Penny: The Ties That Bind (Auction Night Book 2)

by Ellie Masters

  Thomas slants his head looking at me like I'm clueless. I'm not. I want to know what they talked about.

  "We talked about you." He curls a strand of my hair around his finger and watches the hairs bounce against my shoulder when he lets them go.

  "I know that." It's hard to keep the frustration from my tone. "But you had to have talked about more than just me."

  They had to have talked about what it would mean to have sex with me together.

  This threesome thing is beyond complicated.

  My need to serve Eric runs deep, and I can't embrace my masochistic tendencies when it's not something he shares.

  It felt too much like I was the one driving the bus, pushing him to do what he disliked.

  I'm only in control, in so far as handing control over to Eric. But once I do that, he's in charge of what we do.

  I didn't like pushing him. I don't like it now.

  Maybe I need reassurance, I'm not forcing them to do something neither of them wants.

  I'm not sure I'm making sense.

  I pull back from Thomas, but he grabs my arm and forces me to face him.

  "Practically all of our conversations are about you. We simply can't get enough of you."

  "But what about…"

  "About what?"

  Do I need to spell it out?

  From the twinkle in Thomas' eyes, I can see that I will.

  "About sharing me?"

  "We already share you."

  "But together?"

  I didn't start things with Thomas.

  Eric sought out the new Dom at the club. They talked. Discussed my needs, as Eric understood them.

  Eric decided to move forward without consulting me.

  It's one of the reasons I love Eric. He sees to my needs. When our dynamic couldn't support it, he found a way.

  He adores me more than I deserve.

  And he's the caretaker of our M/s dynamic.

  I can only imagine the struggle he encountered in finding a workable solution to meet my needs which was also palatable to him.

  He is, after all, sharing his slave with another man.

  "We talked about that."

  "And?"

  Thomas began as a safe introduction into sadism and masochism, something Eric did only to please me.

  All my scenes with Thomas occurred beneath Eric's oversight. And it's not like Thomas fucked me that first time.

  It took several sessions to warm up to Thomas. Several more to feel comfortable having Eric watch.

  He monitored our sessions, making sure Thomas didn't overstep and put me in danger. Thomas, however, is a dedicated Dom, fully committed to the tenets of our lifestyle, and he lives and breathes safe, sane and consensual practices. He knows his limits and honors mine.

  I think, or rather it's my belief, their friendship grew based upon mutual respect for each other as Dominants.

  Thomas shifts in his seat. "We sorted out the things which needed to be sorted between your Master and your Dom. You don't need to know the details of what we discussed. That's between us."

  Thomas worked me during our initial scenes. He took his time going slow, introducing me to his version of sadomasochism. He pushed, but never forced. Slowly, we moved forward as a couple.

  He's doing that now, proceeding with caution. But he's not telling me what I want to know.

  Thomas respects Eric's role. He never touches me in a manner Eric doesn't approve.

  There's no confusion between them who is my Master and who is my Dom. I suppose they need to work some of that shit out, and maybe I don't need to be privy to those conversations.

  But dammit, we're talking about the three of us having sex together. I think I should be a part of that conversation.

  I think back to the early days when Thomas and I first began playing together. He was always respectful of Eric's place.

  Thomas would play with me. Eric would be in the shadows, watching like an overseer. Then Thomas would leave.

  Eric and I would fuck.

  And that was it.

  One night, Thomas retreated, but he didn't leave the room. I remember thinking I saw the two of them exchange a look between them.

  Instead of Eric watching us, Thomas observed the dynamic between Eric and I as I submitted after a particularly intense scene with a paddle and crop.

  That night had been the first time I achieved subspace with Thomas. While Eric fucked me, he asked if I wanted Thomas to fuck me during some of our intense scenes.

  I told Eric the truth.

  A week later, Thomas fucked me for the first time—with Eric's consent—while Eric watched.

  Thomas releases my hand and places it on my thigh. He turns in the narrow booth until he's practically facing me.

  "We talked about what we would and wouldn't do. How we might share you and our thoughts about the whole thing."

  "And?" My voice rises with frustration. A few people in the restaurant turn their heads.

  Our beginnings are complicated.

  I don't want that for our future. And I don't want either of them to do something they're not comfortable with.

  Watching a man fuck your woman is much different than fucking her with another man. They'll be naked. Things might touch. And neither one of my men swings that way.

  But they fingered me together in this booth. Neither of them looked disgusted when their knuckles touched.

  That's promising, right?

  "And that's all I'm telling you. Eric and I talked. We decided we would allow you to proceed with the auction."

  "I wish you'd tell me why you changed your minds."

  "It's for charity."

  "This has nothing to do with charity."

  "You're pouting again."

  Thomas places his thumb under my chin. He turns my head until I'm facing him, then leans in to place a chaste kiss on my lips.

  "There will be things that are private between Eric and I. Not that they're none of your concern, but how we manage this doesn't necessarily require your input. Don't forget you've given that control over to your Master, and Eric trusts me."

  "But you're discussing me. I think I have a stake in what's said."

  "No. It involves Eric and I, and what we're willing and not willing to do. Those are private conversations between the two of us. Don't worry, anything that involves the three of us will be shared with you…as it should."

  "If you're allowing the auction, I'd say it involves the three of us. Why won't you tell me?"

  "I'm going to ask that you don't argue. Trust that we have your best interests at heart. We're not hiding anything from you. All I'm saying is that there will be conversations between Eric and I that we won't share with you. Just like you and Eric share things that are not my business, and how some of what you and I do doesn't involve him. We need to be very careful in the boundaries we cross. Nobody wants to fuck up what we currently have. And neither your Master, nor I, are willing to take foolish risks."

  I'm frustrated and blow out my breath. I still don't see what the big deal is.

  Thomas rubs the top of my head and kisses my temple.

  "You're cute when you pout."

  "I'm not pouting."

  "And even cuter when you lie."

  "I'm not lying." At his stern expression, I cross my arms over my chest. "Okay, I'm lying. I'm pouting because I don't understand why you're keeping whatever it is secret from me."

  "Be careful with your tone or you'll find yourself draped over my knee and a belt bruising your ass. We're not keeping any secrets from you. The conversations we had are private."

  My mind is going crazy with what they talked about. Did they discuss whether they would share me, or did it get to the nitty-gritty about positions and how the actual fucking would go?

  Thomas and I explore mutually satisfying erotic sadomasochism. Erotic being the operative word. He's only recently begun to get a little bossy and introduce punishments into our dynamic.

  I do not want to
go over his lap.

  "I'm sorry."

  He leans down to look in my eyes. "Do you trust us?"

  "Of course." My answer is immediate. I trust them implicitly.

  "Then why is this an issue for you? I think you need to think about that. If this is something that happens, everything will change. Our dynamic will shift. You need to decide if this really is something you want."

  "I want it."

  He glances at his watch. "Do you? If not, you have six hours to reconsider. If we meet your reserve bid, there will be no going back to the way things were. We can, and we will, if that's what we decide, but things will forever be different. Are you ready for that?"

  Am I?

  I don't say this out loud. I've been begging for just one night with the two of them, a way to test the waters. I'm the one pushing them beyond their comfort zone.

  I can't back out now.

  But Thomas' warning stays with me.

  I don't want to ruin a perfectly good thing by trying to make it better.

  I could fuck everything up.

  Chapter 6

  "We should get out of here." Thomas slides out of the booth and extends his hand to help me up.

  I see what he means. The waitress is giving us side-eyes after we stayed in the booth for so long after Eric paid the tab.

  I don't see what her issue is.

  Eric is a big tipper, she shouldn't mind us occupying the booth for a little longer.

  Thomas leads me outside. His solid hand presses into the small of my back and my insides ripple with pleasure. I just love a man who's not afraid to take charge.

  "Where do you want to go?" he asks, as he hands me my helmet.

  "I need to go back to the shop and check on our boarders, then I'm free for the rest of the day."

  There's a smirk on his face. "Sounds good. Tell me, do you trust me?"

  "Of course."

  "Good. We'll go to your shop, then you're mine for the rest of the afternoon." The glimmer in his eye tells me he's up to something, but I love his surprises.

  Who knows, I might get fucked again.

  The chances are pretty damn high.

  I climb onto the back of his Ducatti and we're back at my shop in no time at all. A quick check shows Jax knocked over his water bowl and I refill it.

  My night crew, a seventeen-year-old boy who spends most of his night playing video games at the shop, won't be here until six in the evening.

  I don't mind him playing video games. The night shift is boring. All I ask is that he feeds the dogs, takes them out for an evening, nighttime, and early morning walk, and keeps their kennels clean.

  He's fabulous with the dogs and my customers adore him. As far as I'm concerned, he can play all the video games on my dime. I have no reason not to trust the kid. He always gets his work done.

  After I lock up the shop, I'm back outside with Thomas. He waited outside, saying he needed to talk to his manager real quick. He's in the middle of a tour and has only this weekend free. Then he'll be back on the road for the next couple of weeks.

  It would be really cool to go on tour with him, but there's no way I'll leave Eric behind. His job is high stress and I do whatever I can to make things easier on him, like sucking his cock when he gets home and keeping him well-fucked.

  The life of a slave is truly glorious.

  Our helmets go on and Thomas takes off without telling me where we're headed. I don't really care. I mean, I'm curious, but I trust him. Whatever it is will be fabulous.

  When he pulls up outside an exclusive day spa, I'm more than a little surprised.

  "A spa?"

  He takes my helmet and secures it to his Ducati. "Eric and I sensed you were a little stressed, so we thought you'd like to spend the afternoon in the spa. We're going to spoil you rotten before tonight. You're getting treated from head to toe. Haircut and style, facial, manicure, massage, wax, and pedicure."

  The only thing I hone in on is wax. "Um, wax?"

  I am not a fan of waxing, and I have a feeling I'm not going to like what they have planned.

  "Yup, full Brazilian."

  "What!" My heart leaps into my throat.

  A full Brazilian means every hair down there will be ripped out by the root. It's on my top ten list of things I'll never do.

  "What if I don't want a Brazilian?"

  "Is it on your Red limit list?"

  Shit. He's got me.

  "Would it be too late to add it?"

  "Only if it really is a Red limit. If so, we'll take it off the list of services. Is it?"

  I stare at the ground and drag my foot in a little semi-circle. Glancing up at him, I squirm. "No, but maybe I could shave?"

  It's not beyond my notice this has never been asked before.

  "Eric wants it done and I agree. What's it going to be?"

  "Fine. You know those hurt like a mother-fucker, right?"

  He gives a little snicker. "Considering how much pain you can tolerate, I think this shouldn't register."

  "It's not so much the pain as having a stranger all up in my business."

  "It's getting done." His decision is final and I'm bound to honor it. "Now, we have the rest of the afternoon, and you are getting pampered whether you want to or not."

  "When you say it like that…"

  His head tips back and laughter fills the air. "Stop pouting. We're doing this because we love you and it's our pleasure to spoil you. Now get your ass in there." He points to a set of double doors.

  "And what are you going to be doing while I get pretty?"

  "You know you're gorgeous just as you are."

  "Thank you, but you didn't answer my question."

  "I'm going to be right by your side." He tugged at his hair. "I need a haircut and I've never had a facial."

  I snicker. "Mani and pedi?"

  "And a couple's massage with you."

  "Waxing?"

  His eyes widen and then his laughter returns. "No, but I do plan on watching you scream."

  "You're horrible."

  "Horny. I'm fucking horny, but I promised Eric no fucking until tonight."

  My heart lodges in my throat. If Eric gave that order, I'm pretty certain the two of them have something up their sleeves.

  I'm quaking in my boots, or would be if I had boots.

  Thomas ushers me inside and we complete the check in for a couple's spa retreat.

  It begins with a haircut and ends with a scream.

  The waxing is last and I didn't think I was capable of such blood curdling sounds.

  The woman barely paid any attention to me. She was googly-eyes over Thomas, not that I blame her.

  I now sport skin as smooth as a baby's bum in my nether regions, and Thomas checked out the technician's work before approving the final product.

  There was a moment when I thought he'd ask the woman to leave. His fingers hovered over my slit, but he behaved and moved on.

  "We still have a couple hours before the auction, what do you want to do?" I'm hopeful he wants sex, but it's pretty clear Eric's order will stand.

  How is that going to work between them? Who is in control? I can't imagine Thomas will let Eric run everything, which leaves me to wonder how they might work all of that out.

  None of this is easy. It's confusing as hell.

  Chapter 7

  "I want to take you shopping," Thomas announces.

  "Shopping?"

  "Yeah, the other option is taking you home, and that is simply too tempting. I'm not breaking my word to Eric. Which means you and I keep to public venues."

  Not that he's never fucked me in a public place. I just sucked Eric off in a bathroom, for fucks-sake, and Thomas and Eric fingered me nearly to orgasm with only the protection of a tablecloth and booth to keep anyone from knowing what they were up to.

  Nearly to orgasm. The bastards left me hanging.

  It's funny, because he's not teasing. Thomas is very serious about keeping his word to Eric.

&
nbsp; Something's happening between those two.

  I don't think public is any safer than going home, but Thomas said shopping.

  I give him a wink. "No girl turns down a chance to shop. What do you have in mind?"

  "I was thinking evening gowns and corsets."

  "Evening gowns?" I skip right past corsets.

  I'm a corset whore. They look amazing with my curves, accentuating them and making me feel pretty. Corset shopping barely gets a nod from me, but evening gowns?

  "We do have a gala tonight, black tux and evening gown." He's not so subtly reminding me about the auction tonight.

  "I have a gown."

  "True, but you don't have a gown I bought."

  No, I have one Eric bought last year, and I wore it to the annual charity auction last year as well. I just figured I'd pull it out of the closet and be done with it. I've never been one of those girls who only wears something once because I don't want someone to see me in the same dress twice.

  That gown needs a second wear, but if Thomas is buying, I'm game. Besides, I'm thinking of all the ways I can tease him while I try on dresses.

  My mind drifts to the auction and what Eric and Thomas said. They're in.

  I can only assume they'll bid, and I'm pretty sure they'll meet my reserve for one night. It's kind of a foregone conclusion.

  Which terrifies me.

  And yes, this is what I wanted. The irony is not lost on me.

  I shift the topic of conversation back to dresses.

  "You sure about this? You're talking about taking a girl shopping for a dress. It could be quite boring."

  "Oh, I think I'll manage."

  "I can't wait to shop."

  He gives a low snicker. "I never said you would do the shopping. I said I want to take you shopping."

  "Same difference. I know just where to go."

  "Do you now?"

  "I do."

  Just because I have an evening dress stored in the back of my closet I intend to reuse doesn't mean I haven't looked around. There are several dresses I have an eye on that would look amazing with my curvy figure.

  "That's cute, but I have a place in mind." The expression on Thomas' face makes me think I'm missing some subtle undertone.

  "You do?"

  Thomas is a man's man, a country singer with a voice of gold, who thinks dressing up is putting a collared shirt on over his jeans rather than a worn-out T-shirt.