Love & Stitches at The Asylum: Part Fifty-Five
There may have been a safeword spoken in the group about having to wait a full week for the next part.
So you get the next two early!
Don't forget to comment and jump into the spoiler group to join in on the chats about all The Asylum going ons!
Happy Reading!
On Asylum poker night, the term ‘losing your marbles’ took on a whole new meaning. A literal one. Dallas watched Danny force the colored glass balls from Avery’s mouth while the latter desperately tried not to laugh, and shook his head. Next to him, Curtis secured the dance pole bolts to pre-drilled holes in the beam above from previous bar entertainment.
“Careful when you step backward, my man.” Dallas nodded toward the space behind Curtis’ boots, where half a dozen marbles glinted in reds, greens, and yellows on the polished oak floor.
Craning his neck, Curtis held the drill to the screw head and peered around. “Yeah. Not the kind of way I want to end the night.”
“Danny, Avery. Quiet down. Avery, stop giving him a heart attack. Bad snake.” Dallas tried to sound like a Dom, but not. Rhodey’s orders had been to enjoy himself but to keep things from going downhill. Avery needing the heimlich would definitely be downhill.
“Yes, co-sub.” Avery sassed him, knowing Dallas couldn’t do a damn thing about it.
“You do know that at some point these wrist cuffs will be on the other wrist, right Avery?” Finished with the last screw, Curtis stepped gingerly.
Something about the set of his shoulders told Dallas that the man was an inch away from snapping his fingers and putting everything back to rights. “They’ll be all right, my man. Let’s help them pick these rolling death traps up before Keiran comes out with a tray. Or worse, Pike.”
“I’ll get the broom.” Already behind the bar, Curtis snatched a kiss from Reed, taking up the small broom and dustpan. “Where’d you even get all these things, sugar bear? I don’t remember you even buying a marble as long as I’ve known you.”
Dallas chuckled quietly to himself, realizing even Curtis wouldn’t be able to track all the random collections around their loft. Lawson had commented on it more than once when he’d stepped on a Lego. He’d been over there on cleaning days and heard the vacuum suck up more junk than the lawn care crew at his father’s Hamptons estate on leaf day. But what made Reed happy made Curtis happy, though the man would need to make it his full time job if he ever wanted to catalog all his boy’s odds and ends.
Reed entertained the kitten with a length of yarn he’d found somewhere, giving the mess of marbles a pained look. “Mostly at the park. Or behind the school. All over. I cleaned them really good, they’re just…pretty. I’ve been collecting them since me and Tracey found one on my first day of school in Anniston Falls. Ugh, why did the Dom ordering me have to be the dealer? I love the kitten, but…my marbles.”
Plucking up the kitten, Curtis tucked it in his shirt, laughing as it squirmed. “Ooh, soft.” He gasped, then sucked air between his teeth. “Sharp! Iyee...” He looked down his shirt. “Careful there. I like my nipples. They’re purdy.”
Dallas snorted, motioning Reed over. “C’mon, Reed. Nobody’s gonna mind if you help us clean up the mess.”
Lying on his stomach, feet in the air, Avery aimed one marble at another, his right eye squinted and tongue between his teeth. “Bet I can get it under Rhodey’s shoe.”
“You do and Rhodey’s going to have to beat your cute little ass.” Rhodey’s tone was a light warning, his gaze never shifting from the table. None of his subs ever mistook that tone. It meant they were toeing the line and could keep dancing around on it, but they better not trip.
Stephan glanced over, seeming to assess the situation, then gave Reed a warm smile. “Thank you for respecting my orders, Reed, but Dallas is right. So long as Fresco is being cared for, you may retrieve your marbles with the other subs. If they all help you, the task should be—I apologize, all the ones who aren’t otherwise occupied.” He made a staying gesture toward Wren and Matt, as though he realized he might be sending them mixed messages. “But you will all do so carefully, without disrupting the players.”
“Thank you, sir.” Reed exhaled, coming around the bar and slipping his hand into the back pocket of Dallas’ leathers. He gave him a cheeky grin. “No way in hell am I gonna be the one to throw you out of the subbie headspace.” He winked at Curtis. “Either of you.”
“Appreciate that, sweet stuff.” Palming Reed’s ass in return, Dallas kissed his cheek. “And the help. Jamie? Go block the galley door and don’t let anyone out here.”
Sliding off the sofa, Jamie tap danced around every marble skillfully, holding up his cloak so the feathers didn’t scatter them, then took up his post with his back to the door. “It smells like burned strawberries over here.” He wrinkled his nose. “Gross.”
Reed sat on the floor, grabbing a handful of marbles. He held up one with a tiger’s eye in the center. “I found this one in the lake. I call him Harold. He took a lot of polishing.” He pointed at one Avery was holding. “That shiny purple one is Debra. Careful, she’s fragile.”
“You’ve named them all?” Danny’s eyes widened as he took in the marbles covering the floor in intervals from one end of the bar to the other. “That means you’ll be upset if any get lost. We’ll have to count them. Do you know how many you had?”
Not surprisingly, Reed shook his head. “Why would I let numbers anywhere near something I love?”
“But you remember all their names?” On his hands and knees, Curtis swept up marbles into the white dustpan in short, methodical motions.
The marbles rolled around in the pan against the plastic, sounding a bit like the skates on the floor in a roller rink Dallas had once taken Avery and Keiran to on a mission. “How would he know that?”
“Well yeah, I’m pretty sure I do.” Reed lifted his shoulders, carefully picking up a few more marbles. “None of them are named after numbers.”
Keiran opened the door to the galley, almost walking straight into Jamie as he pointed into the galley, then toward the bar. “Out. Both of you. You can’t combine all the ingredients for two meals and make them into a ‘gourmet pizza’. And who makes a dessert pizza with meat on it?”
Cheeks red, Quint came into view, holding Pike, who had what looked like soot on his cheeks. And hands. And bare chest. “It seemed…practical. And Pike was having fun. It was going well until he forgot to take the plastic spoons off the pizza.”
“Why were there plastic spoons on the pizza to begin with?” Keiran made an exasperated sound. “And why weren’t you watching him?”
Pike wiggled in Quint’s arms, jabbing his fists in Keiran’s direction. “Don’t you snap at him. He was cleaning up the pickle ice cream.”
“You shall not pass.” Jamie held up a hand, trying apparently—and failing—to sound like the knight in a Monty Python film they’d all watched that summer. “No, seriously, dudes. Dallas says no. There’s marbles spilled all over the floor, and nobody but Keir wants him dead right now.”
Folding his arms over his chest, Keiran shook his head. “I don’t want him dead. I’ve never been so tempted to spank someone, though. Hit me, just once, niño, and I will.” He eyed the floor around the galley door. “Take him behind the bar, Quint. He’ll be safe enough there.”
Quint caught Keiran’s eyes, his expression hard. “Very well, but only because it’s a reasonable suggestion. You don’t give the orders around here, boy.”
“Neither do you.” Keiran lifted his chin. Then jabbed his finger back toward the galley. “In there? You’re damn right I do.”
“Um... Can I have a cupcake?” Jamie turned his face up to Keiran, making puppy eyes and pouting prettily.
Dallas snorted. “Someone’s been practicing in a mirror.” He nudged Curtis. “Go help Pike before he gets caught in the crossfire.”
Standing, Curtis dumped the pile of marbles he’d collected into the bucket. “On it!”
“You’ll have to wait until I air out the galley and make some new ones, Jamie.” Keiran muttered a few choice phrases in Spanish. “Spoons. Trifle pizza and spoons. Unbelievable.”
“Sorry. I thought it might make you smile to have me ask. I don’t really need one.” Flattening himself against the wall, Jamie still took up most of the doorway with his feathers as Curtis squeezed by to hold out his arms for Pike.
“C’mon. We’ll practice plastic cup juggling, little cuz.” He slanted a crooked grin at Quint. “For what it’s worth, I would’ve eaten the gourmet trifle pizza with built-in utensils.”
Keiran huffed. “Over my dead body. Do you have any idea how toxic plastic can be?”
“It is?” Danny dropped the bucket, spilling half the marbles back on the floor. “Why didn’t anyone ever tell me? Isn’t there plastic in…everything?”
Biting his lips, Dallas sat back on his heels with a huff of laughter. “Come here, little mouseling.” He patted his thighs. “Come sit on some pretty leather, and I’ll tell you a secret.”
Danny crawled over, speaking under his breath. “I don’t think I’ve seen Keiran this mad since the last time you punished him for throwing knives back and forth with Avery blindfolded, and you didn’t let him in the galley for three days.” He inhaled roughly. “But Pike poisoned the whole galley, so you can’t be angry with him for it.”
It never failed to amaze him how soft Danny’s thick brown hair was when he pressed his lips against it. Doing so now, Dallas loosely held him, breathing in his fresh, clean scent. Nothing artificial or perfumy. Just one-hundred percent Danny.
“Plastic is toxic to breathe. And certain kinds aren’t great to store food in or drink out of, which beyond the environmental sh—tuff is why I bring my own water bottle everywhere. It’s BPA free.” He indulged himself with another kiss and another. “Plastic marble buckets and containers we don’t put food in are fine. Keiran wouldn’t let us eat anything that was nasty. Including plastic spoons melted into pizza. Definitely a bad idea.”
Danny nodded, his expression intent, like he was hanging on Dallas’ every word. “So it’s safe to touch? And the galley…it won’t be ruined forever? That would be really sad. Keiran loves it so much and now Reed and Drew do too and my dog bed’s in there.”
“It’s very safe to touch, and Keiran has the galley window open, airing things out.” A cool breeze that smelled of damp tickled Dallas’ nose, mingling with Danny’s scent. “And I’ll wash your dog bed so we’ll be sure. It’s due anyway. Sound good?”
Nodding, Danny rested his head against Dallas’ chest. The sunglasses Curtis had given him—to make sure he didn’t wear his eye patch too long, but understanding how vulnerable healing scars could make someone feel—a bit crooked on his nose as he peered up at him. “It sounds really good. Thanks, Dallas. I know most people would probably think it’s silly to worry about, but…I can’t help it.”
Over at the card table, Stephan spoke quietly. “You need to call, raise, or fold, Shea. You already got your cards.”
“Oh, fuck.” Shea let out a sheepish laugh. “Yeah… I call.”
It was clear that Shea’s attention had been more on his boy’s distress than the game, something Dallas had hoped to avoid. Turning a little, he gave the man a thumbs up to let him and Jacks know everything was good. “Let’s get these marbles back in the bucket.” Leaning over, he whacked Avery’s ass lightly. “Hey, disaster architect? Clean up the mess you made. It’s almost time for dinner.”
Rolling onto his back, Avery gazed up at him, his dark lashes dipping once sleepily, and Dallas remembered that he’d had the night shift but hadn’t slept very well that afternoon. “Yes...Dallas.” He cracked a yawn, sitting up and taking the bucket to pluck up the marbles one at a time in a blur of motion. “I’m counting them. Then we’ll know if we have them all.”
Reed shook his head, moving under the table and grabbing a marble from under Jared’s boot. “Nope. I don’t know how many there are, remember? We’ll probably be finding them all over for the next year, but that’ll be kinda fun. Like ‘surprise, random marble!’” He examined the marble in his hand. “This is the one Ez found me. Its name is Unknown because Ez said naming them was dumb.”
Sitting on the floor with his cloak flared around him, gathering up marbles, Jamie hummed Destination Unknown by ELO.
“Weren’t you going to play us some music, house mouse?” Dallas set Danny on his butt in a clear spot to join the cleaning effort.
Chewing on his bottom lip, Danny nodded as he gathered a pile of marbles and began scooping them into the bucket. “Yeah, but…I got nervous and it’s really nice under the table, so I kinda…decided to be there instead.”
“You can play your guitar under the table.” Jamie piped up.
“Jamie, come take Wren’s place. He needs a break.” Seth spoke up from the poker table. “Raise.” Chips clinked. “And bring me a pale ale.”
Scrambling to his feet, Jamie tap danced over to the bar to grab a beer and knocked the cap off with a flourish that had Curtis making an appreciative sound. He took the beer to the table and kept tapping quietly while he stood in the space Wren had occupied. “Who’s winning?”
“Jared.” Wren answered without hesitation, coming across the bar and stepping carefully around the marbles. He ducked behind the bar, returning with two half boxes. Handing Dallas one, he knelt and began sweeping the marbles into his half box, turning it a bit once it was full to pour the marbles from one corner into the bucket. “But Noah’s close. He would have won if he hadn’t folded on the last hand. Jacks was bluffing.”
Curtis snickered, setting Pike on the bar and leaning down to grab a pint of Matt’s ice cream from the freezer under the bar. “I don’t know about you, cuz, but I need a Guinness float.”
“That sounds amazing.” Pike rubbed his hands together, bouncing a bit in place before his brow creased and he looked over his shoulder. “Hey, is Wren cheating? I thought we weren’t allowed to cheat? If we are, I can almost see Jared’s cards.” He leaned back a bit more. “Freakin’ Doms with big shoulders. Sexy AF, but very not helpful now.”
“No, he’s not cheating. The hand was already done.” Curtis tapped Pike’s nose with the round side of the spoon, leaving a dollop of white on the tip. “Good way to get your butt beat, so don’t even think about it. Also, no swearcronyms. Don’t let Noah hear you.”
Twisting a little, Dallas glanced at Noah to make sure he wasn’t listening. Might’ve been hard over the sound of Jamie’s tap-dancing in place.
“Oh, I can hear him.” Noah threw down his cards. “I can keep count and… Jamie, love of my life, please stop, you’re killing me here.”
“Sorry, sir. I have to pee.” Jamie winced, trying to stand still.
Pike lengthened his tongue as much as he could, trying to get the ice cream off his nose. He snickered as he gave up. “Pinch the tip, I hear it helps.”
“Do not do that, you’ll end up with a urinary tract infection.” Quint shook his head, glancing over from where he’d begun picking up marbles near the end of the bar. “Sir, may I offer my services while Jamie relieves himself?”
It was obvious from the preoccupied expression on his face that Seth had managed to tune out everything but the game. A merc level of focus that Dallas envied. The man wasn’t the easiest to figure out, and he’d been playing some sort of game trying to get Jared and Noah—along with everyone else—riled from the start. Maybe trying to ruin their focus. With Noah, it certainly seemed to have worked.
“Call.” Seth laid down the corner of his cards that he’d been peeking at.
Shaking his head, Wren almost dumped the next box of marbles on the floor, opening his mouth, then closing it when Pike knocked over a napkin dispenser that hit the space right next to him.
“Go to the bathroom, little cat.” Noah’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Seth. “I’ll say what you will next time. Cherry.”
“Thank you, sir.” Squeaking a little, Jamie ran away from the table, taking Seth’s drink with him as he slammed into the bathroom.
Dallas rolled his eyes, crawling around to check under the iron curves of the table legs. A yellow smiley face marble stared at him from under the closest and he plucked it out. “Reed?” He held it up. “What’s this one’s name?”
“Crazy Eyes.” Reed grinned at him, holding out one hand and using the other to grab Wren’s ankle when he picked up the napkin dispenser and glared up at Pike. “I found him on a bus. He was just rolling around all over, all alone. People were yelling at me to sit down, but I had to bring him home. That was a fun day.”
Dumping the marble in the bucket, Dallas found himself grinning as he pictured Reed’s day out. There had been a time when the bus used to run past The Asylum, before the gangs had scared off the bus company, and Reed had fun with Ez and Garet going into the old downtown to the candy store and glitter store, coming home with armfulls of fun things from the thrift store. Dallas had delighted in slipping the boys five dollars each to get candy when he could afford it. It hadn’t been often, but those were good times.
“We need to get to the glitter store. They’re having a big sale.” He plucked two more marbles from under the farthest table, taking out his phone to use the flashlight to shine it around. A few glinted as far as under the poker table, and Dallas groaned. “Great.”
By the bar, Wren was still giving Pike a dark look. “Do not throw things at me.”
“I didn’t, it was like five miles away, chill the hell out.” Pike sucked his teeth. “And I saved you from getting a beating. Thank me later…puta.”
“Pike, no.” Quint rose up on his knees from where he was collecting marbles under the booths. “You can not swear in other languages.”
“Keiran does!”
“You are not Keiran. Eat your ice cream and be good for Curtis.”
Jamie returned from the bathroom, drying his hands on a paper towel, Seth’s beer nowhere in sight. “Can I have some ice cream, too?”
“Sure. Pull up a stool.” Curtis patted the bar, spooning more ice cream into Pike’s mouth, straight out of the container. “And you, behave. I don’t want to have to save the game by taking off my cuff and going all Danger Dom, so everyone can keep playing.”
“If you weren’t my cousin, that would be super hot.” Pike spoke around the ice cream, grinning at his cousin. “And isn’t helping other people be good being good by default? That should totally be a thing.”
“Not by pretend throwing things at them. Let other subs sort their own...stuff...out.” Dragging the bucket with him, Dallas edged away from the bar area over toward the card table to collect the strays that had made it that far.
Growing quiet, he tried not to disturb anyone, enjoying the scent of leather and cigars, the hottest damned grouping of boots he’d ever seen at eye level in his life. He’d been playing in clubs since his sixteenth birthday, a fake license giving him entrance into places in New York he wouldn’t have gotten into without the money to get that ID. After the falling out with his father, of course all that had stopped and access had dried up to places like this until he’d met Lawson.
Adjusting his leathers, he pretended each marble was a mission and collecting it was a kill. Sick game, but it kept him at his quietest as he lay on his side and reached an arm between Noah’s feet to pluck up a pink and green swirled marble.
“You may go rest for a bit, Matt. Rest not pick up marbles.” Noah spoke quietly, taking his and Jared’s drinks from the sub. “Quint, since your Dom has no need of you, you can take Matt’s place. And Dallas, you’re doing well, but watch your breathing. If I was hunting you, you’d be dead already.”
Rhodey grunted. “Bullshit. But nice try, nephew. He’s been tested often enough, his breathing is just fine.”
“You say so, uncle.”
Chuckling quietly, Dallas realized he’d been trying to get a whiff of all that leather. “Sorry, sirs. You smell damned good. Was breathing all this leather in.”
The smirk in Noah’s tone was obvious. “I’m not trying to fuck with you, Rhodey. I like the man. I might have just saved his life. Thank me one day when he’s out there and it pays off.”
Rather than respond, Rhodey snapped his fingers. “Jamie, get me a cigar. Let’s see how much your Doms have taught you.”
Jamie’s hard swallow was audible from across the room. “Yes, sir.”
Creeping around the table on all fours, Dallas paused by Lawson’s leg, considering how to gather up the three marbles that had nestled between the three toes of one clawfoot table leg. He had a direct line of sight that Rhodey didn’t, where Curtis quietly plucked up a cigar and quickly trimmed it, handing it to Jamie along with the lighter and an ashtray from behind the bar.
“Dallas, you are breathing on me.” Lawson glanced down, his eyes shining with amusement. “Let’s save that for when I win you.”
Lips parting, Dallas froze, staring up at Lawson. All the blood rushed to his dick, punching up his breaths in an inconvenient way. His answering smile spread slowly across his face, tightening the corners of his eyes. “Yes, sir.” Plucking up the marbles, he scooted backward. Wouldn’t want to distract a man on a mission...
Cigar in hand, Jamie approached Rhodey with the care of a beekeeper who had forgotten his suit. He stared at the ashtray and cigar, then the lighter that rested inside, clearly wondering how he’d grow another hand to light it.
“Put it in your mouth.” Pike’s attempt at a whisper was anything but, and his hand motion toward his mouth looked more like he was giving head than lighting a cigar. “Then you suck.”
Shea sputtered on the drink he’d been holding between his knees between gulps, coughing and gasping. “Fucking Christ, how is anyone not distracted?” He coughed again. “Fold. Holy shit, I’d be pissed but they’re entertaining as fuck.”
If anything, Jamie looked relieved. “Thank you, sir. My manager would be pleased to hear that.”
Springing to his feet, Dallas intended to grab the cigar and light it for Rhodey before things got more out of hand, but as luck would have it, he dropped a marble at the same time, his heel landing on it. Arms windmilling, he fell backward, the bucket flying through the air. Marbles fell like rain on the table, in drinks, hit the rafters and rolled along them to land at intervals around the bar. A view he got to enjoy from flat on his fucking back.
Danny’s face appeared over him, his eyes shadowed with concern. “Are you okay? Here, how many fingers am I holding up?” He lifted one hand, still covered with his sleeve. Then didn’t wait for his answer. “Did you swallow one? I think I know mouth to mouth, I saw it on TV a whole bunch.” He pressed his lips over Dallas’ and blew.
The sweet taste of the sub’s lips, pillowed softness of skin on skin, made Dallas groan for an entirely different reason as his arm involuntarily came around Danny’s waist. He pulled the boy over him, full length, and pressed their bodies together with an insistent thrust. “I think it’s working. I feel better already.”
“Oh good.” Danny remained close, whispering against his lips. “But maybe pretend I’m still doing it so you won’t get caned for interrupting the game. No one can beat you if you’re suffering.”
It had been a good long time since he’d felt the bite of that particular implement. Probably not since his Dom training. He chuckled against Danny’s lips, nibbling the dent in the bottom one. “It was an accident. No Dom in his right mind here would punish me for it.” He pulled back a little to look in Danny’s sunglasses and straighten them a little with one hand. “You okay? I didn’t clobber you with any under the table?”
Danny shook his head, cowering against him as Stephan called a hold to the game and a few of the Doms cursed, chairs dragging back. “A few plinked around me and I wasn’t sure how much damage they would do, but I was all right. I was more worried about you. You’re pretty tall and that was a long fall. But Matt taught me you can fall from pretty far and not die. I’m just glad you didn’t hit your head or choke on a marble.”
Crouching down next to him, Jared held up a finger. “Follow my finger.”
“I’m fi—”
“Don’t argue with me, sub.” Ice blue eyes flashed.
“Yes, sir.” Dallas followed the motion of Jared’s finger, side to side and up and down. “Thank you.”
“Thank me by making sure we all make it through this game in one piece. You of all people. Rhodey should make you walk in heels on a floor of marbles for an hour.” Jared shook his head, standing. Looked around the floor and sighed. “Everyone but Pike, get these cleaned up on all fours. No standing until they’re all in the bucket. A single one is left behind, and you’ll spend the rest of the game in a corner with a very large string of anal beads clenched in your sphincters.”
Danny rose up, partially straddling Dallas’ thigh. “But, sir, Dallas should rest. I just gave him mouth to mouth in case he was choking and he’s alive. I’ll do his share, I promise.”
Tapping Danny’s face with two fingers, Jared bent over both Dallas and Danny. “Do you no longer trust my medical opinion, little Despereaux?”
The color left Danny’s face so fast, it looked like he might pass out. “I trust it more than anything, sir. I…I’m sorry. I’m just scared for him and… Please don’t think that. You make so many things okay and they wouldn’t be if…I’m so sorry.”
“Show me. Pick up the marbles with everyone.” Around them, subs were scrambling all over the floor.
Nodding, Danny lowered his gaze and climbed off Dallas. He immediately crawled under the table, pulling up his hood and wiping under his nose with his sleeve before picking up a few marbles and stuffing them in the big pocket hanging down near his thighs.
“Heels and marbles. Yes, that would be an interesting test.” Rhodey stepped up behind Dallas, taking a knee and speaking close to his ear. “I don’t want to ever see a slip like that beyond these walls, but other than that, I’m impressed. Here.” He pressed something into Dallas’ palm. “Once everything’s cleaned up and the game continues, put this on our little mouse and have some fun. You follow no other orders from anyone until this is over.”
“Yes, sir.” Glancing at the object in his palm, Dallas grinned wide. “Happily.”
He stuffed Danny’s play collar in the front pocket of his leathers, sitting up to resume or re-re-resume the marble cleanup. On the bar, swinging his legs over the ledge, Pike had handfuls of tissues he was bobbing around like pom poms. “Go subbie team! You’ve got this! Own those little bastards, they ain’t gonna keep you down for long!”
Dumping another one of his half boxes out, Wren let out a heavy sigh. “How much sugar have you had? It isn’t scientifically proven to have any actual impact, but it seems to depend on the study and you would make a very good specimen.”
“It’s ‘subject’, little raven, not ‘specimen’.” Throwing back a shot, Jared set the glass on the bar with a light tap. “And the worthiness of a study may be determined by the entity that commissioned it in many cases. If a sugar company commissions a sugar study that determines sugar is a health food, or has no impact on mood, you are almost guaranteed it’s not worth the paper it’s written on.”
Wren cocked his head as he glanced up at Jared. “I’ve been having the other subs print out any studies they can find, but I really should find a way to cross reference them. It does make more sense if it does have an impact, though, but the research seemed very well done.”
Plucking a marble out of his glass of whiskey, Noah chuckled and shook his head before he licked the wetness from the marble and his fingers. “I have a feeling when it comes to Pike, the answer about how much sugar he’s had is likely ‘too much’. I thought Reed was bad.”
“I have very selective tastes.” Reed made a face at Noah. “Do you have any idea how long a lollipop lasts? And stop sucking on my marbles, it’s weird.”
Jared snapped his fingers. “Manners, boy.”
Sucking air through his teeth in a slow stream, Dallas winced. Jared was in a foul assed mood. Since the Doms had left the table, the hands they were playing were forfeit. Making sure no one was looking as he leaned over to clean up the marbles that had landed on the table, he peeked at the five cards on the middle of the table and the two at Jared’s place.
Oh, yeah. The man’s going to be in a temper for a while.
Royal flush. He would’ve swept the table, judging by all the chips.
“Hey, Reed?” Straightening, Dallas called Lawson and Curtis’ boy over. “Can you help me with something?”
“Yeah.” Reed kicked a few marbles as he crossed the bar, his jaw working, though he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut. He stepped up to Dallas’ side. “You want me to clear the marbles off this side of the table while you get the other?”
Motioning him closer, Dallas pulled him into a sideways hug and pretended to whisper something in his ear as he plucked up the edge of Jared’s two cards to show him, without comment. Then went back to clearing marbles.
Letting out a low whistle, Reed glanced back at Jared. He still looked a bit tense, but there was understanding in his eyes as he quietly began plucking up the marbles on the table. He smiled at a big, pink one. “Are you Cindy?” He touched it with his tongue. “Nope, actual gum. I wonder where Cindy went?”
“Do not eat that.” Lawson plucked the gum out of Reed’s fingers. “Who knows how old it is. Or where you found it.” He made a face as he inspected it. “There are shoe treads on this.”
Creeping up behind Lawson, Curtis stole the gum. “Let me see.” Making an impressed sound, he tipped his head to one side. “So there are...” And popped it in his mouth to chew. “Good though. Apple.”
“You are incorrigible.” Lawson gave Curtis’ cheek a light tap and held out his hand. “That’s quite enough. Spit it out. And if you shame me by continuing this behavior, I’ll have you sit in the corner with something far less…pleasant.”
Repressing a smile—barely—Curtis winked at Reed as he leaned forward to spit the gum into Lawson’s palm. “Sorry, sir.”
Lawson clucked his tongue. “You’re lucky it wasn’t hard enough to break your teeth. Come to the sink, I’ll make sure you wash out your mouth properly.” He stepped up to the trash on the way around the bar, dumping the gum in it and continuing to the sink to wash his hands. “This is something I’d expect from your cousin, not from you.”
“We subs have to stick together, sir.” Nudging Pike with a little poke to the middle of his cousin’s back, Curtis included him in the conversation. “And I learn from the best.”
Pike turned, giving Curtis a hesitant smile before meeting Lawson’s eyes. “Sir, you ain’t gonna wash his mouth out with soap, are you? He didn’t swear. And there’s like…a five year rule in my family for stuff ya drop on the ground. No way was that older than five years.” He yelped when Noah stepped up behind him and lifted him off the bar. “Unicorn! Unicorn! I didn’t do nothin’.”
“There’s no safewording out of punishments.” Noah faced Pike to the closest wall and pulled something out of his pocket. “Five, was it?”
Curtis made a frustrated sound, throwing Quint an apologetic look. “Save one, lose one. I’d like to end up ahead one of these days.”
“If it’s any consolation, he’s very good for keeping your skills sharp.” Quint picked up marbles without looking away from Noah and Pike, speaking softly to himself. “Please just do it, brat. Don’t make things worse.”
Stomping his foot, Pike stared at the pennies in Noah’s hand. “You can’t prove I was lying.” He groaned when Noah added another penny. “Come on, this is the most good I’ve been in forever, ask anyone.” Another penny joined the rest. “Can you give me a sec to think about it?”
“Come on, Noah. I provoked him. He was being fine. I’ll take his punishment for him.” Curtis stared over the running water in the sink. “I’ll even stand on one foot while I do it.”
Noah shook his head, glancing over at him. “That never worked when Lawson tried to do it for you, or you for him. Why in the world do you think it would work now?” He turned his attention back to Pike. “You are not talking your way out of this and you’re shaming your Dom by continuing. Take the pennies.”
“Yes, sir.” Pike took the pennies, piling them up awkwardly and sticking his nose against…the wall, all the pennies tumbling to the floor. He stared down at them. Bent to pick them up.
Blain moved to Noah’s side, speaking with his voice low. “Send him to the corner. This is not a good punishment for him.”
Noah blinked at Blain, his brow furrowing. “It’s…pennies.”
“I am aware.” Blain’s tone was calm, level, like he knew exactly how much to push without overstepping. “But you’ll get further with him if you keep the punishments to what he’s familiar with. Trust me.”
That got Blain a long look before Noah tapped Pike’s shoulder. “Take a chair and go sit in the corner. Consider yourself very lucky. I will not tolerate you lying to a Core Dom in this club again, are we clear?”
Pike nodded, clutching the pennies in his palm. “Yes, sir.” He gave Noah the pennies, then fetched himself a chair and brought it to the corner, sitting on it with his legs folded.
Hardass Doms were a dime a dozen around The Asylum, but Noah? Dallas considered the man for a minute while his back was turned. He had the second hardest ass in the place. Next to Rhodey. They’d never played together, but the man’s skill as a Dom was legend.
Aside from Lawson? Jared and Noah were two of the men Dallas most coveted to have win him. Since it was unlikely he’d sub at all the poker games, wanting to indulge in some of his own Dominance most of the time, it’d probably be a long time before he got the opportunity to play with anyone in the Core in that way again.
“How we doing, Reed?” Setting aside thoughts of play, Dallas got back to work.
Reed lifted his gaze from where he’d brought all the marbles from the table to his bucket, which was almost full again. “There’s two I haven’t seen, one with a puppy face and one with a kitty I was gonna give to Danny and Jamie now that I remember I had them, but I didn’t see them. They’re probably lost somewhere.”
“When was the last time you saw them? Were they in the bucket?” Dallas scanned the room, wondering if he might be able to spot the marbles lurking on top of a lantern or a place they hadn’t considered.
Shrugging, Reed picked up the bucket carefully. “All my marbles were in here because I try to keep some stuff not all over. I know it drives my guys crazy when I do that. It helps when stuff has a home, which I know sounds…weird. But, yeah…they were here. I’m sure they’ll turn up.” He looked to where Lawson was washing Curtis’ mouth out with soap, hugging the bucket to his chest. “I gotta get these back to the bedroom closet, but I don’t want to get in trouble. And everyone’s busy… Who the hell am I supposed to ask?”
“I’ll do it.” Taking the bucket of marbles, Dallas stepped very carefully toward the stairwell, timing his exit to when everyone’s backs were turned.
The automatic lights flickered on as he went, walking as gingerly as a small mouse in a room full of cats until he was outside of Lawson and Curtis’ loft. Not wanting to intrude, he placed the bucket on the floor to the right of the door with a sigh of relief.
“Evil thing.” He shook his finger at it like his Nana used to do when her pet cockatoo used to shit in her wig. “Stay.”
Backing away, he waited until he was down two flights before he breathed again and crept back into the bar to look for Danny.
Tucked away under one of the booth benches, curled up in his hoodie, Danny stared down at two marbles in his hand. Not much of his face was visible, but even in the shadow, his nose was red.
Dallas crouched down, speaking quietly. “Hey. You’re a hero. Where’d you find those, little mouse?”
“They were in the corner of the seat cushion. I think they flew there when you fell.” Danny held them out. “I figured it wouldn’t be too bad if I stayed here for just a little bit. It’s quiet and I won’t make anyone mad.”
“You didn’t sweetheart.” Settling under the table, Dallas pulled Danny into his lap. He looked up at the table’s underside, the overhang creating a snug, dim space. “I can see what you like about this. It’s cozy.” He kissed the top of Danny’s head, gaze on Jamie, who was carrying some dishes from the galley to set on a long buffet table. “Jared had a really good hand, and I messed it up with my fall. He’s...sad and frustrated. It was an accident though, so he’ll come around. It was me. Not you.”
Danny nodded, looking up at him with a small smile and bringing one hand to his cheek. “The only thing that matters is you didn’t get hurt. It’s…just a game. And I…I know he knows that and it’ll be okay, I just…it feels horrible when a Dom you care about is upset with you. It’s the worst feeling in the world. Well, probably not as bad as getting shot. Or…you know what I mean. A bad inside feeling.”
“I agree. It is the worst. But you didn’t do anything wrong, and he’s not upset with you.” Tilting his head, Dallas considered the situation. “It would be perfectly acceptable for you to be upset with him.”
Danny quickly shook his head. “No way, sir. My Doms have to do really really horrible things for that to happen. And even then, I found out if I’d listened…” He shook his head again. “I don’t want to think about that. But I’m not upset at anyone. That’s not a great feeling either. I’m…well, I’m glad I found the marbles, that’s something.”
“You’re a sweet, sweet boy.” Beckoning Reed, Dallas waved his hand as the other sub passed by the table. “Danny has something for you, come join us.”
Crouching down, Reed eyed the space, then seemed to decide it would be a good fit and wiggled in. He wasn’t as tall as Dallas, and didn’t have his muscles, so he fit comfortably under the table, but he’d have been too big to get under the benches without the risk of getting stuck. “You guys keep it up with all these dens and Curtis is gonna come up with some creative designs.” He winced in sympathy as Curtis gagged at the other end of the bar. “We should mention it to him, the idea will distract him from mouth horror.”
“Mouth horror.” Dallas snorted. “I never knew until Sub 101 that he’s got such a bad gag reflex. Must make sucking dick hell.” He felt a little nauseous himself, listening to the man. “I couldn’t do that to a sub. I’d probably throw up before they did.” Nudging Reed, he smiled. “Good idea about the creative furniture. We’ll get him over here once Lawson’s done experimenting with sadism. I wonder if his hand was a good one, too.”
Reed frowned, glancing over to where Wren was moving almost in sync with Jamie, bringing the last of the trays of food. “Wren probably knows, but I’m not gonna ask. He’ll get worse than soap.” He bumped his shoulder against Dallas’. “And Curtis’ gag reflex doesn’t bother him when it counts, so no worries there.”
“I found two more of your marbles.” Danny lifted his hand. “They’re really cute. I didn’t even know they came in so many different colors and designs until today. I think we’re all marble experts now.”
Reed snickered and took the marbles. “So it was a good thing after all. Buster and Whiskers, I was looking for these, thanks, man.” He handed the puppy one back to Danny. “For you. To keep. And…like if it’s not your thing, just…don’t tell me what you do with it.”
Eyes widening, Danny closed his hand around the marble and held it to his chest. “I’m keeping it. Thank you, Reed. This is special and it’s from a special day, even if it was a bit hectic.”
“Good.” Reed’s lips curved into a soft smile. “Now wish me luck, I’m gonna go back out there, give Jamie his, then see if I can rescue Curtis before he ends up sitting next to Pike in the corner.”
“Excellent plan.” Digging into the pocket of his leathers, Dallas drew out Danny’s puppy collar, holding it up so both he and Reed could see it. “Would you bring back a ball and some puppy treats?”
A huge grin spread across Reed’s lips. “I’m so on it. Smart play right there. No one messes with the pups or the littles. Especially when Blain’s around. He’s nice and all, but don’t piss him off. Even I’ve never gone there and I’ve been in the ring with him. He wouldn’t play with me after, just beat me enough to send me home to bed.”
“He’s fun to watch a match with too. Seems to get a lot of enjoyment out of others enjoying themselves. A good man.” Dallas cocked his head at Danny. “Want to play, pup?”
Danny nodded, then paused. “But…you’re in the sub zone now. Will this…ruin things for you?”
“Not a jot.” Drawing the strap through the buckle to release it, Dallas, inspected the leather for fraying and the metal for any sharp spots. “I get to play with you, which doesn’t have to be a Dom thing. Protecting you and making you happy is a joy no matter what headspace I’m in.”
Halfway out from under the table, Reed looked back at them. “The puppy wrangler doesn’t get messed with either, just so you know. You’ll get to chill and have fun. So make the best of it. I’ll get all the stuff you guys might need.”
Collar fastened, Dallas checked its fit around Danny’s throat. He pretended to be another puppy himself, letting out a playful woof as he bounced onto his palms and lowered his chest toward the ground, butt in the air.
Giggling, Danny mirrored his pose, darting forward to lick his cheek. He wiggled between Dallas’ arms, trying to get underneath him and letting out high pitched little yips.
Careful not to crush the smaller pup, Dallas rolled onto his back, letting him get the upper hand to receive those sweet little warm tongue kisses. The world of the bar receded, its wide planked floors becoming an expansive playground that was both safe and warm, where nothing bad could ever happen because of the people in the tall boots who sat in quiet companionship nearby.
There was a second when Danny stopped, but it was just to hold still as Reed carefully took off his sunglasses. He didn’t seem at all bothered by their absence, more intent on the doggy biscuits Reed was holding up. Rising up, he caught one in his teeth, then lowered, offering the other half to Dallas with his mouth.
A gentle tug with his lips turned into a playful nip at the biscuit until they played tug-o-war with their mouths, the cookie an innocent kind of temptation that he finally let the other pup claim. Watching his companion crunch on the treat was even better than enjoying it himself. They were one pack, the game they played much like the one Dallas only vaguely recollected went on at the table high above. One in which, no matter who won…
There could be no losers.
****
Awww, Dallas as a dog, so perfect! And this was hilarious, love when the subs work together 😁
ReplyDeleteThis was definitely one of, if not the best chapters of the entire series.
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! I can’t wait to read the next one!!
ReplyDeleteLoved it!
ReplyDelete