Page 56 of Bonds of Fate

Because, of course, it’s not about defiance.

It’s about Luca’s mental health. It always is.

“Let me dry your hair, and then we can find you something to wear.”

“Then you’ll tell me, right? You know I can’t stand the waiting.”

Gideon knows, and that’s why there’s a wait. A bit of distress tolerance is good for the brain.

He dries Luca’s hair with the dryer and has the brilliant idea to add a tiny red bow on each side. He’s so pretty that he takes Gideon’s breath away. He runs a thumb over his lips, pulling down so he can see Luca’s tongue and then giving him a quick peck.

Luca reaches into the basket on the counter where Gideon stashes pretty things he thinks Luca will like. “Gideon, can I takethese bows for Nix?” His voice is soft and hopeful. “He’ll look so pretty in pink.”

Gideon nods, not truly paying attention because his mind is occupied. He needs to get his mind back on track because there’s the issue of appropriate punishment. It has to fit the crime in a way spankings do not.

Luca enjoys them way too much for that to be an effective deterrent, and coming without permission sits high on their list of no-go behaviors—right under self-harm and disobeying safety rules.

Left to his own devices, it might fall under those very same infractions—and often had before Gideon joined the pack.

He catches sight of his pretty, sweet love in the mirror. He’s digging his fingernails into his forearms—just little digs, but it’s a surefire sign he’s nervous. Time to give that anxiety an outlet. “So pretty, baby. Ready?”

Luca’s eyes pop wide. “Now?”

Gideon nods solemnly. “Color?”

“Green.” There’s a tiny smile, and Gideon feels it in his soul. Luca is reassuring him that they are on the same page.

“Safe-word?”

“Taxidermy.”

Taking him by the hand, he leads him out into his bedroom, where the scent of their alpha’s pleasure is still fresh. He groans softly, and Luca is already panting.

“Down, Luca.” Luca goes, towel and all, chin tilted up so Gideon can always see his eyes. “Good.”

He opens the cabinet beside the bookshelf and withdraws two items: a red, vibrating prostate massager and a small silver cock cage; it’s oval and has fingertip-sized holes. Gideon’s cock is already interested, hard under his towel, and he takes a minute to count out his breaths. When he’s calm again, he turns to show them to Luca.

“Sugar, no. Please. I said I was sorry.” It’s whispered—breathy and high.

“Color?”

“Green.” There’s no hesitation, so Gideon knows his protestations are just noise. Luca needs to say it, but he doesn’t really want it to stop.

“Alright. No more outbursts. You have a choice to make.” This is part of the punishment. Luca hates deciding, but to choose the instrument of his destruction? It’s even worse. He’s already hard under the towel, and that’s going to make the next part more difficult.

“Option number one: you wear both these and at the end of the evening you can choose the way I let you come. The others can touch you through the cage, and I will give two people of your choosing the code to the massager. I decide when we stop unless you’re red or you safe-word.”

Luca whines softly, his hands clenched tight, fingers curling like he’s trying to hold himself together. He’s closeagain.Fuck, their omega has everyone’s sex drive off the charts. They’re an active pack, but Gideon’s come more times in the past few days than he does in an entire week, and that’s saying something.

When he’s calm again, Gideon begins again. “Option number two: You wear only the cage, and you don’t get to come tonight at all. There will be no touching your dick, and I will decide tomorrow when and how you can, at my leisure. Do you want to think about it?”

Luca shakes his head. “Wanna come with Nixie. Option one.”

Gideon isn’t surprised. He crouches down so he can hold Luca’s chin firmly. “Good choice, but Luca, if you disobey me again, you will go to your room, and you won’t get to come for a week. Am I clear?”

He nods, his little red bows bobbing up and down—it’s making Gideon aware of his hard dick. “Do you want to choose something pretty to wear once we’re done here?”

“Really? Yes! May I choose something for Nixie, too?”

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