“Is everything alright, my dear? You were gone ages, and—”
“I’m fine, Martha. I’m sorry I took so long. I fell asleep, would you believe it.” She tried to make light of it, but she should have known that wouldn’t work. Immediately Martha’s face creased up in concern.
“Oh, this is my fault. You’ve been covering for me too much. Look, you go home now, and I’ll close up.”
“No, don’t be daft.” Lily shook her head and pulled Martha in for a quick hug. “I just haven’t been sleeping well. It’s quiet, so there won’t be much for me to clear away, so you go, and give that girl a hug from me. Go on. There’s no need for both of us to be here, not with the boss here, too.”
Martha pursed her lips, and pulled her apron off.
“Are you sure, sweetie?” She glanced across to the booth Sloan and Cyrus were sat and seemingly engrossed in conversation, and lowered her voice. “That’s kinda what I’m worried about. I’ve known those two for a long time, and Cyrus tends to lead Sloan astray, if you get my drift, and well, you in that dress…?”
“I’m hardly god’s gift to mankind, Martha. Sloan hadn’t even noticed I changed until his brother pulled me up on my lack of uniform, so I don’t think you need to worry.” She mentally crossed her fingers and added a silent if only. “Besides I’m a big girl, and I can take care of myself. You go. I’ll be fine.”
Even if she had been concerned, the instant relief flooding Martha’s features would have convinced Lily she was doing the right thing. The older woman had taken her under her wing from her first day here two years earlier and she’d been something of a maternal figure to a motherless Lily, so this was the least she could do. It wasn’t as though Lily had anyone to rush home to.
Moments later, Martha waved goodbye to Sloan and Cyrus, and Lily kept herself busy counting the float on the till. It was only when Sloan dimmed the lights that their remaining customer took the hint and left. Sloan locked the door, flipped the sign, and activated the automatic shutters, and she was alone with the men.
“Finally. Let’s talk about this transgression of falling asleep on the job, shall we?” Cyrus’s voice sent shivers down her spine.
Chapter Two
Sloan swore under his breath when Lily froze. Perched over the counter as she was, the hem of her tiny dress had ridden up enough to expose the edge of the milky white globes of her ass. Separated by the red string of her underwear, that flawless skin called to him, and Sloan’s unruly cock stood to attention.
“There’s nothing to discuss, Cyrus. I told you that already.” He ground the words out through clenched teeth, knowing full well that his thirteen-months-older brother would pay him no heed. Sure enough, Cy had crossed the distance to Lily and pinned her down with one large hand in the small of her back. He kicked her legs apart, which pushed her further down onto the counter, and forced her dress up even higher.
“Dammit, Cy, take your hands off her. This is a sexual harassment case in the making, and I don’t—”
“Only if she’s not willing, and your girl here is more than willing, aren’t you, sweet thing?” Cyrus ran a hand over her exposed ass cheeks, and sure enough a whimper escaped Lily, when his brother’s fingertips grazed her slit. The purple lace covering her crotch grew darker, and Cyrus’s grin turned to one of triumph.
“Though naughty girl might be a better description, I think. And naughty girls get punished.”
Cyrus brought his hand down on Lily’s butt without warning, and Sloan had to adjust his dick, seeing his Lily’s pale flesh wobble with the force of the impact. The blood rushed to the surface and this time there was no question that she was aroused. The feminine whimper of need spoke of her arousal as clearly as the scent of her musk in the air.
Damn it, he should put a stop to this right now. Lily was in his employ and thus off limits, but the way she lifted her butt up in an unspoken request for more as Cyrus slapped her ass again meant the rational side of his brain took a hike.
Cyrus delivered several more open handed swats to her ass cheeks, until the whole area bloomed red, and Lily’s breaths came in short gasps. Cyrus yanked her head up by her hair, and Sloan groaned when her passion-clouded gaze connected with his. Fuck, she was beautiful, flushed and flustered as she was, her mouth slightly open, and he stepped closer.
“Tell my little brother here why you’re wearing that dress, naughty girl.”
More heat washed over her face and Lily tried to shake her head, but Cy tightened his hold further and she mewled like a kitten. It was such a deep-throated, aroused sound that both men groaned. Eyes glittering in triumph, Cyrus looked across to Sloan, and grinned.
“Tell him, or I’ll paddle your ass so hard you won’t be able to sit down tomorrow.”
“Cy, that’s enough.” Sloan all but growled the words at his brother, especially as Lily grew wetter at those words. Moisture coated the top of her thighs, clearly visible in the overhead lighting, and Sloan gritted his teeth against the pain of his cock pressing against the zipper of his jeans.
He had to put a stop to this. They weren’t at the club, and Lily wasn’t a willing submissive who knew the score. Fuck, how long had it been since he’d last played and indulged himself, anyway? Damn Cyrus for reminding him.
“Oh, I’ve only just started, Sloan, and our little Lily here doesn’t want me to stop, does she? Now, be a good girl and tell your boss why you’re wearing that dress. You never know, you might get your wish and taste his cock.”
Sloan groaned and Lily screwed her eyes shut and whimpered while trying to push herself into the edge of the bar. Little minx was trying to get herself off. Cyrus yanked her off the counter by her hair and then grasped both of her wrists behind her, and marched her across until they’d closed the short distance to where Sloan stood. He pushed her down on her knees, maintaining his hold on her wrists, and Sloan winced as her knees made hard contact with the stone floor. Not that Lily seemed to mind. She adopted the perfect submissive pose with a speed that took his breath away and he glared at Cyrus to let her go.
His brother released her wrists with a knowing smirk over her bent head, and Sloan damn well near swallowed his tongue when she placed her hands palms up on her knees in such a practiced move that spoke of years of experience.
Taking a deep breath, Sloan cupped her chin to make her look up at him, and the sight of her knelt in front of him made his balls draw tight. From this angle he had the perfect view down her cleavage, and when she parted her lips in a silent invitation he tightened his hold on her chin, and grasped her hair with other hand.
A shiver went through Lily and her eyes clouded over in desire.
“Answer Cyrus,” Sloan said, and she blinked, when he automatically deepened his voice to the one he used in a scene.
“Or I will be the one to punish you. I’m sure there’s an old flogger in my office somewhere.”
“A ruler will do,” Cyrus said, and Lily’s eyes widened. “That would leave such lovely marks on her skin. Shall I go fetch it?”
“No, no please. I…” Lily’s breathless reply didn’t hold any fear, just fevered anticipation that almost made him wish she’d force their hand and not answer him.
Sloan cocked his eyebrow at her, dimly aware of Cyrus stepping around her. The two of them had tag teamed on plenty of occasions and there wasn’t a bratty sub yet who didn’t submit to them when they chose to both top her.
Lily was no exception. Her gaze darted from one to the other and then her shoulders slumped and she whispered her reply.
“I wore it for you… Sir. To get your attention.”
The most delightful blush stained her cheeks and traveled down her slender throat and over the top of her ample breasts barely held in by the lacy cups of her bra.
Cyrus leant back against the bar, and threw Sloan an I told you so look when he glanced up at him. Sloan flipped him the finger with his free hand and Cyrus laughed.
“Why?” he asked, and Lily’s blush deepened.
“Please don’t make me say it, Sir.”
There it was again, the address that made him want to throw all caution to the wind and bend her over the bar and fuck her brains out. His dick jerked against its denim confines, and he drew in a breath to stop himself from acting on the images bombarding the insides of his skull. They had to establish some ground rules first.
Sloan pulled her hair and stared her down and she whimpered in need.
“Because you’ve occupied every one of my erotic fantasies since I started working here, Sir.” Sloan swallowed his groan when she raised her hands up and ran them slowly up his legs. He ought to stop her, he knew that, but her actions left a heated path of awareness behind and he grunted his approval when she reached his cock and stroked the heavy erection through the denim. That felt way too fucking good. He stopped thinking altogether when she nuzzled into his groin and Cyrus swore.
“Our girl deserves a reward for that, I’d say, bro.” Cyrus’s strained words meant she glanced up at the other man with such a hopeful expression it damn well nearly killed Sloan to witness it. “What shall it be, do you reckon?”
Lily licked her lips and looked from one man to the other, her hands once again on her knees. Tiny trembles shook her frame, and Sloan shook his head and tried in vain to adjust his dick. There was only one way his cock would get any relief soon.
“Our girl, is it?” he asked, and Cyrus shrugged his shoulders with a grin. Sloan didn’t miss Lily’s sharp intake of breath, and he cursed under his breath. Well, he’ll be fucked. Sloan had had plenty of fantasies of his own involving the woman knelt at his feet, but not once had they involved his brother. Mainly because Lily just didn’t seem the type to go for that sort of arrangement, plus he didn’t want to see her hurt.
Cyrus went through subs like other men went through socks, and Lily was the happy-ever-after type. At least that’s what Sloan had always thought, but maybe he’d gotten that wrong, too.
“How long have you been in the lifestyle?” he asked Lily instead, and she blinked again and focused her attention back on him.
A cloud passed over her expressive features, and she bit her lip.
“I’m not exactly.” She dropped her gaze on the floor and shifted slightly as though to get more comfortable on the hard floor.
“Explain.” Cyrus’s whip-like command made her jump, and Sloan glared at his brother. Cy was taking a far too intense interest in her, but as per usual his brother paid him no heed.
“I mean, I’m not anymore.” She whispered her reply, hands now tightly clasped together, and Cy and he shared a glance across her. Cyrus’s eyebrows drew together in a frown and Sloan took her by the shoulder and helped her up.
“Up you get, while we talk about this.”
Lily scrambled to her feet and squealed when Cyrus took over and sat her on one of the stools. With the bar behind her, and Cyrus and Sloan either side of her she had nowhere to go. Especially when both men put a foot either side of hers, on the footrests of the stool, effectively caging her in. She swallowed nervously, and didn’t seem to know what to do with her hands, so they both grabbed a hand each.
“Cyrus asked you a question. We expect an answer, Lily.”
Lily startled and shrugged her shoulders.
“There isn’t much to tell. My Master decided that I wasn’t needed anymore, and let me go.”
Cyrus swore and ran a hand through his hair, and Sloan sighed.
“That’s not enough of an explanation, girl.” She flinched at the deliberate intonation he put on the word. “He must have given a reason.”
Lily straightened her shoulders and yanked her hands out of their grasps. When she tried to get up, both men moved in until she sat down again with a sigh.
“Fine have it your way. He moved in somebody younger than me, and let me go. He was a bastard, okay? I can see that now, but back then I thought myself in love, and well… it didn’t end well.”
“Younger than you?” Cyrus asked, and he glanced at Sloan again, his face showing the same worry that Sloan felt right now. “You’re not exactly old now, girl. How old are you anyway?”
When she didn’t answer, just resolutely stared at the clock on the wall as though it was the holy grail, Sloan answered for her.
“Twenty five, according to her CV anyway.” His gut churned as the most horrible suspicion dawned on him. “I seem to recall you stated no previous experience, because you had been looking after your mother. Let me guess, there was no mother.” He couldn’t help the sharpness of his tone, and Cyrus shook his head at him.
Lily’s shoulders slumped and she shook her head.
“No, Sir. I’m sorry.”
Fury churned a hole in his gut and Sloan stepped away to calm himself down.
“You do realize that this is cause for an immediate dismissal?” He ground the words out through clenched teeth and Cyrus punched him in the shoulder.
“Go easy there, bro. Let’s hear the full story first. I own half of this place, remember. There will be no sacking anyone without my permission.”
“Silent partner, Cy. Don’t even try to throw your weight around. I don’t stick my nose into your side of the business, so don’t assume yours will be welcome here.”
Cyrus ignored him, and Lily’s shoulders shook.
Shit, was she crying? Sure enough big silent splashes fell on her clasped hands and Cyrus sighed and handed her a tissue.
“How old were you when this Master,” he mimicked quotation marks with his fingers, “got his claws into you?” he asked. Lily blew her nose rather noisily and eventually answered.
“I was fourteen when we met.”
“Fucking hell, you weren’t even legal.” Lily jumped at Sloan’s outburst and Cyrus clenched his fists, as though he too wanted to punch something, or rather someone. Assholes liked this so called Master of hers was what gave the lifestyle a bad name.
“How did you meet?” Cyrus asked, and leant in to swipe the tears off her face. Lily gave him a watery smile and shrugged her shoulders.
“The usual way, I dare say. I grew up in care and I hung out on the streets a lot. He found me huddled under a tree in the park, and he gave me his coat and took me to a café for food and drink. I thought he was just being kind, and anyway, he was the first person to really show me any affection. When he offered me a bed at his to crash for the night, I jumped at the chance.” She darted a glance between them, and when neither man showed any outward reaction she continued.
“Nothing untoward happened for a long time, well not until I was sixteen, and even then, he never forced me. I wanted to please him, and I would have done… did anything for him.”
A shudder went through her and she bit her lip, and pushed off the chair again. Neither man stopped her this time, and she pulled the hem of her dress down and raised her chin.
“Like I said he was bastard. It’s not something I really want to talk about. He uncollared me and chucked me out shortly after my twenty-second birthday. Well, I say he chucked me out. He paid me off with a large amount of money, set me up in that dingy flat I’m still in by paying the rent up front for six months, and told me never to contact him again. I licked my wounds for a while and did odd jobs until I walked by here and saw the sign in the window. You know the rest.”
She raised her chin even higher and Sloan’s gut churned at what he saw in her eyes.
Hurt, pride, and a will to survive.
“Was anything you told me in our interview the truth?” he finally asked and she nodded.
“Most of it. I just left out the part where I became a slave. I am studying part time in the Open University to get my teaching degree. That’s all I ever wanted to do, before he took that dream away from me. His money paid for the course, and my mum did die, only when I was three, and I was put into care. I didn’t think you’d employ me had I told you the truth.”
Sloan shook his head and sighed.
“Too bad we never got to find out.”
Tears sprang to her eyes, and Sloan forced himself to turn his back on her.
Chapter Three
Even knowing the reasons why his brother was being a complete anal retard right now, Cyrus barely resisted the urge to ball his hands into fists and pummel some sense into the man. Lily stared after him with such a forlorn look on her face it made him want to take her in his arms and tell her all would be well. He also felt like the biggest ass for having forced the issue, but he’d clocked the simmering attraction between Sloan and Lily from the second he’d seen them together and his brother deserved some happiness in his life after what that other bitch had done with him.
That right there was why Cyrus had no wish to settle down ever, but in his effort to goad his brother into taking action, the whole thing had backfired spectacularly, and he cost the girl her job. Sloan would not back down, and it would be up to him to help Lily out. If she’d let him of course.
“Right, well, that’s that then. I’ll collect my things and I’ll be out of your hair. I’ll collect the money owed to me tomorrow, and—”
She jumped when Cyrus grasped her shoulder and squeezed.
“Let’s not be so hasty. You’re good at what you do. That brother of mine has rung your praises often enough to me over the last few months for me to know that. Give him time to calm down, and he’ll come round.”
Lily swung round and glared up at him in such a way that his cock reared back into action.
“He won’t. Anyone of the staff that makes a pass at him gets dismissed.” She shook her head and wiped away the remnants of her earlier tears with a shaky hand. “Not only did I practically throw myself at him, I also lied in my CV. He’ll never forgive that. I’m such a stupid fool.”
Cyrus shrugged his shoulders and regarded her thoughtfully. She really was a rather delightful little subbie, and if his stupid brother didn’t want her then…
Lily threw him a suspicious glance and took a few steps back until the counter stopped her retreat. Cyrus matched her step for step, and the sadist in him grinned at the way her breathing sped up and she couldn’t quite bring herself to look at him. He did like to rattle his subs a little, and Lily here was definitely rattled and not at all immune to him.
Let's Get It On (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 2