by Leah Brooke
“If not, you’re not interested enough for me to take the time to answer them.”
Royce gave King another of those looks, before glancing at her. “What King means is that—”
“She knows what I mean.” King leaned toward her, crowding her space. “If Red here wants to be assured that we aren’t in the business of hurting women, she’ll accept our offer and find out for herself. If she’s not willing to go the distance to find out, she isn’t all that concerned and is just being nosy.”
Bristling, Brenna glared at him from above her menu.
“That’s ridiculous. If you didn’t have anything to hide, you would have no trouble answering my questions.”
He jerked the menu out of her hands, startling her, and leaned close. “Don’t hide behind the menu. I’ve already told you that I would be happy to answer your questions, but we’ll do it my way. I have nothing to hide. You, on the other hand, seem to have plenty.”
Her stomach clenched, a cold knot forming. “What do you mean?”
Setting the menu aside, King sat back, eyeing her thoughtfully. “Why did you go to that club? Curiosity?” He leaned closer, running his finger up and down her arm and creating a riot of tingling awareness through her.
“Have you ever fantasized about surrendering yourself to another man?”
“No!” Brenna jerked her arm away, alarmed at the image of surrendering herself to him, and the sharp stab of arousal that went with it.
King clicked his tongue. “Remember what I said about trust. It’s vital in this kind of relationship. You’re a liar. You’ve fantasized about submitting. There’s nothing to be ashamed of. Is that why you went to that club? To see what it was like? I’m surprised they let you in. Did you know someone there?”
Brenna sighed. “Nothing that dramatic. The club near my home has kind of an open house every month. It’s for people who want to dip their toes in the water, so to speak, but it’s also for fun. A friend of mine was getting married, and she wanted to have her bachelorette party there. The members are all invited, but my understanding is that it’s very different from a usual night there. There’s a lot of talk and flirting, but clothes don’t come off and no one goes to another room. The owners chaperone and make sure nothing gets out of hand.”
Royce nodded thoughtfully. “She told me about it earlier. I think it’s a great idea. We might just have to do something like that here.”
Brenna turned to him, inordinately pleased that he liked the idea. “It was a lot of fun. We knew we were safe there, and that there was no chance of being accosted. We learned a lot. The members that wanted to go that night seemed happy to answer our questions—unlike some people.”
Her smile fell at the memory of how that night ended. “Everything was fine until Donner decided that since I was there, I was looking for a man to dominate me. It got ugly after that. He made a scene and the owners ended up throwing him out. I found out later that he was waiting outside and followed me home. That’s when he started harassing me.”
Royce covered her hand. “He contacted us, and as soon as we met him, we knew he had the wrong idea about all of this. We tried to get him to understand. We talked to him until we were blue in the face, chatted with him online, anything we could to get through to him. Hell, Blade went out to talk to him when he started talking about a woman rejecting him. Blade went to that club and warned the others about him.”
King’s face hardened. “They kicked him out. We would have kicked him out of ours, but we thought we could make him see reason before he hurt someone. He was never allowed to be alone with a woman while he was with us.” He stood abruptly and turned away. “Order me a steak. I’ll be back in a minute.”
Surprised at his show of anger, Brenna watched him walk away, his long strides carrying him across the restaurant and out the door in seconds. When she could no longer see him, she turned to Royce.
“Your friend seems really angry.”
Royce’s eyes hardened. “We’re all furious about this. We talked to Blade earlier and told him about you and he’s beside himself. We care very much for our women in Desire, and our club reflects that. There are laws in this town that we all abide by, not only because it’s the law, but because that’s the way we choose to live. We value our women very much here. Donner’s actions go against everything we believe in.”
His lips twitched. “That’s one of the things that make Club Desire very popular. The women know how well they’ll be treated and respected here. We have a waiting list for submissives who want to come here. There are many who come every year when they take vacation from work—a chance to live the fantasy of being the object of another man’s desire—to be put through their paces at the whim of a man learning all he can about dominating a woman.”
Royce sighed. “We teach here. We have classes for men who have no one else to ask—men who have the need to dominate, but don’t know how to go about it, or aren’t even sure what they want. We have men here from all walks of life, some who just want answers. We have others who know what they’re doing and have been doing it for a long time, but either haven’t found a woman they want to be with yet, or aren’t interested in having a permanent partner. But, Brenna, none of them are ever allowed to abuse a woman here. Even King, Blade, and I would be run out of town if we did that, or allowed it. We adore women here. We protect them at all costs—in the club, and in the town.”
Brenna shook her head. “I’ve heard that women are protected here, but I have a hard time believing you could beat a woman and still claim to want to protect them.”
Royce nodded. “It’s not something that’s easy to comprehend, but it’s true. Why don’t you take us up on our offer and find out?”
Lifting his hand, he motioned to the waitress, who stood several feet away, apparently waiting for a signal from him to approach. By the time they’d finished ordering, King had returned, looking a little calmer.
“I called Blade. Kelly’s resting.”
Royce stiffened. “Everything all right?”
Chuckling, King took a sip of the fresh beer the waitress placed in front of him. “Blade said they went to the doctor today and everything looks fine. He’s a nervous wreck, though, and it sounds like he’s not letting Kelly out of his sight.”
Brenna reached for her water. “Who’s Kelly?”
Royce smiled, but his eyes held concern. “Kelly is Blade’s wife. She’s pregnant again, but she’s had two miscarriages already. Blade is doing his best to wrap her in cotton and keep her calm until the baby’s born. The miscarriages really took a toll on both of them.”
Frowning, Brenna looked at each of them in turn. “How can a man who’s married work in a club like yours? Doesn’t his wife mind that he cheats on her?”
King scowled. “Blade doesn’t cheat on Kelly. Do you think we have sex with all the women who come in there?”
Brenna blinked, not sure she believed that men working in such a place would be able to resist all the opportunities that must be thrown at them. “Not all, but at least with some of them.”
Royce laughed softly. “I’d never get any work done. I’ll admit to taking my pleasure here and there, but I don’t fuck indiscriminately. We guide. We teach. We provide a service. We run a business, Brenna.”
Shaking her head, Brenna traced a drop of moisture down her glass. “Okay, then. I have to admit I have no idea what your proposition entails. What, exactly, do you mean about teaching me how to dominate? Will I be watching you teach men what to do to a woman?”
King shook his head. “No. Our customers and students value their privacy. Confidentiality is very important. Royce and I will be working with you alone.”
“Both of you?”
Royce smiled. “Something you might not know is that King and I share women. Ménage relationships are prevalent in Desire. Although you don’t belong to us, for the time you’re here, we’ll both be working with you.”
Brenna sucked in a breath, rubbing her thig
hs together against the throbbing ache that steadily got worse. Thrilled that she wouldn’t have to choose between them, she found her pulse racing at the thought of being naked with both of them, a thought that aroused her so much she had trouble sitting still.
Part of her wanted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming, but another part of her trembled in trepidation, not exactly sure what all of this would mean.
She had to take another sip of her water to ease her dry throat before she could ask.
“How would that work?”
King leaned forward. “We’d teach you how to dominate yourself. You’d be the subject and we would show you what we show other men.”
Not sure she understood, she stared down at the table, moving her silverware. “Would you touch me? Would I have to be naked?”
Royce shared a look with King again before answering. “At first, we would only touch your hands, and help guide you. Yes, you would be naked, but not at first. We’ll go as slowly as you need to go. After that, it’s up to you, perhaps a little further each day until you decide you don’t want to do it anymore.”
“I can stop anytime I want to?” She couldn’t believe she might actually be doing this and wondered if her brain had taken a leave of absence. It sounded innocent enough, and she had to admit she was more intrigued now than she’d been when she’d arrived.
She also couldn’t ignore the unexpected flood of arousal that seemed to grow stronger by the minute.
She’d begun fantasizing about being dominated for years, but that was all it had ever been—fantasy. She’d toyed with the idea and had even made a few hints to her last boyfriend, but after a few halfhearted efforts that did nothing to satisfy her, sex had gone back to normal.
She yearned to make the fantasy come true, if only for a little while, but after the trouble she’d had with Donner, fear had held her back.
She’d wanted it, but she’d never needed it the way she did since meeting Royce and King.
Royce smiled, a smile filled with anticipation.
“You’ll have a safe word.”
She didn’t know why, but she trusted them, and their offer seemed like the answer to her dreams. She could find out all she wanted to know, to make sure that they weren’t urging men to abuse women, and at the same time, possibly explore a little of her own desires, desires she’d keep private.
Royce and King would never have to know about her little fantasies, fantasies she could keep hidden while assuring herself that they weren’t encouraging men to act like Donner.
She wouldn’t feel comfortable, though, until she told them about the note and what it could mean.
Brenna drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I have something to tell you that might change your mind about getting mixed up with me.”
Royce smiled and touched her hand. “There aren’t that many things you could tell me that would make any difference. What is it?”
Bending, she retrieved her purse and drew out the white envelope. “I found this taped to the door of my room here when I got back from seeing you this afternoon.”
Royce took the envelope, his eyes narrowing as he slipped the small piece of paper out. His eyes widened, turning to green ice as he read it. With a curse, he covered her hand with his and held the note out to King.
“That son of a bitch.” Coming to his feet, Royce moved behind her, rubbing her shoulder. “I’ve got to make a call.”
From her other side, King cursed soundly and jerked Brenna out of her chair and onto his lap as though Eugene Donner would pop out any minute and attack her.
Drawing the attention of the nearby patrons in the crowded restaurant didn’t seem to bother him at all. The smiles from the other customers surprised her, though, as though many of them were already used to the antics of the men in Desire.
Embarrassed to be the center of all the attention, Brenna pushed at the restraining hand he pressed against her stomach. “King! You’re making a scene.”
“Too bad. Stay put.”
Royce slid a hand over her hair before turning away. “I’m calling Ace. See what Ethan has to say. Maybe they got him on camera.”
“I hope so.” A grim-faced King lifted his hand to get the attention of the waitress, who hurried over, her smile falling when he asked for Ethan.
As soon as the waitress left, Brenna leaned close, a flash of warmth going through her when King immediately turned toward her and tightened his hold.
“King, people are staring. Donner’s not here. Let me up.”
The hard muscles in his thighs tightened and shifted as he adjusted her position on his lap.
“Let ’em stare. You’re fine right where you are.”
The blond man she’d seen when she walked in approached, sobering when he saw King’s scowl.
“What’s wrong?”
King gestured toward Brenna’s vacant chair. “Sit down. Look at this.”
Lowering himself into the chair, Ethan picked up the small piece of paper and frowned. “I don’t understand.” Lifting his head, he eyed Brenna, and then King. “What’s this about? Who wrote this?”
King leaned forward, his arms tight around Brenna. “We think it’s from Eugene Donner.”
Ethan’s eyes went wide. “They guy who’s been causing all the trouble around here? I thought Ace arrested him. Is he out on bail? Did he escape? Did they let him go?”
Shaking his head, King sighed. “Royce is on the phone to Ace right now. Brenna Nelson, this is Ethan Sullivan. Ethan, this is Brenna Nelson, the woman Donner was so fixated on—the one who turned him away.”
Ethan’s eyes widened again. “No shit. Oh, sorry, Brenna. He didn’t hurt you, did he?” The concern in his eyes touched her deeply.
King ran a possessive hand down her back. “Damned right he hurt her, but thank God, not the way you’re thinking. Broken wrist, cuts and bruises.”
“That son of a bitch.”
“Yeah. I need a favor.”
Ethan nodded. “Name it.”
“Brenna’s staying at the hotel here. She found that note taped to her door when she got back from coming to the club to give Royce and me hell for condoning behavior like Donner’s. Do you think you could have caught him on camera?”
Ethan smiled, intensifying his devastating good looks even more. “She came to the club to give you and Royce hell, huh? I’d love to have seen that.”
King grinned, his eyes shining with pride. “Damned right she did. Really laid into us. Now, we’re keeping her.”
“Damn.” Even though he smiled, she could see the concern still in his eyes. Combined with King and Royce’s reaction, it convinced her she’d made the right decision in deciding to stay here.
Ethan got to his feet. “I’m going to go check the tapes and talk to Brandon. I’ll be back to talk to you before you leave.”
When he left, Brenna patted King’s shoulder. “I’d feel better not making a spectacle of myself. Let me sit back in my chair.”
King finally relented. “I don’t like this, Red. You’re coming back to the club with us tonight.”
Brenna blew out a breath and took a sip of her water, missing his warmth. “I have to admit, I’m a little nervous about staying here alone now.” She looked up at King through her lashes. “Does this mean you haven’t changed your mind? I wanted to let you know that you could be in danger if Donner’s on the loose again.”
“He’s not.” Royce came up from behind her, touching her hair as he passed her and took his seat again.
“I just talked to Ace. Donner’s still in jail. The judge denied bail and wants him to have a psychological analysis before they move forward.”
A cold chill went up and down Brenna’s spine. “He’ll fail it.” Wrapping her arms around herself, she missed King’s hold even more.
“I have to admit, I’m relieved that he’s still in jail, but if it’s not him, who is it? I’d have felt better knowing exactly who the hell was coming after me.”
Royce’s jaw clenched. “And why?” He looked at King. “What did Ethan say?”
“He’s talking to Brandon and checking the tapes. He’ll know something in a few minutes. In the meantime, let’s eat.”
King handed her a buttered biscuit, speaking to Royce, but his eyes never left hers. “Red’s coming to the club.”
Royce frowned. “Of course, she is. She can’t stay here alone with someone after her. We can protect her, and as soon as word gets around town, she’ll be even safer.”
“I’d hate to put both of you in danger.”
Royce paused with his glass halfway to his mouth and started to speak, but King beat him to it.
“Do you really think that we’d stand aside and let someone hurt you? Besides, how scared do you think we’d be of some asshole who tapes notes to doors and runs away?”
Brenna couldn’t deny her relief. “If you’re sure.”
“We’re sure.” Royce smiled. “So, are you coming home with us tonight, where we can protect you and start your training as a Dom?”
“Are you sure you still want to do that after finding out about the note?”
King sat forward. “Of course. Besides, it’ll keep your mind off of this asshole. So, what’s it gonna be, Red? Whether or not you start training, we’ll still protect you. No strings.”
Satisfied that she’d made the right decision, she nevertheless shifted restlessly at their intent stares. Forcing a smile, she took a deep breath to calm the butterflies in her stomach.
“So, when do we start?”
Chapter Three
For the rest of the meal, they skirted questions about their proposition and the club, telling her that they’d have plenty of time to answer her questions once they were alone.
Royce gestured toward the food she’d pushed around her plate.
“Eat your dinner. Let’s talk about you. Tell us about your last boyfriend.”