by Avery Gale
“It’s a good thing I’m used to my team’s constant barrage of nonsense. I can snooze my way right through it.” Juan had noted Lakyn’s calm acceptance of another person walking into the room when she was so scantily covered. Hell, this sort of thing was probably an everyday occurrence for her, no wonder she hadn’t been surprised.
Juan loved displaying a submissive in public. There was something innately erotic about knowing others were admiring what he and Trac alone were allowed to touch. Most subs had at least a sliver of trepidation when came to being nude or partially exposed in public. That edge of vulnerability was something he loved to exploit, knowing it added a new dimension for most women.
Now that he thought about it, Juan realized that might be harder to achieve with Lakyn. From what he’d heard about models, modesty quickly became a thing of the past once their careers took off. With people surrounding them all the time—pulling one outfit off while others were fitting the next one in place, make-up artists and hair stylists applying touch-ups—it was a given any semblance of privacy was probably a pipedream.
“Probably a survival skill.” Trac’s response pulled Juan out of his wandering thoughts and back to the moment. Holding up a garment he’d been hiding behind his back, Trac held up a silk dress and grinned. “Mia said she’d brought you sweats, but since there’s been a change in plans, I bought something better.” Juan raised a brow in question, and Trac’s grin told him the change was going to be something he’d like. “Kent and Kyle are setting up a private scene on one of the smaller stages.”
Helping Lakyn to her feet, he watched as she turned to Trac, eyes widening at the dress hooked over his thick fingers. The garment looked more like a scrap of fabric than a dress, and Juan could hardly wait to see her wearing it. She shivered, the reaction making her entire body quake, and Juan wanted to pump his fist in the air.
“Where’s the rest of it?” He suspected she’d tried to sound indignant, but the breathless quiver in her voice gave away her interest. Trac’s predatory smile was all the answer she needed.
*
Lakyn wasn’t sure how, but she knew this was a defining moment for her. She’d come to Texas for several reasons, and if she didn’t take this opportunity, it might not come again. Her mind and body needed rest she wouldn’t get unless she felt safe, and she wanted to learn more about the lifestyle she’d found herself inexplicably drawn to. If she’d learned one thing during her career, it was how quickly it could all be gone. A wrong word to someone at a party, a moment’s inattention driving, it only took a heartbeat to change the rest of your life… or to end it. She didn’t want to spend the rest of her life wondering what might have been.
When Trac didn’t answer her question about the rest of the dress, she felt a surge of energy she wouldn’t have thought possible. If you had asked her an hour ago, Lakyn would have sworn she’d depleted all her reserves, but now, she found herself coursing with a restless need to find out what was happening downstairs in the club. She reached for the dress, but Trac shook his head. Tilting her head to the side in confusion, she felt Juan’s warm breath against her ear, “Arms up.” Without taking time to wonder why her arms were raising, she’d put them over her head, slightly apart, waiting for Trac to slip the dress into place and gasped as the towel that had been wrapped securely around her pooled at her feet.
Cool air rushed over her bare skin, making her nipples tighten into stiff points. It was a natural instinct to drop her hands and cover her bare breasts, but she was surprised at the realization her wrists were shackled above her head by Trac’s large hand. His free hand smoothed the silk he dropped over her naked torso. She was left with her arms stretched above her head, knowing the dress wasn’t long enough to cover her pink bits.
“Fuck me, Cariña, you are so beautiful. I love the way the silk brushes over the globes of your ass.” The appreciation in Juan’s voice warmed her, but it didn’t change the fact a stiff breeze was going to have her flashing everyone with a clear line of vision.
But who cares, I’m totally loving the way your fingertips are teasing those same well-rounded cheeks. Now, if you wouldn’t mind just slipping those inquisitive digits just a little further south and… She barely held back her groan of frustration when Juan’s fingers stopped their southern track and moved to her hip instead.
“Before we join the others, we need to make sure we’re all on the same page, Lakyn.” Trac’s voice made her blink several times to refocus on what he was saying. Hell, when had she closed her eyes and leaned back against Juan? Crickets, she was going to have to pay attention if she was going to max-out this experience because she knew too well how quickly people tired of having celebrities around. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand why because she did. There was too much drama and not as many rewards as many believed.
She couldn’t go out into public with being recognized, so something as simple as a girls’ night out was impossible. Shopping trips? Guaranteed disaster. Dinner with friends? A leisurely walk through the park? None of those things were possible. Once she’d become successful, it hadn’t taken long for most of her friends to move on because they’d realized what a pain in the ass it was to spend time with her. By her estimation, the people at Prairie Winds should last long enough for her to get in touch with Cooper, and once he was back stateside, it should be safe for her to go back to New York.
“I’m not sure what put that sad look in your eyes, darlin’, but I want you to push it aside for a minute.” Trac’s deep voice washed over her, and she was more than happy to think about something else. “Tobi says you are interested in learning about Dominance and submission, is that correct?” When she nodded, Trac’s eyes seemed to flair with something she couldn’t identify. “Juan and I would be happy to help.”
“It would be our privilege to guide you. We’re both experienced Dominants, and we’re both interested in you, Cariña. I hope Tobi has sold you on ménage. Polyamorous relationships are very common at the Prairie Winds Club.”
“I’m not going to lie, it seemed very odd at first, but Tobi did a great job of explaining how it works for her. I don’t think there is a man in the world who would be interested in me long-term, let alone two, but I’d appreciate you taking me under your respective wings.” She noted their frowns and wondered about what looked like an unspoken communication passing between them. She didn’t ask because, in her experience, people rarely told you the unvarnished truth, and it was less painful to be uninformed than lied to.
“We’re going to table this discussion until later because our friends are waiting for us, but rest assured, we’ll be revisiting your comment about long-term interest.”
The stern tone of Trac’s voice surprised her. She had no idea why he would be upset about her comment. She didn’t take the distance people put between them personally—Lakyn understood how annoying the circus that surrounded her was.
Unlike many celebrities, she never complained about the isolation resulting from loss of friendships because she understood how unbelievably fortunate she’d been… she also knew success was fleeting, so she’d thrown herself headfirst into her career with single-minded focus. Lakyn Storm was known in the industry for her work ethic and for being easy to direct… a trait she attributed to having a bossy older brother. With a quick nod, she let them take her hands, but a few steps later she came to an abrupt halt.
“Wait. Shit, I forgot I need to finish dressing, and I’ll need moisturizer and—” she didn’t finish because her ass suddenly felt like it was on fire. It took her brain a few seconds to process the blow had come from Trac. Spinning on him, she glowered, “What the holy fucking hell? What was that for? I don’t have on any damned underwear, my hair is straight as string, I need moisturizer because my face is a fucking business asset, and I don’t go out in public without eyeliner and lip gloss… not ever.” She was jamming her finger into his massive chest as fury raged through her.
“I’ve just spent days driving without stoppi
ng because I attract too much damn attention, I got fucking sandblasted on the edge of the road, picked up by a couple of guys who want to teach me about Dominance and submission, got snubbed by a woman I thought was my friend, and took a shower with a man I’d only known an hour. I’m pretty damned close to the edge, don’t push me over, you won’t like how it ends. Don’t be fooled by the pretty face you see on screen and in magazines. I can be a real pain in the ass when provoked… just ask Cooper.”
When she saw amusement in his eyes, Lakyn shook her head. “Laugh at me, and I swear I will shoot you with your own gun.”
Chapter Five
Juan stepped between Lakyn and Trac before she had a complete melt-down. Trac was his best friend, but he wasn’t big on compromise. Juan, on the other hand, had learned the fine art of finesse during his years living in a household surrounded by strong-willed women. There was a time to push and there was a time to soothe—and this was definitely the latter.
“Cariña, check in the bathroom for moisturizer, lip gloss, and any other cosmetic that will make you feel more at home. Your comfort is important to us, but you need to be quick about it. When you return, we’ll join the others.” When she started to speak, he shook his head. “No, precious, you are wearing exactly what we want you to wear. Your introduction to the lifestyle begins now.” Her mouth snapped shut, and she glared at them as if that would solve her problem.
“She wants a spanking, that’s what she’s waiting for. For crying out loud, she talks like a dock worker. That language should not be a part of her vocabulary. Hell, she makes Tobi sound like a kindergarten teacher.” Trac’s barked words seemed to jolt her into action, and she turned on her heel and stomped back to the bathroom. Before she could fling the door closed, Trac growled, “Slam the door and you’ll get the paddling you’re angling for, Princess.” Juan heard her muttering as the door closed silently and barely managed to hold back his grin at Trac’s glower.
“Damn, brother, I think you may have met your match.” Trac’s size alone intimidated most submissives into behaving, but Lakyn had gone toe-to-toe with him, and it warmed Juan’s heart to see his friend challenged. Trac might think he enjoyed complete submission and sweet compliance in his subs, but Juan had seen how quickly his friend lost interest in those women. Earning Lakyn’s trust wasn’t going to be easy, but he had a feeling it would be worth every ounce of effort.
“You’re going to spoil her rotten, aren’t you? There won’t be a disciplined bone in her body when you’re done. Protocol is going to fly out the window.” Seeing Trac off-balance was something new, and Juan was enjoying it more than he should. Trac sighed and shook his head, “Fuck me, she is so beautiful, and I’m not just talking about the way she looks. There is a fire inside her that shines all the way to the surface.”
“There are shadows, too. The loneliness lurking behind the bravado worries me. I hope she sticks around long enough for us to show her it’s okay to let go and share those burdens.” Lakyn’s incredible transformation surprised Juan when she stepped out of the bathroom. She’d been gone five minutes, but she looked like she’d spent hours having her hair and makeup done.
“Cariña, I’m not sure I’ve ever known a woman who could get ready so quickly. I assure you my sisters cannot.” She smiled as her cheeks turned a sweet shade of pink. It amazed him that a woman he knew was no stranger to compliments about her appearance would blush from his simple remark. Realizing he hadn’t mentioned her beauty, but praised her efficiency gave him a bit more insight into the woman behind the pretty face.
“Let’s go, our hosts are waiting.” Trac’s words might have sounded harsh to Lakyn, but Juan heard more than the rough edge of his friend’s tone. Trac was aroused and fighting the urge to forgo the party for something a lot more intimate. His earlier threat to spank her had been more about his need to see her draped over his lap than about disciplining her.
Trac Hughes was well-known for his appreciation of the female derriere. He loved having the soft globes pressed into his large hands and claimed there was no better view of a woman’s ass than when it was laid over his lap.
Juan hadn’t fully understood the allure until they’d played with one of the club’s submissives one night, and his friend had verbally walked him through it—step-by-step during their scene. The young woman they’d been playing with had orgasmed from Trac’s words alone, and Juan had been enthralled as he briefly saw the world through the other man’s eyes.
People were often surprised to learn Juan and Trac were friends because, on the surface, their personalities seemed polar opposite, but it was those differences that were their strength. They complimented each other professionally as well as in their personal lives. By the time they reached the club’s main room, Lakyn’s eyes were darting back and forth as if she was watching for someone.
“Who are you looking for, Cariña?” She startled at his direct question and when she looked up at him, Juan was surprised to see how truly anxious she’d become.
“I don’t know why I thought I could do this. Fucking hell, this dress is going to disappear entirely with the first camera flash. I know better than this.” When she started to turn, he wrapped his hand around her slender upper arm, stilling her retreat. Juan might have been the one to hold her, but it was Trac who stepped forward, blocking her view of the room. Gently lifting her chin with his fingers, Trac used every inch of his six-and-a-half-foot height to his advantage.
“Princess, no one is going to take your picture. There is a very strict no electronics rule at the club. Only a select few members are allowed to keep their phones on them—doctors, first responders, select members of the staff, and the club’s owners. Anyone who has been given the privilege isn’t going to risk a lifetime ban from not only this club but hundreds of others by taking a picture.”
Juan had known she was tense, but he’d underestimated how close she’d been to the edge until Trac’s words registered. She took a shuddering breath and finally began to relax. Trac smiled down at her and shook his head.
“Sorry, darlin’ we should have mentioned that upstairs, but I have to admit, I’m looking forward to playing with the flash on my phone later to see if I really can make that dress disappear.”
*
Lakyn couldn’t hold back her giggle at the way Trac waggled his eyebrows when he’d told her how much he was looking forward to seeing if her dress would actually disappear under a flash. She could assure him it would indeed appear completely sheer. She’d made the mistake of wearing the wrong fabric to a gallery opening when she first started modeling. The pictures of her on the red carpet that night still lit up the internet now and then.
Her saving grace had been the panties she’d refused to give up. Her stylist had been furious because she felt the panty lines ruined the look, but Lakyn had been adamant she wasn’t going out in public without underwear. It was bad enough everyone had gotten an unobstructed view of her breasts. Not only had Lakyn been mortified by the pictures, her brother had gone completely thermonuclear. She’d known the minute he saw the photos because her phone had started ringing, non-stop.
Warm lips caressed her bare shoulder, startling her back to the moment.
“Stay with us, Cariña. Those lapses in attention will earn you a lot of paddlings, and I assure you, Master Trac is going to be happy to have you over his knee at the slightest provocation. I would suggest you make it your mission to ensure those spankings are for your pleasure rather than as punishment.”
Juan’s words sent a wave of heat through her, and she felt her pussy moisten. Good grief, how was she ever going to get through this without the evidence trailing down her thighs? What had she been thinking coming down here without panties? Oh, that’s right, she hadn’t been given a choice.
“Are you planning to join us, or is Juan going to eat her alive in the hallway?” Lakyn jumped at the sound of a deep voice to her right. “Easy, sweetness, I didn’t mean to startle you.” She recognized Kent West and gave h
im a quick smile. “Come on, we’re going to do a demo with some of the new merchandise from the Forum Shops. We’re calling it an etiquette lesson for our sweet sub. That sounds a lot nicer than punishment, don’t you think?”
Lakyn didn’t respond because she assumed the question had been rhetorical. When all three men paused and turned their attention to her, she took a quick step back.
“Freeze.” Trac’s command had the desired effect, and she went completely still. “I know you aren’t familiar with the rules yet, Princess, but when a Dom or Mistress asks you a question, they expect an answer. This isn’t the social scene you are used to, there is no pretense. You’ll find a lot of freedom in that, once you discover it’s real.”
She might not know him well, but she understood the sharp edge she heard in Trac’s voice. This was a man who had an intimate knowledge of the subtle nuances of polite society’s undercurrents of communication, and she’d be willing to bet he hated it. Interesting.
Nodding her understanding, she turned her attention to Kent, she could play this game. Hell, she’d practically elevated it to an Olympic sport.
“Yes, Mr. West, I agree, the semantics of lessons are much nicer than less than subtle nuances of punishment although I don’t believe you felt any real need for my approval. I just remembered I promised to meet Mia upstairs. She was going to make me something to eat. It would be rude to leave her in a lurch.” His eyes widened in surprise a split second before he leaned his head back and laughed. When he finally regained a measure of decorum, his eyes were still dancing with amusement.
“Damn, I’m not sure I’ve ever been told off that sweetly since the last time I accidentally stumbled into one of my mother’s hen parties.”
“Of course, referring to it as a hen party had nothing to do with the fact they cut you off at the knees without breaking a sweat.” Kyle West’s southern drawl filled the air as he stepped around his brother, taking in the group with a quick look around. “I’m not sure what you said to my brother to remind him of that humbling experience, but I’d like to thank you just the same. It always does my heart good to see my little brother brought to heel although you might want to be careful about this particular venue.” This time it was Lakyn’s turn to laugh. She recognized a smackdown when she heard one, no matter how veiled. Kyle West had just warned her to watch her mouth inside the club. Message received.