“Yeah, they’re just in some warped version of it in their own mind. Kind of like your ex beating you because you went to a party.”
Sally gasped, and her eyes flew open wide. “No! Beating has no part in the scene unless it’s consensual, and then every person has a safe word.”
“A safe word?”
“Oh my gawd, baby bird, you’re so innocent,” Sally giggled.
Miles elbowed her. “A safe word is something you say when things get too intense. Like for me, it’s eggs because I hate those.”
At his confused look, Miles continued. “If sir is spanking me or using the whip and I can’t take any more, I say eggs and he immediately stops the scene and cuddles me and takes care of all my needs.” Miles sighed dreamily.
Triton smiled in response, but then sobered. “Why would he use a whip?”
“Um…” Miles’ blue eyes danced. “I’ll tell you sometime, but right now, we need to get back downstairs or we’re going to have some upset Doms on our hands.”
“Oh goody,” Sally exclaimed.
Triton giggled and hopped off the counter.
“Come on.” Miles linked their fingers together.
The three of them reached the bottom of the stairs, and he was tugged toward the den.
When he entered, his eyes sought out Diesel. It was easy to do. While there were plenty of Doms and bears, according to Miles and Sally, Diesel was easily the biggest one in the room.
Intense green eyes flicked over his face, and Triton saw the heated desire lurking in their depths. Was there a snowball’s chance in hell that Diesel would ever want him permanently? And just how did he feel about being a submissive to someone? The thought actually didn’t bother him at all as long as Diesel was the one. Diesel had promised he would never hit him, and Triton had believed him. Excitement raced through his belly when the big Dom held out a hand to him.
Triton floated across the floor and took it.
Diesel drew him toward the table and stood while Triton piled two plates high with food. They found a spot on one of the couches in the corner of the game room.
“This is good,” Triton moaned around a bite of potato salad. He loved Diesel’s cooking.
Diesel smiled and popped a potato chip into his mouth before forking up some lasagna.
“I brought it a few years ago. Seems to be a big hit,” Diesel said, watching him.
“What did you bring before then?”
“Buns.” Diesel grinned.
Triton giggled. He loved Diesel’s smile.
Diesel gave him a teasing scowl. “Hey, they were lucky they got those.”
“I’m sure it was more than just buns,” he argued with a smirk.
“There might have been some hotdogs and chips in the bag.”
Diesel winked.
Triton’s lips stretched so wide, his cheeks hurt from smiling.
He loved a teasing Diesel best of all.
Triton
“Can you carry this inside and I’ll take Molly out?” Diesel asked, handing him the empty cooler.
“Sure.” He took the ice chest handle and headed up the steps.
Diesel unlocked the door and reset the alarm before it could go off.
Molly darted out the door and down the steps. She ran off barking down the street.
“Be right back.”
Triton laughed. “She must really need to go.”
“Molly!” Diesel shouted. “Come back here.”
Triton placed the ice chest down and turned just in time to see Molly running like a bat out of hell down the street after what looked like a dark figure.
Diesel jogged after the dog.
Triton slammed the front door and ran through the light drizzle to catch up to Diesel. It had rained harder earlier, but was slowly tapering off.
“You should stay inside.”
“I locked the door.” Triton slipped his arm through Diesel’s.
“I’m going to get you a weapon.”
“What?” He stopped walking.
Diesel stopped as well and turned toward him. “Just as a precaution.”
Triton chewed on his lip. “I’ll need to practice.”
“I’ll take you to the range.”
Triton smiled. “Okay.”
“Molly!” Diesel turned and called, then gave a shrill whistle.
A sharp yelp of an animal sounded, and Triton’s heart lurched.
“Oh my god.” He released Diesel and started running. His feet carried him over the distance and down the dark street that stretched before him. The road was wet and the massive trees overgrown, hanging over the pavement, shadowing everything.
“Molly! Molly, come here, girl!”
“Triton, stop!” Diesel ordered.
He froze and glanced back and found Diesel jogging toward him in the dim light of a streetlamp.
“Shit. Don’t run! You’ll hurt your knee.” Running back to Diesel, he slipped his arm around the man’s waist.
“Thank fuck,” Diesel muttered, closing an arm around him tightly. “I’m okay to jog. Trust me. But don’t call for her. If she’s hurt, she’ll try to get up, and she may injure herself more. Plus, you don’t want to give away our position any more than you have.”
“Shit, shit, sorry,” he half-sobbed in a whisper.
“Shhhh,” Diesel murmured, rubbing a hand down his back, and then guided him off the road into the shadows.
They stood still for what seemed like hours, but was only a few minutes. The leaves from the trees stopped some of the rain, but it was still cold, wet, and miserable.
Triton couldn’t stop shaking, and the fear that Molly was hurt seeped into his bones. His hands were freezing, but Diesel’s arm around his shoulder held him tightly to his larger frame. He lifted his free hand and blew warm air on it.
“Okay, let’s move,” Diesel murmured, and they headed toward the end of the road. The house at the end had a light on signally someone was home, but Diesel kept walking until they reached the end of the street.
“This is my cousin, Mike, and his husband, David’s, house.” Diesel pointed to the house located there. “I’m going to make sure they’re all right.”
Triton clung to Diesel; he didn’t want him to leave him.
“It’s okay, I’m going to call them on the phone.”
Mike answered the phone when Diesel called. Diesel spoke for a few moments and then hung up.
“Everything’s okay. He’ll keep an eye out for Molly.” Diesel lifted a hand and waived at a man standing in the window.
“Who’s that?” Triton gazed at the silhouette in the window.
“Mike.”
Triton lifted a hand to return the wave before turning to head down the street. He was pulled up short by Diesel.
“Stop.”
“I’m not going back until we find her,” he sniffled, tears blurring his vision, and he wiped his sleeve at his nose.
“Triton, you’re cold. It’s going to storm again. We can’t find her in the dark. I’ll get a group together and look for her.”
“I’m coming,” he hissed, not caring if he was part of the group or not. “With or without you.”
Diesel stared at him oddly for a long moment and then hugged him close.