Page 58 of Bonds of Fate

Gideon has long ago stopped listening to Luca Wilde complain about the spankings he loves.

“I want this pretty ass to be as red as your dress. Color?”

“Green, so green.”

“I know, baby. I think twenty-five. Count, please.” The first catches Luca under the left cheek, and then the second, third, and fourth, too, just to see the cheek bounce and jiggle. The next five land on the other side for the same reason. Gideon is ambidextrous and makes sure his baby’s ass is on fire by the time he reaches the agreed number. The last ten are counted in a garbled voice, whining out around Luca’s fingers.

Running a feverish hand over the very red ass, he’s so proud of his soulmate. “So good for me, sweet baby. Can I send a picture to the chat?”

“Mmhmm. Please. Is it pretty?” Luca is well on his way into his happy place, and Gideon is trying to keep him on the edge for a little bit so he’ll be able to enjoy the appreciation he’s going to get from his mates.

His phone is in his hand, and he takes a few photos of just his pretty, red butt. Nudging his legs apart a bit, he reaches around to pull the cage down so it’s visible between his legs and holds his cheek open so the end of the massager is as well. It’s beautiful. It’s incendiary.

Gideon is glad his mates are up for playing tonight.

He waits to drop them into the chat until just the right moment. “Luc? Are you going to pick something pretty out for Nix?”

That gets Luca’s attention.

In the next instant, he bounces into the closet again, this time emerging with a light pink slip dress, just as short as his red one but softer, silkier.

A quick detour into the bathroom to grab the pink bows—where he’d placed them earlier—has him returning, shifting anxiously from foot to foot.

Gideon grabs his sweats, forgoing boxers—they’ll just be in the way, pulling on his Long Road Home tank top, the one Nix had admired. When they open the door, they can hear music andlaughter and smell something delicious. Pasta, probably. Luca is frozen in the door, though. “What is it?”

“Will they know I was bad?”

“Luca. No one thinks you are bad, and no one will be thinking about anything at all once they see you in that dress. Now, come with me for a second, I’m going to send the pictures—do you want to see them lose their minds?”

He nods eagerly, and they creep up to the balcony; from here, they look right down onto the couch. The non-culinarily talented—Grayson, Rowan, and Leo—are playing a game on the TV through an interface with their phones. There’s trash talk and jostling, and it’s the epitome of family. Nix is sitting on the floor between Grayson’s knees, watching and cheering them on, one slender arm wrapped around Grayson’s calf.

That must mean Finn and Jay are responsible for dinner—at least it’ll be edible.

“Ready?” He shows Luca the photos he’s sending, and when he nods, they peer over in time to see the texts pop up simultaneously.

Grayson is the first to react, and it’s gratifying to see him show Nix, who moans loudly and takes the phone so he can see better. All four turn their faces up at Luca’s giggle, and he waves, just his hand and face visible.

There’s a crash in the kitchen, followed by a “Dammit, love!”

Gideon hoped that it wasn’t dinner. It’s worth it, though, to see Luca happy.

After a quick peck to his forehead, Gideon leaves Luca in his room and asks him to sit quietly until Nix comes up or Gideon comes to fetch him. He protests being alone, even though it’s not a punishment but a chance for him to be still. Luca is part of the waydownalready and often enjoys the quiet before the storm.

Gideon heads straight down the stairs into the living room to see if Nix will talk with him before he sends him to see Luca.

The three gamers and Nix have resumed their game, but he’s able to catch his kitten’s eye. He holds out his hand with a small smile, and Nix is more than happy to come to him, a long black t-shirt from Jay’s closet covering him almost to his knees. “Hi, kitten. Are you doing okay? Can you come and talk with me for a few minutes? Then Luca wants to show you something upstairs in my room.”

“Is it his dick?” He’s sly but still shy—blush high and tongue in his cheek.

“Well, it might be, but I need to talk to you before I let you go. Want to see Finn’s library?”

Nix is eager, and they skirt the kitchen, where Gideon catches sight of Jay cleaning up cooked spaghetti from the floor.

Gideon winks at Nix and says, “Oops.”

“I don’t think you’ll be laughing if he just rinses that off and serves it up.” Nix giggles at Gideon, who stops in his tracks, ready to make sure that’s off the table—literally.

But Nix drags him along.

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