Page 85 of Their Ruthless Sadist

So why did it feel as though everything was changing?

CHAPTER 21

Zeke

The last thing I expected to find when I came home was a naked masochist kneeling in my entryway. I wanted to be angry at him for fucking this all up, but I had to respect his ability to own up to it. I hadn’t gone easy on him yesterday, even less last night when I dismissed them both.

In my defense, I had needed time to stew in my own frustration. I had gotten nothing out of that scene. It was one of the rare times I’d been intent on punishing. That wasn’t the man I was. I didn’t do things because I was pissed. Those who said I did were ignorant. They knew nothing about me. And I liked it that way. It allowed me to keep my distance. That way I could pick and choose who I wanted to play with, and when they always expected the worst, they would never be disappointed.

However, I had no idea what the cowboy expected from me. Did he think I gave a shit that he’d pouted and sulked, jealous of something that wasn’t even there? Because I didn’t. He already had a relationship with the pretty boy. He didn’t need that from me. I was the instrument they were using to live out the fantasy. In the grand scheme of things, I was nothing. More importantly, I was temporary.

“Get up, fuck toy,” I demanded.

Brax slowly got to his feet, but he didn’t lift his head.

“What do you want from me?” I asked, glowering at him, my anger morphing into something potent.

“I deserve your punishment, Zeke,” he said softly.

“Punishment?” I barked a laugh. The cowboy was off his meds. No one in their right mind would ask me for punishment. The pain was for fun. It fueled the flames that lived within us all. Punishment at my hand was a world unlike anything they’d ever experienced before.

“Yes, Zeke,” he confirmed.

“Do you even know what you’re asking for?”

The cowboy’s eyes lifted to mine for the first time since I walked in the door.

“No, Zeke. But I still deserve it.”

I hated that I saw the truth in his eyes. The emerald depths glittered with honesty. He truly believed he wanted my punishment, and it struck a chord deep down. I fought it back, refusing to give in to that niggling feeling. The one that had me wanting more, wanting to explore this to see if it could possibly be real. I knew better. It wasn’t real. And I wasn’t stupid.

“You understand my punishment is its own brand of hell? I’m not gonna play with your little dick or beat on you until you come. That’s not how it works. I reward good behavior. That’s the only time I’ll touch you.”

“I understand, Zeke.”

Although I didn’t understand it, the cowboy seemed sincere. He was willing to take my punishment in an effort to make amends for his stupidity.

Tucking my finger beneath his chin, I forced his eyes to remain on me. “Do you understand I will not go easy on you?”

“Yes, Zeke.”

“You will likely hate me when this is over,” I informed him.

“I won’t hate you, Zeke.”

Oh, he would. He would wish he’d never laid eyes on me.

“Is dinner ready?” I asked because the delicious aroma filling the house was making my stomach rumble.

“Yes, Zeke. It’s warming in the oven.”

I turned my gaze to the pretty boy. “Set the table. For two.”

The pretty boy shot a confused look my way, but he quickly nodded. “Yes, Zeke.”

“You, cowboy, I want you to kneel by the sofa. Do not move until I return.”

“Yes, Zeke.”