Love & Stitches at The Asylum: Part Fifty-Seven
Long weekends can be fun, eh? How about some extra time in The Asylum to make it even better?
Happy Reading!
Pike tried to learn the important lessons. The ones that would keep him alive. Having to unlearn a lot of the lessons he’d gotten growing up made it twist up a bit in his head sometimes, but the freedom his Dom and co-sub gave him helped. Not all the Doms here might see Pike’s antics the same way, but for him, he got to be in a place where having fun, letting loose, wasn’t dangerous.
So, yeah, sometimes he didn’t always think things through before he did them. And got in trouble.
In the moment?
It was fun. And sometimes the results were, too. Getting Curtis out of service mode would be tons of fun. And worth whatever the consequences the stricter Doms might come up with. Those might suck.
But I’ll live.
While Lawson focused on the other Doms around the table, looking like he might actually be able to read their minds, Pike picked up the ball, holding it out and wiggling it to catch Danny’s attention. When the other sub perked up and bounced toward him, he rolled the ball under the table.
Jacks turned a little, a smile on his lips as his gaze landed on Danny, followed by the widening of his eyes when the ball rolled by. There was no time for anyone to react, all of them engrossed and Jacks in the wrong place.
Scrambling after the ball, Danny ended up with his hands and knees landing on a few of the Doms’ boots. He let out a happy bark as he rammed right into Lawson’s legs, doing his best to wiggle between them to reach the ball, where it had rolled to a stop under the chair.
“Danny…Dallas…” Lawson put down his cards and carefully pushed his chair back. “Curtis, give Matt the tray and get them out of there.”
Dutifully handing Matt the tray, Curtis threw Pike a flash of a grin, then lowered to his knees to coax Danny and Dallas—who had bounded happily after his playmate—out from under the table. “C’mon sweetlings. Let’s get you some treats.” He backed up, pulling biscuits out of his pocket and breaking them into little pieces that he used like Hansel and Gretel to find his way out of the forest of legs. “Good pups.”
See, that was exactly why being naughty was such a good thing. Used for a positive outcome, it mostly always turned out all right. Pike reached up to the table, grabbing the bowl of what was now a puddle of ice cream, sipping it as he smiled around the rim at Quint, who was giving him a knowing look.
Avery glided by, carrying his bat plushie, his gaze riveted to the galley door. He disappeared through it, seeming to have come from nowhere. Then reappeared a moment later with a pile of platters, the plushie gone, and began to lay out the feast on the bar.
There was silence around the poker table. Then the soft sound of cards being laid out. It was the last hand, so this would decide who got the most chips and which Dom would be putting them in for which sub. Holding his breath, Pike set the bowl beside him on the floor.
Less pissed at Lawson now that Curtis wasn’t being used as a table, Pike couldn’t help smiling a bit at the clear satisfaction in the Dom’s eyes as he revealed his hand. “That was a good game. Very close. It’s been too long and I think some may have gotten a little rusty.”
“You count your chips, I’ll count mine, and then we’ll see who was rusty.” Jared grumbled a little, glancing briefly at Pike, like he might be wondering if he had enough chips to win him.
Cheeks heating, Pike rubbed his hand over his mouth, which was all sticky. He really hoped Jared did have enough chips, but part of him, way in the back of his head where he remembered all Quint’s lectures about how to behave himself, had wondered if he might’ve ruined his chances. Even with Jamie breaking that teeny tiny rule, between him and Wren, they were pretty solid as subs.
And Quint was like the gold standard.
Why would the man work so hard to win all those chips and spend them on someone like Pike?
But if he does…?
It’d be kinda wicked. His pulse sped up a bit as he tried to imagine what would happen. Then it hit him. There was one really good reason for Jared to want to win him. They still had planning to do for the party.
Still good, but…less sexy. Sighing, Pike reached out to swipe his fingers around the bowl to get the last drops of ice cream and suck them off.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d think you had a hand in some of those distractions, my man.” Noah’s brow rose slightly as he glanced up from counting his chips. “But that would be beneath you. You’re just inhumanly composed and harder to read than you used to be.”
“He was never easy to read, tiger.” Jared pushed away from the table, his pile of chips better than some, but nowhere near Lawson’s. “He just didn’t try so hard to win.”
Beckoning Avery over, Rhodey had his boy count his chips for him, observing Lawson like he knew something no one else did. He inclined his head when the other Dom gave him a level look. “Fine. I’ll allow it. But if you’d lost that hand, it wasn’t happening. My subs don’t come cheap. And no, Curtis, that wasn’t a pun.”
Coughing behind his fist, Curtis threw Pike a conspiratorial look. “No, they’re definitely hard to come by. You should give your nephew some pointers.”
“No, I didn’t want to see if he’d set his sights in the wrong direction and change this whole game into something less…entertaining.” Rhodey stroked his hand up and down Avery’s back. “I think this turned out well. For everyone.”
Curtis, looking like he knew he was the best sub in the room, grinned in Noah’s direction. “Since he’s not allowed to win anyone he’s played with before, I think it limited his selection somewhat. But I’m sure he’ll figure it out.”
“I already have.” Noah gathered his chips, catching Lawson’s eye for a second, his expression warming. “Some things were discussed beforehand. I wanted this game to turn out well as much as anyone. I’m glad it did. This was good for us. And our boys.”
Heading toward the jars that had been lined up on a side table, each sub’s name written on a card beside them, Jacks motioned to Shea, speaking in quiet tones as he glanced toward the galley, then at Quint.
Shea nodded, ignoring a very clear dark look from Rhodey before he dumped all his chips in Keiran’s jar. He lifted his shoulders. “Nothing’s official yet. You wanted only the ‘worthy’ to try for your subs. The offer and my winnings should prove I’m good enough.”
Grunting, Rhodey held his gaze. “All right, but if you end the night missing any body parts, don’t come crying to me.” His gaze followed Blain as the Dom put his own chips in Avery’s jar. Which didn’t seem to bother him. He nuzzled the side of Avery’s neck with his lips. “Let’s leave that one in one piece. We like him.”
“Hey.” Shea gave Rhodey a dirty look. “Thanks a lot.”
Using the distraction, Curtis sidled up to Jamie, speaking quietly to him. “Thanks for being a good sport.”
Eyes on the jars, Jamie nodded, then glanced up at Curtis with a small smile. “It was fun. No reason to thank me.”
“Hm...” Following Jamie’s attention, Curtis watched as Jacks dumped his chips carefully into Quint’s jar. “I’m thinking of playing next time. If there’s anyone who’d want to spend the night with me as their Dom.”
Jamie jerked his eyes up to Curtis’ face. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Giving him a kiss on top of his head, Curtis snugged him to his side, soothing some of the worried expression from Jamie’s brow.
Up next to the table, Jared winked at Pike and put his chips in the jar marked with his nametag, then nodded at Seth, who countered by putting an even bigger pile into Wren’s. Both men faced off like gunslingers at a saloon.
“If you hurt him—” It was hard to tell who spoke first, both Doms saying the exact same thing, then, “Who do you think you’re—” Followed by, “Stop it.”
Making a disgusted sound, they both walked away from each other.
Pike stifled a giggle under his hand, grinning when he looked over at Quint, who was shaking his head and rolling his eyes. Now that Quint had been picked, by someone he’d probably have fun with, and Pike was chosen by someone that was like…top of the pack or whatever, it was easier to chill and check out who else was getting paired up.
But instead of watching the jars, Pike’s attention got pulled by Connor, picking up his chips and moving closer to Noah, which was kinda weird. Talking way too quiet—and there was no way Pike was mastering lip reading in the next five seconds—it was impossible to tell what was going on. Until Noah inclined his head. And Connor went to put his chips in Jamie’s jar.
In the history of excited tap dances, there’d never been one as worthy of one of those movies Jamie liked as the one he executed with a choked laugh before he spun away from Curtis to go help with the plates that were being pulled from the warming drawer under the bar.
By Matt, Pike could make out Jamie’s quiet comment. “Told you he was a Dom.”
Matt nudged him in the side with his elbow. “Told you, you wouldn’t get left out.”
The two shared a warm look, before Matt went over to Reed with a brown paper bag and a small box tied with a pink satin bow. “Here. Love you.”
“Love you, too. But you didn’t have to get me anything.” Reed grinned at Matt, taking the bag and opening it first. He plucked out a lollipop, sticking it in his mouth without bothering to unwrap it before he started working on the ribbon. “Multicolored, holy F, you have no idea how bad I’ve been wanting these. I think I might be getting sick of grape.” Lollipop stuffed in his cheek, he somehow managed to talk clearly. He opened the box, the lollipop almost falling out of his mouth as his lips parted. “I’m using my free pass. Fuck, Matt. This is…” He took out a pinkie ring and slipped it on, wiggling his fingers so the pink diamond sparkled. “This is awesome. Thank you.”
Matt cleared his throat, glancing at Lawson, then Curtis, who nodded, like they’d talked already. “I know you can only marry one person, but I want to...would you...be my partner? For, like, forever? And let me be yours?”
“Hell yes. I’ll always be your forever, Matt.” Reed held the lollipop between his fingers and looped his arm around the back of Matt’s neck, drawing him in to bring their lips together. “Partner in crime and any other way you can think of. I gave you part of my heart. And there are no refunds.”
Rubbing the tip of his nose against Reed’s, Matt had the goofiest smile on his face. “Good. I couldn’t afford the interest after laying out all that cash.”
Hand going to the cuff on his wrist, Pike trailed his fingertips over the diamonds that spelt out his name. Not exactly the same kind of symbol, but close enough. He chewed on his bottom lip, glancing over at Quint, who was standing near Keiran now, both of them serving up plates and laughing quietly.
Now I just gotta get Seth to get him a better collar. One ain’t no one gonna miss.
“Penny for your thoughts.” Seth snuck up behind Pike, swooping him into the air and swinging him around for a loud kiss to his lips.
Letting out a happy sound, Pike slipped his tongue over Seth’s before easing back. “I’m glad you don’t mind me sticky… That’s not what I was thinking about, though.” He put his hands on Seth’s cheeks and stared into his gorgeous blue eyes. There were times getting lost in them made it hard to think about anything at all, but not when it was something—someone—as important as Quint. “Does Quint like diamonds? Do you think he’d like them on the new collar you’re most definitely getting him? Just a question, this is totally your idea.”
A whole fuckton of emotions and thoughts tripped over each other in Seth’s expression. From curiosity, to surprise, then a wraithlike sadness that evaporated like rain clouds in the desert as Pike finished. Taking Pike’s chin between his thumb and forefinger, Seth held him still for a deep, slanted kiss, that was full of heat and slick insistence, his tongue pushing into Pike’s mouth to claim his breath. By the time he pulled back, the room was so spinny, if the original topic had been anything besides Quint, Seth could’ve told Pike they’d been discussing the weather and he’d have believed it.
Not that his Dom would do that to him. Seth never messed with Pike’s head. But he did buy himself time if emotions were tripping him up.
Which Pike totally got.
“It’s not safe for him, pixie. Someday...” Seth searched Pike’s gaze. “I promise.”
Nodding slowly, Pike looked down, twisting the top button of Seth’s shirt in his fingers. “It’s not that I don’t think you want to, sir. I just… He deserves all the special stuff. And I want people to look at him and know he’s ours.” His lips twitched up as he lifted his gaze. “Well, mostly yours, because you’re the Dom. But mine, too, because you spoil me rotten.”
“I have a list of ways to spoil Quint. I’ve been keeping it for a decade.” Seth tapped his temple. “And...” He lowered his voice, lips up next to Pike’s ear. “I have the ring I was going to beat Jared to giving to him before we left the desert. Someday...we’ll be a family like that, too.”
Pike brushed his lips over Seth’s with a soft kiss, then handed him his button. “That’ll be really awesome, sir. But we kinda already are. Without the other stuff. In all the ways that matter.”
“Call me greedy, but I like seeing the green eyed monster in Jared’s eyes. I want it in the ways that matter, to us, and I want to gloat. I want it all. For all the right reasons and all the wrong ones, too.” Seth shrugged like admitting this bit of truth didn’t bother him. That owning his hard won humanity seemed easier to him than some people found breathing. “And I am not going to be the one to deny you an entire wedding cake to yourself.”
Snickering, Pike hugged his Dom, then whispered in his ear. “I’ll probably end up wearing most of it so you can both eat it off me. And you and Jared? After you make him all jealous, you’ll fuck. Some epic angry sex. I’m gonna be really bad and sulk until you give me every detail.”
Seth patted Pike’s ass, giving it a little heat over his padded underwear. “Jared doesn’t like his sex messy. Don’t be surprised if he gets out the china and silver, and makes you wear a napkin around your neck.”
“But…” All right, Pike was pretty sure his whole scene was gonna be mostly party planning, but he’d been hoping for at least a bit of flirting. Some sexy teasing. He wrinkled his nose. “Tea isn’t sexy. And it’s…boring. Do you think he wanted me to find strange new ways to torture me?”
“Don’t stick your pinky out when you drink from your cup. He knows it’s gauche. Oh, and only small bites of the cucumber sandwiches.” Eyes dancing with humor, Seth lifted his voice so Jared heard him.
“Wren, I apologize. I shall need to send you to your Dom for the evening with a bucket of wet wipes and a towel.” Jared ushered Wren past, to their table. “He still doesn’t know his salad fork from the dessert fork.”
Giving his Dom, then Seth, a curious look, Wren slowly shook his head. “I believe I’m going to have to rethink what I expected for tonight. Aren’t we all eating here? Did he want me for etiquette lessons? I suppose I’d be fairly good at that, I helped Jamie adjust some of the strange ones he learned in Hollywood. Danny’s still working on those…” He glanced over to where Danny was drinking out of a dish on the floor with Dallas, both of them getting water everywhere. “In…a way.”
Jared’s lips parted, then closed. He held Wren on his lap, which was pretty unusual, but seemed like he wanted to soak him up for a little bit. “If anyone can convince him to spend the evening bettering himself, it’s you, little raven.”
“I am more than happy to be of service, sir.” Wren smiled at Seth, looking like he’d just thought of something. “We left some of the china behind for you when we moved to Noah and Jamie’s loft. Not only because it was missing a few pieces. That should work very well for practicing. I could also work on Pike’s manners with him. Maybe we can schedule something after one of the classes…”
Yeah, that is definitely not happening.
“Stop having your sub Top my sub, Jared.” Seth called out above the din of everyone talking, laughing, and exchanging I almost had you moments about the game. His gaze followed Curtis, who had on all of his outdoor clothes and gave a thumbs up to Seth on his way past. Seth nodded, like it was some secret code, and brought Pike over to the bar. “What’re we going to fill you up with from this feast, pixie-pie?”
Holding the blanket a bit tighter around him, Pike latched on to the last part of the newest nickname instead of trying to choose. “Mmm. Pie sounds perfect. I’ll have some of that.” There were a few options, from the looks of it. He pressed his tongue to his bottom lip. “A small slice of each?”
“One’s a quiche.” Seth pointed, shifting Pike to his hip. “Does that work? Or are we down to four plus some Guinness coffee ice cream?”
Pike nodded, hooking his fingers to Seth’s shirt. Weird that it had almost no buttons near the top. “Quiche is pie-like. And maybe a little bit of ice cream. I don’t want to get all tipsy, I’ll be even more likely to come home with zebra ass when Jared’s done with me.”
Warmth brushed Pike’s ear, Seth’s lips coming close. “You won’t. You’re in for a treat. I might have spied on Jared and Noah talking about what they planned for their boys.”
“Really?” Pike played his fingers through Seth’s chest hair, his brow furrowing slightly. He snickered as Fresco padded to the edge of the bar, reaching out his paw like he wanted to share Pike’s new toy. “Is that why you weren’t too grumpy about him trying for me? Quint you don’t gotta worry about. No one beats his ass unless he lets them, because he never gets in trouble…unless I’m there, but that doesn’t count.”
“Really.” Serving up a slice of what looked like chicken pot pie, Seth leaned to the side over the bar, tipping Pike with him. “I wouldn’t let him win you otherwise. I would’ve done something to prevent the outcome. I don’t leave anything to chance when it comes to your safety and happiness.”
Somehow, even though Pike hadn’t really thought about it, he knew that. Without that kind of security, he wouldn’t be able to relax down here in the club. Or around any of the Doms. He reached out to lift up Fresco, tucking him in the open part of Seth’s shirt. “If I didn’t have total faith in you, sir, I’d be hiding out in our loft. But…” He rubbed the tip of his nose, which was a bit cold. “If I earn zebra ass, that’s gotta be okay, too, right? Not the end of the world. I’m gonna try really hard not to.”
“Not the end of the world.” The fork Seth held balanced a bite of blueberry pie on its tines as it zoomed in little circles toward Pike’s mouth. “But you won’t earn stripes from Jared’s cane. I promise.”
Opening his mouth, Pike caught the fork, savoring the pie as he wrapped his lips around it and ate nicely so he wouldn’t get crumbs all over his Dom. Or his kitten. He even waited until his mouth was empty before he said another word.
See, I’ve got plenty of manners.
He stuck out his tongue at Wren for acting like he didn’t, which got him a confused look from the other sub. But then Wren blinked and nodded, cutting his big pretzel in half and coming over to offer it to Pike.
All right, hard not to forgive a guy who shares his food.
Pike grinned. “Okay, I like you again. But no more manners stuff.”
“Tonight is a night of no manners at all, as soon as we leave the bar and go to my lair.” Jared’s deep voice rasped across Pike’s ear. “I will enjoy you without a napkin or a towel. And I promise, despite what Bizzy thinks, you will get very very messy.”
Either Jared was serious, or this was a cover so Wren wouldn’t figure things out, but Pike’s cheeks heated anyway. Sounded all kinds of sexy and he liked this side of Jared very much. Tipping his head almost upside down over Seth’s shoulder, Pike looked at the other Dom. “I like the sound of that, sir. And I didn’t figure you for a guy who couldn’t get messy for real. Like, you’ve got Jamie, too.”
Sipping his bourbon as he stood just behind Seth’s seat, Jared gave Pike a questioning frown. “What makes you think Jamie doesn’t get messy?” He glanced over to where the other guy brought Noah his dinner at a hightop table. “Is it the makeup or the propensity for wearing white all year ‘round no matter what fashion dictates?”
Pike tugged his bottom lip with his teeth, shaking his head. This was why people talked all proper, so things were clear and all. But if he did that he’d end up sounding like his parents, which wasn’t happening. “No…I know Wren’s all neat and… It’s all good. Doesn’t matter.”
“No, it doesn’t. Because it’s about you and me tonight.” A warm smile softened Jared’s features in a way that rarely happened. “We’re going to experiment. And I need your assistance.”
This was more what Pike had been expecting. He quickly nodded, returning the Dom’s smile with a serious one of his own. “I’m all over whatever you’ve got for me, sir. There’s some stuff back at our place—your old place that’s ours now but it ain’t gotta be weird, right? Can we swing by there when we’re finished eating?”
Jared inclined his head. “If that would make you comfortable.” He met Seth’s stare. “Do you happen to know if he has a clean pair of swimming trunks?”
Gaze automatically going to Quint, Seth frowned like this was an unexpected question. Which it couldn’t be if he’d heard what Jared had planned. “I think so...” He gave Jared a worried look. “Why?”
One side of Jared’s mouth tipped up in a secret smile. “You think my merc partner with the mile wide alert streak didn’t hear you lurking outside the gym shower?” He leaned in, brushing a kiss over Bizzy’s lips that made Pike’s Dom startle before he drew back. “You have another think coming.”
Lips parting, Pike stared at both Doms, then covered his mouth with his hand to keep from letting out a nervous giggle. This could end up real good or real bad, but it was kinda funny, seeing how Jared and Seth liked to mess with each other.
If he was smart, he’d probably enjoy it from a safer distance, but he was pretty sure Curtis had gotten all the brains in the family.
“One more bite of pie, Pike, then I’ll be feeding you myself. It’s time.” Jared brushed his hand over Wren’s hair, then placed his palms on his boy’s shoulders with a light squeeze. “Take care of him, Seth.” There was no animosity or challenge in the directive. “Please.”
In the middle of forking up a bite of pumpkin pie for Pike, Seth lifted his eyes to Jared’s. “You can count on it.”
Something that looked like old ghosts flitted between the two men. They had a wordless conversation before each nodded. Seth popped the bite of pie and whipped cream into Pike’s mouth, then kissed his cheek.
“I’ll be okay, sir.” Pike wasn’t sure saying that would help much, because he’d said it before and things went sideways, but he always meant it. And even though he wasn’t as good as Quint at being all reassuring, he needed to offer what he could. He brought his hand up to brush the short strands of hair along the side of Seth’s head, the stunning golden blond of them soft. Tried to picture what he must’ve looked like with it shaved down completely, back when Jared had first met him. The past they shared was complicated and he didn’t get it most of the time, but there was something comforting about it now. “You know I will.”
It was one of the few times Seth had shown a reluctance to leave him in someone else’s care. Except that someone had usually been Quint. The way he tore his gaze away from Pike’s co-sub made his thoughts clear. Each day when he left Pike he was able to do it without so much as a blink because he knew the other man he trusted and loved had Pike safe and happy under his watch.
“Here we go.” Swinging Pike into the air, Seth stood, tossing him up a bit and catching him before he lowered him to his feet. “I’ll be on the roof if you need me. Come find me.”
The roof?
Pike blinked at his Dom, then shivered, glancing over at Wren, who looked more excited than he had when he’d been discussing tableware. Which was kinda strange, but like he’d learned in class, people had all kinds of weird kinks. Fixing the blanket around his shoulders, Pike nodded. “Yes, sir. And…you should go talk to Quint so he can remind you about wearing a warm hat and a jacket. You can borrow my mittens, too.”
Chuckling, Seth took a hold of Pike’s wrist, lifting his hand up to place their palms together. Seth’s fingers seemed to make up two lengths of Pike’s, and his palm was nearly twice as broad. “I’m afraid that last point won’t work. I’ll ruin them. And you might need them.”
“Not in the tropics,” Jared countered, swinging Pike up into his arms. “Let’s go. I’ve waited for my prize long enough.”
Looping his arms around the back of Jared’s neck, Pike dropped the blanket, making a face as he swung his arm out to try to grab it. “Shoot, sorry. Don’t trip on that. We can’t both be clumsy or we’ll be spending the night in the clinic.” For some reason, that reminded him of Fresco, who he’d left in Seth’s shirt. “Sir, don’t bring him to the roof! He’s scared of heights!”
While Jared retrieved the blanket for Pike, Seth plucked Fresco from the nest he’d made of his shirt, nuzzling him with his nose. “Don’t worry, King of Kittens. I’ll keep your loyal subject safe.” He turned to Drew, who had just finished making a mug of cocoa for Reed, with a candy cane sticking out of the top. “Will you take care of him for the evening?”
Setting down the steel whipped cream canister, Drew wiped his fingers on a bar towel. “Oh, yes.” The phrase sounded completely different when he said it than when Jared did. “I’d like that very much, sir. Bram will be so happy.”
Pike didn’t like be away from Fresco for long, but he was cool when it was Drew watching him. And Bram was sorta like the kitten’s daddy, so it was only fair to let him have visitations. With that all worked out, he relaxed a bit in Jared’s arms. His fingers latched onto a button, then let it go. He took a deep breath. “Uh…yeah. So to the loft?”
“To the loft.” Strides not quite as long as Seth’s took Jared and him to the door upstairs, Jared’s leathers creaking a bit when he walked. The noise of the bar died away, but the door opened again, Dallas and Lawson following close behind and veering off at the dungeon, which Jared passed without a glance. “Strawberry or grape?”
Giving Jared a surprised look, Pike tried to figure out what the question was about. Probably pie. “Can you make grape pie? That sounds kinda weird, but I wouldn’t mind trying it. I think I’d like strawberry better, though.”
Setting Pike down before the loft door, Jared motioned to the pin pad for him to put in the code, averting his eyes so he wouldn’t see the combination. “It’s not pie. In general, if given a choice. Which flavor do you prefer?”
“Strawberry.” Pike tapped in the code, opening the door and stopping like Quint always did—and made him do—to let the Dom pass first. He even held out his arm all proper like. “After you, sir. I don’t mess around in Seth’s liquor cabinet, too much stuff to break, but I can probably grab you a beer from the fridge without any catastrophe.”
Looking around the loft like he always seemed to when he stepped inside, Jared wandered toward the bedroom and pointed at the door. “Your closet is in here?” He seemed a bit distracted, but not in a bad way. More like he might even be eager or excited for something. “Or did you take over the spare closets, too, like Jamie?”
Pike shook his head, wrapping his arm around himself and tucking the blanket a little tighter over his bare chest. “Not yet, sir. Seth says he’ll set up something cool once I’ve got enough stuff, but we’re still, you know, working on it. Right now there’s plenty of space in the bedroom for everything. Except my art stuff, but that’s in the spare room.”
“Good. Good...” Jared rubbed his hands together, nodding. “Come show me where your swim trunks are so I can take care of that, then we’ll get down to business.”
Nodding, Pike headed for the bedroom, pointing toward his art studio on his way by. “All the notes and sketches I took for the party are in there. Quint helped me get it all organized. I’ll show you that next…” He opened the bedroom door, slipping in and leaving it open behind him. He pulled open the top drawer to the dresser, where everything was neatly folded. “Right here, sir. With my boxers and all that. Are we going swimming?”
The question seemed to prompt Jared’s secretive smile as he examined and neatly folded each of Pike’s several swim trunks before selecting the one with big, yellow bananas all over it. He laid them on the bed, then sat on the bottom edge. “Come here.” He crooked his finger, widening his legs. “I want to have the pleasure of preparing my gorgeous prize.”
Approaching the Dom, Pike took a deep breath, stopping within reach and trying to get a read on the situation. Then decided to just ask. “Sir… We’re here… This is for the party, right? I don’t mind, but I just want to make sure. I’m excited to get everything set up, don’t get me wrong, but…” He blew out a breath. “I don’t want to get things twisted. You’re hot and…yeah.”
Light blue eyes regarded Pike with a steadiness that everyone seemed to identify with the Dom. Jared heard him out, then placed his hands on Pike’s hips to settle him firmly between his legs. The position with Jared sitting brought them nearly eye-to-eye, but Pike still had to tip his head back a bit to meet Jared’s gaze.
“I’m here for you, Pike. For me and for you.” Jared tipped his head to the side, caressing Pike’s waist with his hand. “Unless you were looking forward to discussing the party instead, but I’d hoped to enjoy some frivolity with you this evening...and some darker pleasures.”
Wetting his bottom lip with his tongue—or doing his best, since his mouth had gone dry—Pike made an attempt at words. Then another, his voice deciding to take a hike and leaving him with a breathless sound instead. “No, sir. I didn’t…I thought you wanted… Yeah, frivolity. That’s fun, right? I’m kinda scared to ask what ‘darker pleasure’ is.”
“Before we go any further, remind me of your safeword.” Jared continued the comforting touches, here and there. To Pike’s back, his shoulder, along his arm.
The question made Pike’s lips twitch and he ducked his head. “It’s still ‘unicorn’, sir. I’m really good at using it. Quint says a little too good. But I only use it jokingly with him. I use it seriously with Seth and…well, you.”
“As you should.” Jared’s touches moved to Pike’s cheek, then slid into Pike’s hair where his fingers massaged at the base of his skull. “And I want you to use it tonight if at any point you don’t like or enjoy every bit of the direction I take us in. We’ll stop play, and then discuss things, and you may decide if you wish me to adjust or continue.”
Lifting his gaze to Jared’s, Pike made sure to show the Dom he understood and wouldn’t mess around. Especially not with something like this. “I will, sir.” He stared into those pale blue eyes, a color he’d gotten pretty close to in the mural he’d done of the entire Core, but the paint didn’t quite measure up to the real thing. How…captivating they could be. When they weren’t freezing you to the spot and making you rethink every choice you’d ever made in life up to that moment. He shivered, praying he wouldn’t do anything to earn that look tonight. “I…I’m really glad you won me, even though I was wrong about why you wanted to.”
“I’m sorry I left you in any doubt as to my interest.” Those magic fingers continued their massaging walk to Pike’s neck. Jared’s voice had gone to that gravelly, sultry place Pike had heard him use with Noah on occasion, and even Wren, but very few others. He leaned in, his breath brushing Pike’s lips in little puffs that smelled of bourbon and chocolate. “Shall I demonstrate or make you wait?”
Inching in a bit closer, Pike made a thoughtful sound. He wasn’t sure how safe it would be to tease Jared like he might his own Dom. He definitely wouldn’t go as far as he would with Quint. But Jared had wagered for him. Not any other sub. And it wasn’t like the man had met him yesterday. His lips curved a little. “I don’t like waiting, sir. I’m a lot better behaved when I don’t have to. And I wanna be good for you. You don’t like naughty subs.”
“Hmm...” Breath continuing to puff over Pike’s lips, Jared brought their mouths a fraction of an inch apart. “If you can wait, then I will allow you to come as many times tonight as you like. If you’d rather claim a kiss now, you may come once. At a time of my choosing.”
There was no way in hell pouting at Jared would get him anywhere, but Pike couldn’t help himself. Not getting to come was a cruel and unusual punishment. One Seth usually saved for Quint, because he liked it or something. Sometimes, he made Pike go for a few days, until every word that came out of Pike’s mouth was begging for it.
All right, that was always a whole experience, but this…
This with Jared was new. At one point, the answer would’ve been obvious. Pike hadn’t kissed a lot of the people who fucked him. But he liked kissing now. A lot.
Which made the decision hard. And forced him to do the thing Quint was always trying to get him to.
Consider all his options. Before making a single move.
****
Check back tomorrow for PART 58!
THANK YOU!!!!!! This was simply awesome, Matt with Reed, so happy, and seeing some of the match-ups, I guessed a few right! Seth and Jared were priceless, and Wren and Pike, so different, but really so similar, loved it <3
ReplyDeleteHoo boy. The possibilities.
ReplyDeleteWow, like this one very much. Like the way how Seth and Jared are with each other ❤
ReplyDeleteReed and matt together ❤❤
ReplyDeleteLoved the present Matt gave Reed
ReplyDelete