Daniel and Alex hurried through the tidying up, neither saying anything that didn’t pertain to what they were doing. When they were done, they both headed to the master bedroom.
Daniel had already placed the dildos into hot soapy water in his bathroom sink. Now he removed and dropped his anal plug into it as well. Alex, making a comical face as she gingerly followed suit, avoided his eye.
“I’ll go see what Liam needs.” Daniel left Alex and went down to Liam’s study. He knocked lightly on the doorframe and waited.
After a moment Liam looked up and smiled. “Come in, Daniel.”
Feeling petulant, Daniel held back. He hadn’t quite forgiven Liam, though intellectually he understood there was nothing to forgive. Liam had exercised his right as Daniel’s Master to discipline him as he saw fit.
Still, it had been one of the most difficult things Daniel had ever endured. The indignity of having his personal slave girl shove a dildo up his ass and then, to pour salt into the wound, to be forced to tongue her ass.
“Come here,” Liam said, getting to his feet. He wanted around the desk and toward the couch, gesturing for Daniel to approach.
As Daniel took a seat beside him, Liam placed his hand on Daniel’s bare thigh and squeezed gently. “You’re having a hard time right now.” It wasn’t a question.
Daniel nodded. He wasn’t going to deny it.
“You didn’t like that punishment. It humiliated you in front of your sub.”
Daniel said nothing.
Liam leaned over and kissed Daniel’s cheek. His tone was gentle. “Listen to me, Daniel. It’s very rare anymore for you to require punishment. It’s not something I do lightly. But I needed to pull you back. To remind you who you belong to, Alex notwithstanding.”
“Yes, Sir,” Dan replied, though he still didn’t understand—not really.
“Yes, we brought Alex into our lives to give you the chance to explore your Dom side. But if that’s going to get in the way of what you and I share, it’s not going to work. Alex belongs to you only insofar as that ownership doesn’t impede on what we share. Do you agree?”
All at once Daniel understood. By giving him the freedom to explore his dominant desires, Liam had given him the chance to grow as a sexual being. Because of Liam’s grace and confidence as Daniel’s Master, he didn’t need to oversee or control every aspect of Alex’s training. He trusted Daniel to do what was right. He trusted Daniel to remember his place—his ultimate place as Liam’s sub. By overstepping, Daniel had jeopardized what was most dear to them both.
“I get it now, Liam,” Daniel said, blinking back sudden tears of remorse. Please forgive me, Sir. It won’t happen again.”
“I already have, sweetheart,” Liam said, his eyes crinkling into a smile. “Now, let me ask you something.”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Who do you belong to?”
Daniel felt himself melting inside. Those five words had a way of sending him directly to a peaceful, deeply calming and sensual place he realized he hadn’t been occupying lately. While it was thrilling to dominate Alex, this was where he belonged.
“You, Sir,” he whispered, slipping from the sofa to kneel at Liam’s feet. “I’m sorry I forgot. I won’t forget again.”
“Thank you, Daniel. Go wait with Alex. Talk to her and let her know we’re okay. Make sure she understands the dynamic between us.” He tapped Daniel’s shoulder and Daniel rose to go.
As he was walking out the door, his step lighter and his heart at ease, Liam said, “Oh and, Daniel?”
He turned backed expectantly. “Yes, Sir?”
“I love you.”
When Daniel entered the bedroom, Alex was lying on one side of the bed looking small and vulnerable. He lay down beside her and stroked her smooth bare thigh. “I know that was hard on you, being forced to participate in my discipline. I needed reminding and Liam did the right thing. You do understand you still belong to me, right?”
Alex nodded. “Yes, Sir.”
Even though Liam had been right to punish him, he couldn’t help but wonder how Alex’s participation in and witnessing of it would affect his relationship with her as her Dom. It was a strange situation to be in.
Alex distracted him from his thoughts. “Daniel, may I speak?”
“What? Yes. Yes, of course.”
In a small voice she asked, “What about me?”
“What?”
He waited. She was clearly agitated. Finally she mumbled, “I don’t know.” She turned her body away from him.
He reached for her, gently pulling her back to face him. “Yes you do. It’s okay to speak freely. What’s going on? What about you?”
She took a deep breath. “It’s just…”
“Go on.” He pulled her to him and she snuggled against his chest and he held her close.
“You and Liam. You’re so in love and…”
All at once he knew. This brash young woman who had come tumbling into their lives, confidently assuring them she wasn’t looking for love but only a true submissive experience had now changed her mind or at least her heart. She was looking for something more.