Chapter Twenty

The snow hit hard the second time, and the day was long as they worked their asses off. Dante hired a road scraper for the week to deal with the roads so work could continue as much as it could. The meeting was going to be at the farmhouse, which was fine by the three of them. They hadn't gotten to be alone in days.

Dante had furniture brought in for Dallas, and the mobster sat around on the leather couches and chairs, some leaned near the fireplace, and a few more have brought in chairs from the kitchen.

Dallas and his men sat together on the floor by the fireplace, and Dante paced a little as he spoke to them. "This isn't going to stop us. I promise you all that. The security here, well, we knew it was going to be tough with the sheer size of this place. We have men coming to help us out for now." He nodded over to Burke, who got up and joined him in front of the others.

"Tango is head of security, as you all know, that's why he isn't here. He's patrolling right now, and he hasn't stopped since these construction workers came up missing. He's running himself ragged. Jace is with him, but they're on the phone right now, listening in and giving me notes. The first thing he wants implemented right now, this very hour is a buddy system. As low tech as it gets, with a twist. Neil and Blaine came up with an idea, and it was great, but…many of you might not like it."

Dante interjected, "Don't even explain, they will all do it or they'll be fired."

Burke nodded to him, a little smile playing on his lips. "I get it, Dante."

"No, you must not! I'm not pussy-footing around with anyone on this ranch. They will not bitch or whine about it. This isn't a fucking democracy."

Marius reached for Dallas's hand, and it was perfectly timed. Dallas was getting anxious enough to lose his shit. "What are you guys talking about?"

Burke answered Dallas, "GPS trackers. One for each person here, resort people, ranch people and Dante's people."

Dante's eyes scanned over the small crowd, waiting for someone to so much as make a face about the announcement. When they didn't catch his ire, Burke went on, "They'll just give your location. That's it. Nothing more invasive than that, if you were worried."

Dante tried to sooth his voice, but there was still a definite edge to it. "Fuck whom you want. No one will see or hear."

There was tense laughter, but mostly everyone stayed quiet until Hunter Westmore got up from one of the chairs and nodded to Dallas. "First off, thanks to Dallas for letting us meet here. The hands might get tired of us meeting there."

"No problem," Dallas said to them, then felt Marius squeeze his hand.

"The buddy system. Now, my husband and me, we've been through some sketchy shit in the past. If he'd have had a buddy, so to speak, when we knew there was someone after him, it might have saved him from being kidnapped by a psycho. Regardless, this is a good rule. Those boys that are missing right now, they weren't a sweet waitress woman or an old man. They were strong men that, well, would have put up a fight unless a weapon was involved."

Someone asked, "Do we know they were taken?"

"No, we don't," Hunter said, looking sternly around the room. "This is speculation, but weird shit's been happening since Dante took this place over, and, well, we just can't be sure either way until we find proof. We're doing this on the side of caution. That's it."

There were those that sighed in relief and others that grew more tense. Dallas knew he had to speak for his people. He got up and Hunter waved him to the front. "The manager himself," Hunter said to the others.

Dallas stood in front and said, "I like the idea for my people. I can't speak for everyone, but this can help a lot in more ways than some phantom person who may or may not be kidnapping folks.

"These woods, this land, it's a big place. It's something like sixty square miles. There are cliffs and predators, sinkholes, and other dangers here that a lot of folks just ain't used to. If anyone wanders off to take a piss, they could get lost or attacked by a mountain lion, bear, shit, even a badger can gnaw a leg to the point you ain't walking anyplace. For those that haven't been around a big place like this, I think they'd welcome it. If any of your people complain, remind them how it would feel to be stuck out somewhere with a broken leg and nobody knows where to find them. They'd die of exposure, and pretty fast now that the snow's hitting."

Hunter clapped silently and agreed, "He's right. Sure, they're street smart, but this isn't the street."

Finally, everyone was nodding, and Dallas was relieved. "I'm making all my people double up or more from now on. Not that we ever went out halfcocked alone."

When he sat back with his men, Ruben whispered, "You were great."

"Thanks."

They all made plans to patrol, to check roads in and out of the property, talking for at least an hour after. Hunter went to Dallas, who was just spinning from Ruben whispering something dirty in his ear. "You're…red."

Dallas cut his eyes to Ruben, who smiled shyly. "Yeah, he…never mind."

Hunter chuckled as he reached over to pinch Ruben's cheek. "I saw. Good for you guys."

Much more serious, Marius stepped to them and whispered, "Some of the guys are freaking out over the GPS thing."

"Tough," Dallas said, feeling his body light with fury to the point that Ruben had to hold his hand to keep him from running into the crowd of mobsters. "This is for their safety."

"Sure, we get that," Marius said, trying to soothe him. "They are afraid the feds will catch on and be able to track them. They're paranoid."

Hunter growled, "Does Dante know this?"

"Are you kidding? The man has a reputation for having a ton of honor and for bringing in groups that were doing fucked up shit, but sometimes, to bring those people in, he has to do things that…would be considered for scenes in a horror movie."

Ruben yipped a little at hearing that. "Are you serious?"

Marius smirked at him. "Babe, what do you think we do?"

Stepped between them, Dallas warned, "Do not do that to him. He doesn't need to know that shit."

"Damn," Hunter said. "You guys have…total heat between you." Looking as though he would ask to join in to their three way, he finally shook his head and started digging in his pocket. "Gotta got the husband."

As they watched him take off outside, Marius laughed and wrapped an arm around Ruben's neck. "Sorry. Didn't mean to freak you out."

"I'm not. I mean, I guess I never thought about the dark side of it."

"Let me tell you something, baby. If people keep fucking with us and possibly hurting our guys, you're going to be happy that we're as tough on our enemies as we are."

"I guess," Ruben said with a scowl. "You…don't have to, right?"

Dallas looked into Marius's eyes, warning him with the look not to elaborate. "Honey, you don't worry about that, okay? Just know I'd never hurt you or let anyone hurt you, ever." He smiled at Dallas and corrected, "Except watching Dallas give you a good spanking, maybe. Whipping, use one of those leather belts on you…"

"Stop it," Ruben said, wriggling. "Making me all crazy."

For all they'd done for him, taking him out of his head when things got tough, it looked as though he needed to return that favor. "You're both getting the belt tonight."

He watched them squirming as he left to speak to Dante before they all left. Dante was speaking in whispers to Neil, but stopped once he saw Dallas's approach. "I don't want you to worry, Dallas. Your people come first, after Blaine. You are the heartbeat of this place."

Taken aback, Dallas didn't know what to say except to thank him.

"Dallas, we promised you all a good place to work. I won't allow this…whatever it is, to interfere with that. We'll find who's doing this."

A pang of something hit him, and it took him a moment to realize what it was. He felt a bit sorry for the person or persons kidnapping folks. He had a feeling they'd pay dearly for it.

"Dante, we're okay. We understand about all this precaution."

Dante slapped him on the back and then gathered everyone to take their leave and Dallas was soon staring at the two men he now knew he loved. Sappy, goofy, sweet love that was about to get very messy and hard. "Get undressed and meet me in the kitchen."

They both stood blinking at him like two dogs that didn't understand his words. "Last one in the kitchen gets ten extra."

"Extra what?" Dimples asked as Ruben ran for the kitchen. When he realized he was going to be the last one into the room, Dimples mumbled, "fuck," under his breath and turned to calmly follow Ruben.

Dallas unhooked his belt and slowly started to slide it from the belt loops as he started after them, thoughts of welts across both of their fine asses making him smile to himself. Not to mention the figurative pat on the back he gave himself.

All that information, all that stress, it was coming a little easier for him and that was because of the two men bumping into one another as they tried to take their shoes off while still standing, and next try to wrangle off their pants. Dallas leaned in the doorway to watch them while he slapped his looped belt over his hand.

It was frankly hilarious. Ruben was hanging onto the counter with one hand while trying to untie his shoe. One leg was out of his pants and underwear already, but he couldn't manage to get the other side off because of his sneaker and the knot in the laces.

"You are wearing sneakers, that was your first fuck up," Dimples shot at him.

"You wear a thin leather jacket in the cold and you're critiquing my wardrobe choices?"

"It's warm enough!"

Dallas laughed, as he'd been meaning to mention the same thing.

"It's thinner than the fucking shirts I wear this time of year. You're going to freeze your ass off."

Dimples stood naked, hands on his hips to counter, "It's my ass! If I want to freeze it off, it's my business!"

"Oh, just great!

"Well, it is! I look good in it."

Ruben laughed derisively, "Oh, it's a fashion statement. Goombah died from freezing, but damn, he looked good!"

Simply letting them bicker, and enjoying it, Dallas watched as Ruben got tired of trying to untie his shoe and just wrenched it off his foot. Dimple added, "Those look warm."

"I couldn't find my boots this morning, so sue me."

What Dallas heard was that they were stressed, upset and scared, but they wouldn't realize it. The fact that someone might be after the people on the property, it had the entire place on edge, and while he was responsible to the other ranch employees, the two men with him right then were his first priority.

"Enough," he finally said, and the two, like they'd forgotten he was there, turned, jaws dropped. "Dimples, go fetch a chair from the living room. You can watch me deal with Ruben, then it's your turn."

"I never said I'd let you whip me with no belt," he said gruffly.

"You said you'd try it," Ruben accused then tried to head to the living room himself, but Dallas stopped him.

"Nope. He'll go, and you and I will wait for him right here."

Ruben softened, smiling up at Dallas. "Okay, but…I got here first, and I've been really good!"

"No, you haven't. You've been a royal pain in my ass for a long time now. All those mornings, walking by me in only your towel, making those pretty lashes flutter at me? Fucking cock tease," he said as he grabbed Ruben's jaw and squeezed. "Little fucking cock tease."

As Dimples tried to move past them, Dallas saw that he was suddenly hard, his entire chest reddening. "I'll…I'll go run get those."

"Good boy."

Ruben was pushed gently as Dallas released him. "Get up on the island, on your stomach with your legs hanging over."

The heated way Ruben's eyes grew, snitched on him as far as how much he loved this. He hurried to do as he was told but couldn't wipe the smile from his face. Dallas knew that would change soon, so he allowed it.

As his little ass was perched high and wiggling, Dallas moved behind him, running a hand down Ruben's back, feather-light touches, soothing him into a false sense of calm.

Ruban's ass was a work of art. Bubbled, rounded globes that had definition that blew Dallas away. Even covered in a towel, he'd see what a perfect ass it was. "All those mornings, Ruben, always teasing me, trying so hard to get my attention. You have it now. You might regret teasing me all that time."

Dimples was back in the room, smiling over at them. "I brought the chairs. Sir."

Dallas saw the mischief in the big man's eyes. "Good. Now fetch the condoms and lube in case I want to fuck this one or both of you. I haven't decided yet."

Losing his smile, Dimples huffed and left the room. "You're being mean to him," Ruben accused.

"Yeah. And? Maybe the two of you need some mean. You're getting too fucking comfortable."

Ruben turned to look back at him, and Dallas simply smiled, grabbing one of his ass cheeks and squeezing tenderly. "Dallas, why would you be mean to him?"

"I'm about to be a lot meaner to you, cock tease. That's what you should be concerned with."

Marius was back with the things Dallas had requested, and Dallas took the condoms and lube from him, then pulled him in for a kiss. "Thank you…baby."

Marius pulled back in shock. "You're…welcome. I think."

"Why don't you help me with this little fucking cock tease. I have a lot of pent up aggression toward him from years of him teasing me with this fine ass."

As Marius's eyes moved to Ruben's ass, he agreed, "It is a fine ass."

"I'm going to beat the hell out of him, and then I want to sit back and watch you fuck him. Then, if I feel like it, I'll take a turn on him."

Another kiss, and Marius was moving his hands over Dallas's ass, though he was still fully dressed. "You gonna get naked?"

"Nope. Hold him down on this counter, and don't let up unless he hollers that safeword."

"Sure thing, baby."

Ruben was staring at them, his eyes wild. "Why just me?"

"You just said how mean I was being to Dimples, here." Dallas made Marius turn around and he ran a hand over the scars on his ass. There were seven that showed readily, and more that were lighter. "Another fine ass, Dimples."

"Thanks. I guess guys dig scars like those hetero fuckers say chicks dig them, hmm?"

"I appreciate a good scar, sure. Hold this cock tease down for me."

"Now, wait a damn minute!"

Dallas leaned over Ruben to place his hand over his mouth while he rubbed his cock over Ruben's ass through his jeans. "No talking, you little fuck. In fact, every time I hear you at all, you're getting another whipping."

The movements he made were comical, wriggling on that counter, his sweet ass clenching hard. Marius laughed and placed his hand over Ruben's mouth as Dallas took his away. "He didn't get long to tease me, but he sure as hell did it."

"I think I'll give him a few for you too, then."

"Thanks."

Ruben was moving all over, but Marius held him down. Dallas moved the belt over him, running it over his back, over each cheek of Ruben's ass, letting him feel it, to feel how soft the touch could be.

Calming some, like feeding sugar to a wild horse, Ruben was hypnotized into letting down his guard. "Let him speak for a second, then cover his mouth again," Dallas said to Marius, who took his hand away. Dallas said to Ruben, "Give me that safeword."

"It's…it's red, okay, but, I didn't mean to tease you!"

"Cover it again," Dallas said to Marius.

"Sure thing, baby."

Dallas smiled and manhandled Ruben's ass roughly while making eyes at Marius. "Those dimples are sure hot. Can't get ‘em off my mind."

"Oh, yeah? I'll have to tell you the full story of how I got them one day."

"You'll have to do that, yeah. For now, we have this boy to put in line."

Dallas took the belt in his hand and started, and as he brought that leather down on Ruben's ass, Marius was salivating. He watched that belt like his eyes were glued to it, and each welt that rose on Ruben's ass caught his attention as well.

Ruben's screams behind Marius's hand were epic. They were earsplitting even when muffled. Marius was laughing at the smaller man, but he held him tightly, not letting him get up from the counter, no matter how he struggled.

That snap as the leather struck the flesh, that sound was driving Dallas crazy. He'd first discovered his enjoyment of that sound when he watched a Master disciplining a slave at a leather club. He'd worked ranches for years already, and never remembered hearing the snap of leather like he had that night. It coursed through his veins, lighting him on fire, and he'd been addicted since. Though finding a man that would let him enjoy it wasn't as easy. Now, he had two, and he planned to hear that sound weekly, if not more.

A crack that was louder than the others echoed in the kitchen, Marius chuckling darkly as he tilted Ruben's head back. "Ready to call out that safeword yet?"

"No," he mumbled. "I'm not some city wimp."

"Tough guy, huh? Think I'm a fucking wimp because I'm from the city, do ya?"

Ruben stammered, but Dallas was already moving around the island. "Take a few for yourself, baby."

"You got it, baby."

Dallas was gleeful as he watched Marius take the belt in his hand, running the leather over his palm as he slowly moved around to the other side, where a bruised and battered ass was waiting for him.

Dallas kissed Ruben and asked, "You sure you can take it?"

"Yes! He doesn't scare me."

"He should. You should be very afraid, Ruben. This, I have a feeling, is gonna hurt."

Before he could say another word, Dallas slapped his hand over Ruben's mouth and grabbed his hair with the other hand, keeping Ruben in place that way, instead of a hand on his back, as Marius had done.

Ruben's eyes were watering, his face dark red from the pain, and when Marius started whipping him with the belt, Dallas felt Ruben's screams vibrating through his hand, all the way up his arm.

He held up a hand to Marius after four nasty whacks and uncovered Ruben's mouth. "Are we finished yet?"

"Yes! Red, okay! Damn, you two are fucking mean!"

"You're so lucky you said your safeword. The rest of that would have gotten you at least ten."

His eyes got wide, but he confessed, "I like it, I swear. It's just a lot."

That touched his heart. "Can you handle some dick?"

Ruben laughed through his tears. "Are you kidding? I can take all the dick you can give me!"

Marius laughed. "He doesn't learn."

"No, he really doesn't."