War Hero Turned Executive Chef Or Disgraced Police Chief Fleeing Sordid Affair. The newspaper headline was as eye-catching as the article attached to it. When a journalist had asked to interview him about Ruck, Gray hadn’t thought his history would be dragged into it.

On his morning run, Gray’d stopped to grab the morning paper. The black-and-white words taunted him mercilessly. He’d hoped an ocean separating him from his past would be sufficient.

Apparently not.

There was only a tiny paragraph covering Ruck and his food. The rest read like a scandalous tabloid rather than a restaurant review. He wondered how the five owners would take notoriety.

For his part, Gray’d never allowed the opinions of others to affect him greatly. The only good part of the article was the journalist had stuck to the facts without embellishing. He had to admit the story didn’t really require exaggeration to be titillating.

Never the type to hide from anything, Gray decided to head into Ruck early. If the retired rugby players who owned it intended to fire him, they’d have to do it in person. He hoped they wouldn’t, as Cardiff was growing on him.

Finishing up his breakfast and downing his coffee, Gray went outside and found Scottie leaning against his bike by the kerb. He had a paper in one hand and a wide grin on his face. Scottie must’ve driven up while he was in the shower and waited for him.

“Don’t smirk, kitten,” Gray said sharply.

“Welcome to the tabloid club.” Scottie continued to grin at him. “I used to feature in at least one a week—drunk or naked, or both. Remi, BC, Tens, Caddock, and I managed to get photographed going for a naked dip in the ocean a while ago.”

“I’m in questionable company, then.” Gray narrowed his eyes when Scottie lifted the paper. “Kitten….”

Ignoring the warning, Scottie began to read the article. He seemed almost gleeful while recounting how Gray had been outed by a former submissive in the small town in Washington where he’d served as chief of police. I should’ve trusted my instincts and stayed in bed this morning.

The submissive in question had gotten into trouble and tried to use his relationship with the police chief to get out of it. Gray not only refused to help him, but ended things immediately. As revenge, the man had gone to the papers with proof of Gray’s so-called deviance.

Conservative, small-town America hadn’t reacted kindly to their police chief frequenting gay BDSM clubs in nearby towns. While they hadn’t actually moved to fire him, Gray had decided to retire. He hadn’t wanted to spend the remainder of his working years fighting a battle against bigots, even if it left his reputation in tatters.

He had no family alive to care, and his friends knew better than to pay attention to anything in a paper. Gray vividly recalled something Old Sam had once told him. People are always going to try to rip you to shreds; you don’t control them so best walk away and leave it be.

“Oi. Are you ignoring me?” Scottie swatted him on the arm with the paper. “Rude American bastard.”

Gray glanced down at the paper and up at Scottie before snatching it out of his hand. “In the house, kitten. I’ve got a more creative use for a rolled-up newspaper.”

Scottie exhaled a hard, shuddering breath before lifting his eyes to meet Gray’s gaze. “Sir?”

“Good boy. Now, get your ass in the house. I want you naked and on your knees in the play den.” Gray followed at a leisurely pace while Scottie strode quickly into the cottage. “My morning’s looking up.”

Futzing around in the kitchen, Gray wasted time, wanting Scottie to be forced to wait on his own. He had no doubts his sub’s mind had already started to race with what they might do. His fingers tightened the rolled-up paper while he contemplated his plan for the morning.

With time limited, it seemed imperative to carefully work to get the most out of the scene. Gray set the kitchen timer to give him a reminder. Here’s hoping I hear it. He found Scottie naked on his knees with his eyes on the newest addition to the room—another cross, this one a take on the St. Andrew’s, but shaped like an hourglass with several welded rings on the top, bottom, and middle.

Gray dropped his hand on Scottie’s head, roughly dragging his fingers across the short hair. “Are you excited, kitten?”

Scottie nodded sharply.

“Use your words.” Gray gripped the short hairs to yank Scottie’s head back. “Are you excited?”

Scottie cleared his throat and ran his tongue over his bottom lip before finally answering. “Yes, sir.”

“Good boy.” Gray dragged him up into a kiss before releasing him. “On your feet.”

Once Scottie stood up, Gray pushed him toward the cross. He stroked his sub’s already half-hard shaft to a full erection and slipped a ring around it. The second part of the contraption went around his balls; it would be highly entertaining to see the response when he realised the knobbed plastic denied him completion while at the same time vibrating him in a constant tease.

Leaving the cock ring switched off for the moment, Gray arranged Scottie in front of the wooden structure. He spread first his arms and then his legs, connecting him by the wrists and ankles to metal rings with metal cuffs. His fingers danced along the insides of his sub’s thighs before ensuring he was both securely and safely fastened.

“Fuck.” Scottie bucked slightly against the cross when Gray nudged his balls with the side of the newspaper before slipping a slender plug into his arse. “Fuck, sir.”

“You know better than to speak.” Gray tapped him again, harder this time, in the same sensitive spot. “Time to punish you for your smirking.”

After ensuring his submissive was clear to continue, Gray took a moment to undress. He carefully draped his clothing across the nearby bookshelf. With the position of the cross, Scottie could only hear the movements without being able to see anything.

Ahh, anticipation.

Not wanting to draw the moment out longer, Gray went in for the first swat with relish. He caught Scottie with the paper on his left cheek before moving to the other side of his arse. Time flew as he methodically alternated his spanking to pause periodically to check on his submissive and also to turn on the vibration on the cock ring.

A steady stream of moaning punctuated each hit. Gray reached around to wrap his fingers around Scottie’s shaft. He bit down on the pinkened skin, eliciting an expletive-laced babble from his submissive that turned into him begging for release.

“Not yet. Be a good boy.” Gray worked methodically until he had Scottie teetering on the edge of coherency. He tossed the paper to the side and rested his hand gently on the warmed skin. “Can’t wait to fuck you like this.”

One last swat with his hand silenced Scottie before he could get a word out. Gray yanked out the plug, tossing it to the side and sliding his shaft in to replace it. He rested his forehead against his sub’s sweaty back to enjoy the tightness surrounding him.

With one hand, Gray reached around to begin stroking Scottie in time with his thrusts. He moved slowly, intent on fully enjoying the submissive trussed up at his mercy. His kitten had his hands clenched into fists against the wood, and he begged for release.

Not yet.

Gray refused to make it too easy for his submissive. He used his years of experience to draw out his own climax as long as possible. His fingers gripped the sensitive flesh of Scottie’s arse while he continued to ride him hard.

“Please?” Scottie’s voice took on an edge of desperation.

Stopping his stroking of Scottie’s cock only increased his begging. Gray carefully removed the cock ring, dropping it to the floor and picking up where he’d stopped. He worked them both to release that left him panting for air, and his submissive slumped against the restraints.

Well, fuck.

We’re definitely going to be late for the meeting.

Easing himself out, Gray kicked the cock ring to the side and began to release Scottie from the cross. He kept an arm around Scottie to help him toward the en-suite. They both needed a shower; his submissive would also need some lotion for his warmed bottom if he were to be able to sit anytime soon.

Instead of a shower, they had a warm bath. The mild water soothed Scottie from his first real spanking from Gray. Despite his gruff grumbling, he settled into his arms in the water and dozed.

When the water cooled too much, Gray forced them both out of the bath. He ordered Scottie face first into the bed and gently lotioned his arse. Leaving him for a minute, he retrieved a few bottles of water and a packet of leftover sandwiches from the fridge.

“Hungry?” Gray placed a sandwich on the bed next to Scottie along with a bottle. “I’d recommend eating on your side if possible until the lotion dries.”

“You’re wasting time.” Scottie shifted on the mattress slightly but grabbed a sandwich when Gray stared at him. “What’s the point of all this shit?”

“Aftercare. Get used to it.” Gray dragged the cold bottle of water across one of Scottie’s bare cheeks, smirking when he hissed at the sensation. “Maybe a bit more lotion before we leave for Ruck.”

“Bastard.”