Page 50 of Leather and Longing (Island Tales #3)

Seth smiled at him. “You’ve seen Adam’s floggers?

Good. Okay, let’s talk about what’s coming.

I’ll be starting out nice and light, and then I’ll slowly build up speed and intensity.

If it starts to get painful but not enough to stop it, try focusing on something other than the pain.

Adam will be physically connected to you, so maybe focus your attention on him.

Listen to his reactions, because trust me, if I’m flogging you? Adam will react.”

“You can also focus on Seth’s voice,” Adam added. “Listen to its rhythm, its cadences.”

Paul nodded, leaning into Adam, reassured by the feel of those strong arms around him.

“I think we’re ready to start,” Seth said briskly, rising from the bed. “Strip, please.”

Adam rose to his feet, pulling Paul with him, and helped him to undress. Paul shuddered when Adam ran his hands over Paul’s bared body, trying not to think about being naked in front of a stranger.

“It’s okay to be nervous,” Adam said quietly.

“I’m here with you, Paul.” He bent his head and kissed him softly on the mouth.

Paul couldn’t help but respond, closing his eyes and leaning into the embrace, focusing on the feel of Adam’s lips against his, the feel of his hands on Paul’s back and arse, squeezing, cupping, stroking.

“That was lovely.” Seth’s voice was filled with warmth. “Adam, can you stand with Paul facing you, please? Paul, I want you to put your arms around Adam’s neck. Adam will put his hands on your waist. There’s no fear of the flogger hitting them there, because I’ll be avoiding that area.”

“That’s where your kidneys are,” Adam whispered, his hands warm against Paul’s skin.

Paul was grateful for the aside, not that he didn’t already know Seth was good at what he did. Adam wouldn’t have let him anywhere near Paul if that wasn’t the case.

Seth moved behind him. “Adam, lower your head until your foreheads are touching.”

Adam did as instructed, his breath fanning Paul’s face. “I’ve got you,” Adam whispered.

Paul tightened his hands around Adam’s neck. “I’m glad about that,” he whispered back.

Seth stroked over Paul’s shoulders, his hands firm and warm. “Good muscle tone, Adam. He works out.”

“Told you,” Paul couldn’t help retorting with a snicker.

Adam chuckled. “Brat.”

Seth stroked lower over his buttocks, rubbing with firm strokes before delivering a slap there. Paul jumped at the unexpected contact with his still warm skin.

“Easy,” Seth soothed. He resumed his gentle stroking over Paul’s arse and then across his upper back, except now he was delivering slaps to those areas.

“You know what he’s doing, right?” Adam asked quietly.

Paul knew. “He’s showing me where the flogger will go, like you did this morning when you spanked me.” His voice quavered.

“Good boy.” Adam’s words made his chest swell. He concentrated on Adam’s breathing, aware that his own body was shaking, covered with a thin sheen of sweat.

Seth caressed Paul’s back and buttocks with the flogger’s tails, before hitting him lightly with it across his shoulders. He repeated it a couple of times and then his hands were back, stroking and rubbing. More trailing of the flogger over Paul’s skin, its touch soft, gentle.

The first hard strike against his arse made Paul gasp and jerk violently, the tails connecting with a thud that he felt deep in him.

Adam’s hands tightened on his waist. “I’ve got you, Paul.”

Paul’s breathing sped up, a series of gasps followed by holding his breath.

Seth was back, soft again, almost delicate, followed by another two or three hard hits. Paul clung to Adam as realisation set in: it was going to get worse. Those first few moderate strikes had lulled him into a false sense of security.

Seth paused. “Breathe, Paul. Breathe.”

Paul did as he was told, and jerked once again when Seth resumed, getting into his rhythm, the strikes increasing in intensity.

He felt the impact of each blow, a localised ache which slowly developed into heat, both over his skin and spreading throughout his body.

Every now and then Seth would slow down to give him time to absorb the onslaught, and then it was back to business.

Once Seth had gotten into a steady rhythm, there was no slowing down after that.

Paul was intensely aware of the rustling sound the flogger made as it connected with his skin, the swish as it moved through the air.

Not all Seth’s strikes were the same. Sometimes the tips of the flogger’s tongues gently grazed his heated flesh, and this was a very different sensation, almost sensuous.

When Seth repeated the action with more aggression, those same tongues delivered serious stings.

Seth switched back and forth between the styles of strike, and Paul began to look forward to those gentler strikes that brought with them some respite.

The brushing strokes over his arse had a very different effect: to Paul’s amazement his dick started filling.

Then Seth switched again and that was that.

Through it all there was Adam, keeping up a constant flow of reassurances: how well Paul was taking it, how proud Adam was of him.

Paul clung to him, physically and mentally, letting Adam’s words sink into his consciousness.

Every word of praise reinforced his desire to keep going, to prove to Adam that Paul could take everything Seth could give.

Whatever happened, no matter how painful it got or how uncomfortable, Paul was going to endure it.

He wasn’t going to let Adam down.

“I wish I could see you, see what Seth is doing to you.” Adam’s tone was wistful.

“His shoulders, back and arse are a beautiful carpet of white stripes surrounded by red halos,” Seth told Adam. “He marks so prettily, Adam.”

“That’s because he’s beautiful, inside and out.” Adam’s voice shook a little. He kissed Paul’s forehead. “My beautiful Paul.”

Paul breathed rapidly, tensing his body, trying to second guess from which direction the next blow would arrive. He got the impression Seth was switching hands because blows rained down from both sides. He arched his back, almost as if he could get away from Seth’s forceful onslaught.

I’ve had enough. Please, Seth, you can stop now.

Adam caressed his cheek. “Paul…”

“Red,” he croaked.

The rain of blows ceased a heartbeat later.

Adam pulled him close, their foreheads pressed together. “I am so fucking proud of you,” he whispered.

Paul swallowed. “I’m sorry I used my safeword,” he blurted.

Adam stiffened. “You have nothing to apologise for, all right?” He kissed the top of Paul’s head. Paul didn’t move, welded to the spot, his arms locked around Adam’s neck.

It was over.

“I think you’ve done really well for your first time.” Seth’s voice was warm with praise.

Adam slowly and gently lowered Paul’s arms. “Come over to the bed and lie face down, please.”

Paul did as instructed, his legs shaking.

By the time he reached the bed, they virtually gave way beneath him.

Adam eased him onto the bedspread. Seth joined Adam and Paul craned his neck to watch as Seth took hold of Adam’s hands, guiding them over Paul’s back.

Paul winced but Adam’s fingers were incredibly gentle.

“Feel the welts?” Seth asked him.

Adam nodded. “And the heat.” He smiled. “I’ll take it from here, Seth, thanks.”

Seth returned his smile. “I’ll go downstairs and make myself a drink, if that’s okay.

” He winked at Paul. “Flogging’s thirsty work.

” He ruffled Paul’s hair. “You did great, Paul.” Seth picked up his flogger and walked toward the bedroom door.

“Adam, take as long as you need to, all right?” He disappeared from Paul’s view.

“Thanks, Seth,” Adam called out. “Make yourself comfortable.”

Paul dropped his head to the bedspread, smelling the age in it. Adam’s hands were cool and soothing, spreading something over his back.

“This has aloe in it,” Adam told him. “It’ll soothe the skin and take some of the heat out of it.” He bent lower and kissed Paul’s nape. “You were fucking amazing.” Adam stretched out next to him on the bed, rubbing in the salve, his touch light. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine.” Paul focused on regulating his breathing, aware that Adam was listening intently. Paul needed to reassure him all was well. “Honestly, Adam.”

“How do you feel?”

Like my back and arse are on fire.

“It was… intense.”

“We’re going to lie here for a while, maybe half an hour, to give your body a chance to cool down.” Adam kissed him on the cheek. “Close your eyes, baby. We can talk about it later, okay?”

“Okay.” Paul closed his eyes, aware of Adam’s warm body next to his. “Adam…”

“Yes?”

Paul sighed. “Well, at least I know now. I’m definitely not into flogging.” His mind drifted, the heat of his back easing until he couldn’t feel it anymore.

“If you want to sleep, that’s fine. I’m betting you didn’t sleep much last night.”

He managed a chuckle. “And you’d win that bet.” Paul expelled a breath. “We’re not done, y’know.”

“What do you mean?”

“Today we crossed one thing off my list, that’s all.”

Adam laughed quietly. “We’ll deal with what’s left on there another day.” He kissed Paul’s nape. “Now sleep.”

A wave of fatigue rolled over him.

Somewhere on that list, it said:

Tell Adam I love him.