To give themselves more time in Rome, both Winter’s Wrath and XVI Hours drove halfway across Italy right after the concert, parking in a lot just outside of Arizzo for the night. Connor didn’t sleep much, hating that neither Annette or Balthazar were with him, but Annette had fallen asleep on XVI Hours’ bus on the drive and Balthazar was in one of the vans, guarding their equipment.

This would be the last night without them for a while though. For the next few days, both bands would be staying at a nice hotel in Rome so everyone could have some space. Winter’s Wrath might be closer now than ever before, but they still got sick of one another after being stuck together for weeks.

By the time the buses reached the hotel, he could hardly keep his eyes open. He mumbled thanks to Brave when the lead singer handed him his key card. Followed the others to the elevator and almost missed his floor.

Alder put an arm around his shoulders and led him down the hall, taking his card and swiping it through the reader. He stood in the doorway as Connor kicked off his shoes then flopped down on the bed. “You want me to give Balthazar the spare card?”

“Yeah.” Connor tried to lift his head. Failed and gave up. “Thanks, man. Not sure why I’m so wrecked.”

“It’s been a crazy week. And I don’t know how your meds work, but mine hit me harder sometimes when I’m not sleeping well or eating at normal hours.” Alder hooked his thumbs to the pockets of his blue jeans. “We’ve got two days to unwind. Your woman will be with you—and your man. Might make it easier.”

“Definitely.” Connor managed to roll on his side to focus on Alder, even though his vision was blurry. “You’ve got Jesse, but not having Danica with you must be rough.”

Nodding, Alder forced a smile. “It is, but I love her. That won’t change no matter how long we’re apart. Drives me crazy sometimes that I can’t hold her, but I’m so fucking proud of all she’s accomplished. This lifestyle doesn’t last forever. What we have will.”

Connor couldn’t imagine being in Alder’s position, but he would be soon. Once the tour was over, XVI Hours would head back to Canada to produce another album while Winter’s Wrath would return to Detroit to do the same. Who knew how often he’d see Annette? Everyone always said long distance relationships didn’t work, but Alder, Danica, and Jesse had defied the odds.

Why couldn’t he and the people he loved?

“Don’t worry so much, Con. You guys will figure it out.” Alder’s lips slanted. “Now sleep.”

No need to tell him twice. Connor closed his eyes and let sleep claim him.

Soft lips brushing his ear woke him, hours later. He grinned, catching Annette around the waist with his arm and twisting around to pin her under him. Fuck, she was beautiful. Her hair spilled in a crimson wave around her and her cheeks were red, like she’d just come in from the cold. His dick hardened as he claimed her lips, tasting the sweetness of chocolate with a hint of mint. He rose up to undo the buttons of her thick leather jacket as she giggled and tried to push his hands away.

“Easy, stud.” She wiggled out from under him, pressing her hand to the center of his chest until he sat back. Her expression turned serious. “You’re not allowed to touch me yet.”

“Not allowed—” A hand gripped Connor’s hair, jerking his head back, the sharp pain sending a rush of twisted sensations through him. He panted as Balthazar’s scruffy cheek rubbed against the side of his neck.

Balthazar’s low laugh made goosebumps rise all over Connor’s flesh. “You haven’t forgotten the rules already, have you?”

Rules? Connor swallowed hard. “I forget a lot of shit. But I’m not sure if I’m sorry. You’re scary hot right now.”

“Am I?” Balthazar sucked lightly along Connor’s throat. “Then how did you forget you belong to me?”

Connor opened his mouth, not sure how to answer. He looked at Annette, who’d sat up on her knees, a flush spreading over her face and down her neck. Even the top of her breasts, exposed where her jacket had come open, were rosy. The way Balthazar was manhandling him turned her on. She didn’t even seem to mind that he’d been claimed.

“I didn’t forget, but…” Connor licked his lips, his erection straining against the zipper of his rumpled jeans. He had to work hard to keep his brain functioning. “We’re still sharing, right?”

Shifting into view, without releasing Connor’s hair, Balthazar reached out to cup Annette’s cheek. “I may consider sharing her with you, but I’m not sure you’ve earned that kind of reward yet.”

Sharing with me? Connor had gotten a glimpse of the scratches on Balthazar’s shoulders and back, so he knew they’d been together, but Balthazar claiming Annette as well was a surprise. He’d worried he’d be stuck in the middle forever, with them fooling around only when their bickering turned to passion and they hate fucked themselves back to a truce.

Then again, he’d noticed Balthazar smiling more when he looked at her. Caught tenderness in Annette’s eyes when Balthazar walked into a room. Their feelings toward one another had changed. Hearing Balthazar confirm his suspicions was a relief.

He still expected them to hate-fuck. They enjoyed pushing each other’s buttons too much to avoid it.

Maybe next time, he’d get to watch.

Tugging Connor’s hair, Balthazar leaned close to whisper in his ear. “How much would you be willing to suffer to have her? What is she worth to you?”

“Anything.” A strange stillness came over Connor as he met Annette’s heat-filled gaze. “Everything.”

“Good.” Balthazar released him. Standing back from the bed, he folded his arms over his chest. “Strip.”

Setting his feet on the floor, Connor rose, eyeing Balthazar warily. Talking about suffering in an abstract way was fun and all, but what exactly did the man have in mind? Maybe Connor should have read up a bit about kinky people so he had a better idea of what to expect. Was he supposed to challenge his ‘Master’ like they did in the movies? Did he obey and let Balthazar have his way with him?

The latter seemed like the smarter option, but he was curious to see what the man would do if he resisted.

He mirrored Balthazar’s stance, staring back at him. “Make me.”

The edge of Balthazar’s lips quirked. He stepped into Connor, grabbing a fistful of his shirt as he pulled something from his pocket. Connor’s eyes widened as he flipped open a knife.

“I do hope you’re not fond of this shirt.” Holding the collar away from Connor’s neck, Balthazar swiftly cut through the material. He held out the knife to Annette and she took it, setting it on the nightstand before relaxing on her side to watch as Balthazar tore Connor’s shirt down the middle.

He shoved the ruined material off Connor’s shoulders and then reached for Connor’s belt.

Recalling the whole resisting thing, Connor blocked him.

“You’ve already earned one punishment, boy.” Balthazar’s tone was hard, but held an edge of amusement to it. He wasn’t really mad, but the act was pretty convincing. “I don’t suggest you continue testing me.”

“Or what? We’re gonna be here a while if you try sawing off my jeans.” Connor bit back a smile as Annette burst out laughing, slapping a hand over her mouth, eyes sparkling when Balthazar glanced over at her.

Nodding slowly, Balthazar looked Connor over. He smoothed his hand up Connor’s chest, then curved his hand around his throat. “Are you sure you want to play this rough, Connor? Because I will hurt you.”

“Fuck, you say the sweetest things.” Connor jutted his chin forward. “Bring it.”

Before he could blink, Balthazar had him twisted around, bent facedown on the bed. He locked Connor’s arms behind his back with his forearm, holding him immobile as he reached under Connor to undo his belt, then his jeans. When Connor tried to wrestle free, Balthazar increased the pressure on his arms.

The strain on his muscles convinced Connor he didn’t really need to move anymore. Fuck, Balthazar hadn’t been kidding. Which was strangely arousing.

“Hand me his belt, ketzelah.” Balthazar’s tone softened as he spoke to Annette, and she leaned over, pulling Connor’s belt free from his jeans. Balthazar smiled, taking the belt and brushing a soft kiss on her lips. “Thank you.”

“My pleasure, Master.” She tilted her head when Connor stared at her. “I think I’m better at this game than you are.”

Connor snorted, wincing as Balthazar positioned his arms so his forearms were aligned and bound them together with the belt. “I think you’re right. Can we start over?”

Using his foot between Connor’s thighs to shove his jeans all the way down, Balthazar ran his hands over Connor’s shoulders. “We’ll see if your behavior improves. Once your punishment is over, all will be forgiven. Understood?”

“Am I going to like this ‘punishment’?”

“No.” Balthazar nudged Connor’s foot with his boot. “Step out of your jeans and widen your stance.”

This time, Connor didn’t even hesitate. His dick leaked precum as Balthazar kicked his feet even further apart. Bent over like this, Connor was completely exposed. His cheeks heated as he realized he was naked, while Annette and Balthazar were still fully dressed. Bad enough right there, but now he was going to be punished?

Why did the thought make him even harder? He moaned as Balthazar’s hand covered his ass.

SMACK!

Connor’s whole body jerked as the fiery sting spread across both ass cheek. Before he could react, Balthazar’s hand came down again.

SMACK! SMACK!

“Fuck!” Connor buried his face in the comforter, shifting his hips to avoid another slap.

“Look at me.” Balthazar’s firm tone immediately brought Connor’s head up. “Is this too much? I need the truth.”

Brow furrowing, Connor considered the question. The smacks fucking hurt. And they weren’t arousing like Balthazar being rough with him had been. This was an actual punishment.

He met Balthazar’s level gaze. “Are you angry?”

Balthazar shook his head. “I’ll never hit you in anger. We’re learning about one another, so I am keeping things rather light, but I will be setting limits. And I expect my orders to be followed.”

If this was light, Connor didn’t want to know what would happen if he broke a serious rule. He wet his lips with his tongue. “Is the punishment over?”

“Only if you can’t take any more.” Balthazar brow lifted. “But I believe you can.”

Great, so Connor got a say in how long Balthazar spanked him for? How fucked up was that? He preferred Balthazar being in complete control. Sure, he’d pushed a bit to see what would happen, but not because he wanted Balthazar to ease up.

But Balthazar didn’t know that.

“I can take it.” Connor inhaled roughly. “Will you just keep going until you get tired of hitting me or…”

Running his hand up and down Connor’s back, Balthazar shook his head again. “You have a choice. Twenty with my hand, or five with the belt.”

“Do the first three count?”

Balthazar’s lips curved. “No.”

“Damn.” Connor pressed his eyes shut. He could end this now, but he didn’t want to. He wanted to explore every kink, or lifestyle, or whatever Balthazar enjoyed. Wanted to be part of it. Still, five sounded a lot better than twenty. “The belt.”

Inclining his head, Balthazar removed his own belt and folded it in half. He stood by Connor’s side, stroking the thick leather over his heated flesh. His arm came up.

CRACK!

All the air left Connor’s lungs. The heavy, even strike of the belt spread heat and pain slower than Balthazar’s hand had, but lingered as the belt came down again until the blazing ache pulsed. Connor winced at the third strike, but by the forth, the sensation had changed. His whole body grew heavy and his mind light, as though he was getting a slow buzz from some really good drugs.

CRACK!

He moaned, rubbing his dick against the edge of the mattress. “Fuck, don’t stop.”

Setting the belt down on the bed, Balthazar trailed his knuckles along Connor’s jaw. “This clearly won’t be a good punishment for you.”

Connor let out a dazed laugh. “Probably not.”

“I’m impressed. You did very well for your first time.” Balthazar continued to stroke his jaw. “Shall we let Annette join the fun?”

Still on her knees on the bed, Annette had her hands bunched in the blanket, her breasts rising and falling with her rapid breaths. She’d enjoyed the show, but it was time for her to play along.

“God yes.”