Chapter Nine

Carys stepped out of the locker room, expecting Aidan to be standing there. He seemed to always know when she was ready. Or perhaps he simply changed quickly and waited for her so she never walked around the dungeon alone.

They’d spent no time in this club as a threesome. Aidan had been her only Master here. The Hideout had started in the house Tristan’s parents had bought for him after college. It had housed Cooper and Aidan as well. They’d taken the large garage to make a play space for them.

Of course her first club had been Julian Lodge’s fabulous, luxurious place. The three of them had gone through training there. It was beautiful, but she’d always preferred The Hideout.

Because it was theirs. Because she’d helped install the lockers in the locker rooms and had helped design the lounge. The founding members hadn’t simply put precious cash up. They had sweat equity in this place. It wasn’t perfect, but it reflected where they were in their lives.

“Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” a deep voice asked.

Of course it was also weird because her brother was here. A lot. Lucas was deeply invested in the lifestyle. Carys used it for stress relief and as a way to connect with her men, but sometimes she thought D/s was the only thing Lucas took seriously besides his career. Sex for Lucas was casual, but dominance was a serious thing.

She was glad she’d chosen a fairly modest corset and miniskirt. Modest for the club. Her brother wore a set of black leathers that proved there was one other thing Lucas Taggart was invested in. Working out. “Do I know what I’m doing when it comes to taking down a possibly evil doctor? Or do I know what I’m doing playing with Tristan and Aidan tonight?”

She kind of thought the answer was the same to both questions. A big old resounding no.

“The twins will take care of you.” Lucas looked like a younger version of their father. While she’d gotten their mom’s red hair, Lucas’s was a sandy blond and was always the tiniest bit overgrown. “Uncle Ian’s going to be there. I’m not worried about it. They swear your part is minor, and Kala will be with you all the time.”

“Yeah, she’s promised we’ll have so much fun.” She still had some aches and pains from her cousin’s version of fun.

Lucas frowned, getting to his point. “But I want to know why you’re giving Tristan a second chance. He’s broken your heart over and over again. You should know I’m going to talk to David and Kyle about this.”

Their older brothers. David and Kyle were from their mom’s first marriage, but the half-brother status meant nothing. They were a family, and she knew how they would react. David would say she’s an adult and they should support her choices. Kyle would get pissed off and go all “protect the women,” and then his kickass wife would kick his ass and get him on the “Carys is an adult” bandwagon. So realistically she was only dealing with the youngest of her brothers. “I don’t know I am. Giving him a second chance. I told Tristan plainly this doesn’t mean anything.”

“You’re going to fuck him. I would say it means something.”

She felt her brows rise. “I’m surprised you would say sex has meaning at all. Did it have meaning when you took home those two friends of Devi’s who were visiting? How about the night after those two when you went home with the new server? Does Dad know how many decent servers he’s lost because you can’t keep your dick in your pants?”

Her brother flushed. “It’s diff…”

She pointed his way. “You better think before you finish that sentence. You want to tell me it’s different because I’m a woman? Is it different for all the women you go through? Or are they different from me? Do you have, maybe, a name you like to call them to differentiate from the women like me?”

A whistle came from her left and there was Tristan, leaning against the wall looking fucking delicious in his leathers. He was six foot three inches of gloriously decadent male, and there was something primal about him. Tris tended to dress well in his daily life, to look like he could be walking a runway in Milan, every inch the modern, stylish man. But in leathers, he was stripped down to the predator he hid under expensive shirts and tailored trousers.

Her brain and her heart were definitely quieter than her pussy in this moment. Aidan was right. Her lust had taken over, and she wasn’t thinking about anything but how good it would feel to be with them tonight.

“You do not want to poke that particular beast, Lucas,” Tristan said, winking her way. “I would definitely not finish the sentence.”

Her brother frowned, obviously not as impressed with Tris’s smoldering sensuality as she was. “I’m trying to take care of my sister. She hasn’t exactly dated a lot. She doesn’t have the same experience. And you know I’m always open and honest about what I’m looking for. I never lead anyone on. Any woman I spend time with knows I’m not looking for anything long term. You lied to my sister.”

Tristan straightened up, getting serious. “I did. I thought I was doing the right thing at the time, but I have to face the fact that I hurt her. I’ll do whatever it takes to get her back. Even if it means leaving my job.”

News to her. News she wasn’t sure she believed. After all, the source had proven himself unreliable. “You’re never leaving the Agency.”

“I’m leaving the military,” Tris said, going sincere. “I’ll only be working for Uncle Ian’s team, so my schedule will look a lot like the twins’ does. I’ll spend a good deal of time here in Dallas. If it’s not enough, then I will quit everything and I’ll work for my father.”

Lucas studied him for a moment. “You’re going to take care of her? Because she hasn’t been the same since you left. Aidan loves her, but he can’t top her the way you do. She needs a strong top or she buries herself in work. Aidan needs one, too. They’ve always needed you to balance them, and you fucking left them alone.”

“Lucas,” she began, surprised her brother had seen those truths about her. She’d thought she kept those hidden.

Tristan held up a hand. “No, he’s right, and it’s nothing I haven’t already been faced with today. I got a lecture from my fathers earlier today. They said the same thing. I went into the military to prove something. To myself. To my dads. Probably to Carys and Aidan, too. They’ve always been so focused, and I was left out. I needed to prove I could do something that wasn’t handed to me. Everyone expected me to take my place at Papa’s company and someday take over. I needed a career that was mine. I did it, and now it’s time to come home and appreciate everything I have. Had.”

Lucas seemed to consider his words. “I can understand. I have to prove myself every time someone new comes in. They all think I got where I am because I’m the boss’s son. I’m going to open my own place.”

Again, news to her. She wondered if their dad knew Lucas had plans. But she had to admit, Tristan was handling her brother with grace. Lucas’s shoulders had come down, and there was an unmistakable air of relief around him. Like he was damn happy the Dom was back in the house, and he didn’t have to watch her fumble more.

She wasn’t fucking fumbling. Was she?

“Let me know if you’re looking for investors,” Tris said. “I think you’ll find a lot of us would be thrilled to back you. But do it because you want to prove to yourself you can. You’re the only opinion who matters here. You’ve got nothing to prove to your father or anyone else. We know how good you are, but sometimes we have to test ourselves.”

Lucas held out a hand and suddenly didn’t look like he wanted to pound on Tris. “Thanks so much, man. I appreciate it.”

Tristan shook her brother’s hand and put his free hand on Lucas’s shoulder. “And I will take care of my subs. I’m back, and I’m not going to let anything come between us again. I promise you.”

Lucas shook his hand and nodded. “Okay. Thank you, Tris.” He stepped back and suddenly looked younger, like Tristan’s vows had let some worry slide off him and he was a carefree young buck again. “You guys have fun in the privacy rooms. I’m going to go meet up with Seth. Apparently we’ve got a new group of trainees coming in for a tour. It’s good to get a look at the newbies.”

Her brother was gross.

“We’re on the main stage tonight,” Tristan announced.

It was an evening for wild revelations. “What?”

She had a million questions, but Tris had cleverly managed to make it so the answers she wanted about him promising all that crap to her brother were secondary to where they would be playing this evening.

“Oh, really? Are you sure you want that, man?” Lucas put a hand to his perfectly toned gut and looked slightly green. “She’s never wanted to play publicly before. I don’t know how I feel about it.”

She was the one who would be having a talk with their big brothers. It was obvious Kyle and David needed to teach Lucas a thing or two. “Your feelings are not required, brother.”

Tristan shrugged. “You can feel like hiding in the locker room because your sister is probably getting naked tonight. I told you I would take care of them, and there’s a streak of exhibitionist in her. She’s certainly played publicly. You weren’t a member back then, and I’ve heard since they moved The Hideout to this space, she and Aidan prefer privacy rooms. But I’m back, and we’re ready to get our freak on. We’re ready to dive back into this world, so we might need to make a schedule because I won’t be sparing your tender eyes.”

“Like how freaky?” Lucas asked.

“You should hole up somewhere, Luke.”

That was the moment she realized somehow Aidan had come up behind her. He wore an identical set of leathers as Tristan but looked entirely different. They were hot for different reasons. Tris was the smooth player who hid his predator. Aidan was her sexy smarty pants who sometimes got lost in his work. He wasn’t now. He stared at her like he could eat her up.

Her brother winced. “Yeah, maybe I’ll stay in the lounge this evening. If I sit in the back, I won’t be able to see the dungeon floor. Sister, when you get back, we have to talk because if you’re going to get your freak on regularly, we need a schedule.”

“We’ll see about that,” Carys said with way more confidence than she felt because her men were making her the slightest bit nervous.

And it did something for her.

Her brother gave her a wave and walked away, passing Tristan to get to the main part of the club.

“It’s good to know you’re going to coordinate schedules with my brother. Good luck with that,” Carys said.

His hand came up to brush her hair back. His voice went low. “Remember where we are. You might not think I deserve your respect, but as long as we’re in here, I’ll have it. Otherwise we should set up couple’s therapy for three. I’ve heard it’s all the rage.”

Sitting around and talking about her problems seemed awful. Besides, they hadn’t had any problems before Tristan left, so she wasn’t sure why she needed therapy. A couple of good orgasms and a sore ass seemed like a better bet. “Yes, Sir. I will certainly respect you as my Dom in this space.”

“In every space when we’re in the field, too,” Tris insisted. “From the moment we get on the plane until you’re home safe and sound, you’re mine and you’ll obey me. Not your uncle. I make the decisions when it comes to you and Aidan. Am I making myself clear?”

She wanted to spit bile back his way, but there was a piece of her that was so relieved he was taking control.

How would he dominate her? This was a different Tristan. He’d been bossy, pushing her to try new things. What changes had time wrought in this man she’d loved?

Aidan tried, but the sex always ended up being fairly vanilla. She didn’t think he was satisfied, either. Somewhere deep down, Aidan kind of wanted a top, too. Though he would never let her top him. It was lucky she’d never had the urge.

Had they never truly settled comfortably into their places when it came to sex? Had Tris needed this time apart to figure out who he was, to learn he was better with them? Could she truly blame him for not understanding what he was doing?

Tristan’s hand tangled in her hair, and he tugged just enough so she felt it. “I asked you a question, Carys. You’ve already started earning punishments.”

He was so close. She could feel the heat of his breath against her cheek. This was not the boy who’d tried to mirror their teachers at The Club. This man was dangerous and knew what he wanted. He wasn’t pretending to be a Dom. He’d come into his own somehow while he’d been gone.

What did he want from her? Her compliance. Her submission.

She hoped he wanted her body.

“Yes, Sir. I heard you and agree to your terms, though you’ll have to talk to my cousins. I’m sure my uncle will happily hand me off, but my cousins could be troublesome.” Some of her tension fled because he was making it so easy for her to find her submissive space.

Aidan moved in behind her, and she could feel his hips against hers, one hand coming out to flatten against her stomach. “I’ll handle your cousins.”

There was a streak of unexpected confidence coming from Aidan.

The door behind them came open, and her Taggart cousins were walking out.

Kenzie grinned her way. “Oh, that’s so sweet.”

Kala rolled her eyes. “They should keep it to the actual dungeon floor. This is a hallway, dude. It’s for walking.”

“Sure, because you never do weird things in hallways,” Tasha said.

“I respect the space,” Kala proclaimed.

Devi stood behind them, wearing a corset and boy shorts, showing off her gentle curves, her red hair in curls trailing down her back. Devi was willowy and graceful and looked the slightest bit nervous. Her gaze went to the left, toward the men’s locker room.

Aidan didn’t seem to understand they weren’t alone. His hand moved over her belly and started in a downward motion.

“Taggarts, I have explained to my subs that I’ll be in charge of them in the field,” Tristan announced. “I feel the need to make it clear to you as well.”

“That’s so romantic.” Kenzie put a hand to her heart.

Kala simply shrugged. “You can totally get Aidan killed. Like go for it, buddy. But if you think I’ll let you hurt my cousin, you haven’t met me. Would you like to meet me, Tristan?”

“So says the woman who punched her in the gut not three hours ago.” Aidan stared at Kala with a frown. His hand came back up, wrapping around her waist and pulling her closer to him as though she needed protection.

“She’ll back off,” Tristan said confidently. “Or she’ll meet me.”

A low groan came from behind them, and Cooper was there with Zach and Dare. “She’s wound up enough as it is. Could we notch down the testosterone, please?”

Kenzie leaned over, whispering in a way everyone could hear. “He’s talking to you, sis.”

Kala snarled her sister’s way.

Cooper moved in, putting a hand on Kala’s back. “Come on. I’ve got a scene set up for you along with an imported pain slut. Julian sent this guy over because he claims no one can give him what he needs.”

“Sounds like a challenge.” Kala’s lips curled up, and for a bare second she seemed to lean back into Cooper’s hand. Then she straightened up and got her Domme face on. “Are you watching or helping tonight, Master C?”

“Oh, I think you’ll need help with him, Mistress,” Cooper said, his voice low. “Let’s go make sure the space is up to your standards.”

Kala’s head turned, and her expression softened. “I have no doubt.”

Then she strode off, Cooper following behind her.

“I wouldn’t hate a session,” Kenzie said. “I think I’ll go see if any of The Club guys are here. Gabe won’t try to get into my thong.”

“I thought you wanted someone in your thong,” Tasha snarked as she joined her fiancé.

“I think I’m choosing sanity for a while,” Kenzie declared. “And by sanity I mean celibacy. How about it, Zach? You know you’ve wanted to slap my ass for a long time. I mean that in an I’m-annoying way, not a you-think-I’m-hot way.”

Tristan snorted and whispered in her ear. “Watch the big bad soldier run away.”

Captain Reed didn’t run, but he did wince. “Too much like my sister. Nope.”

Kenzie pouted and turned. “Your loss.”

She flounced off, leaving Devi staring at the captain.

Zach looked her over. “How about you? You’re Devi, right? You need a scene partner?”

Something close to a squeak came out of Devi’s mouth, and she turned and disappeared back into the locker room.

Carys was surprised because she’d kind of thought she’d heard something about Devi having a crush on the handsome captain. Of course she’d also heard there was one Taggart sister he didn’t view as a familial relation. The rumor was Zach had declared his love for Tasha, though he hadn’t fought her when she’d fallen for Dare. Maybe Devi was in self-preservation mode.

Zach sighed. “I guess that’s a no. Do I smell bad or something? All right. Looks like I’m watching tonight. You three have fun and know you’re going to have to deal with Kala in the field. She’s serious.”

“About letting me die, apparently,” Aidan said with the cutest frown. “I kind of thought we were friends.”

“Focus,” Tristan commanded. “Or do you need some correction, too?”

She felt Aidan’s arm tighten. “Are we going there now?”

“Only if you want it,” Tristan promised.

What the hell was going on between them?

How did she feel about it? It wasn’t like she’d ever told them she kind of had a fantasy where they also played together.

She’d thought they were settled before Tris left, thought they knew everything about their relationship. What if they’d been in a rut and she hadn’t even realized it?

Again, a thrill of excitement went through her, and she couldn’t help the brat attack that came next. “Aidan couldn’t handle a real spanking, Sir.”

She gasped when she felt Aidan’s teeth sink into her earlobe, nipping her in a way that sent her heart rate soaring.

“I won’t let you push me, brat,” Aidan vowed, “But I also won’t let preconceived notions hold the three of us back. However, tonight is all about you. And we’re not going easy on you like we did the other day.”

“Easy?” It wasn’t like they’d held back in the conference room. Except maybe they had. Maybe they all had. She’d pushed and pushed and not found the place she’d needed so badly.

“You didn’t really want me,” Tristan said, his hand on the nape of her neck. They were surrounding her, letting her know there was nowhere to run. “You wanted to cry and wanted an orgasm, but you didn’t want to connect. I’m going to change your mind tonight. I was in a place where I wasn’t willing to push you hard because I didn’t want to lose you. I’ll lose you if I’m not what you need. I’ll be what you need tonight.”

“We’ll be what you need tonight,” Aidan vowed.

Carys took a long breath and let go of her tension. If they were willing to try, she was, too. “Then lead on, Sirs. Your sub is ready to play.”

* * * *

Tristan was deeply aware of the eyes on him as he stepped onto the main stage. There was a group of unfamiliar faces standing at the front, the regulars giving way to the new trainees. Gabriel Lodge ran the training class and shared the main job of actually running the club with the founding members.

“If you don’t mind talking a bit about what you’re doing, I know the trainees would appreciate it. It’s their first night in the club,” Gabriel had told him before he’d led Carys on stage.

Aidan had gone ahead, testing the equipment for the tenth time. Aidan would always be thorough.

“Find your place while we get things ready, love,” he said to his sub.

His fucking gorgeous sub. Just being here with her sent him into top space. Knowing everything was in the open now did something for him, too. He was in charge. Aidan could top Carys, but he topped them both. They were his.

It sent a savage sense of satisfaction through him.

Carys moved to the center of the stage, lowering herself gracefully to her knees, her legs spread and head down, palms up on her thighs.

He could eat her up, but first he was going to give her a reason to go wild. Carys was restrained, disciplined, emotionally reasonable. She needed to let go and scream, needed a safe place to vent her rage.

Then he would remind her there was a safe place to put her passion, too.

He moved to the center of the stage where he’d assembled the metal frame structure he intended to use to torment his sub this evening. Aidan had moved to her side, but he didn’t sink to his knees.

He might never feel the need, and that was fine with Tristan. They weren’t going to be restrained by the relationships they’d seen before. His fathers topped his mom, and neither would ever give up the dominant position, so they shared it. There were other threesomes, though, where there was a clear top and the other man in the threesome was a sub.

They would find their own way. Aidan could float between roles or choose to simply be a Dom and Tristan would make space for him.

“Welcome to the trainees,” Tristan said. “I’m Master Tristan, and this is Master Aidan and our lovely submissive, Carys. Tonight we’re going to show you how to properly frustrate the hell out of your sub. By the way, Carys, we’re on stage and we’re now in high protocol.”

Her head came up, eyes going big. “High protocol?”

Aidan snorted. “She’s going to be fun tonight.”

She was going to behave precisely as he’d planned she would. “Yes, love, high protocol, and that’s the only warning I’m going to give you. You’re going to follow our commands or there will be punishments. Of course if this seems too much for you, there’s always a way out. My sub can say her safe word and then someone else will run a scene for you tonight.”

Carys’s head dropped back down.

Tristan leaned over and kissed the nape of her neck then straightened. “So now she’s made her choice, and we can move forward. She has to make the choice every moment we’re playing. Any time she chooses, we stop, but I’m sure Gabe will go over consent with you. So let’s move on to the part where I make her crazy. There will be times when a simple spanking is all your sub needs, but other times you need a framework to build the tension, to make the fantasy a bit more real. My sub has some rightful anger toward me. She isn’t willing to take tenderness from me, so we’re going another way.”

“Should you explain our form of high protocol, Master Tristan?” Aidan seemed far more comfortable than Tris had thought he would.

“Carys will end every sentence she speaks to us with the word Sir or Master. Normally I would choose what I wish to be called, but like I said, her anger is understandable, so allowances will be made.” Tristan moved around the stage, the better to look at her from every angle. “She will obey quickly and without complaint. She will keep her eyes on the ground unless Master A or I say otherwise. Any infraction will be punished. How does that make you feel, love?”

“Like you’re an asshole,” Carys said. “Sir.”

Oh, she wanted it bad. “Excellent. I didn’t think I had to mention it but all communication will be respectful on the part of the sub, so that’s a hard ten. I’m keeping the count low because she’s going to rack it up over the next half an hour or so.”

His whole body hummed in anticipation. He’d trained for this, spent years planning how he would handle her if he ever got his hands on her again. She would never know exactly how much time he’d spent thinking about this, planning it out and practicing so it could be perfect.

He’d spent at least an hour getting Aidan ready. He nodded Aidan’s way, and his partner moved in behind their sub.

“Allow Master Aidan to help you up, love,” Tristan commanded.

Tristan watched as Aidan caressed Carys’s arms and shoulders, big hands moving over her before he helped her stand. He guided her to cross her arms loosely on her stomach before gathering her hair with gentle hands.

Tris felt his cock twitch when Aidan wrapped Carys’s hair around his fist and jerked her head back.

His free hand spanned both her forearms, gripping tight and pinning them against her body.

They made an impressive, imposing picture. Aidan, tall and broad, looming over their sub’s shoulder, his control of her body sure and resolute. Carys was soft and relaxed despite the tension on her hair, her arched neck. The light hit them, casting dramatic shadows.

Every eye was on them, and they were fucking his.

Aidan turned Carys’s head just enough so he could kiss her, his mouth mastering hers.

Tristan vowed she would kiss him before the night was over. Last night she’d avoided kissing him, but he would get his mouth on hers tonight. He would start working his way back into her life.

“Arms up, Carys.” It was time to move this along. From what he could tell, Carys and Aidan had been fairly vanilla while he’d been gone. If he didn’t stop them, they might simply go at it, and what fun would that be?

Pretty fun, but not the point of the evening. It would be pleasure without pain and not what she needed. He was sure she would take the pleasure, but it was the pain that would connect them.

Carys’s hands came up even as Aidan still held her. Aidan ran his nose along her neck and Carys held still, giving both Masters what they wanted.

Tristan pulled out the restraints he would use on her this evening, holding them up so everyone could see them. He opened the first cuff. “The sub will know she’s restrained but these won’t weigh her down. This is our choice of restraints. Of course there are many others, and you and your play partners will need to make those choices on your own.”

He looked at Carys, who was still held by Aidan. “These have an easy button on the side so I can get you out quickly if I need to.”

“I’m not afraid, Sir,” she replied, biting her bottom lip when Aidan’s hand slipped over her breast. “Of anything except you being a bastard and withholding sex.”

He winced.

“Sir,” she said with the slightest smile.

No. He didn’t have to worry about her saying her safe word. The brat had found something today. There was a confidence in Carys he hadn’t seen in a long time. Sparring with Kala and getting ready for this mission had freed something inside her. It was time to chisel away at those walls of hers. “Aidan.”

Aidan’s hand slipped under the bodice of her corset and her eyes widened, a gasp coming out of her mouth as he gave her nipple a tweak.

“That’s another ten,” Tristan promised. “This is not going to end well for you.”

He gave her his sternest voice, the one he’d practiced when he’d kept up his training at the club in DC known as The Court. He’d gone with Zach and their bosses, Drake and Taylor Radcliffe. He’d never touched a sub in a sexual way, but he’d practiced in the hopes of one day being right here.

He nodded Aidan’s way and Aidan backed off slightly, taking her hand and leading her to the freestanding metal frame. Carys watched as Tristan attached the cuffs that would hold her in place. When he was satisfied the apparatus was safe and secure, he allowed Aidan to lead Carys in, getting her into position.

“It’s important to check on the safety of any equipment you use on your sub, which is why you should carefully plan out any scene requiring toys.” Tristan took her right wrist and brought it to the place where straps waited to be attached to the cuffs on her wrists. He connected the restraint. He did the same with her left wrist, slipping his index and middle fingers under the cuff to ensure they weren’t too tight.

“You should understand why your sub enjoys certain types of play.” He spoke the words but he was staring at Carys. He hadn’t forced her out of her clothes yet, and it was easy to see she was perfectly comfortable with all the lights on her. She couldn’t see out into the crowd, but she would know they were there. “Tell them how you’re feeling, Carys.”

“Vulnerable but also safe, Sir,” Carys said, lightly pulling against the cuffs as though testing them. She was in heels, which made it easy for her to comfortably stand. “This is a safe place to play out some fantasies that could be considered kinky, to feel things I wouldn’t want to feel if I wasn’t in a contained, loving space.”

“That’s how you feel emotionally,” Aidan said, getting to his point before Tristan could. “How do you feel physically? What does being restrained by men who care about you do to your pussy?”

“It gets me wet, Sir. It makes me wonder what you and Master Tristan are planning to do to me. And when you talk about planning, everything inside me tightens because I know you’re taking my needs seriously. I know you’ve sat with him and talked about how you’ll fuck me, how you’ll take turns using me like a toy you pass back and forth. Your favorite toy. I enjoy pretending in this setting, though I will admit it annoys me in the real world.”

She wanted to play that way? “Another ten, brat. I assure you this is the real world. It’s very real for you and me and Master Aidan. Pull at those restraints all you like. We’re going to begin our scene now.”

“I thought we already had,” Carys said, again with a bratty smile on her gorgeous face. She was in a confident space now, but he would show her he could handle her. “Sir.”

“And another ten. You’re making this fun for me, baby.” He gave her his own arrogant smirk before turning back to the audience. “For the rest of the time I will not be your tutor. Watch and learn, trainees. This is how you get under a sub’s skin and make her scream for you.” He looked to Aidan. “And why are we making her scream?”

“Because she needs it,” Aidan replied.

Because she needed it. And he was going to give it to her. Then they could get what they needed—her.