Making His Stand

by Thianna Durston

  “There’s just one thing I need to give him. Then he can have the rest of the day. I’m taking it off. Becca has been feeling off-balance lately, so I’m taking her to the mainland for a mini-vacation and spa day. Given the Faire opening on Thursday, I think we all need to take a couple days of rest and relaxation.”

  By the time they reached the office, James was able to stand on his own and he no longer felt lightheaded. Becca and Zippo were there to greet them. He picked up his little dog, grinning as he wriggled back and forth. “Hey, Zippo. Have fun with Aunt Becca?”

  “We had a great time,” she said. While she smiled, she looked exhausted. James didn’t say anything about it, but she did look slightly gray. He hoped their mini-vacation helped her feel better.

  “Ready?” Kendrick asked her gently. She nodded and leaned into his embrace. “All right. There’s something I need to give James and then we’ll be on our way.” He kept an arm around her as he led them back to his office. After helping her to her knees—the fact he had to help her worried James—Kendrick pulled an envelope out of his pocket.

  “I could have given you this in Port Angeles, but I thought you’d appreciate having Alec here for it. Remember the man I spoke to outside of the courthouse?”

  James drew his gaze back from Becca and nodded. When they left the courthouse, a large man had approached and had been effusive in his thanks to Kendrick. James had been so tired all he wanted to do was get home to Alec so he hadn’t listened.

  “That was Carl Cavanaugh, the contractor we had for the Faire project. When you alerted me to that bill a few weeks ago, I asked him about it and he was confused because we were almost paid in full. It seems that Bronick’s cousin is Carl’s secretary and when Carl fired Bronick for his actions on the island—I guess the Elan Isle project was Bronick’s last chance to do something right for a change—this Margie decided to help out her cousin by padding all of their accounts. Her plan was to extract all the money and give it to Bronick before Carl noticed. Your doubts on the bill blew her plan out of the water before anyone paid. He was able to explain the problem to all twenty of his current accounts before they started to think they were being ripped off. He got both Margie and Bronick arrested.”

  “Shit. Good thing James found that bill,” Alec said, squeezing his shoulder.

  “Agreed. It could have ruined Carl’s reputation if James hadn’t caught that and all twenty of his accounts came to the realization they were scalped for twenty grand a piece. So,” Kendrick continued, “Carl wanted to show his appreciation. I told him to make the check out to you as you’re the one who caught it.”

  Check? James took the envelope, wondering how much it would be for. He wanted to get Zippo some warm weather gear for the winter. Perhaps there would be enough he could buy some heavy-duty doggie sweaters.

  He opened it up and pulled out the check. He closed his eyes and then opened them again.

  Kendrick smiled. “Yes, that’s exactly the amount we would have paid him. Believe me, James. You saved his neck. So, what are you going to do with the money? Build Zippo a dream home?” James chuckled. “Stock up on kink wear? Put a down-payment on a place on Elan Isle?”

  He looked up quickly. “Really?” A permanent member of Elan Isle? Excitement raced through his veins.

  “Are you kidding? We can’t do without you. I’ve been hoping you’d bring up buying a stake.”

  “He won’t need one,” Alec said firmly. Startled, and a little hurt, James turned toward him. He fingered the wonderful leather collar Alec gave him the week before. It read Alec’s Pup. Surely he couldn’t have meant those words the way they sounded—as if he didn’t want James there. Alec’s hazel eyes softened. “Pup, I wanted to do this with just you and I, but how do you feel about moving in with me? Permanently. You’re already my sub and sleep in my bed every night. I want it official. Share my stake. Share my life.”

  When Alec had placed the collar around his neck, James had understood that was what he was asking for. But hearing the words like this made them even better. “Yes,” he whispered. Zippo yipped as if adding his two cents worth that it was about time.

  Alec chuckled. “Yes, little dog. You too.” He turned toward Kendrick, who looked very smug. “Fuck you, Finleigh.” Kendrick laughed. “The gate’s going to need to be permanent. Let me know what needs to be done to make our backyard a Zippo-safe zone.”

  “You got it. I—”

  Becca cried out, covered her mouth with her hand, leaped to her feet, and ran out of the room.

  “Becca,” James exclaimed and took a step in her direction.

  Kendrick stopped him. “She’s okay, James.”

  “But… how can her running out of the room be okay? You aren’t breaking up with her are you?” he asked a little angrily as he stepped up to Kendrick. James was only two inches shorter, though he was a lot thinner.

  “James, not our business,” Alec said and put a restraining hand on his arm.

  “It is too. Becca’s my friend and she loves Kendrick. I thought you loved her too.” James wasn’t sure what he would do if Kendrick hurt Becca. He was his boss. But surely he could do something.

  Instead of looking pissed, which he probably should have been, Kendrick smiled. “I do love her, James. Very much. But…” He coughed a laugh. “My beautiful Becca’s pregnant. What you just saw was morning sickness taking its toll.”

  “Oh.” Embarrassment flooded through him, but it didn’t seem to have a chance next to the excitement that took its place. “That’s great. Isn’t it?” Perhaps neither of them wanted a child. Just like his parents. His smile faltered.

  Kendrick pulled him into a gentle hug. “It’s fantastic. Becca’s been worried about telling anyone until the official three-month mark. I guess the women in her family have had issues with early miscarriages and she didn’t want everyone knowing until she felt safe. Dallas says she’s strong and the baby even stronger. She has her first appointment with an OB/GYN this afternoon and I think that should help her feel better. We’re also going to go maternity clothes shopping. I’ve been searching for kinky clothes for pregnant women. There aren’t a lot.”

  “When’s the baby due?” James was excited for Becca. He thought she and Kendrick would make great parents.

  “Dallas thinks mid-to-late December. I’ll probably rent us a house in Port Angeles from November on so that she’s near the hospital. I won’t want to be dealing with rough waters or Airlift Northwest if she’s in labor.”

  She walked back into the room, her face a little green. But her eyes were bright. “Exciting, isn’t it?”

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  The walk to their cabin in the late spring evening was enjoyable. James leaned against Alec as Zippo led the way home. In the two days since James moved in, the cabin had quickly become theirs. He liked seeing James’s things in amongst his own. Zippo seemed to understand this was home now as he always tried to come this way when they were out for a walk. The little dog had quickly taken over the place as if it was his. Alec had added a thick tread to the stairs because Zippo loved going up and down them.

  “Ready for tomorrow?” James asked.

  “Very. Thanks for helping me finish the shop, babe.”

  “I had fun. In fact, I checked with Kendrick and if you need me, except for bill-paying Wednesday, he said all you have to do is call and I can come help out.”

  The Faire opened for its season the next day and the entire island sizzled with anticipation. “Have you decided on your Faire persona?” At first James had baulked at the idea of dressing up in front of everyone, but ever since they had that sports event, he’d looked forward to it. The problem had been getting him to decide. Alec had enough toys and supplies for anyone he wanted to be.

  James reached up and ran his fingers over his collar. Alec was rather proud of that piece of leather. It was simple and on the outside looked like a braided leather necklace. If a person looked close, they would realize the braiding was actually t
he BDSM triskelion branded over and over into the leather. In the middle were the words Alec’s pup. “I do,” James said. “I’m just not sure if I can handle it for more than a couple hours.”

  Pleased he’d come to a decision, Alec waited.

  “I’m your pup and I love when we do puppy play. Shit. I love every kind of play we do.”

  Alec laughed. It was true. Except for the first bit of abrasion play, James had been wonderfully open to everything they’d tried.

  “But I was thinking I’d like to go as your pup.”

  Pleased, Alec nodded. “Sounds good. I see what you mean about a couple hours. If you go in full outfit, the mask will get hot.” He’d ordered a full face mask that had the look of a poodle. James had tried it a couple times already. “You could wear the mask when out in public and when in my shop remove it but leave the ears, dog collar, and tail on.”

  James laughed. “You’re just looking forward to seeing me walk around with a tail.”

  He didn’t deny it. He loved James all decked out as a puppy. Firm floppy ears, a sheath that covered his dick unless it got hard, paws, and that wonderful tail attached to a stainless steel plug. Oh yeah. “Just make sure if there are people too close that you hold on to your tail. They aren’t supposed to touch, but if some idiot grabs hold of your tail and yanks, I don’t want you hurt.” Once he got hold of whoever did it, they would learn the meaning of torture.

  Zippo yipped, drawing his attention, and he shook his head in amusement as Zippo led the way toward another cabin. Becca and Kendrick were seated outside on their porch, soaking up the evening air. Becca wore nothing but a sign that pointed down to her slightly rounded stomach. The sign read No patting the baby bump without Kendrick’s permission.

  “I’m guessing the doctor’s appointment went well?” Alec asked as James moved forward to hug Becca. He loved that James had a social group. Becca, Slate, Ryan, Mark, and Keb were his companions. It pleased Alec that James had people to turn to if he needed.

  “Perfect.” Becca beamed. “The morning sickness sucks, but Dr. Feyble says the baby’s strong and that she doesn’t see any problems. I’ve got huge vitamins I have to take and I have to see her monthly, but we even got to see the baby.”

  Kendrick snorted. “In a few months I want one that looks like a baby. Right now it’s a gray blur in amongst the rest of the gray blur.”

  “Do you know what the sex is?” James asked as Becca picked up Zippo and put him on her lap.

  “Not yet. By the end of summer, she said she’ll do a 3D ultrasound and we should be able to see if it’s a boy or a girl. Kendrick wants us to try and raise the child to just be and figure out his or her gender on their own. While I agree with him, that’s going to be harder for me.” Becca smiled. “If it’s a girl, I want to dress her up.”

  “She’s not a doll, love,” Kendrick said. Becca wrinkled her nose.

  “Have you told Rhys?” Alec asked. Rhys was Kendrick’s elder brother and everyone kept wondering why he hadn’t moved to the island yet.

  “Last night actually,” Kendrick said. “He’s excited to have a niece or nephew to spoil and I think that might have finally kicked him in the ass. He told me he plans to have his personal affairs in order by fall and wants to move here before the baby’s born.”

  “The only bad part is it means we’re going to have to change cabins,” Becca said with a pout. “I love it up here but it’s not in the child-safe zone.”

  “We’ve got a while,” Kendrick said. “Until the child’s a couple years old, they aren’t going to know what’s going on. There’s plenty of time.”

  They chatted for a few more minutes before Alec, James, and Zippo headed to their cabin.

  It felt like they’d been doing it for years rather than weeks as they prepared dinner and moved around one another in an easy fashion. It would be their last night of relative peace until Monday. The Faire would open Thursday morning at ten and be open twelve hours a day Thursday to Sunday through Labor Day. It left them three days a week to rest, relax, and make more stuff to sell. Alec had made one hell of a lot of items over the winter, but he knew how fast that could run off the shelves so he would make items all day behind the counter when he wasn’t doing demos.

  He glanced over at his pup who was setting the table. James had been uneasy about letting Alec demo on anyone else, but was worried about doing it himself. Alec had done a few demos on Slate and Keb with James right next to him. It pleased him that James hadn’t gotten jealous once. In fact, he’d admitted it turned him on to watch Alec torture those subs.

  Alec put Zippo’s food bowl down and took the pot of stew they’d put in the crock pot that morning to the table. They discussed the Faire and the town as they ate, but the little glances James started sending him told him his pup needed. That was something Alec was all too willing to fix.

  “Why don’t you do the dishes while I put a few things together?” James’s eyes lit up and he nodded as those words were code for “Do the dishes while I prepare to play.”

  Alec made sure Zippo took a trip outside before taking him upstairs to the bathroom. He could swear the little dog gave him a look with a cocked eyebrow as he set him on the tile floor. It was as if he said “I know what you’re going to do down there and all I get to do is lay on this pillow.”

  “Sorry little guy.” Alec scratched him behind the ears. “James cut you off at the pass when you were a pup, I’m afraid. How about a bone?” He pulled out a rawhide chew they kept in the bathroom for times like this and put it down. Zippo pounced on it.

  With a chuckle, he closed the bathroom door and went into the bedroom to get the only thing he planned on using. Lube. It was time to come inside his pup and let him feel the liquid dripping down his leg afterward. James would love and hate it. Yeah. Being a dominant top had its perks.

  The kitchen was cleaned up and he nodded toward the back door. “Come on, pup. I think our back porch needs a little fun.”

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  James was excited. As much as it unnerved him, he loved scening outside. The chance they might get caught was huge and on Elan Isle, a large probability. Being watched was fully acceptable. He never realized exhibitionism was one of his things until that sports play day. While unnerved by it, James had loved knowing afterward that quite a few people saw Alec getting him off. And a lot more than that heard him. Slate still teased him about his shriek when he came.

  Alec was going to do something in the great outdoors. He couldn’t see any apparatus, but that didn’t mean Alec hadn’t already set something up. Sometimes it was like his Chief came up with toys out of nowhere. The bastard hid them in the woods behind the cabin.

  They stepped out onto the deck and James inhaled the pine-scented air. His cock stirred. Shit. Did he have a pine fetish now? Alec did love to have him blow him against a tree.

  Alec tapped one of the posts in front of the porch. “Hands here. Don’t remove them.”

  Oh. They weren’t going out into the woods. They were going to do whatever right there on the porch. His heartrate picked up. So fucking naughty. Anyone could walk around and see them. He placed his hands on the post and Alec stepped behind him. Warm, wet fingers pulled his ass cheeks apart and he felt air flow over his hole. His muscles clenched and Alec chuckled.

  “Clench all you want, pup. I’m going in.”

  Groaning with need, James held onto the post firmly as something with a lot less size or give than Alec’s shaft pressed into his opening. A low moan left his throat as he realized what it was. That needleless syringe. Was Alec not going to prepare him? Fuck that was hot. Cool liquid filled his channel and he grimaced and fidgeted a little at the feeling.

  Smack!

  He startled as Alec’s hand came in contact with his left buttock. “Sorry, Chief.”

  Alec grunted in reply. He must have pressed the plunger all the way down because a gush of liquid filled him. “Hold it in, pup.” He withdrew the syringe and James tightened his
muscles to try and hold the lube in. Not only had Alec told him to, but he hated the feeling of the liquid dripping down his thighs. Or worse, having it drip on his ankles.

  The sound of Alec’s zipper made him catch his breath. Firm hands pulled his cheeks apart and Alec pressed his cock up to James’s hole. “Mine,” Alec said firmly and thrust all the way in.

  All of his air rushed out in one whoosh and it was hard to catch it again as Alec fucked him hard, his hips smacking against James’s every second or so. He went after it like a jackhammer and James, after the first sense of shock, loved it. Alec never harmed him, but he did use James’s body to its most fulfilling extent. “You aren’t to come, pup,” Alec said harshly. “Not until I say so. I’m gonna fill you up, pup, with my cum. Gonna shoot it so high up you, you’ll feel it for days. My pup. Mine.” His fingers tightened around James’s waist and he rammed into him harder.

  Whimpering in pleasure so incredible he had never considered it even existed, James arched his back, shoving his hips up a little further. On his next lunge, Alec went in a tiny bit further.

  “Atta boy, pup. You’d love to have all of me up there, wouldn’t you? Wish I could push my cock clear up your ass until I came into your belly. Maybe one day I’ll bottle it up and do just that. Give you an enema of just my cum. What do you think, pup?”

  James was beyond thinking. Everything Alec said sounded wonderful at this point. He’d always wondered if he would like filthy talk. Then he met Alec. The dirty words out of Alec’s mouth made him want every single thing Alec could think of.

  “You’ll like that,” Alec said harshly, his voice more panting than firm. “Feel my cum all the way up inside of you. Marking you. Making you mine so completely. Maybe I’ll have you drink my cum at the same time so you get it from both ends. Want that, pup? Want to drink my cum while I give you a cum enema?”

  “Oh yes, Chief,” he cried out, the visuals in his head driving him crazy as Alec’s cock kept ramming inside him.