Page 104 of Stable Hand

Kamal gestured me aside as Luke pulled Noah close.

“He seems fine, but if he gets weepy and/or shaky, that’s something called sub drop and you need to call me, okay? Noah is familiar with the concept so he would probably notice, but I wanted to let you know about sub drop too. I had a little cuddle with him after he cleaned up his mess to make sure he felt okay about everything. I would never push his hard limits, and even his soft limits need to be treated with respect.”

I stared at Kamal, feeling inexplicably warm toward him in this moment. After what we had seen in the boardroom, to let me know Luke had not been forced to submit to anything he’d not agreed to was so very reassuring. I gave a quick nod, to show I understood.

“Still, there can be deep feelings of vulnerability after an intense scene. Please call me if he appears out of sorts, unusually withdrawn, or excessively sleepy. Although he will be tired and he needs to rest.”

“Okay. Thanks for letting me know. We’ll keep an eye on him.”

Kamal clapped me on the back. “I know you will. Thanks, Jensen.”

Chapter Nineteen

Everyone was exhausted by Sunday suppertime, so Adam put in a pizza order. Callum and Trey picked up six of the pies from the main house and brought them to the bunkhouse. Since there was a light breeze and no clouds, we all sat outside on the grass and ate together.

Although Luke decided to stand, for some reason.

“How’s your ass there, Luke?” Trey asked with a grin.

“None of your business.”

“Huh. Kamal was really fucking cheerful when I bumped into him at the house. I wonder why.”

“Shut the fuck up, Trey.”

Trey shrugged. “Hey, I’m not being mean. Anyone who can suffer at the hands of that man without sobbing and crying for his mommy, is a goddamn hero.”

“How do you know he didn’t?” Ben asked, winking at Luke.

Trey laughed. “Because Luke would choke on his own vomit before he would be so vulnerable.”

“Well, hopefully, he’d safeword,” I commented, glancing at Luke and taking a bite of my pepperoni pizza. “Or safe signal.”

“Oh damn, did he gag you?” Trey said, surprised.

Callum laughed. “Probably couldn’t get a word in. I’m sure Luke didn’t give him much choice.”

When Luke glared at Callum, the other man lifted a hand in the air. “Sorry, sorry. That was mean. I’m sorry. I’m reformed. Forget I said anything.”

Luke laughed. “Well, you’re kind of right. And all I can say is, Kamal is a fucking sadistic genius, and I won’t be pulling any tricks like that again. At the same time, I’m wondering what he would do to me if I did…”

Noah glared at him. “Luke,” he said as if Luke were a disobedient toddler.

“Oh goodness. I like your tone of voice,” Luke said, winking at Noah, who smiled. “But don’t forget, you’re going over my knee tomorrow, not the other way around.”

Some of the other men protested this was a little TMI, but Noah blushed and nodded and continued to eat, probably, I thought, because he reveled in Luke’s dominance and didn’t care anymore who knew.

Luke persevered until about eight thirty. I watched him try to stifle his yawns as he leaned against the outside wall of the bunkhouse with a beer in hand, pretending to be following the conversation.

I stood and walked over. “You must be bushed after the last two days. Why don’t you go to bed?”

Luke blinked slowly at me and put his beer on the ground. “Come with?”

I nodded. “What about Noah?” I glanced to where Noah was surrounded by the other ponyboys in a discussion about gear and show-ring techniques.

Luke shrugged. “He’s pretty popular tonight. I don’t think he’ll notice or care if we slip away.”

I nodded. Noah glanced my way and I gestured to indicate I was going inside with Luke. He smiled and flashed me the thumbs up sign.