Frank walked into the offices the next morning, smiling to himself as his cheery mood took over. He had supposedly meant to be off that day, but because of his happy demeanor, he had decided to go and visit his boss and bring him coffee, which he had even gone and picked up himself beforehand. He smiled at Hayley as he walked in, juggling the coffee and his passkey in his hands as he pocketed the card and walked to Gerard's office, opening the door.

Frank took in his boss sitting at his desk, it was the presence of another being in his boss' lap that threw Frank, stopping him in his tracks. Frank's brows knitted together as he looked at Gerard with his arms around the other tattooed young man that worked here.

"I- Uh..." Frank cleared his throat, closing the door as he stepped out of the office, blinking hard as he tried to process what the fuck had just happened. He sucked in a breath as he leaned back against the wall, watching the door open as Josh adjusted his blazer and scurried over to the office of cubicles, avoiding Frank's hardened gaze.

"Frank," Gerard called from inside his office, the door ajar as Josh had left it. Frank felt a small spitfire of anger rise up in his stomach at the nonchalant tone in his Master's voice and he turned, sidling into the office. He set Gerard's coffee on the desk and slid it to him before he folded his arms over his chest, "And that sour face?"

"You're kidding, right?" Frank scoffed outrageously, "You're fucking kidding me?"

"Close the door, boy." Gerard took a sip of coffee as he gestured with a free hand. Frank stormed over to the door and closed it rather loudly before he marched back over to his boss, "Watch your attitude, runt."

"I have all fucking right to an attitude. What the fuck are you doing with Josh?"

"Frank, I was comforting him, he was having an off day." Gerard shrugged, "And he knows he can come to me."

"There's comforting and then there's that." Frank scoffed as he waved an arm, "Um, excuse me? I'm your submissive, not him."

"Well, you both have a special spot in my heart, Frank. He's my submissive, too."

"I- What?!" Frank yelled loudly as Gerard took a sip of coffee, "He's fuckin' what?"

"I wasn't hiding anything. It's common for a Dominant to have a main submissive and a secondary. A back-up, if you will."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Frank spat and Gerard shrugged.

"You didn't ask." Gerard replied simply and looked at Frank, "I didn't think it was important. And I forgot."

"You're fucking someone else, Gerard!" Frank spat yet again, his blood beginning to boil up under the surface, "That's important!"

"Well, I didn't think you'd care. If it makes it any better, you're my main submissive and he's your secondary. I mean, I did say that Josh would replace you when you left."

"You've been with him since I left?" Frank asked, eyebrows raised, "That's over a month."

"My boy, no. I've had Josh as my secondary since he started here." Gerard waved a hand, "But he and I have our understanding that he will never be my proper submissive, and I hold him in higher regard as my secondary if, for some reason, you aren't there when I need you."

"I-..." Frank was speechless as he stared at Gerard, "And- And you fucked him?"

"Well, now you're asking silly questions to get yourself riled up." Gerard sighed, "You know as well as I do that that's true."

"What the fuck? Why would you think that I'd be even a semblance of 'okay' with that?" Frank asked in an angry whisper as he leaned on the desk, "How am I supposed to feel when the person I'm in a relationship with has a back-up just in case. It's in the contract that I wasn't okay with sharing you."

"I always have, Frank." Gerard sighed, "And do you blame me?"

"Don't you trust me?" Frank asked as his voice dropped into a defeated whisper, "You obviously don't if you have someone as a back-up."

Gerard shrugged, "It's got nothing to do with trust. I trust you, but that's just how I am.".

"Well, it's not how I am." Frank scowled as he straightened up, "I can't fucking believe this."

"So, what then?"

"Him or me." Frank stated simply, "Secondary replacement or me."

"Is that so?" Gerard raised an amused eyebrow, only infuriating Frank even more, his gaze on his boss narrowing as he clenched his teeth. Gerard sat back in his chair, his fingers steepled over his stomach, "Are you telling me what to do, boy?"

"No. I'm not." Frank shrugged, nudging his hands into his pockets, "But I am making you choose. Him... Or me."

"Are you being serious?" Gerard tilted his head to the side, "You think I'm going to choose between two very different people on who I like and want more?"

"Yes."

"And what if I choose you, and hurt Josh? Would you like that on your conscience at night?" Gerard asked again and Frank faltered, thinking suddenly about Josh and how he'd feel; he instantly felt guilty.

"I don't... I mean..." He sighed, running a hand through his ebony locks, "Does he know about you and I?"

"He does. He comforted me quite a bit when you left. I had to say something." Gerard shrugged, "But he's not any threat to you, Frank."

"Well, then find him a new Dom."

"And you won't reconsider me having you both?" Gerard eyed Frank, who instantly went livid, glaring at Gerard, who seemed way too amused for the situation, "You're adorable when you're upset." Gerard commented simply, "Your nose scrunches up."

"Yeah, yeah." Frank ignored the flush in his cheeks, "I'm not sharing you, no matter how cute he is."

"That's a shame." Gerard sighed, "How nice it would have been to play with you both some time."

"Sorry for you." Frank snorted bitterly, "You can't pay me enough to have someone else touch you and let me be okay with it."

"And what if, boy," Gerard leaned in, "What if they touch you and not me? If you're so territorial, what if I make it about you?"

"I-..." Frank trailed off again when the mental image crossed his mind. He shook it away immediately when he looked at his Dominant, "You're kidding."

"Why would I?" Gerard retorted simply, lips in a firm line, "What would I gain from kidding with you?"

"I just... I mean, I-I never thought about it. I mean, look at who I had to put up with for six years. You saw what he was like if anyone got too friendly, let alone the very idea of me being with someone else. I've never given it a second thought considering I'm all for monogamy."

"Well, consider it. I would pay superfluous amounts to watch someone else make you feel as good as I can." Gerard stated again as he sipped on his coffee, watching his submissive grow ruddy in the face, obviously involved with the mental image now in his brain, "I don't consider it infidelity." Gerard shrugged, "I hid nothing from you in any case."

"Well, perhaps you should have said something outright instead." Frank scoffed, "Just because you forgot to tell me, it doesn't negate the fact that you've had someone else."

"Hindsight won't help you now, Frank. Just relax." Gerard picked up his office phone, dialing a number with the receiver to his ear as Frank sunk into one of the chairs. Frank watched as he spoke to whoever was on the other end in hushed whispers and then hung up. Not two seconds later, before Frank could ask, there was a knock on the door and the pink-haired submissive in question appeared, peering in slowly.

"Sit." Gerard ordered sternly as Josh walked in, closing the door behind him before he came in and sat in the chair beside Frank obediently, hands on his knees with his back straight, "Good boy."

Frank withheld the urge to scoff at Josh, slouching in his chair with his arms folded. Gerard looked between the two of them for a moment, chuckling at the vast difference between his obedient secondary and his brat beginner.

"So, Joshua," Gerard looked at him, "Frank has informed me that he isn't comfortable with you being his secondary."

"Oh," Josh looked at Frank, his dark brows furrowed and confusion buried deep in his kind brown eyes, "I thought he knew."

Frank scowled angrily in return, "The fuck I did."

"Frank doesn't share." Gerard informed his secondary, who nodded understandingly and looked back at his boss, "And, unfortunately, he does take precedence over you, Joshua."

"I understand, sir." Josh nodded simply as he looked at Frank, "I knew that and I understand."

"Damn straight." Frank replied simply, his tongue pressed into his teeth as he tried not to examine Josh so intently. His face was so gentle, his pink curls in a fluffy Mohawk and his stubble trailed down his neck. Frank spied the black velvet day collar underneath the black and pink floral shirt that hugged Josh's muscular physique, and he scowled.

"But that doesn't mean that I'll just drop you, Joshua. I will help you find another Dominant, even if it's just a temporary one until a contract can be signed."

"Thank you, sir." Josh accepted simply and Frank was astounded at the lack of emotion in Josh, accepting whatever Gerard threw at him. Frank had to admit that he felt a pang of jealousy at how good Josh was in comparison. But he did also notice how there were no nicknames that Gerard had for Josh, and he wondered about that thought as Gerard smiled simply.

"You may go, Joshua. Thank you." Gerard gestured to the door and Josh got up, giving his Master a bow before he turned and exited, walking out with the door closing behind him.

"So simple." Frank muttered, bewildered "I would have thrown my toys."

"Much like you already did." Gerard commented, "Luckily, I have a few candidates for that sweet boy."

"Speaking of," Frank asked as he eyed his Dominant unhappily, "You didn't have any nicknames for him as you do for me."

"I treat him very differently to you. You're my first, and now, my only. Joshua was merely a space-filler and we were both in agreement with that. He is a lovely boy but I felt little for him except that he's very good at being a submissive and knows his place."

"I guess." Frank mumbled, "I see what you saw in him. You also seem to have a common theme between us with the tattoos and stuff. But, I mean, did your other subs have tattoos?"

"Mostly."

"I mean, I hate it but I'd hate it a lot fucking less if you had said something and didn't ruin my day off." Frank muttered softly and he heard Gerard chuckle.

"Would you like to sit in my lap instead, my prince?" Gerard offered and Frank looked up, his mood rising an inkling at the prospect. He jumped out of the chair and scurried around the desk to perch himself across Gerard's lap, giggling as the chair groaned and protested under their shared weight, "Better?"

"Oui, mon Apollon." Frank sighed, hearing Gerard hum as he lay his head in Gerard's neck and ran his finger over Gerard's black tie. He was still furious over Gerard having a second submissive and he knew he wouldn't be over it any time soon but, for the moment, he was trying to push it aside. He wanted to be mature and not argue over nothing like he would if he were still with Ryan.

"So impressive." Gerard whispered, "Lucky for you, I don't have to do much today."

"Thank you, sir." Frank replied softly when Gerard turned, resting his cheek on the top of Frank's head.

"I'm sorry, boy." Gerard stated simply, "I didn't realize how territorial you are, it's unusual for a submissive, especially this early on. I didn't think it would be an issue. But, I see now. It won't happen again, okay? I don't want to put any unnecessary stress on you. I do recall how upset you got when it was brought up in your contract and it slipped my mind to tell you. I, for one, am aware of my mistake. I apologize."

"It's okay, sir." Frank muttered, "I mean it's not... But, it is. As long as he never touches you again. I'll kick his ass."

"I highly doubt that." Gerard chuckled and Frank sat up, scowling.

"Never doubt anyone from Jersey's ability to kick ass." Frank eyed his Dominant, "I've had to defend myself on more than one occasion growing up."

"Joshua is also from New Jersey, dear boy. And I'm almost certain he does some sort of martial arts on a weekly basis with his daily exercise." Gerard pursed his lips, "What do you do, exactly?"

"I... I have- I can... I mean, I-" Frank huffed, "I can kick his ass if I wanted. I've had to kick ass before, especially growing up in Newark."

"Oh, really?" Gerard raised an eyebrow, humor glinting in his eye, "Anyone had the audacity and the gall to mess with you? I'm positively shocked."

Frank scowled at the dripping sarcasm in his Master's voice as a slim smile spread on Gerard's lips. Frank haughtily replied as he fiddled with his Dominant's tie, "Yes, they did. And I knew how to kick their ass. I'm... Scrappy."

"I have no doubt in your abilities, my prince." Gerard put his arm around Frank, squeezing his side under his old Rue McClanahan t-shirt, "But in saying that, I do reiterate that Mister Dun did karate as a child and has done jiu-jitsu for five years now, boy."

"He can't kick my ass if he can't catch me," Frank replied smugly and Gerard couldn't help the silent chuckle that vibrated in his stomach.

"Alright." He gave in as he idly stroked Frank's waist-dip with his fingertips, feeling the goosebumps under his touch, "I suppose that is true. I won't let him touch me again, okay?"

"Good."

"But what if," Gerard ran his lips over the shell of Frank's ear, "What if I wanted him to touch you?"

"You're not letting that go." Frank repressed a shudder.

"You didn't answer me earlier and I'm curious." Gerard whispered breathily, "What if that's what I wanted."

"Anything for you, Master." Frank looked at Gerard and gently pushed his Master back with a hand on his chest to look him in the eye, "But no other submissives."

"You have got a deal, my boy." Gerard held his submissive's gaze, "Should I put that as a subclause in our contract to revise? There is space to add things that we missed as long as we sign it. No sharing me unless you say so."

"Up to you." Frank replied simply despite his insides screaming a very loud and resounding 'yes'.

"I can see it in your eyes, boy. It really bugged you." Gerard commented as he made a small note on a post-it and turned and looked at Frank, "I honestly didn't peg you for it."

"You'd be surprised." Frank muttered broodingly, scowling at Gerard's tie as he adjusted it.

"Now that you've relaxed a bit," Gerard began as he spun to the side in his chair, "I want you to do something for me."

"Yes, sir?" Frank looked up to see Gerard's pursed lips, the small gesture making him frown and his suspicions rise.

"I want you to make nice with Josh."

"Wh-" Frank frowned, looking outraged, "What the hell for?"

"He probably feels like shit and he did absolutely nothing wrong." Gerard stated, "He was completely within his rights to be, and do, what he was doing because I said so. And I don't want him to run around thinking you hate him. Nor do I want negativity in this office either."

"Fine." Frank sighed as he crawled from his Master's lap, "Make nice?"

"Yes, boy."

"Do I have to like him?" Frank scowled and Gerard merely chuckled as he pushed his chair in and opened his laptop.

"No, boy. You don't have to like him. Just go and reassure him that you don't want to boil him for dinner or something absolutely preposterous that you'd threaten to do."

"Fine." Frank scowled unhappily as he walked out from behind the desk, "I won't eat him."

"If you properly make nice and reassure him then I'll reward you later. How does that sound? If you promise not to eat him, maybe I promise to eat you." Gerard offered, obviously seeing the pained expression Frank was making no effort to hide.

"Thank you, sir." Frank muttered as he walked out of the office and waltzed across the hallway, stopping outside of the large cubicle office. He leaned against the door, doing his best to put his unhappy face away. He caught Josh's gaze, and gestured, with a nod of his head, out the door. Josh immediately looked flustered as he got up from his small desk next to Patrick, and walked around to Frank, who turned silently and walked out.

The two submissives walked through the hallway and out of the backdoor of the kitchen to the abandoned smoking area. Frank kept walking, making sure to put distance between the two of them and any curious ears. They walked slowly around the lot towards a small circling of trees when Frank stopped and turned to look at Josh, who was looking exceptionally nervous.

"Oh, will you relax? I'm not taking you out to the clearing to execute you like some mob hit. I just wanna talk."

"A-About?"

"You know damn well what about." Frank tried to remain calm as he spoke to Josh, who was looking at him curiously, "So..."

"So?"

"How many times?" Frank asked outright, looking at Josh straight in the eye. Josh paled slightly at the intense gaze and looked down at his tattered black Vans before he glanced up.

"'How many times' what?"

"How many times did he fuck you?" Frank tried to bite back the venom in his tone as he looked at his apparent ex-secondary.

"That's- I-" Josh began to grow flustered, "Why?"

"Just want to know." Frank shrugged nonchalantly as he chewed on his lip in anticipation of the answer.

"In total or only after you left?" Josh's retorting question only made Frank's blood boil hotter under his skin, "Because after you left it was only a couple-"

"And how soon after I left was he after you?"

"Frank-"

"How soon?" Frank seethed angrily, looking at Josh's blushing face.

"A couple hours. He was really cut up-"

"And what did he do with you?" Frank continued to interrupt Josh's feeble explanation attempts.

"We just... Spoke- or, I listened- and I let him do what he wanted to me, really. However, he wanted to vent."

"And you were together before I left?"

"Yes." Josh ran a hand through his pink hair slowly, his other hand in his pocket as Frank slid his own hands into his trouser pockets, nails digging into his flesh in an attempt to ebb his rage and jealousy.

"How long?"

"About th-three years before you came into the picture... I knew him before I worked for him." Josh added in as if that were supposed to help but it definitely didn't assuage Frank's boiling gut bubbles of pure fury.

"And what were your intentions with him?" Frank asked through his teeth, "Like, once I was gone and out of the picture, did you think that you could just replace me and become his only submissive?"

"Wh- No!" Josh gasped, "We had an agreement that we don't see each other that way, that I would never be his first submissive and I'd always be secondary no matter how many replacements. Because I work for him, he- he didn't want me enough to jeopardize my job or his career. I was always a side piece for him."

"Yeah." Frank squinted, "Fine."

"Look, I thought you knew." Josh sighed, "I figured he'd tell you."

"Well, you figured wrong." Frank muttered, his anger suddenly replaced with hurt in his chest, "He didn't say anything to me about you, not once."

"Well, I didn't want to hurt you." Josh whispered earnestly as he took a timid step closer, "I don't want you to hate me."

"I don't hate you," Frank sighed, "I want to, but I don't."

"I'm sorry." Josh looked down and Frank felt guilt welling up in his stomach at the realization that Josh genuinely did feel bad about what he did when he didn't even do anything.

"Don't be." Frank shrugged and held out his hand, "You didn't do anything."

Josh tentatively took Frank's hand in a firm clasp when the shorter male grabbed him and pulled him in, his lips on Josh's ear, "But if you ever, ever go near him again and I find it a little too close for work... I will make sure you never touch anything ever again, are we clear?"

Josh let out a whimper as Frank dug his fingertip into Josh's arm, holding him tightly as Josh nodded in vehemence. Frank let go, smiling at the secondary submissive, "Then we're good."

"O-Okay..." Josh muttered as Frank gestured for them to start walking back towards the office building once more.

"He said he'd find you a new one anyway. Your own one."

"I have a question," Josh interjected Frank's poor excuse for reassurance.

"Sure."

"Did he- Did he also bring up 'the three of us' with you, too?" Josh queried, looking down as they walked across the grass together in the morning sunshine, dewdrops shining the sides of their shoes.

"He did." Frank muttered, acerbic, "Multiple times."

"Oh."