by Sara Brookes
“You aren’t.”
“And I doubt you could ever be,” Saint added.
She squeezed their hands in return despite her misgivings. “You’re just being nice. I barged right in, and while I don’t doubt I’m welcome, something tells me you two need some time alone.”
“Which is why we’re taking a few days away.” The knowing glint in Boyce’s gaze caused her core to heat. “Haven’t settled that little argument about whose mouth is more gifted. Plan to spend a few hours arguing that one out.”
Saint leaned closer to Boyce, his lips hovering inches away from Boyce’s ear. “Just a few? We’re going to have to negotiate if you only intend a few.”
Oh! The image of what they would be doing while they were gone wasn’t helping her perverted mind in any way. She could spend days examining that picture. Months, even. Long, drawn-out months where she would savor every second. Especially with the way Boyce’s body had gone tense when Saint had pushed up against him.
Sometimes it was incredible how much these two men excited her just by existing.
“We’re leaving from here to drive west, to the coast. Staying the night at a vineyard bed and breakfast. Enjoy time away from everything. Sample some new wines. At least this one will,” Saint murmured as he stroked his finger over Boyce’s collarbone. “I can do without the fancy wine.”
Boyce’s eyes flashed. “And obviously we’re going to be spending quite a bit of time discussing something in particular.”
“That sounds wonderful.” In more ways than one.
Saint’s gaze shifted to her. “Care to join us?”
So many unspoken things in four little words. A promise of the magic they could share if she simply allowed herself to give in. As much as she wanted to, she knew she definitely had no right to accept. Butting into their lives was enough. She wasn’t going to intrude on their vacation where they obviously planned to smooth out some of the rough edges left over from the broken scene the other night.
“Saint and I have been wondering if we’re picking up where we left off in college.”
“I...don’t know.”
“Would you like to?” Saint leaned closer. “Think carefully about what you say because I already know the answer.”
“You can’t—”
“I do,” Saint stated matter-of-factly.
“Can I think about it?”
“Of course. We can discuss it again when we get back. Say, over brunch at our place?”
“Does brunch still include mimosas and Boyce’s sticky buns?”
Boyce smirked. “Sweetie, that’s most nights in our house.”
As soon as she realized what she’d asked, she erupted in a fit of giggles, quickly followed by the men. When she’d gotten herself under control again, she realized she’d decided to stay. Funny how her brain had made up her mind for her. Luckily the manager at the front desk had already offered to extend her stay for as long as she needed.
Brunch did sound nice. And Grae couldn’t remember the last time she had slowed down long enough to eat a home-cooked meal let alone cook something. Her menu consisted of takeout and microwave meals.
Wow, that’s a depressing thought.
“Sounds like a plan.”
As Duality fired up the second set, Grae thought about how she could visit Noble House on Saturday while Saint and Boyce were out of town. She could explore and see the club with her own eyes, and be out of there in time to meet the guys for Sunday brunch. And decide if she was ready to rediscover the loving attention of two very gorgeous men.
Perfect.
Chapter Five
Grae sat in her idling car wondering why the hell she thought coming was a good idea. She wasn’t the uproot-her-life type. Yet she’d done exactly that after seeing Boyce’s breakdown just days ago. She’d even turned down a very lucrative contract offer that would have made her comfortable for several years, packed a bag, and found herself standing in their doorway. Nervous because she was doing something so out of the ordinary for her.
But even though she’d reassured herself they were perfectly fine, she hadn’t left. There was something else she needed to do.
Noble House.
And now that she was there, she was contemplating turning back. If she’d thought standing in front of Saint and Boyce’s door was intimidating, sitting in the parking lot of Noble House was downright terror-inducing.
She’d known what the building would look like, of course. Building, hell—it was a fucking fortress. The about section of the club’s website provided a long history of the building as a former armory for the military and the surrounding land that had once been a base thirty miles outside of Sacramento. But to see everything in person was something else entirely.
From the outside, the towering brick building looked like a typical set of barracks found on any military installation in the country. The three-story tower boasted a large, white clock with ornate black hands. A weather vane perched at the steeple. Complete with a rooster, perhaps? Or some piece of military memorabilia to reflect the history of the area. It was too far away for her to tell.
Grae had grown up a navy brat, where yearly moves were the norm. Social awkwardness bloomed early because of her father’s career. So many moves in such a short time meant she’d spent her youth playing video games and watching movies to escape.
And the reason she worked at home. Alone. Most of the time she left the house out of obligation rather than desire. Next step was to transform herself into the crazy cat lady everyone whispered about.
Sucking up her courage, she locked the car then shoved her keys into her pocket. She’d gone low-key for her outfit selection tonight. She didn’t plan on playing once she got inside, since this was her first official visit to the former armory. No doubt there was some kind of rule about that. Besides, she was more interested in simply getting a lay of the club and seeing the interior of a space she’d only viewed through her computer screen.
Then she’d be out of there.
And snuggled under the covers of her hotel room bed before midnight.
Her stomach churned as she stepped closer and saw the guy standing in front of the entrance. His entire bulk took up the double door he was guarding. His presence wasn’t surprising given what went on inside the walls. They’d need a heavy-duty guard who would stop anyone not authorized to enter with just a stern glare.
“Uh, hi. I’m not sure what I need to do.”
The guard shot her a half smile. “What are you looking for, darlin’?”
“I know this is Noble House.” She pointed to the doors over the man’s shoulders. Better to get that right out in the open so he didn’t dismiss her. “And I know it’s a members-only club for kinky folks. But I don’t know what I need to do to get past you.”
His genuine smile widened. “First time?” She nodded, her heart giving a hard jolt. “Just need to see some identification.”
He pulled out a tablet as she handed over her driver’s license. The beefy bouncer’s eyebrows rose almost immediately after he typed her name on a screen that looked like a child’s toy in his wide hands. “Well, well. Someone must have done something really special.” He handed her the card back before picking up the rope blocking her path. “Third floor. They’re expecting you.”
Third floor—but that was...no, surely she’d heard him incorrectly. “Sorry, I’m a little rattled from all the travel. What did you say?”
“Top floor is expecting you.”
“But that’s—”
His grin widened impossibly. “Yep. Lucky girl. Not too many first-time visitors get invited up to the Keep. Must’ve done something to catch their eyes.”
“Their...as in plural?”
A sudden heat flushed her cheeks. Damn it, they told her they were out of town
this weekend. They’d even sent her pictures of the beautiful rows of grapes used to make the wine. And two hours ago Saint had emailed her a gorgeous picture of the sunset off a craggy side of a cliff. They were both crafty as hell, but even they couldn’t be that good. Then again, Saint had said he owned a computer security business. If there was anyone who knew how to fake or hack something, he would be the one.
And she thought she was the artist.
“You all right?”
“Yeah.” She swallowed, shaking out her hands to stop the trembling. “I’m good.”
She did her best to smother her trepidation as she stepped through the entrance. Turning back now would just be foolish. May as well make the most of the trip. After all, she was making wild assumptions.
She’d seen Kochran earlier in the week. She was a member. He could have easily put two and two together. And knowing she was a friend of Saint and Boyce, two of the most sought-after Doms at Noble House...well, it was easy to see why getting a ticket to the first-class floor of bondage wasn’t out of the question.
“Well, go on or get out of the way, girlie. Other people want to play.” Grae yelped when the guard slapped her ass. “Oh yeah. You’re going to be a fun one. Go on.”
Grae followed the elaborate signage directing her up a ramp. As she stepped inside, she saw the nude black-and-white photographs that lined the walls. The large floor-to-ceiling images showcased submissives in various stages of vulnerability.
Predicament bondage.
Steel cages.
Tanks full of water.
The anxiety that had been snaking its way up her spine altered, as though a switch had been flipped. The familiarity made her feel like she’d been here before. The website had many pictures detailing the building’s spaces, but the artwork hadn’t been part of the collection.
Given Kochran’s comment to Boyce about changing out artwork, Grae had a sneaking suspicion she knew the photographer. If Boyce was the artist...wow. He had certainly cultivated his talent since college.
She was familiar with the basic layout of the club, thanks to the plans loaded onto the website. It was probably a way for those members who only visited the club virtually to feel as though they were familiar with where events were taking place.
A long hallway stretched out in front of her, softly lit by pocket lighting tucked into the ceiling. The ominous atmosphere didn’t deter Grae despite her nervousness walking up to the Keep by herself.
She shouldn’t go.
Especially because she didn’t know what was going to greet her when she got there.
She needed to turn around, get back in her car, and go home. Not the hotel. Not to Saint and Boyce’s. Home. Do not pass GO. Do not collect two hundred dollars.
There was a long-standing rumor about just what went on in the Keep. It was the one room at Noble House that wasn’t filled with cameras, mics, and recording equipment. And it wasn’t the kind of place a member could enter on a whim.
Or without permission.
As she inched forward, wondering if she should continue, she came upon a row of large windows. Pausing at the first one, she realized it was a viewing area available for members to see what was going on in the many semi-private rooms at the club.
She’d seen a few sessions carried out on the feeds, though she had never watched them live since Saint and Boyce tended to play out their scenes where the whole world could see in the very public Court area.
This first window was set up to resemble a doctor’s room, complete with a nice, comfy padded examination table. Some of the pieces of equipment hanging neatly on the wall caused Grae to shiver. Though she wasn’t certain if it was from aversion or excitement. She’d never participated in a medical scene.
And she wouldn’t get to see one either, as the room was empty.
She moved on to the next window. The interior was shadowed, with walls comprised of large, dark stone blocks. Oversized sconces hung from elaborate hooks embedded in the stone, the flickering candles in the red globes casting interesting shadows on the wall.
This room was not vacant.
A naked submissive stood in the center of the room, her wrists suspended in the air by chains affixed to sleeves of red leather that laced her arms from wrist to shoulder. More red leather encased her legs, from hip to ankle, where another pair of chains had been shackled to large eyebolts embedded in the floor.
If her bindings weren’t statement enough, she also teetered on glossy red platform stilettoes. Her long dark brown hair had been arranged in soft waves that swept away from her face in a style taken straight from the 1940s. Her flawless makeup clearly reflected the same era and showed the sub had a flair for the dramatic.
Bright red welts stood out on her breasts and abdomen, showing that the scene had been going on for quite some time. From the glazed looked in the sub’s eyes, she was nestled far, far into subspace.
A tall, well-muscled Dom with closely cropped dark hair paced around the submissive in slow circles. As though he was calculating his next move. He was fully clothed in a very well tailored suit and highly polished shoes. He also wielded a single-tail whip. Every so often, he would skim his free hand over her waist, her hip, or even dip between her legs.
Grae caught the Dom’s faint smile as he rubbed together two fingers that he’d just removed from the sub’s pussy. His smile widened as he touched the tip of his tongue, savoring the flavor of his lover. After stepping back, he rewarded the sub with a caress of his whip.
The woman unleashed a wail laced with ecstasy. The Dom stepped back further, moving the whip in a smooth, sensual motion that caused the tail to snake across the stone floor. He struck unexpectedly, the leather cracking as it broke the sound barrier.
The sub didn’t move or even flinch as the Dom snapped the whip so it split the air but didn’t touch her skin. With complete trust, she accepted the careful, patient care and attention the Dom was lavishing her with.
When the Dom arced his arm and the single fall finally connected with her skin, the sub moaned loudly. The air was immediately filled with the sound of her begging for more. The harder he struck her, the louder the woman begged.
Grae watched in fascination when the Dom walked away from the sub, denying her. As he approached one of the tall columns, he unfastened the buttons on his jacket. He looped the whip several times and hung the coiled item from a hook. His suit jacket followed, a shock of light gray against the dark column.
As he paced back to the submissive, he carefully folded back his shirt cuffs. Grae’s eyes grew wide as she spied a black leather sheath strapped to the Dom’s left wrist. Light glinted on the silver blade the man extracted from the protective case. The submissive went limp in the bindings as he touched the metal to her side.
They were exquisite together.
Grae was tempted to stay and watch because she’d never seen an edge play scene like this, but she was expected at the Keep. Instead of checking out what treasures the hallway possessed, she bypassed the rest of the windows and turned the corner at the end of the hall. Another beefy bouncer guarded a flight of stairs.
Stairs that Grae needed to ascend in order to locate the Keep.
When she approached, instead of asking to see her card again, he simply stepped out of the way and allowed her to pass. Either they had lax security this far into the club or Kochran had employed some kind of facial recognition software that signaled to the guard that she was allowed access to the special area.
At least, that was what she would have done if she’d been in charge of the security system. As she passed the employee, she noticed a tablet sticking out of his back pocket. Mystery solved.
Given Saint’s computer knowledge, she bet her membership he was responsible for the entire computer and video setup at Noble House. Hopefully that didn’t mean he had access to the m
ember profiles as well.
As she approached a set of elaborately carved double doors, a scream pierced the air.
“Sounds like Joslynn finally got her Dom’s permission to come.” A petite woman came to stand beside Grae. Glancing over, Grae saw she was swinging a royal-blue sack. A toy bag, perhaps? The woman’s long blonde hair had been plaited into elaborate braids. She wore a white shirt that ended below her breasts and a pink-and-gray plaid skirt that wrapped low over her abs and barely covered her ass. Though she was beautiful, a pout marred her glossy red lips. “Master Enver is going to give my date for the night too many ideas. You coming?”
Familiarity finally clicked.
Grae blinked slowly, taken aback by the sight of someone she’d watched play in scenes for the past year now standing right in front of her. She was also the woman who’d been with Saint and Boyce in the scene last week. The one that had caused Grae so much concern. “You’re Asha.”
“In the flesh.” Asha’s gaze narrowed. “First time here?”
“Physically, yes. I’ve been a virtual member for three years.”
Asha tilted her head, giving Grae a curious look. “I meant on this floor. But that works too. Nice to meet you.”
Grae accepted her extended hand. “Grae Burrows.”
Another scream broke the air.
“And that’s my cue to get in there before Master Kochran gets pissed off. Which I’ve already done enough of lately.” Asha grabbed Grae’s hand. “Come on. I’ll show you the best seat in the house for a newbie. Unless you’re meeting someone?”
“Not that I’m aware of.” Before Grae could add more, Asha pulled her through the doors.
The musky smell of sex grabbed Grae by the throat, tightened its grip, and nearly smothered her. Overwhelmed with the powerful and rich scent, her pussy nearly drenched her underwear. Her nipples hardened. Her skin heated. She’d gone from perfectly normal to fully, achingly aroused in two-point-four seconds.
“Holy shit.”
Asha leaned close, pressing her lips to Grae’s ear. “Can’t get that watching the video feeds.”