Five Stars (Desire Island Series Book 5)

by Claire Thompson

  He had been with lots of women in the scene. He’d been infatuated with a number of them. But he’d never felt the deep connection that had been forged from his first scene with Shani on Desire Island.

  Ryan had joked that there was something in the air there—that romances seemed to blossom everywhere you looked. Even Ryan, who had always boasted that he was too busy with the many to fall for just one, had had his heart stolen by the lovely Abbie. Though Adam had never thought he’d want to marry again, he could easily imagine spending the rest of his life with Shani.

  With an inward grin, he jerked himself back to reality. As heady as this newfound feeling was, he needed to slow down and stay in the moment.

  When Shani bent to retrieve her dress, Adam placed his hand lightly on her arm. “Why don’t you just leave that off, hmm? You look so hot in nothing but your boots.”

  Shani smiled, dropping her hand. “As you wish, Sir.”

  Vendors were packing up what was left of their wares, the dungeon play already in full swing as Adam and Shani wended their way past the stations to put their cash box in the office safe for the night. He brought along his gear bag, eager to play now that the work-portion of the evening was complete.

  As they emerged from the office, he saw his old friend and fellow whip maker, Taggart Fitzgerald, accompanied by his partner in both business and love, Rylee Miller. Portland was their home base, and Taggart, like Allie, rented storefront space in the BDSM Connections warehouse, though most of their business was online.

  Taggart was built like a line-backer, every bit of it muscle. He had deep-set gray eyes over a strong nose, his dark, wavy hair in need of a cut. He was dressed in his typical attire of a black T-shirt over well-worn black jeans and work boots.

  Rylee was equally athletic, with broad shoulders and narrow hips, her legs strong and tan. She, too, generally favored jeans and boots, her hair pulled back in a no-nonsense pony tail. But that evening she was dressed in a black leather corset that hugged her full breasts, over a tiny turquoise-dyed leather skirt that matched the slave collar around her neck. Her wavy hair hung loose over her shoulders.

  They greeted one another and introductions were made. “Say,” Taggart said in his gravelly voice, “We’re heading over to try out the new suspension frame Bob just installed. It’s reserved for full-time, experienced members only, and we’ve got the next time slot.” He let his gaze move over Shani’s naked form, adding, “It’s designed to suspend two subs at once, if you two would like to scene with us.”

  Adam looked to Shani, his eyes brows raised in question. “Want to?”

  “Sure,” Shani replied enthusiastically.

  “Great,” Taggart said. “Rylee’s experienced with inverted suspension, and can go as long as twenty minutes. But it’s something you work up to. What about you, Shani? Do you have experience with hanging upside down?”

  “Yes, Sir,” Shani replied. “Though I think fifteen is about my limit.”

  “How about we make it ten this first time,” Adam suggested. “Just to keep things safe and sane.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Taggart agreed. He tapped the watch on his wrist. “I’ll keep track.”

  The suspension frame was made from sturdy wooden beams built much like a wide doorway, though with no walls to get in the way. Two sets of four chains with clips at the bottom hung down from the frame. Each set of chains was secured to a heavy hook embedded in the underside of the top beam.

  Squatting in front of the supply cabinet set against the wall, Taggart used his members-only key to open it. He removed two inversion harnesses with wrist restraints attached, along with two pairs of heavy-duty ankle suspension cuffs.

  “As much as I love the naked cowgirl look, Shani,” Taggart said as he got to his feet, “You’ll need to take off those boots for this session.” He turned to Rylee, his heavy eyelids hooding as he looked down at her. “Remove your things and present yourself, R.”

  “Yes, Sir,” the girl replied in her husky voice. She stripped quickly until she wore nothing but her slave collar. Dropping into a kneeling position on the thick mat set up beneath the inversion frame, she spread her knees to reveal her smoothly shaven cunt, her hands resting palms-up on her thighs in classic presentation mode.

  Shani, who had shucked off her boots, lowered herself gracefully into the same alluring submissive position. Adam’s cock rose in appreciation of the two lovely women, forcing him to slip a hand into his pants to adjust his erection.

  Taggart and he spoke briefly about how the scene would go. They decided it would be fun to try out each other’s floggers for the full body play, switching to their own pieces for the more intimate cunt flogging that would follow.

  Agreed on the details, they directed the girls to rise. “These harnesses are designed specifically for inverted suspension,” Taggart explained as they fitted the leather straps over the girls’ torsos. He indicated the four D rings attached to the bottom of each harness—two on the back and two on the front.

  “These large rings work in concert with the ankle suspension cuffs so the weight is more evenly distributed.” The ankle cuffs were heavy duty, covering most of the foot, more like a boot with the toes cut out than a simple strip of leather. It was clear these sturdy cuffs would be far more comfortable and supportive than typical around-the-ankle-only cuffs.

  Once the gear was in place, they had the subs lie down side by side on the mat. While the men were cuffing the girls’ wrists to their harnesses, Rylee whispered something to Shani. Shani nodded eagerly and then they both giggled. It pleased Adam to see how well the pair seemed to be getting along.

  Satisfied with their handiwork, Taggart and Adam lowered the chains. They clipped them to the D rings at the girls’ thighs in the front and just above their bottoms in the back.

  “Ready, girls?” Adam asked, as they took their positions on either side of the frame.

  “Ready,” Rylee and Shani replied in unison.

  The men turned the winches on either side of the bondage frame, lifting the girls slowly into the air until they both hung fully extended, Rylee’s hair just brushing the ground. Having met her sisters, it was easy for Adam to visualize Shani with long hair also falling in a thick, shiny curtain to the ground, so black it had a blue sheen. Maybe someday…

  Taggart and he exchanged floggers. Taggart didn’t do multi-colored dye work, as Adam did. But his leather was top quality, soft as butter and beautifully crafted. Adam hefted the handle in his hand, enjoying its perfect balance as they took their places behind their suspended subs.

  A group of onlookers had gathered around them, eager voyeurs with hungry expressions in their eyes. As always happened when he was in a scene, Adam blocked out the gawkers, along with the noise and activity taking place all around them. He was aided in this by the music now piping through ceiling speakers—an instrumental piece with a dark, heavy beat.

  They wasted no time applying their floggers. Adam loved the sound of the heavy leather tresses slapping against supple flesh. The music added a layer of sensory stimulation that heightened the scene. He was aware of Taggart beside him, and occasionally glanced over at Rylee, whose small, round bottom was reddening nicely under the throws of the flogger. But his primary focus was on the beautiful girl suspended before him, her legs spread wide, her wrists shackled in the restraints on the sides of her harness.

  They moved in slow circles around their women, snapping the floggers against their asses, backs, breasts and thighs. Based on the sizable bulge in Taggart’s jeans, he was as turned on as Adam.

  After a while, Taggart lowered his arm and glanced at his watch. “We have four minutes left. Shall we switch to something a little more… intimate?”

  “You bet,” Adam agreed. They dropped their floggers and went for their gear bags. Taggart pulled a mini flogger from his bag, while Adam selected a small leather flapper from his.

  Moving in front of Shani, he crouched down so she could see his face. “You good, Pri
ncess?”

  She opened her eyes, fixing them on him. “Yes, Sir,” she said in a low, breathy voice.

  “We only have a few minutes left. I want to smack your sweet cunt. You good with that?”

  “Yes, please,” she said, her dark eyes sparkling.

  “Excellent.” He got to his feet. Unable to resist, he stroked her spread vulva, tracing the velvety soft lips with his finger and then slipping it inside. She was soaking wet, and her vaginal muscles spasmed against his finger as she moaned her approval. Perfect.

  He smacked her sweet cunt with the slapper, lightly at first. She uttered a small, breathy cry. He smacked her again, a little harder. This time she groaned, the sound low and sexy in her throat. He could smell the musky, alluring scent of her arousal and his cock twitched, his balls aching with lust. He smacked her reddening vulva in a series of sharp, stinging blows. Her body was trembling now, her breath ragged and fast. If she hadn’t been suspended, he would have whipped her to orgasm.

  Instead, all too soon, Taggart nudged him lightly with his elbow. “Time’s up. We need to end the scene.”

  Taking their places on either side of the frame, they lowered the girls until they were resting flat on the padded mat. Working quickly, they released the cuffs and removed the body harnesses. While Adam helped the girls to sit upright, Taggart retrieved two bottles of still-cold water from his gear bag. As the girls sipped their water and talked quietly to each other, Taggart and Adam cleaned the gear and put everything away.

  The dungeon party was in full swing now, every scene station occupied and surrounded by goggling spectators. As they helped the naked, smiling women to their feet, Taggart said, “I have access to a back room. What do you say we allow these sexy sub girls to thank us properly for their floggings?” He placed his hand suggestively over his bulging crotch and grinned.

  Adam grinned back, delighted with the suggestion. But, while Taggart and Rylee were in a committed Master/slave relationship, he and Shani were still so new. He turned to her, a question in his eyes.

  To his surprise, Shani and Rylee looked at each other and burst out laughing.

  “What’s so funny?” Taggart and Adam asked in unison.

  “That’s what we were whispering about before,” Rylee explained, a devilish smile on her pretty face. “We had exactly the same idea.”

  “That’s my girl,” Taggart enthused.

  Adam’s cock was stiff with anticipation as he placed an arm gently around Shani’s bare shoulders. “Lead the way,” he added with a grin.

  Chapter 12

  It was dark, the air warm and close. She was facing the back wall, her arms bound tightly behind her back. Her long hair was knotted with ropes that were tied around the hook Sir had embedded into the ceiling. Sweat beaded on her upper lip and under her arms. Drool spilled down her chin. Her leg muscles quivered with fatigue as she struggled to stay on her toes.

  Just like the coyote trickster in the old tales Mama used to tell her, he’d promised her the moon, if only she shared her sacred birth name. Instead, he’d stolen it and replaced it with new, false names.

  Nasty Cunt. Bad Girl. Filthy Slut. Dirty Pig.

  If she could only remember her birth name, her warrior powers would return to her.

  The sound of something skittering in the walls startled her, making her slam her feet to the ground. She grunted in pain against the ball gag wedged into her mouth as the ropes jerked her hair painfully taut. Tears in her eyes, she struggled back to her toes.

  The door of the punishment closet slid open, flooding the tiny room with light. She could feel Sir’s negative energy just behind her. A moment later, a furred paw curled around her throat, choking the breath from her as the claws dug painfully into her flesh.

  The coyote panted behind her, his breath hot against her neck. When had he abandoned his human form to become this growling, slathering creature? Fear iced her blood as she felt the prick of his sharp fangs against her neck.

  “Have you learned your lesson, Filthy Slut?” The coyote could speak, what was left of the human soul still locked inside. “Do you promise never, ever to do that again?”

  She had no idea what she’d done, or failed to do. All she could do was nod.

  “I don’t believe you,” the coyote snarled. “You’re a nasty, lying little cunt.”

  Terror shot through her veins, the sweat chilling on her skin. Her breath was trapped in her lungs, her heart thundering. Who am I? she begged the Great Spirit. Tell me who I am!

  “I can help you,” a warm, deep voice murmured in her soul.

  That voice! She knew that voice. It was kind and good. She leaned toward it with her entire being.

  Help me. Save me, she silently begged.

  “You have the power to help yourself. You have always had that power. All you need to do is remember who you are. It’s always been there in your heart, waiting for you to reclaim it, Princess. Take back your name. Take back your power from the coyote.”

  And, all at once, she remembered.

  Shani.

  She was Shani, one of the five noble princess warriors!

  As Sir grunted and shifted behind her, Shani called her name power back into her soul. The rough hemp wrapped around her wrists and knotted in her hair transformed into intricately braided leather whips. Summoning her warrior magic, Shani commanded the whips to life. They trembled and hissed as they metamorphosed into writhing snakes, their scales cool and smooth against her hot skin. They slithered from her arms and uncoiled from her hair. They wound around her body as they waited for her bidding, their scales richly patterned in reds and golds. She whirled to face her tormentor, her being thrumming with returning strength and resolve. “Go back to the spirit world,” she commanded the snakes, “and take him with you.”

  The coyote lifted its massive head and opened it jaws, howling as the snakes slid from her and wrapped around his body. Glaring into his yellow coyote eyes, she declared, “I am Shani, noble warrior princess, and I take back my power from you. Be gone!”

  Shani bolted upright in the bed, her eyes springing open. “I am Shani, noble warrior princess!” she shouted.

  Adam, lying beside her, jerked awake. “What?” he cried in alarm. The room was illuminated by the soft light of the moon filtering in through the window. He focused on her, his brows furrowed with concern. “Shani, are you awake? Is it another nightmare?”

  She stared at him, completely confused. She looked wildly around the room. “Did I do it? Did the snakes take the coyote away?”

  “Did who do what?” Adam asked, clearly confused.

  She drew in a deep, shuddering breath and let it out in a rush of relief. She wasn’t in Sir’s punishment closet. She was in a hotel room with Adam Hawk, the man she was falling in love with. She was safe.

  She gave a small, embarrassed laugh as she allowed Adam to pull her into the cradle of his warm, solid arms. “It was just a bad dream, Princess,” he soothed. “You’re okay.”

  Shani snuggled against him. “It felt so real, Adam. It still feels like it really happened, even though I know that can’t be true. It wasn’t a nightmare, not exactly. I mean, it started out that way. But then the voice—your voice… And the snakes… It was… It was empowering. I took back my name from the coyote and used your snake whips to send him away.”

  “I’m sorry, what?” Adam chuckled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Shani laughed again, this time with genuine mirth. “Okay. Let me see if I can explain it…”

  ~*~

  The next afternoon, they headed back to the reservation. Understandably, Shani wanted to see her mom once more before returning to Desire Island. Shani had been quiet over breakfast, and remained quiet as they drove. She stared out the window, clearly agitated and distracted. Maybe that weird dream was still haunting her? Adam didn’t want to intrude, determined to give her the space she seemed to need at the moment.

  He kept glancing at her as he drove, agitated
and distracted in his own right. Instead of focusing on the uncertain future, he should enjoy every second he had with this wonderful girl. There was the second night of the Fetish Fair to look forward to. They still had an entire day and night together before she was due to fly back to Desire Island and he was scheduled to fly up to Montreal for a leather sourcing conference. He, of course, planned to pay for Shani’s commercial airline ticket back to the island, but he kept putting off making the reservation. He didn’t want her to go. Or, more specifically, he didn’t want to be parted from her.

  For the first time in his life, he felt as if he’d found a home. Not a brick and mortar home, but a home for his heart. Shani was someone he could imagine spending the rest of his life with. In fact, he could not imagine anything else. He needed to tell her how he felt.

  Yet, his rational self kept him from saying anything aloud. Surely it was too soon to be talking about lifetime commitments? They hadn’t even said they loved each other. But he knew, as sure as he’d ever known anything in his life, that he was in love with this woman. And more than that—that she was made for him, and he for her.

  Damn it. He would just tell her. He would blurt it out and she could make of it what she would. He glanced at her once more. As if feeling his eyes on her, she turned at that precise moment to look at him, a determined look on her face.

  In unison, they said, “I need to talk to you.”

  They were silent a beat as they processed what had just happened, and then they both laughed.

  “Okay,” Adam said, still smiling. “You go first.”

  “No, you,” she said. “Please.” It wasn’t a polite request. There was yearning in her tone. Perhaps she, too, needed courage for whatever it was she wanted to say.

  Pulling up his big-boy britches, Adam girded himself. If she refused him, then so be it. If she wasn’t ready, he would be patient. He would do whatever it took to have her in his life.