The Rules of Love Page 3

  “Of course, old sport. We’re both having a spot of brandy. Care to join us?”

  Thomas nodded, the grim look on his face not dissipating. “Yes, thank you. I believe I need one right about now.”

  After he’d poured his friend a drink and they’d all taken their seats, Saul listened in growing horror at the scene Thomas described that had transpired between him and Preston. What felt like a fist wrapped around his heart as he thought about what Kenneth might be enduring at Preston’s hand.

  No recourse, nothing.

  In his mind he frantically ran through any possible reason he could use to interfere in Preston and Kenneth’s relationship. At the core of the entire issue was the fact that the Hampton Road Club had always been a place where men could practice their sadomasochistic and other tendencies without any reproach. The entire reason Saul had been involved in the club from the beginning was his strong belief that men such as him should have that safe haven. He would be going against his own philosophy if he were to intervene.

  He started from the gentle weight of Aaron’s hand on his. “How are you faring, Saul?”

  Saul grunted. He was hardly the one that needed reassuring. “Based on what Thomas has observed and what I’ve suspected all along, the more appropriate question would be, how is poor Kenneth faring?”

  Aaron removed his hand, but remained leaning forward in his chair. “We need to make sure our emotions don’t color our perception of this situation. It’s no different than working with a submissive man. We can’t lose control—it only confuses matters, causes chaos.” Aaron rubbed his brow. “I assume Preston was photographed in the same manner as all new arrivals?”

  “Of course, old sport.”

  Anyone wishing entry to the club agreed to be photographed in a compromising position before ever being allowed inside. It prevented the merely curious or the faint of heart from reporting back to the authorities or causing any other trouble.

  Aaron nodded. “Then I think we move forward with what you suggested. Let’s gather the board members together before the elections and see if we can’t get some sort of mutual agreement in regard to what is acceptable behavior when men play at the club.”

  Saul glanced between his two good friends. He noted Thomas’ frown.

  “Did you want to add anything to that, Thomas?”

  “I’m surprised at how conflicted I am.”

  “Oh?”

  Saul had met Thomas through Aaron and had come to greatly respect the young Dominant. He’d been instrumental in helping with the scheme that had set Sam free from his bully of a father’s clutches. He knew Thomas possessed a good heart.

  “Yes. I was repulsed by the interaction I had with Preston, and am worried over Kenneth’s well-being too, but I don’t want restrictions placed on men’s desires either. I don’t need to explain to either of you how deeply we’ve had to live in the shadows, how much fear has ruled our lives when it comes to indulging in our pleasures. What if prescribing a set of rules reduces us back to that state where we all judge and try to govern one another’s urges?”

  Saul groaned. Thomas had a point. “Fucking hell. I don’t know.” He met Thomas’ eyes. “What if we at least discuss it with the others? I think I can assume that we can all agree that if anyone—whether we’re speaking of Kenneth or not—is being forced into something they don’t want, then that alone would be worth debating. Am I correct?”

  Thomas nodded again. “Correct. I don’t want you to think I’m a heartless fiend, Saul. I’ve merely been witness to some horrible consequences when men close to me were punished by those who didn’t agree with the way they expressed their love.” His voice hitched. “I…I don’t want to be a party to anything such as that.”

  Saul knew there were events in Thomas’ past that affected him deeply. Aaron was aware of what they were, but had been careful to protect his friend’s secrets. It was yet another thing that brought Aaron higher in Saul’s esteem.

  Aaron stood. “Then let’s get out some notepaper, decide on a day and time, then write up some letters to go out. Besides us, Theodore is also here tonight, so we can give him his directly. The rest we can look up in the library file.” Aaron indicated to the door with his hand. “Shall we, gentlemen?”

  Aaron’s twinkle was back and Saul felt a measure of relief. At least they were moving forward with something resembling a plan. He only hoped that whatever they came up with could help Kenneth. No matter what Thomas said, somewhere deep inside, Saul knew that at least a portion of what Kenneth was experiencing at Preston’s hand was against his will.

  If I can help him…

  He couldn’t finish the thought. Couldn’t allow himself to go to that place where he hoped that Kenneth could somehow become his. All that mattered was Kenneth’s safety. His own happiness was secondary to everything else.

  “Still lost in thought, are we?”

  Once again, Aaron had made him jump. “Good Lord, old sport. One of these days you’re going to give this old man a heart attack.”

  “Perish the thought. And anyway, sometimes I think you have more vigor than the youngest Dominants here. I’ve seen your strength, how well you wield a whip.”

  Saul grunted as they strolled out of the room. “Someone has to keep all of the untrained pups around here in line.”

  Aaron laid a hand on his shoulder. He paused, Thomas continuing down the hallway ahead of them.

  “Yes, but the kennel master should find one to take home and keep. He can’t always give them away to other owners.”

  Saul attempted to give Aaron a smile, perhaps make a jest. Instead, he looked away and kept walking toward the library. Aaron’s words were too true. Too real.

  * * * *

  Kenneth licked at Saul’s crease, explored him thoroughly with his tongue. He probed his lover’s hole, hardening the tip so he could force it past his rim. The response to Kenneth’s ministrations was enthusiastic as the man he pleased wriggled his ass, pushing back as if to encourage Kenneth to breach him more. He kept his eyes tightly shut, concentrating only on the decadent act and the thrill he hoped his partner was experiencing.

  “Enough. I’m ready to fuck him.”

  Jarred from his imaginary interlude by the sound of Preston’s grating voice, Kenneth removed his tongue from Linus’ backside then stood to retrieve the oil Preston would need to enter the young man. Linus let Preston’s hard length slip from his mouth then turned on his knees, bent over then presented himself to an equally naked Preston.

  “That’s nice, very nice.”

  Kenneth glanced idly at Preston as he caressed Linus’ smooth round buttocks as if he were in awe. He never wanted Preston’s hands on him like that again, but went back to imagining that it was Saul touching him with such reverence. He opened the cabinet where all the oils, candles and lighters were stored. There were other items in there too which were still a mystery to him. He wondered about the bits of ginger root, couldn’t comprehend what a man would want to do with such a thing.

  Linus let out a small whimper that struck Kenneth as less than pleased. He turned with the oil bottle in hand and was surprised enough that he almost dropped it on the carpet. Preston was pushing into Linus’ ass forcefully with three fingers and the young man didn’t appear to be enjoying it at all. The only moistener that had been employed had been Kenneth’s tongue. The oil had been meant to soften him for anything else Preston might choose to do with him.

  Linus launched himself forward, but Preston caught him around the waist with his free hand and held him tight.

  “Now, now. Who’s the Master, Linus?”

  Still Preston kept jabbing his fingers in and out of a visibly frightened and struggling Linus. Kenneth froze in horror. He’d never seen any of Preston’s other lovers be mistreated in any way before—that had seemed to be exclusively saved for Kenneth. Preston could be rough, but many of the submissives enjoyed that. Even he had, initially.

  “I asked you a question, boy.” He’d
growled it out the way he did when he had reached the end of his patience, when he was ready to hurt someone.

  “Y-you are, Sir.” Linus’ voice caught on a sob.

  Preston grabbed a handful of Linus’ hair and yanked his head back, the fingers of his other one still buried in the young man’s ass.

  “Master, you imbecile. I’m your Master.”

  “No…I never agreed, you aren’t—”

  Preston pushed Linus’ face into the rug, then removed his hand in order to push the scared man’s thighs further apart. He loomed over Linus, one arm around his throat from behind and Kenneth knew what would come next. Bile crawled up from Kenneth’s belly at the sight—he’d been the recipient of the same treatment at Preston’s hands many times before. Linus began to cry and Kenneth couldn’t stand it. He knew the boy was very young and had probably thought he’d be safe at the club. But it seemed as if no one was safe with Preston anymore.

  Preston leaned over Linus until his mouth was right next to his ear. “When you’re with me, I’m your Master. I tell you what to do. And right now you’re going to take my cock up your ass and you’re going to tell me how much you love it.”

  “Wait!”

  Kenneth hadn’t been able to keep the word from bursting out of him. Preston glared up at him from where he had Linus pinned to the floor.

  “Jealous? Sorry that you aren’t good enough to have my shaft inside you anymore?”

  “Y-yes. Please Master. I miss you.”

  He tried not to cringe at how false his statement had sounded to his own ears. Preston snorted in what sounded like disgust and Linus’ cries increased, tears flowing freely down his cheeks.

  “Such a pretty liar.”

  Kenneth drew his eyebrows together, confused. Preston hadn’t called him pretty in ages. Not since the beginning. He took a chance and stepped forward gingerly. He held the oil out.

  “Please.” He worked desperately to make his voice sound sincere. “It’s our favorite, the one we always used to use before. Remember? When it was just you and me?”

  Linus’ sobs had slowed to light hiccups, but he kept his face down, as if he was trying to hide. Preston’s eyes were narrowed as he continued to regard Kenneth.

  “Yes.” Preston’s tone was one of resignation. “I remember.”

  Kenneth fought to keep his eyes only on Preston’s face as his deranged Master slowly let go of Linus, easing off him until he sat on his haunches. Still Kenneth held the oil out as if it was a soup bone and Preston was a hound dog. Preston stared at it then lifted his eyes to meet Kenneth’s.

  “You’re mine.” It was a simple statement. There was no ire behind it.

  Kenneth nodded with enthusiasm. “Yes. I’m all yours. Please show me. Show me that I belong to you.”

  The temptation to check on Linus was there but he resisted. Preston was so unpredictable that Kenneth knew anything could set him off on the poor boy again. Kenneth sucked in a breath when Preston grabbed Linus’ hair.

  “Out.” Preston was back to growling. “Leave us now.”

  Linus scrambled to his feet, his gaze flitting toward Kenneth. He caught a brief look of relief before he concentrated all his efforts back on Preston. He had to keep the ruse going until Linus was safely away. Preston rose to his feet gracefully. He’d always been a spectacular male. Without glancing his way, he called out to Linus.

  “Tell no one of what went on here tonight or you’ll pay dearly. Understand?”

  Still, Preston never took his gaze off Kenneth.

  “Yes, y-yes Sir. I won’t say a thing.”

  “See that you don’t. Now get the fuck out.”

  The door shut quietly behind Linus, but the sound of his feet hurriedly padding down the hallway could still be heard. Although he was ecstatic that Linus had gotten away, he was back to being alone with the most sadistic man he’d ever met. Preston’s cock was hard and leaking, the rosy tip pointing obscenely toward him.

  He hadn’t been touched sexually by Preston in a very long time. All of the other younger, sweeter things had taken on that duty. The thought of his purported Master entering him was repugnant, but he had to see it all the way through. Preston had been acting more erratically in recent months, and Kenneth had the sad feeling that he might have to come to the rescue of another man in the near future. If he faltered in his deception, he wouldn’t know what to do the next time.

  Preston came within arm’s length of Kenneth then stopped. He reached out then caressed Kenneth’s cheek with the back of his hand. It was startling to receive such a tender gesture from him.

  “Very pretty.”

  Preston had mumbled it under his breath as if Kenneth wasn’t there and he was saying it to someone else. He was even more surprised when he detected the faintest quiver in Preston’s bottom lip.

  “But such a liar.”

  Kenneth’s head snapped back from the force of the blow across his face and the vial of oil went flying across the room. Preston slapped him again—and again. He continued to alternate on each side, sometimes using the back of his hand, sometimes open palmed. Kenneth stumbled back, knowing better than to try to defend himself from the attack. At last Preston stopped, his chest heaving from the exertion.

  Moisture trailed down his chin and he tried to swipe at it but Preston caught his wrist in mid-air.

  “No. Stick your tongue out and lick it clean.”

  There was an almost maniacal look in Preston’s eyes, so he didn’t dare argue that his tongue couldn’t reach all the way to the end of his chin. He did as he was told and winced at the sting in his lip. As soon as he tasted the coppery flavor off his own skin, he realized that it was a trail of blood that Preston wanted him to lap up.

  Preston hissed. “Yes. Like that.” He let go of Kenneth’s wrist to push him down to the floor by his shoulders. “Now suck me. Take me all the way in. Make it good—or else.”

  Kenneth let the tears flow freely as he pleasured the man who still saw himself as his Master. The more he opened up to swallow Preston’s cock, the more the painful agony from the split in his lip assailed him.

  With a sudden grunt, Preston unloaded his seed down Kenneth’s throat. Once he’d swallowed all of Preston’s cum and licked him clean, he stayed on his knees, waiting for his next orders. If only Preston knew how much he’d wanted to serve him when they’d first met, how much he would’ve given him. He’d never been afforded the opportunity to offer his submission—Preston had simply taken it. But whatever it was he’d wrested from Kenneth hadn’t been enough for him to ever treat Kenneth with anything but disdain.

  Preston stepped back. He then lifted one foot and used it to topple Kenneth over by kicking his shoulder.

  “Use the facilities and wash the rest of that blood off. Then get dressed. I’ve tired of this whole evening. I just want to go home.” Preston glared at him. “Hurry, you miserable excuse for a man.”

  Home.

  Kenneth hung his head as he gathered his clothes then did as he’d been told. Some words held promises that could never be realized.

  Chapter Three

  “So we meet Friday evening at seven, correct?”

  Saul glanced around the library at his fellow Dominants. Aaron had located Theodore, who had been with his submissive partner, Francesco. He’d briefly explained what was going on, taking care not to alert Francesco that anything was amiss. They couldn’t risk word getting around that there was any type of discord at the club.

  Crossing his arms over his chest, Theodore nodded. “I think it’s important we have a chance to discuss this, even if we don’t all agree on how it should be handled.”

  Theodore was an attorney for many of the actors, directors and producers in Hollywood and was a stellar negotiator. Saul was certain he would be able to look at the issue from all angles.

  “I agree, Theo. I think we’ve been behind the eight ball on this one.”

  A light tap sounded at the door and they all regarded one another with a bit o
f confusion. It was very late and the men who might still be at the club playing would have no reason to come to the library unless invited.

  Aaron cocked an eyebrow at Saul and Saul shrugged. Rising from one of the chairs that had been placed in front of the large mahogany desk, Aaron strode to the door then opened it slightly.

  “Francesco?”

  The surprise in Aaron’s voice mirrored Saul’s own shock. The submissives were strictly forbidden from wandering about the mansion unattended. A beautiful naked man without an escort could be too easily taken advantage of. Saul frowned as he considered it. There had at least been a few rules put into place to protect the men who gave of themselves. Why hadn’t he ever taken it any further?

  Because the men who started with me at Hampton were honorable and good. It hadn’t seemed necessary.

  Theodore had already rushed to Francesco’s side upon hearing Aaron speak. There was a whispered exchange between them and from what Saul could tell, Theodore was agitated. He could only assume it was due to his submissive’s unannounced appearance.

  Theodore ducked his head back into the room. “Would you excuse me for a moment, gentlemen? I need to speak with Francesco privately.”

  “Of course, no need to ask, old sport.”

  After Theodore left with his boy, Saul busied himself with writing up more invites to the remaining five board members. There were nine in total so that there would always be a deciding vote. As confident as he was that the existing board would make it intact through the upcoming election, he still didn’t want to take a chance.

  And even if Preston is elected, there would still be eight other men contributing their opinions.

  Until they’d all met and discussed the current concerns, however, Saul really had no clear idea where the remaining members would stand on such an issue. He glanced up as Theodore reentered the library with Francesco in tow. He’d assumed that Theodore would have attended to whatever it was that Francesco needed, then would have taken him back to the submissives’ den.