Chapter 3

Jack collapsed on the floor, and Mason rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, chest rising and falling rapidly. "Oh fuck."

Oh fuck is right. "Jack, did you have permission to come?" Gray asked.

Jack turned his head toward Gray, still lying on his stomach on the floor. "No, sir."

"You came on the rug."

"I… I'll clean it, sir."

"Damn right you will, and then I'm going to beat your ass."

"Yes, sir." Jack tried to look contrite, but Gray realized this was what he'd been after all along.

"Get to work," Gray snapped. "When the rug is clean, put that cock ring on yourself and get in position on the spanking bench."

Gray turned away from him—knowing he would fucking hate being ignored—and squatted next to Mason. "I'm going to help you to the couch in the playroom."

Mason opened his eyes and smiled at Gray. "That was fucking amazing."

"Yes, it was."

"What are you going to do to Jack?" He loved watching Jack get punished.

"You'll see. I want you to drink some water and rest. Then you'll be able to help him take what I intend to give."

"Yes, sir."

"Because I'm going to make sure Jack can't sit down comfortably for days."

Gray ignored Jack's gasp. as if the bastard hadn't known what was coming.

He scooped Mason up, loving his squeak of surprise. "You're too wobbly for walking just yet."

He deposited his lover on the couch in their "office." Jack had retrieved cleaning supplies and was scrubbing the carpet.

After getting water for Mason and insisting he drink it, Gray found their most wicked flogger. He pulled the spanking bench out of the closet and positioned it for Jack. When he heard Jack walking down the hall, he took a menacing pose by the bench, flogger in hand.

Jack's eyes widened when he entered. "I?—"

"You don't speak. You don't move. You don't do anything but what I tell you to do. You've displeased me."

Jack looked down and a shudder ran over him, which made Gray's cock harden even more. He was glad he'd kept his pants on, even if they were painfully tight. He didn't need the temptation of getting himself off before he was ready.

He glanced at Mason as Jack positioned himself on the bench. "Are you okay, boy?"

"Yes, sir," Mason said.

"When you've finished the water and you're steady, come and kneel by his head."

Mason nodded. "Yes, sir."

Without speaking to Jack or giving him any extra touches, Gray snapped cuffs around his wrist and ankles. Then he laid a hand at the base of Jack's spine. "I'm going to deliver your punishment now, and I won't go easy. Do you remember your safeword?"

Jack nodded.

"I expect a verbal answer."

"Yes, sir."

"Good. Use it if you need it."

"Yes, sir."

Gray slapped the flogger against Jack's ass, and Jack jerked, tugging at his bonds. "Fuck!"

"Stings, doesn't it?" Before Jack could answer, Gray spanked him again, bringing the tassels down on the opposite cheek.

Jack struggled harder, but Gray didn't stop. He let the blows rain down, one after another, until Jack began accepting the pain and calmed, reaching for the blows instead of trying to get away. His ass was bright red, and Gray knew it would be hot to the touch.

Mason left the couch and knelt by Jack as instructed. He stroked Jack's shoulders and reminded him to breathe. They were so fucking gorgeous together.

Gray paused and caressed Jack's ass with the smooth tassels. Then he let his fingers take the same path, needing to feel the heat he'd created.

Jack moaned and pushed into his touch.

"Like that, do you? Want more?"

"Yes, sir." Jack's voice was low and breathy.

"Good," Gray said. He went back to slapping the flogger against Jack, lightly, then harder, moving down to the back of his thighs, leaving him unable to predict where the next blow would land or how much it would sting.

Mason speared his hand through Jack's hair, holding his head to the bench. With his other hand, he caressed Jack's arm soothingly.

"You want to suck Mason's cock while I punish you?" Gray asked.

Jack nodded frantically.

"Then show me how much you need this. Stop holding back. I want to hear you shout, cry, tell me what it's doing to you."

"Graaaay."

"Are you arguing with me?"

"N-no, sir."

"Good." He swished the flogger over Jack's ass. "What's your safeword?" He needed to check in. Jack was holding his cries in more than Gray would have expected, even considering the fact that Gray hadn't given him the slow buildup he was used to.

Jack hadn't replied. He seemed lost in gazing at Mason.

"Tell me your safeword, now."

Jack swallowed visibly, and Mason caressed his face.

"Apple pie," Jack said.

"Good. The next swings will all be hard."

"Yes, sir. Please. I… I need it."

Gray hit him hard, forcing a whine from him.

"Is that what you need?" Gray studied Jack's ass. He was really going to feel this later.

"Yes. God, yes!"

Gray kept going and Jack took it, moving with Gray's blows, eyes closed, hand holding Mason's. He'd found whatever he needed to be able to take Gray's harshness. Gray increased his pace, and Jack's breath came faster too. He whined, moaned, and then when Gray smacked him hard right on top of a welt, he cried out, a beautiful sound.

"Mason, give him your cock."

Jack sucked him down eagerly, and Gray slowed his blows and lowered their intensity.

"Five more," he warned. He counted them off as Jack sucked greedily on Mason.

"Mason, that's enough," Gray said when he was done.

Mason pulled his cock from Jack's lips, but Gray could see his reluctance.

"Get the lube," Gray ordered him. "Open your ass and get yourself ready. I'm going to fuck you both."

Mason's eyes widened.

"It's the only prep you'll get. I want you slicked up and on your hands and knees right here." He pointed to a place on the floor beside the spanking bench.

Gray turned to Jack and slid a hand up and down his spine. "You with me, baby?"

"Mmmm."

"Jack?"

"Yes, sir."

"I'm going to fuck you now." Gray's cock was so hard he didn't know how he'd waited this long to be in Jack's ass.

Gray unzipped his pants, shoved them down, and kicked out of them. Then he grabbed the lube from Mason, who was busy finger fucking himself—damn, that was distracting. Gray slicked his cock and forced himself to focus on Jack. He laid his free hand on Jack's red ass, kneading the sore flesh until Jack whimpered.

"You want to come now?"

"Yes, sir. Please."

"You deserve it for being so good." Gray leaned over Jack and whispered close to his ear, "Watch Mason."

Jack opened his eyes. Mason smiled as he pushed three fingers into his ass.

"Turn around, let Jack get a better look."

Mason bent over with his ass not far from Jack's face.

Jack groaned as Mason's fingers went deep. "I… I…"

Gray massaged his spine. "You need your ass stretched?"

Jack nodded.

"Your cock is so hard. You feel like it's going to explode, don't you?"

"I… yeah."

"Enough, Mason. Now you wait your turn."

Mason obeyed, but he stared at Gray with his mouth hanging open. Gray considered telling him to face the wall, but he'd been good too, and it would only make it harder for him to wait if he watched Gray fuck Jack.

"Get ready," he said as he spread Jack's ass cheeks. "This won't be gentle either."

"Please," Jack begged.

Gray drove into him, all the way in one harsh stroke. Jack stiffened and held himself still. "Gray, I… I need…"

"You need to come?"

Jack nodded frantically.

"Not yet. You'll hold out because I want you to."

Gray drove in again then pulled back slowly. Again and again he repeated the pattern, rough push in, slow drag out.

Jack was shouting his name, cursing him. Mason panted and fucked the air he was so desperate.

Gray reached under Jack, released his cock ring, and stroked Jack's shaft. "Come for me."

Jack did, almost immediately. His ass clenched around Gray's cock. His body spasmed and jet after jet of cum covered Gray's hand.

Finally, Jack slumped against the bench. Gray pulled out, dizzy and so close to coming he had to squeeze the base of his cock hard enough to hurt to hold himself back, but he was determined to bury himself in Mason first.

"Are you okay?" he asked Jack.

Jack nodded. "Mason …" he paused for breath. "Needs you."

"And I need him too," Gray growled.

He positioned himself behind Mason and drove in just as hard as he had with Jack. Mason cried out and bucked against him. "Take it, boy. I know you can."

"Fuck!"

"Yes, I'm going to fuck you so hard. I want you to feel it for a fucking week."

"Yes! Fuck, yes."

Gray didn't give Mason any mercy, not even the gentle withdrawal he'd used on Jack. He was too close to the edge to do anything slow. He worked to find the angle that would send Mason over the edge as quickly as possible.

Seconds later, Mason shuddered. "I… I'm going to come."

"Do it."

As Mason's ass squeezed his cock, the edges of Gray's vision darkened. He couldn't hold off any longer. He pulled out and shot, covering Mason's back in ropes of spunk before collapsing over Mason and bringing them both to the floor.

Gray forced himself to move as soon as he thought he could without passing out. He crawled over to Jack so he could unfasten the cuffs holding his wrists and ankles. He helped Jack off the bench and let him curl up on the floor with Mason.

Gray was exhausted. Damn, those two could wear him out. He stumbled to the cabinet and found the salve for Jack's ass. Then he got bottles of water from the mini fridge. He held water out to each of them and got fuzzy zoned-out smiles in return. "Drink it."

Mason uncapped his and took a few sips, but Jack stared at the bottle like he'd never seen one before. He really was still floating. Gray uncapped it for him and lifted Jack's head with one hand while bringing the water to his lips. He drank a few sips and then pushed Gray's hand out of the way, taking the bottle himself. When he'd had enough, Gray tapped his ass lightly, making him flinch. "Turn over."

Jack obeyed, and Gray took in the sight. There was nothing like Jack all red and utterly drained. Gray coated his hands with the healing salve and began working it into Jack's legs and buttocks. Jack moaned under his touch, and Mason cuddled against him.

"Feels good," Jack murmured.

Gray smiled. Jack always loved feeling what they'd done for days afterward. When Gray was done caring for Jack's ass, he forced himself to stand. Otherwise they'd all end up sleeping on the floor, never having eaten dinner.

He held out his hand to Mason, who was nowhere near as out of it as Jack. Gray pulled Mason to his feet and gave him another water. "Are you up to reheating the lasagna?"

He nodded. "Jack kept it in the oven on warm, so it won't take long."

Gray looked down at Jack, who'd curled on his side with a goofy grin on his face, and realized how much he'd been taking the two of them for granted. "I…"

"What's wrong?" Mason asked.

Gray shook his head, afraid he'd get overly emotional if he said anything else. "Nothing. Just… tired."

Mason snorted. "I should think so."

He slapped Mason's ass. "Go get dinner."

"Yes, sir." His tone was mocking now, nothing like the soft-voiced submissive he'd just been. Gray was so lucky to have found men who enjoyed surrendering to him in bed but were equals elsewhere. They were exactly what he needed.

He knelt next to Jack. "Baby, you need to eat before you fall asleep. I'm going to help you up, okay?"

"Mmmm."

"Jack." He laid a hand on his shoulder.

"'M fine."

"Are you sure?" Had he gone too far?

"Gray, I wanted this. I didn't want you to stop."

Gray didn't usually second-guess himself so much, but lately work had him feeling incompetent. He might still look like he had it all together, but that was an act.

Mason stepped back into the room. Had he sensed that Gray was about to have a meltdown or was he just wondering what was taking so long?

"Gray, I could feel how much you wanted us all to have what we needed," he said. "I'm sure Jack could too. It's been too long. I… We…" Mason glanced at Jack. "We were worried that… You hadn't seemed…"

"I love you," Gray said. He should say more, but he didn't know how. And he was afraid if he did, he might lose it completely, let all his walls fall. After what they'd just done, Jack and Mason needed him to be strong. They needed him to care for them.

He helped Jack to his feet. "Come on, let's have dinner."

Jack glanced at Mason again. Gray knew they were silently communicating about him and he fucking hated it.

"If you need to talk to us—about your cases, Benson's trial, the press conference, anything else—you will right?" Mason asked.

Gray knew that no matter how fucking much he hated it. If he held things in, it not only affected him, but also his relationship with Jack and Mason. But they were okay for now, weren't they? They'd all just pleasured each other half to death. Jack assured him he hadn't crossed a line. Right now, that was enough. He didn't want to fucking talk about Benson and his shit, Russell making him the big gay poster boy for the department, or a young girl whose brutal murder was being dismissed because she made a living with her body. "I don't want to think about anything. I just want to eat and get some sleep."

"Okay, but later, tomorrow, next week, anytime, you know you can talk to us, right?" Jack asked, seeming more with it now.

"Yeah, I know." And he did. They would listen. They wouldn't patronize him or dismiss his concerns. But he'd rather ignore it, because forcing himself to get the words out, to admit all the things that were making him feel like an incompetent mess rather than the sexy in-control Dom they wanted, was too painful.

Mason served them lasagna. Jack had to eat his standing up, which earned him a good deal of teasing from Mason. By the time they finished, Gray felt lighter, less awkward. He pulled both his lovers to him and held them, breathing in their scents: sweat, sex, lasagna, and something unique to each of them. Fucking them was amazing, but just holding them was damn good too.

"Shower, then bed," he ordered.

"Bossy," Jack accused.

"Damn right."

If they hadn't all been exhausted, the shower could have turned into much more than simply a way to get clean, but as it was, they were quick and efficient. Gray applied more salve to Jack's ass and then sent them to bed while he hung up the towels and brushed his teeth.

When he entered the bedroom, Jack was lying on his stomach, obviously not wanting his sore ass to touch the mattress. Mason pulled the covers over them, but Jack winced and Mason carefully lifted them off.

"Turn on your side," Gray told him. "You know you can't sleep without covers."

Jack whimpered but he moved eventually. Mason covered him up and snuggled close to Jack as Gray joined them. He wanted to spoon Jack, but he knew Jack's ass was too sore, so he just moved close and kissed his shoulder. Mason opened his eyes and smiled at Gray. Gray raised up and kissed him too.

Jack fell asleep almost immediately, and Mason was soon breathing evenly as well. Gray was exhausted but sleep wouldn't come. He propped himself up on his elbow and watched these two men who meant so much to him. He didn't know how he'd have stayed sane during his first year as a detective if it weren't for them.