Lucia laughed. “Thanks. Yes, he is. How do you know him?”
Pamela quickly took another bite and Lucia narrowed her eyes at her. “You called him ‘mast’. What does that mean?”
“Nothing. He’s just a friend of Richard’s, that’s all.”
“Liar. Tell me.”
“I can’t. It was a stupid thing for me to do. There are rules, and I… crap. I have to go.”
Pamela stood quickly and Lucia put out her hand. “Does this have anything to do with that BDSM club you’ve been trying to get me to go to with you and Richard?”
Chapter 3
Vince threw his third pizza of the night on the coffee table and shook his head. It would be hard to explain to the captain why he was expensing all these, but he didn’t plan on paying for them himself. Besides, he’d ordered the smallest amount of food he could get for delivery.
All three of the restaurants he’d ordered from had deliverymen named Joseph, who, according to managers when pressed, worked off the books. But none of them had been the one he’d wanted.
He took a slice of pizza and flopped down on the couch, taking a bite and looking over the notes he and Sanchez had made that afternoon. Joseph Black Hawk had been in minor trouble with the law, including speeding tickets, and a charge of shoplifting from a store. The charge had been dropped, but it was the store itself, and not the charge, that had caught Vince’s attention.
“Dustin Jaymes, how do you figure into this?” Running his name through the computer had produced far more sheets of paper than Joseph’s had. Dustin was well known in town as a bookie. Plus, he ran an illegal gambling organization that moved from time to time to avoid detection.
Since gambling was legalized in New Mexico on Indian reservations, Dustin preyed on those who’d been banned from the Indian casinos. And, if they ran out of money he would be more than happy to loan it to them, for a not-so-nominal fee.
Authorities had been trying to bust him for years, but he’d always managed to slip through the cracks at the last minute.
When his name had popped up, Vince had called Ward McGovern, a source at the state police, who’d confirmed what Vince had suspected. Joseph had been busted in one of Dustin’s legal stores for shoplifting. Dustin agreed to drop the charges if Joseph agreed to run ‘errands’ for him.
“But he’s a little guy,” Ward said. “We don’t want him, we want the hot tamale. We want Jaymes. You looking at Black Hawk for something else?”
Vince had said he was running names in a burglary and Ward had seemed uninterested. Vince had been disgusted all afternoon that people like Jaymes existed, using others to make his money. Who better to get to do your dirty work than a young kid who was scared and trying hard to support his family?
“What a scumbag.” He took another slice of pizza and felt a tinge of remorse for the way he’d treated Black Hawk that afternoon. He should have run names before talking to the employees. That was a screw-up he wouldn’t have let happen in the past.
“Well, you treated him better than you treated me.”
Rodney Baker’s voice bounced off the walls. Vince looked up to see the pale shape sitting in the chair opposite from him.
“Get the fuck out.”
“Can I have some pizza? Man, I’m hungry, and it looks so good. You really busted the kid’s chops today, didn’t ya? All he wants to do is feed his brothers and sisters, you creep. And you accused him of theft, made him think he’s in trouble.”
“Would you just go to hell? Literally? Get the fuck out of my house!”
It took Vince a few minutes to realize he’d screamed the words out loud. He buried his face in his hands, running them through his hair before looking back up. The chair was empty. Baker was gone.
“I’m losing it. Shit, I’m losing it.” He stood up and started to pace, his breath coming in shallow gasps. After a few minutes, he bent over and took several deep breaths to try and calm himself. Baker’s laughter filled the room.
“That’s what you want, isn’t it? It’s not bad enough you invade my dreams, now you’re going to come into my house while I’m awake? You son of a bitch!”
He paced for a few more minutes, then squared his shoulders. “I’ve got to get out of here.”
In the bedroom, he changed from sweats and a T-shirt to jeans and a black, long-sleeved pullover. He brushed his teeth and headed for the garage, gathering a leather jacket, gloves, and a helmet from the closet in the foyer.
Once outside, he fired up his Harley and headed down the road. He would be damned if he would sit around and talk to a dead man. He’d been a prick to Knox and Tatum that afternoon and he needed to make it up to them.
Plus, he needed some release. He’d watch the bondage competition and see what happened. There were a few subs he knew very well. Maybe one of them would be willing tonight.
An image of Lucia Caro appeared in his mind. It wasn’t a surprise to Vince, since she’d been at the shop most of the day. Just the thought of her made his cock rock hard. Damn, he wanted to top her, listen to her scream in ecstasy after he’d denied her for a while, watch her wiggle and shake and beg for more.
Maybe after he’d solved her case he’d do some gentle probing, see if she was interested in learning about submission. He had no doubt in his mind she loved sex. She’d as much as said so. She was beautiful, that was for sure. Maybe, just maybe, he could help her find whatever she was searching for. And she could help him banish his demons for a while.
* * *
“This place is really something.” Lucia tried hard not to stare at the people around her, but it was tough work. Pamela had told her about Jaguars, and Lucia had always been tempted to give it a try. The idea of submission was fascinating to her. But something always held her back when she thought about attending one of the events.
She had to admit the only reason she was here tonight was the possibility, even if it was a remote one, that Vince Beaumont would show up. Pamela had told her he hadn’t been at Jaguars for more than a month. She’d also told her about the shooting, and how it had affected Vince’s mind.
She thought back to how distant he’d seemed to her that afternoon. Usually, men weren’t that way with her. Not that she was super-model gorgeous. She knew she carried more than a few extra pounds. But she was pretty and vivacious, and she’d never had trouble attracting a man.
Until today. She hadn’t been able to attract Vince. He hadn’t even responded to her crack about bondage, and that had stung. When she’d found out he was a Dom the sting had turned into a full-fledged burn. Until Pamela told her Vince had pulled back from Jaguars. Pulled back from life, actually.
He probably wouldn’t show tonight but at least she would see Jaguars, get a feel for the place he liked to play. Then, tomorrow when he came back to the store, she’d mention she’d been here tonight. See how he reacted.
She studied her surroundings again and tinkered with the bright red band she wore on her wrist. Pamela had told her that once a submissive was in the members’ room, which they were, they were fair game unless they were wearing a collar. A member’s guest wore a bright red wristband to make sure the Dom/Dommes knew he/she was with someone, even if they weren’t collared.
Lucia had balked at the idea of wearing a collar, but Pamela had told her it was “a fantastic feeling. Something you’ll never be able to describe until you do it yourself, for your Master.”
She watched the men and women as they walked around the room, waiting for the bondage competition to start. The room was full, and people were in various stages of dress – or undress, as the case may be.
Many of the submissives, both male and female, were naked except for the collars around their necks. Some also wore wrist and ankle cuffs that bound them to chains or leashes, carried by their Masters/Mistresses.
It was all just a little too much to take in. But, at the same time, it was more than just a little fascinating. Lucia liked sex, but she’d never really found anything, or anyone,
to keep her interested for more than a few months. She wondered if this was what had been missing from her life.
She shook her head at the thought. She’d never been one to follow the rules. So she was pretty sure she would have trouble following the demands of a man. Submission might be fun to play with, but she didn’t think it wasn’t something she would want to participate in full time, even if it was with Vince Beaumont.
“Relax.” Pamela’s husband, Richard, handed her a glass of wine as he walked up. “I told you, you don’t have to play, you can just watch.”
Lucia took a big swig of her drink and smacked her lips.
“So tell me, Richard. What exactly does being a Dom do for you?”
“It takes things to a whole other level,” he said.
“Because you can boss her around, and she’ll do anything you want?” Lucia knew her tone was more than a little sarcastic. She tried to soften her words with a smile and was happy when Richard and Pamela both laughed.
“Not exactly,” Richard said. “Pamela and I have a connection. She agreed to be my submissive, to let me lead her to higher planes of pleasure. It strengthened our bond, and our love for each other.”
“So, you would love her less if she said, ‘screw you, I don’t feel like sex tonight’? Or, ‘I don’t wanna play that game’?”
“A lot of people don’t understand BDSM,” Richard said. “I need to give you a few books, steer you toward some websites, and see if your opinion changes.”
Lucia cleared her throat. “I’m not sure I’m a big fan of something that lets one person beat on another.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong. I don’t beat on Pamela.” The anger in Richard’s voice was apparent.
“You whip her?”
“If she needs punishing, yes.”
“See, that’s just wrong.” Lucia drained her drink.
“You think?” Richard motioned to a waitress, and ordered another glass of wine. “BDSM is about giving over control, yes, but it’s also about consensual activities between consenting adults that are safe and sane. I would never do anything to hurt Pamela. I love her too much for that.”
Before either of them could speak again, a man stepped onto the dais and called for attention.
“That’s Master Chad,” Pamela whispered to Lucia. “He’s one of the co-owners.”
Lucia nodded and turned her attention toward the stage. Two naked women and three naked men stood, their hands clasped behind their backs, their legs spread wide, heads bowed.
“Thanks, everyone, for coming out tonight,” Chad said. “And you can thank my wife, Sloan, for this little competition. She stuck her nose into an argument one night between two of our members about who had the best bondage techniques. And the competition was born.”
The crowd laughed, and some clapped.
“So, tonight, we have five participants. They have thirty minutes to bind their submissives in a position pleasing to the judges in terms of skill. Judges will base their decisions on eroticism, for both the Dom and the sub. The winner gets two months’ free membership.”
The crowd clapped again, and Chad waited until they quieted down. “Tonight, we have three Doms and two Dommes, and they are: Marta Simpson, José Bacarra, Pablo Acosta, Leisha Tims, and Peter Barrington. They will be stationed at five platforms spread across the room. We request you not ask them questions until after the competition is over so they can concentrate on what they are doing.”
Chad turned to the competitors and raised his eyebrows. When they all nodded, he said, “Let the competition begin.”
Lucia watched the Dom/Dommes lead their subs to different platforms. Her eyes widened as they began to work, some using ropes, some using equipment she’d never seen before. She wanted to go closer and look, fascinated by the looks of intense arousal on most of the subs faces.
She’d been tied to a bed before, but it was nothing like what she was seeing. It was erotic. It was amazing. And it was highly arousing.
Damn. I’m going to need someone to scratch my itch tonight.
Lucia smiled as an image of Vince popped into her mind. He could scratch my itch. And if he tied me up like that, he could do more than scratch.
The sub being bound remained motionless as the Dom worked on her. He had her hands tied behind her back and was now running ropes around her breasts and down between her legs. Lucia let her gaze wander the length of the rope. The woman’s thighs glistened with moisture, and Lucia’s clit throbbed in response.
Damn. I wonder if Vince’s listed in the phone book.
* * *
“You’re late.”
“I think I’ve heard that somewhere earlier today. Seems to be something I’m making a habit of.”
Vince ordered three beers and then turned to Knox and Tatum.
“I’m sorry I was such a bastard today.”
“You’re forgiven,” Tatum said. “Knox said you’d come, but I didn’t think you would. You just cost me some swats.”
“Really? Knowing you two, you’d have gotten swats either way.”
Tatum laughed. “You’re right.”
Vince took a swig from his beer and breathed deeply. It felt great to be back at Jaguars, even if he had sat in the parking lot for twenty minutes and debated the pros and cons of going inside, or just going back home and stuffing himself with pizza, then whacking off to images of Lucia Caro.
He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her since he’d met her. His cock had definitely been appreciative of her charms. But then again, so had his mind. She was smart and insightful, he could tell from today. After he was done with her case, he’d ask her out. That is, if he could get up the courage to act like a real person again.
“Let’s explore,” Knox said, pushing away from the bar. “See if we can pick up some pointers.”
Vince laughed. Neither he nor Knox was into bondage as a rule. Restraining a sub was one thing and usually heightened her pleasure. But Vince had never taken the time to learn the intricate knots and techniques being used tonight.
It was fascinating, though, to see it displayed. He knew Pablo was an expert in Shibari and was sure he was showing off his skills right now. Directly in front of them, Marta had her sub’s hands tied in preparation for suspension. She was now wrapping rope tightly around his bulging balls. Vince cringed at the thought, but one look at the sub’s face and he knew the man loved every minute of it.
He glanced around the room and saw a crowd gathered at Pablo’s station.
“Let’s go check out D. I’m willing to lay money he wins this whole thing.”
They started across the room and as they drew closer, Vince could see Pablo’s sub, whom everyone called ‘little one’” Pablo had already bound her breasts and was now working on the lower half of her body.
Vince watched intently, smiling when Tatum leaned into Knox to whisper in his ear. A tingle of jealousy ran up his spine, an emotion he wasn’t used to. Of course he’d had a lot of those, lately. He was happy Tatum and Knox had found each other. But he was more than a little jealous he hadn’t been able to do the same thing.
Maybe, just maybe, he could try with Lucia. He took a drink of his beer and scanned the crowd watching Pablo’s performance. Most of them were Doms, probably wanting to pick up a few pointers. He shook his head, and then his eyebrows shot up.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
“Probably,” Knox said with a laugh.
“Screw you,” Vince replied. “Remember the little baker I told you about today?”
“She’s here?”
“Standing with Richard and Pam.” Vince let Tatum in on what had happened that morning, and then told both of them he’d seen Pam at Dulce Tienda.
Then, he turned his attention to Lucia. Emotions ran across her face, but the most obvious of them was desire, and a great deal of it. She was moving from foot to foot. Vince was sure the movement was putting pressure on her clit, since her legs were held tightly together.
/> “Little Lucia’s a sub,” Vince said softly.
“Not necessarily,” Tatum replied. “She could just be curious.”
“No,” Vince said. “She’s a sub. She may not know it yet, but she will, soon enough.”
“With your help,” Knox said. “Have fun.”
He and Tatum turned toward the next platform and Vince narrowed his eyes at him. Then, he turned toward Lucia. The look on her face had turned to one of total fascination. If he didn’t know better he would say she was on the verge of orgasm.
He moved through the crowd until he was standing right behind her. He put his hands on the curve of her hip and leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“Wish that was you?”
Chapter 4
Lucia felt his hot breath on her neck long before he’d spoken. As much as she’d wished to see Vince tonight, him finding her so obviously enthralled by the bondage scene wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind.
She turned her head toward him. “Maybe.”
His blue eyes twinkled with laughter and she felt her stomach clench. Her pussy, which was already wet, flooded her panties.
“This is a surprise,” she said softly.
“I’m the one who’s surprised. Are you a submissive? Is that why you’re here?”
“No. Just curious.” And wanted the opportunity to see you, if there was just a slight chance. “Are you a Dom?”
“You know I am. I’m sure Pam told you this afternoon.”
“Does that make you angry?”
“No. I’m not ashamed of it.”
She smiled in response. “So, are you going to take me upstairs and fuck me?”
His laugh sent chills up her spine. “You’re nothing if not blunt. But the answer is no.”
“Oh. I’m sorry. I thought there was a connection… I just… this place… Sorry.”
She crossed her arms over her chest, turning to face the platform, her cheeks burning with embarrassment. She had a habit of doing things like that. Open mouth, insert foot.
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