Soaring Free

by Becca Van

“I don’t—ˮ

  “Wait until we’re finished,” Gabe said.

  She nodded again.

  “We will always have our woman’s best interests at heart. In no way would we ever hurt or push beyond what you can handle.” Tom squeezed her hand.

  “You can use your safe word if you are scared or if we do something you don’t like,” Nic said.

  “What word will you use if you’re unsure and need to talk or just have a bit of a break?” Gabe asked.

  “Yellow.”

  “Good girl.” Tom smiled.

  “And what word will you use if you want everything to stop?” Nic asked.

  “Red.”

  “That’s right,” Gabe said. “There are times when a Dom will ask his sub where she’s at throughout a scene. Most Doms and clubs like to keep things uncomplicated and use the traffic light system. So if we ask how you’re feeling and you’re comfortable with what we’re doing you will answer with ‘green.’ Do you understand, Joni?”

  “Yes.”

  “Right.” Nic rubbed his hands together as if he were eager to get started but he stayed in his seat. “Do you know how to address a Dom?”

  “Uh…” Joni nibbled on her lip as she tried to remember how Kara had addressed her men. “Sir?”

  “Yes.” Tom smiled at her again. “And maybe when you’re more comfortable you can address us as master, but we need to gain your trust first. Don’t we, honey?”

  Joni felt a little awkward about answering that question, but from the way they were all watching her so intently, she knew they were waiting for her to lie. She pushed her chin up and answered honestly. “Yes.”

  Gabe ran a hand up and down her back causing goose bumps to break out over her skin and she couldn’t stop from shivering as she met his intent blue eyes. “I’m proud of you, Joni. I know your first instinct was to lie.”

  She blinked as more warmth filled her heart at his praise and then he wrapped her braid around his wrist and pulled her mouth toward his. And then she was drowning.

  Drowning in his heat, his taste, his masculinity, and his passion and she couldn’t get enough. She felt him release her hair and then his arms were around her body and he was moving, but she was so lost in his kisses, her eyelids heavy with lust, she couldn’t open them to see where he was taking her. Not that she really cared right then. All that mattered was that she taste everything he had to give her.

  She was so hungry for him, for them all, that her clothes were an abrasive restriction she couldn’t wait to get rid of. Her skin, her whole body, felt achy and she wanted their hands on her, taking the pleasurable pain away. Joni whimpered in protest when her feet were lowered to the floor and Gabe broke the kiss. Her breath caught and her heart stuttered in her throat when she opened her eyes. She blinked a couple of times just to make sure she wasn’t seeing things and, when she realized she wasn’t dreaming, her pussy clenched and cream dripped onto her already soaked undies.

  “When we are in this room you are not to speak unless we ask you a question and when we do we expect an immediate answer. Is that understood?” Nic asked in a stern voice.

  “Yes.”

  “Yes what?” Gabe almost barked the question out.

  “Yes, sir,” she whispered.

  “Say it again but this time louder,” Nic demanded.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good girl,” Tom praised from behind her. “We control everything in this room. We control your body, your passion, and your orgasms. You don’t get to come unless we tell you to. Okay?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “It’s getting easier, isn’t it, love?” Tom asked.

  Joni didn’t pretend she didn’t know what he was talking about because she did. Each time she replied with “yes sir” the words came easier to her lips until it felt natural.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Strip, Joni,” Gabe ordered.

  Heat filled her cheeks and, although she wasn’t comfortable about being naked in front of anyone, when she glanced up from beneath her eyelashes and saw Nic and Gabe looking at her with lust, she reached for the buttons on her shirt.

  She didn’t hurry but by the time she was standing in front of them totally bare she was shaking in reaction. She rolled her shoulders forward and moved her arms in front of her, trying to hide her breasts and pussy at the same time.

  “Stop,” Nic said. “Put your arms back by your sides.”

  Joni complied and lowered her head. She didn’t want to see them when they found all the flaws she saw when she looked at herself in the mirror. She didn’t think she could stand it if she saw revulsion on their faces when they noticed the stretch marks on the outside of her upper thighs or hips. She wasn’t that tall but when she’d hit puberty she had seemed to grow almost overnight and her skin had stretched and marked and no matter what she’d tried in oils and lotions, nothing had been able to diminish the rapid growth scars.

  John had often taunted her about how ugly those blemishes were and she had been self-conscious of them ever since.

  “So fucking sexy,” Tom whispered, his breath against her ear making her shiver. He moved closer and she could feel the heat of his body on her back. When his hands landed on her hips and then skimmed down the outside of her thighs to her knees and back again, she tensed and waited for the disparaging remarks.

  “What was that thought, Joni?” Tom asked.

  “Wh… Sorry, sir?”

  “What went through your mind when Tom’s hands caressed over your hips and legs?” Gabe asked in a firm voice.

  Joni shook her head, looking down at the floor, and hoped they couldn’t see how red her face felt or how ashamed she was.

  “Let’s get her on the spanking bench,” Nic ordered.

  Joni wanted to protest but remembered she wasn’t supposed to speak unless she was asked a question. And when she was scooped off her feet and into Tom’s arms and carried over to the padded bench. He lowered her to her feet, placed his hands on her hips, and turned her until she was facing the bench.

  “On your knees, love.” Tom applied pressure to her shoulders and she slowly knelt down. “Lean over the bench with your breasts on the outside of the pad.”

  Joni bent and carefully adjusted her breasts so that they weren’t squished against the edge of the pads, until the cushion was between them.

  “Give me your hands,” Tom ordered and she did. He clasped her wrist and her breathing escalated when she felt soft cuffs wrap around her and he secured her arms so she couldn’t move. Sweat formed on her brow when another hand ran up her calf and then a strap was crossed over her upper thigh. The process was repeated until she could only move her body and not her limbs.

  Her breaths were panting in and out at a rapid pace and her heart was beating so fast it hurt.

  Hands landed on her back, caressing up and down in a smoothing motion. “Are we hurting you, Joni?” Gabe asked.

  “No, sir.”

  “Are you in any pain?” Nic asked.

  “No, sir.”

  “Are you scared of being tied up?” Tom asked.

  “No, sir.”

  “Are you scared of being hurt?” Gabe questioned.

  Joni licked her lips and then flinched when a hand landed on her ass. It wasn’t a hard hit, but it was enough to warm her skin.

  “Did that hurt, Joni?” Nic moved around and squatted down in front of her so she could see his face.

  “No, sir.”

  “Are you scared of getting hurt, sub?” Gabe asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good girl,” Nic praised and then he kissed her. His tongue pressed in, swirled around, and then he drew away again.

  “Honesty gets rewarded,” Gabe said.

  Joni’s eyes closed and she moaned when a finger ran up through her wet folds, circled her clit a few times, and then caressed back down to dip into her creamy cunt.

  “So fucking wet,” Gabe said in a growly voice.

  “Have you had sex befo
re, Joni?” Nic asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “And was it good sex?” Tom asked.

  Joni wished he’d move away from her so she could answer without being watched but she had a feeling even if they were all standing behind her and she lied they would know. She felt like she couldn’t hide anything from these men and her soul was right there for them to read, but she wasn’t about to let go totally. She just wanted to have sex with them and when they were tired of her, she would leave with her head held high, but she had a feeling she had bitten off way more than she could chew.

  When she’d agreed to come home with them she’d expected to be taken to the bedroom, fucked, and then she would leave again. She hadn’t forgotten they were Doms or where she’d met them, but had assumed that because they weren’t going to that BDSM club that their dominant tendencies would be put on the backburner. Boy had she been wrong.

  She knew she could have left without seeing any of this through but there was something about them that drew her to them. Maybe it was their confidence. That was definitely a turn-on, but she had a feeling it was so much more than that. Yes they were all good-looking, sexy men with muscular physiques that would draw the eye of any woman, but there was this caring visage about them she just couldn’t walk away from.

  And if that made her a fool, then so be it.

  Chapter Ten

  Joni’s hesitation was answer enough but Gabe wasn’t about to let her get away with any infractions. She needed to learn what they liked when they were playing in a scene or in the bedroom, so he raised his hand and smacked her ass. He didn’t smack her hard but it was enough to sting and let her know he and his friends meant business.

  Gabe had a feeling this night was the night that would make or break their chance with their little sub and although he knew she could take much more than he was dishing out, he wanted to start off slow and get her used to what they needed. Plus this was the first time she’d dealt with being a sub and they needed to gain her trust. If that meant holding back at the start, until she was comfortable and begged for more, then that was what they’d do.

  He was so fucking hard he wanted to pull his cock from his pants, kneel behind her, and shove into her until he was balls-deep, but they needed to know more so they could handle any issues she may have. And he knew there were issues.

  “Answer Tom, now, sub!” Gabe demanded, bringing his hand down on her ass once more, but this time adding a little more force behind his hand. She moaned and her back arched and he knew right then and there that she was abso-fucking-lutely perfect for them.

  “No!”

  “No, what?” Nic asked.

  “No the sex wasn’t good…sir.”

  “Do you know why?” Gabe asked.

  “Because of me,” Joni sobbed.

  “What the hell?” Tom spat before taking her cheeks between his hands and lifting her head until she was looking at him.

  “Who the fuck told you that?” Gabe was so angry he nearly roared his question but drew in a deep steadying breath when Tom glanced at him and shook his head slightly.

  “It wasn’t your fault, honey,” Tom said quietly before leaning in and kissing her on the forehead. “Whoever he was lied to cover up for his own inadequacies.”

  “You can’t say that. You didn’t even know him.”

  “Untie her,” Tom said as he started to unbind her wrists and even though Gabe wanted to show her the world of BDSM, she needed to be shown what true loving and caring was first.

  With Nic’s help, they undid the straps around her thighs and then he lifted her up into his arms and carried her across to the sofa on the other side of the room where he sat, taking her with him.

  “Let me guess,” Gabe said as he adjusted her on his lap and held her snuggly in his arms. “This ex started picking on your clothes, the way you did your hair and your body, and when it came to sex, he didn’t take the time to make sure you were ready for him and hurt you while he took his own pleasure.”

  When he heard Joni sniffle he knew he’d hit the proverbial nail on the head. Anger raced through his body, pumping his muscles up, and he clenched his jaw so he wouldn’t shout with ire.

  “Joni, look at me,” Nic demanded as he scooted off the sofa and knelt in front of her. “Oh, baby, don’t cry.”

  “You have nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed over, sweetheart. You ex was the defective one. Not you.” Gabe kissed the top of her head.

  “He was married,” Joni spoke so quietly.

  “He lied to you, didn’t he?” Nic asked.

  Although Gabe awaited her answer, he didn’t need to hear her reply, because he already knew what her answer would be.

  “Yes.”

  “Tell us what happened, honey.” Tom stroked a hand over her head.

  “It was nearly two years ago now.”

  “Time has nothing to do with how that asshole hurt you.” Nic lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it. “You need to tell us what happened, Joni. If you don’t get that pain festering inside you out, you’re never going to be able to move forward.”

  Joni nodded in agreement but Gabe knew she struggled with opening up with them. He wanted to give her a little verbal nudge but decided to wait and see if she would begin talking on her own merit.

  “I was at a really vulnerable stage in my life,” Joni began.

  Gabe wanted to ask her about that but decided to wait and see if she would explain. “My mom had just died and I was still grieving. I met John when he came into the restaurant and he must have been attracted to me because he came back almost every Friday.

  “I was flattered with the compliments and the flirting because no one had ever paid attention to me like that before.”

  “How long did it take him to wear you down and date him?” Tom asked.

  “Three months.”

  “And in those three months he was attentive, giving you compliments, and swept you off of your feet,” Nic said.

  “Yes.”

  “Did you move in with him?” Gabe asked.

  “He…moved in with me.”

  “He played you, baby.” Nic rubbed a hand up and down her thigh in a comforting caress.

  “That may be so, but if I hadn’t been so naïve, he would never have been able to fool me.”

  “How did you find out about his wife?” Tom asked.

  Joni sucked in a noisy breath and exhaled raggedly. “He’d been drinking and he was picking at everything I did. The food I cooked wasn’t tasty enough, his clothes weren’t washed and ready for him to pack the next morning. You name it he denigrated everything I did.

  “It was then I realized that I would never be good enough in his eyes. I was sick and tired of listening to his complaining and disparaging comments, so I stormed from the kitchen, grabbing his things as I went, and shoved them into his bag and garbage bags. He didn’t even bother moving from his seat to see what I was doing. He was too busy drinking.

  “When I was done I opened the front door and threw his things outside and went back to face him.”

  Gabe tightened his hold on her when he felt her shiver, but when her trembling didn’t stop and only got stronger he feared what she would say next.

  “I told him to get out and never come back. He’d had this supercilious look in his eyes when he looked at me and complained but that disdainful look was wiped from his face and changed to one of pure hatred. I was scared but I wasn’t about to let him know he was intimidating me and held my ground when he got up and walked toward me.” Joni sobbed but even though tears didn’t form in her eyes, Gabe knew she was holding on by a thread.

  “I should have run. He hit me in the jaw first and I went flying across the room and I was stunned, barely able to see and I think I was in shock. He rushed over and hit me over and over again. I have no idea how long for but I must have screamed or cried out because I heard banging but thought it was him hitting the wall in his rage. I don’t know when he left or how long he’d been
gone but it couldn’t have been long. One of my neighbors broke into my apartment and when he found me called the paramedics and the police.”

  “Fuck!” Nic shot to his feet, spun away, and began to pace.

  “What were your injuries, Joni?” Tom asked in a hoarse voice.

  “I was bruised and swollen, two fractured ribs and a broken wrist.”

  “Motherfucking bastard,” Gabe snarled with anger, unable to hold his rage in at what had been done to his woman. When he realized she was cold and trembling even more, he motioned to Nic to bring him a blanket and quickly wrapped it around her body.

  “Did you report him to the police?” Nic clenched his fists as he squatted down in front of him and Joni again.

  “Yes, but they couldn’t find any record of one John Vander having ever been born.”

  “So how did they find him?” Tom held her hand between his as if trying to warm it.

  “I remembered his license plate. Turns out his real name was Angus Peace and he was married with three kids.”

  “Damn, baby, he lied to you. Don’t feel guilty for his sins.” Nic frowned as he took in her quaking body.

  “Yeah try telling that to his wife and children.” Joni covered her mouth but still couldn’t contain her sob of pain.

  “She came to see me, asking me to drop the charges.”

  “Geezus,” Tom muttered.

  “I couldn’t. I felt so sorry for her, but if he’d done this to me what’s to say he hadn’t and wouldn’t do it to another unsuspecting woman. His wife had this look in her eyes and I knew he’d hurt her, too. But I couldn’t let him get away with what he’d done and even though I’d never met them or knew how old they were, I feared for his kids, too.

  “Someone like that never changes his spots and there was no way in hell I was letting him hurt innocent children.”

  “Good for you, sweetheart.” Gabe kissed her on the head. “You were so strong and brave.”

  Joni shook her head. “No, I wasn’t. If I had been I would have ended it a lot sooner than I did. And do you know what the worst part about that was?”

  Gabe didn’t want to ask because he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like the answer one little bit, but he couldn’t, not when he felt the tension in her body as she awaited his question. He braced himself for the fury he knew he was going to feel but made sure to keep his grip on her gentle so he wouldn’t hurt her.