Free Goldilocks and His Three Bears by AM Riley Page A

said Paul. “I'm sorry, Jim.”
    “I think you need to talk to Scott,” said Jim. “I lived in a traditional relationship once. I understand.”
    “Did you?” Paul ran a hand over his bald head. The eyes he raised to Jim's were a tad overwhelmed.
    “I know what you're going through, man. You need to talk? Ever? About anything? I'm here.”
    “Thanks, Jim. I... I've never known anyone like him. I'm so afraid of messing this up.”
    “Don't blame you. Brian's special,” said Jim, studying his fingernails.
    “You want to tell me what happened to you?”
    Jim frowned at his nails for a minute. “No,” he said with a sigh. “I can't yet. But thanks for asking.”
    Paul nodded. “We're lucky to have you.”
    “Mutual,” said Jim gruffly. “But for now, you have to talk to Scott. He really cares about Brian. And he's worried.”
    “Okay.”
    “I don't know if I can live here,” said Scott. He sat in a big chair turned so that it faced his bedroom window. His arms crossed his chest. His head turned away from Paul. “Listen to you beating the shit out of him every night... ”
    “Scott, it's not like that.”
    “Yeah. Sure. Of course, he isn't allowed to speak so who would know.”
    “Brian has chosen to be completely subordinate for a week or two. He feels it's important for us to establish that trust... ”
    “He trusts you? So you hit him?”
    Scott cast an angry look at Paul and was startled to see the man gazing back at him with tears in his eyes.
    “I love him,” Paul whispered. “So I give him what he needs.”
    Scott studied him. Then he looked away.
    “I want to talk to Brian. Okay?”
    “Of course,” said Paul. He stood. “Thank you, Scott.”
    A few minutes later Scott went back out to the living room and found Brian there, sitting on the couch looking sorrowful.
    “Hey, Goldilocks. Where's your keeper?”
    Brian looked up at him, his eyes hurt. “He's not... ” He looked away.
    “Sorry. Kidding,” said Scott, although he wasn't. Not really. He reached to tousle Brian's hair, then thought better of it and sat down on the couch instead. “So I guess now you've got permission to speak?”
    Brian scowled. “You don't understand.”
    “Okay. I'm sorry. I mean— ” Scott made an exasperated noise and scrubbed at his face with both hands. “Listen. I was thrilled when you guys pulled me into this thing. Seriously thrilled. But... Bri. What's going on?”
    “Paul and I— ” Brian's lip poked out while he thought about it. “I've never had anything like this, you know? I didn't know I needed it. But I do.”
    “Like, you need to be punished or something? Wouldn't therapy be better?”
    “It's not punishment. It's about relinquishing control.”
    Scott blinked. “Oh.”
    “I want this, Scott.”
    “Why? I mean, he's hurting you, sugar. I'd never let a man hit me like that.”
    “He isn't really hurting me, Scott.”
    “I heard you screaming at him to stop, Brian! I heard. Christ almighty, honey, was that a whip?”
    Brian's cheeks went red. “Yes.”
    Scott stared at him for a beat and then looked away. “Shit.”
    “I'm not injured, Scott. It's pain like tattoos are pain. It hurts, and then it's over. There's a feeling of... release. I feel much calmer afterward. Peaceful.”
    “There's drugs for that,” said Scott, sarcasm coating his words.
    “It isn't a regular part of our relationship, Scott. It's a symbolic act that makes me feel better. Total submission. And he did it because I needed it. Because I wanted it. Please try to understand, Scott. You're... you're my friend. That means a lot to me. I haven't got a lot of friends out here and... well, you're more than a friend, Scott. It's like you're my brother.”
    “Kinky,” said Scott. He didn't sound amused.
    “Just try to understand.”
    “I can't watch him hit you.”
    “I wouldn't want you to,” said Brian. “That's something between Paul and me that we're still feeling out. But if you saw a scene, maybe