a blessing and curse

“Nora,” Cole warned. “Do you want to change your answer?”

Nora shook her head, her curls bouncing around her head cheerfully.

“Look at me,” he told her.

She raised her head instantly and Damien immediately felt concerned at the sadness present on the little sub’s face. Women brought out his protective instincts, subs even more so.

“Last chance, sugar.”

Damien raised a brow. He’d never known Cole to give a sub more than one chance. Then he looked down into Nora’s eyes and saw the misery there and he knew why Cole was giving the little sub another chance to speak out.

She shook her head and Cole’s gaze hardened.

“Take off your top,” he ordered.

She was wearing a loose, sleeveless top and short skirt. Nora gaped at Cole, her jaw dropping open. From what Damien knew, this particular sub wasn’t comfortable being naked.

But she pulled off her top without a word, revealing a lacy, red bra. Far racier lingerie than Damien had assumed would be underneath her rather modest clothing.

“And the bra, Nora.”

She hesitated for a long moment.

“That’s five, Nora,” Cole said. “When I give you an order, I expect instant obedience.”

She raised her gaze, her eyes flashing with defiance, but she quickly lowered them, reaching behind her to unclasp her bra, freeing her breasts.

Reaching out, Cole cupped both breasts in his hands. Nora jumped slightly and Damien could see the pulse jumping in her neck. But she stood still as Cole ran his thumbs over her nipples.

“What do you think of these breasts, Master Damien?” he asked as Nora’s breath quickened, the nubs stiffening and deepening in color.

“Beautiful,” Damien replied, biting back his smile as the little sub glanced up at him with surprised eyes. The girl needed a boost of confidence.

“Aren’t they? Full, round and responsive. I think they’re missing something, though.”

Nora’s worried gaze turned back to Cole.

“Ethan, hand me my bag,” Cole ordered without taking his gaze from the anxious sub before him.

The quiet bartender handed Cole his bag of toys. Cole reached in and pulled out a pair of nipple clamps that were attached with a long, silver chain.

“Give me a little help?” Cole asked Damien.

“Certainly,” Damien replied, rising from his seat to step behind the sub.

He brushed his chest against her back. She shivered.

“Easy, love,” he murmured in her ear as he cupped her full breasts and held them up for Cole.

Slowly, Cole placed one clamp over her left nipple then tightened it.

Nora took in a sharp breath then let it out slowly.

“Okay, Nora?” he asked.

“Y-yes, Sir.”

Cole placed the other clamp on her right nipple then nodded at Damien.

Damien cupped her shoulders, giving them a brief squeeze before moving back to sit at the bar. Cole tugged on the chain linking the two clamps and Nora sucked in her breath, a mix of pleasure and pain filling her face.

There was a small weight attached to the chain. Cole let the chain go, and the weight pulled at her nipples.

Cole pulled over a bar stool. “Lean over it.”

Nora nibbled at her lower lip as she lay over the stool. Cole grabbed her around the waist, lifting her so her legs were off the ground, her breasts dangling down, and the chain pulling at her nipples.

“Five then. You’ll count and ask me for another.”

“Yes, Sir.”

He lifted up her skirt, revealing lacy, red underwear. Cole pulled them down below her tense butt cheeks.

Cole rubbed his hand over bottom. “Relax,” he told her.

Nora snorted softly. Damien had to bite back a smile. Glancing over at Cole, he saw his friend’s amusement. But none of it bled into Cole’s voice.

“Something you want to say, sub?” he asked sternly.

“No, Sir,” she replied, taking a deep breath and releasing it.

Cole smacked his hand down on one cheek with a loud crack.

“Ow. One, Sir. May I please have another?” she asked.

Her other butt cheek was given the same treatment. These weren’t light little love taps.

“Two, Sir. May I have another please?”

Cole continued on. By the fifth smack, Nora was just beginning to relax. Cole helped her off the bar stool, holding her around the waist until she was steady.

With a gasp, she reached around and quickly pulled her panties up before yanking her skirt down.

Cole leaned back and grabbed hold on an empty bar tray, handing it to her.

“Back to work, sub,” he said gruffly.

Nora’s eyes widened, filled with shocked dismay. “I can’t walk around like this!”

Cole narrowed his gaze. “Excuse me?” he growled.

Immediately, her gaze dropped, her submissive side kicking in. Damien was surprised by her show of spunk; he’d have said she was too timid to speak out.

“I can’t walk around like this, Sir,” she muttered.

“You can, and you will. Any more protest and I’ll decorate more than your nipples, understand?”

Her head shot up and she bit on her lip as she stared at him.

“What do you say?”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

“Go on then, you’re already behind in your work.”

With a sigh, shoulders slumped, she turned away.

Cole muttered something under his breath. “Nora,” he said.

She stopped, turning. Cole stepped up beside her.

“Shoulders back, head up. You’re beautiful, sugar. You just need to believe it.” He tapped her chin. “When you’re ready to talk to me, I’ll be here, understand?”

“Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir.”

“Seriously lacking in self-confidence, isn’t she?” Damien asked after she’d walked off.

Cole frowned, nodding. “We’re trying to work on that, but it’s not easy to break through those defenses she’s erected around herself.”

Damien nodded.

“Something going on with you, man?” Cole asked.

“What makes you ask that?”

“You seem kind of disinterested, detached.”

He was surprised that Cole had noticed, he thought he’d hidden his feelings better.

“How is Marcus? Haven’t seen him in a while,” he said, trying to change the subject.

Cole threw him a knowing look, but answered anyway. “He’s busy settling Ava and Sam into their new place. They bought this huge place just out of the city. I’ve never seen them happier. It’s sickening,” he sneered.

Damien smiled sadly. “That sort of happiness can be a blessing and a curse.”

Cole looked at him with surprise. “You ever been married?”

“A long time ago. Back home in the UK.” He put his glass down, fighting back the old memories. Nothing good would come from them.

Although he still lived with the guilt and regrets, it had been nearly twenty years since Cara had been murdered. He’d learned that punishing himself served no purpose. All he could do was make sure he never made the same mistakes again.

“How’s Holly?” Cole asked, thankfully changing the subject.

Damien smiled. His sister-in-law was the only family he truly had and he adored her.

“She’s great. She and Brax bought a new place a bit closer to the city. Brax didn’t like her having such a long commute. She drives in three days a week now.” Holly had protested the move, but although Brax would indulge her in most areas, her health and safety were things he took very seriously.

Brax wasn’t just her husband, but her Dom as well. Her well-being was his main priority.

Damien was grateful that Holly had found a man who would take care of her and who made her happy.

“Adrian looks worried,” Cole commented and Damien turned his head to see the other man approach, a frown on his face.

“Lila needs to go home,” Adrian said. “She’s exhausted, but she’s refusing to admit it.”

“I can cover here while you take her home,” Cole offered.

Adrian shook his head. “She’s refusing to leave with me. Stubborn little brat.”

Damien stood. “I’ll take her.”

Adrian hesitated, looking at him seriously. “You’ll take care of her? She might need someone to stay with her for a bit.”

Damien raised his brows.

“Yes, mother, I’ll tuck her in and sing her a lullaby.” He clapped the other man on the shoulder. “Relax, Adrian. I’ll look after her. I promise.”