by Cara Adams
That was a given. They’d put their lives in her hands, at least to some extent, and she would never take advantage of them. But as to what came next, she had no idea. “I guess I need a bit of time to assimilate the news. If we hadn’t already walked around your property we could do that now. Do you mind if I walk some more?”
“Of course you can go walking. Would you like to see the wolf running track we made? We actually walked on it for a bit of the way before, but we could walk right around it now if you like,” suggested Lachlan.
Phoenix smiled. “I have a better idea. I need to think, but I know you’ll want to come with me. Why don’t you escort me as wolves along this running track and that’ll help me acclimatize to your werewolf side and still let me think and walk.”
She should have thought about that before they’d just gotten dressed, she supposed, but instead of stripping off again, Callum led her out the back door of the farmhouse and over to the barn. Phoenix stood there looking around, but it was just a barn.
When they got undressed and put their clothing in a drawer under a workbench, she understood. They must always leave the house dressed and change into their wolves here. Well, that worked for her. It was a hell of a shock learning that the two men she was already thinking of as “hers” were actually wolves.
Wait a minute. Wolves came in packs didn’t they? So where was Lachlan and Callum’s pack? Holy fuck. The Dom’s Dungeon. “The Dom’s Dungeon. Is that your pack? Are the men there wolves as well? Ryia. Her two men. Are they wolves?”
Lachlan answered her. “We can’t tell another person’s secrets but there are wolves at The Dom’s Dungeon. It’s not a pack, though. There are many humans there as well.”
A dozen more questions were on the tip of her tongue, but instead of asking them Phoenix thought it’d be better to make up her mind about whether or not she was prepared to continue her romance with Callum and Lachlan. The men transformed again, and she followed the two wolves through the grass and onto a very narrow track that was almost invisible as they crossed a field. It became just wide enough for her to walk on, and she understood the track had been worn by the racing paws of her wolves. It wound in among trees, through a shrubbery, across grass, and around their land. She noticed that never once did she have to open a gate or climb a fence, so evidently it’d been designed to avoid the fields where the cattle lived. That suited her. Opening and closing four gates every time she left the farm would drive her crazy really fast.
I’m focusing on details instead of the big picture.
But that wasn’t quite right. The big picture was made up of millions of details, and it was the details that would form her life.
She clambered over a dead tree across the track, watching enviously as both wolves leapt over it easily. I suppose it’s there on purpose to make their run a bit more interesting. Wait. I’m getting off the things I should be thinking about again.
Conscientiously, Phoenix thought about life with two wolves. But it wouldn’t be life with two wolves. It wasn’t as if she’d have to bath them, and brush their fur, and take them for walks. They were people. Adults who’d look after themselves. Men who were more than capable of making all their own decisions and looking after her as well.
And that was the whole point really. Lachlan was the Dom who could give her exquisite pleasure. Well, with the more than capable help of Callum. However, it wasn’t just amazing sex. The men appealed to her on a spiritual level, and a mental level as well as the physical one. She’d enjoyed talking to them, trying to solve problems with them. Besides, Callum could cook. Between Lachlan designing BDSM scenes for her and Callum cooking, how could she say no?
Phoenix laughed. Just ahead of them was the hill they’d walked up before. “Race you to the top of the hill,” she called out, sprinting ahead of them.
* * * *
Lachlan sensed the peace about Phoenix and knew she’d come to a decision. Instinctively he knew she’d stay with them. She’d relaxed and accepted them. The gamble had paid off and she was already coming to terms with the fact they were shape-shifters. He knew it might take her a while to fully accept their differences, and it might put occasional hiccups in their relationship for years to come. But the major decision had been taken. She was staying with them, not leaving them.
The next big question was would she play in the dungeon with them this afternoon? He was a little hesitant to ask her, but to him, they needed to continue the day as it’d been planned. They needed to act as if there hadn’t been a huge change, because, really, there was no change. He and Callum hadn’t changed. They were the same people they had always been. The only difference was that now Phoenix knew about them.
He waited until they’d returned home and had all finished eating Callum’s homemade tomato soup and home-baked bread.
“I changed our booking in the dungeon to this afternoon. Would you like to come and play?” he asked her. He couldn’t look away from her face. He knew so much rested on her decision. He thought she trusted them but her answer now would prove or disprove his thoughts.
When she smiled, his tense shoulders relaxed. He hadn’t even realized he’d tightened up from the stress of worrying about her reply.
“Yes, I’d like that. I was disappointed when I had to cancel out on our date last night.”
She hurried out of the room and reappeared not very long after with her luggage. “I’ll follow you back to town. It’ll be easier than looking up the route for myself.”
“Leave your suitcase here. It’s only Saturday. We hoped you’d spend Sunday with us as well. We can all go in my car,” said Lachlan.
“Hell, yes. I’m never using that shoebox you call a bathroom ever again,” said Callum.
“It’s a perfectly fine—”
“No, it isn’t.”
“It really isn’t, Phoenix. Take my word for this. I agree with Callum. Only a midget would want to shower in there.”
He watched her lips turn up and her eyes sparkle. “But where else can you sit down and relax while you shower?” she teased them.
“Relax? When the hot water only lasts for a minute and a half? The shower here is much better and if you really want a seat we’ll install one for you,” said Callum.
Lachlan shepherded them all out the door and over to the barn. He drove and Callum opened the gates. This was what, the third? fourth time they’d been in and out today? Phoenix was right. Likely there would be an automated means of controlling the gates. He needed to look into that.
“Tell us about your job. What do you actually do, Phoenix?” Callum asked her.
“My parents were horrified when I took this job, but really it doesn’t matter whether the job is with an erotic romance publisher, or an accountant, or a dog groomer. The work is the same. Making sure accounts are sent on time, both to pay the bills and to get in the receipts. Supplies need to be ordered, staff rosters maintained, deadlines met. The only difference is likely that we have more contract workers who work from home, although with the huge trend to offshoring, likely that will be the same as anywhere else within a few years, too.”
“I hadn’t ever thought about it, but I suppose the authors work from home don’t they?” asked Callum.
“Very few authors write full-time. Most have another job even if it’s only part-time. But about half our editors also work from home and so do both our cover artists. The senior editors and formatters work from the office, and so do all the accounting and admin staff. It was really funny. We had a couple of readers arrive once and ask to see the authors writing. My boss told them the authors were all chained up in the basement until they finished the next chapter of their book. We were all trying hard not to laugh but my boss kept a completely straight face and the readers believed her.”
Lachlan laughed. “I can just picture rows and rows of writers, sitting at desks like in an examination, all typing away madly, their manacles clanking as they work.”
“And every now and then one of them
finishes a chapter and along comes the jailer with the key to let them out,” added Callum.
“But how long do they get to relax before they’re locked up to begin the next chapter?” Phoenix started giggling.
Lachlan grinned as he drove into town. They were all laughing and talking, so relaxed and happy around each other. He knew the wolf issues would be mentioned again from time to time. Likely he and Callum would have to do some adjusting as well as Phoenix. But it seemed that for now they were all okay, moving along, ready to continue to grow and develop together. Lachlan had all sorts of plans for today and the future. Plans with the three of them as permanent partners, and with Phoenix living with them instead of in her tiny apartment.
Realistically they’d all have to make changes for their triad to work, but he was happy about that.
Now his job was to arouse her with a scene that demonstrated to her as clearly as possible that she was loved and cherished. That all she needed to do was permit him to take charge of her life in the bedroom and the dungeon and she would be ensured endless orgasms, total peace, rest, and relaxation beyond her imaginings.
He was wearing ordinary clothing, not his Dom outfit, but he hadn’t bothered to get changed again. Phoenix knew him now and although he would definitely wear it sometimes to enhance a scene, he didn’t need to set the stage today. This was going to be all about letting her experience how much he’d discovered regarding her likes and needs already, while simultaneously learning more about her.
He unlocked the door of Dungeon Five and flipped the lights on, but before he let Phoenix enter he said sternly, “The scene begins now. No more talking. Understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
Her words might be right out of a BDSM textbook but her sparkling eyes and the slight questioning tone in her voice said something completely different. Well he had a plan for that, too.
“Undress, sub.”
She slid out of her clothing so fast he knew she was aching for this scene as much as he was. His dick was already hard. It seemed an eternity since they’d played their previous dungeon scene. So much had happened since then. Still, he couldn’t rush this. It was as important to go slowly and build her tension up higher and higher as if they’d been in the dungeon last night. Every scene was individual and fresh. Every time was important. The sub was always the key person in the dungeon. Everything was about bringing her pleasure, and release.
Phoenix kneeled on the floor, her hands by her sides and her forehead resting on the stone just as he’d told her to do last time. He wasn’t surprised that she’d remembered, but he was a little surprised that she’d immediately taken the position without waiting for an order from him. He also wasn’t surprised that her ass was quite a few inches higher than it needed to be. So she’d chosen to disobey in a tiny manner wondering whether he’d notice. Or maybe begging for a paddle on that cheeky ass.
She’d learn he was the one who made the decisions here.
He pointed to the wooden frame in the corner of the room and held up four fingers. Callum nodded. It was one of their codes for how he wanted the sub tied up to be punished.
“Go to Callum.”
Lachlan took four ropes from the lower drawer under the counter as Callum tapped Phoenix’s hands and showed her where to hold on to the frame. Lachlan quickly bound her wrists so she could hold the rails. Callum tapped her right foot and then the bar at the side of the frame. Phoenix balanced herself on her left foot and placed her right foot on the bar. Lachlan bent to tie her ankle tightly to the bar, once again leaving her foot free to balance herself. Now would come the first surprise.
Callum tapped her left foot and indicated the highest bar on the left-hand side of the wooden box framework.
“Fucking hell. You aren’t serious. I’m not a gymnast, you know.”
Callum tapped the bar again and Lachlan flicked the rope over her ass, landing a stinging stroke on her skin.
Phoenix turned and poked her tongue out at him, but obediently placed her foot on the top rung.
Lachlan wanted to laugh at her childish response. The laughter was bubbling inside him, begging to be let out. Damn she was a treat. She never did or said what he expected, but always added her own personality to everything.
He contented himself with slapping her with the rope again, this time hitting her upper thigh, and letting the end of the rope curl inside her leg, touching the soft and sensitive skin there.
Once she was balanced Callum stepped away from the frame, moving back into the center of the dungeon where she couldn’t see him, and Lachlan tied her ankle. He would leave her in that position for five minutes, which should be enough to put tension on her muscles and make her think about what would happen next. Meanwhile he crossed to the bench opening the top drawer. Even though it was unlikely Phoenix would be able to see what he was doing, he shielded the drawer with his body as he took out lube and a butt plug, and something he’d asked for today. Bright pink BDSM tape to gag her.
Lachlan handed the butt plug and lube to Callum, pointing to the floor. Callum nodded. His best friend was incredibly perceptive and efficient. In these scenes, Lachlan could never recall Callum ever doing something he hadn’t wanted done. Almost always, his friend moved silently and efficiently, carrying out his task to perfection with no fuss and no expectation of thanks. Lachlan sincerely appreciated him.
Before the five minutes were up, Lachlan could see Phoenix trying to be still even though her muscles were apparently starting to pull from the way she was tied up. Nevertheless, he waited the remaining time out, stepping up silently behind her, having removed his boots, and spanking her ass when she wiggled her shoulders. He stood behind her and held the pink tape up at her eye level.
“Cotton-candy-pink. Your favorite color,” he said, wrapping the tape firmly over her mouth and across the back of her head. The tape stuck to itself, not to the skin, making it easy and painless to remove. But she likely wouldn’t know that yet. She could imagine it being pulled off her hair as she waited for the next thing to happen.
Lachlan picked up a flogger and let her see him holding it.
“Lift your fingers off the bar. The ropes will hold you securely.”
He saw the hesitation in her eyes, but she obeyed him. He waited until she’d had them off for about a minute. “Good. You can hold on again.”
He wanted her to feel safe, but he’d made her see that she could do it.
“If you want to call orange, lift the fingers of your left hand only off the bar and hold them upright. If you need to call red, lift the fingers of both hands off. Do you understand, sub?”
She nodded.
“Good.” Now he began to tease her with the flogger. Sometimes he flogged her with it, laying harsh strokes on her shoulders, thighs, or ass. But mostly he trailed the strands over her skin, teasing her with them, letting them slide across her breasts, or dip over her belly and cunt. Around and around her he walked, always conscious of her stretched-out legs, her body open for him and Callum to see how red her pussy was growing as she became more and more aroused.
She was completely splayed out for them, her left leg raised high and her arms and right foot spread wide. Even her breasts seemed more visible, more arousing in this position.
Lachlan balanced himself, his weight equally spread on both feet, and flogged her ass steadily until it was bright pink, and then sent several strokes up over her cunt. Then he began pacing and teasing her again as he nodded to Callum.
Silently Callum kneeled behind her and covered his fingers with lube. Lachlan ensured Phoenix’s attention was on him as he smoothed the strands of the flogger along her right leg and over her toes. Her entire body leaped with shock when Callum began preparing her ass, but once again Lachlan distracted her, this time using the handle of the flogger as he ran it up and down her sternum and around her breasts.
Phoenix’s eyes were wide open, and they were sparkling with happiness or lust, or perhaps both. He was pleased she appreciate
d his scene. And hopefully she’d enjoy what came next as well.
Before long she was pushing back on Callum’s fingers, wanting more and more. He took a pinwheel out of the drawer and ran it up and down her leg, causing her to pay attention to him. Good. He didn’t want her to come until they arrived back at the farm and fucked her. This was to arouse her. In bed was where she’d receive fulfillment.
He put the pinwheel away and took a vibrating egg out of its packaging, sliding it inside her.
“Nod if you’d like me to turn the egg on.”
She nodded her head so vigorously it was amazing the frame didn’t shake.
“You will not get an orgasm until we’re home in bed.”
The middle finger of her right hand rose off the bar she was holding. He had to stop himself laughing at her persistent naughtiness. “No, little witch, not even if you are rude. I’m not going to spank you to orgasm right now either.”
When Callum inserted the butt plug inside her, they untied her. Having her muscles all aching was not part of the plan, although a hot ass might well be if she continued to answer back. Callum put the ropes away as Lachlan dressed her and then bound her wrists behind her back with the pink tape.
She raised her eyebrows at him, but he wanted to be able to buzz the egg inside her cunt without her screaming as they walked through the club.
* * * *
Phoenix was glad to be moving again. It’d been incredibly arousing to be tied up with her most intimate parts so widely exposed. She couldn’t ever remember having her legs in anything like that position before, far less while she was undressed. When Lachlan had left her there alone and tied up, she’d had time for a million different scenarios to run wildly through her mind, but underneath it all she’d always known she could trust these two men. That Lachlan would never design a scene that left her hurt or abused. However, that knowledge hadn’t prevented shivers of drama from racing up and down her spine.