“But we do this at my pace.” Lafayette sauntered over to one of the ornately carved antique cherry armoires in the corner. “Head toward the wall.” Lafayette wasn’t even looking in his mate’s direction, but he was correct. Beau’s head pointed to the direction of the sound of Lafayette’s footstep as if he tried to track his movements.
“Yes, Master.” Beau’s head swung back around so his nose pointed to the wall.
Catching Alex’s eye, Lafayette reminded him, “You need to always set the pace and keep progression of the session based on what your mate needs and not what he think he wants.” He rubbed the paddle over Beau’s backside. “Not time for you to be thinking, is it?”
“No, Fayette. I mean Master. Make me fly.” His words broke off into a satiated moan as he absorbed the first strike. Lafayette pulled the paddle back and landed it again, the sound echoing off the walls.
Talon’s soft whimper drew Alex’s attention. His dominant feathered hands over his body. The action shouldn’t have been torture. Alex slid closer to understand the dynamic.
Alex could feel his face heat up when his eyes wouldn’t stay off the chastity device Talon wore. The artistically designed silver dragon encircled his shaft in a rather ingenuous way to prevent unauthorized eruptions. The throbbing erection beaded and the moisture rolled out of the dragon’s mouth and down the spiraled scales encircling the flesh.
Dom Tom stepped away from his mate, motioning with his head for Alex to follow him out of hearing distance of Talon. “At times, you need to alter what your mate needs. A need can be a crutch. Part of your job is to help heal the wounds so your mate, or in your case, mates, can reach their full potentials.”
Alex thought about Cutter and his apparent need to hurt himself. He understood self-abuse was a way to bring his internal pain, strong emotions, and stress under control. He prayed the facility Storm found for him really helped. If not, they would have to find a way to help him deal with life without turning to cutting for relief. BDSM might be able to offer Cutter a break from the troubles of his reality long enough to refresh him so he could face the challenges he had. He certainly appeared intrigued by flirting with the suggestions of discipline during Ulrich’s party.
Dom Tom prowled back to his mate. “And another part of your job is to help your mate have fun.” He grinned evilly before he turned his attention to tickling Talon breathless. Storm was always serious all of the time. Well, when he wasn’t being a jackass. Maybe Alex could help his mate find happiness and play during sexual exploration. He quietly snorted. The virgin top plans to teach one of his mates to have fun during sex. Maybe he should have sex before thinking about directing it for a purpose.
A gasp let Alex know the mood had changed to one of physical love. Dom Tom and Talon had finished with their play and barreled headfirst toward sex. Alex thought it best to return to Lafayette and Beau.
Lafayette acknowledged him with a nod but didn’t speak. He had switched from the paddle to the crop. Every strike to Beau’s deeply reddening skin caused a moan of sensual agony. Lafayette, who had clearly found his top space, kept up a rhythm until Beau hung limply from the rings. Instantly, the man moved to unbuckle his mate from the straps. Beau stumbled back into Lafayette’s arms.
Talon’s cries of pleasure rang out loud enough to force Alex to turn and watch. The silver dragon was tossed to the side, abandoned, allowing Talon to enjoy his mate fully. His body rippled as Dom Tom sucked on him. Alex spun away and focused on Beau and Lafayette.
Lafayette half carried his lethargic mate to the side of the room where a cozy makeshift bed had been prepared on one of the larger padded tables in anticipation of Beau’s requirements of aftercare. Lafayette did everything by the book. He rested Beau on his side as he cooed soft words of praise to him.
“Alex, would you grab me a water and a blanket,” Dom Tom called out from across the room. He was still on his knees providing oral love.
Alex hesitated at the refrigerator long enough for Dom Tom to complete the activity. When Alex approached him with the cold bottle of water, the dominant cuddled Talon protectively to him. “Thanks. Remember aftercare is vital. Isn’t it, my pet?”
Talon nodded but never opened his eyes as he snuggled closer to his master. Dom Tom took the red fleece blanket and wrapped Talon up in its warmth. “When a scene is done, their temperature can drop with the absence of stimulation.”
Alex nodded mutely. He’d read about how critical it is for the dominant not to abandon the sub. The completion of a BDSM scene, much like strenuous exercise, needed a cool-down period. It was like a re-entry into reality. Sometimes, that involved sex.
Across the room, the movements of the blankets cocooning Lafayette and Beau reinforced that they used sex to come down from their high as well. Beau’s cries of “Harder, harder” only confirmed the theory.
Alex made himself scarce as the two couples celebrated their love for one another.
Chapter Eight
“Happy Birthday, Alex!” Beau pulled him into a hug and whispered, “Remember the physical changes of this secondary transition will begin right after midnight. Make sure you’re in bed.”
Alex didn’t need to be reminded. Though he didn’t experience much strain over transitioning into a zombie, this other type of transition stayed ever-present in his mind. How would it affect his mates? What changes would occur? He’d continued to work with Lafayette and the doctor on the practical issues of evolving into a dominant zombie, but this event was rare enough that neither understood exactly what would transpire.
Only the doctor, Beau, Lafayette, Dom Tom, and Talon knew what he would be going through this evening. He hadn’t told Uli because he didn’t know what to say.
Jasper and Kai stepped up and shouted, “Happy Birthday!” Ulrich’s cousin and his mate had become good friends. But the secret smiles and private jokes they shared made Alex wistful for his mates.
Kai lied poorly. “Sorry we can’t stay to celebrate with you, but someone needs to cover the shifts in the club.” There was no way the guy wanted to be here for the traditional part of the zombie’s birthday celebration. It was the main reason Alex always refused invitations.
Beau snickered and Lafayette crossed his arms to stare down at his mate. Beau stopped the noise but his shoulders shook with the effort to lock away his glee. The co-founders of Club Zombie were a riot to watch.
Smiling, Jasper put Kai out of his misery. “And we want to make sure you aren’t feeling inhibited with any choices you make tonight.”
Kai grimaced but allowed Jasper to lead him out of the door. Alex wasn’t sorry to watch them go because he didn’t want Uli to feel any undue discomfort when the traditions were followed as prescribed.
Before Lafayette firmly led his mate away, he warned Alex one more time. “Get to bed before midnight and try to sleep.”
Alex could almost feel his insides reform. The sensation must be psychosomatic. Lafayette had assured him no physical changes would happen until after midnight. His body would naturally put him to sleep before his body transformed. The doctor assured him the change wasn’t more than added muscle mass and occasionally a little height gained.
Uli came off the dance floor to rejoin him with Storm and Cutter on either side. “Are you having fun?”
Before he got a chance to answer, a zombie he didn’t know well begged, “Spank me, Alex. Please it’s your birthday. Pick me to spank in your new year.”
The doctor had warned him that the other zombies might respond to his change. Apparently, anyone with a submissive nature would crave to be with him, because whatever he was giving off was akin to “sub-nip”. Recently, Alex had grown used to the subtle flirting but never did they dare become overt in their suggestions. But already this evening, a number of them begged to submit or provide sexual relief to him.
Uli glared at the other zombie and shoved the offender away. Storm and Cutter were the only non-zombies in attendance at his birthday bash. Beau had given him permission to invite Storm and Cutter since he hoped they would be part of the family soon. Alex tried to bow out, but Lafayette suggested he needed to begin changing how he interacted with others. If he were to have three mates he couldn’t avoid conflict; he needed to meet difficulties straight on. Here he was doing just that.
Storm scowled at the pouting zombie who stomped away. “Maybe Alex was right. This party is a bad idea. We could have just hung out.”
Uli fluttered his eyelashes. “Storm, you just want to play kissing games again.” Blushing, he darted a guilty glance to Cutter and back to Alex. “I mean, um…”
Cutter broke in breathlessly, “Alex, I guess you really have to spank someone, huh?” The excitement was easy to hear in his voice. Clearly, he was willing to make the sacrifice.
Ulrich’s scowl deepened. “Cut’s right. They are going to keep pushing you to spank three guys.”
Storm eyes widened. “Three?” He gazed at their small group.
“It’s a dumb tradition.” Alex sighed. He wished he hadn’t listened to Lafayette.
Beau strolled up, grinning. “Great party.” He tucked his hands into his pockets. “Everyone’s having a good time, but the natives are getting restless.”
“I know.” Alex huffed out a breath as he studied the men who he hoped would consent to be his mates. He needed to start moving each of them in that direction.
Uli, Cutter, and Storm all stared at him as if they were awaiting his decree. His mates wanted direction from him. Desire to do right by them flooded him.
“I choose to spank each of you.” After he made the decree, he awaited their reactions. A few partiers within earshot gathered around and the word began spreading of his decision.
Storm shrugged, seeming to expect as much. Uli frowned but nodded his head. Cutter was the only one to give verbal confirmation. “Please.”
Mm mm. Cutter was needy. Alex had to step up and provide for each of them.
“Storm?”
“What? Oh, me first?” He shot a glance at Uli and Cutter. The connection and friendship he found there appeared to allow him to regain his confidence if not his usual cocky attitude.
Storm tossed his dark mane off his shoulder. “Sure. Whatever.” Alex noticed his jaw twitched. From what little he’d been able to glean, he understood the man had bad memories he’d need to overcome. Alex would make sure this experience was not like the abuse he’d been dealt growing up. He’d utilize every technique he learned with Lafayette and Dom Tom in the Behind The Red Door room to give each of his mates what they required.
Beau clapped his hands. “The birthday chair. Alex has just chosen who’ll go over his knee. Storm, Uli, and Cutter will receive his attentions.” The crowd booed when they realized they hadn’t been chosen. “Shhhh, his celebration so it’s his choice.”
A straight-backed chair was set in the middle of the floor. Hairbrushes, a riding crop, and a strap hung from hooks on the back of the birthday chair. Alex and the men he hoped would be his mates stood near it.
Each eyed the chair with a different expression on their face. Storm glared at it with folded arms as if he were daring it to be tougher than him. Uli pressed his lips together as if he were trying not to laugh. And Cutter, bless his heart, he looked like he was going to do nasty things to it just to take a ride.
Alex sat down and the party crowd pressed in, forming a small arena for the birthday tradition to take place. Storm stepped in front of him, and Alex traced the buckle on Storm’s belt before unbuckling the metal.
Alex made sure his eyes caught Storm’s gaze, and sent a mental message that everything would be all right. When he touched Storm’s zipper, Storm quivered. Alex teased a finger up and down the zipper before sliding it open.
Uli and Cutter shifted. Their bodies blocked the crowd’s visual of Storm’s partial frontal view. Cutter pushed down Storm’s jeans and before anyone other than the three of them got a gander at Storm’s resting manhood, Uli guided him over Alex’s knee. Storm wiggled to get into a more comfortable position.
Alex stared at Storm’s naked bottom. He’d seen a couple on the videos Uli watched, and he’d seen Beau’s. Storm had a beautiful butt. He’d never had the opportunity to appreciate Storm’s ass until now. If he were a sculptor, its shape would definitely do marble justice.
Alex reached out with a trembling hand to touch the creamy white skin and glided his hand over the firm mounds, allowing him time to soak in the moment. He attended to the warm, soft skin and hard muscle of Storm’s defined backside, but it had a nice bounce that made Alex want to squeeze and knead the cheeks. But those activities weren’t on the agenda.
Storm turned to scrutinize Alex over his shoulder. “Go ahead. Beat my ass.” Storm’s bravado broke Alex’s heart.
Cutter reached out to stroke Storm’s ass and shook his head ‘no’. Alex nodded, silently communicating with him and Uli that he understood and they shouldn’t worry. He required them to trust him and believe he could do what needed to be done.
When Alex raised his hand, Storm’s whole body tensed. The crowd’s collective inhale was loud. He softly patted Storm’s ass. “One,” Uli called out.
Cutter shifted to kneel in front of Storm. “You good?”
“Of course.” Storm shifted closer to Cutter, who smiled into his friend’s face.
Alex watched the sweet exchange between them before tapping Storm’s butt.
“Two,” Ulrich counted.
Cutter leaned in to capture Storm’s lips in a gentle kiss. On a quiet moan, Storm’s entire body relaxed over Alex’s lap.
Alex’s hand slapped down. “Three.”
By the time Uli called out “Ten”, Storm was hard against Alex’s thigh and pushing his ass up to meet Alex’s hand. Alex continued in the same rhythm and intensity as Storm wrapped a hand into Cutter’s light brown hair. Storm proceeded to kiss the hell out of Cutter, who made all sorts of happy noises.
Someone in the crowd whined. “He’s not hitting him very hard.”
Another zombie put him in his place. “Shut the hell up. It’s the hottest birthday spanking I’ve ever witnessed.”