Haleigh's Ink

by Jennifer Kacey

  She was whole again, in their arms.

  Home repeated in her head over and over.

  She moaned when Kyle slipped his fingers free, giggling unexpectedly as he lifted her into his strong arms.

  He carried her to their playroom, past the whipping bench, past the bed to the corner, where some wicked web hung from the ceiling. She petted Kyle’s torso, making him rumble with arousal.

  Scott bore part of her weight and they strapped her, face-up, into a sling suspended from hooks in the cinderblock ceiling. Her cuffed wrists were wrapped over the top of the swing and, using a length of chain, attached to a hook behind her in the floor. They spread her legs wide, attaching them to the sides of the web. And at some point they had removed her panties, along with their pants.

  Kyle moved between her legs with a knife in his hand.

  Arousal flared inside her, seeing the mask of possession on his face.

  He sneered at the rope still covering her chest, tucking the knife blade between her stomach and the Italian silk. “You won’t hide from me anymore, Butterfly. You’re mine.”

  The knife cut cleanly through the six-millimeter cord. She moaned as he lightly dragged the blade along her sternum before closing it and tossing it aside. He splayed the pieces of silk, opening her to him for the first time.

  She felt like a butterfly. Emerging from her cocoon after years of hiding from the world all around her.

  He held her damaged breast in his palm, caressing it, thumbing over the scar. “Never again, Haleigh. I won’t let you go this time.” She didn’t know if he was referring to him walking away or how close she came to death. But it didn’t matter.

  “Promise?” squeaked out of her as he worked his thick erection inside her slick sex.

  “You have my word.”

  She moaned at his admission, glancing from Kyle to Scott, who stood beside them, jacking his cock in a tight fist.

  She should have been terrified. She was bound with no ability to escape. She had no control. Not of her emotions, or her physical well-being, nor how deep he fucked her. He pounded inside her pussy until they were both panting.

  “Fuck it,” Scott cursed. He snatched a leather mask from the closet, covering Kyle’s face with it. He buckled it behind Kyle’s head, leaving only two small nose holes open for him to breathe through.

  Scott spread lube on his cock, stepping behind Kyle.

  She could only imagine what it felt like. No sight, reduced sound. Difficult to fully inhale.

  “Sir” fell from Kyle’s lips behind the mask, making her pussy clench on him. His head craned to the side, and Scott’s fingers dug into Kyle’s hip. He kicked his legs out a bit wider.

  “Are you…” Haleigh didn’t know how to say the words to form the question sitting on her tongue.

  “Fucking him?” Scott asked as he ground his teeth together.

  She nodded, unable to speak past the knot of emotion in her throat.

  “I’m trying to maintain some type of goddamn control here.”

  “Mmm…” was Kyle’s answer.

  Scott lost the battle he fought right along with the rest of them.

  Kyle gripped her thighs hard as Scott entered him, thrusting inside her pussy.

  They all three groaned, joined together, truly for the first time.

  Kyle’s cock grew thicker, branding her inside and out.

  Scott set the pace, yanking Kyle onto his cock, pistoning him back and forth. Haleigh held on to the chain, moaning on every thrust. Kyle slid his thumb up along her slit to her clit, rubbing it in time with his strokes.

  “It’s too much, Sir. Too much. I can’t take it. Please let me come. Please…”

  “That word is so damn pretty from your mouth. Kyle, spank that pretty pussy and make her come.”

  The first hit landed on her mound with a rush of air.

  “I can’t—”

  The second slap crashed square on her clit and she screamed. Her breasts bounced as he pumped inside her core. She writhed against the swing and the hold he had on her waist, tossing her head from side to side.

  Her orgasm climbed higher and he spanked her one last time.

  The rich bundle of nerves under his fingers exploded into a million tiny pieces before snapping together again. The energy raced under her skin, multiplying exponentially as it bounced from her brain to her core.

  “Make yourself come, Kyle. Fuck yourself inside her and on my cock. I want to feel your ass strangle my dick.”

  Kyle grabbed Haleigh’s shoulders, using her body as leverage so he could pound inside her tight sheath. He struggled to breathe inside the hood and his dick twitched inside her. His tattoo flexed across his pec on each thrust.

  Scott clasped his throat with one hand, wrapping the other around his mouth and nose. Kyle twitched, making Haleigh arch into him, wanting to give him as much pleasure as they gave her.

  They were so beautiful together.

  Time stood still as Scott yelled, “Now!”

  He yanked his palm away from his mouth, allowing Kyle to suck in a huge lungful of oxygen. Their hips convulsed, their chests vibrated as they groaned and Haleigh could feel every tremor. Kyle moaned every few thrusts, overwhelming Haleigh with sensation since no matter how he moved several of her senses were stimulated with sexual wickedness.

  Haleigh bucked beneath them, another aftershock skated up her spine, turning her mind to mush. Kyle came inside her, liquefying her pussy.

  Their musky scents reached her nose and nothing had ever smelled more delicious.

  “Umm…” she sighed when Kyle cursed behind the mask.

  The world went a little black.

  Haleigh came to with Kyle hugging her close.

  They were on the bed, naked, snuggled beneath the covers. Water cut off in the bathroom and she knew Scott wasn’t far from joining them.

  She waited for self-consciousness to show its ugly head, but it never did.

  “I love you,” whispered across her forehead. Kyle rubbed his lips against her skin and tears of joy sprang up.

  “Even with all of my scars? You still love me?”

  “You could be missing a leg and I would love you just the same. You could be blinded tomorrow, and I would be your eyes. I love you.” He touched her sternum, holding her steady gaze. “The rest is beautiful, but I love you here…”

  She grabbed the back of his neck, dragging him to her mouth. She kissed him for all the years she hadn’t dared, for all the days she’d thought she wouldn’t have, and the time to come she would never take for granted. It was a promise, a pledge, and her heart filled near to bursting.

  “I love you too, Kyle. I never stopped. Not for a single day. You were and still are my happy place. With Scott it’s perfect, isn’t it? Complete somehow?”

  Kyle pressed his lips to hers, smiling against them. “I couldn’t have asked for a woman more perfect. You bridge me. The man I always wanted to be, with the man I’m trying to become.”

  He wiped the tears away as they fell and held her close.

  The door to the bathroom opened as he mumbled, “Forever and ever, I will love you.”

  Haleigh smiled, floating in her subspace haze, wondering how she got so lucky. “Forever.” She hugged him to her.

  Scott leaned over them, lifting her chin. He kissed them both.

  “Why are you dressed? Come to bed, we have so much to talk about.”

  “Duke texted. I’ve got an issue at the shop I need to deal with. It’s still early enough, I’d like to get it handled tonight.”

  Kyle said, “Give us ten minutes. We’ll shower and come with you.”

  “No. Stay here with Haleigh. You’re both still high as kites and need some rest.” He kissed them both again. Cupping their cheeks, pressing his forehead to theirs before standing. “I’ll be back when I can.”

  And he was gone.

  Haleigh clutched Kyle to her, suddenly chilled. “Why did that sound like goodbye?” she whispered into the darknes
s.

  “He wouldn’t do that, Haleigh. He wouldn’t…”

  She didn’t know if he was trying to convince her or himself. She snuggled against him, praying she was wrong.

  Chapter Twelve

  “Another?” Oscar asked from the other side of the bar, holding up a bottle of tequila.

  Scott thought about it then nodded. He’d already had too many. He’d made it as far as The Library bar and his strength failed him.

  He was supposed to be the big bad Dom. The weight of the world shouldn’t bow his shoulders, but all he really wanted to do was cry like a little bitch.

  Oscar set his third or fourth shot of tequila in front of him and he threw it back. He was way past the point of the whole lick, salt, lime shindig. He wanted to get drunk, stay numb and sleep for a week.

  Several of the other members, Doms and subs alike, had approached him.

  His “what the fuck do you want” stares did the trick and everyone cleared out pretty damn quick. Only a handful of people remained, and they weren’t anywhere close to him.

  Oscar filled the shot glass again, setting the bottle out of Scott’s reach.

  “Smart man,” he muttered, tossing the Jose Cuervo straight into his stomach. The burn was familiar and he relished the false warmth spreading through his torso.

  He was so cold.

  “I’ve worked for you, what? Four years? You helped me get this job two and something years ago. But do you know what?”

  “No, but I’m sure you’re gonna tell me.”

  “Damn right I am. You have never gotten drunk in that time frame. Something pretty freaking major must have happened. From what I heard it must have been sometime after you had sweet Haleigh climbing your bodies. Had her so jacked she would have done anything you asked of her. Kyle supposedly carried her out, following you downstairs, where I’m sure the fun continued. They aren’t here, which means they were smart and stayed cuddled up and blissed out, which leaves…you.”

  “Me,” Scott agreed, feeling a bit muddy-headed. He should probably find an un-occupied bed to sleep it off in. He already knew he wasn’t driving anywhere tonight. Hell, Duke hadn’t even texted with any kind of issue. He was probably in one of the playrooms, lording over a whole parcel of submissives.

  “Boss, what’s doing?”

  “I don’t want to be the odd man out.”

  Oscar raised an eyebrow at him but remained silent.

  “I came into the room after taking a shower and Kyle was telling Haleigh how much he loved her. Like the forever kind, not the ‘hey, I love you like a new pair of shoes that I will take to Goodwill when they pinch my feet in a couple years’ kind.”

  “And you what? Bolted, instead of climbing in bed to join in the love fest?”

  Scott shook his head. “I’ve been the fifth wheel. I was that awkward addition in my own family before and after Simon died. It nearly killed me. I couldn’t bear to be that for Kyle and Haleigh. They mean too much.”

  “What are you saying? You’re bailing?” Oscar accused.

  He nodded.

  “Without giving any of you a chance to make it work, you’re walking away?”

  “First,” he clarified, as if it was a foregone conclusion that’s how it would end anyways. “I’m walking away first, before it gets ugly. And you go ahead and jump off that high-horse you’re riding on. You’re one to talk about giving anyone a chance. You’ve been approached by how many Doms and not once in the time you’ve been here have you said yes? Not to any of them? No playing, no dating, no talking. Nada.”

  Oscar’s focus jumped over Scott’s shoulder. Scott glanced behind him at a man in a three-piece suit. He held a square-cut glass with some kind of liquor over ice, his other hand casually tucked into his pants pocket. He spoke with a Domme Scott had never seen before.

  He looked back at Oscar, who was staring right at him. “The right person hasn’t asked yet. If it’s meant to happen it will. Until then I don’t feel the need to be with anybody else. Fate has already handed you your answer on a silver platter big enough for three. You are not the man I thought you were if you fuck that up.”

  Scott cringed, wondering if Oscar was right. But he didn’t understand that it was inevitable. Kyle needed a pretty young girl to call his own. His family would love her. He could be with her and not be embarrassed or ashamed at the person he crawled into bed with.

  “Call me whatever you want, as long as you call me a cab first. I’ll be waiting for it outside the gate.”

  He stalked off before Oscar could tell him anything else he really didn’t want to hear. He couldn’t risk it.

  His whole body screamed for him to go back to his lovers, so he purposefully strode past the elevator and out the front door.

  Halfway to the gate it started to rain.

  “Fuck me…”

  * * * * *

  Several days later, Haleigh and Kyle sat in what was beginning to be known as their booth at CJ’s. They sat side by side, devastated, staring at Scott’s picture on her phone. She’d called him every day but he never answered, and she assumed he deleted her voicemails. They weren’t returned either.

  “You must have seen him at the shop?” Haleigh quizzed him, not for the first time.

  “Yeah, off and on, but we’re always with clients. He’s booking them back to back to back. I’ve never done so many tattoos in a short amount of time. I’m lucky to grab lunch standing up, and if he’s on a break you can guarantee I’m working on somebody with another waiting in the wings. I’ve hung around after quitting time, but then he’s burning rubber to get away. He’s not even telling me where he’s staying. I’ve gone to the condo several times. It’s no different than it was a few days ago. He hasn’t been there. Nothing’s been moved. Then we each get a text saying he wishes us luck. What the fuck? I don’t get it. What the hell happened?”

  “Me, Kyle. I happened. I came along and ruined it for him. For you.”

  “You didn’t ruin anything,” he soothed. “I think this kind of situation is exactly what Scott needs. I didn’t understand how it could be until you were the female part of the equation.”

  “He obviously doesn’t agree.”

  “Actually he does.”

  They looked up as Oscar and Nick slid into the booth across from them.

  “What do you mean? Did he talk to you?”

  “He had a few too many at the bar the other night and said a whole hell of a lot more than he probably meant to.”

  Nick piped up, “I overheard enough to get he’s being a dumbass and figured maybe I could help. That guy’s totally gone over both of you and is scared shitless. Seeing the mighty Scott fall? I’m all over that.”

  Kyle shoved his fingers through his hair. “But everything was great and he…left.”

  “Does he hate me?” Haleigh whispered, not knowing if she really wanted to hear their answer.

  Oscar reached across, covering her wrist. “He loves you. Both of you. He’s so worried it won’t last he doesn’t want to risk it. After losing his brother, he’s more than a little damaged. Much more than any of us ever saw.”

  “So where does that leave us?” Kyle asked. “Shit in one hand, wish in the other. I’ll bet you which one will fill up first.”

  “That’s where I come in,” Nick announced. “I’ve got a plan so we can get his brain to shut the hell up and let the rest of him have a shot at figuring it out.”

  “What could you do? He won’t even stop long enough to talk to us, much less listen.”

  “You leave that to me,” Oscar said. “Nick’s gonna take care of the rest.”

  Haleigh glanced at Nick, whose grin meshed a heady mix of sadist and an eight-year-old at 6 a.m. Christmas morning. “Oh lord…”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Oscar, what the fuck?”

  “What is your problem, man? I just need to stop at The Library real quick and pick up my check. It’s not like I’m offending your innocent sensibilities.”


  “Fuck you very much. I haven’t minded schlepping you around the past couple days due to truck trouble, but you know well and good I haven’t been back since…” He couldn’t bring himself to finish. It was all his doing and he still couldn’t admit it was over.

  “Since what? Since you bailed on your boyfriend and your new submissive? Classy move, that one.”

  Scott growled, trapping the sound, clutching the steering wheel as if it were Oscar’s throat. “They’re better off without me. They’ll find someone else to play with.”

  Adrenaline tinged with acid dumped into his system at the mere mention of them with another Dom. He shook his head, trying in vain to fling the mental picture from his brain.

  It worked for Etch-a-sketch.

  The muscles in his thighs bunched. He applied the brakes at the gate of the club. He rolled the window down, gritting his teeth when he glimpsed Jackson eyeballing him.

  “Card,” he snapped.

  “You know who I am, Jackson. I’ve been a member for as long as it’s been open.”

  “The man I knew took his responsibilities seriously. The guy I respected cared for the people under his protection. I have no clue who the hell you are. Card.” Jackson’s palm, which resembled a dinner plate, hovered right outside the window. His sneer said it all.

  Scott dug his wallet out, yanking his membership card free. He slapped it into Jackson’s hand, clenching his teeth the whole time.

  Jackson examined it this way and that, holding it up to the light, heating it with his palms. Finally, he gave it back.

  “I’d steer clear of the main demonstration stage tonight if I were you. Don’t really think it’s something you’d be interested in, if you catch my drift.” His not-so-veiled prompting set Scott’s teeth on edge and kicked up a whole fleet of nerves in his stomach.

  He waited for the gate to open, hitting the gas harder than he’d meant to. Urgency flooded his system. Panic brought up the rear.

  He’d been a Dom for more than half of his life. Years before he’d collared his first submissive. It wasn’t just a piece of him. It was him.