by Cyna Kade
Primeval Passion
Cyna Kade
Julia has never met a man who can keep up with her sexual needs. Alex has never met a woman he couldn’t conquer and control. Sparks fly when Julia moves to Primeval Lake.
To fulfill the terms of her grandfather’s will, Julia must live at the lake for a year. Alex wants to help her survive—in exchange for Julia’s surrender. He wants to subdue and dominate her. He won’t accept anything less than her full consent for any sexual game he might like to play.
Julia fears giving any man that much control. She’s been disappointed before, why should she believe Alex is different? Complicating her decision, Alex wants to buy her cabin. Its purchase would give him complete control of the lake.
Does Alex really want Julia or just her cabin? As Julia wrestles with this question, Alex decides he can’t wait any longer and forces Julia to face her fears and make a decision.
Inside Scoop: Contains exhibition scenes and a very light female/female encounter.
A Romantica® BDSM erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Primeval Passion
Cyna Kade
Author Note
This book is a work of fiction. It does not accurately portray BDSM or true Dom/sub relationships. Please practice safe, sane and consensual sex.
Chapter One
Julia Theresa Tilman turned at the sound of a deep male voice. She couldn’t take her eyes off the man even though she didn’t normally find blonds attractive. A quick, throaty laugh briefly exposed the long, thick column of his neck. His hair wasn’t too long or too short. He needed a shave but looked good anyway. The T-shirt he wore was tight enough to highlight a broad chest and powerful hard-looking arms. His masculinity was not worn on just the outside. She could see it went deep into his core. He held the eyes of his companions even as he commanded Julia’s attention. The man was mesmerizing. Julia ached for him, her arousal instantaneous and sharp. When he glanced up, her face flushed but she didn’t lower her gaze. She held firm for a long moment.
His ice-blue eyes twinkled as if he knew a secret. Julia spiraled into a deep fathomless pool brimming with possibilities. Her arousal was always close to the surface and she enjoyed sex but she rarely went after a man. This time though she wanted to leap without looking, trusting that he’d keep her safe. She was just about to step toward him when her arm was grabbed and she was physically turned away from the alluring man.
“Honey, you stay away from that man. Don’t even think about talking to him.” Maggie’s frown emphasized her words.
Julia started. She’d never heard Maggie speak badly about anyone. “Why should I stay away?”
“There are stories about what he does out at the lake. About what goes on.”
“At the lake? I’ve never seen him there before.”
“You haven’t been here in a couple of years. Been a lot of changes…not all of them good.” Maggie shook her head. “Didn’t your grandfather write to you?”
“He told me the summer people were changing things but he really didn’t elaborate.”
“Honey, the summer people aren’t just summer people anymore. That one, Alex Thornton,” Maggie nodded toward the table where the blond man sat, “lives here all year long and he’s the driving force behind the changes. His group is taking over and they don’t have our morals. There’s something strange about them even if they look like us. You sensed it too, didn’t you? The larger than normal presence, as if he’s a man but something more too.”
Julia didn’t answer, she just cast a slanted glance at the blond. He wasn’t looking at her. He had his head down, engaged in a conversation with the other men at the table.
Maggie continued, “He’s behind it all. He’s bought up a big chunk of the land around the lake. He planted a bunch of cabins on the north side and a mansion on the west side. Lots of work for the locals. Lots of money floating around… That’s why he can get away with anything. You wouldn’t believe the rumors about his mansion and what goes on there.”
“What kind of rumors?” Julia’s interest sharpened. The man was hot, charismatic and dangerous. His sexuality called to her senses. She wondered if she could play with him without being burned.
“Bad things. You don’t want anything to do with that crowd. Your grandfather certainly wouldn’t approve of you socializing with them. He tried to stop the development but…well he was tired and not healthy. He couldn’t do much.”
“Is that why…” Julia wasn’t quite ready to talk about the terms of her grandfather’s will.
“Why what, honey?”
“Why didn’t he tell me the whole story? I would have come.”
“He knew you needed to live your life, not his. ’Sides, you know he never asked for help.”
“True, but I feel like I should have been here.”
“Honey, you’re here now. That’s all that matters. Just keep away from that lot.” Her lips compressed into a disapproving line.
Maggie finished packing up Julia’s purchases.
Julia had just arrived in the village and decided to stop at Maggie’s before continuing on to her grandfather’s cabin. Maggie ran a small restaurant and store on the east side of the lake. She carried a little bit of everything and the restaurant was always filled. It was the heart and hub of the lake. Or it used to be. Julia looked around and realized there weren’t many locals at the five tables. She didn’t recognize anyone and had a scary thought. “Billy still runs a taxi, doesn’t he?”
“Not full time. Not anymore. There isn’t enough of a call for his services—oh, your grandfather’s boat is still at the cabin, isn’t it? You need a ride, don’t you?”
Julia nodded.
Maggie moved to the phone on the wall behind her. “Let me call Billy. I’m sure he’ll do it for you.” She dialed, talked for a few minutes then hung up and turned back to Julia. “You’re in luck. He just finished a service job and he’d be happy to take you out.”
“Thanks, Maggie. It’s really good to be back.”
“Good to have you. You just take care of yourself and let me know if you need anything.”
Julia picked up the box of supplies. She briefly thought about stopping at her vehicle but she had her backpack and it contained everything she’d need for tonight. Besides, she had her hands full with the supplies. She’d get the rest of her stuff tomorrow when she moved the SUV to long-term parking. In the meantime, it would be safe in Maggie’s parking lot. She headed to the dock.
Alexander watched Maggie say goodbye to the woman who’d been staring at him. He knew Maggie had warned the woman off. The townies didn’t particularly like his values but they certainly loved his money.
He wanted to know the woman’s identity. She was bold and intelligence had gleamed out of her deep-brown eyes when they’d locked gazes. Smooth black hair flowed over her backpack and reached nearly to her waist. He wondered if her tanned complexion was a result of the sun or if it covered all her body. Her trim figure, tight buttocks and large breasts made his hands itch.
He wanted to strip her naked and see if she looked as good without the jeans and T-shirt.
He wanted to see if she could follow orders. Intelligent submissives were his preferred partners. He loved controlling their spirit and fight. He wanted to be close enough to feel her softness.
Lithe muscles rippled in her arms as she picked up a large box of supplies and walked outside. If she was buying supplies—a goodly amount of supplies—it meant she was staying in the area. Alex stood.
He told his companions, “Finish breakfast. I’ll be back in a few minutes. There’s something I want to do.” He walked to the front of the store.
Maggie stepped in front of him before he could leave to follow the woman.
&
nbsp; “She’s not for you.” Maggie stood with her hands on her ample hips, her chin tilted defiantly.
Maggie was short and Alex was tall. The tip of her head barely reached his mid-chest area. Her spirit amused him. He bet she’d been a hellcat when she was younger. Alex liked her spirit so he stopped to talk to her instead of ignoring her. He tipped his head down. “Who is she?”
“Not for you.”
“Why are you protecting her? Who is she, Maggie love?”
Maggie tightened her lips and shook her head.
“Be that way,” Alex said. “You know I’ll find out.” He stepped around Maggie and left the store.
Alex scanned the street but he didn’t spot the woman. He heard the roar of a motor and headed toward the docks. Sure enough, the woman was in Billy’s boat. Alex smiled. So the woman lived on the lake. He mentally checked off the possibilities.
He owned the entire north and west sides of the lake and he knew she wasn’t a guest of his. On the east side was the town. On the south side, there were only three cabins in a five-mile stretch. He was in the process of buying two of those cabins, leaving only one possibility. He might not know the woman’s name but he knew where she lived.
The neighborly thing to do would be to pay her a visit. A visit to her isolated cabin, where Maggie wasn’t around to run interference, suited him just fine. This was an unexpected development and he loved challenges. He nodded and made his way back to the restaurant to pick up his friends. They were expecting a new recruit and she should be here any time now.
* * * * *
Charlene’s hands shook as she dragged her suitcase out of the taxi. The town was a little beaten and old but she didn’t care as she headed toward the dock. The instructions had been very explicit. Take a taxi to the town. Go to the dock. Wait. Someone would meet her.
Her skin crawled with excitement. She was honored to get an invitation. She’d been told how exclusive the lake complex was and how few people were accepted. She’d applied not really knowing what she was getting herself into but it had sounded like such a grand adventure. The ad had been brief.
Explore your submissive side in a loving, supportive environment. All safety protocols honored.
She had called the number listed. The formality and rigidity of the application process had been intimidating but she’d been determined. She wanted to explore her submissive side. She wanted an experienced dominant man to teach her. In the small town where she’d grown up, no such man existed. Oh she knew men who’d be happy to slap her around but even as inexperienced as she was, she knew that was not the same. So she’d applied and fought her way through the process, including all the medical testing, until finally the lawyer had told her she had been accepted. She thought back to that exciting and frightening day.
“You have to sign a contract,” the lawyer said. “I’ll read it to you. Can’t have you saying you didn’t know what you were getting into.” He paused. “You do realize this isn’t a normal BDSM club, don’t you?” He held up a hand before Charlene could reply. “For the record, BDSM stands for bondage, discipline, domination, submission, sadism and masochism. So I’ll repeat the question. You do realize this isn’t a normal BDSM club, don’t you?”
“Well I’ve never been to that type of club so I wouldn’t know the difference,” she replied.
“Good. You’ll have less to unlearn.” He looked down and started reading.
The first sentence threw her a little. “Hidden cameras will record your entire visit.”
“Wait, you mean you’re going to have a record of everything?”
The lawyer nodded. “Yes. We don’t want you later claiming that something happened when it didn’t.”
“How can I be sure it won’t end up on the internet? I don’t want this public.”
“It’s all accounted for. If you’ll let me finish?”
Charlene nodded.
“The record will never be made public. Should the record ever make it to a public venue, the above named person will be paid one million dollars to cover damages.” The lawyer paused. “Is that a sufficient guarantee?”
“One million? Yes…yes, that works.”
The lawyer nodded and continued.
At a few places, Charlene hesitated. Submissive games were new. She’d fantasized a lot but her fantasies didn’t begin to cover the things he asked. Together they worked their way through a long list of items. Would she give oral sex? That was an easy yes. Would she receive anal sex? She said maybe and the lawyer said maybe was not an answer so she’d said yes. The list went on and on. She wondered if the lawyer got off on reading it. She almost asked but his demeanor didn’t invite questions.
The contract was explicit and detailed. She’d never heard of many of the items and even with a description, she wasn’t exactly certain what she was agreeing to in places but she wanted to find out. The questions certainly fueled more fantasies. She was squirming by the time the lawyer had finished. Her hand shook a little as she signed the contract. Then she went home to pack and imagine some dominant man doing all those things to her. She couldn’t wait for the games to start.
Charlene shook her head and came back to the present. She wouldn’t have to wait much longer. There weren’t any people at the dock. It was an old wooden thing that didn’t look too steady. She wondered if her spiked heels would go right through the wood. She put her suitcase down and, as instructed, she waited for someone to show up.
* * * * *
Julia gasped as Billy’s boat rounded the curve to head out into the open lake. The entire north side of the lake was dotted with cabins. The forest no longer came to the shore. Parts of it had been cut way back. The cabins had a clear space behind them. It was a good firebreak but it made the area look denuded and bare. Space for a road, Julia realized as she spotted a car driving behind the cabins.
At the west end of the lake stood a large mansion. Glass panes set in silvered strips covered the entire east side. They soared three stories high. How did they keep the place warm in the winter with all that exposed glass? Julia was beginning to understand Maggie’s disdain and she had a feeling she wasn’t going to like her new neighbors any more than Maggie did.
As if the cabins, road and glass monstrosity weren’t enough, a seaplane bobbed in the lake and three twenty-eight-foot boats rested at the dock structure. Jet skis beached the shore. Apparently forest noise wasn’t enough for the new residents. Motorized toys would wreck the ambiance of the lake.
Julia frowned. No wonder Maggie was upset. Primeval Lake wasn’t so primeval anymore. One of the attractions of the lake had been its wilderness characteristics. Trees had marched to the lake. Insect chirps and birdcalls used to fill the air with raucous noise. Now they were subdued as if they feared the new residents. The north and west sides of the lake looked like a small city. The primitive features were gone.
At least the south shore was still the same. The woods crept to the lakeshore with no sign of civilization. So the intruders got the pristine views while the natives looked out on urban pollution.
Billy brought the boat around to her grandfather’s dock. He cut the engine and drifted in. He threw a rope around a pillar and brought the boat close enough for Julia to exit.
“Thanks, Billy.”
“No problem, Miss Julia. It’s nice to have a longtime resident return. Most everyone else has sold out.”
“Not on the south shore. It still looks good.”
He shook his head. “Not for much longer. I heard that Reardon and Breyette are both selling.”
“What?” There were only three private camps on the south shore. If they sold, she’d be the only one left. What had her grandfather gotten her into?
Billy nodded. “Yup. Your grandfather was the only holdout. You let me know if you need anything else.” Billy released the rope and backed away from the dock. Julia stood for a long moment, looking across at the developed shore before she turned and made her way up the path to the cabin that belonged
to her as long as she fulfilled the terms of the will.
Julia pushed open the screen door and winced when it screeched. She entered the screened porch area and set down the box of supplies. She’d put them away in a little while. First she wanted to see the cabin. As expected, the front door wasn’t locked. She couldn’t ever remember her gramps locking a door. The lake just wasn’t that kind of place—or it hadn’t been. Julia supposed that she’d have to start locking the door if there were all kinds of strangers around. Maybe she ought to fence her property and set out some No Trespassing signs too. The thought jarred her. She didn’t want to have to barricade herself.
The cabin smelled musty. She went around opening windows. It didn’t take long. The ground floor consisted of eight hundred square feet. It was sectioned into different areas, and steep stairs led to a loft for sleeping. Not surprisingly, the fireplace in the living area was cold. Someone had taken the time to brush out the ashes and lay new wood though. A match was all it would take to get a fire going. Julia eyes teared in sadness. Her grandfather must have fixed the kindling before he died.
She moved to the kitchen area where she found a letter on the table. Her name was written in large block letters. She hesitated then picked up the envelope. It wasn’t sealed—the flap was just folded over. She smiled as her heart broke. Gramps always said he hated the taste of the glue.
Dear Julia,
Sorry to throw you into this mess without a warning but I thought I could handle the situation. Suppose you’re wondering about the conditions of the will. If I had just given you the cabin, that bastard Alexander Thornton would have targeted you just as he’s targeted all the other owners on the lake. He already owns the north and west side. Now he’s working on the south side. I don’t think Reardon and Breyette will be able to hold out…Thornton is offering too much money. Besides, as they told me, the lake isn’t the same now. They miss the quiet. They miss the people who came here to be close to nature. These summer people are different. They plan on staying on their terms. I won’t say more. You’ll find out.