Leah Braemel - Private Property

“You go check for yourself that your boyfriend’s all right but don’t undo those restraints until I tell you. Will you promise me that?”

“All right,” she agreed finally.

“Good girl.” He patted her behind. “Climb up on the bed and rest your pretty ass. I’ll explain more in a second.”

She walked across the room, the mirrors reflecting every angle of her body. Being naked had never been a big concern for her, but there was definitely something erotic to being so exposed considering both men were still fully dressed.

“You okay, babe?” Mark asked quietly, calmer now she was free and sitting beside him, though his fierce frown toward Sam did not abate.

As she assured him she was, she looked back at the dais. She gasped at what had been behind her. Whips, floggers and paddles had been arranged in ornate patterns on the wall behind the two posts. Cock rings, nipple clamps, ball gags, hoods and masks filled the glass-fronted cabinets on each side.

“Sam’s got some…unusual tastes. That’s why I thought of him when I was planning this.” Mark jerked at the chains trapping him in place. “I thought I could trust him when I suggested it.”

Sam chuckled. “Still can, ol’ buddy, still can.”

“Mark,” she whispered. “Do you want me to let you go?”

He scrunched his eyes closed and exhaled. “You made the list-do you want to continue?”

Sam’s change of plans concerned her. But having Mark at her mercy, especially after the game they’d just played with her, was intriguing. “Can we trust him?”

He frowned as Sam walked over to a cabinet and opened a door, revealing a laptop computer. There was something at the back of his eyes, like he was waging a war within himself. His hands curled into fists, his shoulder muscles tightened and a muscle in his jaw twitched before he said, “Yeah, we can trust him.”

But she thought he heard him mutter I think under his breath.

Well, great. He obviously wasn’t comfortable with the change in plans despite his assurances.

“Now, I’ll bet you’re both wondering why I changed things up.” Sam ignored Mark’s growl. “You know we were roommates in college, right?”

Jodi nodded.

“Did he tell you how he used to watch me fucking my dates?”

She shook her head. From the corner of her eye, she saw Mark grimacing as he turned his head away from Sam. While she knew Mark loved to watch her play with herself with her vibrator, strangely the idea of Mark watching other women being fucked irritated her. So much for their little agreement not to become possessive with each other. Obviously Mark hadn’t the same problem, considering he was voluntarily sharing her with Sam.

His smile fading, Sam drummed his fingers on his thigh as if he were rethinking whatever he’d had planned.

“So he’d watch you with your dates…” she prompted.

After a moment, he continued, “We worked out a system where I’d pretend to sneak them into the room, telling them he was asleep-they’d get off on the idea of having to be so quiet and not wake him up. Liked the danger of getting caught, I guess.”

“But he’d really be awake the whole time, watching?”

“Sometimes he did more than just watch, sweet pea. Sometimes he’d join in. And then there were the times we reversed the game, and he brought his girlfriends for us to share.” Sam lifted a ball gag from its hook, hefted it in his hand as he eyed Mark. “I’m thinkin’ you deserve to be punished for not telling your girlfriend all this yourself.”

Mark narrowed his eyes, a fierce scowl on his face. “Try it and you’ll find that ball the only one you have left to play with tomorrow.”

“No? No.” Sam lobbed the ball gag back onto the table. “Anyway, to get to the point-”

“Too late,” Mark grumbled.

“Point is,” Sam continued as if he hadn’t heard Mark’s gibe, “since Mark didn’t give you a choice about who joined you in the threesome, I reckoned that you might enjoy helping me torture your boyfriend a little. Give him a real show of the two of us enjoyin’ ourselves. You know, a little turnabout being fair play and all. So are you up for my little change in plans, sweet pea?”

Something about Sam’s explanation didn’t quite ring true. While she didn’t doubt the games they’d played in college, after all she already knew of Mark’s voyeuristic tendencies, there seemed to be a molten undercurrent between the two men. Not a macho my-dick-is-bigger-than-yours type game, but a quicksilver explosiveness from Mark, and though Sam tried to conceal it, an underlying wariness that she hadn’t sensed from him at the beginning of the night.

During the game, they’d seemed to work together with no animosity. So why had Sam felt it necessary to change the rules partway through? And was it Sam’s change that had Mark glowering? Or was he simply angry at the control Sam had taken by force?

Mark definitely didn’t like relinquishing control. After she’d suggested the little bondage game they’d enjoyed the week before, she’d expected that he would return the favor, let her tie him up and explore what it was like to be so completely in charge. But to her disappointment, and annoyance, he’d refused.

Is that was this was about? A “King of the Monkey bars” game between the two friends?

Men, she huffed. Fine, he wanted to play that type of game, she’d play right along. Wouldn’t hurt to take some control back from Mark after he’d manipulated this whole evening. Since he liked watching, she’d give him a show he’d never forget. With Sam’s assistance, of course. She wondered if Sam could wrestle Mark up onto the dais so she could use the flogger on his ass.

When she didn’t answer, Sam glanced over at her and smiled as he pocketed something. He walked toward them in an almost-predatory stalk.

“Hey, Mark, I think she likes the idea. Look at her tight little nipples, at how wide her pupils are. She’s so turned on she can’t even answer.” He tapped Jodi on the shoulder, interrupting her fantasies. “So what’s it going to be, sweet pea? We gonna have some more fun? Or are you gonna wimp out and call it a night? It’s your decision.”

His quiet question allowed the last of her concerns about Sam to float away like a feather in a breeze. He had no intention of harming her or keeping her captive. Just as Mark had originally assured her.

“Nothing’s changed on my side. Mark promised me a night I’d never forget.” She smiled at Mark. “And since Sam’s delivered you up on a silver platter, looks like now we’ll both have a memorable evening.”

Jodi walked two fingers up Mark’s leg, slid between his thighs and cupped his groin. When his hips jerked and his breath hissed through clenched teeth, her lips curved into a smile. “What’s the matter, big guy? You enjoyed torturing me earlier with your little game. Can’t handle a little return attention?”

He stared at her from beneath lowered lids, a muscle in his jaw ticking. “I can take whatever you dish out, babe.”

“We’ll see if you feel the same after the games I plan to play.”

“You’ve got quite a woman here, Mark.”

Another frisson of dark energy snaked between the two men before Mark shrugged in a stiff gesture. “Just so long as you back off if she tells you.”

“That’s a given, ol’ buddy. Sweet pea, you remember your safe word? It still applies, all right?” One thick brow beetled up, waiting for her answer.

Whatever aggression was bleeding from Mark, at least it wasn’t directed at her. As well it shouldn’t be considering he’d been tonight’s architect.

“The safe word is still broccoli.” She arched a cool look at Mark.