Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54028 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Due to the fire, last month’s Game had been postponed to the first weekend of December.
“That’s the weekend after this one,” I stated. The prospect of having him back so soon made me happier than I could describe, but also anxious. I’d never attended one of these Games. I’d only heard stories and…I’d seen bruises too. I’d seen Tate’s back and thighs and ass after the last one.
To each their own. I did see the appeal; it just wasn’t for me—at all. But if it brought Jack back in a matter of days, could I give it a try?
“I haven’t accepted,” Jack replied. “I don’t know if you’re interested or what your schedule looks like with Lily.”
Samantha and I had come to a somewhat unconventional agreement in the end. The weekends were hers with Lily, and Monday through Friday were mine. I’d lose the weekend feel, but given my flexible work hours, I could turn a Wednesday into a Saturday if I so chose.
My ex-wife-to-be wasn’t…equipped…to be there for Lily during the workweek. Not emotionally. Samantha was there for every success Lily had, but the daily struggles were another matter. The food issues, the occasional meltdowns, the anxiety and subsequent nonverbal recovery, and the active involvement in Lily’s education were too much for her to handle. Something she’d never admit to. Yet, she hadn’t once advocated for splitting our time with Lily fifty-fifty.
“On the weekends, I’m on standby,” I said. “Lily’s with Samantha then.” I cleared my throat and started walking again, a bit slower. I’d prefer to finish this conversation before we entered the gym. “Nothing would make me happier to see you return to DC so soon, but you’ll have to be patient with me about the event. It’s one thing to use face-slapping and predicament bondage to degrade someone—a whole other to unleash hell with a whip on my buttocks.”
Mirth and confusion took over his expression. “I think I’m missing something. I know you’re not a masochist for physical pain. And I’m not a Sadist interested in administering physical pain anyway.”
I frowned. “Did Kingsley explain what goes on at those events?”
“He told me about Senseless,” he answered. “Five stations—they were planning on more originally, but with limited space because of the fire, they’ve narrowed them down to one for each of the senses. Either way, sounded exciting to me.” He tilted his head at me. “But if we attend one of those Games together, I will be on the receiving end of that pain, Franklin.”
What the—had he lost his mind?
“But I’m not a Sadist,” I said incredulously. I couldn’t even imagine inflicting that kind of—
“Kingsley is.” Jack smirked. “So is Tate. That will be your punishment one day. They will make me hurt, and you will take the blame.”
Okay now, wait here just a damn minute!
I came to a full stop again, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing! “This makes no sense whatsoever, Jackson. My punishment for taking you that night will literally get me into more trouble. Even though I won’t lay a single hand on you.”
“I know. Brilliant, right?” He grinned.
I wasn’t amused one bit!
“I’ve been warned about this. Top logic, Noa calls it.” I’d heard other phrases too. Daddy logic, a Sadist being a Sadist. “If you’re a masochist and you accept pain and want to blame me, surely the blame should be replaced by thanks. You should reward me, no?”
He shrugged and scratched his jaw. “Nah.”
Nah.
I made a face.
Nah.
“This is diabolical,” I pointed out. “You know that, right?”
“I can be diabolical sometimes, Daddy.” He walked closer to me, his smile turning flirty. I didn’t like that at all. I was helpless against his charm. “This is what I mean about setting you up to fail. If you don’t like it, I’ll dial it back. But if you do…? You can count on punishments that will feel like rewards. Rewards that’ll sometimes feel like a mindfuck.”
I clenched my jaw and stared him down, so incredibly torn that I didn’t know what to say. On the one hand, having my mind toyed with was quickly becoming one of my favorite kinks. In addition, I wanted my opinion to have zero value within a scene. I wanted Jack to decide for me, whether I liked it or not. For me, it was part of being pushed down.
On the other hand, I was a man very much dependent on structure and logic.
“Can we reserve this unreasonable nonsense for playtime?” I asked stiffly. “I can see myself getting sucked into all kinds of schemes within play, but less so if we’re at dinner together or we’re at the gym or…I don’t know, heading to the grocery store.”
“Of course, honey.” The fervor in his voice and the compassion in his eyes put me more at ease. “I’m not a twenty-four-seven lifestyle kinkster. I’ll be mindful, though. We’ll make sure the line between everyday life and kink is clearer, even when we’re just discussing it. Okay?”