As they walked out of the gym, Jeff softly shut the door, not wanting Janie to hear.
“This isn’t working, Jeff. She’s not gonna use that damn word,” Caleb said, running his hands through his hair.
“She is almost there. I know it. Did you see the way her body gave up? She was almost there, but something held her back. Whatever is going on in that head of hers is stopping her from letting her emotions out,” Jeff explained. “We just have to continue on. Eventually she will break, and then we will be able to help her heal. Tomorrow I am having Braxton run a background check on her. I want to know everything there is to know about Janie Potter, because something from her past has messed with her head.”
“How the fuck are we going to get her to let it all go? She just absorbs everything we do. That woman is a fucking machine, and not to mention a huge masochist!”
“I know. She is perfect for two sadists, don’t you think?”
“Not if we have to beat the living shit out of her. I won’t do it, Jeff. I love that woman. I will not hurt her to get my rocks off. Ain’t happenin’, brother!”
“I don’t want to cause her pain either, Caleb. You’re not the only one who loves her.”
“Then you better come up with something and quick, because my gut is saying she can go all night.”
“We haven’t tried everything.”
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about? What more is there to do?”
“I have an idea. Just follow my lead,” Jeff said, turning for the door.
* * * *
The silence was back.
“Guys?” she whispered. Waiting for a response, the only thing she could hear was the soft sounds of the music and her own pounding heart. Had they left?
Oh God, what if they just left me here? Would they do that?
The thought entered her mind and refused to let go.
Her whole life had been one disappointment after another, and the thought of them just abandoning her, chained to the wall, was too much.
Something inside her broke. Hanging her head, she cried softly. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered as the anguish filled her soul. She didn’t want to be alone anymore, but she didn’t know how to tell them that. Janie thought this was what they wanted, and she was happy to give it to them. But through the whole scene, she endured, wanting to feel that rush, to allow them to give the pleasure she thought they wanted. Had she been wrong? She thought of everything, every contingency, yet they still left. She must have gotten it wrong.
The hurt felt just like it did when she was five. Holding tight to the memory, she allowed it to wash over her, swallowing every hurtful recollection. Growing up in foster care, she had gotten used to the inability of emotions, the refusal of attachment, the discouragement of those around her. She persevered, making something of herself, and when she got out of these chains, she would do it again.
Shaking off the loss, she sniffed back her resolve and started planning her next move. Find a place to stay, work harder at the library, and never make the mistake again of letting someone close.
Resolving herself to her fate, she stood proudly as the feel of the room took on a cold, distant feeling.
The music stopped. Janie looked up but still saw nothing because of her blindfold. The soft shuffling noises told her she wasn’t alone anymore. She heard the click of a button as the soft sounds of Garth Brooks’s “To Make You Feel My Love” moved throughout the room.
Her heart picked up, wondering what they were going to do now.
She was so confused.
The music they picked led her mind in another direction of what she thought they wanted. Thinking she had read them all wrong from the very beginning, Janie began to panic. This was not what she wanted. She didn’t want soft. She couldn’t handle soft. She knew that. She never allowed any form of attachment. Soft was for the other people. She had soft once, and it was harshly taken from her. She vowed to never let anything or anyone get that close to her.
She felt his hand softly brushing her arm. The warm sensation sent ripples of goose bumps over her body. With a shaky breath, she whispered, “What are you doing?”
“Loving you,” Jeff replied gently.
“Why?” she gasped as his other hand slowly wrapped around her waist in a gentle gliding motion. It was so sensual, so erotic, so much more than she signed on for.
“Because I love you, Janie Potter,” he whispered softly against her neck, trailing moist kisses along the way.
“I don’t want your love. I want to be spanked. Spank me, damn it!” she shouted, trying to wrestle away from him. With the chains firmly in place, she barely moved.
“Let me love you. I want to touch you, kiss you, make love to you. I love you, Janie.”
“Stop saying that!” Janie screamed as tears violently ran down her face.
“Can I make love to you, Janie?” Caleb asked as he kissed her stomach, his hands moving tenderly up her legs toward her hips.
“No!”
“We aren’t going anywhere, Janie. You can count on us always. We will always be here for you. Let us love you,” Jeff said compassionately.
“Stay with us always, Janie. Be ours. Lets us be the one you lean on. We won’t break your heart. Let us in. Let us love you,” Caleb caringly offered.
Their ministrations were too much. She could feel them everywhere. They left no place untouched as they invaded her. Before she could form a reply, she found herself being lifted into a pair of strong arms and placed lovingly on a soft bed. They took their time kissing her as they gently removed the leather outfit. They tenderly removed her heels and stockings. She was naked before them, but yet she still kept her eyes closed. She knew if she was to look at them, they would win. They would own her. She couldn’t fight the longing deep within her and them, too.
She had to stay strong. She wouldn’t allow herself to be loved. Loving someone only brought pain and death.
“They continued their worship, devoting pleasure she had never felt before.
“Look at me, Janie. Let me see those beautiful eyes.”
“Go away. I don’t want this,” Janie replied, her voice hitching.
“I love you, Janie. I have from the first moment I saw you. Let me love you,” Jeff asked delicately.
Janie opened her eyes and saw. She saw into his soul. His heart was breaking for her. She stilled as he slowly lowered his mouth. “I love you, Janie.” And with that, he kissed her so tenderly, a dam burst and the hole got wider. The rush of adrenaline flowed furiously. The battle was lost. The eternal struggle was overpowered as Janie relented and whispered, “Austen.”
Chapter Nine
It had been two days since Janie fled from the ranch. There was nothing they could do to stop her. She adamantly refused to stay a moment longer with them. As much as her words hurt them, they swallowed their pain and let her go.
They weren’t surprised when Janie called Emma. They knew Emma and her men would take care of Janie, but damn, they wanted to be the ones to help her heal. Emma had assured them that she would take care of Janie, and when Tate gave his word also, that eased some of the hurt. Standing there on the porch, they watched as Emma and Tate drove away with their lovely librarian.
The wind picked up, and a cold breeze blew in from the north as the brothers went about their job of taking care of the ranch, when the Treasure Cove sheriff drove up.
Walking over to greet him, Jeff and Caleb saw that something was really off with their best friend. Normally Braxton would meet them halfway, shake their hands, and say some rude remark about their pathetic attempts at ranching. But this time Braxton just leaned against his county vehicle and waited.
“What’s up?” Jeff asked, taking off his gloves.
“I got that information you asked for,” Braxton informed them.
“Okay, so what’s got your hackles up, Brax? Is there something in her background we can’t fix?” Caleb asked worriedly.
“No. You’ll both be able
to help her, but that’s not the only reason I came out here,” Braxton said, looking off in the distance. “Fuck, man, I hate being the messenger boy. I oughta kick Gabriel’s ass for this.”
“What does Gabriel have to do with this?” Jeff cautiously asked.
“I’m sorry. He’s trying to stop him, but the shit ain’t listening,” Braxton rambled anxiously and nervously.
“What the fuck are you talkin’ about?” Caleb demanded.
“Jason! I’m talking about that little pissant pussy,” Braxton shouted.
“What about him?” Jeff growled as the hairs rose on the back of his neck. He knew whatever Braxton was about to say, he wasn’t going to like it.
“Jason, he’s doing a scene with her at the club right now.”
“Who?” the brothers shouted in unison.
“Janie. He’s got her on the cross in—” Braxton said but was interrupted when Jeff and Caleb took off running.
“Caleb, grab the guns!” Jeff said, his voice like steel.
* * * *
Janie walked out of the receiving room dressed in a long black silky dress with slits all the way up to her hips. The platform Mary Janes she wore tested her ability to walk without breaking her ankles, so she took it real slow. The dress itself was completely backless, barely covering the top of her ass. But it was the simple string around her neck that held the garment in place. She touched it nervously, making sure the knot was tightly in place.
Her hair was pulled up in a beautiful chignon style, with diamond clips scattered about. Her makeup was minimal, except for the bloodred lipstick she wore. She looked more like a runway model getting ready to walk the catwalk rather than a sub looking to get her ass whipped. But who was she to complain.
She had called the club the night before and asked for a second chance and was rewarded with a provisional admission.
Trying to forget about the gym and what had happened when the Hicks brothers turned the tables on her, she tried desperately to concentrate on what she wanted. But no matter what she thought of, the memory of the gym played in her mind. She could still feel their hands all over her as they said words of love. She had been prepared for a hard scene, and it was going beautifully till they brought emotions into the mix. The overwhelming rush of emotions bombarded her. They had taken her high into the universe and then slammed her back down to earth, with whispers and touches of love.
She couldn’t handle the emotional rollercoaster and fled like the damn wind. Scared and confused, she called Emma.
Which was another mistake.
She couldn’t stand watching the Quinns with Emma. It was making her second-guess every decision she ever had made, and honestly, they were driving her nuts.
Being alone for most of her life, she had gotten used to doing for herself, so when the Quinn brothers opened doors, pulled out her chair, carried in the groceries, or, her favorite, carried her laundry basket to the washroom, Janie had had enough. It was one thing for them to be polite and make her feel welcome. It was another to treat her like an invalid!
Janie knew that was not their intention, and they probably didn’t even know they were upsetting her, but they were suffocating her. Against the suggestions of the Quinn Brothers and her new friend Emma, Janie left and headed to the club.
Finding a seat at the bar in the media room, Janie surveyed the room.
“What can I get you?” the bartender asked. Turning to greet the man, Janie replied, “Water, please.”
The bartender was a large, muscular man with tattoos covering both of his biceps. Some sort of tribal design snaked, wrapping around his arms all the way down to his elbows. His short buzz cut enhanced his strong facial features. His bright-blue eyes looked like glass.
Janie watched as the muscles in his back moved as he reached for a glass. When he turned, he smiled as he handed her the water.
“You’re new here.”
“Yes. I’m Janie.”
“Justice Hightower. Nice to meet ya, Janie. So tell me, who’s your Dom?” he asked, leaning against the bar.
“Do I need one?”
“Well, Janie, you are in the media room.”
“And that means?”
“It means, since you’re unclaimed, you are free meat,” a man said, standing behind her.
Janie turned and looked into the coldest set of dark-brown eyes she had ever seen. The man, standing about six foot two, with long blonde hair, was dressed in only black leather pants and studded biker boots. His firm six-pack accentuated his toned, muscular body.
“I am not a piece of meat that can be claimed,” she rebutted.
“You better show me some respect, sub, or I will have you strapped to the cross as I whip your ass.”
* * * *
“Jason, if you don’t put a stop to this madness right now, I will revoke your membership permanently!” Gabriel shouted at the young kid before him. It wasn’t that he didn’t like Jason, because he did. It was just that Jason tended toward extreme BDSM, and under controlled circumstances, he brought a lot of pleasure to the submissive that chose to spend the night with him. But tonight, Jason had stepped over the line. It was one thing to prowl and poach from a willing Dom, but to snatch a submissive right out from under one was another matter all together. And it just so happened the sub he snatched was none other than Janie Potter.
Gabriel had already talked with the other Doms, and security was on alert for when the Hicks brothers arrived. He could already see the massive bill for the damages they were going to inflict, and it was into the thousands.
“Sorry, Gabe, Ms. Potter signed the contract for tonight, so she is mine. And unless the rules of the club have changed in the last twenty-four hours, I have every right to discipline her any way I want.”
Fuck! The brat was right.
“Have you gone over her hard and soft limits?” Gabriel asked, stalling for time. He knew those rowdy brothers were probably on their way here now, thanks to the phone call to Braxton, who begrudgingly agreed to be the messenger.
“She has no hard limits. She wants to try everything. As for her soft, she only requested one thing.”
“Pray tell, what is it?” Gabriel asked sardonically.
“She said no mention of love—at all, or she would leave and find another Dom.”
That’s it! Nothing more. Shit! She just gave this kid carte blanche to do whatever he wanted. Fuck!
Gabriel looked at the young kid before him. Jason Ramsey was without a doubt a snot-nosed punk! He knew that from the moment he met him. The only reason he allowed the kid to stay on at the club was because the kid needed an outlet, and he was good at what he did, that and to watch him. Gabriel would rather have the kid underfoot than running loose in the community.
Jason Ramsey came to the Pleasure Cave a little over a two years ago with a chip a mile wide on his shoulder and an amazing ability to wield a twelve-foot bullwhip blindfolded, hitting its mark every time. Known as the “kid” of the club, his good looks and cheeky grin quickly had the subs panting and wetting their panties, trying to get him to choose them.
Gabriel had to admit that with the kid on hand every night, sales increased. Word got around quickly about Jason, and soon, Gabriel was forced to require a waiting period and exclusive screening before allowing new members. One of the Pleasure Cave’s in-house Doms, Mack, didn’t like the kid one bit. Mack thought Jason should be whipped himself. Mack didn’t give Gabriel too much grief, just as long as Gabriel was on hand for every scene the kid participated in.
The whole thing was becoming monotonous and tiresome. Gabriel detested babysitting, and that was exactly how he felt when it came to the kid.
“I’ve gotta go get back to my sub. If you don’t have anything else important to say, Gabriel, I’m going to continue with the discipline.”
“She belongs to Jeff and Caleb. You know that. Be sure you know what game you’re playing, because they are playing for keeps.”
“Then they should have co
llared her,” Jason said, turning back to the stage.
“Jason, this is wrong. If those brothers show, I will not stop them.”
“You worry too much, Gabe,” Jason replied, laughing as he walked away.
“Youth and arrogance,” he muttered, looking at his BlackBerry. Flipping through several messages, a new one popped up. Clicking the screen, he read it.
They’re coming! I warned you! They’re your problem. You fix it. I’m on my way to Celestial- Braxton
Ah, the proverbial taboo town of Montana. I must visit soon. Gabriel smiled, thinking to himself. “Oh well.”
* * * *
Slamming on the brakes, Jeff jumped from the truck cab, with Caleb right behind him. Barreling through the double doors, they were immediately greeted by the lovely Violet. “Master Jeffery and Master Caleb!”
“Which room, Violet?” Jeff growled, scaring Violet as she took a step back.
“The medieval dungeon,” she whispered.
Running as fast as they could, they pushed their way through the throngs of people, trying to get to Janie. God knew what that son of a bitch was doing to her, cbut Jeff was adamant on one thing. He was going to kick his ass and beat hers!
“Hey, Jeff, wait up!” Mack shouted at them as they continued on. “Fuck, would you two slow down. He has only had her in there for twenty minutes. Gabriel is there making sure the kid doesn’t go overboard.”
Stepping into the elevator, Jeff, Caleb, and Mack were soon greeted by Justice and his twin, Quentin. “What the fuck is this, a fucking Dom reunion?” Caleb asked.
“Just making sure everything stays fair.” Justice smiled.
“So, did you boys bring a collar?” Mack grinned.
“Fuck off, Mack,” Jeff growled.
“Hey, don’t get pissy with me, Jeff. I don’t have a problem pleasuring my subs. Besides, Janie is one fine piece of ass. Maybe I’ll take her on. You know what they say, once you go black.”
“Mack! Shut. The. Fuck. Up!” Caleb shouted angrily. “Nobody, and I mean nobody, is claiming Janie but us. The next fucking person who even suggests anything, I will permanently remove their balls.”
Janie's Tempting Submission [The Men of Treasure Cove 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 9