Iron Cross: The Dartmouth Cobras #6 (56 page)

The cane went down smoothly, leaving a long red welt across the center of Laura’s ass. Laura’s whole body jerked. “One.”

Over and over, Chicklet struck Laura. She reached five before the tears came, almost blinding her. She blinked them back, forcing herself to remain in control of her emotions even though all she wanted to do was drop the cane and pull Laura into her arms. But until she finished, Laura had no reason to believe her, because Chicklet had lied as well. Yet, her greatest sin was being blind to what was happening right in front of her, for letting things deteriorate almost beyond saving.

She wouldn’t let herself stop, no matter how much Laura’s quiet sobs ripped into her chest like a twisted talon clawing at her heart. The relief of hearing “Ten” stole the last of her strength. She dropped the cane and help
ed Laura straighten. Hugged her and kissed away her tears, relieved to have finally reached the point where she could tend to her beautiful, strong girl rather than hurt her.

Raif had spread a blanket on the floor ,and he took Laura’s other hand as she moved gingerly to it to lie down. He passed Chicklet a tube of arnica lotion. Petted Laura’s hair as Chicklet spread the lotion over the welts, then helped her up enough to take a few sips from the bottle of water he held.

A few feet away, Tyler still knelt in the same place, though he was rubbing his knuckles on his thighs and whispering softly to himself. He seemed nervous, and Chicklet couldn’t think of why until she remembered…Laura had taken only half of the punishment.

Tyler was preparing to take the rest.

“I can’t do it.” Chicklet stared down at the harsh red lines on Laura’s skin, shiny from the lotion, lovely, but somehow so wrong because neither of them had enjoyed a second of putting the marks there. Which made sense, since discipline wasn’t about pleasure. To do this again though, to her boy who could be so tough, but had such a low tolerance for pain? She shook her head. “I’m sorry, my angel. I love you and I know you need this, but I can’t.”

Bowing his head, Tyler nodded. “It’s all right.”

No, it wasn’t. Chicklet pressed her eyes shut, frustrated with herself for being so fucking weak. Tyler had come here with only one goal in mind. To bring their family back together, to show what they had was worth fighting for, even if they all had to suffer a little to find solid ground to stand on. If he couldn’t participate in the punishment, he’d always feel like he hadn’t been fully involved in making things right.

Raif put his hand on Chicklet’s shoulder. Met her eyes as he spoke. “They are your subs, Chicklet. I have not been with you long, but you’ve welcomed me into your household. You’ve trusted me to care for them, respected my opinion in how to handle this whole situation. I am as much to blame as any of you for what happened.” His lips thinned. He clearly wasn’t liking the idea any more than she had, but he shared her reasons for wanting to see this through. “I was here when this began. Let me finish it.”

Seeing someone else punishing Tyler wouldn’t be much easier than doing it herself, but Raif was right. She’d wanted to hit him when he’d teased her about asking for help, and yet…knowing when to do so took more strength than fumbling around on her own.

“Come here, angel.” Chicklet stroked Laura’s back as Tyler crawled to her, doing her best to split her attention between them. She pressed her free hand against Tyler’s cheek and kissed him, loving the way he opened to her, letting her taste him, holding nothing back as he responded to the pressure of her lips. She sucked on his bottom lip, clenching her thighs as she considered all the things she’d rather be doing with him. “I’m accepting him because you love him. Know that when he punishes you, he is acting on my behalf. The situation will likely be reversed in the future. If this works out like I’m hoping it will, we will be four parts of a whole.”

“That’s pretty fucking awesome.” Tyler smiled against her lips. “Does the same go for when he’s fucking you, Mistress? Do I get some credit?”

“Brat.” Chicklet laughed and gave Tyler a little shove. “Go on, make me proud, boy.”

Raif motioned for Tyler to stand and strode right up to him, fisting his hands in Tyler’s hair and holding him still to give him a rough, openmouthed kiss. Seeing them together would never get old. Chicklet wet her lips, tempted to go over and force Tyler to his knees again. Have him suck off Raif while she kissed the powerful Dom. Once Laura was hurting a bit less, she could join them, take Tyler in her mouth or use her clever tongue on Chicklet’s pussy to ease some of the needy ache building within.

But they weren’t done with the unpleasant stuff yet. So Chicklet stayed where she was and smiled as Raif finally broke the kiss and let Tyler gasp in air.

“Wait here for me. I must speak to someone to avoid interruptions. The other players may object to my beating you with a game to play tomorrow.” Raif ran his thumb over Tyler’s bottom lip. Left the room, returning shortly after with Sloan.

Who was smiling. The twisted fuck.

Sloan rubbed his chin and circled Tyler. “So long as you spread them out, I think he’ll be fine.” He glanced over at Chicklet. “I could show you how it’s done.”

Tyler paled and Raif stepped between Tyler and Sloan,
appearing dangerously homicidal. Damn sexy look for him. Chicklet smirked. “Thank you, Sloan, but we’ve got this covered.”

“Fair enough.” Sloan’s tone became serious. “I’ll keep the guys away from this area, but I can’t make any promises if he starts screaming. Thankfully Carter and Demyan aren’t here, but most of the men would kill for this kid.” He gave Raif a level look. “Myself included. I wouldn’t let this happen if she didn’t trust you. Don’t make either of us regret it.”

Chicklet wasn’t sure if she loved or hated Sloan more at this moment. Raif simply nodded and turned all his attention to Tyler, rubbing Tyler’s arms until Tyler looked less ready to pass out. Sloan hesitated by the door and caught Chicklet’s eye. And reminded her with his questioning gaze why she really did love him. He wasn’t trying to be an asshole. In his own way, he was making sure she knew what she was doing. He held her gaze until she nodded and mouthed one word.

“Yes.”

* * * *

The only reason Tyler was able to sta
y on his feet was because Raif never stopped touching him. And Chicklet kept her eyes on him, lending him her strength. He didn’t move as Raif removed his leather harness. Held his breath as Raif pulled down his boxer briefs. After stepping out of them, Tyler snatched them off the floor, folding them and placing them on the wood bench, biting his lip when Raif smiled at him in approval. The simple act put everything into perspective. He might not have been part of all the lies and fucked up games, but he wasn’t innocent. He could have tried harder.

And now he would. He needed to feel the pain Laura was feeling so the bond they were building would be unbreakable. When this was all over she’d remember how he’d stood by her. That his love was unconditional and he was willing to prove it.

“Clasp your hands behind your neck,
zlato moje
.” Raif put his hand at the base of Tyler’s neck in a comforting gesture as Tyler followed his instructions. “Round your shoulders a little. I will take care in this area, but you have enough muscles to protect your bones. Four here, three on your ass, and three on your thighs. Do not forget, you can still say red if you cannot take it anymore.”

“I know, but I can take it.” Tyler thought he sounded brave, but he wasn’t feeling as sure as he sounded. Laura could deal with a lot of pain, and she didn’t look ready to move anytime soon. He couldn’t tell what scared him more. The pain or that he’d humiliate himself by crying and begging Raif to stop. But maybe he could remove the option. “You’ll only stop if I say red?”

Raif cursed under his breath. “Ty, you can’t ask me to—”

“Please! I’ll try not to, but I need this and I don’t know what will come out of my mouth if… Damn it, Raif, that’s the whole point of a safeword!” Okay, he wasn’t helping his case by shouting at the man he desperately needed to be in control. “I trust you, Master. I’m begging you not to let me fail.”

Squeezing Tyler’s shoulder, Raif nodded. “You won’t fail.
Vidim pravu tebe
. I see the real you, my boy. Find your strength.”

Muscles tensing as Raif moved to his side, Tyler waited for the first
strike of the cane. He heard it cut through the air, then the white-hot pain as the rod connected with his skin. The pain spread across the top of his shoulders like a blazing-red knife had sliced open his flesh.

He inhaled. Exhaled. Struggled against the urge to throw himself out of harm’s way. “One.”

The next three hits were easier, he knew what was coming and managed to distance himself from the pain. But when the cane struck his ass, his whole body jerked. He grunted and his sweaty palms slipped on the back of his neck. He barely managed “Five” before the next came. Another. And another.

He lowered his head, his legs shaking, and reached out for something to hold on to. “Wait!”

Nothing. Then fire across the top of his thighs. He choked out a number as he latched on to the same stall door Laura had. Thinking of her got him through the next stinging blow.

I can’t do this anymore. I tried, I tried but—

He heard the cane coming down and twisted his body out of reach. “Stop!”

“One more, my love,” Chicklet said softly from somewhere to his left.

And he knew that, but he was pathetic and he should have known he would fuck this up. He always fucked up. That’s why they were in this mess.

“Hold on to the door, Ty.” Raif’s tone was firm, and Tyler responded automatically to the command. He stiffened as Raif took a firm hold on the back of his neck. “I won’t let you fail.”

The pain spread with the last strike, causing heat to rise from Tyler’s thighs, all the way up to his shoulders. He let himself drop to his knees and gritted his teeth to keep from crying out. Fuck, he wanted the pain to stop. It hurt so bad, but as the pain grew, he realized the agony wasn’t just from the welts on his skin. Inside, he was torn up and bleeding, as though a fresh scab had been ripped off.

He heard Raif speaking softly. Took his hand and got up to lean on him. They reached the blanket and Chicklet kissed him. Water wet his lips. Once he was facedown on the ground, the soothing lotion was spread gently over his burning flesh.

A small hand covered his. He opened his eyes and looked into Laura’s. She whispered, “Thank you.”

And he smiled back, feeling like that open wound had just been covered with a fresh bandage after being cleansed. No longer festering, but ready to heal.

“Anytime.” He groaned as soft fingers spread more lotion, feeling good and hurting all at once. “Okay, maybe not for a little while. I love you, Laura, and I’ll do anything for you. But I’m not sure I can survive much more of this.”

* * * *

They took their time with aftercare, but Raif wasn’t quite comfortable with what he’d done until Tyler stopped letting out muffled sounds of pain. A girlish giggle from Laura as Tyler sucked her fingers proved both had recovered quite well. And better yet, they were in a good place together.

Perfect for a scene he’d planned, but had almost given up on when the situation had begun to look hopeless. He went to his toy bag and took out two leather headbands, both sporting animal ears. One was white and pink. The other black with large floppy ears. There hadn’t been many options at the sex shop, but if the scene turned out well, he would have a pair custom-made for each sub.

Chicklet, who was reclined on her elbows next to Laura, grinned when he held up the headbands. “This is something we haven’t tried together.”

Laura rolled over, wincing as she put pressure on her butt, then wrinkled her nose. “Those look like cat ears. I make a very good puppy, Master.”

“You sound like a sulky little girl right now, pet. I’m sure you would have no trouble coming to heel at our command, but to be a convincing kitten you’ll have to be a little naughty.” Raif bent down to put the white kitten ears on her. “I look forward to making you purr.”

Tyler didn’t protest when Raif put the dog ears on him, but he appeared confused. “So…how does this work? If she’s a naughty kitten, I’m what? A good dog?”

Both Raif and Chicklet chuckled at that. Raif shook his head as he toyed with one floppy ear. “A playful puppy, Ty. Which should not be difficult. Eventually we may decide to delve deeper into the roleplaying, but tonight simply have fun with it. Puppies and kittens are usually more tolerant of one another than full-grown dogs and cats. Fitting for our fresh start, don’t you think?”

“I guess…” Tyler pushed up to his hands and knees, glancing over at Laura as though to say “Are we seriously doing this?”

With a shrug, Laura bumped into his side and crawled away from him, her body moving in a convincingly feline sway. Raif sat next to Chicklet with his knees slightly bent, pleased when Tyler made an effort to follow Laura’s lead, bounding after her with an exaggerated “Woof!”

Turning on him, Laura nipped his shoulder, then rubbed against his side. She slipped out of reach when he tried to kiss her. Bit his side as he clumsily trailed after her in a tight circle. At the next nip, he laughed and rose up on his knees to pull her hair and lick her cheek. Laura hissed at him.