Healing Hark (Doms of Chicago) (19 page)

“
Yeah. Diachi let me use his office while you were in the shower.” Dread at revealing what he’d found built in his stomach. “Most of them didn't have anything on them out of the ordinary.”

Bryan searched his face.
“Why do I feel like there's going to be a ‘but’ here?”

Briefly tightening his fingers, Hark released the hair.
“Because there is. Due to the early hour of the attack, we have only two people who could've possibly done it.” He lifted Bryan up off his knees and sat him across his legs.

Bryan laid his head against Hark's chest.
“So hit me. Which executive am I going to have to fire?”

“
Your uncle came into your office about an hour before Sharonda.”

Bryan sighed.
“Shit. He's been against the Wheaton-Free line ever since I brought it in front of the board. But why the hell would he attack Sharonda? He and she used to date a couple years ago.”

Hark mentally filed it the tidbit.
“Like I said, he’s one suspect.” He brushed a kiss across the top of Bryan's head.

“
Okay. Who’s the other?”

“
Easton.” Hark rubbed a hand up and down Bryan's suddenly tense back. “He came into the office about ten minutes after your uncle left.”

“
Fuck. Are you sure, Sir? Easton is...” Bryan kept his head buried.

“A good man. I know, but
until I can eliminate one or the other, it’s only reasonable to assume one of them attacked Sharonda. They had the opportunity, but until I dig deeper, I can't say truthfully which one had a motive.” Hark continued to pet Bryan. “But what I need from you is permission.”

A watery chuckle escaped Bryan.
“You need permission?”

Hark tipped Bryan's chin up and brushed a kiss across his lips.
“The only thing at Sterling Foods I want control over is the sexy CEO who runs it. Period. If you don't want me to look any deeper, I won't. But I’ll stick to your ass like glue until either the culprit is found, or Diachi steps in and forces your hand.”

Bryan sighed. “That he would.” He brightened a little bit as a naughty look entered his eyes. “
Only the sexy CEO?”

Leaning in, he nipped Bryan's lower lip.
“Only you.” Then he sucked the lip into his mouth and laved away the sting before kissing the breath out of the man. When he finally lifted his head, he smiled down at him. “So who's it going to be? Me or Diachi?”

Bryan opened his eyes and tried to focus on him.
“What?”

“
Who's helping you with this? Me now, or Diachi later?” Hark knew he was pushing. But the need to go hunt down both Easton and Corbin was riding him hard. However, he knew from experience letting a submissive think they had a choice was important. Especially when said submissive was being shared with Diachi Rai. Bryan had no real options — it would either be him now or Diachi later, once the man found out Hark wasn't handling the situation. “You have to choose, little one.”

Bryan licked his lip and Hark could tell it was tearing him up.
“You, Sir. But please be as discrete as possible?”

Relief flow
ed through Hark. As a reward, he tucked Bryan's head against his shoulder. “Of course.”

For Hark the following week took turns dragging and flying by. When he went to work with Bryan, the time passed quickly as he split his attention between keeping an eye on Bryan, and investigating the motives behind the attack. The more he dug, the more he became certain what happened to Sharonda was related to the ongoing sabotage on the Wheaton-Free line. As usual the puzzle of trying to find out who was behind it was thrilling. He honestly enjoyed using his brain as opposed to his brawn. Not in the end, he wouldn't kick some deserving asshole's butt for putting Bryan through this nightmare.

But even as busy
as the days were, the nights dragged. He walked around on eggshells — scared he was going to fuck something up and Diachi would wash his hands of him again. The routine when they returned home was now comfortable. But they hadn’t progressed any further. Diachi would greet them, make dinner, then they’d either watch TV or play chess, but not once had there been a manila card on the table. It seemed to Hark as if the men had put their sexuality on hold because he was fumbling around like a fool. As a result the tension inside of him kept growing.

As a switch
, his need to Dom was being met in spades while he was at Sterling Foods, but unfortunately his need to submit was only growing with every passing day as Diachi petted him and treated him no better than an injured sub in need of coddling. It was frustrating to the extreme and he felt as if he were going to blow at any moment. He needed relief. Lust was his constant companion. Perhaps a trip to the club was in order, since Sir seemed reluctant to do anything more than curl around him at night while they slept.

By the time he pulled up to the hou
se, the need to escape his own desires had grown to the point he was shaking. Stopping in front of the garage, he let the car idle. He needed his little one to go inside before he did something he regretted. He barely glanced at Bryan. “Here you are. I have a few things I need to do. I'll be back later.”

Confusion crossed Bryan's face.
“What things?”

Clenching
his jaw, he reminded himself to be calm, to not snap at Bryan. It wasn't his fault Diachi had him strung out. “Just things. Please let Diachi know I'll be quiet when I come in. I’ll probably sleep downstairs so I don’t disturb either of you.”

Bryan placed a hand on his arm.
“You’d never disturb us.  Come in and talk to him. He'll be disappointed if you don't at least —”

Hark snapped. Even after promising himself he wouldn't lash out at Bryan, he lost it.
“Dammit. I'm a grown man. If I want to go down to the bar and have a few, I will! If I want to go to the club and find a sub to fuck, that's my business too. I don't need permission from either of you.” He slammed his fist down on the steering wheel.

Bryan jumped.
“Sir, tell me what's wrong. We can go to Master and he'll help.”

Hark was
becoming more desperate as his anger grew. “He's not going to be able to fix this! I'm fucking broken and this thing between us is temporary — I'm nothing more than a noble cause for both of you. Let's heal the big man because life shit on him. Tell me what the fuck happens when you decide I can't be fixed? You kick my ass to the curb and say 'sorry, we tried.’ Maybe — ‘better luck next time?’” He wanted to hit something. “I'm tired of being the object of pity —”

Bryan cut him off.
“Stop right there. I've never once pitied your stubborn ass, but I'm coming really fucking close to kicking it.”

Hark turned to face him.
“Really? Wasn't it you who told me you'd come into the dark with me? Well guess what? In the past week, you haven't even come close to the dark angry places inside me. Instead all you've done is shine more of your Pollyanna sunlight on me. All it's done is make the damned shadows worse. I'm stuck half way between heaven and hell, with no way out. And it's all because of this cockamamie scheme to rescue me.”

Bryan flinched and drew back.
“You son of a bitch.” The tears welled up in his eyes.

Imm
ediately Hark felt horrible. The last thing he'd wanted to do was make his little one hurt. He'd just wanted the man out of the car before he did something he couldn’t take back. He opened his mouth to apologize, but Bryan was already scrambling out of the car and running toward the house. This was why he needed a strong Dom. Someone to keep him in line when the darkness became too much. Hark sat there with his hands wrapped around the wheel long enough to make sure Bryan made it inside, then he put the car in reverse. He had to get out of here before he did any more damage. Aiming the car back toward the Edens, he wasn’t sure where he was going to go, but anything had to be better than facing the mess he’d just created.
When will I ever fucking learn? I'm no good at this anymore.

* * * *

Diachi heard the door slam shut and looked up from where he’d been tossing a salad to go with the linguini he’d made from scratch. Pleasure washed over him. His men were home. He’d noticed how empty the house was while they were at work and had looked forward to each night – even though the tension radiating off Hark kept growing.
But there’s nothing I can do until he comes to me. I promised we’d go at his pace.
But he knew himself. If Hark kept ignoring his desires, he’d eventually take the choice away from the stubborn man. But at the moment, he was merely happy they were home. Pushing his concern away, he wiped his hands on the towel over his shoulder. He was walking toward the short hall leading to the garage, when Bryan flew into the house, tears running down his face.

Concern swamped him and he barely caught Bryan as the man dropped to his knees in front of him, wrapping his arms around his waist. “Whoa. What happened, sweetheart?” But when Bryan continued to cling to him, he looped his hands over Bryan’s shoulders. At times like these, it was best to let Bryan cry it out – then talk to him. “Shhh. Let it out,
hana
.”

As he rocked Bryan, his suspicions grew when Hark didn’t appear in the doorway with his cheeks ruddy from the cold, and dark, wary eyes. What the hell had happened? He kept up the soft crooning until Bryan finally seemed cried out. “Anger or hurt?” He asked the question softly. He was prepared for either answer. If it was hurt, he’d go out and find the bastard who’d hurt his
hana
, but if it was anger, a trip up to the playroom would be in order to put things right.

“Both, Master.” Bryan whispered.

He bit back a sigh. The last thing he wanted was Bryan to think he was exasperated with him. No, this had all the earmarks of a Hark tantrum.
When will the damned fool learn to ask? How many times am I going to have to whip his ass until he gets it through his thick skull?

Bryan’s shuddering sigh brought him back to the man in his arms. “I only know of two people who can cause such turmoil. And since one of them is in front of me, I can only assume Hark has finally snapped.”

His
hana’s
head bobbed briefly before a soft, “he’s so dark and angry,” reached Diachi’s ears.

“
I know.” He helped Bryan to his feet. “Come with me. We need to talk.” He steadied the slightly swaying man before guiding him to the great room. Sinking down on to the couch, he pulled Bryan into his arms. A loud, shaky, exhale teased his collarbone as Bryan relaxed against his shoulder. Idly Diachi began to finger comb his sub's hair. Bryan would talk. He just had to be patient, while the other man processed and sorted out his thoughts.

Finally after several minutes of total silence, he spoke
. His first words shocked Diachi down to his soul.

“
He misses you. He needs you.”

His fingers stilled.
“What do you mean? I haven't gone anywhere.”

Bryan toyed with the button on the front of Diachi's shirt.
“No, you don't get it. He needs you to take control. You've been here physically, Master, but you haven't dominated him.”

Diachi paused. Leave it to Bryan to cut to the root of the matter like a skilled surgeon.
“I know, but we promised we would let him set the pace.”

Bryan looked up at him.
“Yes, we did. But he's withdrawing again, hiding from his needs. It's one thing to dominate me, but when it comes to submitting to you, he keeps pulling back. It's like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. And he proved it tonight when he ran.”

Diachi studied his hana's upturned face.
“And what do you suggest we do?”

A watery chuckle escaped Bryan.
“I'd say drag his ass back here and tie him to our bed.”

A grin tugged at the corner of Diachi's lips.
“The idea has merit.”

Bryan slowly sat up.
“Unfortunately I don't think a little kinky slap and tickle is going to fix the issue.”

“
No it won't.” Diachi picked up Bryan's hand, needing the connection. “So what do you think will work?”

Thoughtfully chewing on his lower lip, he squeezed Diachi's hand before answering.
“He needs some one-on-one time with you — whether it's over a spanking bench, against a St. Andrew’s Cross, or bound to a pillory. He needs you to break past those walls he's hiding behind.” Bryan smirked. “He needs you to be his damned Dom, not just a friend with good intentions.”

Feeling a bit like an id
iot at his sub's reprimand, Diachi sighed. “Leave it to you to point out the obvious.” He lifted their joined fingers to his lips. “Forgive me, but I was trying to handle him like I would you. I forgot he's not the same man or submissive as you are.”

Bryan nodded.
“I don't claim to understand what exactly caused you to end your relationship originally, but Hark's just waiting for us to give up on him.”

Diachi growled
. “It won’t happen. He’s a fool who should know better. I finish what I start, and we all agreed to give this thing a shot.”

“
I know we did. But for whatever reason, he's ignoring the obvious. He thinks we're merely doing this out of pity — that we're going to kick him to the curb eventually, instead of trying to build a future together.”

Anger rose inside of him at the idea.
“After I explain a few things to the stubborn fool, I'll prove exactly how serious we are about making this work. Maybe a warm ass will remind him we're not going away.”

Bryan chuckled. “
Well, it would make my eye candy at work even more enjoyable knowing he's being reminded of your possession, even as he takes care of me.”

“
Of course it would. You're such a brat.” He ruffled Bryan's hair. “Now we only have to figure out where he went.”

As if it were an omen, the phone rung next to the couch. He was tempted to ignore it in favor of hunting down Hark, but when Olivia's voice came over the machine, he snatched up the receiver.

“
Hello?”

“
Care to tell me why the hell a damned injun just stormed through my front door looking like he's going to rain all over my parade?” Olivia's voice was waspish.

“
Because I'm an idiot.” Diachi squeezed Bryan's hand. “Can you keep him there?”

“
Give me a good reason why I should? I sent him to you for healing, not for you to fuck him up even more.”

He prayed for patience.
“Have you ever heard the expression some things have to get a little messy before they get better? Well consider this one of those times. I may have fucked up, but Hark’s expecting me to just let him go.”

“
And?” The tart question would've had him smiling if he wasn't pissed off at her little game.

“
And it's not going to fucking happen. Bryan and I have too much invested in this to just let him walk without a word edgewise.”

Her sigh filtered through the phone. “
So what are you going to do?”

Relief flowed through him. She, at least, was listening. “
I'm going to go all Dom on his ass and remind him just what he's giving up if he walks away again.”

“
Good. You have thirty minutes. If I don't see you come through my front door by then, I'm giving his stubborn ass to Jude to handle. I'm not going to risk having him tear up my club in a fit of rage.”

“
I'll be there.” He released Bryan's hand and stood. “Just don't let him wander off.” Then he hung up without saying good bye. “Come on, he's at Olivia's.”

Bryan
remained seated and slowly shook his head. “No.”

Diachi froze.
“What the hell do you mean no? He has to realize we both still want him —”

“
He realizes I need him. But you on the other hand? He's not so sure.”

“
What?” Diachi wanted to pull his hair out. “I've gone to bed with a hard cock for the last week. The fool is too damned observant to miss my hard-on.”

Bryan stood and cupped his cheek before whispering a kiss across his cheek.
“But you did nothing about it. You held us and ordered us to sleep.”

“
So...I'm the Dom.” He was really trying to figure out what Bryan was driving at.