Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Spencer

All week, West had been bursting at the seams with excitement for our next visit to Edge. We’d been searching fruitlessly for years for the perfect bottom who would complete us. West was insistent that Skyler could very easily be the one we’d been looking for. As much as I wanted to believe it, I was reluctant and somewhat skeptical.

“Assuming everything works out, do you still want to have him move in?” West asked as we got into my SUV. Rain pounded down on my Porsche Cayenne as soon as I backed out of the garage, exposing it to the elements. His question stalled my brain, rendering me incapable of concentrating on the road during bad weather and giving a thoughtful response.

“Aren’t we putting the cart before the horse?” I asked as we waited for the iron gates of our neighborhood to slowly open.

“We need to have an idea of a time frame, though.”

“Assuming it all works out.” I pointed out the most important aspect.

“Don’t be so negative, Spence.”

“I’m being realistic. We can’t start thinking or planning anything beyond Edge until we know how he fits with us.”

“He fits,” West murmured.

“How do you know that?”

“I just know. I can feel it.”

From the way West had talked almost nonstop about Skyler this week, I knew he truly believed it. But he had to be careful about jumping in so quickly with both feet. Sometimes when you want something badly enough, you start seeing things that aren’t really there.

“You’re basing this off the one and only time we’ve seen him.”

“I’m basing it off how you looked last weekend when you watched him. Besides, you were the one who practically begged me to go with you to find out where all the noise was coming from.”

Dismissing him, I shook my head and forced my eyes to focus on the wet road. “I hope the rain doesn’t get worse tonight,” I said. I was hoping I could steer him onto another subject, but failed as he continued.

“I saw how intensely you watched him with Norman last weekend.”

I huffed out a laugh. “Because you and I both saw red flags all over that session. And you were also watching him intensely.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw West shrug like it wasn’t a big deal. “Yeah, I was bothered by the way he was treated too. But I felt like he could play with us at our speed and could handle what we need to give and take.”

I wanted to believe West was right, but I had to pump the brakes so neither of us ended up hurt if it didn’t work out.

Neither of us spoke for a few moments, and I was sure he was just as hopelessly lost in wonder as I was. Against my better judgment, I lowered my guard and allowed my mind to wander. I felt my cock stiffen as I pictured Skyler wrapped in rope while West flogged him. Skyler’s eyes would look up at me as he took what West needed to give him. Then after we fucked him, Skyler would lean against me and allow me to give what I needed to give him—comfort and care.

“Ready?” West’s voice successfully yanked me out of my dangerous daydream and into the present.

“Definitely,” I replied as we pulled into Edge’s parking lot. I wasn’t about to share with him the fantasy I’d conjured up in my mind or the fact that it rocked me to sleep each evening this week.

I turned the engine off and stared through the windshield as the rain slid down. It wasn’t raining as hard as it had been when we’d left the house.

“Let’s go,” I said. I opened the door and zipped up my coat as we hurried toward the club’s entrance.

My stomach was full of hyper butterflies as I pulled open the door to Edge. Since we were here much earlier than usual, there wasn’t much of a line yet to check our coats. After abandoning our outerwear, we headed into the main room. I scanned the room and spotted a vacant couch facing the entrance. From there we’d be able to see Skyler when he arrived.

“While you grab us that leather couch over there, I’ll get us some drinks from the bar,” I offered.

“I’ll just take water or Coke. Something without alcohol,” West said. Even though I knew he was going to say that, I nodded as if it were a surprise.

I made my way to the bar and ordered two completely boring, yet responsible, glasses of water. With the drinks in hand, I walked to the couch where West sat and handed him a glass before taking the seat beside him.

“Thanks,” he said.

I slowly sipped on the water as I watched people arrive. Most of the patrons came directly into the main room, while some headed toward the locker rooms. It only took a few moments before my mind drifted to many of the things West had said during the week. While I didn’t want to jinx anything, I also didn’t want to get my hopes up because that would lead to heartache.

West and I made sure we arrived at Edge right when they opened this evening. Aside from wanting to ensure Norman didn’t show up, we wanted to negotiate a session with Skyler. Then, and only then, would West and I have a decent idea of whether or not Skyler could potentially be a permanent partner for us.

“Think he’ll be here tonight?” I asked.

“Our ghost or Norman?”

Our ghost.

I couldn’t keep myself from chuckling at Skyler’s nickname.

“What’s so funny?” he asked.

“Nothing. I think the nickname is great. I honestly like it,” I playfully replied.

West looked at me, and in a serious tone he asked, “The ghost part or the part about him being ours?”

I wanted to tease him about being so deep, but I couldn't be a dick when he was showing me he was vulnerable and how much he wanted this too. Ultimately, we both badly wanted a third. It wasn’t something we could easily explain, justify, or rationalize.

“I like the nickname,” I replied.

As soon as I said the words, West nodded and looked down at the coffee table in front of us. Was he afraid I didn’t want this?

I leaned forward to set the glass on the table and then turned my head so I was facing him. “I like the nickname, West, but I love the part about him being ours.”

West brought his eyes up to lock on mine. “Good, I do too.”

I smiled at him and then leaned back against the backrest of the couch. “To go back to your initial question, I meant that I wondered if Skyler would be here tonight.”

“It wouldn’t be a good thing if Norman appeared,” West said and left it at that. Our hands got dirty enough with our work for Michael Alatorre’s Black Diamond Resorts. We didn’t need to drag that into our personal lives too. “Besides, I’m not worried about Skyler not showing up,” he added.

“No?” I questioned.

“Nope. Not in the least. Couldn’t you see how much he loved it, despite the pain?” West murmured.

I reached for my glass as I thought back to last weekend. I pictured Skyler restrained to the spanking bench, grimacing as he took what Norman dished out. I looked at West when the back of his hand bumped the side of my leg to get my attention.

“What?”

“And that’s a huge part of the reason why I think Skyler would be perfect for us.” West paused long enough for me to finish his thought.

“I know what you mean. He enjoys the pain,” I said as I nodded.

“It’s like he needs it. Just like you and I need to give it.” West liked to reiterate that fact all week, as if he had to reason with me. “He’ll be here because he needs it,” he insisted.

Steph and David arrived and sat across from us to chat for a bit. West took care of most of the talking for both of us, and I contributed here and there. I was preoccupied with watching the entrance, hoping Skyler—our ghost—would make his appearance.

About ten minutes later, the young man wearing a blue puffy coat and a knit beanie walked into the main room. Our ghost . My stomach dropped as those hyper butterflies sprang into action. Though I sat motionless, I was sure the people around me would be able to hear how hard my heart was thumping. I was careful not to breathe or exhale too loudly, as if any noise from me might scare him away. Unable to keep myself from staring, my gaze followed his every movement. Skyler briskly walked toward the hallway with the private rooms and disappeared around the corner, ending my dangerous and obsessive eye- stalking.

What the fuck is wrong with me?

Never before had the sight of a bottom captivated and mesmerized me like that. I needed to get it together. I rubbed my eyes with my thumb and middle finger and then slid my hand down my face. I stroked the scruff along my jaw, feeling like I had a grip now.

“Hey,” West said to get my attention. When I looked at him, a huge smile spread across his face. “Our ghost is here.”

I raised my eyebrow at him, and all I could muster to say was, “No shit.”

West barely managed to keep his laughter to a dull roar. I was glad he was able to enjoy this as much as he was. I was more than concerned about myself, however. As long as we’d been searching for our third, we’d never come any closer than this. And although I wasn’t ready to let West know, I felt an exciting connection to Skyler too. Though, I had a strong feeling West already knew.

“What’s the plan?” I asked West. “Since you’re the one who seems to still be able to control himself, what do we do next?”

“We’ll wait and see if he comes out here.”

“What if he doesn’t? I don’t want to risk him arranging something with someone else.” Even I was able to hear the near desperation in my voice, and I wasn’t a fan of the way I sounded.

“Relax, Spence.”

I was annoyed, and feared the next time I’d see our ghost he would be with someone else. I’d just swallowed the last of the water when out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of the blue puffy coat. His appearance caused a tidal wave of sorts in my stomach, and I resigned myself to the fact that I had it bad for this guy and the possibility of things working out.

Skyler had taken his hat off, and the lighting from above made some dark blond strands of his hair stick out more. In his hand he held a cell phone while he glanced about the room, probably waiting for Norman. He wandered around, occasionally saying hello and greeting people. Few people spoke to him or acknowledged him, though. While Skyler didn’t look as though he was seeking attention, he looked starved for a certain kind of attention.

My guess was that Norman saw that in him and swooped in to take advantage. Young men who had masochistic characteristics were rare. Even rarer were the ones who understood that they had those needs and embraced them.

I should have felt guilty for West and I taking away whatever happiness Skyler was getting out of his time with Norman. But I didn’t. West and I could give him more. Fuck that, we would give him more. We’d give him better .