He released her, smiling at her whimper of need. “You need a spanking, little brat.”

Naked over his knee. “Okay,” she breathed.

And he laughed. “No. Instead you’re going to take three more. About an eight. Can you do that?”

“Is that my punishment?”

His flash of a grin seemed to ignite whole new areas of need. “No, pet, that’s just fun. Mostly for me. And you’ll take it because I want you to—won’t you?”

Oh, when he looked at her like that, she’d do anything. His eyes softened at the answer in her face, and he ran his finger down her heated cheek. “That’s my girl.”

Yes. Please, yes. She breathed out and tried to collect herself despite the happiness running through her.

He shook out the flogger he’d used before. Not the one with the pretty bows. Heh. At least he wouldn’t be using that heavy sucker today. Her attempt not to smirk failed miserably.

He must have seen, because he shook his head. “Any flogger can reach a level eight, pet. It just means more work on my part.” He looked her up and down. “Curve your shoulders in.”

To make sure he didn’t hit a shoulder blade. Oh man.

“Look at me, sweetie.” Still in front of her, Vance wrapped his big hands over her wrists, pinning her to the cross. Restraining her physically for his partner. One holding, one hitting. God, she loved being right here, overpowered and taking it. Her insides turned molten. Vance bent slightly so she could look into his eyes. She pulled in a breath. Exhaled.

Wham!

The pain exploded in her upper back as her body slammed against the cross. Tears wavered, blurring her vision as she pulled in a breath, and then, like a slide into a tub, the pain turned to a sweet heat that filled her body. No one had ever hit her so hard.

And yet—she wanted another.

“Brace your forearms on the cross,” Galen said.

Vance helped her adjust her position before securing her again.

“Breathe,” Vance murmured.

In. Out.

Wham!

Ow ow ow. She shook her head as the burn turned liquid and wonderful.

“One more, baby girl.” Galen’s voice came through the surging in her blood, through the endorphins buzzing into her brain, as she slid right back into her happy place. Happy, happy, happy.

Vance’s face wavered in her vision as he studied her. She could feel Galen’s watchful gaze like a pressure on her side. “Green,” she whispered. “I’m green.”

The corners of Vance’s eyes crinkled, and he tightened his grip on her wrists.

She pulled in a breath. Let it out.

Wham!

Her eyes went unfocused as the impact reverberated through her whole body. Past the surface, deeper, shaking into her bones. Blast, burn. The sweet rush like hot rain flowed over her skin. She was sliding in and out of subspace, happy and warm and yet…there.

Something pressed against her back, startlingly cool, ever so wonderful. It rolled over the burning skin on her shoulders, working up and down. It must be the long metal cartridge that she’d found in Galen’s bag, the one for which she couldn’t figure out the use. What a nice, nice use. With a sigh, she put her head back on her arm and let him care for her.

“Sally.” When she slid back into the present, Vance kissed her lightly and opened his hands, releasing her wrists. Galen put an arm around her waist to steady her.

As Vance headed for the cleaning equipment, Galen helped her over to a couch against the stone wall. He sat down and pulled her, facedown, across his thighs.

He wants a blowjob now? She tried to reach for his zipper and had her hand caught.

“Lie still, Sally.” The splash of liquid between her shoulder blades made her gasp. The feeling of him massaging the superbly cool gel into her burning skin made her eyes almost cross.

He hit a tender area.

“Ow!” She tried to push up, but his free hand was on her collar, holding her in place. God, she loved that feeling. “Easy, baby girl,” he murmured. “This will help the swelling and keep you from bruising.”

But she kind of wanted a few bruises to remember this by. Because she’d done it. Taken it.

Liked it.

He continued until her whole back felt as if an arctic mist had settled on a bad sunburn.

“I’m proud of you, Sally,” he said, his voice grave and impossible to disbelieve. “I asked you to take something, and you did. For me. That makes me feel good.” He massaged her scalp gently.

With a sigh of happiness, she laid her cheek on his muscled thigh and relaxed into his care. “But I didn’t think you were a sadist,” she whispered.

He caressed her cheek, and she could smell the leather on his skin as well as the hint of shaving lotion he’d used earlier. His beard growth was heavy enough that he often shaved twice a day. Because of her.

His relaxed chuckle made her feel good, as if their scene had pushed him to the same happy place she was in. “I’m a Dom, and I like taking a submissive to her limit and an inch beyond. Pain is one of the easiest ways to get there.”

She’d definitely gotten there. No one had ever pushed her as Galen did, demanded what he did. And somehow, Vance’s hands-on restraint had felt like the same demand—and had let her go further. She’d submitted to the Masters before, but never…never like this. Never been taken so far. Been left so clear and sparkling inside.

As she rubbed her cheek against his thigh, she thought about the creek in the back pasture in Iowa. Frozen until the spring thaw. Then the little stream would flood, and the dirt and debris of the long winter would be scoured away, leaving the water so clear that even the tiny stones on the bottom could be seen.

The couch dipped as Vance sat down. He picked her up and set her in his lap. Her knees and calves rested on Galen’s thighs. Despite the discomfort of having Vance’s iron-hard arm behind her tender back, she loved being in his arms. With a happy sigh, she laid her cheek against his broad chest.

He pulled the elastic tie from her hair and tossed it to Galen. Her hair spilled down over her shoulders in a soft, cool wave.

After tucking the tie away, Galen picked up a blanket—Vance must have tossed it on the couch—and spread it over her legs and stomach. Snuggly, snuggly, snuggly. He smoothed the fabric, stroking her legs. “Should I ask what else you did in my toy bag?” he asked.

She started and bit her lip. Christ in pigtails, if she told him about the anal plugs, he’d probably hitch her to the cross for more flogging.

Vance’s chest bounced with his laugh. “From her expression, I’d say you better check the rest of your equipment.”

She tried not to grin. Vance liked to examine his bag’s contents before a scene, but Galen usually cleaned and set up his stuff right after using it. He rarely messed with his bag before a scene. That’s why she’d chosen to sabotage his stuff rather than Vance’s.

Well…and because she’d been mad at him. At the time.

Galen gave a grunt of exasperation. “You are a sore trial to me, pet. So. Aside from my toy bag, have you done anything else of which we’d disapprove?”

“Sometimes you really sound like a Harvard grad.” Her attempt at humor didn’t help the tightening in her stomach. If they found out about her hacking, the two Feds would have her head—or worse, have her arrested. They’d be so pissed off. They must never, ever find out.

The silence of both of the men warned her that she’d woken their suspicions. But she…couldn’t manage to lie. She didn’t want to lie. “Nothing that concerns you.”

Vance tightened his hand on her shoulder, his eyes shrewd. “Everything about you is of interest, sweetheart.” His lips tipped up. “Especially if we wouldn’t be pleased.”

How could she feel so happy with their attention—and so worried? When she dragged her gaze from his, she realized Rainie stood nearby, waiting to be noticed.

Yay, saved by the girl. “Hey, you waiting for one of us?”

Quite properly, Rainie didn’t talk to the submissive but waited for a Dom to speak.

“Go ahead, Rainie,” Galen said.

“Sir, if you’re done, Master Z hoped you’d join him and the others in the main room. They’re near the center.”

“All right. Please tell him we’ll be there shortly.”

Dismissed, Rainie moved away, shooting a worried glance back over her shoulder at Sally.

Galen leaned forward to tap Sally’s chin. “We’ll discuss your refusal to answer another time. For right now, how does your back feel?”

Thank you, God. She leaned forward and wiggled her shoulders. “I’m okay.”

“Good. You may put on your skirt,” Vance said. “Leave your breasts free for my enjoyment.”

As she slid off his lap, she felt her face flush. Yet a thrill ran along her nerves. She’d always envied subs who had their own Doms.

As a trainee, once a scene was over and aftercare done, she would have been sent back to work. But the Feds considered her “theirs,” even if temporary, and instead of dismissing her, they were keeping her close. For more than just a scene. Had she ever been so happy?

“Drink this, imp.” Galen handed her a bottle of water before putting his hand on her back—in a nonsore area—to keep her beside him. She looked up to see Vance on her other side, and the…rightness…of the arrangement settled into her heart.

The Masters and Mistresses—the ones with the official titles—were in a sitting area in a rough circle. Olivia and Anne bracketed Cullen on a couch. Most of the rest sat in chairs, with Sam, Nolan, and Jake standing. Even Jake was there.

“Galen, Vance.” Master Z motioned toward an empty couch.