“Relax.” This was a woman’s voice. “You’re gonna be fine.”
A third male voice was added to the mix. “From the contents of her, um, stomach, I’d say she hasn’t eaten in a while. You mix an empty stomach with three glasses of alcohol in twenty minutes, and yeah, she’s gonna be drunk. And very sick.”
The contents of my stomach? Oh, Lord, I threw up all over everyone.
“I’m so sorry,” she groaned out. She opened her eyes and peeked out. The woman standing next to her had a smile on her face. She was naked under an open robe and had a metal collar around her neck.
“Shush. Just stay down.” The woman turned her gaze to the men. “Master, she’s awake.”
“Thank you, Vixen.” The man moved next to the woman, his gaze fastening on Honor. “Hi. I’m Dr. Knox Keaton, and this is my wife, Tatum. Chad asked me to come in and check on you.”
She tried to sit up, but Tatum pushed her back down.
“Just relax for a while,” Knox said, his hand on her wrist, his gaze now fastened on his watch. “Alcohol and an empty stomach don’t mix. When was the last time you ate?”
“This afternoon?” It had been this afternoon, hadn’t it? Or was it this morning? No, she’d eaten some of the Chinese food. Not much, but some.
“Is that a question?” He narrowed his eyes at her, and she tried to laugh, but she ended up coughing instead.
“Vixen, would you go downstairs and get Honor a light soft drink, please?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Where am I?”
“At Jaguars, in room nine.” Ryker walked up and stroked her arm. “Sorry for my friend’s bad manners.”
“Hey,” Gideon said, stepping forward. “Don’t apologize for me.”
Honor groaned. “It’s not his fault. I was nervous and just… I’m so embarrassed.”
She turned her head toward the wall and her eyes widened. Numerous whips, restraints, and other sexual devices hung there. On a table flush against the wall sat various-sized dildos and anal plugs. She looked back toward the men, her face now very red. When she tried to sit up, no one stopped her. The table was stone and not very comfortable. Her gaze locked on the restraints fastened to the end.
“Easy,” Knox said. “Just relax, we’re in no hurry.”
“Thank you, Dr. Keaton.”
“Just Knox. And as much as the idea might make you nauseous, you need to get a little bit of food in your stomach. Nothing spicy. Some bread or some crackers.”
She stroked her neck and licked her lips. Tatum came in and handed her a glass of clear liquid, which she drank from greedily. It burned slightly going down, but it felt very good.
“I’m all right. A little shaky, maybe, but fine. I’ll go home and sleep after Ryker tells me what he found out about my sister.”
Before Ryker could open his mouth, Knox stepped back. “My work here is done. Vixen and I will leave you to it.” He turned to the two men. “Make sure she eats.”
When they were gone, Honor sighed. “What did you learn?”
“Where do you live?” Ryker stepped closer.
“What? I don’t want to –”
He repeated the question and she shook her head.
“We live in Corrales.”
Gideon whistled. “Wow. Pricey.”
Ryker turned to him. “My house is closer. You drive her car. She can ride with me, and we’ll come back later for yours.”
“Sounds good.”
“Excuse me.” Honor tried to sound intimidating but knew she’d failed. “I’m the one paying the bills. You work for me, remember?”
“Yes, I do,” Ryker said. “But right now, I’m in charge. You get no information until you eat something. I hope I make myself clear.”
“But –”
“But nothing,” Ryker said. “Don’t make me spank you.”
“Everyone wants to spank me here. First that Sasha woman, and now you.” She looked at Gideon who looked as if he could eat her in one bite.
“Oh, me too. But I prefer to use the word ‘whipping’. It has such a great sound to it.”
* * *
“So he couldn’t tell you where she’d gone?” Honor took another bite of her bread. Her stomach still didn’t like her, but the bread helped. She sat on a chair in Ryker’s dining room, dressed in one of his shirts while her clothing was going through the wash cycle. He sat on one side of her, and Gideon sat on the other. She felt more than a little exposed, since she was half naked and sitting between two very gorgeous men. Two very gorgeous, very dominant men.
“No. There are some people at the resort right now who were there when Heaven was there. If you’re willing to pay for the trip, I’ll go down and interview them, and I’ll talk with the employees. They always see things they’re not supposed to.”
Honor nodded, then took another bite. “I’m going with you.”
“Why don’t we all go,” Gideon said with a laugh. “I’ve always wanted to know what that place was like. Sounds like fun.”
“This is a business trip, not a chance for you to play. And Honor, the answer is no. You’re not going anywhere with me.”
“Won’t it look weird, a single man going down there by himself?”
“No. I’m a Dom who wants to play, remember? I just ask questions on the side.”
She took another bite of her bread and looked to Gideon for help. He narrowed his gaze at her, a gleam in his eyes.
“Don’t you think people would clam up if they knew you were investigating a woman’s disappearance?”
She turned to Ryker in time to see him shoot an evil glare at Gideon. “Mind your own business. This is not playtime.”
“No, but if we went as a threesome, people might open up to us more.” Honor swallowed hard. Had those words just come out of her mouth? A threesome, as in the three of them together? As in having sex with both of them? As in submitting to both of them?
The room grew quiet before Gideon spoke.
“It’s an interesting idea. Two Doms, one sub. Go in undercover, with the owner’s permission of course. People are more likely to give out information if they think it’s gossip, and talking to another guest would be gossip. Talking to a private investigator is like talking to the cops. Nobody wants to do it.”
Ryker was silent for so long Honor thought he would say no again. He watched her intently, his face unreadable. Finally, he sat back.
“Are you submissive?”
“Yes.”
“Liar.” This came from Gideon. “You told me you hated it. That’s the only drawback as far as I’m concerned. We could go as two Doms and buy a submissive for the weekend we’re there.”
“No!” Honor slammed her fist on the table. “She’s my sister, and I’m going.”
“Glad to see you’re feeling better,” Ryker replied. “I have to agree with Gideon on this. If you’re not submissive, it won’t work. This is a BDSM resort. Someone will spot a fake in a heartbeat.”
“Not if I’m trying to learn the ropes,” she said, turning pleading eyes on Ryker. “You can tell them I’m a trainee. Please?”
He watched her for a few more minutes, then muttered, “Shit,” under his breath before standing up. He walked into the living room and Honor started to stand.
“No,” Gideon said, putting his hand on her shoulder to keep her seated. “Stay there and give him a chance to think. It also gives you a chance to finish your story. You never did tell me about your one stab at submission.”
“There’s not much to tell. Heaven fixed me up with a friend of hers. He tied me to a cross and used a flogger on me. I hated it. I felt exposed and used. When he was done whipping me, he untied me and made me suck his cock.”
Gideon sat back in his chair. “Kinda threw you into it, didn’t he? Did he talk to you about it first?”
“No.”
“Did he ask you what you liked? What got you off?”
“No.” She whispered the word, then glanced toward the living r
oom.
“Did you have an orgasm?”
“No.”
He leaned toward her and whispered, “Did you like the pain?”
“No.” She turned her head away from him. Lord help her, she couldn’t tell him the feeling from the flogger had been the only good thing from the experience. But the man himself had been crude and hadn’t cared about her at all. He’d only wanted to see to his own enjoyment.
“It’s okay to like the pain, Honor. Really, it is. Let me teach you that.” His face was inches away from her now, and she resisted the urge to look at him. “You’d like it if I did it to you, I promise you.”
She shivered and shook her head. She looked up as Ryker walked into the room. He stood at the end of the table and studied her.
“Prove to me you can be submissive. Bare your breasts to us.” His voice was deep. Gideon sat back, putting his elbow on the table and leaning on his fist as he studied her.
Honor hesitated for a few seconds, then opened the shirt she wore. She reached behind her to undo her bra, but stilled when Ryker said no.
“Just lift it over your breasts.”
She did as he asked, the elastic of her bra biting into the top part of her breasts. Her nipples peaked under the men’s perusal, and she flushed with embarrassment.
“Take off your panties.”
She wanted to scream no, but she knew if she did, her trip to Paragon’s would be over before it even started. She stood and inched her panties over her hips, stepping out of them and lifting her gaze to Ryker.
“What now?”
“Straddle the chair,” Gideon said. “But stay standing. Then clasp your hands behind your back.”
She did as he asked, her hands shaking.
“Eyes down, shoulders back.” Ryker moved right next to her, so she had one man on each side. They each cupped a breast, testing its weight in their hands. The tightness of her bra across her upper chest was starting to hurt just a little. She closed her eyes and ignored her discomfort. She could do this. She could be submissive.
They each started to play with a nipple, rolling them around until she moaned softly. And then they both pinched. Hard. She cried out and they increased the force of their fingers. Her nipples throbbed under the pressure, and she shook her head.
“Please, stop.”
“We’ll stop when we want to,” Gideon said.
Their fingers tightened yet again and then suddenly released. Her nipples throbbed harder as they gently caressed them. Then, they pinched the nubs again, this time harder than the last.
Honor cried out and Gideon’s free hand dipped between her legs, parted her slit, and delved inside.
“She’s wet,” he said. “Very wet.”
His other hand tugged her hair so that her head moved back. “You make sure that pussy’s bald the next time I see it. Understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
His index finger found her clit, and he flicked it a few times. Honor stiffened as she waited for the response from the bundle of nerves. It was there, yes, but muted as always.
She thought Gideon would pinch it, but he didn’t. Instead he lifted his fingers to her mouth.
“Clean me. Suck your juices from my fingers.”
Her stomach was one hundred percent better now, but still, the idea of tasting herself was not pleasant. She licked him tentatively, the taste not nearly as sour as she thought it might be. She licked his fingers clean; then Ryker moved the chair away from her.
“Bend over until your face touches the table,” Gideon said. When she was in position, he rubbed her behind. “Now, spread your cheeks, wide, so Ryker and I can see your sweet little asshole.”
Her insides quaked at his order. She’d never been on display like this before, but she knew it was a test. If she failed it, she wouldn’t be going to Paragon’s to help search for her sister. She did as he asked, trembling when his fingers traced her puckered opening.
“You’ve never been fucked here, have you?” He pressed his thumb against her and she gasped.
“No, Sir.” Please, please, please let me stand up. Don’t leave me like this.
As if reading her thoughts, Ryker bent over until his mouth was even with her ear. “You stay here, and don’t move. Keep yourself nice and spread so we can enjoy the view. Master O and I need to talk.”
“Yes, Sir.” Honor was grateful for the support of the table. Her hands shook as she stood there, her cheeks spread. She’d never been so open, never felt so vulnerable before. She wondered if this was what Heaven had always talked about when she mentioned ‘bonding’ with Doms or Dommes.
“I give myself over completely,” she’d always said. “You have to trust them one hundred percent or it’s just not worth it. Only then can you get the feelings, both physical and mental, that make you enjoy submission.”
She could hear the men talking, but she couldn’t make out their words. What were they saying? Would they use her, and then tell her she couldn’t go with them to the resort? Somehow, she doubted it. She knew Heaven trusted Gideon, because she’d submitted to him many times. She wouldn’t have gone back for more if he weren’t trustworthy. If Heaven trusted him, then so could she.
But Ryker? She’d never heard Heaven mention him before, which surprised her because the two men seemed to be very good friends, to be very in tune with each other.
What could they be talking about? What was taking them so long? Either they were going to top her, and let her prove she could follow their orders, or they would send her home. If they did the latter what would she do? Would she fire Ryker and try to find someone else to take her case? She doubted she would get someone who took her as seriously as they did.
After what seemed like forever, she heard them walk back into the room.
“Stand up, but keep your legs spread and keep your hands on your cheeks so they’re spread,” Ryker said.
She did as he asked, keeping her eyes lowered.
“Very good,” Gideon said. “I’ve written my office address here. Meet us tomorrow at three forty-five sharp. Don’t be late.”
“Yes, Sir. What happens now?”
“Now you go upstairs,” Ryker said. “There are two guest bedrooms you can choose from. Go in, go to sleep. I’ll more than likely be gone when you get up. Just pull the door shut behind you, and it will lock. I’ll come by at noon and set the alarm.”
“That’s it? I thought we were going to, um, play.”
“Not tonight,” Gideon said. “You’ve had an emotional day, but you’ve proven your willingness. You need to rest for a while. We’re going to go pick up my car. You do as Ryker said and go to bed.”
She nodded, wondering if they would give her any other orders. But they didn’t. They both said good-bye as they walked through the door, and she heard the click of a deadbolt. She looked around the house, so different from the one she shared with Heaven.
Ryker’s house was very attuned to the area. Southwest art hung on the walls, and the furniture was large and overstuffed. She walked to a bookshelf and glanced at the titles. All spy novels or recent thrillers.
She glanced at her watch. It was after one a.m., which really didn’t surprise her. She was very tired. It had been a long, long day and Gideon was right, it had been very emotional. She climbed the stairs, wondering for the first time if Ryker had a dog. She hadn’t seen any signs of one, but he seemed the type who would have a dog, who would take it for walks and play fetch in the park.
At the top of the stairs she saw three doors. The first door on the left was a bedroom, with dark coverings on a full-sized bed. Directly across from that was another bedroom, this one with a twin-sized bed. One wall contained a trophy case. She walked over to examine it and found photos of Ryker in various football poses. There were trophies and framed news articles dating back to the 1980s.
She looked harder at a framed photo of two high school football players whose jerseys read ‘Mustangs’. A smile crept on her face. It was Ryker and Gideon. Th
ey had their arms around each other’s shoulders.
A photo near it showed them both in the Lobos football uniforms of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. There were also photos of them in various athletic uniforms from younger ages.
“Longtime friends,” she said softly. “Looks like they dominated on the fields, and now they dominate women. Together. How interesting.”
She examined some of the articles and trophies, and then she left the room, making sure to turn out the lights and shut the door. There was a bathroom next to this room, and at the end of the hallway was a closed door she was sure led to Ryker’s bedroom.
She rolled her head as weariness took hold. She stopped in the bathroom to wash her face and used a sealed toothbrush she’d found to brush her teeth. Then she went back to the first door she’d opened and made herself at home on top of the covers of the full-sized bed. She was asleep within minutes, her last thoughts centering on Heaven and what she was doing at that very moment.
Chapter 4
When Ryker came into Sapphire’s on the Square the next morning, Honor was sorting lingerie that was about to go on sale. She’d just finished putting the naughty bits onto one table when she spotted him. He was watching her, a smile on his face.
She crossed to him and returned his greeting. “I didn’t expect to see you until this afternoon. You have news?”
“Yes, I do. Let’s walk down to La Tienda Dulce and have some coffee.”
She turned to the woman behind the counter. “I’ll be back soon, Jenna.”
Once they were on the street, he put his arm on the small of her back. “You don’t have to tell your boss when you take a break?”
“I am the boss. Heaven owns Sapphire’s, and I manage it.”
“Really? You failed to mention that yesterday.”
“I told you we’d increased our monies.”
“Yes, but you said it was through investments.”
Honor nodded and wrapped her arms around herself. It was chilly for April, but the leaves on the trees were in full bloom, and the square was beautiful. They rounded a corner and came to the bakery.
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