Revived (The Dungeon Black Duology 2)

Max’s stomach churned at the thought. He swallowed repeatedly.

No kissing. Please no kissing all over tonight.

Without warning, Kai gave Sean a brisk little smack, square on his cheek, the sound echoing through the room. Sean jerked with a start. Kai stroked Sean’s reddening skin, then doled out another a second later. Sean gasped and regarded him, his gaze confused.

Kai smirked. “Do you feel that?” He gave a third smack.

Max clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing.

Sean visibly fought a scowl. “Yes, Sir. I felt it. Fucking hurt.”

“No,” Kai chuckled. “Something else. Something good.” Another sharp slap, small but hardy.

Sean hissed. Max stiffened. He knew what Kai was doing. Knew, but it didn’t mean he liked it.

“Your heart, little sub. Do you feel it suddenly racing?”

“Yes, Sir,” Sean muttered.

“Do you understand why?”

Sean stared at him blankly. “Because I’m suddenly pissed?”

Again, Kai chuckled. “Because I’m triggering your fight or flight. Giving your blood a shot of pure adrenaline.”

Sean’s expression abruptly shifted. Max could see it in his eyes. Sean was learning the unique ways of his new Dominant. Max’s chest viced tight. Angst burgeoned in his gut. He didn’t want Sean learning anyone but him.

Sean smiled a little and nodded.

Kai gently rubbed his cheek. “Yes. You understand now.” Another brisk smack. “Many subs adore this. Do you like?”

Sean shifted on his knees. “I… I don’t know.”

Kai inclined his head. “Not uncommon. Contemplate it later.”

Max exhaled. Good. Kai was giving it a rest. Max liked Sean’s ass red, not his face. Not that it was about what he liked anymore. He relinquished his right to an opinion last Monday. Relinquished his right to any say whatsoever. A pill he was finding hard to swallow.

Kai moved to Sean’s side and sank to eye level, propped on one knee and one foot. Casually, he fisted the back of Sean’s hair. “I’m going to familiarize myself with your body now,” he explained, voice firm. “And try to understand where you’re lacking.”

Max frowned. So did Sean. “Lacking, Sir?”

Not in this lifetime. Was Kai out of his mind?

“Yes. Why else would he give you away?”

Max frowned. Because I’m broken. It had nothing to do with him. Because I had to to stay intact. Because I’m weak.

Slowly, Kai pulled Sean back by his hair. Max’s eyes dropped to Sean’s abs, watched them visibly contract, instinctively trying to keep his body upright. But going by that salacious little curve of Kai’s lips, it was pretty clear that resistance was futile. Kai eased Sean lower until their bodies touched, until Sean’s back was resting securely on Kai’s propped knee.

Sean shifted awkwardly, glancing toward the two-way, as if subconsciously looking for Max. Max frowned, chest aching, wanting to offer Sean reassurance. Shit, scratch that. He wanted to offer him an escape route. But that’d be stupid. Would erase all Max’s efforts, all the progress he’d made to sever ties.

Kai wrapped his free hand loosely around Sean’s throat, holding Sean balanced on his knee. “Close your eyes,” he instructed, his fingers starting to move, leisurely feeling their way down Sean’s neck.

Sean complied, stiff as a board. Well, except for his dick, which Max couldn’t have been happier about. When Sean was with him, he was sporting wood on sight. Nice to know Kai didn’t do it for him like Max did.

Max scowled and scrubbed his face. What was he doing? He should be wishing Sean the best. A future of smoldering chemistry and mind-blowing exchanges. But instead he was grateful for their lack of connection, because Sean clearly wasn’t into Kai like he needed to be.

Kai moved his fingers lower, roaming them lazily over Sean’s chest, his other hand still holding Sean by his hair. “Beautiful skin,” he mused. “Defined muscles… Smooth and firm…” He rested his palm between Sean’s pecs. “Your heart,” he murmured. “I can feel it racing. Does it race for me, Sean? Or for the man behind that mirror? The man watching me touch you however I want.”

Sean stilled. So did Max. His pulse kicked faster. What kind of question was that?

“I… I don’t know,” Sean finally muttered. Eyes still closed, he frowned and shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“Ah. That’s okay, flower,” Kai reassured, not looking surprised. “I’ll get the answer I want from you soon enough.”

He slid his splayed fingers to the side and thumbed Sean’s nipple. When it barely hardened, he smirked and gave it some tugs. Sean shifted against his hold as he squeezed and rolled it, until Kai finally had it standing somewhat erect. Seemingly satisfied, he let go and dug into his pocket, producing two tiny metal clamps.

Max froze at the sight as Kai set them on Sean’s abs. Those babies weren’t kind. Not kind at all. Sean was going to motherfucking hate them. Max scooted anxiously to the edge of the cushion. Sean was tough, though. He could handle it, had endured floggings before, not to mention Max’s punishment last week.