Page 53 of Under Their Protection

“Double Shot of Tequila and four Bold Rock’s on tap, please,” he tells him. I am leaning against the bar tapping my finger while I scroll social media when Theo places his hands on either side of my body and whispers in my ear.

“You don’t have to be scared, Anika.”

“I’m not scared but I am definitely regretting being a brat right now,” I laugh.

“You suck at lying, Anika,” the bartender says with a smile, as he sets my drinks down in front of me. I throw back the shot and slide the glass back to him.

“It was worth a shot,” I say.

“Or two,” he laughs.

I take a generous sip of my hard cider before I turn to face Theo who is smirking at me. “How is fucking with my head therapeutic?” I ask.

“It’s not. That part is just because I love to see you squirm,” he admits.

“It is cute to see all those dirty thoughts swirling in your mind that you never let out,” Max says as he leans against the bar beside me. When Rowan does the same on my other side, I get fidgety.

“I wonder what she’s thinking,” Rowan asks the others. They all look hungry as they look at me.

“Probably wondering how those piercings are going to feel stroking her tight little cunt,” Max says in a sweet voice.

“Why do you look scared when you claim you are not?” Theo asks me.

“Your wife said… and I quote, that you are 'Rough and unforgiving' so that both confuses and intrigues me,” I say.

“Do you want to use your safe word then?” Theo asks.

“No,” I say honestly.

“You must not be too worried then,” he states.

“My curiosity will be what destroys me,” I say. “...And my cervix.” I sip my drink and Theo smiles at me.

“Are you ready, Anika?” Theo asks sweetly.

I take another generous sip of my drink to finish it off before I set the glass down. “I am,” I say. All three men smile at me before I am led back to the VIP room. Max unlocks the door and gestures for me to walk in. He disappears as I walk in and pull myself up to sit on the end of the table. Max comes in with the same bag as last time and lays it beside me. When he unzips it, I see somethingI recognize but have never tried. My immediate reaction is to get away, so I do. I hop down from the table and go to step away when Max grabs me.

“No running. We need to talk about it, okay?” he asks softly, and I nod.

“I would like to challenge you a bit, Anika,” Theo says as he steps in front of me.

“With a bullwhip?” I ask, not even hiding how scared of that thing I am.

“Does it scare you?” he asks.

“Fuck yeah, it does. It’s a fucking whip,” I say. I close my eyes and take a deep breath and they don’t bother me while I center myself.

“Can I show you first?” he asks, and I nod. “Can you go get the girls?” he asks Max.

Max leaves the room and I keep my eyes closed. When the door opens back, I hear them come in and I open my eyes.

Theo turns to the girls. “I want to challenge Anika with a bullwhip because it is the only thing she hasn’t done, but she is hesitant. Mia, would you be willing to let me demonstrate something for her?” he asks.

“Hell yeah,” she says happily.

“Just pick a spot that you are comfortable with, and I’ll go over the rest,” he says.

“My back is fine,” she shrugs.

---