The Chase

Finally, Beck left the room. Seth followed downstairs, holding in his outrage until they reached the kitchen. Once the surgeon flipped on the coffeepot, all bets were off. “What in the absolute fuck happened last night?”

“The same goddamn thing that happened when you were alone with her. So back off.”

“Are you kidding me? Not even close! I didn’t use a goddamn…”

“Belt,” Beck supplied derisively.

“Really? I was going to say meat grinder because her ass looks like you beat it to hamburger. And don’t you dare tell me you forgot the way you did the condom the other night.” Seth narrowed his eyes. “You did use a condom, right?”

“Yes, Dad. I did. Are you done whining yet?”

“Whining? The only thing that’s stopping me from beating you ugly right now is the fact I want some fucking answers.”

“Why don’t you shove your sanctimonious bullshit up your ass? You got your freak on with her Sunday night while I was a work, same as me. Forced servitude with a dash of non-con? Seriously?”

So Heavenly had told Beck all about the fun they’d shared. Willingly…or had Beck beat it out of her?

“Oh, fuck you. Was that beating you gave her some form of punishment?” Seth gestured vaguely toward the bedroom.

“No. It was cathartic, actually. But while we’re talking about punishment, she said you heaped lots of it on her—”

“In good fun. I didn’t destroy her ass.”

“At least my bruising is temporary. What do you think your little game of ‘pretend’ did to her psyche?” Beck spat.

“Oh, you’ve got balls to compare the two.”

“Hey, it’s just kink, asshole. But you, forcing her to be your servant for the night, is so bent. Did you even let her have a safe word?”

“Of course,” Seth bellowed. “What the fuck do you think happened? It was some simple role-play. And you’d better get off your high fucking horse because she wanted it. And she loved it.”

The glare Beck shot back said he was totally unmoved. “Well, here’s a news flash for you, Captain America: she wanted and loved my belt, too.”

Impossible. Heavenly wasn’t the sort of sub who’d get off on writhing in agony. “Bullshit. Give me one good reason I shouldn’t just beat the fuck out of you now.”

“Heavenly would hate you for it.”

Seth gnashed his teeth. The surgeon might be a lot of things, but he wasn’t stupid. “Fine. I’ll talk to her first. But goddamn it, Beck! Couldn’t you have fucking waited for me to be here before you unleashed your sadistic shit on her?”

“Why, so you could spot me? And you didn’t exactly wait for me when you crossed the line,” Beck barked back. “And for your information, I’m the one who ended the scene, not her. She would have let me rip her open if I hadn’t.”

Did Beck think that “fact” was going to save him? “By the looks of her welts, you nearly did.”

“Oh, please. Not even close.” Beck sneered. “But at least I didn’t ‘pretend’ to tie her up and force sex on her.”

“What the…” Seth raked a furious hand through his hair. “I didn’t force her to do a damn thing she didn’t want to.”

Beck scoffed. “Well, I hardly took the belt to her ass for the hell of it. I didn’t even do it to sate her curiosity, even though she wanted me to.”

That made the light bulb in Seth’s head flip on. “Wait. Did she tell you she wanted to know about your kink so she could strengthen her bond with you?”

“No, I just whipped off my belt and welted her ass for shits and giggles.” Beck tossed his hands in the air. “Of course.”

“Well, hell…”

As that 411 was sinking in, Beck reached across the island and grabbed Seth’s note to Heavenly, then read it with a frown. “What the fuck is this? ‘Wash a load of towels. Run the dishwasher. Empty the trash cans. Nap before homework. Spend at least thirty minutes doing something you enjoy, and think of us, angel.’ You think she’s your twenty-four-seven slave to command now?”

“I’m giving her structure, dumb ass. She needs it. She’s been anxious without it,” Seth shot back as the coffeemaker gurgled. “I think you and I need to cool our tempers, sit down, and talk. You got time for a cup?”