Page 42 of Natural-Born Cullers

After applying ice, they’d switched to the heat packs to help the healing process with Jack. Painkillers were kept away from ibuprofen and aspirin, anything that encouraged bleeding, and a homeopathic cream sped up the healing process of the bruises too.

The cane cuts took longer, with antibiotic cream top and tailing Jack three times daily.

In the painful comedown, Jan wondered if Jack or Gray ever regretted anything they’d done, especially with all the hurt Jack was still in, but there was this quiet about Jack, how Jack seemed to love the culler’s change to Gray’s tender as much as the shift of belt to cane. And Gray, even though Jack said seven hours, Gray’s quiet said he’d always be there by Jack in the aftermath, licking wounds. He’d slipped a little that first night, but it hadn’t exactly been usual times for him or Jack. In fact, where Janhadbeen with them for three years, it was the first time he’d ever seen anything that brutal.

He wondered what shifted to call it out now.

“Jack knows his mind and body best,” Gray said gently, nibbling at Jan’s ear and causing a shiver that had Jan smiling. “If he calls it, then he’s ready.” He doubted Gray was ready for anything else beyond a nipping at his ear too.

A shuffle of feet came the kitchen’s way, and Jack came in. His movement was a little stiff, and he winced every now and again as he made it to the table, but he took a seat, looking as hungry as Gray and prepared to tackle the fry-up, dog pile style if need be.

Gray went over and crouched by him. A lot was said in that look they shared, but neither voiced it. Maybe they didn’t need to.

“You sure you’re okay?” Gray said eventually, and Jan snorted privately at how Gray still needed to check himself as he brushed gently at Jack’s cheek.

Jack took his hand and such a sweet kiss went to Gray’s knuckles. “Yeah. But the whole torture on the fucking feet thing….?” He rubbed just above his HAIX Black Eagle work boot, then offered this very shy blush. “What the actual fuck,” he mouthed. “Fucking hurt. Still hurts. No more visits to the Japanese room, okay? Not for a long fucking while.” He seemed to rethink something. “Kind of like the wire, though.” A smile. “What you did and didn’t fuck me with. Finest head play, mukka.”

Jan looked at Gray, more how Gray winced and looked around the kitchen almost as if Ed and his mother were there, shaking heads.

“Wire? Japanese room?” Jan raised a brow. Gray hadn’t mentioned those. But then it looked like their play had taken to many a room and toy. “Is this one of the things I shouldn’t ask about?”

Jack shared a look with Gray, more a cock of brow that saidafter you, mukka.

“Okay, okay.” Jan waved them both off. “Just… no. I don’t think I want to know.”

“Oh, I dunno.” Jack was purely on Gray now. “I think Jan should have a tour around the Russian room at least, right?”

“Russian room?” Jan thought he’d seen most of the manor.

Gray buried his head, then smiled up at Jack. “No.”

“Not like that,” said Jack, brushing a touch along Gray’s jaw as he chuckled. Gray seemed to have spoken a quiet apology in his touch.

Jan let them play out their conversation for a moment, then went in with his own and how… uncomfortable Gray looked. “You have hidden rooms?Secretones? LikeThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobeones that lead to Narnia. And look, it’s raining.” Jan even pointed outside. “You want to go and play hide-and-seek, find those secret rooms of yours, add some hot chocolate? Some Turkish Delight—a few… plushies?”

Jack choked on his coffee, then coughed—then nearly died as he doubled between laughing and coughing into Gray’s shoulder.

“Stop it,” said Gray, stroking at Jack’s head, and a finger levelled Jan’s way. “No. Just fucking no. I swear, if any kind of army of stuffed bears gets even close to the main gate, I’m letting Ray go target practice with one of my Japanese swords.”

Jack died until he winced and straightened as though he’d just taken another whipping to his back. It seemed to release so much tension in him, because for a moment back there in the quiet of the past few days, there’d been a little fear in Jack as his look had drifted towards the bedroom door, as if he thought he was still lost to somewhere else in the manor. Maybe that was why Jan had found them in their own room: Gray had kept to his promise even during the heat and made sure Jack had woken in his own bed.

Gray shifted over to a cupboard and pulled out some painkillers, then took some water over to Jack, his eyes soft now as he handed him the meds and water. “If you get tired, you make sure you give me a call, okay? I’m back over at Thames House, but I’ll get Al to come and get you. Jan’s over at the MC if you need him.”

Jack downed the meds, then wiped at his mouth. “Areyousure you’re okay to go in? Need to talk? Get Al to give you a lift?”

Gray stalled, seemed to stumble. That wasn’t Jack biting back at the Al comment. That was Jack doing his own checks, and it seemed to catch Gray out despite Jan knowing Jack would always check to see if Gray was okay too.

“I’m good, stunner. Always.” He held Jack’s look a moment longer. “So long as you are.” He knew how brutally he’d gone in.

Jack waved him off, then patted himself down as a text came through on his phone.

“Here.” Jan picked it up off the unit and chucked it over.

Jack winced as he caught it. “Martin? He’s costing me a bloody fortune in lost phones lately.”

Jan chuckled. “Nope, you got a call off your old man last night just checking in with how quiet you’d been.”

Jack winced. “Yeah… not a conversation I’m having with him. Ever.” He thumbed at his text. “Fuck. Al’s here. I need to go.” He smiled at Jan as he pinched a sausage and eased to his feet. “Thanks for this, soft lad.” He blushed, so badly. “And for looking after my, erm, ass for the past few days.” He gave Gray a glance. “That goes for you too, you bastard.”

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