Page 87 of Baiting Kong

“Can I give you blanket permission to invade my bed whenever you’d like, wake me however you want, and touch me whenever you get the urge to?”

“Hell yeah, you can,” Scout replied. “You don’t even have to ask if I feel the same. I’m down for anything.”

“Maybe you should take your own advice and not tell me things like that.”

Chuckling, Scout tugged him until Axel was leaning off his barstool, just so he could bump their foreheads together and gaze into Axel’s eyes. “Why not, when I love tempting fate?”

“Should have figured,” Axel muttered, stealing a kiss just as Night appeared to place the food on the platters.

The vibe between them didn’t change; it was their focus that shifted. They’d have alone time later; they both knew that, but their Doms were waiting, and they had a poker game to get back to. Taking care not to jostle their cargo as they maneuvered through the crowded bar, they soon reached the hallway. Since Scout had more practice balancing trays than Axel did, he got the doors, remembering to knock twice at the door to the room where the poker game was being held.

Only after the wordenterhad been bellowed did Scout turn the knob and push it open as he stepped inside. Axel headed straight for Carl, while Scout detoured to pass Mark his loaded nachos and the beer Ms. Kat had sent for him. He raised an eyebrow as Scout set it on the table beside his chips, but Scoutsaid nothing, because he hadn’t been asked a question or been spoken to in any way.

“I trust I have my wife to thank for the beer?” Mark said as he noticed that there was a message scrawled on the back of it.

“Yes, sir.”

Grinning, he inclined his head, motioning Scout back to Mahoney’s side without another word. Scout laid out the food and drinks Mahoney had asked for, then returned to his place on the cushion. Sinking back on his haunches, he let his shoulders relax as he ducked his head; the slight stretch, coupled with Mahoney’s fingers digging in and rubbing, felt positively amazing.

“Crackling hot food, ice-cold drinks, thank you,” Mahoney said, as a straw came into view. “I’m sure it was warm out there. Take a few sips and get settled back in. This will keep us both for a while.”

While Scout had been certain Mahoney had ordered two glasses so Scout could have one, their dynamic was still so new he hadn’t been completely sure. Now he knew what he’d witnessed between Sky and Scuzzy on one of the nights he’d worked in the bar really was the kind of treatment he could expect as a service sub. It was something he’d longed for since learning about BDSM dynamics with the Hounds, but it was only with the Jokers that he’d witnessed the softer aspects of a power exchange.

No one here snarled demands at their subs, kicked them, called them names, or treated them in a harsh or abusive manner, at least not that he’d seen. What Scout had witnessed was a lot of tasks being gently explained and assigned and a lot of serene-looking gazes as subs moved around the room, accomplishing them.

The blueberry lemonade was crisp against his tongue as Scout sucked in a few swallows, being careful not to drink toomuch. Scout knew the door in the far back corner of the room led to a bathroom, but he also knew that no one was supposed to move while there were cards in hand. A light tug on his hair got him to raise his head. Mahoney sat watching him but said nothing, just petted Scout’s hair in a way he interpreted to mean he was supposed to stay that way. He watched as Mahoney lifted a steak tip, before holding it to Scout’s lips, eyes darkening with desire when Scout wrapped his lips around Mahoney’s fingers and sucked off the sauce before accepting the food.

No one seemed to mind that Mahoney and Carl took their time eating and feeding Axel and Scout, which left him to wonder if some of the other long pauses he’d noticed in the flow of the game were when others did the same for their companions. Scout ate everything Mahoney offered and sipped his drink when Mahoney held the straw to his lips.

When Mahoney booped him on the nose with his finger, Scout knew that was the symbol to resume his position. As full as his belly was, it was easy for Scout to lower his head, close his eyes, and let his muscles relax completely. Mahoney’s fingernails raked up and down the back of Scout’s neck, producing pinpricks of sensation that felt like there were Pop Rocks in his brain, fizzling, until everything grew soft again. Axel’s hand sought Scout’s, and they laced their fingers together, drifting connected into that gentle haze. Time melted, and just as it had before, sound faded until there was nothingness.

When something did finally click with Scout again, it was Mahoney’s voice, gently urging him to focus and pay attention.

Ohh, the straw was back.

Man, Scout hadn’t even realized his mouth had grown dry.

He’d been aware, dimly, of Mahoney’s fingers on him throughout the game, caressing like Scout was his touchstone while the hands played out.

Immediately, Scout squared his shoulders, focused on Mahoney’s eyes, and waited for his instructions.

“Game’s over,” Mahoney said. “Need you boys to help with the cleanup and meet us at our table when we’re through.”

“Yes, sir,” Scout replied once he’d finished swallowing.

Axel looked as relaxed and at ease as Scout felt as they moved around the room, carefully bagging up trash, placing glasses on platters, and wiping down the table and the chairs. Cards and chips had already been locked in the cage on the opposite side of the room, and a little handheld vacuum had been left out, which Scout happily seized so he could vacuum the velvet. The sound was particularly pleasing tonight, as was the sight of pristine green before three of them placed the wooden top back over the table.

Scout knew some of the guys played dominoes in here because he’d brought drinks to them when he worked at the bar. But he’d also learned that some of the subs used it too, when they were given permission to duck away from the chaos in the bar. The shelves contained a variety of card and board games, including several copies of Battleship, which he positively loved. He and his old man had played constantly, with Sawyer jumping in sometimes, though it wasn’t a favorite of his.

Their trip up to the scrapyard earlier in the week had allowed them to locate several of the parts they needed, but on Saturday they were heading back, just Scout and Carl, so Scout could hang out with his dad and Sawyer while Carl wandered, trying to hunt up the other pieces. He’d already assured Scout that he didn’t need any help and just wanted him to enjoy the time with his brother and father, who planned on making his infamous crab cakes, hush puppies, and sweet corn drenched in seasoning and butter. Looking at those games, Scout knew exactly what he wanted to break out while they were waiting for the food to cook, and he was excited for it.

With so many of them working towards the same goal, the room was returned to pristine order, and the last one out killed the lights once they’d filed out of the room. The bar had thinned out some, probably because some of the members had headed to the dungeon, a place Scout had only visited briefly a handful of times but was extremely curious about.

He knew they’d get there once Axel was ready. He wanted them to see it together. While Scout already had a good idea about the things he liked, he was curious to see what Axel discovered and to have the chance to explore those things with him and their Doms.

Trays placed on the counter, they were free to head for the table where Carl and Mahoney sat, a covered dessert dish on the gleaming wood in front of them. Scout bet whatever it was came from the club-run bakery, and, man, the folks up there made awesome food. Mahoney rose, allowing Axel and Scout to slide into the horseshoe-shaped booth to sit between him and Carl. This time, Axel wound up next to him while Scout got to snuggle against Carl’s side.

“We thought you deserved a treat after how well you behaved tonight,” Carl declared as he pulled the lid off the tray to reveal Boston cream pie cupcakes sitting beneath the dome.

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