(Mark's POV - Sat. 21 March 2015)

Mark – 10:00am: Morning, Babe... I'm in the cab now and will be home in 30. See you then!

Jeez! What a week again!

At least I'm rid of my restaurant called Le Louvres in New York, and richer by three million dollars. This is what happens when you buy an old and sinking establishment in a developing neighborhood for peanuts, renovate it, turn it into a successful and trendy place, then sell it a few years later. I truly made huge profits on this one, but I was also very lucky.

When I bought the place, it was entirely fucked up and situated in an area that clearly needed renovations and improvements, which thankfully started barely a year later. It had closed down months earlier and the owner desperately needed money, so I offered $250 000 cash – thanks to my good friend Joshua who lent me the money – and the guy immediately accepted. Then, it was only a matter of making the right decisions and run them seriously.

To turn a restaurant into a successful place, it's not that difficult. You need to provide quality and to do so, you need to get the best products and cook yourself instead of supplying those ready-made meals that a lot of caterers serve now. However, if you want to cook fresh dishes every day, you can't offer an endless menu, because the more ingredients you have to manage, the more difficult it gets. This is something I learned during my studies in France and I must admit, this was great learning.

Across the Atlantic, the best restaurants propose three to four starters, four to six main courses, a small variety of cheese, and four or five desserts. And this is it! At least it allows you to cook and bake within the kitchen without having to resort to industrial meals, and you can still change the menu on a regular basis. So, that's the secret I have applied to all my restaurants. Have a nice and cozy venue, find the best products, cook yourself, add a little bit of luck and you're sure to make it a success because customers will obviously come back and talk to other people.

I had considered keeping Le Louvres since it runs so well... The manager and chief I appointed there years ago are doing great and I do get nice benefits each year, but I really need these three million to expand my Wine & Cheese Bar business. Joshua offered to lend me the money because he trusts me to make it something successful and to pay him back, but I've decided to manage on my own this time.

I must admit that things would have been more complicated back in the days without his financial help and if I had had to deal with banks when I started my first restaurant; I certainly wouldn't have been able to expand my activities so fast. I never had to beg him or anything. On the contrary, Joshua proposed to help and commanded me to accept – yeah, Josh always had a strong Dominant aura – and after weeks of arguments, he eventually convinced me. I just made sure to reimburse every single cent I borrowed from him. After all, there's a saying that says short reckonings make long friends, and that's a true one in our case.

So, here I am back from a two-day trip to New York, and although it's Saturday, the traffic is completely jammed – just when I am impatient to go home. Twisting the signet ring around my finger – a beautiful jewel that the boys offered me for Christmas – I suddenly remember that I will only get to see Shannon when I get there. Le Marais has one cook on vacation and another one called in sick, so Richard asked Alex if he'd be willing to do an additional shift on Saturday noon and my boy accepted since I had initially planned to fly back in the evening.

Richard...

I have caught him ogling my Alex's butt quite a few times over the past few months, but my stubborn brat keeps refusing to reveal our relationship at work, which pisses me off greatly I must say. As much as I could understand his early reluctance in the beginning – something about gossips for being the boss's lover and being promoted quite fast – I'm getting tired of his usual arguments. Alex's position within the restaurant was only due to his talents, and now that we've been in a relationship for four months, I think we are way past gossips.

However, I have respected his decisions so far and tried not to press him too much, but he really has no idea how much I fume inside whenever I hear Richard talk to him with a smitten voice or when I catch him eyeing my boy's ass from the other side of the kitchen.

In January, I even considered firing the chef, but I didn't and would never do that. For one, he is an excellent cook who perfectly manages the kitchen, and after the fiasco with Sanchez, I don't want to look for a new one. Then, it wouldn't be professional at all. I can't let my private life interfere with my business or my personal emotions rule the way I run an establishment; I just can't fire a brilliant employee because he wants into the pants of a beautiful boy without knowing that said boy is mine.

Hopefully things should quiet down soon. Indeed, Alex recently told him that he's in a serious relationship at the moment and Richard seems to be taking some distance. Well, he'd better, or I'll have to find better reasons and convince Alex to break our secret. Meanwhile, I'll just keep an eye on the situation.

The cab hasn't made much progress over the last five minutes and I can't help a sigh of frustration as I send another text to Shannon to let him know I'm stuck in traffic. All the angry emojis he sends me still make me smile. Shannon and patience are just two incompatible concepts.

My chirpy boy is getting better at reigning in his natural impatience and boisterousness, but he still slips sometimes. Often. He has come to hate the paddle when it doesn't aim at pleasure spanking and I believe he knows by heart all the patterns of the paint on the walls in the living room from corner times. Well, at least he gets to understand some of the points I make. Since his mistakes are rarely voluntary, I usually keep his punishments light, but he takes his sweet time to learn his lessons. I guess he's just a magnet for problems and it's just in his temper to defy authority once in a while.

This reminds of how he tried to play with his boss a few weeks ago. And how he lost. Aaron had assigned him some chore in the stockroom, and although he hates it, it's still part of his job. Shan botched and a full shelf of supplies broke, causing quite a lot of damage. When Aaron told me that evening, I was super pissed at my boy for messing up, but as the Master Dom said, it wasn't my role to interfere at Shan's workplace, and I let him deal with this. My friend didn't end up being severe, but Shannon absolutely hated having to be at the Diamond at 8am on the following Monday to clean up the mess and repair the shelves.

The traffic is so slow that I wonder if I shouldn't hop off the cab and walk the rest, but the heavy rain pouring down dampens my courage. It makes me think that the next time we visit my parents, it will be in Sunny Florida. Not that I particularly enjoy the heat or the sun – otherwise, I might not have followed Aaron to the north – but I hate rain with a passion, even more than snow and freezing temperatures.

Anyway, my parents are moving at the end of the month into their new house north east of Orlando and I'm really happy for them. My father's surgery was a total success and he has now fully recovered from his heart attack. They were even able to fly to Chicago earlier this month and spend a few days with us. As much as my Dad finds the Windy City too big, my mother loves it, so she enjoyed herself greatly with the boys. On my side, I had fun watching the boys squirm with their horniness because we had to keep sex down for three days, and it was much easier for me and my self-control than for them.

Now that my parents have sold their restaurant and apartment in Collingswood, living in Florida as retired people will be a big change for them. Dad has already planned to work in associations related to cooking and tried his hand at writing a book of recipes and tips. I don't know if he will ever publish it or even achieve his project, but it's keeping him busy. Mom finally has time to dedicate herself to her passion for books, so she spends her time reading and reading, and she also delves into her new obsession: keeping her beloved husband healthy by dragging him out for long walks and making sure he eats healthily. I'm sure they'll enjoy themselves in Florida. My aunt already lives there and both sisters can't wait to spend more time together.

After almost an hour in the cab, I eventually get home and as soon as I open the door, a cute little koala assaults me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and his legs around my waist while his lips crash against mine. Dropping my luggage to the floor, I strive to shut the door and lay my hands on Shan's firm backside, then true to my dominant personality, I pin him against the closest wall to ravish his mouth and lead the dance.

I was away for only a couple of days, but I missed this so badly. His joyfulness, his eagerness, his ardor. Shannon is just intoxicating. Alex is intoxicating too, but in a much different way. My dark-blond boy is quieter and brings a lot of peacefulness into this household. Shan is more like a storm – or even a hurricane – but I love his temper as much as I love that pacific ocean that Alex is.

"I missed you too, Babe..." I whisper as I put him back down on his feet.

"Yeah, missed you too... Did you have a nice trip?"

"Except for the horrible traffic from the airport, yes, it was fine," I reply, pecking his lips once more.

"Cool! Are you hungry?" he then asks with a purring voice and his mischievous eyes shining with lust.

"I am, but let's wait for Alex..." I respond meaningfully as I grab my luggage and head for our bedroom.

"I was talking about food!!!!" Shan screams behind me.

"Now were you?" I scoff with sarcasm. "And I'm definitely hungry for food! I'll be right back, Babe!"

After lunch, we lie down and cuddle on the couch, Shan's back against my front, talking about the last two days and how the boys did in my absence. As my fingers trail over his chest, Shannon keeps squirming and stopping my hand. Even if Alex is due to finish his shift around 3pm, I have planned to make them wait until tonight for sex since we're going to the Diamond, but that doesn't mean I won't edge him a little.

Gripping his left hand and pinning it behind his back, I slip my left hand underneath his sweatshirt and head toward his left nipple while nibbling on his earlobe, and Shannon tenses a little within my hold.

"I thought you wanted to wait for Alex's return!" he grouses with irritation, writhing to escape my grip.

As much as Shan has developed muscles over the past few months, I'm still stronger than him and have no difficulty to roll him on his back and lie over him, holding his wrists above his head with one of my hands.

"I do. I'll actually go to Le Marais in about half an hour for a quick debrief with the team before I drive him back home, but..." I trail off with a husky voice as my left hand slowly runs from his jaw down his neck and collarbone over the thick sweatshirt. "I still have time to tease you a bit, Babe..."

Leaning down, I capture his lips and my hand slips again under his clothes, but as it almost reaches his right nipple, Shan begins to thrash beneath my body. He actually startles as if he didn't want this and yet, I can feel his erection against my groin. What the heck is wrong with him!?

"What is it, Babe?" I ask as I lean back up to give him some space.

"Nothing..." he mumbles, grimacing a bit and averting his eyes from me.

Something is definitely off here, and my suspicions only increase when I gently press my hand over his pectoral, causing him to wince.

"Are you hurting?"

"No, no! I'm fine!" he squeals.

Fine, my ass! Does he think he can really fool me? There is something wrong and I suddenly have an ill feeling about a conversation we had last month about tattoos and piercings, so I quickly shift to straddle his legs and begin to pull his sweatshirt up.

"Mark!!! No!!!"

And then my fears turn out real. I am fuming inside, and it takes all my self-control not to burst out in anger at him. As my eyes throw daggers at him, Shannon keeps writhing within my hold, but I just can't look away from the horror I see.

About a month ago, the boys were talking about body art in the living room while I was checking my emails on my laptop beside them and I couldn't help interfering at some point. Alex said he would really like a small tattoo on his hip and Shan argued that he'd prefer a piercing. This froze me on the spot.

I don't judge people who have piercings and tattoos and proof is that two of my best friends have some and I don't mind. It just doesn't correspond to my tastes. Besides, it's an act that requires maturation before you make your decision, then you need to carefully choose your artist to avoid charlatans, and finally, it may sound selfish, but I'd rather my boys don't spoil their beautiful and perfect bodies.

Of course, their bodies are their own and they're old enough to decide what's best for them – at least, they are supposed to – but as much as our love has grown deep, our BDSM relationship and our contract still rule. I remain their Dominant. I just reminded them of the terms and conditions of our contract, prompting the line that says we'd have to discuss this seriously before they make any change on their bodies. I did tell them that I'd rather they keep away from tattoos and piercings, but that I might agree to something after a few months of reflection and as long as the art remained reasonable. The boys agreed and have never broached the topic again since then.

Hence the anger rising within me from what I can see before my eyes. As much as Shannon tried to conceal his swollen nipple beneath gauze, the friction with his clothes has peeled off the tape and the bandage is now about to fall off and what it reveals doesn't look nice. At least to me. The little black barbell that passes through the bud of his red and tumefied nipple could have been sexy – in a way – but right now, it's not. Not mentioning that it must be painful as hell.

"What the fuck is this?" I shout, trying to contain my irritation but somehow failing since he startles and almost cowers. "What the fuck have you done, Shan!? I just can't believe you did this! What the heck went through your head?" I continue as I get off of him and reach for my phone.

"I'm sorry, Mark... I'm so sorry..." he rambles on and on in a barely audible voice, tears filling his eyes.

"Hey, Marky!! Are you back home!? Your boys behaved this time!" Aaron cheers as he answers my call.

"Behaved... Yeah right... Well, at least one of them fucked up and I need your advice, Ron," I cut him, hoping to get some help since my friend also has one nipple pierced – and that's not the only part of his body with piercings in fact. "Shannon got a barbell on his nipple and I wonder if it's not infected..."

"Fuck! When did he do this? I didn't notice anything yesterday evening at the club!"

"When did you do this?" I ask Shan who has now curled up on the couch and mumbles an unintelligible answer. "What was that, Shan?"

"I did it this morning..." he replies louder and clearer.

"You heard that?" I ask Aaron with a sigh.

"Yeah. Then it's normal if it's swollen, bruised or red. Is it purulent?"

"No, just swollen, and red."

"Then that's good. Just make sure you add some antiseptic to avoid infections, and it'll take a few days before it looks good."

"Okay, thanks, Ron. I'll see you tonight."

"Sure! Good luck!" he concludes with a chuckle before he hangs up.

"YOU. ARE. IN. DEEP. TROUBLE," I then tell Shannon, hammering each word. "Take your sweater off!" I order as I head toward the bathroom to fetch what I need and when I get back to the living room, my boy has complied and is waiting for me on the couch, his eyes brimming with tears. "Don't even try the puppy dog face, Babe, because it won't work this time. I'm so fucking mad at you!"

"I'm sorry..." he apologizes again as I sit down beside him and press a Neosporin-soaked gauze against his nipple, causing him to wince a little.

"That's not what I want to hear yet, and you know it, Pet! Why the hell did you do this?"

"I thought... I thought you'd like it... find it sexy..."

"Wrong answer, Pet!" I reply. "Didn't we have a conversation about this a month ago?"

"I know, but..." he trails off before he falls silent.

"It sure is your body, but have you forgotten you're supposed to discuss that kind of decision with me first? And didn't I say these decisions need maturing before you act?" I ask, and Shannon only nods in answer.

Once I have applied a new and clean bandage over the pierced nipple, I stand up and toss his sweatshirt back at him.

"I'm really sorry..." he says as a tear runs down his cheek.

I can tell he really is and seeing him so miserable makes me sick to my stomach, but I just can't let go so easily.

"Being sorry won't be enough, Babe."

"I know, Master. I'll take whichever punishment you decide upon, but please forgive me..." he begs with a strangled voice as he gets off the couch to face me.

"Trust me, you won't like your punishment at all."

"But will you forgive me?"

"Of course, I will," I reply sternly, wiping a few tears from his cheeks. "I'm going to Le Marais to speak with Matt and Richard and get Alex. While I'm away, I want you to ponder on your mistake," I continue as I head toward the hall, but then it hits me that he might not be the only who fucked up. "Did Alex do something similar?"

"No, no... He doesn't even know," Shannon sighs. "I walked him to work this morning and I stopped by a tattoo and piercing lounge on my way back home."

"Had you made an appointment?"

Shannon shakes his head in answer and lowers his head pathetically because he knows it only aggravates his situation. It confirms that he acted impulsively and that he didn't even make sure the place was a serious one. Before I start yelling at him again, I turn around and grab my coat, reigning in my renewed anger.

"Get me the name of that shop so that I can check they're not charlatans. I'll see you later," I say dryly before I slam the door shut.

The ride to Le Marais is fast – too fast and barely enough for me to calm down – and ten minutes later, I'm parking my car in my usual spot in the nearby parking lot. Taking a deep breath, I step out and start walking toward the restaurant. After a quick stop by my office, I spend a few minutes chatting with Matt, then go to the kitchen. It's almost the end of the noon shift, so all the staff are cleaning their workspaces for the evening.

Thank goodness, Richard is far from Alex; I'm not sure I would have been able to handle more shit right now. Even if his attention is focused on his tasks, I still catch a warm smile on Alex's face as I greet the team, and its purity soothes some of my gloom. The conversation with the chef goes well since nothing in particular happened over the last two days and I quickly put an end to it once all the employees have left for the lockers.

Alex already knows where I will be waiting for him, so I soon get back to my car and he meets me there a few minutes later. With one knee on the passenger seat and the other one between my legs, my dark-blond boy leans toward me and begins to softly brush his lips against mine. I need more than this though, so grabbing the nape of his neck, I slightly tilt his head and deepen our kiss, melting in the pleasure of swirling my tongue with his shy muscle and allowing my tense body to eventually relax.

Alex does that to me. His quiet and discreet personality never fails to appease my tensions. However, he's also very perceptive and sensitive to other people, and when he pulls back, his features display worry.

"Something wrong?" he asks warily before he shifts to settle in the passenger seat and fastens his belt, never breaking eye contact with me.

Our relationship with Shannon is one based on honesty and there would be no point hiding what happened from him. He'd find out anyway.

"Shan messed up," I begin, causing Alex to frown deeply at me.

"He can't have..." Alex interrupts me. "We both behaved in your absence and you came back this morning. He can't have messed up in such a short time!"

"He did, Baby. Between the moment he dropped you off at work and when I got home. He had his nipple pierced at a random shop," I explain as I pull out of the parking lot.

"Seeing your mood, I guess he's in trouble..." he sighs, almost in a reproachful tone.

"Obviously. I can't let this pass, Baby. I'll have to deal with this as soon as we get home."

"Okay..." he concedes, but I can tell he's not convinced – not that it would make me change my mind. "Maybe it's better we stay home tonight, then?"

"Certainly not. I'm not changing our plans and we're still going to the Diamond," I reply firmly enough, because I know he's trying to defend his co-Sub. "Anyway, how are you doing? How did work go this morning?"

As Alex's soft voice tells me about his uneventful shift, I manage to relax during the ride back home, but this is only short-course. My muscles tense as we reach the top floor of our building, and I'm sure Alex can feel it, so before I open the door, I lean down and kiss him with a hug to reassure him.

"Sorry, Baby, but I really need to have this conversation with Shan now," I apologize.

"Okay, I'll stay in the living room," he nearly grunts before he walks into our apartment. "Hey, Muffin!!" he calls to Shannon who's just meeting us in the hall, then rushes to hug him tightly.

There are no words exchanged, but I'm sure both boys can convey their thoughts and support through their embrace, but as much as I find this overly adorable, I still keep my poker face once Alex has left, staring at Shannon.

"Have you had enough time to think?"

"Yes, Master," Shan replies, so I motion for him to follow me to the master bedroom.

Once there, I let him sit on the bed and go to stand in front of him, somehow towering his smaller frame.

"I'm listening. What got into you to do such a thing?"

"I... I don't really know... After I left Alex at the restaurant, I wandered a bit in the Loop, and I came across this piercing shop, and... I just went in without thinking. I'm so sorry... I know I should have discussed it with you first, but it only hit me when I felt the needle go through my nipple," he explains, and I can't help a shudder as I imagine how painful it must have been. "I just hoped Alex and you would find it sexy in the end, but just before you arrived, I realized I had messed up, because I know you don't like piercings... And that was stupid, but I thought I should conceal it under a thick sweatshirt cause I hoped that if you'd find out only tonight at the club, maybe you'd be less angry..."

"You're so wrong here, Shannon. My reaction would have been the same, if not worse; you know I hate being taken aback," I remind him. "And it's true that body art is not really my cup of tea, but as I told you a month ago, if Alex or you wanted to have tattoos or piercings, I might let you. All I'm asking is that we discuss this because I want to make sure it's a mature and well-thought-out decision, something you won't regret. A piercing is not too bad because in the end, should you decide to remove it, the hole would end up closing, but the consequences would be different with a tattoo."

"I know..." he replies with a pitiful expression. "I'll know better next time I have to make an important decision."

"I certainly hope you will. Does it still hurt?"

"A bit, but it's tolerable."

"Alright. Go take your shower and meet me in the playroom," I then instruct him. "Naked."

While Shannon showers, I spend a few minutes with Alex in an attempt to brighten his sullen mood with a cuddle, but it doesn't really work, and I can tell he's not really happy with my decision to punish Shan. Yet, I won't change my mind because that's just part of the rules and my chirpy culprit can always safeword if he needs to. It still smells like a tedious evening coming up, but I'll find ways to relax the atmosphere.

I then stop by the playroom to prepare what I need, but after about ten more minutes, Shannon still hasn't shown up, so I head to the bathroom to check up on him and find my boy struggling with a new bandage since the one I had applied earlier got off with the shower. Once I've made sure his skin was perfectly dry, I use a bit of antiseptic again, then stick a new protection and lead him to the playroom.

"Go and lie down on the bed," I order once there.

I quickly fetch the cock cage from the chest of drawers and when I reach the bed, a dark shadow casts over his beautiful greenish blue eyes. Of course, he knows what he is in for, but he's still lying there, his arms along his sides and perfectly still, waiting for his sanction. Tossing the item on the mattress, I join him on the bed, carefully placing a knee between his parted legs, and hover over his body, slowly leaning down until I'm only an inch from his face.

"Remember what I said last time I used the chastity device?" I ask meaningfully, knowing full well he does remember since it was barely two months ago, and two months are not that long.

"You said I'd have to keep it on for a whole day next time I mess up no matter what our plans would be..." he sighs. "Are we still going to the Diamond tonight?" he adds as an afterthought.

"We are. And trust me, I'm not going to take it easy on you," I warn him as I lean back and spread his legs further apart.

The first two times I opted for that sort of punishment, Shannon was lucky enough that I didn't tease him purposefully, but this time, he will discover what it feels like to get truly aroused while his privates are constrained inside a metal cage – exactly like I did during my Dominant training. Remaining silent, I quickly secure the cock cage on his flaccid member and lie back down over him to nibble on his lips for a few seconds.

"Time-wise, you should keep it until 5pm tomorrow, but if you behave, I'll remove it at 3:30 before you go to work. Now, remember that you can always safeword if necessary, is this clear?"

"Yes, Master, it's all clear."

"Good boy..." I purr before my lips catch his unharmed nipple and my tongue begins to titillate the erect bud.

"Will I be forgiven after that?" he asks as I get off the bed, admiring his no-longer-flaccid shaft straining inside its cage. "Do you still love me?"

Offering a slightly warmer smile, I hold out my hand to help him up and pull him into a hug. I'm still angry that he didn't respect the rules, but I don't particularly enjoy seeing him doubt my affection or love. All this is just part of our lifestyle, a Sub can mess up, he just gets punished and it doesn't have any consequences on the love the Dom feels for him. And I do love him deeply.

"Of course, I still love you, Babe, and yes, you'll be forgiven afterwards," I reassure him, resting my hands on his firm backside.

Shannon has gotten to almost like running and going to the gym over the past few months, and his body has grown tauter; contrary to Alex who, no matter how much he works out, remains absolutely lean.

"I think I also owe an apology to Alex... I should have asked for his opinion too before I did that piercing... I'm not even sure he'll like it," he then says as we part.

"I believe you do, indeed. Just go get dressed first," I reply, playfully smacking his buttocks and letting him out of the playroom.

* * *

It seems like the perspective of spending time with their friends in the Subs' room achieved to relax the boys and when we reach the club, they sound more joyful, even if Shannon is a tad less enthusiastic than usual. While preparing our bags for the evening, he requested permission to wear larger trousers tonight, hoping the cock cage would be less visible.

Wrong move.

I searched his side of the dressing for a tiny pair of shorts. It might sound mean, but humiliation – in the sense that others might notice the unusual bulge through the leather fabric – is part of his punishment, and that's not even sadism. Most Sadists of the Black Diamond would have had their Sub crawling on the floor, probably with a leash attached to a leather collar, certainly naked, and kneeling at full display during the show. Yes, I'm quite the softie next to them, but that wouldn't be me.

While Shannon and Alex go have dinner in the locker room, after I have reminded them to meet me at the Diamond at 8pm sharp, I go straight to Aaron's office and walk in on him having an intense conversation with Mike, his security manager. Not intense in the sense that they are fighting or arguing, no... intense in the sense that these two sound overly excited.

"Sorry to disturb," I apologize, ready to step back out.

"Hey, come in, Mark!" the gorgeous Afro-American calls out, cocking his perfectly drawn eyebrows. "We're done and I was about to leave."

After some quick greetings, Mike indeed leaves and I squint at Aaron mischievously.

"What?" he huffs, rolling his eyes.

"What were you two scheming?" I ask with a smirk. "I bet it involves Felipe..."

Felipe is an adorable young man whose family immigrated from Cuba years ago – and additionally Mike's Sub. How he ended up in Chicago, I have no idea, but what I know is that although we scarcely see them at the Diamond – and for very good reasons since Mike obviously spends most of his time in the security room and Felipe works at the Black Moon! – they have quite peculiar kinks that involve a lot of humiliation and above all, Felipe loves watching his Master use other Subs.

"It might... but I won't tell you!" Aaron replies with a grin and wiggling his eyebrows.

"You, tease... you're not even funny..."

"Never said I was... How's Shan's tit doing?" he teases me further, grinning like an idiot.

"You're not going to give me a break tonight, are you?"

"Come on, Mark, it's not that bad!"

"It's not, because I know the hole could close in the worst case, but I'm pissed he broke a rule," I argue, handing him a piece of paper on which Shan wrote a name and an address. "That's the place where he got his piercing done. Do you know them?"

"Oh yeah, I do and they're super serious on hygiene and safety policies," my friend replies, and I sigh with relief.

At least, there shouldn't be any risk of infection.

"Just don't worry, Mark, it's no big deal. I know you're not fond of tattoos and piercings, so are you going to let him keep it?"

"If he really wants it, I guess I'll let him, and Alex said he doesn't mind."

"Of course, he doesn't mind... I bet he sided with Shannon?"

"Don't tell me..." I chuckle, shaking my head.

"I'll really have to speak with that little minx of Shan and teach him a few good tips. It's his tongue he should have gotten pierced!" Aaron smirks. "There's nothing like a Sub sucking on your dick with a pierced tongue..."

I can't help laughing at the silly expression on his face as he mocks pleasure, and at the same time, I also remember a few tongue-pierced Subs giving me head in the past. I can't deny the sensations were great. I let Aaron blabber on and on about body art for a while, until the door of his office opens, revealing an obviously-pissed Joshua.

"Liam, you'd better be at the couch by 8pm sharp!" he calls out, irritation clear in his voice, before he walks in and shuts the door.

Hmm... Has another Sub misbehaved? Yet, he can't fight a smirk once he faces us.

"Sorry, I'm late, guys," Josh apologizes after the usual greeting hugs and as we head toward the meeting room to have dinner. "Liam had no better idea than to use his smart mouth before we left, so I needed to remind him of a few rules..."

"At least he didn't get a piercing behind your back," I grumble, causing Aaron to burst out laughing before I explain him what happened.

"Shannon will be Shannon..." Joshua sighs, chuckling. "It would have been worse with a tattoo, though."

"Yeah, I know. Anyway... Have you guys heard back from Cam?" I then ask warily, wishing to change the subject, though it's not an easier one.

"Nope, radio silence since we had lunch with him on Monday," Aaron grunts, but I can tell he's truly worried.

Like we all are.

Cam hasn't been to the Diamond for a month now and it's been hard reaching him over the phone too. Last Sunday, Aaron and I decided to force a visit to his house in Lisle, and what we found there left us quite perplexed. It seems like our Sadist of a friend is putting up a young man – a boy, to be more accurate – whom he introduced as a friend called Noah. Aaron and I didn't fail to notice how scared and nearly panicked the boy looked, so instead of worsening the situation, we asked Cam to join us for lunch on the next day.

Which he did, but our encounter didn't end up very well. Josh was there too, but between our own assumptions on what might be happening with this young Noah and Cam's natural explosive temper, the conversation was quickly interrupted, and our friend left us in the lurch.

"I really wonder what this boy is doing at his place..." Joshua ponders thoughtfully. "Could he be a Submissive he found somewhere else?"

"No way!" Aaron exclaims. "The guy looked barely 16 or 17! And remember Cam's resolutions of last January 1st!"

Yeah right... Both he and Camden resolved to not settle down with anyone this year when Joshua and I teased them about their age and the fact that they should start thinking about finding their other halves. However, Aaron's reasoning doesn't work. Cam could have met his soulmate and changed his mind.

"Bullshit, Ron. That's no excuse. In any case, the situation sucks and I hate this distance between us and Cam," I say gloomily.

Cam has always been the weirdest of our group, with a difficult childhood and his violent urges never helped. However, he always trusted us with his issues or problems, so what the hell is wrong here? Maybe we should be less judgmental and listen to what he has to say...

"Cam wouldn't mess up with a minor anyway," Joshua adds rightfully.

After a bit more talking, we decide to continue our conversation at the Diamond and head toward our respective private rooms to change into our club outfits.

It'll be time to see how Shan is dealing with his chastity device.

Published on 7 June 2016

There used to be a picture of the floor map of the Black Moon nightclub in the header, so here you go with it!