Page 72 of Their Ruthless Sadist

Just fucking jealous.

CHAPTER 18

Thursday, October 18

Zeke

I spent the entire next morning trying to figure out what the fuck was wrong with the cowboy.

He’d had a bug up his ass ever since Tuesday morning when I ventured down for breakfast after my workout and shower. I wasn’t sure what was bothering him, but he was standoffish, as though keeping me at arm’s length. Then again, he seemed to be doing the same to his boyfriend. Last night, after I had fucked the pretty boy right in front of the cowboy, I half expected him to break. However, he hadn’t.

So, I had followed him upstairs, allowed him to take a piss while I watched, then I put his cage on him and forced him to remain naked while we went back downstairs. We ate dinner, and I had the cowboy clean up, although the pretty boy was usually the one to pitch in. He joined us in the living room when he was finished, and when we were watching television, the cowboy had put some space between himself and the pretty boy. That wasn’t normal from what I’d seen.

Rather than go into the office this morning, I opted to work from home. Case mentioned he was scheduled to meet with Trent for one of his workout sessions, so I figured I could keep the cowboy company while he waited for their things to be delivered. Since they were currently residing with me, they had decided to put most of their belongings in storage. It made the most sense until they figured out where they would be living whenever this thing between us was finished.

I had briefly considered outlining a plan for them. Adding an end date so they had something to work toward. That thought was fleeting. I liked the idea of them not knowing. Wondering if perhaps today would be the day I would kick them out on their asses.

As with every sexual encounter I’d had with a submissive, I knew this would be ending. If the cowboy had his way, probably sooner rather than later. But I was expecting it, waiting for him to come to me and let me know he was giving back the collar because he was through. No matter how much I was enjoying having them here, I knew it was inevitable.

I was sitting at the kitchen table with my laptop when I heard footsteps behind me. A few seconds passed, but the cowboy kept his mouth shut. If he were waiting for me to greet him, he would be waiting a damn long time.

Finally, he cleared his throat and began speaking to my back. “The movers said they’d meet me at the storage unit in an hour.”

I pivoted in my chair to face him, curious as to what he wanted me to do with that information. When he wasn’t forthcoming, I cocked an eyebrow and waited patiently.

His eyes went everywhere except mine when he finally spoke. “I just thought you wanted to know.”

“I do want to know,” I assured him, taking in his body language.

His arms were crossed over his chest, his hip slightly cocked as though what he was saying didn’t mean a damn thing to him or me. His gaze darted my way briefly, but when he noticed me watching him, his eyes shifted again.

“Okay, then.” He dropped his hands with a huff. “I guess I’ll just go on up there and wait. Not sure when I’ll be—”

“The pretty boy has your car,” I told him unnecessarily.

“I know. I … I wanted to see if I could borrow your truck.”

“No.” I didn’t see any reason for him to sit in my truck and wait for the damn movers. The place was five minutes from my house. It was obvious he was trying to get away from me, and I wanted to know why.

His forehead creased, and those emerald eyes finally settled firmly on my face, defiance glittering back at me. “No?”

“Did I stutter?”

“No. It’s just … I was thinking … I figured I could…”

I pushed to my feet. “Don’t think.”

The cowboy’s eyes followed my movement, his arms shifting in closer to his body. If he was trying to pretend not to be pissed off, he was doing a shitty job.

I nodded toward the basement stairs. “Follow me.”

I was surprised he didn’t ask me why. He wasn’t nearly as obedient as he’d been a couple of days ago.

I marched down the stairs with him close at my heels.

“Strip and go stand by the wall.”

“Uh … Zeke … I need to meet the movers.”