Love & Stitches at The Asylum: Part Seventy-Four

So there was a bit of a mixup. I posted Part 77 instead of Part 74, which means you're all missing a bit. Thank you to the reader who commented and gave me a head's up

To make up for it, I'm going to post all the parts now. The other one was taken down, so they should fall back in order.

Sorry about that and hope this helps!

Warmly,

B

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“Guards! Escort the prisoners to my tower.” Jared growled, biting down on the smoke pellet that sent wisps of white curling from his nose as he leaned over Wren and Jamie, who’d been all-too-willing to be captured in his lair at the center of the labyrinth. 

Downstairs, near Danny’s tower by the pool, cupcakes, birthday cake, and all manner of treats awaited not far off from where they all congregated at the end of the labyrinth that had twisted and turned its way back into The Asylum. 

Everyone, so far, had been captured in the same manner, trussed up in netting and carried by Dallas and Connor to the exotically lit space where steam and snow met. The snow machines were on, but the pool was heated, creating an odd landscape that registered as more than a bit magical when Jared had viewed it before the festivities had begun.

In his netted prison, squashed next to Wren, Jamie groaned. “Why couldn’t you have landed with your elbow somewhere else?” He wiggled. “I love you, birthday guy, but could you maybe adjust?”

“I’m not sure if you noticed, but moving only had the ropes of the nets gripping us tighter. I like your butt very much, but if I move it will be pressed much closer to my face than I enjoy when there’s no sex involved.” Wren inspected the ropes, remaining perfectly still, looking more fascinated at the predicament than anything else. “I believe the point is to accept your fate. Your sacrifice will appease the dragon. Or the Dom dragon. Maybe think about another part of your body and it won’t be so bad?”

Jared chuckled, not bothering to disguise his sadistic glee when Jamie made a distressed sound, like Wren’s words only focused his attention on his dick one-hundred-and-ten-percent. Bending, he nipped the curve of Jamie’s ass, which was on luscious display in a pair of disco booty shorts that glittered in the setting sun.

Squealing, Jamie twisted, mashing his right ass cheek up against Wren’s nose. “Sir! No barbequing my rump roast!”

Dallas snorted, maneuvering Wren and Jamie toward the hidden trap door at the maze’s center that would bring Jared’s captives down to the basement. Jared followed, ostensibly to grab a bottle of water, secretly wanting to remain close to Wren to see his reactions to the party that had been set up for him.

“You know, you two would be out of there already if you’d come better prepared.” Downstairs, by the snacks table, Reed smirked around a gummy worm he plucked out of the large bowl of candy he’d claimed, playfully lifting it out of Pike’s reach. “Now you’re at your Doms’ mercy.”

Standing watch a few feet away, Noah chuckled. “I’d object to you not following the rules about what was allowed in the maze, but I can’t complain, since I provided you with them. I suppose it doesn’t matter when.” His gaze took Jared in with no little heat. “You have me considering a very different kind of play to add to our arsenal, my love. When Jacks said he envisioned the perfect outfit for you, he meant it.” 

Feeling particularly evil, Jared leaned closer to Noah, as if to kiss him, and flexed his fingers around the hollow iron pole Curtis had fashioned for him. A hidden switch he pressed ignited a rush of silver and gold glitter that exploded all over Reed, Noah, and Pike. “There is more fire where this came from. Remain, and be singed.”

While Reed and Noah moved quickly to get out of range, Pike used it as an opportunity to claim the bowl of candy.

“Burn me, baby.” Pike grinned, shoving a few pieces of glitter covered gummies in his mouth. “I’ll go down real happy. Damn, these are good.”

“Some guards you are.” Grumbling at Connor and Dallas, Jared fired the glitter stick in their direction. “It’s so difficult to find good help these days.”

Sputtering after  taking the brunt of the glitter attack, Connor slid Dallas a disgruntled look, the switch having avoided getting more than a few of the sparkling bits on him. He dropped the cherry he’d been not so subtly trying to catch Jamie’s attention with, and swiped some glitter off his face. “I’m getting the idea that you can’t be distracted for a second during ‘down time’ with you guys.”

“It’s a good thing you’re a faster learner.” Noah slid Jared a sideways grin. “Second lesson? Don’t go overboard with trying to protect the subs. Jared knows how much they can take. And if Jamie’s forgotten his safeword after all this time, we’ve got bigger issues.”

Sharing a wink with Noah, Jared pinched both Wren and Jamie’s backsides through the gaps in the netting. “I believe he was trying to fatten them up for me.” He brought his face close to Wren’s, breathing more white smoke through his nose. “This one would look very pleasing with an apple in his mouth.”

“An apple would be better than those cherries, they’re much too sweet.” Wren wrinkled his nose, as though he could taste it. “I’ve found I enjoy the sour apples more. May I request one of those before I’m sacrificed, sir? Apples are in season now, aren’t they? They’re much better when they’re fresh.”

“So be it!” Jared flourished the stick, firing it into the air using a separate button, so that smoke came out with the glitter that rained on Wren and Jamie, who couldn’t move out of the way. “This stick will be my gift to the first man to rid me of these miscreants who tried to steal my treasure. Take them to the banqueting hall!”

Reed stepped forward, still sparkling from head to toe, only having brushed away the glitter around his eyes. He circled the bulging net, making a thoughtful sound. “I mean, I could dump ‘em in the pool?” He tapped his chin like he was considering the idea. “Or find one of those places from the movie…”

“An oubliette.” Well clear of all the glitter action, Lawson sat by the pool with Matt, nursing a cup of coffee. He chuckled at Reed’s surprised look. “I pay attention, my boy. When Jacks started the new craze where almost all the subs were watching it on repeat? Curtis made enough puns about the movie that I think I have the whole thing memorized.”

Floating on an inflatable unicorn at the pool’s center, Curtis caught snowflakes on his tongue, his voice echoing against the tiled space when he spoke. “I say we definitely dump ‘em in the pool.”

Having nodded to Dallas so the man hooked the netting on an arm that could extend over the pool, Jared lightly swung it toward Curtis with a screech of metal on metal. “Perhaps I should have hired you to be my guard instead.” He gave Connor and Dallas an unimpressed look. “Now, Keiran, it is up to you to rescue them both.”

Keiran gave him a sharp nod, his lips twitching with amusement as he hauled himself up to climb the metal arm, a steak knife held between his teeth. Once he reached the top, he straddled the space just above the net, taking the knife out and examining the ropes. “It’s pretty twisted up. You’ll have to hang on tight or you might end up in the pool. But it’s not that far of a drop.”

“At worst, it would be a very fast way to clean off all the glitter.” Wren was clearly enjoying the idea of possibly falling to his watery demise, likely picturing some terrifying scenes from his favorite movies. But he shifted a bit to latch onto the ropes with one hand. The other, he worked around Jamie’s belt. “I believe we’re ready for your attempt to rescue us. If you fail, know I love you and the effort means everything.”

From the side of the pool, Dallas shucked his clothes until he stood in his underwear, clearly at the ready in case he needed to perform a rescue of his own. His eyes shone with humor, his muscles moving with the kind of grace it was difficult not to watch. Jared looked his fill, leaning back against the faux rock wall Curtis had built to simulate the dragon’s treasure cave.

Over the water, Jamie’s breaths were audible, his gaze locked on Curtis, like he didn’t quite remain in this space and time. 

“Okay, I need both of you ready. Brace yourselves.” Keiran hesitated, his gaze flicking to Dallas, then returning to Wren, before he nodded to himself and reached down to cut the first rope. Two more strategic cuts opened the net and he lunged forward, legs wrapped around the metal arm, swinging upside down to secure Wren’s wrist when the combined weight of both himself and Jamie almost jerked his fingers from the ropes. “I’ve got you.” His tone was strained as he pulled Wren up until he had an arm around his waist, the position awkward from the way Wren dangled Jamie by his belt. “Jamie, reach up and I’ll get you secured.”

Pasty white, Jamie did as Keiran instructed, whispering something over and over that Jared finally caught as it echoed against the ceiling. “Not dead. Not dead. Tell Noah. Not dead.”

Seeming to make out the words before Noah did with the loud music and laughter filtering out anything but close conversation, Connor tensed. He said something to Noah, handing him his earpiece, which Noah put on, moving away and speaking to someone through it. With him distracted, Connor walked around the edge of the pool.

“Hey, what do you say we go for another drive after this.” Connor grinned at Jamie, his raised voice casual, but the worry clear in his eyes. “But I haven’t gotten a chance to see how good you swim. A dive right now would be a rush, don’t you think?”

Half ready to go in after Jamie himself, Jared relaxed back against the wall again, one eye on Noah and the other on Jamie. Having Connor there to take care of the boy was a godsend. That Jamie responded to him readily, even better. 

Tearing his gaze from the water like he landed back in his body, Jamie met Connor’s eyes. He blew out a shaky breath, nodding rapidly. “Yes, sir.” Twisting, he glanced up at Wren. “You can let go. I’m going to be all right.”

Wren’s brow furrowed, his expression losing the bit of excited fear that had been there before, confusion and concern taking over. Caught between Jamie and Keiran, he didn’t appear to be sure who to listen to. “But…the rescue…”

“We have...two rescuers...” Catching on, Jamie gave Wren a thumbs up, swaying a little in his grip. “Divide and conquer. Make sure the dragon can’t get us if his attention is split.” He motioned toward Connor, then spoke out of the side of his mouth. “‘sides, I’m covered in glitter flames I need to put out.”

  That seemed to work, because Wren nodded, inhaling roughly and adjusting a bit in Keiran’s hold. “Okay, that sounds reasonable. Take a deep breath and tell me when. If you get captured, I’ll come for you. But try not to. It would be very unfortunate if the dragon used pieces of you as a snack before I got there.”

“Mmm, Jamie hot wings.” Pike grinned around the chips he was using to sandwich…what looked like cubes of Jell-O. “You better make it quick, I bet he’s already thinking what kinda sauce would be best.”

Pushing away from the wall with his boot heel, Jared stalked toward Pike, leaving the drama over the pool to play out. He noted the splash, but didn’t glance Wren and Jamie’s way as he gripped Pike’s wrist and brought the sandwich in Pike’s fingers to his mouth to take a large bite. Jell-O squished between his lips, making them what he could only surmise would be a messy red.

“Hello, my favorite morsel.” Jared leaned closer to suck on Pike’s neck, adding the taste of his skin to the mix as he gave him a deep bruise before he pulled away with a suckling sound. “No need for hot wings when I can have you.”

Pike snickered, then rubbed at his neck. “Bitey Dom. That hurt, but it’s okay. I know I’m too tasty to resist.” The laughter faded from his eyes as he looked past Jared. “Noah’s trying to get your attention. Is something wrong? How come Seth and Quint aren’t here yet?”

Bent at the waist, Jared twisted to look over his shoulder, then straightened when Noah caught his eye. “They were the last to enter the maze.” He already moved toward Noah as he spoke. “I’ll be back, little gremlin.”

Meeting him halfway, Noah motioned for him to follow him to the far end of the pool area, near the security exit. “Rhodey said he’s got an eye on things, and Avery’s sticking close, but he wants me to take over here and you to go up with him. He wouldn’t give me details, he just said to tell you your boy’s fine.”

Glancing back toward Wren and Keiran automatically as his boy was carefully carried down the mechanical arm, Jared noted that Jamie swam toward Connor in the pool, his loud splashes full of glee. He clasped Noah’s arm, nodding sharply, and turned on his heel to wend his way back through the labyrinth, up the ramp that led to the parking lot where the rest of the faux rock covered hay bales twisted and turned.

Outside, the air was crisper, the humidity that clung to his skin turning sharp. It was impossible to tell from the circular center of the labyrinth where Quint and Seth might be. Cocking his head, Jared listened for his boy.

“Avery’s with him, keeping him from losing his shit.” Rhodey spoke, close to Jared’s ear, the warmth of his body behind him. “I might have been a bit stricter about the ‘no weapons’ rule with our newer additions. Then again, one razor isn’t really a weapon. And my boys don’t count.”

Somewhat automatically, he relaxed back against Rhodey’s sturdy frame, taking a moment to breathe. “What happened?”

Rhodey squeezed his arm, then shifted over so he could meet Jared’s eye. “Part of the point of this whole thing was to let the danger feel real, without actually being it, so Wren could get that thrill he likes so much. We figured it might hit everyone different. Not surprisingly, Quint seems to be half expecting to find Pike impaled on something in the maze.” His lips thinned as he glanced in the direction where faint movement could be heard. “You wanted him and Seth separated. I saw to it. Don’t keep them ‘hanging’ too long, we might end up with a merc revolt on our hands.”

Leather creaked as Jared moved to peer around the nearest corner.  The years had worn away Seth’s frenetic nature, training and likely medication that Jared had prescribed so long ago, honing his demeanor to a calculating edge. “I worry about that man. He needs to let go as badly as Quint.” 

“They both just need to get better at learning when to let go.” Rhodey put a firm hand on Jared’s shoulder. “Since the time at the safehouse, when I had to break Pike’s foot? One of them has always been with the boy. The classes, the poker game, this party? It’s a good way to get them to lighten the fuck up. ”

Moving to the wall, Jared examined a set of manacles at the ends of a pair of anchored chains to make certain there were no rough spots that might cut into a captive. The links clattered against each other as he dropped them to face Rhodey, lips curving. “I want Seth first. He’ll go down with a fight, but merc or no merc, I’m going to take him down.”

Rhodey chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got it, my man.”  Saluting Jared with two fingers, he headed off down one of the paths, whistling what sounded like one of those Russian songs he’d tried to teach Jared when they were children, an attempt to hang on to the little he recalled before his parents died. The sound drifted away as he moved out of sight.

Jared’s smile accompanied his soft laugh. Making his plan, he pictured the moments he and Rhodey had first taught each other to spar, then how to get out of various holds, experimenting until they’d gotten things right. There had been a wrestling book they’d taken out of the library and pored over for hours using a flashlight under the blankets of Jared’s lower bunk. Not that their foster parents ever would have checked, but they didn’t want to disturb the other kids. Every so often, he wondered how they’d all made out.

Rhodey might know...

A rustling to his right, from the wrong direction—above—made him tense. He crouched, making certain Seth wouldn’t easily gain the advantage.

This time, the game they played wouldn’t be ‘winner take all’.

Seth had been a part of Jared’s heart for far too long for anything so one sided. The man had to be made to see he had options, family, and a path that didn’t include deception and holding cards so close to his chest.

Maybe Jared hadn’t made it easy for him to play the game any other way, but now that would change.

Because this hand?

Is for keeps.

****

PART Seventy Five