End Zone (Game Plan Series Book 3)

by Breanna Hayse

  “I will never allow you to speak to me or any other adult with that tone of voice or to use such language,” Merry lectured, letting the spoon fly over the entirety of the tiny rear-end. Cassie sobbed and tried to push away. “You will mind me when I tell you something and will do so without arguing, rudeness or an attitude. Do you understand?”

  “I’m sorry,” she wept. “Mommy, I’m sorry!”

  Merry’s arm froze in mid-air, and the room became silent. Quickly, the sobbing girl was gathered in her arms and held tightly on her lap where she was kissed and rocked.

  “Please don’t speak to me like that again. It hurt my feelings,” Merry mumbled.

  “I’m sorry, Mommy. Don’t leave me. Please, don’t go away,” Cassie begged.

  Dorian frowned and stood up. “We hit a trigger, Mer. Let’s get her out of here. Don’t worry; she’ll be all right. Just give us some time,” he said to Rob and Bryon.

  He carried Cassie to his suite and waited for Merry to turn down the bed.

  “Sit down and hold her. Get her talking if you can,” he said softly. “This might be about her mother’s death. The boys told me that she and her mother were in a big fight before Cassie took off for the weekend. Her mother was found the next morning. Let’s try to help her release the guilt, okay?”

  Merry nodded. “Mommy’s here, Baby. I’m not leaving. Why would you say that?”

  “You left me before. I was all alone, and nobody loved me.”

  “You’re not alone. I promise. There are so many people that love you.”

  “No, they don’t. The only reason I get to stay is ‘cuz they love you, not me.” Her voice was growing more childlike with every word. “Why did you go away? I never got to say goodbye.”

  “I’m right here, Honey. Tell me what you want me to know.”

  Dorian reached over and wiped the tears from Merry’s face. “It’s okay. She never took the time to feel the loss. This is good for her.”

  “It’s hurting her, Dorian,” Merry wept, holding the girl tightly against her chest.

  “Be strong for her. You can do it, Honey. I have faith in you.”

  Merry inhaled sharply and nodded. “Please tell me, Baby. What’s hurting you?”

  “Everyone goes away. First Daddy and now, you.”

  “Your father left because he wasn’t enough of a grown up to take care of a family,” Merry said, shrugging when she looked at Dorian. His nod encouraged her. “I never would have left if I had a choice.”

  “I miss you so much. I’m sorry that I never hugged you or told you how pretty you are or thanked you for helping with my homework. I’m so sorry that I didn’t listen to you and got into that fight. It’s my fault.”

  “No, it isn’t. Please tell me everything that you want to say. There’s no hurry. Just let it out.”

  Dr. Paige entered the room as Cassie was spilling her heart out to her mother’s memory. Dorian took him to the other side of the room.

  “What’s going on?”

  “Long story short, she was triggered during a spanking, and she called Merry ‘mommy.’ She’s been going nonstop, telling Merry everything she wanted to say to her mom before she died.”

  “Do you think she needs a sedative?”

  “Not right now, although I might need one. I hope we didn’t screw this up,” Dorian said, rubbing his neck.

  “I don’t think you did,” the doctor said, placing his hand on Dorian’s shoulder. “She’s been holding a lot of guilt about the events that happened before her mother passed away and it's coming out.”

  “She and Merry just had a pretty ugly fight, and Merry took the spoon to her. That’s when she broke. I should have intervened.”

  “Dorian, you know better than anyone that triggers can’t be predicted. Listen to me, please. Sometimes it takes minor trauma to open the doors for healing from larger trauma. Cassie never grieved the loss of either one of her parents. Instead, she stuffed her pain until it turned into rage. Anger became a shield she used to sabotage her relationships to protect herself. By using Merry as a proxy, that little girl can finally tell her mom all the things she never got to say and let go of her anger and guilt. I think this will be a good thing, Dorian. Just let her talk.”

  “Should I bring the rest of the family up here?”

  “Yes. That way when she slips back to reality, all of you will be there for her and reinforce that she’s not alone. I’ll stay up here with the girls.”

  Dorian went back down to the dining room and explained the situation and brought the three men back up to his room. Fifty was rolling in a tray of fruit juice, water, and cookies when they arrived.

  “I thought Cassandra might need this when she comes out of this. I hope I didn’t step out of line.”

  “No, darling. You’re wonderful, and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.” He grabbed her arm as she started to walk away. “Fifty? Stay with us, please. You might be able to help.”

  “Me? How?”

  He touched her cheek. “Because you know what it feels like to be abandoned and scared. Get on the bed with them.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  “Follow your instincts. I trust you.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Fifty kicked off her shoes and crawled over to where Merry held the crying girl. She kissed Merry’s cheek and held Cassie’s hand.

  “Cassie? My name’s Annie. It sucks when you can’t make things right, doesn’t it? I’d be so pissed if my father had died after our fight, but he was a coward. He didn’t give a shit and just wanted me gone. I will hate him forever for what he did. The bastard put his business in front of me.”

  Dorian held his arm out to prevent Rob from joining them. “Let her talk.”

  Cassie looked up into Fifty’s eyes. “You have a real name?”

  “Yeah, it’s Annie. I hated that name until I heard Dorian say it. That’s how I discovered what it felt like to have a family that loves you.”

  Cassie looked around the room and then back to Fifty. “Why does it hurt so much?”

  The other woman leaned against Merry’s shoulder. “Sometimes I think we have to go through pain before we find what we really want. If my father hadn’t thrown me out into the streets, I would never have ended up here and discovered what real love feels like. Just think, if your scumbag bastard of a father hadn’t run off, your mom would never have met your step-dad.”

  Cassie sniffed and wiped the back of her hand across her face. “If my mom hadn’t died, I wouldn’t have been so angry, and Rob wouldn’t have punished me that first time. Would you?” She looked at Rob.

  He joined them on the bed. “No, I would have ignored my feelings and stayed away so I wouldn’t risk rejection. You also wouldn’t have discovered the lifestyle or what it felt like to have a Daddy who loved you.”

  Bryon took the cue and joined them. He kissed the back of her hand. “Having you as my Little Girl brings me so much joy and peace. Look around you, Baby. You wouldn’t have met any of these people if your mom hadn’t left us. She’s touched a lot of lives in a wonderful way, even though her way hurt.”

  Elias slid next to them. “Remember when you were freed? I was too. The nightmares from the past stopped that night, and all I hear in my dreams is your insipid giggling.”

  Cassie gave him a little smile and then looked at Dorian who stood at the foot of the bed with his arms crossed. “Thank you, Uncle Dorian.”

  “Why are you thanking me?”

  “Because if it weren't for you, then I wouldn’t have this family to love me.”

  “She’s right, Sweetheart,” Merry said, wiping her eyes. “It’s come full circle. It’s because of you that we’re here together.”

  Dr. Paige patted Dorian’s shoulder. “The ripple effect, my friend. Embrace it.”

  Dorian sidled up next to his wife and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. Cassie curled up on his lap, and Fifty placed her head on his thigh. Tears ran silently down his face.

  “Thank you
. A man couldn’t ask for a more loving and supportive family than what I have here. And you, my little love, have brought laughter back into this house.” He kissed Cassie’s forehead.

  “He’s telling the truth, Baby Girl. I haven’t seen that light in Dorian’s eyes in a long time. It’s all because of you,” Merry said quietly.

  “I’m sorry I was so mean, Aunt Merry. Please forgive me.”

  “All things happen for a reason. Now you know that when you feel lonely or sad, you have family you can go to for help.”

  “Can I ask that family for help with getting Rob’s assignment done so I can take a walk with him on the beach?”

  The silence in the room was broken by Elias’ burst of laughter. “And we’re back to square one! I love this kid.”

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Cassie sat at the dinner table between Rob and Bryon, her body still throbbing from an afternoon of uninhibited sex. She had learned so much about herself in the week they had been at the Manor, and the spark within her heart had grown to a blazing fire. She would never hold back from joy again, and she was no longer plagued with guilt. Graye Manor was magical, a fairytale land of pleasure and pain and a place for the healing of the heart, mind, spirit, and soul.

  “I don’t want to leave,” she said quietly to Rob. “I’ve never felt so much at home as I do here. This place changed my life.”

  “We’ll be back, I promise. There’s still so much for all of us to learn. Apart from the internship with Mrs. Lyon, Dorian believes that you would enjoy some time in his dungeon. He wants to introduce you to the whip. I’m also going to learn how to throw. If it’s something you enjoy, I want to be able to give it to you.”

  “Oh, Rob, thank you! I love you so much.” She squeezed his hand. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course. What’s on your mind?”

  “I want Dorian to marry us. It wouldn’t feel right if it were anyone else. I want what he and Merry have, and it has to start with his blessing.”

  “The Whip Master has you under his spell, doesn’t he?” Rob asked with affection. “Would you be upset if I told you that I already asked and he agreed. He invited us to have the wedding here, and Merry insists on planning it.”

  “Really? You said ‘yes,’ right? Please say you did.” She grabbed his hand and looked at him with pleading eyes.

  “I can’t say ‘no’ to him anymore than I can to you.” He kissed her mouth, and she trembled. This was what love felt like, and it was so much different than from just fulfilling the appetite of the flesh.

  “Where is he, by the way? I haven’t seen him or Merry since this morning.”

  “I don’t know. I was otherwise occupied this afternoon to take notice.” She elbowed Bryon. “Do you know where they are?”

  “I haven’t heard a word,” he said. “They do have other guests besides us. Maybe they’re busy working.”

  “You’re probably right. Hey, what’s going on?” Cassie asked as the plaintive sound of a single violin filled the large room. The lights dimmed, and a soft spotlight fell upon the center of the dance floor. Dorian and One slowly walked towards each other, him in black and her in red, and locked eyes.

  Rob grabbed her hand with excitement. “I think we are about to see why Dorian is called the Whip Master.”

  “Are they going to dance?”

  “Yes. It will be a dance that you will never forget.”

  Dorian held One’s face in his hands and kissed her with a passion that ripped through the room and penetrated the core of all who watched. The music grew louder as they continued the embrace, driven by a primal hunger that could not be satiated by mere touch. The Lux Aeterna called to them, urging the abandonment of the outside world to become one another’s eternal light. The music directed their motions, and they responded.

  One unbuttoned Dorian’s shirt and slipped it from his shoulders. Her hands ran down his muscular arms and then up to his chest, her eyes never leaving his. The shirt disappeared in the darkness outside of the spotlight as Dorian slowly peeled the first layer of the unique gown to bear a single shoulder. He brushed the back of his fingers down her arm and along the velvety softness of her throat, pausing only to trace the silver band locked around her neck.

  The music started to build with layers of stringed instruments and drums. Dorian took his wife in his arms and began to dance with a rare strength and grace that sparked with power. As the rumbling drums brought the violins into submission, he revolved her around the floor and subtly removed layer by layer until she was left wearing nothing but the silver collar around her neck. A long chord suspended in the air and they separated, disappearing outside the edge of the dimming spotlight.

  The spotlight reignited, beaming over One as she kneeled at her master’s feet. She lifted her hands, her face staring up at him with reverence, and offered him a set of black bullwhips. He accepted.

  The Whip Master drew her to stand before him and began another dance—a dance of pain, trust, and love. The next stanza of Lux Aeterna grew to a crescendo as the ends of the whips fluttered to the ground. They glided in lazy circles at his feet as he awakened them and demanded obedience. The snake-like extensions of his arms came to life and inched towards the object of their desire until they wrapped around One’s body in a caress of leather meeting flesh. At the hard downbeat of a kettle drum, the plaited leather was tugged and unraveled from her body as she spun.

  The overwhelming intensity of the melody rained down upon the slithering whips. They took on a life of their own as they undulated around their master like a cobra ready to strike. Upon his order, they soared towards their beautiful target and released the power of the six-point Florentine. One’s body was held by a whip that bound her breasts and secured her in an embrace while the other savored her bare flesh. Each throw kissed her fair skin, painting her paleness with long red lashes that marked her back, legs and thighs. The composition reached a dynamic peak, promising an explosion of the whips’ sensuality. The tips restlessly cracked and hissed around Dorian’s body, yet his eyes never strayed from One’s face. He was waiting for the invitation to partake in her bliss.

  She held her arms above her head and turned to him, her unmarred pallor beckoning him to seize her. Her beautiful face reflected passion, pain, love, and lust as she gave herself over to the whips’ seduction. The orchestra resonated over their heads as the whips fell in perfect rhythm across the front of her body. Not once did she flinch as the tips came dangerously near her face—she just closed her eyes and allowed herself to be lost in the embrace of the long, black leather arms. She reeled to the hypnotic sound of the music as the bullwhips made love to her entire being.

  As the music reached its finale, a whip wrapped around her waist and held her in place while its sister snapped between her thighs and encircled her leg. The banshee cry of release had joined in the climax of the music before it dissolved into the final chord. The whips crumpled to the floor in a deep sleep, and their master strode to where One swayed. He caught her body as she collapsed in his arms and seized her mouth in a kiss while soothing her shaking form with a warm hand. The spotlight dimmed as he cradled her to his chest and carried her away, leaving the room in complete darkness.

  EPILOGUE

  “Cassandra! Where did that girl run off to this time?” Rob asked, hands on his hips as he looked around the shopping mall. It was the third time she had taken off to hide from him.

  “I don’t know about you, but I’m exhausted. Coming home with a Little was hard enough, but now we’re dealing with a Middle who just can’t stay out of trouble,” Bryon said. “Krissy, have you seen… Krissy? Dammit, Rob, it’s contagious.”

  Both men collapsed on the bench. From the floor above, the two girls hid behind a plant and watched them.

  “Two down, one to go,” Cassie giggled with her partner in crime. “Where did Aunt Suzanne disappear to?”

  “Did I hear someone call my name?”

  Cassie and Krissy turned aroun
d at the sound of her voice.

  “We, uh…”

  “Hush up and move over,” Suzanne ordered, pushing her long hair behind her ears. “Look at them! They’re acting like two old men. I think we need to wake them up, don’t you?”

  “How?”

  Suzanne grinned and pulled out three squirt guns. “Ready? Aim and Fire!”

  “Suzanne!” Rob and Bryon bellowed, both pointing to where the girls were hiding.

  “Aw, you’re all wet! Toodles!” The woman grabbed the two girls by the hand and started running, finally stopping when they reached the lady’s bathroom.

  Cassie hugged her tightly around the waist. “I love you, Aunt Suzanne.”

  “I love you, too, Baby.” She dug into her purse and pulled out several colorful items.

  “What’s that?” Krissy asked.

  Cassie and Suzanne looked at each other and grinned.

  “Water balloons!”

  Did you fall in love with Dorian and Meredith Graye, and want to know more about them, Graye Manor, Fifty and the Maids?

  Here’s their stories!

  Whip Master (Maids of Graye 1)

  Mastering Annie (Maids of Graye 2)

  Calliope’s Little Conquest (Saddlesore Ranch 1)

  Are you curious about pony-play?

  Blindfolded

  Watch for the conclusion of the Game Plan Series with Touchdown! Coming soon.

  Titles by Breanna Hayse

  Watch for new releases by Twisted Hearts Productions and Black Velvet Seductions

  “Coming soon” works are in production with the editorial staff and are not to be copied, distributed or shared without the author’s written permission. The intellectual property in the stated copyrighted series are not to be duplicated/photographed/copied or otherwise distributed by penalty of law.

  Age-Play (Contemporary/Victorian)