She stepped over to one of the many sitting areas of the grass-covered backyard, set between two of the four warehouse buildings that made up a large portion of the compound’s structures, and sat down. Ian’s lab/pit mix followed and laid down beside them. Within seconds, JD was suckling on his mother’s breast. Nursing was something Tahira had never seen in person before—in her country, that took place behind closed doors—but, of course, she’d seen it on the internet and in movies. Kristen and her child looked so connected and peaceful that it almost took Tahira’s breath away.
A giggle from Angie had Tahira turning to look at the other woman, who was due with her own child in about six weeks. “What?”
“I can hear your biological clock ticking from here,” she said with a grin, rubbing her swollen belly. She glanced back and forth between Tahira and Darius, who was now standing close to her side. “You know, I was worried about the two of you—I thought maybe you were rushing into this marriage thing in the heat of . . . whatever heat you were in. But as I watch you two, you look good together, and you definitely can’t keep your eyes off each other. Tahira, you just about melt when Darius looks at you. And Darius, you have that possessive Dom stare down pat, even though that’s not your thing.”
Choking on the beer he’d been drinking, Darius coughed harshly, before blushing. Tahira felt her own cheeks warm. After wiping his mouth, Darius shook his head at Angie. “Seriously? I mean, I doubt Tahira even knows what that means.”
Tahira crossed her arms, cocked her hip to her side, and lifted her chin. How dare he make her seem immature. “What do you mean, Darius? Of course, I know what she meant when she called you a Dom. I may be a princess, but I am not that naïve. I have read all of Kristen’s books and many more like them. I know what Doms and submissives are. I also know there is a sex club on the other side of the parking lot.”
His jaw dropped as Angie snickered at him. “Hey, Ian. I think Batman needs some Dom lessons—fast!”
Darius didn’t know if he was shocked, mad, aroused, or just plain going insane. One thing he did know, he was proud of Tahira. She’d stood up for herself. He’d been stupid to assume she was so innocent she didn’t know what the lifestyle was about. Hell, it sounded like she knew more about it than he did, and he was surrounded by people who lived it. He stared at Tahira, seeing her with a new set of eyes, like he’d done several times since he’d found her in Diaz’s prison. She continued to amaze him and that made his attraction to her grow even more.
“Damn it, Batman. Stop digging a fucking hole and apologize for whatever you just said to piss off your fiancée,” Ian chastised from his grill station, where he was cooking hamburgers, hot dogs, and shish-kabobs.
Ignoring his boss, Darius nodded. “You’re right, sweetheart. It was wrong of me to make that assumption. I’m sorry.”
Her expression softened. “Apology accepted. Thank you.” She pivoted back to Angie. “Now, what are the chances of me seeing the club? I want to know if it is similar to my expectations after reading Kristen’s books.”
The pregnant woman’s eyes widened. “Um . . . that you’re going to have to ask my husband. I have no say in the matter when it comes to non-members seeing it. Ian!”
“What, Angel?”
“Tahira wants to see the club.”
Ian glanced over his shoulder and stared at them a moment. “Sure. But ask someone else to take them over there. I don’t want you walking more than necessary.”
From the looks of things, Darius didn’t know who was more surprised at Boss-man’s response—him, Angie, or anyone else attending the impromptu party, who all seemed to have stopped talking at the same time. In fact, the only ones who didn’t appear shocked were JD, Marco and Harper’s toddler, Mara, and Tahira. It wasn’t often anyone who wasn’t a member was allowed in the club. But, then again, Darius knew what Ian was thinking—the same thing he’d suggested to him a few weeks ago. Tahira might benefit from them both learning about the lifestyle. Darius didn’t miss how the man had said, “take them over there.” Clearly, Darius was supposed to go with Tahira to see the place. It wasn’t that he’d never been in there—as an employee of Trident, he’d needed to sign the club’s non-disclosure agreement like all its members. He’d been in there several times, both while it was closed and open, though he usually stayed at the bar during the latter.
“I can walk you over,” Harper said, handing her sleeping daughter to her husband. “I have to get something out of my locker anyway.”
“Tahira.” She looked at Ian, who was pointing the spatula he was using at her and eyeing her intently.
“Yes?”
“Anything you see in there, stays there. Privacy is a big part of our world. I’m trusting you by not demanding you sign a non-disclosure agreement before going in there.”
A broad smile crossed her face, and her eyes twinkled with delight. “Thank you, Ian. I will not tarnish that trust.”
“Batman.” Ian nodded his head to the side, indicating he wanted a word in private with him. Darius approached and stopped in front of his boss, who glared at him and lowered his voice. “You do not play in any way, shape, or form without training. I so much as get a hint of you messing around without knowing how she might get hurt, I’m going to hurt you like you’ve never been hurt before. Got it, twatopotomus?”
Oh, yeah. He got it.
Five minutes later, Harper led them down the grand staircase to The Covenant’s “pit” as the members called it. Apparently, it felt more like one than a dungeon, with the balcony that encircled it so people could watch the fun from above.
“This is beautiful.” Tahira’s assessing gaze was everywhere, taking in the burgundy, dark green, and gold color scheme, the iron lighting fixtures and accents, the leather chairs and couches in numerous seating areas, and, of course, the BDSM apparatus in cordoned off sections around the expansive room’s perimeter. “Ian and Devon designed this themselves?”
“From what I’m told,” Harper responded, “their cousin, Mitch, who manages the club, came up with the original, two-story design after Ian had purchased the compound for the security business. I think this was originally slated to be a training building. Ian and Devon didn’t make many changes to Mitch’s plans. From there, the three of them traveled to many upscale lifestyle clubs around the world and incorporated the elements they liked best. The only parts that were added later were the garden, which is at the far end and upstairs, and the twelve new theme rooms below that. I’ll have to show you the garden too—you’ll love it. It’s my favorite place now.”
Darius watched as the submissive took Tahira on a tour of the place. Her face was filled with awe and enchantment, things he hadn’t expected. He was also seeing the club from another perspective for the first time. It was elegant, sensual, and a bit forbidden, and it stirred something within him. Suddenly, he could imagine Tahira sitting on the floor next to his chair, with her head resting on his thigh as he stroked her thick hair. She wouldn’t be naked like some of the Doms preferred their submissives to be in the club. Instead, he’d have her wearing a harem costume or something like that. With the culture she’d been raised in, she’d probably be more comfortable that way. He also wouldn’t want any other man seeing what was his.
Shit. Get a grip, Knight. She’s not yours! In a few months this will all be over, and you can go back to your occasional one- or two-night stands. The thought made him frown. When had he gone from “casual affairs” with no entanglements to thinking of a woman as his and his alone? And not just for the moment, but for a very, very long time. Like forever. Shit.
30
The huge indoor “garden” was stunning. Tahira felt like she’d stepped onto the four-square-mile tropical island her family owned in the South Pacific. Its faux-grass, potted plants, shrubs, and tall trees, cabanas with sheer, white curtains and daybeds to lounge on, a non-alcoholic tiki-bar—alcohol was only allowed at the main bar above the pit—and a retractable roof gave it an outdoor atm
osphere. When the roof was open, a mesh screen was in place to keep out bugs and thwart camera lenses. Apparently, two of the club’s well-known members, fraternal-twin brothers, and their wife had their lifestyle plastered all over the internet, because of the men’s jealous ex. Afterward, the press had been trying to get a glimpse of the inside of The Covenant and had used drones. But the screen was coated in a way that let the fresh air and light in, yet nothing else. Any images that were taken while the roof was open just showed a layer of black and nothing more.
Tahira loved the little paths that wound around the foliage to hidden areas where people could have a sense of privacy even though anyone could walk by at any given time. “Harper De . . .” she paused, trying to curb her habit of using the first and last names of those people she didn’t know well in order to remember them. She was getting better, but there were times she faltered. Darius grinned and winked at her, obviously knowing she’d caught herself. She winked back and then looked at the other woman. “I can see why you love it so much. It is beautiful. I would probably want to spend most of my time here too. Although, the rest of the club is magnificent too. May I ask how long you have been in the lifestyle? Or is that too personal a question?”
Harper snorted and waved her hand. “Oh, nothing’s too personal to me. I tend to be a bit of an exhibitionist, at least when Mara isn’t around. I went to my first munch in college and have been involved in the lifestyle ever since. Marco started while in the Navy and introduced Brody to it when they both ended up on the same team with Darius.”
“They were on the team a few years before I was assigned to it,” he said. “There were a bunch of guys besides them who were into the lifestyle, but I never saw the draw. I’ve learned a lot more about it since I started with Trident—it’s hard not to with the club right next door. But what’s a munch again? I’ve heard the term before but never really paid attention to what it meant.”
“It’s a get-together where people interested in the lifestyle can meet experienced Doms and subs and ask questions and learn what it’s all about. There should be no play allowed at munches, but sometimes you’ll see some non-sexual videos, defining different types of play, to give people a taste of what they might see at a club.”
“I find Shibari fascinating,” Tahira exclaimed, much to Darius’s surprise, as she sat on the edge of one of the daybeds under a cabana. “Does anyone do that here?”
“Oh, yes. In fact, Master Stefan is an expert at it. He teaches a few classes a few times a year and will do demonstrations. And you’re right—it is fascinating. I love to watch it, although I’m not too keen on being suspended like that. I trust Marco; I don’t trust the ropes.”
Darius had seen one of Coast Guard Lieutenant Stefan Lundquist’s rope demos. It really was kind of mesmerizing to see him bind his submissive, Cassandra, one of the club’s waitresses, then suspend her from the ceiling using a pulley system. The woman was usually zoned out—subspace was what they called it—by the time she was raised into the air.
Harper gestured to the large, inviting space with her hands. “Look around some more, if you want. I’m just going to run down to the women’s locker room. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
As the other woman left them alone, Darius sat down on the bed next to Tahira. “When have you seen a Shibari demonstration?”
“I’ve never seen one in person, but I have seen videos of it on the internet.”
“Yeah, I guess you can find anything on the internet these days.” He paused. “Can I ask you something?”
The seriousness in his voice had Tahira shifting her body to face him. She placed her hand on his where it rested on the mattress. “Of course, Darius. You can ask me anything.”
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Before I ask it, just know that this would be your decision, okay?”
“Okay.” She had no idea what he was leading up to.
“After Ian figured out what was going on with us, he suggested there were things about being in the lifestyle that might help you deal with what happened better. He’s willing to train me to be a Dom for you. Nothing wild and kinky, but there are aspects of BDSM that are more psychological in nature than sexual. He mentioned that giving you control might help you overcome the fact things had been out of your control. Does that make sense?”
Tahira bit her bottom lip and thought for a moment. She’d been reading one of her favorite BDSM authors’ books over the past few days and had wondered about the same thing Ian had suggested. While there were parts of the lifestyle that did not appeal to her—exhibitionism being one of them—she’d been pondering how the submissives in the books willingly relinquished control to their Doms. After they felt safe enough to do it, they didn’t have to worry about making any decisions. They only had to get lost in how their Doms made them feel—with or without sexual contact. With their safewords, lists of limits, and trust in their Doms, the submissives still controlled the scene. There was no worry that their Doms would go beyond what was safe, sane, and consensual.
“Yes, it does, and I think it might be a good idea.” She paused. “But what about you, Darius? How do you feel about it? Is it something you are interested in? I do not want to impose on you any more than I have already.”
“You’re not imposing, sweetheart.” He sighed. “If you’d asked me weeks ago if I was interested in it, I would’ve said no. But after talking to Ian, I’ve been doing a little research on my own, and I think it really might help you. But it’s totally up to you. If you say no, then that’s the end of it. This is not something I need like some of the other guys. But it might be something you can benefit from, and if you’re willing, then so am I.” He reached up and cupped her cheek. “I worry about you. You’re still having nightmares.” When she opened her mouth, he stopped her. “And don’t deny it. What I want to know is why haven’t you come to me for comfort? You have to know I’d do anything to help you, Princess.”
“I do know that, and I thank you, but I did disturb your sleep.”
“Princess, I sleep very lightly after all my years in the Navy. If you need me, please don’t shut me out. I’m one of the few people you can talk to, and I want to be here for you.”
She held his hand to her cheek and closed her eyes for a moment, wishing they had a real romantic relationship and not one based on a lie. Blinking, she focused on his soft green eyes. Something had changed between them within the last few moments, and she pulled back a bit to concentrate, seeing something she’d never seen with him before—his aura!
Multiple colors swirled around Darius, and Tahira zeroed in on each one and their meanings. Shades of green for healing and compassion; indigos for benevolence; and reds for passion and strength. Tahira’s breath hitched. His aura was just as beautiful as the man.
“Tahira, what’s wrong?”
His voice drew her back into focus. “I am sorry, Darius. As you say, I zoned out for a moment. Nothing is wrong. In fact, I think a lot of things are suddenly right. Yes, I would like for you help me explore this lifestyle, and I hope I can give you something back in return.”
Without hesitation or waiting for him to respond, she closed the distance between them and pressed her mouth to his. He stiffened for a split second before he took over the kiss, his hand going into her hair and holding her there. A groan escaped him as his tongue demanded entry to her mouth. She parted her lips for him, her arms going around his neck as she moved even closer. Whatever had just happened between them released a hunger she’d never experienced before. Up until now, their make-out session had been relatively tame. But now, she silently urged him to release whatever he’d been holding back from her.
His hands slid down her sides and grasped her hips. Tugging them, he pulled her closer until she was straddling his lap. She grew wet as she felt his erection pulsating against her sex. Once she was settled, his hands stroked the contours of her back. Taking his cue, she let her own hands roam over the sinewy muscles of his shoulders, upper
back, and arms. As their lips melded together, his tongue dueled with hers, and his hand snaked around and cupped her breast, causing Tahira to moan in pleasure and need.
A clanging sound in the main club had Darius breaking the kiss. They were both panting heavily as he stared at her with lust-filled eyes, seconds before regret filled them. “I’m sorry, Tahira—”
“Hush, Darius. Please do not say that. I very much enjoyed what just happened between us, and I want it to happen again. It proves that what that bastard did to me has not made me afraid of intimacy with a man . . . with you. I am a grown woman, with passion and desire filling me every time you touch me. He could not take that from me, and I will not let you or anyone else deny me what is rightfully mine. I may not be experienced with a man, but I know you will not hurt me, physically or emotionally.” She hesitated a moment. “But if you are having second thoughts and do not want me as much as I want you, then I will understand—”
He snorted. “Not want you?” He flexed his hips, grinding his manhood against her core. “Does this feel like I don’t want you, Princess? Does this feel like I don’t find you desirable? I like you very much, sweetheart, and I care for you just as much. Trust me when I say I would be honored to have you in my bed. But that’s your decision. I won’t push you in any way. If and when you would like to take things further, then just let me know. But under no circumstances do you come to me because you feel obligated because of the wedding or that you owe me for helping you out, understand? That is not what I want at all.”
She smiled and blinked away a few tears that tried to escape her watery eyes. “Yes, I understand.” She caressed his cheek, loving the feel of his evening stubble rasping against her palm. “You are a very noble man, Darius. And do not roll your eyes at me when I compliment you like that. I know Doms will not allow that, and I am making it a rule between us too. I will not roll my eyes at you if you do not roll your eyes at me.” He grinned at her demand. “I want you very much, Darius. I will always be grateful for what you are doing for me, but that is not part of my attraction to you. You make me feel more like a woman than anyone else has in my entire life. I feel the heat of your gaze from across a room. My heart speeds up and the rest of my body reacts just because it knows you are near. No man has ever done that to me before.”
Forty Days & One Knight: Trident Security Omega Team Book 2 Page 19