Page 24 of No Rules

Ryan pulled out, and Alex blinked his eyes open. What was happening?

Wander stepped close and brought his mouth right next to Alex’s ear. “I’m checking consent with you, Alex. It’s fine by me if our entire team has a go at your ass, but I need to make sure you’re okay with it, that this is what you really want. And it’s okay to say no or that you’re not ready for it yet.”

Alex’s insides went soft. He had the best boss in the world. “Is it weird that I like the idea and hate it at the same time?”

“Nope, it’s a common reaction to humiliation play. But it’s another reason why double-checking consent matters. Subs can’t always sense the difference between the good kind of being humiliated and true shame, if that makes sense.”

This conversation had to rank high among the most absurd situations Alex had ever been in. Here he stood, his pants around his ankles, his ass on display after getting railed in front of his boss, and they were having a calm talk as if they were discussing the weather. But he appreciated Wander looking out for him. “I’d be okay with it another time, I think, but not now. It’s too much.”

“Completely understandable.”

“Thank you…Sir.”

Wander stepped back and smiled. “You’ll make a wicked fine sub, boy.”

He turned to Ryan, and his face hardened. “You have a choice to make. Either you’re in, or you’re out. I’ve tolerated this bullshit from you long enough. Make up your mind and choose. No more of this half-assed shit, yeah?”

What was that about? He sounded mad.

Alex couldn’t see Ryan’s face, but Ryan’s voice was tight when he said, “I hear you.”

“See that you do.” Wander made his way back over to Jesse and slapped his back. “Let’s find you a willing boy to take care of your little problem, my friend. And once that’s done, I’m gonna find my boyfriend.”

They walked off, and Alex and Ryan stared after them until they were out of sight.

“Where were we?” Ryan asked, but it sounded forced.

He finished quickly after that, and so did Alex, who only needed a few tugs on his cock to come. But when Ryan thanked him and took off, Alex stood there, unsettled. Something had just happened, but what? Other than Wander and Jesse having watched him get fucked. Wander had sent some kind of message to Ryan, but one Alex couldn’t decipher.

He still hadn’t figured it out by the time he’d showered, put some more cream on his ass, and shown up for dinner in the large dining room. Everyone else was already there…except for Ryan. Antisocial as the guy was, he never missed mealtimes. Wander had made it clear those weren’t optional, and they had to officially cancel if they wouldn’t be present so Jesse’s housekeeper wasn’t making too much food. What was going on?

Alex tried to act normal, but his stomach was in knots, and he barely ate. When dinner was done, he approached Wander. “Where’s Ryan?”

Wander’s eyes softened. “I don’t know, but don’t worry about it.”

“Did I do something wrong?” He shouldn’t ask, not when it made him look so insecure, but the uncertainty ate at him. Had he fucked up somehow?

Wander put a hand on his shoulder. “No. You did nothing wrong, kiddo. This is all Ryan. He has some…personal demons he’s wrestling with.”

Personal demons? Alex had no trouble imagining that. “Okay.”

Wander gave him a scrutinizing look, then sighed. “Why don’t you wait for me in Jesse’s office? We need to talk a bit more, but in private. I’ll be right there.”

“Yes, sir.”

Jesse’s office was empty, and Alex settled in one of the comfortable leather chairs, though even that made him wince with the sting in his ass. A few minutes later, Wander joined him, carrying a cup of tea for Alex and a coffee for himself.

“What’s going on in your head?” Wander asked. “And before you answer that, please know this isn’t criticism. I’m looking out for you, both as your boss and as a Dom.”

“Thank you. I’m…I’m confused, I guess. About Ryan. He loves fucking me, gets a kick out of pushing my buttons, but he’s emotionally completely detached, and I can’t figure out why.”

“You want more with him?”

“Not like a relationship. Hell, no. I know he’s not the type for that. But we could still be…friends, sort of? At least connect on another level than just physically. Or am I being too idealistic here?”

Wander’s smile was genuine. “You have a big heart, Alex. It’s one of the reasons I hired you.”

“For real?”