shirt. “That’s so fucking funny. I want a set!”

  “I’ll see where Cameron bought them from.”

  “And now for Elwood and Frankie!” Cameron declares, picking up another gift and tossing it over to Elwood.

  “Go ahead, baby,” Frankie says, leaning away from the box like it might bite him. Elwood narrows his eyes at Cameron before pulling the paper away. Opening the box he takes out two sets of boxers. One set has a bunch of tiny Elwood faces across the front and one big Elwood on the ass. The other pair is the same but with Frankie’s face.

  “So you’ll never forget who your ass belongs to!”

  Frankie’s face turns as bright as his red hair and he shakes his head at Cameron. And yet, he smooths his hands over the boxers with a smile. I can tell he secretly loves them.

  From beside me, my mate pinches my thigh. “I want a pair of those for you! My face across your cute little tushy.”

  “Shh,” I hiss, my cheeks heating. “Not everyone needs to know that.”

  “This one is for you,” Cameron says, handing a gift bag to Dad.

  Dad opens it, pulling out a pillow that reads ‘We’ve had sex on this couch’. He shrugs and tosses it onto the couch Frankie, Elwood, Sam, and Isaiah are all on. They squirm and groan, complaining but Dad laughs, thrilled at making his kids uncomfortable.

  “And this one is for you, Pops.”

  Pops raises a brow, snorting as he pulls out another pillow. This one reads ‘And this one too’. He tosses it towards the couch that River and Mandy are sitting on. “Really?” Mandy asks with a wrinkled nose. “Can’t you just keep it in the bedroom like everyone else?”

  “Just wait til you’re mated,” Dad says. “Then you can judge.”

  Mandy sticks her tongue out at him, making us all laugh.

  “Don’t worry, Mandy. I didn’t forget about you!”

  “I wish you would have,” Mandy murmurs, crossing her arms over her chest after tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder.

  “You’re one of my favorite sisters! There’s no way I could forget you,” he says, setting a package in her lap.

  Mandy opens the box slowly, her eyes darting from the box up to Cameron. She pulls her gift out. “I don’t get it,” she says slowly. “This isn’t a gag gift. This is the iPad I wanted.”

  Cameron shrugs. “Since you’re the last single person of the group I figured you needed something to watch your porn on.”

  “I hate you,” she says before hugging him. “Thanks.”

  “No problem. I even bookmarked a few of my favorites for you.” And with that, Mandy tosses the sex pillow at his head.

  “This one is for us,” Cameron says, handing a gift bag to Jace. “You and River can open it.”

  “This is all you, River,” Jace murmurs, tossing the bag into River’s lap. River peaks through the tissue paper and his face turns red.

  “Nope,” he whispers. “Not opening this.”

  “Oh come on,” Cameron says. “It’s fine. We’re all adults here.”

  “Nope.”

  Jace pulls the paper away, letting out a laugh. “It’s just lube. Lots and lots of lube. Jesus.”

  Cameron shrugs. “It’ll get used.”

  “Too much information,” Pops murmurs. “No one wants to hear about what their kids get up to. Or their brother,” he adds on. “Yeah, I’m done thinking about that. Next present?”

  “Alright. This one is for Wyn and Rhett. My boss and my brother.” He walks over with a box in his hands. “I don’t know if you know this yet, Rhett, but Wyn is into some stuff. I figured you could use this.”

  Wyn looks absolutely delighted as he pulls the paper away and I can’t help but feel fond mixing with my embarrassment. Wyn carefully pulls something black out of the box. “Oh,” he breathes. “This is gorgeous. Where did you find this?”

  “Tony helped me. We found a website that sold stuff like that.”

  I finally figure out what it is and I wanna hide. It’s a black leather paddle. I look in the box, finding what I can only assume is ass cream to help ease the sting after a spanking. “Jesus Christ,” I whisper.

  Cameron shrugs as Wyn continues to ogle his new paddle. “I don’t judge. Different strokes for different folks and all that.”

  “Right. Just so we’re clear? You’re dead to me.”

  “You love me. And I’m sure you’ll be thanking me for that cream later!”

  “Alright, alright. I’m pretty sure that’s enough,” Dad says, putting his hand on Cameron’s shoulder. His hand finds Cameron’s cheek before he’s pulling an envelope from his pocket. “I have something for you. It’s for all three of you.”

  I watch as Cam opens the envelope, his eyes growing wide as he reads before they’re turning glassy. “Oh,” he breathes. “Is this for real? Are you serious?”

  “Yeah, Cam. I’m very serious.”

  Cameron turns towards Jace and River, pulling them into a three way hug as he explains the paperwork Dad gave him belonging to a little boy in the ER. The triad have been talking about adopting, telling Dad to keep an eye on things at work. Looks like their family is gonna be growing again really soon.

  “Hey, babe?” Wyn asks, tilting his head up to look at me. His eyes are a bit glassy, his lips looking soft with a small smile on them.

  “Yeah, Wyn?”

  “Can we move here?”

  “What?”

  Wyn nudges me with his nose. “I know there’s a cabin next to Elwood’s with our names on it. We should move here. It’ll be good for the kids and I miss being able to fly whenever I want.”

  “Yeah,” I whisper, my chest feeling tight with emotion, my cheeks hurting from how big my smile is. “Let’s move home.”

  He kisses me and in that moment, everything feels perfect in the world.

  Epilogue

  Wy
n

  As I put the twins to bed, anticipation thrums through my chest. I lean down, kissing them each on the head before stepping away. With one last look, I flip on the baby monitor and close their door.

  Dog runs between my legs, rubbing himself against me as I walk. I think back on the day, a small smile playing at my lips. Rhett had been bratty all day, sassing me and talking back every chance he got. I know the buzzing in his head had been bad and it made me happy to see him sink into his brat role, to learn exactly when to push and what’s too far. My perfect, strong alpha was ready to submit. And I was ready to take care of him.

  I pick up Dog, giving him a quick kiss on the head as I look out the window, sighing happily when I find the forest all around us. The lights at Elwood and Frankie’s house are all off, no doubt everyone already put to bed. With a final pet, I set Dog down, letting him run off to the living room. Stepping into our room, I shut the door behind me, setting the baby monitor on my dresser.

  “I see you’ve decided to be a good boy tonight, huh?”

  Rhett looks up from his place on his knees. Looking through his lashes, he bites his lip, knowing exactly how he looks. His eyes are bright with excitement, matching my own.

  “Yes, Idris,” he says before adding, “for now at least.”

  “There’s my brat,” I say with a chuckle. I get up on the bed until I’m sitting against the headboard, my legs stretched out in front of me. “Stand up, Everett. I want you to strip for me.”

  I put my hands behind my head, watching as my beautiful mate slowly pulls his clothes off, folding them and setting them on the chair just the way I like it. So steady in his movements, so much more confident than when we first mated. I love seeing the way he’s come into himself, it fills me with pride and wonder.

  Once he’s completely naked, Rhett stands at the end of the bed, waiting for my next order. Gods, he’s being such a good boy tonight, no sass or fuss. He must really need the submission and I’m more than happy to provide it for him.

  “I want you to lay across my lap,” I tell him, my voice steady and confident despite the excitement rising up in my belly.

  My mate bites his bottom lip for a moment before slowly crawling up the bed. Gods, the sight steals my breath. He looks like the predator he is as he stalks up my body. He kisses my lips once before lowering himself across my lap. His ass points towards my right, his head at my left. He’s naked and on display, all of his tan toned skin makes my mouth water.

  “You look amazing like this,” I murmur, my right hand sliding up and down his spine a few times, making him used to my touch. His skin is so warm, always running a little hotter than me.

  “Are you gonna actually do anything or are you just gonna put me to sleep?” Everett sasses, because yes, this is now one hundred percent my perfect brat. In retaliation, I slap his ass cheek, the clap ringing through our otherwise quiet room. Everett makes a little noise at the back of his throat.

  My eyes linger on his ass as my red handprint blooms against his skin. It’s so pretty there, marking him as mine all over again. “You’ve been so bratty today,” I say as I run my hand over the mark I’ve just left, easing the sting a bit. His hips move up ever so slightly, seeking out my touch, silently begging for more.

  “You should punish me, Idris,” Everett says back, his breath coming out heavier, his voice husky with want. “I need a spanking.”

  “I agree, you do. I’m gonna spank your pretty ass until it’s red and aching.”

  Everett whimpers, his hips squirming. I can feel the way he’s growing hard against my lap. I squeeze my thighs together just slightly, his hard cock resting in the space I create between my thighs.

  “I’m gonna spank you until all you can think about is me and my hand. But I don’t want you to come until I tell you. Understood?”

  “Yes, Idris.” And then he whispers desperately, “please, Idris. I need it.”

  “I know you do, sweetheart. I’ve got you.” The sound of the next slap seems to jolt us both. I make sure my slaps don’t have a pattern, always hitting a different spot on his cheeks and upper thighs, always a different intensity, making Everett unable to settle, always waiting for the next hit, not knowing what’s coming. He accepts the spanking so beautifully, moaning and whimpering with how much he loves the stinging pleasure.

  “You’re doing so well,” I tell him. “So good for me.”

  “Thank you,” he breathes, his hips thrusting against my thighs with every slap.

  As my right hand continues to slap his ass, my left hand wanders down his spine. When I reach the swell of his ass I pause, getting an idea. I pop my middle finger into my mouth before carefully sliding it between his cheeks. Everett thrusts his hips down then raises them, chasing my hand. His pink hole comes into view just slightly and I can’t help myself, gently running the pad of my finger against the sensitive bud.

  “Oh, fuck,” Everett whimpers. To distract him I strike again on his sensitive upper thigh just under the swell of his ass, knowing that’ll sting the most. He’s cock twitches hard as I press against his hole. He takes a shaky breath and whispers, “yellow.”

  I pull my finger away, my other hand sliding over his heated cheeks. “Talk to me. Are you okay?”

  His head bobs up and down as he catches his breath. “I’m okay. Just. I’ve never done that before.”

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  “No. Just don’t go in yet? It feels good when you touch it, just don’t do more yet. I wanna do that when I’m not strung out in your lap.”

  My chest warms as I guide him back down, his body so relaxed and trusting against mine. There’s something so moving about Rhett trusting me to stop, trusting me enough to talk freely about what he wants and doesn’t want. I might be the one in charge but really, Rhett’s the one who has all the power.

  “I love you,” I tell him, needing him to know. “Thank you for telling me your limit. You’re so good, baby.”

  My mate raises his hips a little bit, silently asking for more. And I give it to him. My finger goes back to teasing at his hole, my hand finally finding a rhythm to my hits. I can feel Everett sinking against my lap and the bed, sinking into his submission. His noises are now closer to whimpers than moans, his cock is rock hard where it lays between my thighs and I can even feel his knot beginning to form. He’s ready to sink fully.

  “Go ahead,” I murmur. “Come for me, Everett.” I pull my left hand away, slapping right at his ass crack three sharp times and he cries out. My inner thighs grow wet and warm with his cum. Emotions crest within my chest as I watch him sigh and slump fully, every ounce of resistance washed away as he submits, giving himself over to the pleasure, to the pain, to me.

  My hand continues to touch him everywhere I can reach. I touch his hair, his back, his shoulders, his ass, his thighs. My mate seems to almost preen and purr with the touch, somehow sinking even further. I feel good doing this, able to help my mate find some relief from the buzzing he talks about.

  Eventually, I shift Rhett over until his head is on the pillows, his legs towards the end of the bed. I get up, stripping out of my dirty clothes and coming back with a wet cloth. I clean his lap, making sure he’s comfortable and ready for bed before crawling in and lying naked beside him.

  We’re both on our sides, our faces close as his breathing remains calm and slow. He’s so beautiful and I’m ridiculously in love with him. I smile as Rhett’s lids flutter before popping open to look at me. He’s got that spacy smile on his lips and it makes my belly flutter.

  “Thank you,” he whispers, his voice just barely audible. “Thank you for taking the buzzing away.”

  “Always,” I tell him, meaning it with every fiber of my being. I will gladly help however I’m able. The rocky start we got off to is a distant dream. With a little hard work, we mesh together, balancing each other. I have to give Lady Fate some credit because I think this’ll work out just fine.

  Rhett’s hands slide up my belly and ov
er my chest, pausing a moment to flick against my nipple piercing, making me suck in a sharp breath. “You’ve taken care of me today,” he whispers against my lips. “Can I please take care of you now?”

  His hand slides back down, wrapping around my erection. He strokes me slowly, testing the waters, waiting for my reaction. In response I kiss him, pushing my tongue between his lips.

  The contrast of this moment to our mating is night and day. To realize how far we’ve come threatens to make tears fall from my eyes. Instead, I focus on the pleasure my mate is bringing me. He knows all my buttons, knows all my sweet spots. Rhett takes his time touching me, wringing pleased noises from my lips.

  “I’ve got you,” he says, a mirror to the same words I was just telling him. That’s the foundation of our entire relationship, isn’t it? I have him and he has me. We’ve got each other. We might fall, hell, we will fall, but we’ll do it knowing we have a safety net in each other. We’ll always have someone to fall back on, someone to hold our hand during the tough times and someone to laugh and dance with during the good ones.

  “Rhett,” I gasp out only moments before pleasure courses through me and I come over his fist. I breathe against his chest, kissing the black mating marks I left there. Gods, I’m so thankful for these marks. They’re abrasive and stark and overwhelming but so am I, and Rhett seems to love them and me just the way we are.

  “I love you,” he whispers, somehow concreting my thoughts. “I love you so much, Wyn.”

  “I love you too, Rhett.” I kiss his lips gently, my thumb rubbing his cheekbone, keeping our faces close. “Thank you for your submission. It’s so beautiful and I promise to never take it for granted.”

  “I give it freely, there’s no need to thank me for it. It’s already yours. Just like the rest of me.”

  I smile against his lips, unable to hold it back. My chest is so bright with emotions. Joy and humility and love all brimming together, making my eyes overflow just the tiniest bit. But I know Rhett won’t judge me. I’m free to be me as much as he’s free to be himself.