The First Order [Safeword LLC 1] (Siren Publishing Sensations)

by Peyton Elizabeth

  “Harrison?”

  At the sound of Lane calling out to their host, Becca felt as if her body had been slammed into the ground. No, she thought. They wouldn’t allow another man to paddle her. They wouldn’t.

  “You’ve gone easy on her, Lane. If that had been my sub, she would have been sobbing by now. Is there a point you’re making that I should be aware of?”

  “That’s not your concern, Harrison, and you know it,” Lane responded, his tone just as stern as it was when he found out she’d disobeyed their orders. Ross lifted his hand and pressed another button on the device, shutting off the vibrations in her ass. There was a gleam in his eyes that she didn’t understand. Becca hadn’t realized how hot the skin on her ass was until she’d been given a reprieve. It was an uncomfortable feeling and distracted her from the conversation Lane and Harrison were having. “I believe you are owed four strikes. We will afford you that much.”

  “Sub, you do not have to count as you did earlier,” Harrison said, obviously taking over. Lane finally came into her sight, standing behind Ross, who was still kneeling next to her. “I will repeatedly ask you a question and you will answer to prove to the Order that you understand our rules.”

  The pain that radiated from her left cheek was nothing like she’d ever experienced. The air was sucked out of her lungs and Becca couldn’t prevent her legs from trying to move. Tears immediately filled her eyes and Becca blinked rapidly to keep them at bay.

  “Are you worthy now of being a sub under our rules?”

  “Yes, Sir!” Becca screamed out. She wanted this over with. She wanted to go home and be with her men.

  Whack!

  “Are you worthy now of being a sub under our rules?”

  “Yes, Sir!” Becca couldn’t hold back a sob. Her skin felt like it was on fire and the worst part was that she couldn’t move to prevent flames from spreading.

  Whack!

  “Are you worthy now of being a sub under our rules?”

  “Yes, Sir!” One more, Becca thought, one more and this would all be over with. She no longer wanted to come. Her body didn’t respond to Harrison like it did her Masters.

  Whack!

  “Sub, are you now worthy of being a sub under our rules?” Harrison asked, his voice tender.

  “Yes, Sir,” Becca whispered, having no more strength.

  She knew what they had been trying to prove. Lane and Ross had spent a week getting to know her body, her likes and dislikes, and would more than likely spend copious amounts of time in the future finding out what her limits were—because she obviously didn’t have a clue. What Becca was sure of was that Lane and Ross were well aware of her pain threshold and had been able to enhance her arousal. It wasn’t Lane that had been punishing her, but instead, he’d let Harrison do the job. Lane’s purpose tonight was to show her that she needed to place her faith in them. Becca had learned two things this evening. One, she’d always follow the Order’s rules, and two, her trust in her Masters had grown. The question was—what would she have to do to prove it?

  Chapter Fourteen

  “Like the view?”

  Ross loved the smile that slowly spread across Becca’s face as she looked at him over her shoulder. They’d arrived home somewhere close to midnight, and knowing that she was tired from the evening’s festivities, tucked her in her own bed for a good night’s sleep. Ross had left his door open, just in case she awoke and needed anything after such an emotional night. Either she wasn’t tired or she had something on her mind.

  “I thought that New York was known as the city that never sleeps,” Becca said, looking back down at the city streets below. She was wearing the white silk robe they’d provided her and it outlined her figure beautifully. He came to stand behind her, placing his hands on her hips and his chin on top of her head. She leaned back against him and he was still amazed at how well she fit into his arms. “It makes me wonder what they’re thinking.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The people down there…are they happy or sad? Are they out trying to find what they think everyone else has or are they celebrating what they already have?”

  “Even though it’s three o’clock in the morning, I actually follow you. I’d say, the bars are starting to close, so my bet is they are too drunk to care either way.” Ross looked across the distance to the apartment building, noticing a few lights still burning. Were they awake with their lovers? She had him starting to wonder as well, but it was her he was most concerned with. “I suppose I can ask you the same question, seeing as it’s almost three o’clock in the morning. Are you not happy?”

  “I guess that’s why I’m having trouble sleeping,” Becca admitted. “I am happy and I’m trying to figure out why.”

  Ross chuckled, pulling her tighter against him. “You’re wondering why a spanking makes you happy?”

  Becca half-heartedly slapped his arm and then wrapped her arms around his, which were now across her abdomen. She was relaxed and comfortable with him. Ross found he enjoyed her like this and would make the most of it.

  “It’s more than that.”

  Ross waited for her to continue, but it was obvious she was hesitant to reveal too much. He wanted to change that. How could he stress the importance of honesty, especially with the type of relationship they endeavored to have?

  “Go on,” Ross urged.

  “Ever since I can remember, my fantasies have always revolved around bondage.” Becca paused, as if waiting for him to say something. He remained silent, knowing that if he spoke she might stop talking altogether. Ross felt her heart rate pick up, but was thankful when she continued. “I couldn’t even manage an orgasm without thinking I was tied up somehow. I know that sounds crazy, but I suddenly feel whole. With the two of you, I just need to listen to your voice and I’m, well, you know.”

  “So we’re only good for orgasms?”

  “No,” Becca said, laughing. She covered her mouth and looked back to the hallway, maybe to see if they’d awakened Lane. Ross hoped that he would wake up, wanting his brother to see the real Becca. “This week has been, I don’t know, it’s so hard to explain. It just feels right.”

  “Then why question it? Come on.” Ross grabbed her hand and spun her around, leading the way to the kitchen. Though her brows had turned down in concentration, as if she were trying to figure out how to answer his question, Becca followed. “Let’s see what kind of snacks we can find while you explain what feels right.”

  Leaving her sitting on the stool, Ross rummaged through the freezer and pulled out a pint of rocky road ice cream. Grabbing two spoons, he handed her one while leaning across the counter and taking the lid off. He wiggled his eyebrows as he dug in, causing her to laugh again. Ross could get used to that sound and studied her green eyes, making sure he didn’t miss a thing.

  “So? What feels right?”

  “I can’t say,” Becca replied, slipping the ice cream off her spoon with her tongue. His cock twitched, wanting to feel her mouth around his shaft. “I might jinx it.”

  “Not possible. You can’t jinx a contract.”

  “All right. Ms. Van Camp said we were compatible. I just didn’t realize how much so until this evening and I guess I’m questioning how.”

  “And why is that?” Ross took another bite, although he was more interested in what Becca had to say.

  “There wasn’t another man there this evening that I would have wanted to be with.” Becca plopped her spoon back in the carton and placed her chin in her hands, looking him in the eye. “Please don’t think I was looking, because I wasn’t. But when I look back on our night, I find that it’s the truth. You and Lane have given me something that I never thought possible and I’m not afraid to admit that it scares me to think that the only thing keeping us together is a piece of paper.”

  It was the first time that Becca had shown her vulnerability to him without reservation. Ross shoved his spoon in the ice cream, leaving the handle sticking out. Walking around the c
ounter, he took her face into the palm of his hands and made sure she listened to his words.

  “We trust Kennedy, which is why we allowed her to find us someone when we couldn’t. How she knows these things is irrelevant. Was it facts on a piece of paper? Was it a gut instinct? Did she think we would physically fit, and hoped for more? When it comes right down to it, it doesn’t matter. What I do know is that you are here and you are ours. Every day, we learn something new about you. But it is a two-way street, Becca. Whether you realize it or not, you see us at our best and our worst and still choose to stay. You have all the power, but please don’t think being a Dominant is easy. Your welfare is in our hands and that not only includes your physical wellbeing, but also your heart and soul. We will never take that for granted.”

  “Is there a party going on in here?”

  Ross turned, not letting go of Becca. He found that he didn’t want to break their connection. Lane was standing in the doorway wearing a navy-colored robe, although the sash wasn’t tied. Listening to what Becca had to say was a lot like listening to Lane. They were more alike than either of them knew.

  “I was just explaining to Elena the difference between a mainstream relationship and one of our nature.”

  “That’s a pretty deep conversation for the middle of the night.” Lane crossed the floor and reached out for the ice cream that Ross and Elena had given up eating. Taking a bite, he leaned against the counter and smiled. “I might as well join in. Are you all right after your punishment?”

  Ross felt Becca relax once Lane asked to get in on the conversation. Did she think that he wouldn’t? Ross tilted her head and kissed her forehead before stepping away and yanking the carton out of Lane’s hands. Knowing he wasn’t getting his spoon back, he snatched up Becca’s and gave her a wink.

  “It was…interesting. Needless to say, I won’t misbehave at another function.”

  “Did you learn anything?” Lane asked, reaching over and scooping out some more ice cream.

  “You’re not talking about behavior, are you?” Becca scooted on the stool until she was facing Lane. “Yes, then. I did learn something and I want to thank the two of you. I realized how much effort you went through this past week in building my trust. And I do trust you. I won’t let you down.”

  Ross frowned, not liking how she worded that last sentence. “How could you let us down, Becca?”

  She shrugged, not revealing her true meaning. Ross and Lane exchanged looks, but not wanting to push her when she seemed so relaxed, they let it slide. It was something they could discuss at a later time.

  “Have you spoken to Lily? With the time difference, I’m sure it’s not easy getting a hold of her.”

  “I’ll wait until Monday. She is on her honeymoon, but we promised to check in with each other.”

  Lane swiped another dollop and held out his spoon for Becca. She looked surprised, but she still opened her mouth and let him slide in the cold treat. Ross needed to figure out a way that she felt just as comfortable with his brother as she did with him, but this was a start.

  “Will she accept your choice to be with two men?” He noticed that Lane was watching her closely, waiting on her to answer.

  Becca swallowed and then a smile lit up her face. “Lily is the best friend a girl could ask for. As long as I’m happy, Lilly is supportive. She’s the sister I never had.”

  “We can’t wait to meet her,” Lane replied, seemingly satisfied with her answer. “How about we take tomorrow and spend it with some friends of ours? It’s only fair that you get to meet our friends outside of functions.”

  “Who?” Ross asked, finally putting the cover back on the carton. They had multiple close friends that they spent time with, but since this was geared toward getting Becca integrated with their life, he was curious as to which ones Lane was referring to.

  “Blake and Derek. Their sub’s name is Tamara.”

  “I would like that,” Becca replied, unable to hide her yawn.

  “I think snack time is over,” Ross announced, opening the freezer door and shoving in the cartoon. “Let’s get your sore ass to bed.”

  “How do you know it’s still sore?” Becca asked, her brows dipping again.

  “I think you shifted from side to side about twenty times since we’ve been in the kitchen,” Ross said, walking around the counter and lifting her off the stool. “By tomorrow morning, you’ll be as good as new.”

  “Which is a good thing, considering we’ll be upgrading the size of your butt plug.”

  Becca’s head whipped around at Lane’s words, causing the two of them to laugh. She was so easy to rile up and he really enjoyed talking with her. Ross was still left with an uneasy feeling in regards to her promise not to let them down. What had she meant and why did she feel that she would?

  Chapter Fifteen

  It was Monday evening, one week from the day that she’d walked into Ms. Van Camp’s office. James was sitting across the table from her, looking a little haggard, making her wonder if something had happened but making her focus on the contract in front of her. The rules were clearly stated, with a line at the bottom awaiting her signature of agreement. If she signed, from this moment on, it became more personal.

  “Rebecca, if you have any questions, now is the time to ask them,” James said, leaning back in his chair and straightening out his legs. “Have things gone to your satisfaction?”

  Becca’s face flushed as she remembered her punishment Saturday night. No, things hadn’t gone the way she’d planned and it had taken her all of yesterday before she was able to sit comfortably. Although what did fulfill her need for comfort was Lane and Ross disengaging her from the spanking bench and holding her in their arms for an hour before they felt she was up to leaving. A couch she hadn’t noticed before had been situated in a corner. They’d situated themselves on the cushions, with Lane holding her against his chest and her legs draped over Ross’s thighs. Each of them stroked her until the last sob had left her body and she fell into a light sleep. Becca didn’t recall much of what had happened after that, but she did remember waking up in the middle of the night and enjoying her time with Ross and Lane. Yesterday had been spent getting to know some of their friends, and Becca had enjoyed it immensely. There was only one answer to James’s question.

  “Yes,” Becca replied, picking up the pen that lay next to the paper. A shot of power went through her, knowing she held the cards in her hands. Hadn’t Ross said that as their submissive, she held all the power? She glanced through her lashes at Ross, who had a smirk on his face. She wanted to kick him in the shin, but was afraid of what her punishment might be. Sneaking a look over at Lane, she noticed that his hand was flexing on the table as he stared down at the contract. Something inside of her needed to see how far she could push them. “Please tell Ms. Van Camp that her placement was accurate.”

  Her superior-sounding answer got a response out of Lane, as his head whipped up and their gazes collided. His eyes turned into melting pots of chocolate, while his only other reaction was to close his fist on the table. Ross chuckled and shook his head, although Becca wasn’t certain it was in humor.

  Becca hurriedly scrawled her name across the bottom of the page, pushing it across to Ross first. For some reason, she still found herself unsure of Lane’s standing in all of this. Had taking her punishment satisfied his doubts of her? Her haughty response to James might have been a test, but she meant her answer all the same. This was where she belonged.

  Becca could hear the pressure of the pen as Ross signed his name. He pushed it across the table to Lane, who took a minute to read over the contract. Becca found she was holding her breath. What if he didn’t sign it? Lane held out his hand for the pen and Ross reached across the table, holding it straight up in the air. She watched as they silently communicated to one another and wondered what it meant. Without a word, Lane signed the document and then pushed it toward James.

  “Wonderful,” James said, taking the pen and paper. Fol
ding the contract in thirds, he slid it and the writing utensil into the inner pocket of his jacket. “I’ll keep checking in on you, although it will be sporadic during the remainder of your two-month trial. As usual, feel free to call me if you need me.”

  “Thank you,” Becca replied, her emotions all in a twist.

  She wrung her hands together as she stood up from the table. Ross and Lane walked James to the door and saw him out, pausing long enough to speak to one another in hushed tones. Becca couldn’t hear what was being said and wondered if it had anything to do with how weary James had been during their meeting. She’d grown fond of James and hoped everything was okay. He was a kind man.

  “Were you able to make your phone calls today?” Ross asked, returning to the living room. They’d just returned from work an hour ago, so both men were still wearing their business suits. Lane slowly followed Ross into the room, but detoured to take a seat on the leather couch.

  “Yes, my parents are good. They joined a weekly card game with some other couples in the neighborhood,” Becca said, mentally shaking her head. Did they really want to know that kind of information? When Ross continued to ask questions about them, he convinced Becca that they did. He even laughed when she said her mom joked about learning poker, just in case the older gentlemen decided they wanted to play strip poker. “Anyway, they’re good. I haven’t told them about you two yet. Not sure how I want to explain our relationship yet.”