“I tried to explain that.” Beth wiggled on Trev’s shoulder.
Without really thinking about it, Bo reached out and smacked her ass. “There’s no explanation for letting some asshole shoot at you and not even calling out my name.”
Aidan’s eyes got wide. He turned to Trev. “I thought you were going to take him as a sub.”
Trev shook his head. “He’s not really a sub. He’s Bo. He’s different. And I’ll train him the way I think he needs to be trained. I do not expect, nor welcome, your interference. This is between me and Bo.”
Aidan took a step back. “He’s my brother.”
“And he’s my partner. I don’t give you advice on how to deal with Lucas.”
“I’m fine, Aidan.” The last thing he wanted was for Trev and Aidan to throw down. He could smell dinner, and the game was about to start. And he really wanted to get to the part of Beth’s punishment where he got to shove his cock into her mouth. “I’m happy. Stay out of it.”
Lucas put a hand on Aidan’s shoulder. “Careful what you wish for. Your brother already seems different. Now, let’s head inside. Trev, your sister is waiting on you. She and Leo have been sniping at each other since she walked in the door. It’s funny.”
“Can I get into the barn?” Trev asked. “She’s got at least four hours of this.”
“Four hours?” Beth practically shouted.
Trev smacked her ass now. “I can make it more. It’s only fair. You shaved a good year off Bo’s life.”
“Yep.” He could still remember the terror he’d felt. It had only been matched by that night his father had asked him to come into his office. Bo shoved the memory aside. “I think four hours is too little.”
“Traitor.” Beth’s face was deliciously red, and her lips pouted.
Bo just gave her a wink that had her huffing as Trev walked her toward the barn.
Leo stepped out of the house, his face red and his fists clenched. He looked like a man ready to hit something, but his expression eased quickly into the placid look he normally wore. “That is an excellent tortoiseshell design. You’ve been practicing. Ah, and you’re obviously an indulgent Master. You’ve tied that perfectly. She’s going to really enjoy that.”
“I’m not enjoying it now,” Beth complained.
Bo smacked her ass again. It was actually kind of fun.
Leo reached out and patted Bo’s back. “Ah, Bo, exploring your inner Master. Very nice. You wanted to talk to me, Trev? You need to talk fast because I’m heading back to Dallas as soon as I can. It’s been pointed out to me that I’m only causing trouble here.”
Bo watched Trev’s face tighten. He shifted Beth off his shoulder and passed her to Bo. She was a sweet handful, and her breasts poked out of their bindings like flowers waiting to be plucked.
Trev passed him a small bag. Bo was pretty sure he knew what was in it. “You’ll know what to do with that. Settle her down in the barn. I believe Aidan has a place for her to rest while she thinks about what to do the next time someone shoots at her.”
Bo knew his way to the barn.
“Are you sure he’s treating you right?” Aidan asked, walking behind him.
“It’s fine. What, did you talk to him or something?” Bo didn’t like that thought.
“I just asked him to consider taking you as his sub.”
Bo felt his eyes roll. “Thank god he didn’t listen. I’m not a sub. I’m really not. Trev offered to share Beth with me, not spank my ass when I’m bad. Though I suspect he would kick it. And he might kick yours if you keep putting your nose in our business. Seriously. I will help him.”
Aidan stopped and allowed Bo to walk into the barn on his own.
Bo placed her gently on the long cot Aidan affectionately referred to as the rack. He rolled her to her side. A deep sense of love rushed across him. He was getting used to the crazy lifestyle Beth wanted. “You comfortable?”
Her lips curled up. “As comfortable as I can be while tied up fifteen different ways. Kiss me and I’ll feel better.”
He could do that. He leaned over and kissed her, brushing his lips against hers, reveling in her softness. He let his hands find her breasts. “I think you’re beautiful like this. I’m beginning to understand why this lifestyle is so tempting. It’s the only time I get to be in charge of anything.”
He pulled the bag up and opened it, letting her see the anal plug and lube Trev had sent.
Beth groaned. “Seriously?”
“Maybe next time, you’ll mention someone’s trying to kill you.” Bo rolled her over and pushed her knees up. Trev knew what he was doing. She was perfectly placed for what Bo needed to do. He lubed up the plug and rolled the rope up so he could get to her asshole. “Damn, that is pretty.”
“I thought you didn’t like anal sex.”
Bo placed the plug’s tip to her anus. “I changed my mind. I want to fuck you every way I can. I want to try everything. I think I was hesitant before because I didn’t really love those other women. I want it all now. I want it because I can trust you. You won’t hold anything against me.”
“Never, Bo.” She groaned as he started to fuck her with the plug. “Oh, god. Oh. Oh. Oh.”
And Bo finally got what Leo had meant when he’d praised Trev for being a kind Master. The rope dress he’d made hit Beth’s clitoris any time Bo touched her backside. Plugging Beth was going to prove to be a very pleasurable punishment. Maybe Trev hadn’t meant for that to happen, but Bo doubted it. Trev wasn’t some sadist who only got pleasure from another’s pain. Trev was a Dom because he needed it. Because he was out of control without it.
Maybe Bo needed it, too. Aidan was wrong. He didn’t want to be someone’s sub. He didn’t want to be taken care of. But he did want this.
He pressed the plug in as Beth cried out. Her legs twitched, but there was nowhere for her to go. She was caught.
Bo let the rope slide back into place. “Can you do that on your own?”
She wiggled, and the glaze that came across her eyes told Bo yes. “Do you think Trev knows?”
“I think he knows. Now behave. I’ll see if I can’t get Trev to relax your punishment a little.” He’d like to have her on his lap while he watched the game. He and Trev could pass her back and forth.
The door to the barn came open, and Lexi O’Malley entered, her hands full of her laptop and a glass with a straw. Beth gasped.
“Aidan told me what was happening. Oh, he tied that really well. Aidan’s not so good with Shibari. I bet that knot feels really good.”
Beth’s whole skin flushed.
“Do you want a blanket?” Trev hadn’t given him specific instructions.
Lexi looked between Bo and Beth. “Oh, she’s worried about being naked? Seriously? I could get naked, too. And I bet she got plugged. Yeah, I’m not going to join in on that one. I get that enough on my own, but I thought, while you’re all tied up and stuff, we could work. I need to brainstorm the end game of this book.”
Beth’s eyes swung up at Bo.
“Your punishment is complete, baby.” Bo couldn’t help but smile as he stepped away.
Lexi was already talking about external plots and wrapping up something with secondary characters as Bo stepped outside. He could still hear Lexi talking.
It wasn’t the same place. It wasn’t the home where his father had pulled a gun on him and let fate make the decision whether he lived or died. Everything had changed. His father was dead. Time had moved on. He’d survived, and his father hadn’t managed to force him and his brother to hate each other.
He was alive, and he was in love.
Bo stepped toward the house. For the first time in years, there was nothing in his heart but hope.
“So you called Ben and Chase last night?” Trev asked the question, hating the look in Leo’s eyes. Despite the fact that Leo’s face was perfectly placid, there was no way to mistake the hollow look in Leo’s eyes. What had his sister said to put that look on his mentor’s face?