More for himself than Leah. He wanted the illusion that maybe if he looked hard enough now, he might catch a glimpse of his friend’s smiling face somewhere in the multicolored chaos of the huge display.
It was a small delusion he allowed himself, one that had helped him fill the aching void in his heart.
* * * *
By the time Seth checked to make sure all the doors were locked and the lights were off, he found Leah lying in the middle of their bed.
Naked.
She crooked a finger at him. “I want to tell you what I want for Christmas. And my birthday.”
He smiled as he stripped his shirt off. “Getting toppy from the bottom again, are we?”
“Maaaybe.”
He crawled onto the bed to join her. “And what, pray tell, do you want for Christmas and your birthday, love?”
“I want you to be happy,” she said. “I want you to relax and understand that I’m at peace, and I’m happy. I want us to enjoy this holiday season without you stressing to the max over me. Can you do that for me?”
Leah truly was as tough as nails in many ways. People who never saw her slave side, who only had experiences with her as the iron-willed woman who ran her charity events with clockwork precision and the harshness of a Paris Island drill sergeant, never would have imagined the level of personal hell she went through both as a child and then with Kaden’s death.
Stretching out next to her, he let his index finger trail down her body, lazily circling her navel. “Am I that bad?”
She rolled onto her side to face him. “It’s not a bad thing. I’m not complaining. Yes, it’s been tough. I won’t bother trying to lie about that. This year, I want this to be our Christmas. He’s always going to be in our hearts, in our thoughts. Never far away. He knew what he was doing. He wanted us to move on and be happy with each other. And that’s what I want, too. I don’t want you feeling guilty for it, either. I’ve made peace with it. He wouldn’t have orchestrated everything he did if he wanted us to feel guilty. He practically ordered us to go on and be happy.”
Seth pulled her into his arms. “I sometimes wonder if he was more worried about you or me after he left.”
She snuggled into his embrace, a perfect fit. “Why’s that?”
“Because without him in my life anymore, if it wasn’t for you, quickly drinking myself to death would have looked like a pretty attractive option.” He pressed his lips against the top of her head. “What was so spooky is I think he realized it even when I didn’t at the time.”
Reaching down, she cupped his cock and balls in her hand and gently squeezed, immediately drawing interest from him. “This is the kind of thinking I meant, Sir,” she said. “I want us to spend this season focused on the now, on the future. Filled with joy.”
She always did have a way of distracting him. He rolled her onto her back, his body stretched out along hers and pinning her to the mattress. “You do, huh?”
A sultry smile lit her face. “Well, being filled with your cock works for me, too.”
He knew before he reached down and slipped his now-stiff cock into her that she’d be wet and ready for him. She always was when they made love.
More perfection he couldn’t have ever imagined coming into his life.
Soft matching gasps escaped them as he slowly thrust inside her, taking his time, no rush at all. He realized for the first time that in the past couple of months, she’d only asked once for time in the playroom to help her out. And that had come after they’d spent the day tidying up the garage, memories of Kaden heavily hanging over both their heads.
Other than that, yes, recently she had seemed far more…steady.
Centered.
Anchored.
He paused to raise her arms over her head, pinning her wrists to the bed and getting a little hip grinding from her in the process.
He smiled down at her. “Patience, love.”
“Patience yourself. I’m horny.”
He took a hard, deep thrust, holding still buried all the way inside her as she whimpered in frustration. “If you want a spanking, I’ll give you one. You don’t need to top from the bottom to get it.”
She stuck her lower lip out at him, a gorgeous, playful pout. “Wasn’t.”
“Were. And remember what happens to naughty girls. They get tied to the coffee table with a vibrating egg up their pussy that’s not strong enough to get them off.”
He felt her pussy flutter around his cock. Hell, sometimes he wondered if he might not be able to talk her into coming. Unfortunately, he usually didn’t have the patience to try that, because by the time he thought about it, he was already balls-deep inside her.
And, to be fair, tying her up like that was more foreplay than punishment. Seth had discovered his own inner sadist who liked to come out and play with her. He might not have started out enthusiastic about the thought of becoming Leah’s Dom and Master, in terms of the mechanics of the dynamic, but going on five years into it, he’d realized it was now second nature to him.
He didn’t have to hold back with her. He didn’t have to worry if he was taking too much control.
She wanted it that way. Loved it. Craved it.
And he was happy to give it to her. For the first time in his life, he felt fully in control, and not just of her, but of himself. Of his fate.
He felt at peace despite the ache that would forever shadow his heart.
Dipping his head, he latched onto her right nipple, sucking and teasing it, grazing it with his teeth, pulling moans from her. Then he repeated it with her left, back and forth until she squirmed under him, trying to rock her hips against him and unable to gain any traction.
Raising his head, he looked at her, unable to stop smiling. “Someone’s horny.”
“Duh. Sir,” she added. “Please?”
He took pity on her, mostly because he couldn’t hold back much longer. He started thrusting again, slowly at first, grinding his hips against hers, hitting her clit with every stroke. Looking up at him, her gorgeous green eyes glazed over with passion, it struck him he was happy. Life was good. Their future promising.
Living in the now was the way to go.
“Come on, love,” he whispered. “Come for me. Be my good girl.”
Her lower lip caught under her teeth, her hips rocking in time with his strokes, matching his pace. He knew she was close, so, so close. Finally, he heard her gasp and felt the muscles of her pussy clench around him as she tipped over the edge.
“There you go,” he said, speeding up his strokes, feeling his own orgasm exploding from his balls and filling her.
When he relaxed his grips on her wrists, she slipped her fingers through his and squeezed. “Love you, Sir.”
He nuzzled the hollow of her throat, kissing her there, working his way up her jaw to her lips. “Love you, too, love.”
A playful smile curved her lips. “So will I get my Christmas wish?”
“Of course you will.” He rolled off her, cuddling with her, spooning his body along hers. “You know I can’t say no to you.”
Chapter Three
“I keep thinking I forgot to tell Katie and Jason something,” Clarisse said as she stared out the back window of Sully’s Jag. It was Friday evening, and they were heading south on I-75 to Seth and Leah’s house. They’d be spending Friday and Saturday night with their friends, a welcomed mini-vacation for the three of them.
Sully glanced at her in the rearview mirror. “Considering the epic novel’s worth of instructions you left them,” he drawled, “I don’t think so. They managed to raise their own daughter just fine. I’ve written books shorter than the notes you left them.”
“I think they can take care of our two rug rats,” Mac added.
“Three,” Sully said. “Don’t forget Bart.”
She leaned as far forward as her seat belt would allow. “I’m sorry. It’s just we don’t get to do this very often. All three of us going off together at the same time without the k
ids.” The men shared a glance she knew all too well. “Stop it,” she warned. “I’m allowed to be a nervous mother.”
“The first time around,” Mac joked, glancing back at her from the passenger seat. “Not the second. Tad’s almost two, sweetheart. And Eddie’s almost four. They’re going to have a fun weekend at Aunt Katie and Uncle Jason’s and come home spoiled rotten. You know that.”
Jason Callahan had been Sully’s partner before Sully’s forced retirement due to being shot in the line of duty. Jason still worked on the force, but the Callahans were godparents to the triad’s two sons and loved taking every opportunity possible to spoil them rotten in preparation for whenever their own daughter eventually blessed them with grandchildren.
“Won’t be long before Eddie’s in preschool,” Clarisse said as she settled back in her seat and stared at the road. “I feel a little guilty spending time away from them.”
“Stop,” the men said in unison.
“You’re a fantastic mom,” Sully added. “This is our weekend. Adult time.”
They hadn’t yet disassembled their home dungeon but knew they were close to that point. Either they’d have to turn it into a bedroom for one of the boys, or Sully would have to move his home office into that room so one of the boys could have his office. They’d have to “vanillafy” it either way.
It gave a whole new meaning to the word “childproofing.”
With two young sons in the house, their more active playtime had been curbed and restricted, anyway.
Even Bart had been forced to give up his favorite chew toy, an old butt plug he’d stolen from the triad.
“This weekend,” Sully said, “is about us. We’re going to play, we’re going to have fun, and we’re going to enjoy ourselves without any guilt. Understand, pet?”
“Yes, Sir.” The answer came automatically. It always did, their M/s dynamic never far from the surface, even around their kids. As far as anyone else thought, they were just teaching their kids good Southern manners.
That Sully was Clarisse’s husband was irrelevant to the trio. Sully owned both of them, heart and soul, Clarisse and Mac, both. They were his slaves first and foremost in their hearts.
And that was the way they wanted it.
* * * *
It was after dark when they pulled into Seth and Leah’s driveway at their home south of Venice. With the extensive Christmas display lighting up the yard like a carnival, it wasn’t difficult to spot the house even if they hadn’t been there before.
The couple walked out to greet them while Sully and Mac unloaded their luggage from the car.
Leah wore her leather play collar. She engulfed Clarisse in a hug when her friend emerged from the car. “I told Seth I was sure you’d back out. I owe you an apology.”
“They wouldn’t let me,” Clarisse said. “I’ve been ordered to enjoy myself this weekend.” With two young children, Clarisse didn’t always make it down for their girls’ days as much as she’d used to.
“Rob told me he gave Laura the same order,” Seth said. “Their friends are keeping Molly for them tomorrow night so they don’t have to race home early.”
They got their friends inside and their things transferred to the guest room they’d be using that weekend. Then they all relaxed outside by the pool, the women—and Mac—now naked except for their collars. Clarisse sat on the pool deck between Mac and Sully’s chairs, the men each resting a hand on her shoulders. Leah sat in Seth’s lap.
Mac, a couple of years recovered from his attack by Clarisse’s ex, had a pass from Sully not to kneel unless he felt up to it.
“So what’s left to do for the party tomorrow?” Sully asked.
“Honestly? Not much,” Seth said. “We’ll fire up the grill a little after six and get that started. Tilly and her guys will be here around five with some play furniture and to help us rearrange stuff.”
“So whose ass is getting beaten tonight?” Leah teased.
Clarisse looked up to see Sully considering it. “I’m thinking pet’s,” he said. Sully stroked her hair. “She hasn’t had a good scene in too long.” He wrapped his fingers around her hair and tugged, tipping her head back and sending a flood of need straight to her clit. “Have you, pet?”
“No, Master,” she whispered. Forced to relax and focus only on the moment, she was remembering how much peace filled her when Sully and Mac took over and took charge like this.
It was nice being able to let go.
“Does my pet want a good scene tonight?” Sully asked.
“Yes, Master.” Oh, she badly wanted it. Needed it. In the early days, when she’d first joined the men, she hadn’t understood why Mac enjoyed scening with Sully.
But the longer she’d spent with them, not only did she understand now, but craved it as well. The bliss of subspace, the heady afterglow of a well-beaten ass, all of it. Sully never went as heavy on her as he did on Mac the masochist, but it always had the same effect.
And she loved it.
“I’m thinking Mac and I will be co-Topping you tonight,” Sully said. “The Master and Sir show. What do you say?”
Leah giggled. “I’m thinking we’ll be turning up our TV tonight when we go to bed so you don’t have to worry about how much noise you make.”
“You might be making some noise of your own,” Seth told her.
Leah grinned. “Even better.”
* * * *
Sully and Mac hadn’t been as close to Kaden as others in their group had, such as Tony and John. Living a hundred miles to the north in Tarpon Springs, they hadn’t been around as much during the last days and in the immediate aftermath of Kaden’s death.
Plus that had been during Mac’s recovery from the attack he’d suffered. And then Clarisse got pregnant and had Eddie, and then…
Life happened.
In retrospect, Sully regretted they hadn’t been able to get down here as often as they’d wanted, but he was glad Clarisse had become friends with Leah and the others. It had done her a world of good to spend time with them, while he and Mac took care of first Eddie, then Eddie and Tad, while Clarisse had some well-deserved “girl time.”
It kept her focused and anchored on the present instead of the past. Of what Bryan had done to her, to her parents.
To Mac.
And what she’d done in return.
After a casual dinner of delivered pizza and some more conversation, Seth and Leah bid them good-night with their blessings to use as much of the house as they wanted—as loudly as they wanted—for their play time. They’d even put a sticky note on the playroom door with the code for the automatic lock—1218—in case the door accidentally got closed.
Sully planned to take them up on their hospitality.
He pulled Clarisse into his arms, grabbing and squeezing her ass as he kissed her. “Ready to play, sweetheart?”
She smiled up at him. “Yes, Master.”
He glanced at Mac. “Please take our toybag into the playroom, slave.”
“Yes, Sir.” Mac hurried to do it.
They’d come a long way from the days when Mac was still in physical therapy, Sully and especially Clarisse hovering around him, praying he remained on his feet and ready to catch him if he fell. Now, other than the occasional pain during cold weather, or when he tired himself out too much while out on the boat, you’d never know Mac had nearly died in a vicious attack at the hands of Clarisse’s ex. He’d caught Mac by surprise on the boat at the marina, beating him with a hammer.
It’d taken nearly a month after the attack, and seven surgeries to fix the damage, before Mac finally opened his eyes in the hospital and started the long road back to them.
Sully never took a day for granted, determined to live life to the fullest with these two people he loved, and now their children, as well.
He reached up and fisted Clarisse’s long, black hair, gently tipping her head back, lowering his lips until they were a hair’s width over hers.
“Hands behind your bac
k and legs apart, pet.”
She immediately complied.
“I’m going to stripe that gorgeous ass of yours tonight,” he whispered. “Going to strap you down to a bench and work you over.” He dropped his other hand between her legs, one finger easily sliding over her clit and inside her pussy to find her wet. “You want that, don’t you?”
“Yes, Master,” she whispered.
“After we do that, Sir and I are going to fuck our sweet little pet at both ends. You want that, too, don’t you?”
She softly moaned. “Yes, Master.” When the two of them topped her together, Sully was Master, and Mac was Sir.
Double her pleasure, double the Doms.
“Tomorrow night, I’ll beat slave’s ass. But tonight I want to take my time with you. Make you whimper and cry and beg for more.”
Her nipples stood tightly peaked, inviting. Using her hair to control her, he leaned down and sucked first her right, then her left nipple into his mouth, drawing more moans from her, taking his time.
And taking his time was exactly what he wanted to do tonight. While finding time to make love, all three of them together, wasn’t difficult if they planned properly and made sure to wear the boys out with a trip to the playground or beach earlier in the day, finding safe time to scene was more difficult. Sometimes it came down to swapping out turns going on the boat, or one of them taking the boys over to Uncle Tad’s to visit with him. And then only two of them could scene together.
Clarisse was always good about trying to maneuver the free time so Sully could scene with Mac. Clarisse enjoyed it for play.
Mac the masochist sometimes needed a hard play session to reset his emotions and get his brain back on an even keel.
Tonight Sully wanted the two of them to focus on her, give her what she’d long gone without. Once the boys were both in school, it would be easy to find time during the day to play. Until that happened, they’d have to make full use of rare weekends like this.