Martin looked around the clearing where the cabin stood with awe. He’d never been out of the city and to see the massive trees, to smell the sharp pine and breathe in the too-cold air was just about heaven. The cabin was more along the size of a small house, not at all the ‘tiny little shack,’ that Danny had good-naturedly complained about on the drive up. Martin had been too busy gawking out the window at the passing scenery to really listen, entranced by the houses with yards and the people who lived in the suburbs.

“C’mon, Martin, let’s get inside before you freeze,” Jack ordered, coming up beside him.

Startled from his reverie, Martin flushed at being caught gaping and turned to help Danny with the bags. He discovered, though, that he’d stood there so long that it was already done. Looking at the ground, Martin apologized, “I’m sorry, Jack.”

Jack put his arm around Martin’s waist, guiding him towards the door as he said firmly, “No apologies, Martin. This is new to you and I want you to enjoy it. I just don’t want you to get sick doing it.”

Curling into the sideways embrace, Martin rested his head on Jack’s shoulder and asked, “We’re really not going to get interrupted? It’s just us this weekend?”

Given that they’d tried this three times already only to be interrupted, it wasn’t an unreasonable question. Jack seemed to feel the same, because he smiled and confirmed, “No interruptions. Just the three of us and making out in front of the fire. Among other things.”

Martin grinned when Jack’s hand palmed his ass, knowing exactly what he was talking about. Not that he was being all that subtle about it.

“Okay you two, enough of that! Things to do!” Danny exclaimed when they entered the cabin. “Jack, we need firewood because your friend didn’t leave us any inside and I am not going out when it’s dark to get more. Martin, bebe, I need you to make up the bedroom, since I expect we’ll be there for at least a good part of the weekend.”

Martin chuckled as Jack eyed the slave with something akin to resignation and then went to fill the firewood order. Danny in domestic-mode was something to be quickly obeyed, unless someone wanted eggshells in their breakfast and pants that mysteriously shrunk in the wash. Walking to one of the three doors in the place, Martin discovered a small, antiquated bathroom that did, thankfully, look functional. That left only the main door in and out of the cabin and one more.

Going through door number three, he found a decent-sized bedroom with a large bed against the far wall. Since it wasn’t made, he rifled through the drawers and then the tiny closet before finding linens with which to make it up. By the time that was done, Danny joined him in the bedroom and started unpacking their bags. Or, more accurately, Jack’s bag. He and Martin were to be naked the entire weekend, once everything was up to spec. Well, unless they went for a walk, of course, which Martin really wanted to do.

Martin fell back on the bed when he was done and yawned. The last week had been insanely busy and even though he was thrilled that Jack let him help at the office, Martin just wasn’t used to working.

“Pobrecito,” Danny murmured, joining him on the bed. “Here, turn over and let me help you unwind.”

Grinning a bit at the choice of words earned him a playful smack on the chest. Martin rolled over and Danny started rubbing his back. It soothed and relaxed him, tight muscles giving way to Danny’s skillful ministrations. He hadn’t even realized just how tense he was until Danny undoing a knot under his shoulder brought tears to his eyes.

The bed dipped unexpectedly and Martin turned his head to see Jack smiling down at him. Callused fingers combed through his hair, which had finally grown long enough to do so.

Jack bent down to kiss the top of Martin’s head and murmur, “Tough week, huh?”

Martin hesitated, then said, “I guess I’m just not used to it.”

“Do you need to cut back?” Jack questioned, serious.

Giving the words serious thought, Martin finally answered, “I don’t know? I love helping you, I do, I’m just…really tired.”

Jack stretched out alongside him, sliding an arm under Martin’s head like a pillow as he said, “Then you’ll cut back. There’s no rush here, Martin. We’ve got the rest of our lives together and you help me just by being with me.”

A rush of love shivered through him and Martin whispered, “I don’t know what I’d do without you, Jack. And you, Danny. This is…so much more than I ever dreamed for. Sometimes I can’t believe that it’s real.”

Danny bent forward and told him, “Believe it, bebe. We’re here for good.”

Jack kissed Martin’s cheek, confirming, “You’re stuck with us.”

Martin smiled. “I can definitely live with that.”

Chuckling, Jack said, “Good. Now come on, I’m starving. What’s for lunch, Danny?”

Danny kissed the back of Martin’s head before climbing off him and saying, “How’s grilled cheese sound?”

“Long as there’s some kind of meat in it, sounds great,” Jack replied, slapping Danny on the ass.

Making a face, Danny left the bedroom muttering something about carnivores and scurvy.

“You coming?” Jack asked, standing.

Martin yawned and nodded, pushing upright and taking Jack’s hand, which pulled him to his feet. He happily went into Jack’s embrace, leaning on the other man as they walked into the living room to settle on the sofa. Martin found himself waited on, with Jack filling his water glass whenever it came close to being emptied and Danny announcing that he was making up an apple pie, which was Martin’s favorite. It was turning into a regular thing and both embarrassed and delighted him, knowing how much Jack and Danny liked to dote on him. It sure as hell wasn’t anything that he was used to, but Martin was more than happy to get used to it.

Lunch was a quiet, comfortable affair. Jack pulled Martin onto his lap, where he stayed and was fed gooey pieces of grilled cheese sandwiches. It was extremely messing, but very filling to both his stomach and his heart. Danny sat on the floor, resting against Jack’s legs as he ate and getting up every now and again to check on the pie. The air quickly grew scented with spices that were fast becoming associated with Danny and home.

Jack started a fire while Danny took the pie out of the oven to cool. Martin watched as Jack patiently fed paper and twigs to the growing flames. It didn’t take long before a healthy fire happily ate at the large sticks and then latched onto the logs. When Jack returned to the sofa and sat down, Martin promptly stretched out and put his head on Jack’s lap. Looking up into the warm, dark eyes, he smiled and said, “I love you, Jack.”

Jack swallowed, Adam’s apple bobbing a couple of times before he echoed gruffly, “Love you too, Martin.”

“Hey, what about me?” Danny demanded playfully, lightening the mood as he climbed over Martin to lay just about on top of him.

Laughing as a different set of dark eyes looked at him, Martin confirmed, “I love you too, Danny.”

Practically beaming, Danny said, “Te amo, bebe,” and promptly ruined it with a large yawn.

Jack shook his head and observed, “If the lovefest is over, I think the two of you need a nap.”

“You just wear us out, Master,” Danny replied with a cheeky grin.

Snorting, Jack ordered, “Nap. Now. Both of you.”

Martin frowned as Jack squirmed out from under them. “What about you?”

“I’m not tired,” Jack told him. “I’m just going to finish up some paperwork I brought.”

Danny snuggled closer, biting sharply at Martin’s throat in warning. The action stilled his impulse to verbally share the hurt simmering inside and Martin simply nodded without meeting Jack’s gaze. He shifted so that he and Danny faced one another, accepting the slave’s arm as a cushion for his head. Jack had said they weren’t going to be interrupted and yet now he was going to do paperwork that took him from them both. Martin couldn’t help the brief flash of insecurity that maybe he wasn’t enough to make Jack happy after all.

Burrowing as close as he could, Danny murmured, “It’s not really paperwork, bebe. He just can’t get close like he wants sometimes. No te molseta, si?”

Martin sighed, wishing he knew how to help Jack with whatever demons the other man had, but nodded. There was so much about the FBI agent that he simply didn’t know, so much darkness that begged to be brought into the light and banished forever. Something had hurt Jack deeply when he hadn’t been able to protect himself and Martin ached to make it better. He desperately wanted to make Jack happy.

“Calmate, bebe,” Danny ordered softly. “There’s nothing you can do, it’s just Jack.”

Being held by Danny, hearing his warm voice, knowing how much the man loved him even after such a short time soothed Martin. He sighed again, but it was one of deliberate relaxation. Closing his eyes, Martin let himself drift.

* * * *

Jack watched his two lovers for a long time as they slept entwined on the sofa. Both tall and lanky, Danny still outweighed Martin by a good twenty pounds of muscle even though they knew that he was now eating a healthy amount every day. It was a point of contention, making Martin go to the gym with them every other morning before work, but Jack had no intention of letting Martin remain helpless. Martin was thoroughly embarrassed about showing any part of his body in public, even a gym, so they’d compromised by him wearing sweats and a long-sleeved shirt so long as he instantly obeyed Jack on when to drink water before, during, and after the workout.

For now, it was simply about making Martin stronger, getting him into good enough shape so that normal working hours didn’t tired him out. He was a little afraid that too much damage had been done to Martin’s body, that Martin would simply never be as strong as he should be, nor as healthy. Martin had been to the family doctor just the week before and they were still waiting for a whole host of test results, which made Jack even edgier than usual. It was so easy to picture squeezing the life out of Victor Fitzgerald for all the harm he’d done to Martin. He could practically feel the man’s throat in his hands at times.

Shaking off the violent thoughts, Jack scrubbed fingers through his hair and then rubbed at tired, dry eyes. No matter what he’d told the other two, he was tired. It had been a hard week for everyone that had ended with the death of a missing mother of two. Standing, he returned to the sofa and nudged Danny awake. He arched an eyebrow at the slave, who smiled and nodded.

Jack walked to the bedroom, pulling his shirt off as he went and tossing it aside once in the bedroom. It was a little chilly, but he knew they would be more than warm enough in short order. It was late afternoon and he knew they were all tired enough to sleep the night through, especially with what he had in mind.

“Jack?”

Turning at Martin’s slightly worried call, Jack smiled and said, “It occurs to me that the two of you disobeyed a direct order of mine. Strip, guys.”

Martin and Danny both grinned and started undressing. Danny goosed Martin, who jumped and yelped before lightly punching the other man. Jack repressed a chuckle as Danny deliberately kept antagonizing Martin. It wasn’t a formal plan, but they both enjoyed teasing Martin into a lighter mood. Of course, Danny liked to tease just about everyone but he took special delight in provoking Martin.

“All right, break it up,” Jack ordered, grinning. “Danny, there’s a little matter of punishment we need to take care of.”

Martin went wide-eyed at the pronouncement, but Danny just nodded and finished shoving his pants down. Uncertain, Martin repeated, “Punishment?”

Jack nodded and sat on the bed as he explained, “Danny lost his temper with Viv and yelled at her earlier this week. I told him I would wait until we were off the clock to punish him.”

“But, everyone loses their temper,” Martin protested. “You can’t punish him for that!”

Waving Martin closer, Jack pulled him onto his lap and said, “Danny’s a slave, Martin. He can’t afford to lose his temper in public. He knows better than to do so and also knows the consequences when he does.”

“It’s okay, Martin. I need this,” Danny told him.

Martin sighed, still looking confused. “But it’s such a little thing. And Viv wouldn’t care about something like Danny losing his temper.”

Danny cupped Martin’s face and explained, “But I can’t lose control like that, Martin, especially not in public. This is just reinforcement, bebe, I’ll be fine. Trust me. Trust Jack, he won’t really hurt me. Not to say I’ll be able to sit comfortably for a while, but I’ll be okay.”

Jack kissed Martin lightly on the lips then gently pushed him onto the bed, off his lap. There were things to take care of before getting to the comfort part of the day’s agenda. “Martin, I want you to be comfortable with this, but I understand if you aren’t. If you want to go somewhere else where you don’t have to witness it, that’s fine.”

Biting his lip, Martin hesitated, then said, “I guess since this is a, well, normal occurrence, I should get comfortable with it.”

“You don’t have to,” Jack assured him. “Danny’s going to be in serious pain by the time I’m done and probably crying like a baby for it to stop.”

“Hey!” Danny protested, indignant.

Jack flashed him a grin, then returned his attention to Martin. “I only use my hand in situations like this and only on his backside, so no real damage will be done, but you don’t have to be here.”

Martin took a breath and released it explosively. “No, I want to stay.”

Jack nodded and warned, “Okay, but don’t interrupt.”

Martin made a point of sitting further up the bed and folding his arms around his legs, resting his chin on his knees. Seeing that he wasn’t going to move, at least for the time being, Jack held out a hand to Danny. The slave sighed and took it, letting himself be positioned face down over Jack’s thighs. Jack ran his hand over Danny’s ass, loving the feel of it and reacquainting himself with the fleshier parts versus the bony areas.

He started out slowly, warming them both up as it had been a while. Jack never meant to let Danny go without discipline since it was indeed something that he needed on a regular basis, but inevitably, life got in the way. Normally there was a set limit, but Jack could tell that Danny needed more this time. If he hadn’t thought it would freak Martin out beyond his limits, Jack would just break Danny down altogether. It had been far too long since Danny had been able to let go completely, but with Martin around, there just wasn’t enough privacy with which to do it.

Danny started squirming fairly early on, but Jack ignored it. He kept the slaps steady and rhythmic, not yet needing to throw Danny off balance. It wasn’t until the slave whimpered and gripped one of Jack’s knees that he knew the first corner had been turned into active pain. The semi-hard-on that Danny had fizzled into nothing as the pain grew more intense, but not enough to start the endorphins going. When Danny actively struggled against him, Jack laid his other arm flat against Danny’s back to hold him still. The blows got heavier and harder, coming at odd intervals so Jack could put more force behind them.

“Master! Master, please, please stop, I’m sorry,” Danny begged between sobs. “I’m sorry, I won’t do it again, please! I can’t take any more, please stop!”

The fact of the matter was that Danny could take a lot more than he already had, despite the rosy color of his backside. Jack paused and asked, “What are you sorry for?”

Sniffling, Danny answered, “For losing my temper with Viv. For talking back to a free citizen in public.”

Shaking his head, Jack told him, “Not good enough, slave,” and started up again, ignoring the wail of pained confusion. He had to get a better grip on the slender man, trapping the soft dick between his legs in a silent threat that Danny well understood.

“Jack, Jack please stop,” Martin’s voice unexpectedly begged. “Please, he’s sorry! Can’t you see?”

Jack cast a look at Martin’s ashen face and mentally cursed himself for letting the Concubine stay in the room. He should have known that Martin wouldn’t be able to handle something like this so soon. Unable to deal with him as well, Jack snapped, “Silence, Martin, or I’ll gag you!”

Whimpering, Martin withdrew to the corner of the bed.

Jack returned to Danny, determined to finish the punishment as soon as possible. Bringing his sore hand down as hard as he could provoked outright cries of pain, but Danny started getting hard at that point. Thankful they were almost there, Jack maintained the harsh beating until Danny started sobbing hard enough to have trouble forming the words that begged him to stop. Stilling his hand, he repeated sternly, “Why are you sorry, slave?”

Drawing in a shuddering breath, Danny answered, “I’m, for, for talking back to a free citizen. That’s it. Public or private, it doesn’t matter. I’m so sorry, Master, please let me make it up to you, please? I’m sorry.”

Immediately releasing Danny, Jack manhandled the slave upright and held him fast, soothing him with long strokes up and down his back.

Shaking, Danny held tight to him, still crying. Face buried against Jack’s shoulder, he complained miserably, “My ass hurts, Master.”

Jack chuckled and took Danny’s face between his hands as he pointed out, “It’s supposed to, my slave. And what have we here?”

Danny moaned as Jack gripped his erection and twisted lightly, teasing. The slave collapsed utterly against him as Jack manipulated his cock, stroking him off fast enough to add to the endorphin rush already going through him. Kissing him, taking his mouth in a slow, deep kiss brought Danny off in record time. Jack held him, rocking him gently to deepen the sleep that orgasm had pushed him into.

After a time, he carefully transferred Danny onto his side on the bed. Jack pressed his lips to Danny’s temple and murmured, “Te amo, esclavo mio.”

Now for lover number two.

* * * *

For the first time ever, Martin was afraid of Jack. The shock of actually seeing him beat Danny burnt itself into his mind. Danny’s cries mixed with memories of his own beatings in the past. He could remember, all too vividly, how his father had also ignored his pain and beaten a lesson into Martin’s flesh. If Jack was this much like his father, then he’d made a terrible, terrible mistake. Why hadn’t Danny warned him about this? Was he simply too inured to the violence?

“Martin, look at me please.”

Even though it was disobeying, Martin literally couldn’t remove his arms from over his head. He couldn’t look at Jack, couldn’t face him.

Jack sighed audibly and told him, “I would never touch you like that, Martin. Never. You are safe here with us. With me. You and Danny need different things, different forms of discipline. Truthfully, you don’t need hardly any at all, but Danny does. He needs boundaries and he needs to know that I’ll be able to keep him in line. Please, Martin, look at me? Or, if not me, then look at Danny. I can even wake him up to talk to you, though I’d rather not.”

Martin hesitated before finally raising an arm to peek out at the slave. Danny was out like a light, a faint smile on his admittedly tear-stained face. He couldn’t see any blood or any bruises, but then, Danny’s back wasn’t to him.

“Go ahead. Look him over,” Jack urged quietly. “Take a good look.”

Keeping space between himself and Jack, Martin climbed over Danny’s sleeping form and did just that. Aside from his ass being a deep, angry looking red, Danny was in perfect shape. Jack had, indeed, kept the damage only to the slave’s backside. Risking a glance at the other man in the room, Martin found a worried, slightly pained look on Jack’s face, but no apology.

Curling up against Danny, wrapping a protective arm around the slave’s chest, Martin told Jack distantly, “My father invariably used a crop for routine punishment. He would start with my ass and then work me over from head to toe. Anything could set him off. I never really knew how to anticipate and I think, I think that was the worst thing about it. When he was really angry, whether or not I was the one to anger him, he got out this gilded whip. The handle had real strands of gold braided into the leather, wrapped around it. I’m pretty sure it was just for decoration, but my father loved that whip. Said it taught me lessons I could never seem to remember. There was, well, there is a metal tip on it, also made of gold. Pure gold, because it never could maintain a proper shape. He had to have it redone after each beating. Of course, he also had to get the blood cleaned off it, so they usually did both at the same time.”

Jack made a strangled noise and jumped off the bed, pacing to the wall…which he promptly put his fist through.

Astonished, Martin didn’t do anything. Couldn’t do anything except watch as Jack tried to pull his hand free of the hole that he’d made. The noise woke Danny, who groaned in pain and then scrambled from the bed to Jack’s side.

“Jesus, Jack!” Danny exclaimed, carefully helping pull the hand from the wall. “Madre de Dios, Majistral, en que piensas? Venga conmigo, Jack, that’s it, come on, almost there now.”

Martin watched them leave the bedroom and heard water come on shortly thereafter. It was a few minutes before he could summon the courage to creep out of bed and pad silently to the bathroom. Peeking inside the small room, he found Jack on the toilet, arms wrapped around Danny’s waist as he shook with emotion. One of Jack’s hands was bruised and bleeding, but he didn’t seem to take any notice of it as he held tight to Danny.

Hugging himself, Martin whispered, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset him so much.”

Danny looked back at him and demanded, “What the hell happened? I haven’t seen him this bad since Spaulding.”

Mentally filing the name away to ask about later, Martin answered, “I just, I was upset with what he did to you and, I told him about when my father beat me.”

Danny groaned and held out a hand to him. “Martin, it’s not the same thing at all. Come here, bebe, please.”

Martin hesitated, but ultimately crossed the short distance to find himself brought into a sideways hug. Resting his cheek against Danny’s shoulder, Martin asked, “How is it different when it’s pain to teach you a lesson? It can’t be.”

One of Danny’s hands lay on Jack’s head as though in silent benediction as the slave explained, “First of all, I forget my place because I was a free citizen for so long. Sometimes, the only way to get through to me is through making it difficult for me to sit. That’s as far as it goes for punishment, but there’s another side to me that, well, enjoys the pain. And the submission. A big part of me, really. Maybe we did you a disservice in not showing you that part of our relationship a lot sooner than this.”

“I don’t understand,” Martin replied, plaintive.

Danny kissed him briefly and said, “I know, but you will. For now, though, will you take my word that what just happened was nothing like what happened between your father and you? I’m not hurt, I’m just sore as hell. And believe me, Jack’s not feeling all that great right now either. He usually has to ice his hand after a session like that, and that’s without putting his fist through a wall. Which we need to take care of now, Master. You might have broken fingers.”

The pointed tone got through to Jack, who sat back and nodded. Martin was a little surprised to find no evidence of tears, but then remembered what Danny had said earlier in the day about Jack and showing emotions. Maybe he just couldn’t. Feeling very awkward and out of place, Martin offered, “I’ll um, I’ll just go. I can sleep on the sofa.”

Jack reached out with his uninjured hand slowly, though. Slow enough not to startle Martin, who watched warily as it settled on his waist. Dark eyes met his, as serious as when they’d first met, and Jack stated, “You sleep with us. Assuming we are sleeping and not taking a side trip to the hospital. Are we, Danny?”

Danny grimaced and confirmed, “We are. There’s no help for it, Master. I think your pinky and ring fingers are sprained, if not broken. I’ll drive.”

Jack snorted. “You can barely sit and it’s an hour drive to the hospital.”

“I’m the least emotional of us right now, so please don’t argue, Master,” Danny countered.

Nodding, Jack gave in with surprising grace. He stood and told Martin, “We’re okay.”

Searching the other man’s eyes, Martin found no sign of duplicity. All he saw was a sadness that hadn’t been present before. It sent a pang of guilt through him and he whispered miserably, “I’m sorry, Jack, so sorry.”

Jack offered a crooked grin and cupped his face briefly before heading out of the crowded bathroom.

Helpless, Martin looked to Danny.

“It’s okay, Martin, honest. That’s his way of saying there’s nothing to forgive,” Danny assured him. “Come on. Let’s go while I still have some endorphins to combat the literal pain in my ass.”

Martin sighed, but followed the slave out of the bathroom.

* * * *

Danny hovered anxiously as Jack’s hand was splinted, even though he knew it could have been worse. The fingers had been sprained, not broken. The drive to the hospital had been both painful and awkward, with Martin sitting in the backseat alone. Danny had tried to get Jack to sit back there with him, but the other man had silently refused.

“Make sure he doesn’t try to use the hand,” the doctor told Danny. “I’ve got a prescription here for painkillers to be taken as needed.”

Danny nodded as he took the prescription and replied, “Thank you, Doctor.”

“Take care of him, now.”

“I will, Sir, thank you again.”

Jack roused himself enough to say, “Thanks, Doctor. I appreciate the help.”

“I would say anytime, Agent Malone, but hopefully I won’t see you here again,” the doctor said, smiling.

Jack managed a brief smile and climbed down from the exam table. They walked silently out of the exam area to the pharmacy. While they waited for the prescription to be filled, Jack asked, “How’re you feeling?”

Danny shrugged. “Same as I always do after punishment; sore as hell. I’m fine, though.”

“I shouldn’t have let Martin stay,” Jack said, scrubbing his good hand through his hair. “I should have known better.”

Shaking his head, Danny pointed out, “He had to witness it sometime and there was no reason not to take him at his word. It’s not like you sprang it on him without warning.”

“Still. I should have…”

Danny stopped the recriminations with a kiss, putting all his love and trust into it.

Jack sighed into his mouth, taking control of it within seconds of Danny initiating the kiss. It went on for a few minutes, the two of them going back and forth with it before Jack finally pulled free. He quirked a smile at Danny and observed, “This is why I never win arguments with you.”

“Well, not the stupid ones anyhow,” Danny amended, grinning.

Jack huffed in amusement. “Okay, smartass. So now what do we do?”

“We don’t back down,” Danny said firmly. “Martin has to accept that this is part of our life. I think…what do you think about visiting the club some time in the near future?”

Thoughtful, Jack mused, “That could help. Put him in a setting where pain is about pleasure. Let him see that there’s another way of thinking. Of course, it could backfire and he could not want anything to do with us after.”

Catching sight of Martin walking towards them down the hall, Danny replied, “I don’t think we have to worry about that.”

Jack followed his gaze and smiled as Martin joined them. “Hey. How are you?”

Looking at the floor, Martin said, “Feeling a little stupid right now.”

Jack put his good hand on Martin’s shoulder and told him, “You shouldn’t. I should’ve realized you weren’t ready.”

“This is something you guys do, though, right?” Martin questioned, finally looking up. “I mean, for more than just punishment?”

Danny nodded. “Probably not something you’ll ever be into, but yeah, we are.”

Biting his lip, Martin asked, “Can I, ah, can I see it when, you know, it’s not about punishment? I think maybe the context is what threw me. I know that you would never hurt us, Jack, and I’m so sorry for even thinking it.”

Jack drew Martin into his arms and said, “It’s okay, Martin. You don’t have to apologize for how you felt. You got scared. It happens. I love you, no matter what kind of argument or misunderstanding we have.”

From the way Martin held tight to Jack, Danny could see that had honestly been worrying him. Not for the first time, he wanted to give Victor Fitzgerald what he so richly deserved.

“Prescription for Malone?”

Danny touch Jack’s arm and offered quickly, “I’ve got it.”

Happier knowing that things would be okay now, Danny hurried to the counter as best he could with a sore butt. He smiled at the pharmacist and said, “Malone?”

“Need your Master’s signature for prescription drugs, honey,” the woman reminded.

Danny grimaced. “Sorry, I forgot. Be right back.”

And even though he hated to interrupt the reconnection, Danny tapped Jack on the shoulder and told him, “You have to get it, since it’s drugs.”

Jack pulled free of Martin and headed for the pharmacy counter.

Giving him a shy look, Martin asked, “How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” Danny assured him. “My butt isn’t too happy, but I’m fine. I promise. You know, Jack and I were just talking about bringing you to our club.”

“Club?”

“Yeah. It’s got a lot of interesting shows,” Danny said, grinning. “Sometimes I wind up being one of them, if Jack thinks I need it.”

Martin’s eyes widened and he asked, “Is this a BDSM club?”

Danny’s grin got bigger as he confirmed cheerfully, “Yep.”

The astonishment changed to curiosity as Martin asked, “How come Jack doesn’t do anything like that with you at home?”

“Because we didn’t want to scare you off,” Jack replied, sliding an arm around Martin’s waist. “Once my hand’s back to normal, we can start off with some small stuff, though. Tying him up, denying him, things like that.”

As they started walking towards the exit, Danny continued, “Jack is unbelievably good at doing the whole rope tying thing. I can’t even describe what it’s like when you’re all bound up like that. Some people feel it’s claustrophobic, but to me it’s…comforting.”

“Not to mention he looks hot as hell all tied up,” Jack commented.

Martin laughed at Jack’s eyebrow wriggle and said, “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

But Danny countered, “No you won’t. We can’t do it this weekend, but we can as soon as Jack’s hand is healed.”

Jack nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me. Martin?”

Martin nodded as well and said, “Sure. I think I can take seeing Danny all tied up like that.”

Danny grinned.

* * * *

Jack hand throbbed unpleasantly when he woke, but the drugs took care of any active pain. The worst thing about it was not being able to really hold both of his lovers as they slept. They’d somehow wound up with Danny on his side holding Jack, who held Martin to his chest; a triple spoon, of sorts. Smiling as he kissed Martin’s shoulder, he reluctantly climbed out of the middle position and slid down the bed so he could get to the bathroom.

He’d just finished when he was joined by Martin. The Concubine hung back by the doorframe and Jack smiled at him by way of the mirror. “Morning.”

Martin smiled back shyly and echoed, “Morning, Jack. How are you feeling?”

“Throbs a little, but it’s fine,” Jack answered, drying his hand. “How about you?”

Eyebrows rising in surprise, Martin replied, “I’m fine.”

“Then how about you come here and say good morning properly?”

That shy smile returned as Martin obediently stepped forward and put his arms around Jack’s waist. Wrapping his own arms around the slender man, Jack sighed in deep contentment and nuzzled at the tantalizing stretch of throat.

“Jack?”

“Yeah, Martin?”

“I really need you right now.”

The soft, pained admission went straight to Jack’s gut and his cock wasn’t far behind. He knew exactly what Martin needed and gently tilted his lover’s chin up so he could give a kiss filled with all the love he felt for the other man. Martin sighed into his kiss, opening eagerly to it. Sliding his good hand down the length of Martin’s back, Jack gripped his ass lightly, massaging it, but not going any further. He maneuvered the Concubine against the sink cabinet for support and concentrated on just kissing for the longest time.

It wasn’t until he felt the hard shaft against his hip that Jack left off the kiss-swollen mouth and nipped and licked his way south. Martin was naked, same as Jack, so it was easy enough to nudge the Concubine’s dick with his face, breathing in the familiar scent.

“Jack!” Martin gasped.

Smiling, Jack took the length in his mouth without delay, going down with tormenting slowness. Martin’s fingers laced through his hair, hands resting on his head without actually applying pressure. Even as desperate as he knew the other man to be, Martin wouldn’t cause the slightest discomfort. Jack’s heart went out to the gentle young man and he stopped teasing.

Pulling off altogether, Jack stood and devoured the other’s mouth again while reaching for the lube on the sink counter. He was never more thankful for Danny’s long-term preparation than just then. Turning Martin, he rocked slowly against his lover’s body, sliding his cock between the cleft and thrilled to Martin’s moan and thrust back.

“That’s it, baby,” Jack soothed. “I’ll make it all right again, I promise.”

Jack squeezed some lube onto his finger and pushed it inside the tight entrance to Martin’s body. He took his time, though wasn’t deliberately teasing this time. This had to be slow and careful, reassuring to Martin that Jack would be able to hold himself back for the other’s needs. It was a long time later that he eased into his lover’s hole, going in short increments. All the while, he pressed kisses to Martin’s shoulders and throat, murmuring nonsensical words. Finally, all the way in, he wrapped his arm around Martin’s waist and just stood there.

Panting lightly, Martin twined his fingers with Jack’s good ones and met his gaze in the mirror, whispering, “Love you, Jack. Love you so much.”

Jack groaned at the declaration and he replied, “Love you too, Martin. I’ll always take care of you, I promise. I’ll never hurt you.”

“I know,” Martin agreed simply.

He started moving then, surprising Jack, pushing himself back and forth on Jack’s cock. Shuddering in reaction, Jack forced himself to stay absolutely still and let the Concubine go at his own pace. He occupied himself by licking the sweat from the other’s back and kissing wherever his mouth landed. He felt hard enough to hammer nails with his dick and ached to take over, to fuck Martin hard and lose himself in his lover’s body, but held back.

Martin cried out when he clearly hit the right spot, then started fucking himself harder on Jack’s cock. Mesmerized by the play of muscle beneath soft skin, Jack groaned as he was taken in a way that he hadn’t been in a long time. It was different. He wasn’t being ridden so much as taken hard by Martin, used for the Concubine’s own pleasure, faster with every passing second as the slender man groaned and panted. All Jack could do was hold on and let Martin do what he wanted, knowing the other man needed to feel in control this time.

And then Martin went still, stopping and hanging onto the bathroom sink as he moaned, “Fuck me, please, Jack, need you!”

Verbally released from his restraint, Jack immediately tightened his grip around Martin’s waist and pumped slowly into his lover’s body. It cost him every bit of self-control he had, going at that pace, but Jack knew Martin still needed to be courted in this after what he’d seen with Danny.

“Please, Jack, harder,” Martin begged, trying to push back again.

But Jack kept him immobile and said roughly, “Not this time, baby. This time you get slow and easy. Just relax and let me take care of you.”

Martin moaned again and slumped back against him. Jack took that as acquiescence and slid his hand lower to grip the hot, throbbing shaft between Martin’s legs. The younger man was so ready the erection twitched in Jack’s hand before he started a measured stroke up and down and twisting around at the end. Dropping his forehead to rest between Martin’s shoulder blades, Jack struggled to keep the even thrusts. Finally, when he nudged Martin’s balls with the back of his knuckles the same time he rubbed the prostate from inside, he was rewarded. Martin jerked hard and came with a loud cry, splattering all over the sink and Jack’s hand. Jack’s cock was squeezed with the contraction and on the next in-thrust he let go, coming as he ground deep into his lover.

For a long time they simply stood there, Jack plastered around Martin. He kissed and nuzzled at the Concubine’s throat while his heart slowed back to a normal rhythm.

“Gods, Jack,” Martin sighed at last, practically purring. “That was so good.”

Jack chuckled and undulated his semi-hard cock still within the other man and observed, “We could go for round two, if you want.”

Martin craned his head around, offering his mouth, and Jack took it in a long, luxurious kiss.

“Or you could go round two with me, since you seem to have worn out poor Martin.”

Jack grinned as he broke off the kiss, teeth clicking against Martin’s. Looking over at Danny, he asked, “You up for it?”

“Ask a stupid question,” Danny retorted.

Laughing outright, Jack carefully withdrew from Martin. He kissed the other man’s cheek before crossing to Danny and pushing him against the wall. Taking the slave’s mouth in a hard, hungry kiss, so different from what he’d just experienced with Martin, Jack wrapped his hand around the mostly soft penis. It didn’t take long before Danny groaned hungrily and thrust into his hand. Jack smirked as he broke off the kiss and took his hand away.

Danny struggled through the lust haze to ask, “Master?”

“I think today we start with the deprivation,” Jack announced.

Moaning, Danny’s head thumped back against the wall and he guessed, “Cock ring?”

Jack grinned. “Go get it and bring it here.”

A quick glance at Martin showed the Concubine still relaxed and only a bit curious, not concerned, by the order. Danny returned in short order and held out the slender leather strips with a sigh. Jack grinned and motioned him closer.

Danny leaned against him sideways, asking hopefully, “Are you sure you don’t maybe want to wait until we get back home to do this?”

“Oh, I’m sure,” Jack replied, twisting painfully tight on Danny’s erection.

A pained grunt escaped the slave and he bit into Jack’s shoulder hard at his dick’s forcible softening.

Jack swiftly and expertly tied up the cock and balls one handed, then bestowed a soothing kiss to the slave’s temple. “Such a good boy, Danny. Come on, now. Go make us some breakfast while Martin and I take a shower.”

Danny pouted briefly before going to do as ordered.

After turning on the shower, Jack guided Martin into the tub and proceeded to wash him thoroughly and lovingly. He grinned when Martin insisted on doing the same, letting the younger man do as he pleased. They wound up jerking each other off and having to rewash one another, forced to endure a tepid spray of water at the end.

By the time they were dried off and Jack had dressed, something Martin again insisted on doing for him, pancakes and sausage were ready and waiting on the breakfast table. The slave was taking off his apron just as they sat at the table. Seeing there were only two plates, Jack smiled and snapped his fingers, motioning for Danny to sit beside him on the cushion now on the floor. They hadn’t maintained proper Master/slave relations in far too long and he could see that it had been to Danny’s detriment.

Now that Martin was initiated, so to speak, that would change. Danny remained quiet as Jack and Martin talked about everything but work. Every now and again the Concubine’s eyes would drift to where the slave knelt, but he didn’t question the placement. When Jack was just about done with his breakfast, he began feeding small pieces of pancakes and sausage to Danny by hand. Nimble and dainty, well trained to it, Danny took his breakfast piece by piece. When they were done eating, Danny rose without being asked and started to clear the table.

“Jack?” Martin questioned.

“Yeah?”

“Can we go for a walk?”

Seeing how hopeful and eager the young man was, Jack nodded immediately. “Of course. Why don’t you get dressed? And grab me some thicker socks, would you?”

Martin smiled broadly and hurried to the bedroom.

Danny came up beside him and asked softly, “May I do anything to please you while you’re out, Master?”

Thus answering the question of whether or not Danny wanted to go with them on the walk. Not that Jack was surprised. Danny always claimed to break out whenever he left the city limits, though Jack had as yet to see an actual rash. Tugging the slave into his arms, Jack kissed him thoroughly and replied, “Not this time, my own. No, actually, there is something.”

“Yes, Master?”

“Clean yourself, inside and out, and then put in a plug. I think I’ll be using you as a visual aide for Martin tonight,” Jack informed him.

Danny licked his lips and breathed eagerly, “Yes, Master.”

Not that he could do a lot with his hand the way it was, but he could show Martin a few things to do with the slave. And watching them together was always a highlight. Tweaking a nearby nipple, Jack grinned and said, “You might want to make supper ahead of time, while you’re waiting for us to get back.”

Martin returned just then, fully dressed and bearing warmer socks for Jack. “Here you go!”

Chuckling at the happy sparkle in Martin’s blue eyes, Jack took the socks and pulled them on. It was only a few minutes later that they were outside in the bitter cold that took Jack’s breath away. He coughed a few times, earning a worried glance from Martin. Giving the young man a reassuring look, Jack said, “I’m fine. Which way?”

Martin seemed surprised, but recovered quickly. “Which way to the lake?”

“That way,” Jack replied, motioning east.

Jack took his time on the walk, not wanting Martin to wear himself out too quickly on the long walk to the lake. It was a pleasure to watch the young man enjoying himself so much, eyes wide and taking everything in.

He wasted only a couple of minutes cursing Martin’s father for denying such an easy treat. Of course, the elder Fitzgerald was all about denial and keeping power over Martin. He knew now that jail wasn’t a prospect, the other man would do everything in his considerable power to get Martin back and Jack wasn’t all that sure there wasn’t some loophole in their contract that would let the statesman regain custody. He’d had Terry go over it with a fine-toothed comb and the lawyer said it was iron-clad, but Jack just couldn’t let himself relax about the situation.

“Jack! Look!”

The breathless exclamation and pointing finger drew Jack’s attention to a mother deer and her offspring standing in the trees. Jack went motionless and let himself experience the beautiful sight through Martin’s fresh perspective. It was nature at its most beautiful and he didn’t move until the two animals had bounded away.

Martin practically bounced into his arms, all big smile and bright eyes as he exclaimed, “I can’t believe it! They were so close!”

Jack grinned and hugged him, agreeing, “Never been that close before. It must be you.”

“Wow,” Martin sighed, leaning his head against Jack’s shoulder. Then he was upright again and hurrying forward with, “Come on! I bet there’s more by the lake!”

Chuckling to himself, Jack followed at a slower pace.

* * * *

Martin shivered with the cold by the time he allowed Jack to convince him it was time to head back. There was so much to see and he wanted to see it all right then and there, even though he knew it was impossible. It was everything he’d always dreamed about and more. They not only saw the deer, but he watched a couple fishermen ice-fishing on the lake and they came across a small stream blocked by beavers. The birds who remained in winter sang around them and he was positive that he saw an owl blended into the tree, well camouflaged. When the cabin finally came back into sight, Martin shook violently with the cold, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.

Danny descended with a Spanish scold that Martin couldn’t understand in words, but well knew from tone. It was a gentle, if rapid, chastisement as the slave removed his outerwear and immediately brought him over to sit in front of the fire, leaving Jack to fend for himself. Martin was about to protest when Danny hurried back to Jack to help him out of his winter things as well.

“I think you’ll get warm faster if you’ve got a little less between you and the fire,” Jack rumbled.

Understanding his meaning, Martin stood up and started undressing altogether. Danny returned to help him, not that any was really needed, and Martin had to agree that the heat felt incredibly good on his bare skin. And then he flushed hotter from the inside out when he noticed Danny was wearing a plug.

Holding their clothes, Danny reminded, “It’s time for your medication, Master.”

Jack waved him off and said, “I’m fine.”

“Master, please,” Danny protested in a murmur.

Eyes rolling, Jack sighed and agreed, “Fine. Get the damn things.”

Looking pleased with himself, Danny strode happily away with the clothes.

Jack joined Martin by the fire, wrapping his arms around Martin’s waist as he asked, “Did you like what you saw?”

Martin’s eyes darted away and he replied softly, embarrassed, “I, yeah, I did.”

“Good,” Jack said firmly. “Because tonight, Danny is all yours.”

Swallowing in surprise, Martin repeated, “Mine?”

“Yours. I had him clean himself up and get himself ready for you.”

“But, ah, what about you?”

Jack shrugged and pointed out, “I’ll be good for nothing once I take that medication. Besides, I think it’ll do the both of you good to have some alone time. I’ll just watch and enjoy, if I’m still awake.”

Danny returned with the medicine and a glass of water just then. “Here we go!”

Snorting at the cheerful tone, Jack retorted, “You don’t have to be quite so happy, Danny.”

“No, Master, of course not,” Danny replied demurely.

Jack snorted again and took the pills with his good hand. He downed them and then drank some of the water to wash them down. “Now. Let’s eat.”

Danny motioned them both to the sofa and hurried to the kitchen. Martin cozied up to Jack once they’d both sat. It didn’t take long to get comfortable and he sighed happily when Jack’s arm went around him. There was always something so immovable about the other man. And he was seeing something new in Jack and Danny’s interaction now that he hadn’t realized was missing; an easy contentment. It was as though this was how they were meant to be together and having restrained themselves around him for so long had damaged their relationship.

Kissing Jack impulsively on the cheek, Martin said softly, “I’m sorry, Jack.”

“For what?” Jack asked, surprised.

“For making you and Danny change how you were together. You shouldn’t have let me.”

“You weren’t ready, Martin. I’m still not sure you are.”

Martin thought about it and replied, “I don’t know if I’m ready to watch another punishment session, that still scares me a little, but I don’t want either of you to be, well, inhibited, I guess. I want you to feel free to do whatever you want around me.”

Jack squeezed him lightly, kissing the top of his head as he said, “Thanks.”

Danny walked over with sandwiches and hot chocolate on a tray, gracefully kneeling in front of them and holding the tray. Martin was surprised when Jack simply took one half of the sandwich and not the plate. When he reached for the plate, Jack shook his head and Martin changed his destination to take part of his own sandwich. It was clearly some kind of reinforcement thing, reminding Danny of his place by making him kneel and serve them in that way. It was very strange to see the slave just knee there with his eyes lowered to the floor. Not because it hadn’t happened at his father’s house, but because it so far hadn’t happened at Jack’s.

Lunch was dispensed with fairly quickly and then Martin unexpectedly had an armful of Jack, who grew drowsy from the pills. It was nice to hold the other man, combing his fingers through the thick, soft hair and feeling Jack’s weight relax on him. Danny came back and literally sat at his feet, resting against Martin’s leg with a sigh. Surprised, Martin used his free hand to do the same with the slave, petting him gently.

It wasn’t until the fire grew low that Martin shook himself from the happy haze of family. He nudged Danny carefully with his leg and whispered, “Getting a little chilly.”

Yawning, Danny nodded and climbed to his feet. The action showed off his lanky frame and then his tight ass as it spread in a crouch. Martin’s mouth went dry as he remembered Jack’s words about Danny being his for the night. He couldn’t take his eyes from the plug as it shifted and jostled inside the slave’s body while he worked to rebuild the fire.

“Martin.”

Danny’s voice startled him into looking up. Meeting that dark gaze, Martin swallowed and told him, “Jack said, um, he gave you to me for the night.”

“Not just tonight,” Danny averred. “Whenever you want, Master, you know that.”

Heat flushed through Martin at being called that. He’d never had anyone under his control before joining his new family. The servants at his father’s had obeyed him, but he knew it had only been because they’d wanted to, not because they had to. This was different. He knew that Danny would do whatever he asked because he felt that he belonged to Martin as much as Jack.

Danny crawled towards the sofa on his hands and knees, a wild creature in the firelight only barely tamed. Swallowing against a tight throat, Martin sank back into the sofa as Danny slid his hands over Martin’s thighs, nails scraping lightly over the skin, eliciting goosebumps in their wake.

“How may I serve you, Master?”

“Oh Gods,” Martin gasped, cock twitching eagerly. “I don’t know.”

Leaning forward, Danny massaged Martin’s thighs and suggested, “I could suck you off, Master. Or I could simply get you hard enough to fuck me. Or maybe you want me to ride you here on the sofa?”

Martin’s head dropped back and he groaned at the suggestions, unable to decide. He almost wished that Jack were awake to direct them, but that was selfish. Jack needed his rest to recover from his injury. With that thought in mind, Martin pulled himself together and pushed Danny to the floor with a foot before following it up with straddling the slave. Thus pinning the other man in place with his weight, Martin mused, “What should I do with you?”

Danny grinned up at him and stretched, showing off his lean physique to perfect advantage by arching up and spreading his arms out to the side. “Whatever you want, Master.”

Abruptly curious, Martin knelt up and ordered, “Turn over.”

Danny obeyed instantly, propping his head on his arms which lengthened his spine and again showed off his body to advantage.

Moving down, Martin tentatively gripped the plug and nudged it, provoking a gasp from the slave. Jack had used plugs on them both since Martin had come to live at his house, but he’d never felt free to just play and explore with that dark gaze watching. Knowing that Jack would be out of it for a while, though, gave him permission to do whatever he wanted.

Martin pulled the plug partially out before pushing it back in, fucking Danny slowly with the silicone shaft. Danny’s breath hitched delightfully and the slave shifted beneath him. Pressing the back of his hand to the still-red backside, Martin felt the heat left by Jack’s punishment the night before and grinned when Danny hissed in surprise. It wasn’t often he could startle the complacent slave. He spent the next several minutes touching and prodding the red skin, admitting to himself a thrill every time Danny groaned and gasped in apparent pleasure despite the pain.

Pulling the plug out altogether, Martin watched the hole spasm shut and Danny’s ass twitch in reaction to being empty again. Martin moved even closer until his face was directly above the hole and he could simply lower his mouth to press a kiss on the opening. He felt Danny startle at the gentle touch and then satisfied his need to bring pleasure to his lover by sliding his tongue inside. Long minutes were spent tasting and probing the faintly sour hole that wasn’t nearly as tainted as it should be. Martin suddenly understood what Jack meant by ‘clean himself up and get himself ready for you.’ and flushed in deeper arousal at the thought of Danny preparing himself the same way he did for Jack.

He practically devoured Danny at that, sucking and thrusting his tongue in and out of Danny’s hole until the slave writhed under him, begging and pushing back on Martin’s face. His hand reached below and encountered Danny’s hot, hard shaft and the leather keeping him from coming. It abruptly reminded him that the slave had been hard all day, waiting to find release. The thought was a dash of cold water on Martin’s ardor and he swiftly turned Danny onto his back, fingers clumsy as they tried unsuccessfully to undo the restraint.

“Easy Martin, be careful,” Jack ordered, suddenly beside them. One of his hands covered Martin’s, stilling him, and he continued, “It works like this, watch.”

Martin pushed aside his distress enough to watch as Jack swiftly and easily undid the leather around the base of Danny’s shaft and balls. Now that he’d calmed some, Martin could see how easily it came off and that Danny wasn’t in pain because of it.

Danny sat up and pulled Martin into his arms, soothing him with kisses and soft words. They wound up sprawled in a tangle on the floor together and Martin groaned as Danny wrapped his legs around his waist. They pulled him in tight and he lifted onto his hands to watch the play of pleasure over Danny’s face as he thrust their dicks together. It was over not long after that, Danny coming with a breathless gasp, arching up against him. Seeing the slave come because of him sent Martin over the edge and he groaned, thrusting hard against the other man one last time before spilling over the taut abs.

Collapsing on his lover, Martin panted harshly and slowly returned to the world around him. Jack stroked a hand over his back while Danny nibbled on his chin. Grinning inanely, Martin pushed back onto his knees and apologized, “Sorry about that, you know, in the middle there. Everything else was okay, though, right?”

Danny smiled up at him as he replied, “Any more all right and I’d be brain dead now, bebe.”

Jack chuckle and commented, “I see we need lessons on how to work everything before we get too creative in the future. Come on. Let’s clean up and go to bed.”

Martin frowned at him. “You seem awfully awake, Jack.”

“Caught me,” Jack replied, standing and then offering a hand to Martin. “I only took one of the pills.”

“Master!” Danny scolded. “You need to take both!”

Jack’s eyes rolled and he ordered, “Bathroom, Danny. Now.”

Danny huffed as he walked by, earning a sharp slap from the sound of it and the wince he didn’t bother to hide. Martin grinned at the interaction knowing, now, that nothing harsh was meant by it. Martin was still content enough from orgasm that he curled into Jack’s sideways embrace as they walked to the bathroom together.

The shower was very crowded for a brief period, but Danny didn’t stay long with them, even though Martin protested. Not that Jack needed a shower since he hadn’t gotten messy with them, but he just seemed to want to be close to Martin, which was very appreciated. Once they were dried off and Jack redressed, they headed for the kitchen for an early supper. Martin breathed in the delicious smell of a stew that Danny must have prepared ahead of time.

The slave again sat on the floor and this time, Jack fed him pieces of bread dipped in the stew. It didn’t seem like a lot to Martin, but then, Danny could have grabbed a quick bowl before they’d come out of the bathroom. Since neither slave nor Master seemed unduly concerned, however, Martin deliberately pushed aside the worry that rose automatically.

After, while Danny cleared the table, Jack said, “I think we should take a little moonlight stroll. How about that, Martin?”

Thrilled by the suggestion, Martin nodded eagerly and asked, “Can Danny come?”

“If he wants,” Jack replied agreeably.

Looking at Danny showed a strangely reluctant expression on the slave’s face. Disappointed, Martin asked, “You don’t want to come?”

“Sorry, bebe,” Danny replied. “Snow and cold aren’t really my thing. But I’ll have nice hot cups of cocoa waiting when you guys come back, how’s that?”

Martin sighed, but nodded. “Sure. That sounds good.”

“God, Martin, don’t give me those eyes,” Danny groaned.

Surprised, Martin replied, “What eyes? If you don’t want to go, then you don’t want to go.”

Danny sighed. “All right already. I’ll go.”

Honestly baffled, Martin opened his mouth to protest when Jack shook his head, grinning briefly. It took them a little time to get dressed and, in the bedroom, Martin said, “You really don’t have to go, Danny.”

Danny cupped his face and promised, “I want to, Martin, honest. It’ll do me good to get some fresh air.”

Still not sure it was what the other man wanted, Martin accepted that Danny at least wanted to do it for him and snatched a quick kiss before ducking away. He smiled at the pleased expression on the slave’s face and continued dressing.

* * * *

It was about two minutes flat before the cold seeped into Danny’s bones, but he had to admit that seeing Martin’s face made bearing the cold worth it. He understood why Jack had come back half frozen that afternoon just from watching the wonder and joy on Martin so clearly felt. He would suffer through the cold and more to keep that pleasure shining on the other man’s face for as long as possible.

They walked slowly along the path with Martin ranging ahead of them only to rush back with a laugh and a grin, pelting loose snow at them. Danny gave into the urge to chase after the other man, indulging in the playful mood he so rarely repressed. Snow and cold wasn’t his preferred playground, but it would do. They played a hybrid of hide-n-seek and guerrilla snowball fights, occasionally tossing a snowball at Jack, just to keep him on his toes.

It was after probably the fifth snowball that hit Jack, at least on Danny’s side, he didn’t know how many Martin had thrown at the other man, that his Master called, “All right, you two, that’s enough! I am not meant for target practice!”

Laughing helplessly at the moonlit, indignant expression on his Master’s face, Danny exclaimed, “Then you should move around more, Master!”

Out of nowhere, a snowball pelted him right in the face, sending Danny staggering back. He tripped on something and landed on his ass flat in the snow.

Jack appeared above him, grinning broadly as he said, “You should take your own advice, slave.”

A peel of laughter burst from Danny when Martin tackled Jack full-body and the two men wound up writhing in the snow a short distance away. Pushing up on his elbows, he watched closely, but saw that Martin was careful of Jack’s injured hand even while they played. Jack got the upper hand, of course, rolling them so Martin was under him.

“God Martin, you’re gorgeous,” Jack said, staring down at the Concubine.

Wanting to see what his Master saw, Danny swiftly clambered over to them. Martin’s smiling, face turned towards him, the other man completely out of breath as he recovered from the wrestling match. Leaning in, Danny kissed his lover, practically tasting joy and laughter on Martin’s tongue. He was nudged away a few seconds later and Jack took over, leaning on his good hand.

“Master? We should go in before he catches a chill,” Danny interrupted when it started to get serious.

As alluring as Martin was now, he knew neither of them wanted the Concubine to come down with anything because of their play. Or any reason, really, and Martin wasn’t really good with making his own boundaries just yet.

Jack left off, reluctance clear in his slow movements. “True enough. All right. Let’s head back. Uh, either of you know which way is back to the cabin?”

Danny had a moment of pure panic before realizing that Jack was kidding from the way his Master’s lips twitched. Glaring at once again being on the receiving end of his Master’s bad sense of humor, Danny retorted, “Not funny.”

Chuckling, Jack stood and helped Martin up as he countered, “The look on your face was more than funny, Danny. It was priceless.”

It didn’t take long before they were back, thankfully, and then Danny was busy getting the promised cocoa ready for his Masters. Bringing out the hot drinks on the tray, Danny knelt before them and held it out until they took the mugs. Setting the tray on the table, he moved towards the fireplace and started rebuilding it. That done, he returned to his place in front of his Masters and waited patiently for any other orders which might come.

Watching them, seeing Martin curled up over Jack’s lap, Danny felt a sense of rightness to his world that had been missing of late. With a deep sigh, he shifted to a slightly more comfortable position and rested his head on Jack’s thigh.

* * * *

Seeing the calm on Danny’s face and having Martin in his arms pretty much negated any discomfort in Jack’s hand. He let them all just relax there for the rest of the evening, watching the fire and talking quietly with Martin about little things. He drew out the Concubine, asking about classes he might want to take in the future, or possibly a part-time job at the library since they would likely be cutting back on his hours at the office.

When the hour grew late, he herded them through the nightly routine and hustled them into bed. Once there, he had some fun watching Martin prepare Danny for a plug and then instructing him how to put on a more confining cockring. Nothing that would cause anything more than denial and minor discomfort for the night, which they both assured Martin before those slender fingers finally pushed it into place. And then Jack was delighted when Martin unexpectedly tickled Danny’s balls, rolling them a little to arouse the slave further.

Jack chuckled and pulled Martin in for a kiss before observing, “We’ll get you comfortable with all of this in no time.”

Martin blushed and ducked his head, but not before Jack caught sight of a hastily stifled grin as the Concubine crawled over the bed and under the covers. Danny settled with a grumble beside Martin, shifting a few times to get comfortable. Jack waited until they were both in place before climbing in behind Danny. He spooned up behind the slave and nuzzled at the warmed skin at the back of his neck. Feeling a little wicked, he reached down and twisted the plug a little, prompting a moan of his name from Danny.

To his further delight, Martin actually reached under the covers and slapped at his hand with an admonishing, “Stop teasing. I’m tired.”

Grinning against Danny’s throat, Jack apologized, “Sorry. Night Martin, night Danny.”

There was a chorused, “Good night,” from them and then he listened as their breathing deepened into that of a real sleep. He wasn’t far behind them.

* * * *

Sunday passed in a comfortable, easy way. Danny and Martin set up a game of chess while Jack did some reading. He was almost done with it when he realized that they were still on the same game. Frowning curiously, he walked over to the table and asked, “Who’s winning?”

“I am.”

Jack grinned at the simultaneous declaration. “I see. Any idea how much longer this epic will continue? It’s almost lunch.”

Danny glanced at the clock and said, “It’s Martin’s turn if he ever decides to move, so I’ll make something to eat.”

Martin made a face at the slave as Danny headed for the refrigerator. Amused at their play, Jack swatted Danny lightly on the ass as he went by and took his seat at the table. Looking over the board, he asked, “You want a hint?”

Shaking his head, Martin answered firmly, “I’m going to beat him this time.”

“You’ve only been playing for a few months, Martin,” Jack pointed out. “Danny’s been at a competition level for a few years now.”

Not that he was trying to diminish the competition, since Martin so rarely felt the urge.

Martin’s chin jutted stubbornly as he repeated, “I’m going to beat him this time.”

Jack held up his hands in surrender. “All right. Don’t say I didn’t offer.”

Lunch was a simple affair of sandwiches and soda, accompanied by lively conversation with everyone in high spirits. The boys returned to their game after the dishes had been cleared and Jack decided to stretch his legs a little. He tried to tempt Martin away, but the Concubine was thoroughly engrossed in his game. Pulling on his jacket, he left the warm cabin and took a few seconds to adjust to the cold before heading down the path.

Jack didn’t go far; certainly not as far as the previous day when he’d been with Martin. Nonetheless, both Martin and Danny looked up in relief when he returned about forty minutes later. Flashing them a smile, he asked, “How goes the battle?”

“I’m winning,” Martin replied proudly.

Giving Danny a questioning look got him a shrug from the slave. There was enough annoyance in the expression to assure him that Danny wasn’t letting Martin win. Shrugging out of his jacket, he said, “Good. It’ll do him good to come down a peg or two.”

Danny snorted. “Thanks, Jack.”

“My pleasure,” Jack quipped, heading for the fire to warm up.

“You want some coffee?” Danny asked.

Shaking his head, Jack answered, “I’m good. Keep playing.”

Jack returned to his spot at the sofa and picked up his book again, but stretched out this time. As he closed the book, Jack yawned and rolled onto his side so he could watch the other two men. Two handsome profiles, each thoroughly engrossed in the board between them, dark eyes and light eyes glued to the pieces as Martin rested a finger on a game piece. He finally slide the piece over the board to another spot, lingering on it a moment longer before removing his finger.

Danny instantly moved another piece and crowed, “Check and mate in two moves, bebe! You can not get out of it this time!”

Martin looked stunned and then demanded, “How?”

Pointing out the moves, Danny said, “Better luck next time, bebe. Although you did put up a hell of a fight. Good game.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Martin grumbled, sitting back. “Set it up again and I’ll take you down right now.”

Given how long the first game had taken, Jack wasn’t all that sure he should let another one start, but then shrugged. They deserved some fun and if it kept Martin indoors, he was all for it. He drifted for a while, letting himself doze while half-listening to the younger men trash talking each other’s moves.

It was early evening when a whoop from Martin woke him out of a sound sleep. Disoriented, it took Jack a few seconds to focus on the young man who was doing a victory dance at the table. Stifling a laugh, Jack sat upright and said, “I gather Martin won.”

Danny threw him a sour look. “Now what makes you think that?”

Jack frowned, about to take him to task for the poor losing.

Martin pulled Danny to his feet and wrapped his arms around the slave first, though. Nuzzling at Danny’s throat, Martin begged shamelessly, “Don’t be mad, Danny. I promise I’ll let you win next time.”

A reluctant smile surfaced and Danny retorted, “Oh you will, will you?”

“Definitely,” Martin promised before kissing him soundly.

Danny immediately opened to the kiss, his hands resting on Martin’s hips. Jack licked his lips as he watched the two trade control of the kiss back and forth. A stirring in his groin caused him to rub his good hand over his crotch. He snorted in amusement, thinking, I haven’t needed the drugs because of all the orgasms.

Not that he was complaining.

Martin maneuvered Danny against the table, blocking the slave from easy view. Jack could hear the gasping moans, though, and grinned lustily when Martin pushed Danny onto his back on the table. He watched as Martin’s hands slid over the bare chest. If nothing else, this little getaway had shown Martin that he could be a lot more uninhibited with Danny.

Getting to his feet, Jack walked over to them and surrounded Martin from behind. He was certainly glad that he’d instituted the ‘no clothing’ rule at the outset; it made for easy access all around. Biting lightly at Martin’s ear, he asked, “What do you want to do with him, Martin?”

“What do you want me to do with him?” Martin countered, rubbing back against him.

“Fuck him,” Jack murmured. “Taking him good and hard, Martin. Show him who he belongs to.”

Martin shuddered and asked breathlessly, “Will you fuck me?”

“Definitely,” Jack promised.

Jack touched Martin’s ass only to encounter a thin, weighted chain escaping the hole. Frowning, he questioned, “What’s this?”

“Ben-wa balls,” Martin explained, breathing heavy. “Danny’s idea while you were sleeping.”

Hissing in lust, Jack tugged the balls free of Martin one at a time. They were a decent size, probably about an inch and a half in diameter, and there were eight, which meant that Martin had basically been preparing himself for however long they’d been in. Jack watched avidly as Martin arched and groaned as they were pulled out. Making sure, Jack pushed two fingers into the tight hole, well pleased when they went in without any sign of discomfort from Martin.

“Take him,” Jack ordered.

Martin took the plug from Danny’s body and Jack shifted so he could watch Martin’s cock disappeared inside their slave. Both of the younger men groaned at the invasion, but it didn’t stop until Martin was balls deep. Jack pushed Martin down on top of Danny and commanded, “Up, Danny.”

Danny’s legs lifted up and around Martin’s narrow waist, changing the angle of penetration so that he shuddered and jerked on Martin’s cock. Jack took that as his cue and moved back into position. Unzipping his pants, he stroked himself a few times before aiming and pushing into Martin’s body, not stopping until he was flush against the Concubine. Jack took a few seconds to savor the tight heat around his dick before thrusting in a firm, steady pace. There was no urgency as he took Martin, not this time, and he reached between the other two men to caress Danny’s chest.

They found a rhythm in short order. Martin moved back as Jack moved forward and Danny added force to the impetus with his legs around them both. The table moved over the floor as the impact grew, stopping only when it hit the counter. Now that they had real purchase and Jack was able to thrust harder and faster without worrying about sending Danny flying off the table.

“Stroke him, Martin, tease him for me,” Jack ordered.

Martin’s body shook under the fucking he got and he gritted out, “I can’t, Jack, the ring’s in place.”

“That’s good,” Jack countered, biting sharply at the Concubine’s throat. “Drive him crazy, Martin. Make him desperate for us. Make him beg.”

It took surprisingly little for that to happen. Scarcely a minute later and Danny was groaning and babbling in Spanish, heels digging into Jack’s hips as he begged to come. Concentrating on Martin now that Danny was taken care of, Jack twisted and pinched first one and then the other nipple. His hand twitched to spank and he quickly shifted from Martin to Danny to relieve that urge, bringing his hand down as hard as he fucked into Martin’s body. Both men cried out; Martin in pleasure and Danny in need. From the way Martin shook and moaned, not to mention the exquisite contractions around Jack’s cock, he knew the Concubine had come.

Jack continued to take the young man as he lay slumped over Danny, panting and struggling back to himself from orgasm. There was nothing like a slow fuck in a pliant, utterly relaxed body and Jack reduced his speed to enjoy his Concubine.

“Master, Master please, I need to come,” Danny begged in English. “Please let me come, please, I’ll do anything.”

But Jack had no intention of letting Danny come. Instead, he withdrew from Martin and helped the young man to the sofa. Returning to Danny, he turned pulled the slave’s legs up over his shoulders, making sure there was no contact anywhere on the slave’s dick before shoving into the recently fucked hole. Danny moaned desperately as Jack rode him hard, maybe sensing that he was simply being used for Jack’s pleasure with no release of his own in sight. Jack grunted as his thrusts grew harder and faster until he humped into Danny’s body without thought or regard, bending long legs back on the slave. It was only a few minutes of mindless rutting before he came, grinding down hard and deep as his seed joined Martin’s inside Danny.

Danny’s legs fell to the side and Jack fell forward onto his slave. Sweaty arms surrounded him, hands petting him through the aftershocks as his heart thundered against his chest. Regaining his composure took some time, but he did finally push upright onto his good arm, staring down into dark eyes that looked up at him with something akin to adoration.

Nuzzling at the side of Danny’s throat, he asked softly, “You want me to beat you now, my own? You want me to spank your ass until you can’t even think of sitting again? Take my belt off and use it on you to make a nice pattern. Or maybe I should get out a paddle. Spank you and then fuck you with the handle? You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

Danny’s mouth opened, but no words escaped as he arched uselessly in Jack’s one-armed embrace.

“I think tonight’s a good night to remind you just who you belong to,” Jack murmured, standing and pulling free of his slave’s body.

Danny whimpered, reaching for him, and Jack tugged him off the table and into his arms. The hot shaft pressed against his lower belly, held upright and straining, leaking onto Jack’s shirt. Clinging to him, Danny begged, “Please, Master, I need to come.”

Jack swatted him hard across the ass and said sharply, “No. And no more begging, or you’ll regret it.”

A shuddery sigh was his answer, accompanied by a nod and a tiny kiss of apology to Jack’s throat.

Jack stood away from Danny and told him, “Bank the fire and then join us in bed.”

“Yes, Master,” Danny agreed softly.

Collecting a subdued Martin from the sofa, Jack led the way into the bedroom with an arm around the Concubine’s waist. “You okay?”

Martin bit his lip and asked, “Is he really going to stay like that all night?”

“Yes,” Jack confirmed. “He needs it, Martin, even if it seems cruel. It’s this or a beating and we’ve seen how well you react to those.”

Swallowing heavily, Martin nodded. “I, yeah.”

“Trust me. This won’t hurt him, although he’ll have a time getting to sleep tonight. Wait until tomorrow and you’ll see a serious difference,” Jack promised.

Martin offered a shaky smile as he said, “I trust you.”

“Good. Now, let’s get cleaned up and hit the sack.”

Danny showed up at the bathroom door while Jack and Martin were finishing their nightly routine. Jack spit out the toothpaste and asked, “Can you go?”

“If you help me,” Danny replied.

Jack motioned him forward and took hold of the red, angry erection, twisting on it painfully tight. Danny moaned in pain, but it softened enough to take off the cockring and relieve himself. Once he was done, Jack returned the ring to its place and kissed Danny hungrily, stroking him back to full length in no time. That done, Jack took two pills to appease Danny’s innate mother-hen, making a big deal of washing both down.

Danny smiled wearily. “Thank you, Master.”

Moments later they were all back in bed, this time with Danny curled up in Jack’s arms and Martin spooned up from behind. Stroking the still damp hair, Jack murmured, “You’re so good, my own, so perfect.”

Danny shivered under the caress and he shifted restlessly.

“Be still, Danny,” Jack ordered softly. “Just be still and relax. Know that I want you like this because I think you’re so perfect like this, suffering for me. That’s it. Drop down for me, baby, let it all go and know I’m here to catch you.”

One last, deep sigh and Danny utterly relaxed on top of him.

“Jack?” Martin whispered.

Jack didn’t move as he asked, “What is it, Martin?”

“What did you just do?”

“Helped Danny drop down into subspace.”

“That’s where he just wants to serve you, right?”

“Among other things,” Jack allowed.

There was a long enough silence that Jack wondered what was going on in the other man’s head. Martin finally asked, “Do you think…is that something I could try sometime?”

Surprised, Jack replied, “If you want.”

“So you think I could do it?”

Jack bit back a grin as he said, “Yes, Martin, I think you could definitely do it.”

“It doesn’t, um, there doesn’t have to be pain, right?” Martin questioned.

Immediately serious, Jack explained, “Not to be a submissive, no. The pain is a completely different thing.”

Martin was silent again before he said, “I want to try it sometime.”

“Then you will,” Jack promised. “Get some sleep, Martin. We’ll talk more tomorrow.”

Yawning, Martin replied, “Night, Master.”

Jack startled at the title, but then smiled, reaching across Danny with his bad hand and resting it carefully on Martin’s hip.

* * * *

Jack was right. Danny was practically a different person the next day. Martin could see where the previous day had been leading up to the change, but the change was dramatic nonetheless. There was an air of utter contentedness that Martin had never seen before. He’d thought that he’d seen a happy, contented Danny, but really hadn’t. Nothing compared with this Danny. Martin watched with some suspicion as the slave hummed happily under his breath while kneeling in obeisance, arms spread to their utmost above his head along the carpet. He’d been in that position for almost an hour without any sign of discomfort or word of complaint.

Sitting at the table, Jack asked, “Still want to try it?”

Martin bit his lip, wondering if he could do what Danny was doing. “I do, but I don’t know if I can.”

“Come here.”

Martin stood and walked around the table to where Jack sat.

“Kneel down here.”

He obeyed somewhat warily.

“Lean against me, like Danny did yesterday.”

Martin shifted so that he could do so. Jack’s hand stroked over his head without any further orders. For a long time, nothing else happened and he slowly relaxed.

“You want to please me, Martin?” Jack asked at last.

Sighing slowly, Martin nodded because he did.

“Then relax, baby. Just relax. Close your eyes and think of different ways you can please me.”

Martin’s mind drifted as he thought that over. Unfortunately, Danny had all the domestic things under his purview. And it wasn’t like he could do much for Jack at the office, either.

“Give me three things, Martin. Tell me what you think will make me happy.”

“I don’t know,” Martin admitted.

Jack kissed the top of Martin’s head as he listed, “Be healthy. Be happy. And love me. That’s all you need to do to make me happy, Martin. Nothing else.”

Surprised, Martin started to sit upright, but the hand on his head kept him stationary.

“No, stay put, Martin, and listen to me.”

Martin relaxed back into position reluctantly.

“All I want, all we both want, is for you to get strong and healthy and stay that way. We want you to be happy, whether that’s at the office or at the library or somewhere else altogether. Just be yourself and love us, Martin, that’s all we ask. That’s what will please me most.”

Jack’s voice soothed him and Martin rubbed his cheek against Jack’s knee as he murmured, “Want to make you happy, Jack.”

That strong hand soothed over Martin’s head again for another long, silent period.

“How do you feel, Martin?” Jack asked softly.

Martin smiled. “I feel good.”

“Relaxed?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s good, baby, very good. Can you do something for me?”

“Anything.”

“Give me your hands, baby.”

Martin stretched as he held up his arms without opening his eyes. Fabric wrapped around both, immobilizing them, and Martin frowned a little, uneasiness rising.

“Ssh, it’s okay baby, everything’s good,” Jack soothed. “No one’s going to be hurt here. There’s no pain, Martin, I promise. I just want to see how pretty you look with silk around your wrists.”

Relaxing at Jack’s explanation, Martin returned to his former position, resting his bound hands in his lap.

A short time later, Jack said, “Keep your eyes closed, baby, just going to put something over them now to keep you easy for me.”

More soft silk rustled over him, this time wrapping around his eyes to act as a blindfold.

“Trust me, baby?” Jack murmured against his ear.

Martin nodded and found himself pulled upright. Jack turned him a couple of times like the children’s game he’d heard of but couldn’t quite remember.

“Walk with me.”

Leaning into Jack’s sideways embrace, Martin simply walked where the other man led, knowing they had to be heading for the bedroom. Sure enough, moments later he was pushed backwards and his knees hit the mattress before he tilted over and wound up flat on his back. His hands were brought up over his head and tied to the headboard, from what he could make out of Jack’s movements. Each ankle was then tied to an opposite corner of the bed, soft silk wrapping around his skin.

Jack sat on the bed near Martin’s shoulder and said, “I just want to look at you like this for a while, baby, is that okay?”

Martin nodded as he breathed, “Anything.”

He didn’t know how much longer they were like that, but then each limb was untied one at a time. The blindfold came off last, but Martin didn’t open his eyes until Jack told him to. He had to blink a few times to bring the other man into focus and when he did, it was to find a surprisingly open expression on Jack’s face. Hesitant, he asked, “Jack?”

“You don’t know how much that meant to me, Martin,” Jack replied. Clearing his throat, he held open his arms and Martin immediately went into them. Sighing deeply, Jack said, “Stay put. I’m going to get Danny.”

Martin did as he was told and Jack was back with Danny in short order. They settled into bed, even though it was only a couple of hours since they’d gotten up in the first place. Martin found himself surrounded by his lovers, his favorite place to be, and asked, “Jack?”

“Yeah, Martin?”

“I don’t feel any different.”

“Not at all?”

Thinking about it, Martin had to admit that he felt more relaxed and ready to let Jack take charge. Not that Jack didn’t do that already, but…it was different in a way he couldn’t explain. Resting his cheek on Jack’s shoulder, he admitted, “Maybe a little.”

“Then that’s a start, Martin,” Jack replied. “Close your eyes now, both of you. We’re spending the rest of the day in bed and you’re going to need your rest.”

Martin grinned to himself, pressing a kiss to the bare skin under him. The mini-vacation hadn’t turned out at all like he’d expected, but there was no doubt he was not only enjoying himself, but learning more about his lovers. He didn’t know how their relationship might change and grow in the future, but just then, he was about as happy as he knew how to be.