Chapter 3

The dim lighting of the private playroom cast shadows across Brody's face, turning his features into a tantalizing mystery. He was so handsome, with a square jawline, moss-green eyes, and messy dark hair with some silver sprinkled in, but even more than that, he exuded a dominance that drew Josiah in. Not in a strict, almost aggressive way, like Milan. More like Asher, except with an underlying sexual tension. He invited submission and trust, and Josiah was eager to accept.

How old was he? Josiah sucked at guessing, but Brody had to be in his forties. Maybe even late forties? Not that it mattered. Like Denali, Josiah had always been attracted to older men. And Brody was so sexy, his bare chest covered with soft dark hair leading to the waistband of his black leather pants. He wasn't ripped or anything, but he was strong and clearly took good care of himself.

Brody watched him with a hint of a smile. "You good?"

"Yes, Sir." Josiah stood, awaiting further instruction.

"Undress for me. Leave the harness on."

A shiver rolled down his spine that had little to do with the cool air against his flushed skin. Josiah's fingers trembled as he fumbled with the zipper of his right boot. He finally managed to drag it down and remove the boot and sock. He carelessly dropped them on the floor.

"Tsk, tsk. Neatly, please," Brody said, the weight of authority in his tone wrapping around Josiah like a heavy, luxurious cloak.

Oh, okay. Josiah obediently placed his boots side by side and put a sock in each one. His hands were a little steadier when he carefully pulled the zipper on his shorts. They were so tight he had to wriggle himself out of them.

Brody made a low sound, and when Josiah looked up, the Dom was staring at him with hungry eyes and an intensity that felt like a physical touch—a caress that held more than just evaluation. Josiah slowed his movements, making sure to present his ass and bend over a little deeper than necessary. His reward was a low, sexy chuckle. "You're a tease, aren't you, boy? I appreciate the view, though."

Josiah folded his pants and put them on a bench, followed by his underwear, which was nothing more than a G-string, only needed to prevent his sensitive parts from rubbing against the leather or—far worse—getting caught in the zipper.

There he stood, bared to the soul not just by his nakedness but also by the openness with which he presented himself to Brody's discerning gaze.

"Good boy," Brody said, and the praise struck a chord within Josiah, resonating deep in his chest. It was the affirmation he craved, the acceptance that perhaps he wasn't too demanding or needy after all. His insecurities, those vicious little beasts, retreated into the shadows, their voices momentarily silenced by Brody's approving tone.

"Do you know how to kneel and present yourself to your Dom?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Then do so, please."

The words were simple, but the weight behind them was colossal. This was what he had practiced for until his knees hurt. Josiah sank to his knees in a fluid movement, clasped his hands behind his back, and bent his head as low as possible. Josiah inhaled sharply, letting his arms fall naturally back to rest on his heels, chest thrust forward. The air felt heavy against his bare skin, every hair standing on end, every nerve ending alight with electric anticipation.

Brody walked around him, studying him. "Beautiful posture. Well done, Josiah."

His name had never sounded like that. So warm, almost like a compliment in itself. He stayed where he was, not wanting to fuck this up.

Something about this moment—the way the background noise faded until there was nothing but Brody's commanding presence—made Josiah feel as if every fiber of his being was finely tuned to the man before him. The anticipation sizzled through him, igniting his desire and curiosity.

Brody sat on a padded bench with a backrest and patted his knee. "Come here, boy. Stand between my legs and let me have a good look at you."

Getting back up wasn't quite as graceful as kneeling, but Josiah managed. He forced himself to take some deep breaths as he closed the distance between them and stood in front of Brody.

Brody ghosted his fingers over Josiah's shoulder, down his arm, and lingered on the inside of his wrist, where his pulse beat like a frantic drum. The touch was a whisper, but it roared in Josiah's ears, setting his flesh ablaze with a yearning that screamed for more, deeper, harder.

Brody's hands ventured farther down Josiah's upper body, skimming across his clavicles, then lower, teasing his nipples until they peaked under the brush of air. Josiah bit his lip, repressing the whimper that fought to break free. Despite the light touch, the sensation was maddening, an intense pleasure that threaded its way down his abdomen, coiling tightly within him.

"Beautiful."

The single word was a balm to Josiah's insecurities, wrapping around him like a warm embrace.

"Thank you, Sir," Josiah said, his voice laced with gratitude and the simmering need to serve, to please, to give himself over to whatever Brody demanded of him.

"Does this feel good, boy?" Brody's query was rhetorical. He traced the outline of Josiah's ribs, which slightly quivered beneath his touch.

"Y-yes, Sir." Josiah's breath hitched as those fingers dipped lower, exploring the tender skin that begged for attention.

"Every reaction, every shiver, every sigh tells me a story." Brody continued his maddeningly slow exploration. "Your body sings to me, Josiah. And I intend to compose symphonies."

Josiah bowed his head farther, surrendering to the exploration, to the intimacy of the moment.

"Turn for me." The command was simple but held layers of expectation. Josiah obeyed. Brody's hands found his back, sliding lower and lower until they reached the curve of his ass.

Slap!

Josiah jumped at the smack on his ass.

Brody let out a low chuckle. "We'll need to work on your nerves, boy."

"Yes, Sir."

Strong hands kneaded Josiah's ass cheeks, then slapped them again. How he wished for a mirror so he could see Brody's handprints. Wouldn't that be an erotic sight?

"We're gonna play with anal beads," Brody said. "Have you ever used them?"

"No, Sir."

"But you know what they are?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Good. Wait here."

Brody walked over to a cabinet in the corner and grabbed something. He held up a string of anal beads, the silicone spheres catching the dim light as they dangled from his fingers, an unspoken promise of what was to come.

"Notice their graduated sizes." Brody's voice was a low drawl, rich with intention. "Each one will be more of a challenge for you to take. The smallest will tease you, while the larger ones will push you to your limits. But you'll take them for me, won't you?"

Josiah sucked in a deep breath, imagining the slide and stretch, and a cocktail of fear and craving swirled in his belly. But when Brody used that tone, he could do anything. "Yes, Sir. I'll do my best."

"I know you will. You're such a good boy, Josiah."

Did Brody know what those words did to him? Did the Dom realize Josiah would do anything and everything to hear them? He'd never understood how people could ignore their limits, how they wouldn't call red and end a scene that crossed their boundaries. But now he did. Because if Brody kept calling him a good boy in that warm, affectionate tone, Josiah would let himself be whipped raw just to hear it again.

"Come here." Brody patted his thigh.

Josiah gingerly draped himself over Brody's lap. The Dom's thighs were solid beneath him, a grounding force amid the maelstrom of emotions coursing through his mind. The leather of Brody's pants was warm against his skin, already heated by Brody's body.

"Put your full weight on me," Brody said. "You're mine to control now."

With a soft sigh, Josiah let go of the last tension in his body, his muscles relaxing. He nestled into the support of Brody's legs, finding solace in the strength holding him steady.

"Look at you, all laid out for me to use. It's a sight that could make a man greedy."

Josiah's cheeks burned hotter, the heat an echo of the warmth spreading through his core. He felt exposed, stripped not just of clothes but also of pretenses, his very essence scrutinized by Brody's discerning eyes. He was achingly aware of his arousal—the vulnerability of his position only heightened by the knowledge that he was seen, truly seen, by this man who could unravel him with a word. But beneath the rush of blood that painted his face crimson lay a profound sense of rightness, a puzzle piece clicking into place.

The cool sensation of the lube Brody drizzled into his ass crack was a stark contrast to the heat radiating from Brody's body.

"Such a pretty hole," Brody murmured, rubbing it with his thumb. "It looks so innocent, so pristine. Can't wait to see what it looks like stretching around the beads… or my cock."

Would Brody fuck him? Please let it be so.

Brody didn't play around long, and the first bead pressed against Josiah's entrance, insistent but patient. With a soft exhale, he opened up to the intrusion. The bead was small, barely more than finger-width, and his body swallowed it greedily.

"Next one."

The stretch was subtle, a gentle awakening of his senses, then grew more pronounced with each progression. Each bead sent ripples of sensation that danced between discomfort and delight through his body. The beads grew larger, their presence an undeniable force within him. He already felt full. How much more would he have to take?

He gripped Brody's calf, seeking an anchor in the uncertainty clouding his mind. The pain nipped at his nerves, sharp and startling, yet was quickly cloaked by a swelling tide of pleasure. His body's reactions were confused, a tangled knot where pain twirled into pleasure until he couldn't tell one from the other. It was disorienting, maddening, and utterly intoxicating.

"Sir…" The word spilled out with a tremor.

Brody massaged Josiah's lower back in small circles. "You're doing so well, boy. You can take one more for me, can't you?"

His tone was firm, threaded with a confidence that made Josiah want to believe him. "Yes, Sir."

He melted further into Brody's lap, allowing the next bead in. Tears formed in his eyes at the sting, the stretch, the strain on his muscles as the bead forced itself inside him until it finally popped in. Relief flooded him. "I did it, Sir."

Brody caressed his hair. "You did, boy, and I'm so proud of you."

Jesus, was the man trying to kill him by saying things like that? How could mere words be a compliment yet chafe at the same time? How could they soothe yet slice like a dagger, reminding him of all he'd ever wanted to hear from his parents but never had?

No, he didn't want to think of them. He didn't want to let them into his sanctuary, into the safety and strength of his surrender to Brody. Paradoxical as it might sound, he'd never been freer than he felt now.

"One more," Brody said. "One more, and that's it, Josiah. You'll have taken them all."

All? He only had one more to go? But he already felt impossibly full. "I don't know if I can, Sir."

"Will you try for me?"

He breathed out. "Yes, Sir."

The bead seemed grotesque as it pressed against him. But he'd promised to try, and so he would. The resistance in his body warred with the yearning to please Brody, to show him he was worthy of this attention, this care. His muscles tensed, a natural reflex, but with a deep inhale, he forced them to relax.

As the bead stretched his muscles impossibly wide, he whimpered. He would rip.

No, he wouldn't. Brody wouldn't let that happen. He'd continued to add lube, and he wouldn't push Josiah beyond what he could take. Somehow, Josiah knew that.

Brody coaxed the bead deeper with a slow insistence that made Josiah's head spin and tears drip down his cheeks. Brody's hand lay on his back, warm and steady, and Josiah clung to the sensation like a lifeline.

"Look at you, taking it so beautifully. I knew you could do it."

Brody's praise washed over him, igniting an inner heat that eclipsed any lingering discomfort as the bead slipped inside him. His body capitulated in a rush, the dam of his restraint bursting forth. Pleasure spiraled out of control, a whirlwind that consumed every fiber of his being. He cried out, raw and uninhibited, the sound echoing off the walls of their private room.

He twitched, and inside him, something shifted, pressing against his pleasure spot. The orgasm barreled through him, racking his frame without warning, as waves of release pulsated in time with the throbbing of the club's distant music. The intensity of it left him breathless, shaking. He clung to Brody as his anchor in the storm of ecstasy that raged within.

"So beautiful," Brody growled. His approval sent fresh shivers down Josiah's spine. The world narrowed to just the two of them, their shared breaths, the lingering aftershocks of Josiah's climax, and the profound connection that seemed to have deepened beyond the confines of flesh and bone.

In the aftermath, Josiah lay panting, draped over Brody's lap, exhausted, wrecked, and proud. He'd given himself over to Brody's guidance and had found a new summit of pleasure—one that left him vulnerable, exposed, and utterly satiated.

"I'm going to pull them out now," Brody said softly. "But I'll be gentle."

He was, but it still hurt, though the sensations were muted by the echoes of his intense pleasure. When the last bead popped out, Brody dropped them on the floor. "I wish you could see yourself now. You're so wide open for me. It's stunning."

His voice seemed to come from far away, and Josiah couldn't bring himself to do more than smile. A cold wipe made him shiver. "Sorry. Just cleaning you up."

The cool lotion the Dom massaged into his rim, which was slowly closing again, felt amazing. Brody carefully lifted him and set him on his lap, hugging him tightly. Josiah nestled his head against his chest and closed his eyes. He could easily fall asleep like this, worn out to the bone.

"You did so good," Brody said. "Other than coming without permission."

Josiah's eyes flew open. Shit, he hadn't even realized that. But Brody smiled. "It's okay for this first time, boy. But if you do that again, I'll have to spank your ass a bright red… and then fuck you without giving you permission to come."

That sounded amazing. Horrible but also wonderful. "Yes, Sir."

Wait, next time? Brody wanted to play with him again?