The Space Between a Rock and a Hard Place|OT4

. 9 .

Luke can't say he's thrilled every time one of the dominants counts out a new number whenever he lets so much as a "damn" slip- "they'll start out harsher with what words they count so you really remember to pay attention, don't worry, I've never got soaped for a damn" Calum had informed him. He also can't say he was looking forward to it when he's told to "drop and give me thirty" teasingly right before he's going to head home by Michael- to be fair he's proud he'd managed to only swear a total of six times today.

None the less, he sinks to the ground with a groan and lays on his back on the carpet, Calum giving him a cheeky smile as he kneels and scoots so his knees hold lukes feet down, putting his hands on the other submissive a knees.

"How about some incentive?" He offers with a whisper the first time luke sits up- he was given the choice today between push-ups and sit-ups but was informed on the future the dominants might make him do push-ups instead, because they're much harder.

Luke raises an eyebrow questioningly at the brunette, and the next time he's up, Calum pecks his nose, making Luke smile. The next time Calum pecks his head, and the next his lips.

"Hey now, this is meant to be a punishment, not a reward." Ashton lightly scolds Calum, who rolls his eyes and ignores him, kissing the blonde again when he reaches him again.

"Calum, you want to do lukes sit-ups with him? Because it looks like you're just aching to be included." Ashton threatens and Calum groans.

"You're just jealous you didn't think of this and I got to kiss Luke first." Calum quips, kissing luke again, and the doms raise their eyebrows, Ashton deterring the behavior with a sharp pop against the brunettes ass that makes him squeak and lean away from the blonde this time, pouting at the dominants.

They aren't used to Calum acting so bratty. They know he's being good natured and not malicious, he just wants to give the new exciting sub attention and affection, but they're used to immediate obedience from calum, usually.

Michael wonders if maybe calums behaving this way because he's still bitter about the way they messed up- which would be fair, deciding to bring it up after Luke leaves.

Ashton attributes it to having a second submissive to show off to and figures it's just something they'll have to deal with, he doubts it's uncommon for subs to feed off each others naughtiness or show off to one another. They'll have to deal with it as it comes, but he wants to nip it in the bud.

Luke whines at the loss of "incentive", trying to coax Calum back, but is fixed with a stern look from Ashton and sighs, continuing to do the sit-ups and just enjoying Calums hands holding his knees.

"Alright, good job babe." Ashton chuckles when Luke finishes and lays on the floor recovering with a huff.

"Let's get you home now, drama queen." Michael says, helping Luke stand.

"Cant you stay another night?" Calum pouts and Luke smiles.

"I stay any longer I'll practically be moving in, cali." He says softly and Calum rolls his eyes.

"Hardly. Two nights? I wanna cuddle some more. And maybe we can give eachother some more incentive, yknow?" Calum flirts, wrapping his arms around lukes waist and looking up at the blonde with puppy eyes.

"Let me get my hug goodbye too, you hog." Ashton teases, curling his fingers into the kiwis side.

Calum squeaks and let's go, pouting that lukes leaving still as Ashton hugs Luke and kisses his cheek. Michael wraps an arm around cal from behind and kisses his cheek.

"Stop pouting, Luke will be over again soon, I'm sure. I love you. I'll be home in a few and we can all cuddle and talk, okay?" He says softly in calums ear and Calum sighs, turning to return Michael's hug.

"I want Luke to be here so he can cuddle and talk too. Pretty please don't take him home?" Calum begs and Michael rolls his eyes.

"We are not holding Luke hostage, love. I will see you soon, be good."

Lukes shoes are on and the two head to the car, Luke pecking calums pouty lips and telling him he'll see him soon before he goes.

"Let's go get ready for bed bubba." Ashton coaxes cal upstairs.

Calum hold his arms out and Ashton smiles and picks him up, carrying him upstairs.

"I miss Lukey. Cant he move in? His home sucks anyway." Calum complains, recalling Luke explaining that part of the reason the doms began getting to know him was his bad home life and tough situation at home.

"It might be hard to get along and date and get to know eachother if he's living here, my love." Ashton says and calums shakes his head.

"No, it'll be better. We have room. I moved in quick." Calum argues as he's set on the large bed in ashtons room.

"Not this quick. And we knew you longer, love. I know you really like Lukey, but it's probably too soon for him to move in. If needs to because of his bad home, he's of course welcome, but we aren't going to pressure him either. You don't think maybe lukes not ready for that yet? Moving in is a big step for people, babe." Ash debates as he strips Calum- who's being lazy- to his boxers to sleep.

"It's not fair that we all get to be here together and hes left out, what if he gets sad and misses us and feels discluded? If I miss Luke I can just cuddle you guys to help but Luke doesn't have anyone if he misses us." Calum worries, Ashton recognizing that most of his anxiety is coming from how sleepy he is.

"I know you like him a lot and you're worried about him babyboy. I'm glad, I like him a lot too. We can talk about it more tomorrow." Ashton reassures and Calum pouts.

"I love you ashy." The Maori sighs and Ashton smiles, kissing him. He strips down to his boxers and tucks calum and himself in and they lay there talking quietly and waiting for Michael.

As soon as Michael's home, he shuts out the lights and runs to join the other two, stripping and crawling in as well.

"Are we gonna need a bigger bed for Lukey?" Calum asks, cuddling into Michael.

"Maybe. Or we can just cuddle extra close. Depends." Michael answers. "Hey, I wanted to ask you something, love."

"Yeah?" Calum mumbles sleepily.

"I noticed a few times today you were... more testy. Is there a reason for that?" He doesn't want to mention any reasons and lead Calum to any easy answers, he wants a truthful answer from Calum.

However, the Maori just shrugs.

"Words please. I was wondering too. You can't think of any reason? You just were?" Ashton says and Calum frowns and shrugs again.

"You wanna hear what I think?" Ashton says and Calum glances at him.

"I think you wanna be a bratty little show off in front of Luke, huh? Think it's funny or sum? Like a little boy acting up around his crush?" He teases and Calum blushes, hiding in Michael's chest.

"Is that it?" Michael asks. "Cause I was thinking you might still be mad at us and now want to listen cause of that, in which case we need to talk." Michael offers and Calum shakes his head.

"No, we settled that and I let it go. I won't get mad at you for it or bring it up again." Calum denies.

"I know you want to do that cali, but I also know sometimes it's harder to forgive and forget than that, which is okay. We don't have to talk about it right now if you don't want to or can't think about it hard enough right now though." Michael says and Calum pouts and nods.

"Sleep." Calum says. The two dominants accept that answer and soon all three are asleep.