Page 22 of No Rules
Ryan thanked them for their time and told them to reach out if they had any additional thoughts. As he and Alex walked back to Jesse’s house, he went over the conversation. How did a woman with such deep roots in the horse racing community, and who was by all accounts respected and liked, end up with an enemy who hated her enough to commit such a horrific act of violence against an innocent animal?
“Did you get anything from that?” Alex asked.
“General impressions. Nothing concrete. Certainly nothing to suggest they’re hiding anything.” He sighed. “I still have no clue where to look with this case. It’s gonna take some more digging.”
“But we’re done for the day, right?”
Ryan shot him a sideways look. “Why? You got plans? Don’t tell me you have another scene planned for tonight because that’s stupid. You need time to recover. In fact, Mark should’ve checked in with you already and made sure you were okay.”
“No, we don’t have another scene planned, and he already texted to ask how I’m doing. What do you have against him?”
Nothing, really. Except for that irrational anger that Mark was doing something Ryan wanted for himself. “Why doesn’t Wander train you?”
Alex frowned. “Because he’s with Burke.”
“He doesn’t need to make it sexual.”
“I want it to be sexual. I like serving.”
Yeah, he did. Ryan had never met anyone who got such deep, filthy pleasure from submissive sex as Alex. He did whatever Ryan wanted, completely focused on Ryan’s commands. A dedication like that was rare, even in a sub. “I know.”
“Then why suggest that?”
“I was just…” How could he explain it to Alex when he had no fucking clue what had come over him? He was tired and frustrated, and none of that was on Alex. Didn’t mean he couldn’t take it out on him though. They’d reached the front door, and Ryan punched in the code and waited for it to open. “Never mind. Why did you ask if we were done?”
Alex walked past him. “‘Cause I’m still hurting a little from yesterday and could use a shower and some more aloe vera on my ass before dinner.”
Ryan’s mouth ran dry at the thought of seeing Alex’s perfect ass with marks on it. Not his marks, but still. He checked his watch. Dinner wasn’t for another half hour. Plenty of time. “We’re done with work for today.”
Something in his tone must’ve alerted Alex because the kid spun around. “Ryan…”
He took a step toward him. “Drop your pants, baby boy. Show me that red ass. If you can parade it in front of your precious Master Mark, you can damn well show it to me.”
Jesus, he couldn’t believe he’d said that. Where had that come from? He’d sounded almost…jealous.
Alex’s cheeks reddened. “You can’t… I mean, I’m not sure if…”
Ryan yanked him forward and, with rough hands, unzipped Alex’s pants and shoved them down. Alex’s blue eyes were wide open, but he wasn’t saying anything, letting it happen. Oh fuck, look at that ass. Beautiful red welts covered the skin in a symmetrical pattern. Mark had used a crop, and he’d done a good job of marking Alex’s entire ass. As much as Ryan hated to admit it, he couldn’t have done a better job himself.
“How does it feel?” Ryan trailed his fingers over the red lines, which were hot to the touch.
Alex swallowed. “I like it. It’s…grounding.”
“You know what I really love?”
“I’m afraid to ask.”
“Fucking a burning red ass like that. Hands against the wall.”
“Ryan, we’re in the hallway… Can’t we at least go—”
“If I wanted to fuck you in a bedroom, I would’ve done so. Spread your legs and stick out that ass.”
He unzipped himself and took his cock out. Alex’s gaze dropped to his cock. Did the boy even realize he was licking his lips? He was always so hungry for it.
But Ryan had one line he wouldn’t cross. He always gave Alex a choice. He’d shoved his pants down, but he wouldn’t physically put him against the wall. That had to be Alex’s decision and proof he wanted this.
The battle playing on Alex’s face was so evident. He wanted this, but the thought of others seeing him was humiliating…but also turned him on. The kid had such a humiliation kink, though he hadn’t fully embraced it yet. Jesus, the things Ryan could do with that, how he could push those buttons deep inside Alex. He hadn’t even begun to scratch the surface with him.