“Yes, but he still has a lot to learn,” he turned back to Roxy, “which is why I need to ask you a favor.”
“Shoot.”
Jake crossed his arms. “He’s observed the other Whip Masters here before and wants to experience the bullwhip. Carl is away on vacation and China is on the schedule tonight. If Nick wasn’t a SEAL and hadn’t gone through the SERE training, I wouldn’t have agreed to it at this point. But I told him the only way I would do it was if I had another experienced Dom in the room observing his reactions.”
Cocking her head, Roxy narrowed her eyes. “I’m not familiar with that training. What is it?”
“SERE? It stands for Survival, Evade, Resistance, and Escape. Basically it’s the resistance part of the training which helped me make my decision. It’s how to survive and resist the enemy in case of capture.”
“In other words, torture.”
Jake nodded. “In a nutshell, yeah. We talked about it this afternoon as we went over his limit list. I covered the pros and cons with him, and I’m convinced I have his complete trust in this. My concern is that he won’t use his safe-word due to the training. It was intense and I don’t want him falling back into the don’t-give-up-your-secrets zone. I want him in subspace, not outer space.”
“Okay. I agree it’s a good idea to have an observer and I’ll be happy to help.” Pushing her nearly full glass of white wine toward the bartender, she asked, “Master Dennis, would you mind putting this on ice for me? I’ll be back later.” When the man waved his acknowledgment while filling someone else’s order, she turned back toward her sub. “Kayla, after you finish your wine, please wait for me in the submissives’ area.”
“Yes, Ma’am. Good luck, Master Jake.”
He smiled at her. “Thanks, Kayla. And I’m sorry I interrupted your evening with your Mistress.”
Shrugging her shoulders, Kayla grinned back at him. “No worries. It’s for a good cause and now I get to catch up on the in-house gossip.”
Roxy and Jake chatted on the way downstairs and across the pit. At the near end of the two hallways, which led to twelve private/theme rooms, stood one of the Dungeon Masters who held up a hand with five fingers to Jake. After thanking the man, Jake headed down the hallway to the left, stopping at room #5, and opened the door. Fuck! Every time he saw Nick in that flawless present position, his dick hardened in an instant. He didn’t think he’d ever tire of him. Now, if only he could get past his own demons, he might in fact have a shot at something long-term…something his friends were all starting to find…something good.
* * *
On his knees, head bent, one hand in the other behind his back, Nick’s breath hitched when he heard the door open. The thumping bass of the music from the main room pulsed throughout the air until the door was shut again, muffling the sound. A set of soft footsteps reached his ears and he knew it wasn’t Jake. Oh, he was in the room—Nick was certain of it because of the electricity he sensed in the air, causing goosebumps to appear on every inch of his skin—but there was someone else with him…most likely Mistress Roxy. He understood Jake’s reluctance to do their first whipping scene without an observer. The SERE training had strengthened Nick’s ability to take pain, however, the two situations were so different. One was pain for torture, and the way he understood his research and from what the girls had told him, the other was pain for pleasure. If he hadn’t become hard as fucking granite two nights ago when Jake had used the flogger to redden his ass, he may not have gotten the difference. But the pain, coupled with the burning of the ginger, had only increased his desire, and he’d had one of the most explosive orgasms ever. And God help him, he wanted to experience it again.
The footsteps approached and soon a pair of black, leather, knee-high boots with spiked heels entered his field of vision. He kept his head down, waiting for permission to look up. The protocol list scrolled through his mind and he prayed he didn’t do anything wrong. Tonight, he wanted to be everything Jake wanted in a submissive. He wanted to prove to both Jake and himself that he could do this.
“Look up, subbie.”
He’d been right—Mistress Roxy. Lifting his gaze to hers, he tried not show his anxiousness about the upcoming scene. “Yes, Mistress Roxy?”
Standing over him, dressed in a black, skin-tight cat-suit, the willowy redhead crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes at him. Damn. When she was in full Domme mode, anyone would be crazy to fuck with her. The woman could be intimidating when she wanted to, which was in direct contrast to her gentle pediatrician demeanor. “You understand why I’m here tonight. While your Master whips you, I will be watching your reactions. If at any time I feel your safety is compromised, I will immediately stop the scene, whether you say your safe-word or not. After the scene stops and I’m satisfied with your condition, I will leave you to your Dom’s care. Understood?”
“Yes, Ma’am. I understand completely.”
She stared at him for almost a full minute, looking for something in his eyes or face. He tried to keep his expression blank. On the other side of the room, something large was moved and then the sound of metal indicated it was locked in place again, but his gaze remained on hers. At last, the Domme nodded and stepped away, as Jake came around and took her place. Reaching down, he cupped his sub’s chin. “You ready, Junior?”
Nick didn’t hesitate at all. “Yes, Sir. More than ready.”
“Strip your shorts off, stand against the cross, and spread your arms and legs. Grab hold of the posts at the top.”
Following the orders, he dropped his briefs and then stood naked at the St. Andrew’s cross which had been pulled away from the wall. The large apparatus was common in the BDSM community, and while it was called a cross, in reality it resembled an ‘X’. The space behind it provided room for Mistress Roxy to observe without being in the way. Nick had no trouble being nude in front of her for several reasons—she had no interest in men, she was a physician, and he’d lost all modesty about being naked in front of anyone since enlisting in the Navy. As Jake began to shackle his ankles and wrists to the cross, Roxy took a position against the wall and watched intently. After each strap was secured, Jake ran a finger underneath the leather to make sure it wasn’t cutting off the circulation.
Once Nick was strapped spread eagle, Jake came around to the back, facing him. He stroked Nick’s hair and asked, “What’s your safe-word, Junior?”
“Red, Sir.”
“If you say it, you won’t be disappointing me at all. Understand?”
But he’d be disappointing himself if he tapped out. “Yes, Sir.”
A slow smirk spread across Jake’s face and he began to circle back around. “Then let the games begin. Do your best not to flinch.”
Nick swallowed hard. Holy fuck, he was really about to do this. He’d seen Master Carl and Mistress China in action before, so he knew they never broke the skin while whipping a sub. But it was like just before you jumped out of an airplane or when a roller-coaster crested the highest peak and was about to drop—it was that ‘oh, shit’ moment and you knew there was no backing out.
He wasn’t prepared for the crack of the whip, and while he tensed, he didn’t move an inch in any direction as he waited for the pain that didn’t come. Crack. Nothing. Crack. Again, nothing. Either Jake was warming up or he was playing a psychological game with him.
“Deep breath, Junior, and let it out slowly.”
Nick did as he was told and this time when he heard the snap of the whip, he felt where the tip licked his right ass cheek. Holy shit! Big fucking difference between the flogger and the bullwhip. Gritting his teeth, he inhaled through his nose and let it out through his mouth.
“Reach past the pain, Nick, and feel the heat.”
He wanted to snort at Jake’s words, but instead, tried to find the ‘zone’ like he’d been trained to do.
Crack. This time his left cheek lit up and after the initial sting, he felt the burn that Jake was talking about. The next strike was just
above his right scapula, followed quickly by one above the left one.
“Breathe, Nick.”
Taking a few breaths, he realized that his cock was getting hard. Jake slowly worked him over, never letting a spot be hit twice, and pausing after a mix of one to three strikes. Nick lost count as the pain morphed into something different…something more. He was sweating and breathing hard, but apparently Mistress Roxy didn’t see anything of concern which would cause her to stop the scene. All he could focus on was the repeating crack, pain, and heat. He started to float…how was that possible? How could his feet leave the ground? His head fell forward as his chest heaved.
“Nick, step back.”
Huh? How was he supposed to step back when he was strapped to the cross? He lifted his heavy head and realized Jake had stopped and both Dominants had unstrapped him. “No. Don' wanna sssop.” Why’s my speech slurred? I sound drunk.
“We’re done. You’re in subspace. Enjoy it, but put one foot in front of the other.”
Done? How long had it been since they started?
Jake ducked under Nick’s arm and supported him as he led him over to the bed. Placing his submissive face down on the cool, clean sheets, the Dom murmured his thanks to Mistress Roxy, and then Nick heard the door open before shutting again. But everything sounded so far away, like in a tunnel. Everything looked blurry. The room seemed to be filled with thousands of bees, buzzing their heads off.
Jake rubbed his ankles and wrists. “You did great, baby. How do you feel?”
“F-ying,” he mumbled into the sheets. His head, arms, and legs weighed a ton.
Chuckling, Jake shook his head. “Flying is good. I’m going to put some gel on your welts. You’ll feel them for about a day or so and then they’ll be gone.”
“Uh-huh.”
Nick shivered as Jake spread the arnica ointment over his back, ass, and thighs. While each welt stung when touched, the pain didn’t bother him. He tried to concentrate on his lover’s caress, but instead, he just floated until his mind went blank.
CHAPTER 23
Jake couldn’t have been prouder. Nick had taken to the whip like he’d done it for years. The Dom had thought for sure Roxy was going to have to pull the plug, but it never happened. When Nick’s head dropped and his knees started to buckle, Jake knew he had reached subspace. That floating feeling he had was a result of an endorphin overload. Basically Nick was ‘drunk’ on the hormone.
After finishing with the medicated gel, Jake dropped the tube on a side table. Since he no longer had to hide his scars, he removed his shirt, boots, and socks, before laying down next to his sub. Gently running his fingers through Nick’s pitch black hair, he let the silky strands tickle his skin. A hushed moan escaped the sub’s mouth and the sound went straight to Jake’s groin. It would be awhile before Nick recovered, giving Jake time to study him and think. He stared at the closed eyelids with their long, dark lashes…women would kill for those eyelashes. Leaning forward, he placed chaste kisses on Nick’s right temple and cheek before brushing their lips together. Pulling him into a tender embrace, Jake loved the small puffs of air which caressed his chest every time the sub exhaled.
Could he do this? Could he be the Dom Nick wanted…the one he needed? Could he banish his past from his mind and open his heart? Fuck! He didn’t know the answer to any of those questions, but he was willing to give it a try. For the first time since he’d been with Max, seventeen years ago, he felt he’d found someone he could love…but was it enough? The pros and cons of this relationship fought for domination in his mind, and yet there was no clear cut winner.
Nick stirred in his arms and Jake realized a half hour had passed. Ice-blue eyes stared up at him. “Hey, what happened?”
“You hit subspace and passed out for a while. How do you feel?”
“Light-headed. Like I had one too many beers.”
Jake stood and grabbed a bottle of water that he’d brought in with him. Sitting back down on the bed, he opened and handed it to Nick. “Drink it all.” He watched as his sub supported himself on his elbow and guzzled the whole bottle. “How do your back and ass feel?”
“It’s weird. The pain doesn’t exactly feel like pain…more like an intense tingling. Can I see it?”
Helping him up, Jake led him over to where a wardrobe mirror stood in a corner. Nick turned his back to it, then looked over his shoulder. “Holy shit! It looks like I should be screaming in pain, but I’m not.”
Jake studied his sub’s reflection in the mirror. The red stripes down his back, ass, and thighs were temporary symbols of his submission…of his trust. “Not what you expected, huh?”
“I honestly don’t know what I expected.” He reached back and fingered the welts on his ass cheeks. “I never understood how people got off on this, but now I do. It’s a high…not an adrenaline high…but kind of like a stoned high. After I started noticing the heat, like you said, it felt like when I had my appendix out a few years ago and they gave me Percocet for a day or two afterward. You start zoning with your head buzzing.”
Letting his hand trail down Nick’s front torso to his semi-soft cock, Jake let him know it was time to move on the next phase of the evening. Nick’s shaft twitched and began to harden again, which gave his own dick the same reaction. “I think you should be rewarded for handling your first whipping so well. What do you think?”
“Hell, yeah…I mean, whatever you want, Sir.”
Jake smirked at the cocky little bastard. “Do you feel up to fucking me, Junior?”
Eyes widened in shock, Nick’s jaw dropped. Jake knew the kid was surprised since he hadn’t let Nick take his ass yet. But the kid deserved it after the bullwhip. Stepping forward, he grabbed a handful of hair and crushed his mouth to Nick’s. As their tongues sparred, he licked and nipped to let the subbie know he was still in charge. Just because it was Jake’s ass that was going to be fucked, didn’t mean he was giving up his control. He would still dictate when Nick was allowed to cum.
Sliding his fingers down the muscular arms he loved to touch, Jake took hold of Nick’s hands and brought them to the button and zipper of his leather pants. The sub clued in right away and quickly undid them before pushing the material down Jake’s legs. He stepped out of them and started walking backward toward the bed again, continuing the sensual assault as they went. Leaving Nick’s mouth, he kissed along his chiseled jaw, to the sensitive spot where his neck and shoulder met, and bit down lightly. Their hands were on each other’s cock, stroking the other’s desire higher and higher. When Jake’s legs hit the bed, he pulled away from Nick and sat down before leaning back on his elbows. “Since I’m settling for a hand-job this time, I want you to suck me first.”
“My pleasure, Sir.”
Nick hit his knees and took Jake’s hard shaft into his mouth so quickly, the Dom thought he might lose control and cum right then. He bucked his hips and dropped his head back. “Oh, fuck, Junior. Damn, I love how you give blowjobs.”
He thrust his hand into the black strands of his hair again, controlling the pace of Nick’s bobbing head. He moaned with everything that wicked mouth did to him. A lick. A suck. A swallow. “Not going to last long if you…oh, shit…if you keep that up. Fuck!”
Hating to do it, but knowing he had to if he was going to regain control, he pulled Nick off him. The arrogant bastard was grinning like the devil himself and Jake couldn’t help but smile back. He pointed to a dresser against the wall next to the door. “Grab a condom and lubricant from the top drawer. And make sure it’s not the ginger lube unless you want your junk in a cock cage for the rest of your vacation.”
Nick chuckled as he strode across the room. “Thanks for the warning. I would’ve been tempted.”
Returning to the bed, Nick held up the tube so Jake could see it was the right one. The Dom scooted back on the king-sized bed and bent his knees, placing his feet flat against the mattress. He wanted to watch Nick’s face as they fucked. “You may be on top, but you’re still
the bottom here. No cumming until I say so.”
Climbing on the bed, Nick knelt at Jake’s feet and dropped the condom within reach. Even though they’d both had clean physicals, the protection was mandatory within the club. “I think I can handle that. Just remember, I’ve been tortured tonight, so try not to make me wait too long.” At Jake’s raised eyebrow, he quickly added, “Please, Sir.”
He flipped open the tube and poured some lube on his fingers, then tossed the container aside. With one hand he coated Jake’s asshole with the slick gel and with his other hand, massaged the thick, hard cock inches above it. Jake tucked his hands under his head and enjoyed his lover’s touch. Fingers rimmed his hole, while a palm and fingers gripped his cock and stroked it until pre-cum seeped from the slit. As Nick eased one, then two fingers inside him, Jake kept his gaze on the younger man’s face. There was more than desire in those blue eyes, more than lust. It was something he’d never seen directed at him before—not even with Max. He knew if he gave it a chance, he could fall in love with this man, but he got the feeling Nick had fallen in love with him.
Nick was up to three fingers now, stretching Jake to take him. It’d been a while since he’d allowed a lover to fuck his ass and he realized he wanted it with Nick more than anything. He moaned and wrapped one hand around Nick’s, tightening the grip around his cock. His breathing increased. “Fuck me, baby. Can’t wait any longer. Need you.”
Pulling his fingers from Jake’s ass, Nick grabbed the condom, ripped open the package and covered himself in seconds. He crawled forward and lined his cock up. With barely controlled restraint, he slowly entered his lover, causing both of them to groan in ecstasy. Forcing his eyes to stay open, Jake let his legs fall to the side, giving Nick some more room to work. He hooked his lower legs around his sub’s hips, and urged him forward with his feet. “Fuck! You feel fucking awesome. Don’t want slow.”
Topping the Alpha: Trident Security Series Page 16