by P Nelson
“You’re in the clear. The Canadian government will issue you a private apology. They will not recognise the op, however and you will probably deal with your ex wife at some point.” Chamberlain smiled. “But I have good news on that front too.”
“It’s like fucking Christmas.” Flynn snorted. Calla wanted to punch him in the arm, but she was too tired.
“He saved your butt.” Calla affirmed. “I want to know what he has to say.”
Flynn patted her head like he was granting her a huge favour said. “Go on, Chamberlain. Enlighten us.”
“You were never legally married to Melanie.” Flynn stood motionless beside the bed. Calla checked his expression. It was the first time she had ever seen him shocked. He always hid his emotions, but Chamberlain’s news had thrown him.
“How is it possible Flynn and Melanie were never married?” Calla asked remembering the cold-hearted bitch who tried to kidnap her. Flynn’s legal troubles might be over, but Melanie was still out there somewhere.
“They set the whole thing up through the Canadian Secret Service.” Linkin guessed.
“Yup. The Reverend, the legal documents.” Chamberlain nodded. “You don’t have to pay the crazy bitch any longer.”
“She tried to kidnap me.” Calla grumbled. Who cared about the money?
“And she tried to extort money from federal officers.” Chamberlain didn’t sound anxious. “My next job is to bring her to heel. She’s gone AWOL.”
“Don’t underestimate her.” Flynn warned. “She could fool some very observant people. And like Calla said, she can and will resort to anything to get what she wants.”
“Which is money.” Calla interjected. All the men stared at her. “She told me so.”
“You better call your people.” Chamberlain handed him a burner phone. “Sophia is about to lay some serious kick ass down to find you.”
“She’s scary when she’s pissed.” Flynn took the phone and leaned down to place a kiss on Calla’s forehead. “I will make calls. Are you all right on your own?”
“Don’t make me come and rescue you again.” Calla smiled back.
“This is a story I want to hear.” Chamberlain grinned at her and sat down on the end of the bed. “Much more exciting than my corporate espionage bull shit.”
“I have phone calls to make.” Linkin nodded to them both. Left alone with Chamberlain, she realised it was the first time since he’d watched their scene back at Flynn’s estate.
“Don’t think about it.” Chamberlain instructed like he’d read her mind. “It was fantastic though. Just in case you were wondering.”
Calla shook her head and laughed. “I’m not thinking about it.” She remembered his wince from before. The concerned doctor came out. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
“A few bruises and not all on my body. But there are plenty of people around who swear my ego can take some big hits.” Chamberlain’s self-depreciative reply struck her as odd.
“You lost someone.” She guessed. Pain flitted across Chamberlain’s face.
“In a manner of speaking.” Chamberlain admitted. The therapist inside Calla wanted to press him, but instead she told him all about her escape and how Melanie had tried to abduct her.
As she recounted the story, it felt like some things that had happened involved another person. Calla had been there, but only as an observer. Calla had grown.
“Now you’re safe.” Chamberlain’s smile was genuine.
“And on your way to x ray.” Flynn came back into the room. “The nurse will be here in a minute.”
“I’ll wait outside.” Chamberlain shuffled off the bed and left. Flynn sat down on the bed and took her good hand in his.
“When do you want to get married?” His tone casual, his eyes serious.
“After we have a collaring ceremony.” Calla said.
“When do you want to have the collaring ceremony?” Flynn asked.
“As soon as possible.” Calla lifted her wrist to show him the temporary bandage. “Maybe once this heals a little more?”
“Anything you want.” Flynn told her.
“And I want Master Lovett to officiate.” Calla determined to have the former owner of the Feather Flogger a part of her special day. “He recommended me to be your in house psychologist at The Cage. Without Master Lovett, we may never have met.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way. He is a senior member of the community and would be a good fit.” Flynn gaze grew distant. “I extended an invitation for him to play at The Cage, but he hasn’t taken me up on the offer.”
“I’ll talk to Misty and Janey. They’ll know where he’s hiding out.” Calla knew the two subs were close to Master Lovett.
“Now, what does my Dom want?” Calla peered up at him between her lashes.
“You owe me so many smacks, Calla.” Flynn sighed and grinned down at her. “As soon as they heal your hand, you will not sit down for a long time.” Calla ran his words through her head. She should be offended, but she wasn’t. This is what she wanted. Thinking back all those months ago to when they began their thirty-day contract and the way Calla felt about Flynn, she realised it hadn’t changed one bit in all the months gone by.
“I love you so much.” She whispered. The words stuck in her throat for a second. A tear fell down her cheek. She didn’t want to cry right now. This was a happy time. After months of worry and strain, Calla had her forever Dom. She would accept his permanent collar. They would marry in a low-key ceremony where Evie would fuss over everything and Sarah would protest. A thought popped into her head.
“What’s Miss Emily going to think of Sarah?” All the worry about their two families meeting came to the forefront of her mind. Her problems were far from over.
“You better think about what I will say to your mom.” Flynn’s voice was firm. “I saw your expression when you left their house yesterday.”
“She doesn’t mean to hurt my feelings.” Calla told him. There was no way Flynn would bully her mom.
“And there is no reason she can’t be civil.” Flynn argued back. “Someone needs to remind her of her manners.” Calla closed her eyes on the mental picture of Flynn trying to remind Sarah of her manners.
“I can’t even.” Calla shook her head. “Sarah will eat you alive.”
“Take my word for it love.” Flynn smoothed back her hair. “I know how to handle women like Sarah.”
He shook her head. “You do not understand how to handle a woman like Sarah.” Calla thought the argument was ridiculous and smiled.
“Why are you smiling?” Flynn asked.
“Because we will have a lifetime of arguments just likes this one.” Calla replied. “And I look forward to every single one.”
“I love you, Calla. And I don’t care if the whole world is watching every damn move we make. I’ll still get up and ask you to dance with me.” Flynn leaned down and kissed her lips. Even in her state, Calla’s pulse raced at the touch. His five o’clock shadow had turned into the makings of a beard and the bristles brushed against her delicate skin. He pulled back.
“I like the whiskers.” Calla informed him.
“It’s the pain meds talking.” Nurse Bet was back. “Time to take you off to x ray before you give anything else away.”
“I’ll be waiting for you when you’re done.” Flynn assured Calla.
“We’ve assigned her a private room. You can get the number and directions at the nursing station. No funny business.” Nurse bet informed him.
Calla giggled at the look on Flynn’s face and it turned into a full on laugh after she heard his next comment.
“Your mom would make a great Domme.” Calla couldn’t see Chamberlain’s expression but she heard a short scuffle as Nurse Bet wheeled her down the hall.
“Boys.” Her tone exasperated.
“And one of them is mine.” Calla leaned back in the bed and couldn’t wait to get on with the rest of her and Flynn’s life.
Chapter Twenty Four
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…One Month Later
“I’m so proud of you.” Flynn glanced down at his sub and lifted her hand to his lips. They stood outside The Cage. It was the first time they’d the chance to step foot inside the BDSM bastion Flynn had built. He had made a lot of changes in the last four weeks. Trimmed down his workdays, handed off some of his responsibilities to Arthur. It was good to have less weight on his shoulders. “You chose us.” Calla smiled.
“I chose you, sub.” Flynn remarked. “Now you can repay me with your ass.” Calla laughed up at him and his heart squeezed. He had come so close on so many occasions to losing her in a myriad of different ways. There was a part of his brain that couldn’t believe they’d made it this far. “You are the love of my life. And you need to get across my knee sooner rather than later.”
“You might have to wait a little longer.” Calla remarked. The front doors opened and Janey, the receptionist, poked her head out.
“Are you going to stay out here for much longer?” She called. “It’s darn cold and I know there’s a whole bunch of people inside who want to see you.”
“Don’t try to top from the bottom.” Flynn pulled Calla towards Janey and the open doors. “Isn’t there a Dom around here willing to spank your subbie ass?”
“I wish.” Janey replied as they stepped inside. “The good Doms are taken.”
“Now all the heat is off the club and Flynn, I’m sure there are plenty of Doms who will come out of the woodwork.” Calla encouraged.
“Easy for you to say. You’ve found your forever Dom.” Janey mumbled walking back around the desk. Flynn listened with half an ear to their conversation. “Besides. I have someone in mind but, he isn’t interested in me.”
“Then move on.” Flynn advised. He pushed the sign-in sheet towards Calla. It seemed like such a normal gesture. Something he did for her because they were together. His life had changed in a thousand different ways like this one over the last four weeks. “No means no in the BDSM world.”
“Thanks.” Janey replied. The ultimate brat.
“That’s twenty smacks and don’t think I can’t find a Dom under this roof you will approve of getting those licks from.” Flynn made sure his tone was hard. If you gave an inch with some of these subs, the whole game was over.
“Yes, Master Flynn.” Janey took the registration sheet back.
“I’ll meet you out on the floor.” Flynn kissed Calla. He didn’t want to part. But they both needed to use the locker room.
“Can’t wait.” She smiled back and passed through the doors.
“Don’t ask. They have sworn me to secrecy.” Janey held up my hands. “And no Dom out there will spank my ass for not telling you.” Flynn growled at her before heading towards the men’s changing room. It was quiet inside for a Friday night and Flynn wondered if that meant the dungeon wouldn’t be as busy as he feared.
He found his regular locker and just stood staring at the door. He had to sit down for a second. Over every inch of space there were cards, ribbons and notes of support. There had been nowhere else for people to leave their well wishes and so they had left them all here. A place where they always believed he’d come back to. Flynn let out a deep breath, choked up. For so long he’d believed he was alone. At the pinnacle of the business world, on the stage of the dungeon floor. But he hadn’t been. There had been a crowd of people waiting to hold him up.
Flynn rubbed his face and opened, his locker carefully in order not to disturb any message. He would take the time to read them later. Now he wanted to get back to Calla’s side, so they could walk the dungeon together. With quick hands Flynn divested himself of his street clothes and pulled on his leather and boots. The worn material clung to his legs and allowed him to sink into the normality of the evening.
It was just another evening down at The Cage. He might have built the dungeon, but it now housed a community. Flynn closed the door to his locker, straightened his shoulders and walked towards the door of his dungeon. He hesitated for a second before shaking his head and pushing it open. Calla would laugh at how ridiculous he was being.
He spotted Calla standing near the bar area. Her head turned to speak to Delaney and a couple of the other subs. She threw her head back and laughed. Never in his whole life had he seen anything so perfect. The large ruby on her finger caught the light as she showed her fellow subs and they all cooed and awed over it. His chest swelled. She might be proud of him. But he was equally proud of her.
“And here he is. The man of the hour. Our fearless leader!” The DJ waved from his booth and Flynn fired him on the spot. “Master Flynn, don’t give me that look. You’ve earned this!” The air punched with the beats of techno music and the DJ saluted him while grooving away in his booth. Flynn swung his gaze back to Calla who was watching him a smile on his face.
“Great to have you back, Master Flynn.” Thea Demopoulos greeted him on towering heels in a micro mini and corset. She looked stunning. Flynn didn’t even see the scars the Reverend left on her skin. Thea reached out and pulled him into a hug, “Damned good to see you.”
“Get your hands off her.” Master Dillon joked about his love. She wasn’t his sub, and he wasn’t her sub. Flynn didn’t think he would never understand. But as he pulled away from Thea, he could see their happiness.
“Just a quick man hug for me.” Master Dillon wrapped an arm around Flynn and he received one in return before they pounded each other on the back.
&
Calla watched with pride as Flynn took his bow. Doms and subs alike all approached him to pay their respects and congratulate Flynn. He deserved all the praise and more, as far as it concerned Calla.
“You met my friend Angela on the train.” Delaney prompted, bring her focus back on the small circle of subs standing around her.
“Yes, thank you so much for the books.” Calla had forgotten about Delaney’s kind act after everything else happened. “I thought Joe would die when I read one of those books with the hunky guy on the front holding the damsel in distress. And in all seriousness, it kept my mind off everything happening around me.”
“I’m glad it was a good distraction. My ass still hurts.” Delaney rubbed her backside and Calla along with the other subs laughed. “Joe took a strip off me, and then Linkin had his turn with the paddle.” She sighed. “By the time Martin got his licks in, I had already made more devious plans.” Her grin told them nothing could have made her repentant.
“So when is the wedding?” Lilith spoke up. She was still shy around many of the dungeon group, but with Gaige’s help she was coming out of her shell increasingly.
“We’ll look at dates after we have a collaring ceremony.” Calla said. She smiled at her best friend. “I’m hoping you’ll do me the honour of being my maid of honour.” She asked. Lilith’s cheeks turned pink.
“I’d like that very much!” Lilith threw her arms around Calla and they hugged. She had had little time for her friend in the last few months, but Calla knew she was in good hands with Gaige. “I have my news, but I’ll tell you later. I don’t want to steal your thunder.” Lilith whispered. The hug broke and Calla scrutinized Lilith’s expression, her gaze travelling down to her bare hand.
“I look forward to it.” Calla smiled at her.
“So we’re having a collaring ceremony?” Delaney questioned. “Another one?”
“You are a brat of the first order.” Misty observed coming forward and giving Calla a hug. “You look great. Master Flynn suits you.”
“Thank you.” Calla beamed at the older woman. She knew Misty believed she had found and lost her forever Dom to cancer. But Calla understood from experience, there were many roads in life and maybe there was someone out there for Misty.
“We have to find Master Lovett first.” Calla explained to the rest of the group. “I want to have him perform the ceremony. He taught me the basics of BDSM at The Feather Flogger and recommended me to Flynn when he was looking for a psychologist for The Cage.” Calla shrugged. “
It feels right to have him with us on our big day.”
“You might have to postpone your collaring for a while.” Misty frowned. “Master Lovett is AWOL.”
“Janey said he wasn’t responding to texts, calls or emails.” Calla let out a long breath.
“The closure of The Feather Flogger was hard on him.” Misty glanced away for a second and gathered her own emotions. Calla understood the closure of the staple on the Vancouver BDSM front had been very hard for the long-time members of the kink community. Many people had begun their BDSM journey within its hallowed walls. “It was like losing an old friend.” Calla reached a hand out to comfort Misty. She gave Calla a watery smile and inhaled.
“Any idea where he might have gone?” Calla asked trying to help her focus on something other than her own grief.
“He bought an airstream.” Misty nodded her head and smiled when a couple of subs laughed. “It’s true. At his farewell speech he said he wanted to go on a road trip. He sold the building where The Feather Flogger was located and leased out his downtown apartment and took off for parts unknown.”
“I’ll have Linkin to look into it.” Delaney offered.
“It wouldn’t be the same if he wasn’t here with us.” Calla thought of the strict but kind Dom who had shepherded so many subs over the years. “He’s the pillar of our community.”
“I miss my old friend.” Misty admitted. Her shoulders sagged.
“My master can find anyone.” Delaney wrapped her arm around the other woman. “Hell, he helped to bring down an international conspiracy. How hard will it be to find one Dom travelling around North America in a tin can?” Misty laughed.
“Master Linkin is a genius. Don’t tell him I said so though. His head is already big enough.” Misty added for good measure.
“Yes it is.” Delaney agreed and Calla shook her head. “Don’t let him hear you say that. You think you’ve got a sore ass now.” Delaney glanced around her to make sure Linkin was out of ear shot, her other master Martin too.