Page 53 of No Rules

“Please, Sir. Please flog me again.”

The vulnerability in Alex’s voice lit a fire in Ryan’s belly, and he complied, striking Alex’s back and ass with measured force, alternating between gentle caresses and sharper blows. The sound of leather against skin mingled with Alex’s moans and whimpers as he breathed through each strike.

“Fuck, you’re doing so well for me,” Ryan praised.

The pattern he was laying across Alex’s back and ass was perfectly symmetrical, a work of art. Neat lines, all at equal distances, crisscrossed his flesh as Alex’s body shuddered and arched beneath the flogging. The sight fueled Ryan’s desire, his absolute dominance surging through his veins with potency.

When Alex’s breaths turned into sobs, he eased off. As much as he wanted to push Alex further, to test their connection and see how far it could go, his responsibility as a Dom went beyond indulging in his own desires. Alex had to come first, even if it meant denying himself the thrill of taking things one step further.

“Enough.” Ryan set the flogger aside and untied Alex, who sagged, his legs buckling. Ryan caught him and lowered them to the floor, then wrapped his arms around a trembling Alex. “You did so well, my beautiful boy.”

“Thank you, Sir.” He leaned into Ryan’s embrace, seeking comfort.

Ryan nuzzled his hair, content to sit on the floor and hold him. He’d been so turned on, so intent on fucking Alex right after the flogging, and now all he wanted to do was sit and cuddle. What the fuck was happening? Why did everything feel so different with Alex? Why did their connection defy all of Ryan’s attempts to maintain emotional distance?

Ryan couldn’t ignore the truth any longer. Alex was changing him, and there’d be no going back.

It scared the shit out of him.

17

Alex paced in his room, his heart pounding like a wild drumbeat as he reread his father’s text. His fingers twitched with the urge to strum his ukulele, wanting to seek solace in the familiar melodies that always brought him comfort. What the fuck was he going to do? He couldn’t refuse to see him, but his father was no dummy. If he so much as caught a glimpse of the stuff happening in Jesse’s house, he’d know what was up. And Alex couldn’t bear the thought of his father’s disapproval. They’d always been close, and losing that connection would cut like a knife.

“Hey, baby boy.” Ryan’s rough voice cut through Alex’s thoughts. Startled, he turned. Ryan was leaning against the doorframe, tattoos peeking out from beneath the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt. Why did the man always look so damn sexy? “You look like you’re trying to wear a hole in the floor.”

“Sorry, I didn’t hear you come in.” Alex attempted a weak smile.

Ryan frowned as he pushed off the doorframe and crossed the room. “What’s wrong?”

Alex swallowed. “My father is stopping by this afternoon.”

“General Beck is in town?”

Alex wasn’t surprised Ryan knew who his father was. He’d counted on Ryan doing background checks on all of them, including Alex. “He had meetings yesterday and this morning in the Pentagon, but he’s catching a train right after to come see me.”

“And you’re worried about him discovering what’s going on here.”

“Can you blame me? He’s always been accepting of me being gay, but this is on a whole nother level.”

Ryan put his hands on Alex’s shoulders. “I’ll talk to everyone, make sure they behave.”

Hope filled Alex’s heart. “You’d be willing to do that for me?”

“All part of my services as Dom.”

“Thank you.” Some tension left his body. “I appreciate it. He…he doesn’t know I’m a sub, and I’m not sure I want to tell him.”

“That’s your choice, but do you think he’ll have an issue with it?”

Alex bit his lip. “He’s a one-star general in the US Army. They’re not known for being progressive. Hell, he had a meeting with General Flint yesterday, and we all know where that man stands on gays in the military.”

Ryan sighed. “Yeah, no kidding. Doesn’t mean your dad is the same though.”

“True. I just… Does he need to know? Does your mom know?”

“About my relationship with Quinton? Yeah, she does. I told her ‘cause I wanted her and my sister to know in case something ever happened to me.” His face tightened. “Never in a million years had I imagined it would be him instead of me.”

Alex put a hand on Ryan’s arm. Words were superfluous, so he didn’t even try.