going to have to punish you. Stand up.”
Quinn got to his feet quickly, arms folded behind his back, head bowed with his eyes closed.
“I want you to get dressed. Go to your room, take a shower, get the clothes you think look best on you, then put them on. Once you’ve done that, I want you to come back here. You have ten minutes, so I suggest you move quickly.”
Despite the fear coursing through Quinn, his feet refused to listen to his command to go.
“Now, Quinn.”
He was off like a shot, rushing to his room. He took a quick shower, wishing he could luxuriate in the hot water, then went to his dresser. He reached in and pulled out a pair of magenta shorts and a bright yellow shirt with a mouse that had a lightning bolt for a tail. Sean had called it a Pikachu. Quinn slipped into his clothes, took a quick look in the mirror, then grabbed a pair of sandals. When he finished, he hurried back to Master’s room to await his punishment.
He knocked gently at the door.
“Come in, Quinn.”
When he entered, Master was dressing himself. He had on pants and was sliding his arms into a pullover shirt. Quinn stood enraptured by the muscles in Deke’s body. Fluid and graceful, strong and steady. That was his master.
“I’m ready for my punishment, Master. I’m sorry I disappointed you.”
“Come here and sit down.” He patted the bed. “Right next to me.”
Quinn scrambled to obey. He sat quickly, but his body was stiff, rigid, waiting for Master to finally bring the hammer down. Quinn flinched when Master took his hand. Ryker had done that once, and Quinn’d had to wait weeks while the bones reknit. He didn’t pull away, though, which was good. If Master wanted to hurt him, then he could.
“All right, here’s what I want you to do. I need to be on the job site in about an hour and a half. I would like you to go to the kitchen and prepare me a cup of coffee, with a little bit of milk and one packet of sugar. I would also appreciate it if you could whip me up some scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast. No butter, but I would very much like some of Dani’s preserves, if she’s willing to let me have some.”
No, there had to be more. Didn’t there?
“But my punishment….”
Master smiled, soft and warm. “Is to make me breakfast and bring it to me.”
That was his idea of a punishment? Quinn would do that every day if Master wanted.
“Yes, Master, I’ll go down to the kitchen right way.” He stood. “Thank you, Master.”
“You’re welcome, Quinn. And for future reference, never be afraid to tell me if you have something planned. I’m not saying that I will agree to it, but I will never tell you no without good reason. Okay?”
Quinn’s head spun. No one was this good. Was Master waiting for Quinn to make a serious mistake? Would Quinn see firsthand what punishment would be like then?
“Yes, Master.”
He got off the bed and bowed, then turned to leave the room.
“Quinn? One more thing.”
Oh. “Yes, Master?”
Master winked at Quinn. “If you happen to find some hash browns in the kitchen, I wouldn’t say no to them.”
This whole thing was surreal. Master winked? Ryker had never done that. “Yes, Master.”
Quinn rushed from the room as his mind went into overdrive. Where were the beatings? Where was the pain? When would Master have Quinn satisfy his friends or the pack? Because if there was one thing Quinn knew, masters never took their slaves’ feelings into consideration.
No matter how much he wished Deke would.
DEKE WAITED until the door closed before exhaling explosively. Quinn was always on a knife’s edge around him. He’d done his best to be playful, to do what he could to draw Quinn out of his shell, but he still walked around like he was waiting for Deke to go apeshit on him.
He pulled out his phone and stared at his contact list. He hadn’t been a member of the pack for long and wasn’t sure he had the right to talk to his Alpha about something like this. Still, wouldn’t he like to know? He pressed the button on Lyram’s name.
“It’s not even five yet. You’d better have a damned good reason for waking me up.”
Shit. Deke had forgotten that he woke up early with Quinn.
“My apologies, Alpha. I… I need advice.”
Goddess, that sounded stupid.
“What do you think I’m here