by Brina Brady
“The best. I think I’m falling in love with him already.”
“And Sam is out of your heart?”
“Sam broke my heart, but Master Andrew is cementing me back together. He’s everything I ever wanted.”
Pink-haired Marty stopped at their table, carrying a tray. “Hey, do you mind if I join you guys?”
“Hey, Marty, sit down,” Jesse said. “Thank you for the miniature blue bear. I love it.”
“I knew you would. So, I heard you’re with Master Andrew.”
Jesse nodded while he was eating.
“Master Ben said that Master Sam didn’t end your contract,” Marty said.
“He lies,” Jesse said. “When did you see him?”
“He came to the store last night. He bought rope, tape, and a mouth gag,” Marty said.
“Does he have a sub?” Charlie asked.
“Not that I know of, but he came in with Master Carmen,” Marty said.
“Those two are friends with Sam,” Jesse said.
“Master Cody said that Master Andrew banned both of them from the club.”
“I didn’t know that. Did you, Jesse?” Charlie asked.
“I knew about Master Ben, but not about Master Carmen,” Jesse said.
“Master Carmen hurt a sub in one of the private rooms, that’s what Master Cody said,” Marty said.
“Master Carmen and Master Ben are mean,” Charlie noted.
“Do you think they’re real Doms?” Marty asked.
“They’re Doms, but they’re fucked-up ones, just like Sam,” Jesse added.
Jesse’s phone vibrated, and he read his message.
Mary: The library is closed. State inspection. No work until Thursday.
Jesse: Thanks. See you Friday.
“The library is closed, so I don’t work until Friday. I really needed the money,” Jesse said.
“I can ask Master Cody if he can hire you at the BDSM store,” Marty said.
“I’ll have to discuss it with Master Andrew first, but I’d love to work there.”
“Hey, you better send a message to Master Andrew that you don’t have to work,” Charlie told him.
“I will,” Jesse said, but he didn’t have any intention of doing so. He wanted some time to himself, and this was his chance.
“I have another class. Are you coming with me?” Charlie asked Jesse.
“He can hang out with me until I have to go to class,” Marty stated.
“Make sure you send Master Andrew a text,” Charlie said again and left.
After lunch, Jesse accompanied Marty to the bookstore where he purchased a history textbook. Then they sat down under a tree and talked.
“I heard something else about Master Sam,” Marty said.
“From who and what did you hear?”
“Last night, Master Ben said he actually spoke to Master Sam. Master Sam told him that he was still your Dom, and he was upset with Master Andrew. He also said that when he returns to Huntington Beach, he’s going to take you away from him.”
“That’s so damn sick. That bastard left me homeless without any warning. He treated me like shit. It makes me so angry. I’m not going back. He cut up my collar, so what’s he talking about?”
“Master Cody argued with Master Ben and told him that you belong to Master Andrew. He shouldn’t have left you if he still wanted you.”
Jesse’s phone buzzed.
Master Andrew: Where are you?
Jesse: Outside the bookstore.
Master Andrew: I thought you said you had to work. Did you know the library is closed?
Jesse: I just found out. So what time are you done?
Master Andrew: I’ll be done in an hour. Go to room 104 and sit in the back.
Jesse: When?
Master Andrew: Now.
Jesse: Yes, Sir.
“I think I’m in trouble with Master Andrew.”
“Why?” Marty asked.
“It’s complicated, but I didn’t tell him that I didn’t have to go to work. I have to sit in one of his classes now.”
“I’ll walk you to class so no one messes with you.”
“Thanks, Marty.” Jesse had to work hard not to laugh. Marty was no fighter, especially with his pink hair. “I hope we can see each other some more. I’m sorry I was so rude to you before. Sam wouldn’t allow me to socialize.”
“I know.”
Once Jesse entered room 104, he took a seat in the back. The students had filled the room, except for the back row. Master Andrew was standing at the podium, giving a lecture on firearms, explaining how new agents discharge all Bureau-issued weapons in a safe and effective manner. He hadn’t thought about Master Andrew using weapons, but he supposed he had in the FBI. This particular class Jesse had no interest in.
Yet as his Dom explained how to stay safe and keep others safe, thoughts of Master Andrew’s husband, Brett, came to his mind. This subject must bring up sad memories of his husband, although it was a long time ago. Hopefully he was over Brett. The lecture went on and on until Jesse wished he had earplugs. Just when he thought Master Andrew would stop talking, he displayed PowerPoint slides on the same topic. He stopped to discuss each slide and take questions. Jesse pulled out his phone and played a game.
After an hour, the class finally ended, and the students left. Unsure of what he was supposed to do, Jesse remained seated. After Master Andrew finished up and collected his laptop and briefcase, he made his way to Jesse.
“Ready?”
“Yes, Sir.” Jesse carried Master Andrew’s laptop. There was no doubt in Jesse’s mind that Master Andrew was upset with him for not calling him sooner. He’d wanted to squeeze a little bit of freedom in without being caught.
The silence in the car on their drive home was deafening. The only thing Jesse could hear was the sound of his own breathing as he leaned his head against the side window. If he made any more mistakes, it might mean he’d have to leave Master Andrew, which terrified him beyond any hope of happiness and stability in his life. He wanted them to work out, but now he started doubting it ever would. He had such a difficult time being the perfect sub.
He feared that Master Andrew might change his mind about him when he realized what a disobedient sub he was. He should have messaged Master Andrew as soon as he found out. Why didn’t he just follow the rules? The wave of disappointment in himself was jarring. Maybe he was making more out of his mistake than was necessary, but he demanded perfection in his relationships. The idea of having this tiny freedom had enticed him to ignore notifying Master Andrew of the change. The silence in the car drove Jesse crazy.
“Are you mad at me, Sir?” Jesse shifted in his seat and faced him.
“I’ll discuss my feelings with you at home, not while I’m driving.”
“I’m sorry for not sending a message sooner, Sir.”
“Not now, Jesse.”
Once they were in the hallway, Jesse pried off his shoes and removed his socks. Master Andrew did the same. With great regret, Jesse followed Master Andrew to the kitchen.
“Sit.”
Jesse didn’t waste any time; he sat in the chair. He was in enough trouble. There was no need to add to it.
“What were you doing between the time you met Charlie until I called you?” Master Andrew leaned against the counter, arms crossed over his chest.
“I went to the bookstore with Marty. He had lunch with us.”
“I didn’t even know Marty was enrolled in Cal State.” Master Andrew looked surprised. “This morning, we had agreed that I’d pick you up after your job at eight. Is that right?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Then why didn’t you send me a text when you found out you didn’t need to work?”
“I have no reason, Sir.”
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out about the library closing?”
“I didn’t think about you finding out because I had just found out.”
“That’s not true, Jesse. You had lunch, and
right after lunch, your job begins. So you knew sometime during lunch. You decided not to tell me so you could do whatever without informing me before I left for Jake’s.”
“I’m sorry, Sir. It won’t happen again.”
“Your behavior falls into the dangerous category. When you break my rules, there are consequences, so you’ll be punished accordingly.”
“I understand, Sir.”
“Undress in the bedroom, then go to the playroom, and prepare yourself for discipline on the spanking bench. I’ll be up there shortly.”
Jesse pursed his lips as if he was making a decision, but it really wasn’t his choice. The decision had been made the moment he had chosen to break the rules.
“Yes, Sir.” Jesse left the kitchen and made his way to the bedroom.
Right now, he wanted his punishment to be over. He tugged his shirt off, then wiggled out of his tight jeans and underwear. He folded his clothes and set them on the chair. The wooden stairs creaked on his way up to the playroom. Each step, one after the other, groaned. He twisted the doorknob and nudged the door forward a little with the tip of his foot. He made his way to the spanking bench, folded himself over it, and waited. He scanned the wall, looking at the hanging spanking implements when Master Andrew walked into the room and stood beside him.
“Why am I disciplining you?” Master Andrew asked.
“Because I engaged in dangerous behavior by not sending you a text when I found out that I didn’t need to work.”
“Why was your action considered dangerous?”
“My stalker could have caused me problems, Sir.”
“That’s right. Don’t engage in dangerous behavior.”
“I’m sorry, Sir. I won’t do that again.”
“Good. What’s your safeword?”
“Berry, Sir.”
“If you want me to pause or stop for a minute, say yellow. If you’re okay, you say green.”
“Yes, Sir. I understand that.”
Master Andrew strapped his wrists and ankles to the bench. The ease with which he had slipped into the role of punisher was a little frightening. He was no pushover but firm with fairness. Jesse had been warned about Master Andrew’s expectations and consequences. This was the first time his new Dom was going to punish him, but Master Andrew seemed to be completely comfortable with the prospect of beating his ass. There was nothing sexual about this punishment. He hated himself for failing the man who had his best interests at heart.
“Because this is a serious error on your part and you understood what you did was wrong but did it anyway, I’m going to give you twenty swats.”
He walked back to the wall. Out of the corner of his eye, Jesse saw he was inspecting the collection hanging from the hooks. He counted the implements: five paddles—leather, wood, wood with holes, rubber, and a ping pong; a Loopy Johnny; five long leather belts with different thicknesses and widths; two canes—an acrylic and a rattan; two blue floggers—the heavy and the light; a single-tailed whip; and the bath brush with its long wooden handle. Please, please, not the cane. During punishment, the freedom to choose was forbidden. He had made his choice when he decided to seek a bit of independence.
“This one, I think,” he said, picking up the leather paddle and returning to Jesse. From his pocket, he drew out the black blindfold and wrapped it around Jesse’s eyes. He now resided in darkness.
Jesse startled when the leather paddle cracked against his ass. He jerked from the unexpected blow landing hard. The crashing thud pierced through his ears. The leather paddle packed a hefty bite as it pelted his unprotected ass, the effect of the leather burning his skin, pain exploding through him. Jesse bit his lip.
Master Andrew swung the paddle against his ass without pauses between blows. With each brutal swat, the paddle covered most of his ass.
“What color are you?”
“Green, Sir,” Jesse cried.
Jesse’s ass stung from what seemed like nonstop blows with the heated paddle. After a while, the pain moved deep inside his muscles and nerve endings. He wished he could see his ass covered with the marks from the paddle. His ass cheeks jiggled from the impact of the heavy-handed strikes. When the final blow struck his ass, tears blinded his eyes, more caused by disappointing Master Andrew than by the pain. He rubbed his face against the leather bench to wipe them away. Master Andrew returned the paddle to the cleaning table and removed the blindfold.
Jesse slowly turned his head around and faced Master Andrew. “I’m sorry, Sir.”
Master Andrew unbuckled the straps and helped him stand up. He took Jesse in his arms, stroking his back. “Drink this water,” Master Andrew said as he handed him a bottle.
Jesse gulped the entire bottle. When he finished, Master Andrew kissed the top of his head.
“Let today be a lesson. I don’t want this behavior repeated.”
“It won’t happen again, Sir.”
“Clean the paddle and spanking bench, then take a shower and get dressed. We’re going to Jake’s to help with the pool. I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Master Andrew
When Andrew and Jesse arrived at Jake’s home, they walked through to the backyard. Malik and Jake had marked the area with lime, and Charlie and Chen had followed up by pounding the stakes. Jake and Malik were now digging up the grass layer, but they stopped working and greeted each other.
“Hey, you guys can help move the dug up grass to the storage unit,” Jake said.
Jake had rented a mini excavator to do the major digging. Andrew made sure he worked beside Jesse to check on how he was. He whispered in his ear, “Are you okay?”
“Yes, Sir. I’m fine. I think it’s kind of exciting to be helping build a pool.”
“Yes, it is.”
Once Charlie and Chen were finished, they helped move the grass to the storage unit too. When the grass was stored, Malik climbed onto the mini excavator and dug. He emptied the dirt on the side, while Jake rode the skid steer loader to remove the sand. They worked for three hours.
They took turns washing up inside. When it was Andrew’s turn, he took Jesse’s hand and pulled him in the bathroom.
“You’re too sexy for your clothes when you’re working outside,” Andrew told Jesse.
A smile curved across Jesse’s face, communicating that everything was right between them. It was obvious that Jesse wasn’t ever missed much by Sam, nor had that bastard made him feel special. He’d suffered for four years with that mobster and never knew what a real BDSM relationship consisted of. He had no idea. It pissed him off that Jesse had been the only one giving while Sam just had taken from him.
After they washed their hands and faces, Andrew pulled Jesse into his arms and kissed him.
“I want you,” Andrew said.
“Now, Sir?” Jesse asked.
Andrew nodded. “I do, but now is not the time. I don’t want Jake to discover we’re having sex in his house. When we go home, I’m going to make you scream from pleasure.”
They walked back to the kitchen, where the others were making dinner.
“You guys are in charge of the corn on the cob and potatoes. There’s a cake mix, so make that too. We’re going outside to get things ready for the barbecue,” Jake said.
Andrew and Malik followed Jake outside, where Jake set the cooler down. They each grabbed a beer and sat at the picnic table.
“I love looking at that deep hole. Thanks for helping, guys,” Jake said.
“I bet you do,” Malik said.
“I know what he means. It means your pool is getting there. Who painted the picnic table green?” Andrew asked.
“Jesse did. He likes to paint things. Charlie was working. Otherwise he would have helped him. He did a damn good job. I already miss him around here,” Jake said.
“What are you going to do about Ben?” Malik asked.
“I’m making sure Jesse isn’t alone.” His phone rang. Nico was calling. “I have to take this.” Andrew
moved away from the group to have some privacy.
“Do you have anything?” Andrew asked.
“Yes. I found out Sam Gambino is in New York, working with his family. I checked his phone and address. He’s living with his family at their estate. I’ll text you his number so you can call.”
“That’s great. I want you to check on Ben and Carmen too. I’ll send their information to you. Ben has been threatening Jesse and me about Sam taking Jesse. He claims he communicated with Sam, who said he’s coming for him.”
“A woman is living with Sam in New York. I doubt he’s returning for Jesse.”
“I wonder if Ben and Carmen are the stalkers and want Jesse for themselves.”
“That seems to make more sense because I doubt Sam is. I’ll get back to you on the other two. Got to go,” Nico said
“Thanks.” Andrew ended the call.
He returned to the picnic table. “That was Nico, my friend from the FBI. He said Sam’s living with a woman in New York. He’s going to check out Ben and Carmen.”
“A woman? That’s a relief, Sam’s gone,” Jake said.
“I’ll tell Jesse when we’re home. He might get upset about the woman.”
“He’ll lean on you for his strength,” Malik said. “I can’t get over Sam’s bisexual. I’d never figure that one.”
Chen made his way to the table. “Everything will be ready in fifteen minutes, Sir.”
“Thanks,” Jake said. “Time to throw the steaks on the grill.”
Jake and Andrew watched the steaks while Malik checked on what the boys were doing in the kitchen.
“We must keep an eye on Jesse. He’s not going to like it,” Andrew said.
“I’ll talk to Charlie and make sure he walks Jesse to class. Do you think you should hire a guard?” Jake asked.
“The thought crossed my mind.”
“I could shadow him on my days off,” Jake said.
“That would help, but I’m going to hire a guard so I don’t have to worry when I’m working. Today, Jesse was scheduled to work, but the library was closed. He decided not to tell me. When I sent him a text, I asked him about it, and only then he told me. If I hadn’t texted him, how long would he have been roaming around on his own?”
Jake stared intently at the sky, as if the words he was looking for were, somehow, written there. “That’s very odd behavior for Jesse. He followed all of Sam’s fucked-up rules to the letter.”