Gabriel's Light (Doms of Chicago)

by Trace, Dakota

* * * *

  “We’ve got problems, Gabe.” Jude tossed the folder he’d been pursuing after Sharon, Jude’s secretary, guided Gabriel into Jude’s office at Larson Securities. As usual, the part owner and CEO was sitting behind his massive black desk going over a file in front of him.

  “You don’t say? I have a baby who’s going to have me wrapped around her little finger if I’m not careful, and an irresistibly submissive woman under my roof at the moment - one I promised I wouldn’t touch unless she asked me to.” He sank down into the leather chair across from Jude. “Not to mention, Olivia thought it would be cute to bring me a bag of goodies for my playroom.” He tipped his head back and kicked his legs out in front of him. “You know at times, I swear to God, your Mistress is scary. How the hell did she know I’ve decided to move on? Or that I needed some special things new and unopened?”

  Jude shrugged his wide shoulders. “She’s very observant, and it’s not rocket science to realize you wouldn’t want to use the same things on Zhenya you used on Sara. You’re trying to move forward, not wallow in the past. Besides a few days before the attack, during one of Olivia’s visits, Zhenya spoke with her about you. Obviously you left a bigger impression on her than you realized. She’s been having some heavy-duty dreams about you, and wanted to make some arrangements to find a Professional Dom for an evening once this was all over. So Olivia put two and two together, and figured with your enforced proximity, it was only a matter of time before you went all dominant on her.”

  Tipping his head back forward, he met Jude’s knowing gaze. “The hell you say? It’d be a cold day in hell before I’d let Zhenya risk herself with one of those assholes.”

  Jude crossed his arms over his chest. “Weren’t you the guy who just the other day was touting the benefit of having them at the club to Olivia? Weren’t you the one who convinced her to hire a few, for the exact same purpose Zhenya wants one?”

  Gabriel felt a growl rising in his throat at the idea of another Dom - even a temporary one - touching what he was fast beginning to consider his. “It’s not the same. I know they serve a good purpose. They allow submissives to safely find a Dom to master them for a scene.”

  “Tell me then, how is it different with Zhenya? She has a daughter to think of, and seeing a Professional Dom would be a lot less risky than trying to build a relationship at this moment.”

  Pissed that his friend was being so obtuse, Gabriel glared at him before surging to his feet. “Because she doesn’t need some faceless dick to warm her ass. I’m more than willing to give her what she needs right at home.”

  Jude held up his hands in placation, but still managed to look smug. “Whoa….dude. Calm the fuck down. I said, she asked.” He stood and crossed the room to the small fridge. Reaching inside, he pulled out a couple of sodas. “Not that she came to the club looking for one. I didn’t expect you to go all alpha on me and start marking your territory.”

  It finally dawned on Gabriel that was exactly what his friend had been trying to do as Jude handed him a soda. Grudgingly taking it from him, Gabriel popped the tab on it. “Asshole. You knew it’d get me going, didn’t you?”

  “Naw, I was just hoping Mistress was right.” He patted Gabriel on the back. “Yep, I do believe I see a bit of the old Gabriel peeking through. It’s good to have him back.”

  Sinking back into the chair before he did something stupid like tossing the full can of pop at him or decking one of his friends, he relaxed and took a long swallow before speaking again. “So now if you’re done yanking my chain, what did you find out from the police about Hark’s attackers? Do I have to worry about them tracking Zhenya and Sophie to my condo?”

  Grabbing a different folder off his desk, he handed it to Gabriel. “Those men Hark dealt with aren’t your ‘every day run of the mill’ thugs.” He leaned on the edge of the desk. “They have known connections to Cyrille Karas.”

  Gabriel’s blood ran cold as he set his drink on the edge of the desk. “The same Karas who’s known to be for hire to the highest bidder? The same one who has connections to every mob family in Chicago?” Thumbing through the file, he wanted to hit something as he caught several mentions of not only various acts of theft and assault, but also several unsolved murders attached to Karas.

  “Yeah, one and the same.” Jude rubbed the back of his neck. “And the rumor mill says once Karas takes a job, he sees it through no matter what because...”

  “Let me guess, because the customer’s always right?”

  Jude shook his head. “No, because once he starts something he always finishes it.” Jude rubbed the back of his neck. “Jackson’s telling me if these two guys…” Jude pointed to the mug shots of Hark’s assailants. “…are involved, Karas is behind it all. And he’s bad news - so bad it makes me glad Micah and I’ve already moved Olivia into the club for the duration. With the security there, we’re safer there than at our condo. But you may have to move Sophie and Zhenya again.”

  Gabriel continued reading. “Do you honestly think he’s going to find her at my place? I mean I know I have a connection to the club, and whatnot, but surely he’s not going to through the club records one by one?”

  Jude sighed. “Actually that’s exactly what he’s doing through someone else. Olivia’s new accountant, Louis Randall, has suddenly taken a rather pointed interest in not only Caelan’s home information, but also several other members who Zhenya might have met at the last munch. The trouble is, he disappeared two days ago - packed up lock, stock and barrel, gone without a trace, and left no forwarding address.”

  “Well that does seem rather unusual for a C.P.A., but why would you think he’s involved?” Gabriel flipped the sheet back over and closed the file.

  Jude suddenly looked tired. “Because the last record he accessed before he disappeared was Hark’s – less than two days before the attack in Zion. We think the fool was looking for leads on Zhenya’s whereabouts, and when he coughed them up, Karas or Sikkenga made him disappear. So Jackson’s checking Randall’s financials right now, hoping to find some trace of either the man himself, or a paper trail which will lead to him.” He reached behind him for the folder he’d been pursuing earlier. “Computers are wonderful things. This is a running report of every key stoke Randall made in the past month on the computers at the club. Most of it has to do with accounting practices and billing the club members, but hidden in that mess is a pattern of discrete searches of members’ addresses.”

  Gabriel frowned. “Which isn’t needed for billing. The dues are automatically deducted from the members’ accounts on the first business day of every month.”

  “Exactly.” Jude handed over the folder. “The members he was checking are highlighted in yellow.” Jude shifted on the corner of the desk. “There was absolutely no reason for Randall to be looking at the physical addresses of Olivia’s members. In fact, Mistress hit the roof when she found out. I only hope Hark or Jackson find Randall first, and he doesn’t show his face at the club again, or what Olivia did to the Lansing boy after that thing with Nisey will seem like a swat on the ass. She’s way beyond pissed.”

  “Rightfully so,” Gabriel replied as he started flipping through the printout, scanning for the yellow blocks. His lips thinned as he spotted Caelan’s address, even Kalinda’s and her men’s. Flipping through the next page, he froze when he spotted his own name.

  “Shit. My name is in there.”

  Jude nodded, suddenly looking nearly ten years older. “Yeah it is. Which is why you need to move Sophie and Zhenya. Even if you’re not out in public, there’s still a chance Karas will backtrack and find this information.”

  Chapter Twenty

  After checking on Sophie, Zhenya slowly closed the door to the master bedroom with a soft snick. Thankful her daughter was finally down for her nap, Zhenya puttered back down the hall. It’d been a rough week since Gabriel had laid out the rules for her. Not that the rules in and of themselves were difficult, it was just her own inhibitions she was dealin
g with that were causing her struggle. Each night she slept next to him, but somehow refrained from asking for his touch. Nor did he offer it. It was obvious he was serious about her initiating any change between them. He was driving her nuts. Not only was he was a perfect helpmate during her daughter’s early morning feedings - he’d get up, change Sophie, then place her at Zhenya’s breast before slipping from the room, he also was one of the most considerate men she knew. Nothing at all like Ossie.

  And because he was, she was in knots. Her libido, which had stirred before in his presence, was now a raging bonfire. She was surrounded by him everywhere. In his bed, his warmth drew her like a moth to a flame; in his shower, his body soap called to her; in his kitchen, his cooking filled her belly. And the truly scary part is we haven’t discussed limits. From her group, she realized the way she’d entered her relationship with Ossie had not been good. They hadn’t discussed some the basic fundamentals of their relationship before he’d slipped his ring on her finger and his collar around her throat. She’d seen him through rose-colored glasses. If they’d even had a five-minute talk about their wants and needs, she’d have never married him. Now she was scared she was doing the same thing with Gabriel. Seeing only what she wanted but wasn’t actually there. If only she could see what he liked, what he needed, without embarrassing herself by asking.

  She paused in the middle of the hall in front of his playroom. Her tongue darted out as she studied the closed door. Did she dare? Indecisiveness warred with her curiosity. He’d been gone for less than an hour, claiming he had some shopping to do to replenish his pantry, and also a meeting with Jude. She inched closer to the door. Surely it wouldn’t hurt to peek. It’s not like he’d ever know, her inner vixen whispered in her ear.

  But I’d be breaking one of his rules, I’m not ready to wear his collar.

  Who said anything about him collaring you? Didn’t he promise he’d be so deep inside of you, you’d never get him out? Isn’t that what you want, her inner vixen taunted, to be ridden hard until you don’t ache anymore?

  Gods yes… She moved to the door but was saved by the ringing of the telephone. Gabriel had promised to check in on her. But he’s only been gone thirty minutes. Turning in the direction of the ringing intrusion, she gathered the flagging reins of her self-control and forced herself to take ten steps away from temptation. She picked up the phone on its fourth ring. “Poulanos residence.” Her voice came out raspier than she intended, as she rode the edge of frustrated need.

  “Zhenya? Is that you?” Olivia’s faint accent came across the line.

  She flushed. “Sorry, frog in my throat. What’s up?” She tried to force a fake cheerfulness into her voice, not wanting the Domme on the other end of the phone to realize how close to the edge she was.

  “Well, originally I called to commiserate with a fellow trapped woman, but somehow I imagine you’re suffering more than I am at our imposed exile from the real world.”

  “Suffering? Nah.” She shook her head, even though the other woman couldn’t see it. Sinking onto the couch, she cradled the phone between her ear and shoulder. “Gabriel’s an awesome cook – better than Hark was. Although I do miss going outside. At least at Hark’s, we’d take Sophie outside on nice days. It sucks being cooped up.”

  “True but you have to stay inside for…”

  “…for my own protection. I get it. That’s why I haven’t disobeyed and bolted for the door.”

  “You mean aside from the fact Gabriel has promised punishment if you do?”

  Zhenya chuckled. “I wish. He’s been a gentleman through and through.” Well other than our first night together, when he pushed me over the edge as easily as he makes espresso.

  “Sounds like someone’s frustrated. Why don’t you do something about it?”

  She tossed her arm over her eyes. “Because I’m not sure if I want to be collared again. I mean I jumped into my relationship with Ossie, and look how it turned out. Me on the run – hiding with Sophie because her grandfather’s an asshole.”

  “Then tell him you’re not ready for a collar,” Olivia replied tartly. “Besides, who says there has to be a collar involved for you to get laid?”

  “Gabriel?” she whispered, thinking about his last rule. “If I go into his playroom, he said he’d consider me his submissive.”

  A low amused chuckle came across the line. “Really? He actually said he was going to perform a collaring ceremony on you if you peeked inside his playroom?”

  Sitting up with a frown, she tried to remember exactly how he worded it. “Well, no…he just said something along the lines of my entering the room meant I was ready to submit to him.”

  “Then there’s your answer, Zhenya. He’s more than likely talking about sceneing with you. Let me fill you in on a tidbit of information. Just before he hightailed it up to Zion last week, he stopped by the club looking for a submissive to scene with.”

  Jealously started to pool in her stomach like acid at the thought he’d gone to another for release, but she forced lightness into her tone. “So he’s a man…”

  “A man who happens to want you. He’s ready to come back to the world of the living. The question here is - are you? How long has it been since you’ve felt a man’s hands on your body? Or the thrill of submitting to another’s mastery?”

  She answered without thinking. “A week ago…”

  “Hmmm, seems like there’s something else here at work. I think the lady doth protest too much,” Olivia mused.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about…” Zhenya chewed on her lower lip.

  “Ha, well it either has to be Gabriel or Hark, and I don’t see Hark dominating you. He needs something different…”

  Zhenya wrinkled her nose. “Ewwwww! One, he needs a triad to be complete and for another, he’s like an older brother to me.”

  “Then it’s Gabriel and here you are without a collar,” Olivia murmured, letting her words sink in. The implication her friend was suggesting finally registered to Zhenya.

  “So you’re saying if he was going to collar me he would’ve done it the first night I was here?”

  “Possibly. The point here is why you’re worried he will? Most submissives long to feel their Master’s or Mistress’s collars around their necks.”

  Zhenya stood and began to pace. “I…it’s not that simple, Olivia. I wore a collar for nearly ten years and…”

  “And now you’re afraid that’s how it’ll turn out this time? I’m here to tell you, not every Master is the same, nor is how they consider collaring a submissive. You may not believe it, but Gabriel didn’t collar Sara immediately. They were together for several years before he finally put his mark of ownership on her. He’s not a man to rush into things.”

  Hope bubbled up inside of her. “You mean he won’t push me?”

  Olivia sighed dramatically. “I wouldn’t say that, Zhenya. All Doms push their submissives. I’m just saying in the many times I’ve watched him with a submissive, he always communicates: checking their levels, making sure he’s giving them what they need, while he satisfies his own lusts. Let me guess, your husband didn’t take the time to discuss what you wanted from your relationship?” The disgust in her voice was apparent.

  “Not so much, which is why I’m struggling with this. How do I know Gabriel won’t do the same thing? He’s been so good to Sophie and me. I’m afraid it’s coloring my view of him. What if he wants to inflict pain and lots of it? Or have me tie him up? ”

  Olivia actually giggled in her ear. “I highly doubt that. But a simple way to find out is to open your mouth and ask him what he wants, girl. Don’t hide behind fear. Or hell, if you don’t have the courage to do that, a quick tour of his playroom will answer your questions.”

  “But he told me his playroom was off limits…” Her mouth dried at the thought of going in there. But like any child, upon being told she couldn’t do something, she was tempted to disobey.

  “Pish, posh. He’s not there, ri
ght? How’s he going to know you went in there?”

  Zhenya had to admit Olivia had a point.

  “Of course that’s assuming you don’t tell him. Just a second…” There was a rattle and then the muffled sound of Olivia talking to someone else. Then she was back. “Sorry, I’ve got to go. Damn vendor screwed up my liquor order. But think about what I said, Zhenya. Ask him or go check out his playroom. Get the answers you need.” Then the line went dead in her ear.

  Letting the phone drop to the couch she slowly stood - her decision made.

  * * * *

  Fumbling with his key in the lock, Gabriel rushed into the condo. When he hadn’t been able to reach Zhenya by phone, he’d ditched the shopping trip to rush home. The soft music spilling from the kitchen eased his panic. Damn Jude for getting me all riled up. Deactivating the alarm, he glanced around. Everything looked the same as it had when he’d left this morning. Spotting the phone on the couch, he picked it up, and hit the disconnect button. Well that’s one mystery solved. Now where the hell is Zhenya? On the baby monitor he could hear the soft sounds of Brahms’ Lullaby. Sophie was obviously napping in his bedroom. His heart melted a little bit at the thought of her. But at the moment, he needed to assure himself his Zhenya was still safe.

  “Zhenya?” he called out, expecting her to come out of the kitchen. When she didn’t, a quick inspection showed she wasn’t in either there or his dining room. Tiptoeing down the hall, he wondered idly if she was in the bedroom sleeping - taking advantage of Sophie’s nap to catch a few Zs. Or better yet in the shower. Which of course brought to mind the possibility she was running her soapy hands over her svelte body. His cock rose to half-mast at the possibility. If he caught her, he was going to tie her to his bed and devour every inch of her, including the succulent flesh at the top of her thighs.

  Ever since he’d tasted her essence off his own fingers a week ago, he’d been consumed by the need to sample it directly from the source, until he’d taken to jerking off in the hall bath while she nursed Sophie. It’d taken all his control to leave each night, so there wouldn’t be a repeat of what had happened her first night. Because he knew himself. He wouldn’t be content to give her an orgasm. He was at the end of his tether. He needed to bury his aching cock so deep in her, she’d think he was coming out her throat. He knew his rule about her masturbating was probably cruel, and she was more than likely taking the edge off while he was gone. Which meant she’s not technically breaking my rule. The closed door at the end of the hall mocked him. With it closed he wouldn’t be able to hear the shower, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t. The temptation was too great, he had to find out. He wouldn’t even mind soaking his clothes if meant he’d get to taste her again.