The Red Door (The Door Series Book 1)
Page 21
“You can’t do that, that can take an hour. Plus, it’s full capacity every Friday and Saturday night.”
“I can and I will. Now, you’ll stand there with your trap shut or I’ll shut it for you.
“Being in a position of power doesn’t give you a reason to be a bully and block me from being where I belong.”
“If you belonged here sweetheart, you would know to shut the fuck up and do as I tell you to.” I could see people had gathered around behind me waiting to be let in. Whoever this guy was, he had embarrassed me. I didn’t want to be here, and now I was being humiliated in front of all the members. I had enough. I wanted a hot shower, cup of cocoa, and to lose myself in a good book. I turned to leave and ran right into a chest. I looked up and saw it wasn’t just any chest, but Calvin’s. He grabbed my chin and tilted it up to his.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” I jerked out of his hold.
“Mm hmm. Where are you going?”
“Home.”
“No, you’re not. Your Masters are waiting for you in the office. We’re meeting to discuss what all was accomplished today.” He grabbed my hand and stepped up in front of the guy at the door. “What’s your name?”
He looked down at me and gave me a nasty grin. “Found you a hero? It’s none of your business who I am; go to the back of the line.”
“Not a hero, a good Master, but you’re right; it is none of my business who you are. As a Master of this club, who’s firing you, I don’t give a fuck who you are. Go pack your shit and get the fuck off this property.”
“You can’t tell…”
“I can. You heard of the new Master, a Master Calvin? That’s me.” I watched as Calvin stared down this idiot.
“I didn’t do anything. You have no reason to fire me.”
“You certainly are a dumb fuck. You don’t ever talk to a sub the way you did to Ari, no matter who that sub is, but you especially don’t talk to the owner’s sub that way.” I watched as this guy’s face turned to me and comprehension dawned.
“Oh yeah, you finally get it. Not too bright, are you? Who gave you permission to open the door?”
“It’s nine. The doors always open at nine.”
“You didn’t answer my question, but I don’t need you to. I know no one gave you permission. I know this because we are opening late tonight and everyone on the guest list received a call or an email to let them know. So, you what, decided to play pretend?”
“What do you mean? I thought I was helping out.”
“Bullshit. You were on a power trip. First off you’re a security guard, not a Master. Fuck, you aren’t even a Dom. You get off telling others what to do but hold no authority to do it. You’re too afraid to step up into a real position of power, so you get off on pretending. Go grab your shit.”
Calvin turned around and looked at the gathering crowd. “We will open thirty minutes late. For those on the wait list you should have been notified and if you weren’t, please check the contact information you gave us on your copies to make sure it is correct. If not please email us the correct information. Anyone not on the wait list should leave. We already have confirmations for a full house tonight. Thank you.”
He turned around and pulled me through the door and down the hall into the office.
“Fired one of your men. He was openly rude to Ari. He also played pretend at being a Master while trying to open the doors. He’s gathering his shit now.”
“You think he could be involved?” Mitch asked as Alex walked out.
“Personally, I think he is too stupid, but what the fuck do I know.” He walked me over to Mitch and pushed me toward him then turned and walked over to Jackson. I watched as Jackson stood from his spot on the couch, letting Calvin have his spot. He then sat between Calvin’s legs, leaning his head back against the juncture. What Calvin said out front earned a little of the respect he lost back. I looked over to see him watching me as he reached around Jackson and slid his hand into his shirt. I knew he was daring me to say something. Fucking head games. He protected me from an asshole so he could play with me himself. I turned into Mitch, wrapping my arms around him as he did the same.
“Hey, my Ari. Missed you today.”
“I missed you, too.” I watched as Alex walked through the door.
“Okay everyone. That was Tommy at the door. He’s gone, but we will still keep an eye on him. I went over the old files on the girls and compared them with what we have. We are missing something major. My team and I have decided to stop reporting in for now. We think—” He sighed. “We think there’s a reason we were assigned to this particular club. We were sent in blind, which never happens. Diana, can you think of any reason you, particularly, were picked for this case?” I watched as he stared at her, like he was dissecting her.
“No. I can’t.”
“Hmmm… I brought Colby up to speed, and he along with Calvin, Jackson, and me went over old surveillance feed. We only keep feed from the entrance rooms, the rest of the feed gets erased within twenty-four hours, but we’re hoping to find something.” Mitch tightened his arms around me as he spoke.
“The Youngs came over and helped Holly and me go through our personal recordings.”
“Who?” Alex didn’t look happy by this news.
“The Youngs. Jackson’s parents.” I watched as Adam glanced over at me but didn’t say anything about me bringing them into our fold.
“What part of quiet do you not understand, Adam?”
“Actually, it was Becca who called and told them. I told her and had her help me with the memberships today,” I informed everyone. I knew Alex wouldn’t be happy, but I needed my family close to me, I needed them to surround me. With all this crazy being thrown at me, I needed to be able to turn in any direction and bump into one of them. I couldn’t lose another person in my family to this nut job. I wouldn’t survive it if I did.
“What the fuck, Ari?” he yelled at me. I knew if he would let me explain he would understand who they were to me and why, but he didn’t let up. “This isn’t some big game of Clue. And you invited some girl in the club to look over private memberships? That’s illegal. Are you out of your fucking mind?” I brought my hand up to my chest. It hurt, physically hurt, but what did I expect. He had been nothing but hot and cold with every step since he walked back in my life. No more. I wouldn’t stand here and let him use me as a fuck toy while convenient to his case and a verbal punching bag the rest of the time. Or worse, invisible, which seemed to be what I had been the last few hours. I felt the tears come and did nothing to hide the pain I was feeling at his words.
“I know it’s not a fucking game, Alex. These people we are after killed my parents. I’ll never think of this as a game, but to me it’s more than a fucking job. The Youngs are my family and Becca’s my sister.” I pulled away from Mitch and walked to the door. “I downloaded a program making it easier to check members in and keep up with records. It only has active members and anyone with a little computer skills can add in others. Wouldn’t want my fuck-up to be a total waste of time.” I heard Mitch call my name as I walked out. I wondered if I was walking out of the club or out of the relationship. I felt the ache in my chest increase and knew that I would be leaving a piece of me behind if I did.
I walked out the door knowing the members waiting to get in could see I was upset. I figured it would add in with all the other drama going around about our relationship. I saw a letter poked into my door and knew the bouncer had left me an ugly note. I threw it the car not caring to have more hateful stuff pointed my way.
Alex
“Shit! I fucked up,” I said out loud before I could stop myself. I had done it again. I didn’t know why I kept physically pushing her away when all I wanted to do was hold her close.
“Yeah, you did.” I looked over to Jackson. He was pissed, and I was sure the only reason he wasn’t beating my ass right now was because Calvin had a grip on him.
“I don’t need to hear it
from you, boy.” God, I wanted to hit something. Anything. And if Jackson wanted to fight, I was ready. I wanted to. I needed to release all the anger and confusion from Mitch and Ari and this case. Everything was right in front of me that I always wanted and things were so fucked up I could no longer see.
“Boy? I might be a few years younger than you, but I would never be so pissed off I take my anger out on someone I cared about.” Jackson stood and took a step toward me before being pulled back into Calvin’s chest.
“What the fuck would you know? You’re all of eighteen and are hiding who you are to Calvin from everyone. You’re not even man enough to admit what you like.”
“Pot and Kettle.” He laughed while sneering at me. “Did you enjoy jacking off Mitch in here this morning?” I kept still and showed no emotion, but I knew that if I hadn’t gone through years of training to keep myself in check I wouldn’t have been able to.
“You don’t know shit, don’t think you do.”
“Yeah, maybe not. I do know I came after a pissed off Ari this morning, only to watch her run away after seeing what happened in here. She didn’t seem like she saw or heard me, but I know she heard enough from in here, because I did.”
“And exactly what was it you think you saw or heard?”
“Tell me this, what was Ari doing while you jacked Mitch off in bed this morning? What was she doing while you had your cock sucked in the shower? And where was Ari when you were in here with Mitch?”
“You fucking...” I lunged toward Jackson only to be brought up short.
“He’s right. All three of us are in this together, and we continued without her. She’s confused by our relationship just as much as we are. I’ve talked with her and she knows you need time to accept everything. Just like she needs time with each of us, but to do it beside her and behind her back like it was secret is wrong.”
“It wasn’t behind her back.”
“But we didn’t include her. She’s already worried she isn’t enough to satisfy us.”
“You talked about this? About us?”
“Yes, but I’ll not discuss this now. If you want to have this conversation you can ask later, in private.” I watched as Mitch’s face turn to steel at my commanding questions.
“So, what? What do we do now?” I started pacing trying to rid myself of the energy.
“You go after her.” Adam stood up from where he had been playing with the computer. “From what I can tell, she put in a lot of work today. I know the Youngs, and they’re good people. We might need them later, and they’re more than willing to help. Ari is like a daughter to them, and they would do anything to protect her. Plus, they were members before Robert changed everything. Go and apologize. Beg if you have to. If you feel for her the way I think you do, you go and lay it out for her. Everything.” I nodded my head, trying hard to keep my breaths even, and looked up at Mitch. He looked disappointed in me, and it hurt to know that I screwed up again. I turned to leave and knew he was following.
“Let me add something to that.” I looked over my shoulder and watched as Calvin walked over to stand in front of us. “Ari is a special girl. Everyone in this room knows this. You need to go over there and be comfortable in yourself and your desires to each other. I know Mitch has no problem here, but it’s obvious you do, Alex. Spend the night begging for forgiveness and proving to her that she is included in everything that goes on between you. No, she can’t be there every time, and you both can’t be with her every time, but you can be there enough that the times that one of you are missing, that person doesn’t feel left out. I have told Ari I want a ménage relationship, too. And if this doesn’t work out between you three, I’m willing to see if she can work with us.”
“No. You’ve gone too far, Calvin,” Mitch whispered his response, but it didn’t need to be any louder.
“Prove it, Mitch. Prove it to her, tonight. You have sat back and gave Alex control so he wouldn’t run. If he wants it, if Alex wants you, then give him you. Show them both what they’re in for. None of you will ever know how deep your relationship can be if you are scared your desires will chase the others off.”
I grabbed Mitch’s hand and walked out. With Calvin, Diana, Adam, and Colby, there were enough Masters to take care of the club. We needed to be with Ari. I led Mitch over to his truck. It wasn’t until I went to reach for the door that I realized I had held his hand the whole way. I looked down at how our fingers wrapped around the others, both so strong and thick. I looked up at his face and saw the disappointment.
“I fucked up, again.”
“We both did.”
“What are we going to do? Besides begging, I mean. Because I will, Mitch. I will beg or fight. For her. For you. I’ll do whatever I need to do.” I watched as he closed his eyes and released a huge breath.
“Finally. I have a feeling you’re going to have to prove that. Calvin was right and I have held back with both you and Ari. I want you and her, but I have needs, too. Needs not being met because I’ve been too busy trying to be everything that you both needed me to be. Are you sure you’re in this? Absolutely sure?”
“Yes, Mitch. I am. I need to go slow, but I’m ready.” I said this while looking him right in his eyes. I needed him to know for sure that I meant everything I was saying.
“You are ready to submit, completely, to me? Tonight?”
“If that’s what it takes, then yes. Am I ready? Who the fuck knows. I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready, but I’m willing to do what needs to be done to keep both of you.” I felt my face turning red and heating up. I looked around even though it was dark and made sure there was no one standing around listening.
“Fuck!”
“What?” I looked back up at Mitch.
“You. You’re looking around and hunching your shoulders. Telling me you’ll do what needs to be done to keep us. Acting like I’m holding it over your head and going to use it to whatever means necessary to get what I want out of your ass. I’ve never and will never play that card, Alex. I don’t like games. You want in, you’re in with or without it ever going further, but I’m not going to hold back how much I want you or how much further I want to take it. You’ll have to deal and let me know when to stop. If you want a safeword, name it, but don’t be a fucking pussy and try to pretend that the only reason you would allow it to happen was to stay in the relationship.”
“Goddammit!” I screamed. I walked away and back each time getting closer to Mitch. “I know how it came out, but that wasn’t what I meant. Maybe I am playing games.”
“What do you mean?”
“I didn’t realize how it sounded, but you’re right. I’m afraid of doing this, of taking it further. Not of how it looks or the initial pain, but giving up the control. And I know, I’ve always known, that I would never control you. I wanted to see how far I could push you before you broke and demanded from me what I’m so scared to give up,” I whispered to Mitch but didn’t look at him. I was standing so close our chests were touching and I was staring over his shoulder, off into nothing.
“Is that what you want? You want me to take it from you? To force you to submit to me?” Mitch leaned forward and whispered against my neck.
“Would it be so bad if I did? Would you do it if that’s what I needed?” I heard my labored breath and felt my cock throbbing.
“Give me your safeword. I don’t like playing these games, but I’ll give you what you need, this once. But, Alex, it will happen in front of Ari, tonight. After this one time, you’ll have to freely submit. This is either happening or it’s not, but the decision will be made now.”
“Charcoal.”
“Charcoal?”
“Yes, for my safeword.” I watched as Mitch laughed.
“Okay, that’s original. Can I ask why charcoal?”
“I don’t plan on using it, ever, so I thought it would be a good one to use. Imagine us having a cookout and tossing the word charcoal around. It’ll make for some interesting times.”
“Alex, I want you to know that I don’t expect you to submit to me unless we’re doing a scene. If you want a kiss, or more, take it. I am sure I’ll enjoy it.”
I leaned forward and traced his lips with my tongue and stepped back even though I wanted to take it deeper.
“You finally ready to work for this and go get our girl?”
“Hell yeah.” I heard what he wasn’t saying, and it hurt even not hearing it—the fact that both him and Ari were already fighting for this relationship to work, while I was coasting along like it was no big deal.
Aurora
I was sitting in my guest room when I heard the knock on my door. I had come home, taken a quick shower and was now lying in bed thinking over everything that had happened since I moved back.
I heard the knock and stood up, only to realize I was still in a towel. I walked out to the door and looked through the peep hole and saw Mitch and Alex standing there. I turned my back to the door and leaned against it. All I wanted was a relaxing drama-free night.
“Ari, I know you’re at the door. Please, we need to talk.”
Mitch. I turned back around and raised my hand against the door. I hurt. I had barely breached the surface of everything I wanted to know about him. My eyes wanted to water, but I fought back the tide. Gathering my strength, I promised myself I would hear them out but keep my feelings locked up tight. I took a deep breath and opened the door.
“Mitch. Alex. What can I do for you? As you can see, you caught me at a bad time, I was about to head to bed.” Mitch smiled, looked pointedly at my towel, and bent down to kiss my forehead before walking past me into my empty living room. Alex stepped into the doorway next to me and stopped.
“Ari. I …I’m sorry for earlier. I’m an ass.”
“For what, exactly, are you apologizing?” I wasn’t going to make this easy for him.
“God, Ari, I don’t even know if I can remember everything I have done wrong.” He walked in and turned in a circle looking at my empty space. I was happy I met up with Becca this week and went shopping for bedroom furniture and window treatments. I forgot how much fun it was to shop and hang around her. We finished the day by getting our nails and toenails painted and talking of secret fantasies and the future. I was pleased that we both wanted to raise our kids together in the same neighborhood we grew up in. I looked around seeing the emptiness but knew she would help me fill it.