Oak, Sophie - Siren Beloved [Texas Sirens 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (3 page)

Chapter Two

Aidan O’Malley ignored the searing pain in his lower back. He knew it, like all the other pains that plagued his body, would give over once it realized he wouldn’t give in. He held his position, downward-facing dog, and sure enough felt the bunched muscles in his back ease.

“You are one rough motherfucker. You know that, right?”

Leo’s voice rang through the small gym and brought him out of his almost meditative state. He brought his left leg up and patiently finished the sun salutation before turning to face one of his current mentors.

“For doing yoga?” Aidan asked. He grabbed the bottle of water he’d brought and took a long drink. “Most of my friends back home would think it was a pussy thing to do.”

Which was precisely why they were no longer his friends.

Leo laughed sharply, and his eyes drifted down to the scars that covered Aidan’s legs. He couldn’t see the ones on his back, but Aidan was sure Leo was thinking of those, too. “Well, you weren’t walking a year ago. I think you being able to bend your body like a pretzel is just short of miraculous.”

Aidan bowed slightly to the man who had taught him how to “bend like a pretzel.” Leo Meyer had been very good to him. He’d taken a desperate man and taught him to focus. If it hadn’t been for Leo, Aidan would have fucked up a long time ago. He would have gone after Lexi and Lucas and more than likely gotten his ass handed to him. Leo had been the one to preach patience. Julian had been the one to demand it.

And Julian had also been the one to request his presence here today. Though Julian’s “requests” were always couched in perfect courtesy, Aidan knew an order when he heard one. “So, do you want to clue me in on why I’m here? I’m not scheduled to work until next weekend.”

“Get dressed. We’re having breakfast with the boss, and he’s not in a pleasant mood. Oh, and to top off the beginning of what looks to be an interesting day for you, both of your bosses will be joining us.”

Aidan stopped in the middle of pulling his shirt over his head.
Damn it
. Jack Barnes was here. He should have dressed better. He should have brought along his computer so he could show him the monthly numbers. He’d kept ultra careful records since that first business meeting with the man he hoped would be his father-in-law—and his brother-in-law. Damn, it was still weird to think that way. Jack was Lexi’s stepfather and Lucas’s half brother. Aidan needed a road map to figure out all the familial reasons he needed to watch his step around Jack Barnes.

“You’re panicking. I can feel it from here.”

Aidan pulled the T-shirt over his head. “So now you’re psychic, too?”

Leo slapped him on the back and started walking down the corridor. “Well, according to my mother, anything is possible. You need to calm down. You’ve proven yourself to Jack. He wouldn’t have gone into business with you if he was going to kill you.”

Aidan pushed the button to the elevator. He wasn’t so sure about that. If Jack Barnes thought he could make an enemy’s life wretched hell on earth by going into business with that person, he would likely sign the paperwork with a smile on his face. Jack Barnes was known for playing long games when it came to revenge.

Leo shook his head and proved to Aidan that he might be a mind-reader. “He’s not playing games with you. You’re about to find that out once and for all. Lexi had an episode last night.”

Now that was a kick in the crotch. His carefully constructed walls threatened to crumble at the mere mention of her name. He forced himself to breathe. “What happened and where the hell was Lucas?”

It wasn’t fair. He knew it. He’d left Lucas to pick up the pieces, but damn it, Lucas was supposed to take care of her. Aidan could still remember Lucas’s emerald eyes staring a hole through him as he vowed to take care of the woman they both loved. Aidan had been walking out at the time.

“Lucas had business in Chicago. He was there with Julian’s partner, Finn. I believe he was doing some business for Barnes-Fleetwood. There’s a chain of gourmet groceries Jack’s negotiating with now that he’s been able to up his production.”

Aidan knew all about the deal. He was the reason Barnes-Fleetwood was growing. He’d added his herd to theirs and was now toeing the company line on organic cattle ranching. Aidan’s brother Bo had been against it, but he hadn’t been left the family ranch. “What happened to Lexi?”

“Apparently a good portion of Napa Valley, and then she chose to spend the evening with Jose Cuervo.”

Fuck
. She was a terrible lightweight when it came to liquor. The elevator door opened, and Leo led him through the doors to Julian’s penthouse. Aidan could hear Julian’s low growl.

“That’s ten for you, little one. That is gossip, and I don’t care that she’s your friend. I don’t allow gossip, and you know it.” Julian was sitting at an elegant table growling into his cell phone.

Jack Barnes sat beside him, thoughtfully sipping a cup of coffee. The breakfast in front of him looked untouched. Jack gestured that Leo and Aidan should join them.

Julian continued his apparently contentious conversation. “Excuse me. What did you say to me? For your information, Danielle, the stick up my ass has served me well over the years. I will not be removing it, but I might have something to shove up yours when you return from class.”

Leo smiled as a well-dressed servant placed a plate of bacon and eggs and pancakes in front of him. “Sounds like Dani’s in trouble.”

“All of our women are in trouble today,” Jack said, frustration evident in his tone. “Dani called Finn. That’s why Lucas showed up this morning when he was supposed to be in Chicago. Julian considers it gossiping. I believe Dani is arguing that she was talking to one of her husbands about a dear friend.”

“Danielle, you know the rules of this club,” Julian was saying into the phone. “A very bratty ‘I’m sorry’ isn’t going to do it. And while we’re at it, Finn is due some punishment, too. He passed on your little snippet of information to Lucas, and Lucas nearly disrupted my plan.”

Aidan felt his heart start to race as he had a sudden suspicion why he had been called in. Was it really time? He felt like he’d been waiting for years.

“I love you, too, little one. And I am going to deeply enjoy spanking that gorgeous ass of yours tonight.” Julian’s normally placid face broke into a grin. “I’m glad you’re looking forward to it. Make sure our Finn knows he’s in trouble, too. Goodbye, Danielle.” He set the cell down and turned to Leo. “Make sure I have two whipping chairs in the dungeon tonight. My subs require a bit of public punishment.”

“Julian, I’m glad you have something to look forward to. Could we move on? This is serious.” Jack leaned forward and stared at Leo. “Is he ready?”

Fuck yeah, he was ready
. Aidan wanted to shout it from the rooftops, but that might prove to Jack that he wasn’t ready. He sat calmly and tried to give off an air of confidence. He was confident. He was ready. He’d been ready for eighteen months in his heart. His body finally had the discipline to catch up. He’d been studying under Leo for the past six months. He’d worked with several submissives, and each one had claimed he was an excellent Dom. He was ready to move on to someone he genuinely cared about.

Leo paused in his wolfing down of breakfast. “He’s absolutely one of the best students I’ve ever taught. I would trust him with my own sub.”

Jack’s eyes rolled. He looked so much like Lucas at times like this, it made Aidan’s heart hurt a little. “You don’t have a permanent sub. And this is my stepdaughter we’re talking about. I have to make sure. My wife is already going to have my head for this. She doesn’t exactly like you, Aidan.”

“I understand, sir.” Abigail Barnes was a bridge he would have to cross when he got to her. If she didn’t shoot him first. “I promise you that I will do whatever it takes to win Lexi’s mom over.”

At one point, she’d been an ally. Abby Barnes had been thrilled when he’d asked Lexi to marry him. She and Lexi had planned that wedding, their heads together as they looked at the bridal books. He’d been on a plane to South Carolina the day he was supposed to get married. His honeymoon had been spent at Fort Jackson getting his ass handed to him when he should have been in Hawaii with Lexi and Lucas. He should have married Lexi and worked Lucas into his life, but he’d been too scared.

His mind didn’t even cringe now at the thought of Lucas. At the time, he’d been so bound by convention that the night he’d spent with the two of them had seemed like a direct line to Perdition. Now he’d seen hell, and damn it, he wanted heaven.

Jack Barnes looked like he had known a bit of both, too. “Just watch your balls, son. I’m afraid my wife won’t hesitate to cut them off.”

Julian smiled, a bright, open smile Aidan wasn’t used to seeing on the Dom’s face. “She took Samuel’s, after all.”

Jack shook his head. “You were easier to deal with when you didn’t have a sense of humor.”

“Well, Jackson, you are being a bit gloom and doom about this whole thing. I, for one, am glad Alexis gave me the perfect opportunity to fix her. She and Lucas have been in limbo for far too long. Now she can face Aidan and move on—with him or without him. It’s up to Aidan, but I’m doing it for Alexis and Lucas. Never forget that.” Julian turned to Aidan, and his previous happy expression was suddenly dark and dangerous. It reminded Aidan of his reputation as a man who didn’t mind doing the dirty work. “If you hurt them again, I assure you, no one will find the body.”

Aidan believed him. He’d learned a few things about Julian Lodge, and he didn’t want to fuck with the man. “I am in this for the right reasons. And I have no intention of allowing either one of them to move on without me. We’re going to be together. I’m going to make this work.”

Julian nodded and turned his attention back to his eggs. “See that you do, then. Lexi has an appointment with Leo this afternoon. If he clears her for play, you can begin tonight. The punishment is public, you understand?”

And just like that, his cock got hard. Fuck, he would have to watch that. The thought of Lexi bound and waiting for his discipline was an image that tightened every muscle in his body. “And Lucas?”

Julian studied him for a moment. “Lucas isn’t being punished.”

Now Jack’s green eyes pinned him as well. “I thought you had pushed past your problems with bisexuality.”

Aidan felt like someone was shining a bright light in his face and interrogating him.

“He’s fine,” Leo assured them. “Trust me, we’ve worked through this in session. He’s good to go.”

Leo’s sessions usually involved getting Aidan to talk while they worked out. Aidan had found himself pouring his heart out to the man before realizing it was a “session.” Aidan had rapidly realized that Leo was an odd psychotherapist, but an effective one. “I’m comfortable with it, Jack.”

“He is.” Leo smirked. “He’s all about the butt sex now.”

And he was a sarcastic one. Aidan turned to stare at him in what he hoped was an intimidating fashion. Julian and Jack were already there.

Leo just shrugged and grinned. “Hey, it’s totally masculine. It’s cowboy butt sex.”

Julian snorted, but Jack just rolled his eyes. “Didn’t you fire that asshole?”

Julian sighed and sat back. “More than once.” Julian went back to being the jovial host. “Excellent. If you’re ready, then we can proceed. You may punish Alexis after I get through with my naughty little slaves. Oh, and add some extra licks for her language last night. Is there a reason all the women in my life are concerned with sticks being up my ass?”