A slim black woman was moving along the line handing out fliers to those waiting to enter as she called out statistics. “It is a fact, obesity now affects seventeen percent of all children and teens in the US. That number is triple the rate from just one generation ago.” She shoved a paper at someone and continued on.
Stopping, Masaun folded his arms over his chest then watched and listened to the health warnings she was spewing.
“The American Diabetes Association reported that one point nine million cases of diabetes are diagnosed in people over the age of twenty. This is curable if we take care of our bodies by eating right…” She stepped before him and smiled as she handed him a flier. “Here you go, sir.”
When she made to pass him, Masaun stepped in front of her.
“Excuse me.”
“I won’t. However, I will warn you and tell you that you have one minute to pack up your live scare infomercial or I’ll have you physically removed.”
He heard the gasp of excitement behind him. As if the people thought he was going to perform some sort of “Dom” move on the woman. He knew why the gawkers were here. The damn newspaper article.
“You can’t threaten me. This sidewalk is public property.” She thrust her chin high.
“Tell it to the cops when they arrest you. You’ve been warned.” Brushing by the woman, he continued to the store.
He almost smiled when he heard her growl and the sound of her soft-soled shoe striking the ground. The woman had spunk, but she needed someone to bend her over a bench and redden her ass on a daily basis to keep her in line.
“Sir! Sir!” A tiny white woman with a short blue pixie haircut dropped to the cement right before the door at his feet. She wore a red corset, awkwardly laced along her spine and a too-short leather mini.
Catching a glimpse of the rotund faux Dom down the line practically breaking his neck leaning over to get a peep show, Masaun was pretty sure the way she was kneeling made her ass hang out below her skirt from the “submissive position”.
Squatting down, he took hold of the young woman’s chin and lifted her face. There were piercings everywhere. “Sweetheart, I don’t even know you.”
“But I want you to be my Dom. I’m a slave for you.”
He shook his head. “Because of a newspaper article that was mostly full of shit about my lifestyle?”
Her blue eyes shifted away from his face. “I’ve always been…curious.” She looked at him again. “You know, interested in how it worked.”
That was something he understood. Lowering his voice, he whispered, “You’re going to get yourself hurt by an asshole, similar to some of the guys in this line, pretending to be who they aren’t. If you truly want to learn to be a submissive and find out if this lifestyle is for you and get some training—”
“I do.”
“Then when you come inside, I’ll give you a card with information to speak with a Master Zach, he can get you connected…the right way.”
“Thank you.” Her gaze was filled with shame, but a small twinkle of excitement was reflected in it.
Here was a woman willing, even though ignorantly, to submit to him, when the woman he wanted wouldn’t return his call. He’d only called Kindle once the night she ran from him, hoping that with time she would come to remember what they had. It wasn’t looking that way.
After helping the blue-haired girl to her feet, he gave her a nod then walked into Decadent Treats, finally.
“Oh, Masaun, so glad to see you back. Connie and I thought we might have to wake up Sweet.” Hanson gave the customer a smile and handed her the small bag of chocolates.
“We didn’t want to have to do that,” Connie chimed in.
Considering Masaun had already awakened his brother once this week, it would not have gone over well for Connie and Hanson. “You two should have called me back.” Rolling up his sleeves, Masaun prepared to get to work.
“We didn’t have a hand free to reach for the phone.” Hanson looked back as the phone started ringing. “Which has been going off as much as the bell on the door.”
“Well, we’ll get everyone served.” Masaun glanced around at all the people picking in the store, grabbing the boxed candies like they were on sale.
Hanson stepped up to him and dropped his voice. “If you could field all the…um…bondage…um, you know, questions?”
Glancing at his male employee, Masaun saw the shifting of the young man’s gaze and fiddling of his hands around a roll of receipt tape. Evidently people had been asking Hanson and Connie questions about BDSM that probably shocked and freaked them both a little. He’d have to remember to have a meeting tonight once the store cleared and explain their lifestyle to Hanson and Connie, not to train them, but so they would be comfortable in knowing they weren’t working with psychos.
“I’ll take care of them. By the way, Hanson, if you or Connie see the woman distributing fliers again, call the police.”
Sighing then smiling, Hanson said, “Phew, thanks, Masaun.” He went back to his job at the register.
Masaun turned to the crowd. “Welcome to Decadent Treats, how can we serve your sweet tooth?”
~YH~
“What is going on?” Emmalee stepped in and gave her a hug.
Returning the embrace, Kindle said, “No emergency. Sorry if I scared you.”
“A little.” Emmalee stepped away. “As long as you’re okay, it’s all good.”
“I ordered from Pasha Mezze. Care for some?” Kindle led the way into the kitchen where the take-out containers were arranged on her counter.
“I sure will.”
Kindle made her own plate, piling it with hummus, jasmine rice and spinach borek, while Emmalee called Razor to let him know she’d arrived safely and tell him what they were having. As he told her what she could have, Emmalee scooped it onto her plate. When that was done, she told him she loved him and hung up.
It wasn’t long ago, Kindle would have rolled her eyes internally at the ‘permissive’ kind of call. However, being with Masaun, she understood her best friend a lot more. Even though Kindle never wanted that level of submission, a 24/7 kind, she no longer mocked her friend’s relationship. Razor loved and adored Emmalee and Emmalee was happy and that was all that counted. Kindle only wished that someone loved and desired her in the same manner. Not wanting to think about the faux relationship she’d had with Masaun, she focused on the situation at hand.
“Let’s take it to the living room.”
“Really? Like eating casually while we chat?” Emmalee teased.
“Maybe.” Kindle grabbed her water and plate then went to the front room.
“What in the hell have you done with my best friend.” Emmalee trailed behind her, her plate filed with stuffed eggplant, Mediterranean salad and a quinoa cake.
“I may have to rethink my offer of food,” she threatened.
Emmalee pulled her plate close to her chest as she sat on the other end of the couch. “I apologize.”
They ate for a moment. Kindle felt the guilt of her treatment of her friend over the last week. “I’m actually the one that owes you an apology, Em.”
“No, you don’t, Kin. I’m just glad you’re all right. Master and I were concerned for you. Then when I saw the paper the next day I wanted to find that damn weasel of a reporter and beat the shit out of him.” Emmalee speared some of her salad onto her fork.
“You and me both.”
“He had the nerve to try and ask us questions. He doesn’t know the people at The Dollhouse don’t talk. That’s why he had to put that bogus internet dribble in his report.”
“I wish he had not put information about Decadent Treats in his report. He could have just stuck with me.” Knowing how she’d brought disgrace to not only the dungeon, which was built around confidentiality, but Masaun’s business as well shamed her. These people had trusted her and she’d brought reporters to their doorstep.
Emmalee reached across the couch and placed a hand on her knee. “It’s not yo
ur fault. No one blames you. I’m sure that’s what Dom Hawk has told you.”
Kindle looked away and continued eating her food.
“Kin. He has told you you’re not to blame, right?” Concern filled Emmalee’s voice.
“I haven’t talked to him.”
“Since when?”
Silent again, Kindle stared down at her food.
“Oh, Kin. Not since that night. Tell me that isn’t true.”
“I had too much on my plate to worry about.” Kindle set her plate on the coffee table and picked up her water. She didn’t feel hungry any more.
“You can’t go a week without speaking to your Dom.”
Standing, Kindle said, “He’s not my Dom, Em.”
Setting her food down, Emmalee asked, “Since when?”
“Since always.” She stared down at her friend. “I told you from the beginning, this was only temporary. The trial is over now, and that’s all we agreed upon.”
“Kin, you can’t be serious?” Emmalee rose.
Kindle moved around the table, needing space. She felt her chest tighten and she felt warm. Lifting the glass, she drank half her water.
“Talk to me. Help me understand, because I recall when you came to our house and you were a mess that day after court. You said you needed Dom Hawk and you wanted to show him you were alright in his world.”
Shaking her head, Kindle glanced over at her friend, “Perhaps I was too presumptuous. Over this last week while I’ve been trying to get my life in order, I recalled that Masaun isn’t the fight for love kind of guy.”
Walking to her, Emmalee stood in front of her. “What are you talking about? I saw the way he looked at you when he escorted you from the dungeon. The hurt in his eyes when you just drove away. If that’s not a committed man, what is?”
“You only know the trainer, not the man in a relationship. His last submissive left him for her job and he didn’t even go after her and they were together a lot longer than he and I.”
Emmalee reached out and took hold of her arms. “Time doesn’t matter. How you feel does.”
“Maybe I don’t feel anything.”
Dropping her hands, Emmalee stared at her. “Or maybe you’re feeling too much and it’s scaring the shit out of you.” She shrugged. “You keep talking about Masaun not being the fighter. What about you? Where’s your fight?”
“You expect me to go after some man that doesn’t want me?” Kindle threw her hands up and let them fall hard against the side of her thighs.
“Not some man. Your Dom.” Emmalee placed her hands on her hips and stared at Kindle. “Since I’ve known you, I’ve watched you pour every ounce of your energy into your career. Why don’t you pretend being Masaun’s submissive is the career of a lifetime.”
Biting her bottom lip, Kindle gazed at her friend and asked, “What if he turns me away?”
“What if he doesn’t?” Emmalee turned and walked back to the couch. Taking up the same position, she picked up her plate and started eating, leaving Kindle to her own thoughts.
Kindle realized she had been avoiding Masaun for one reason, she was afraid. Afraid that she was the one who broke their agreement and fell in love with him. She’d never failed at anything she tried to achieve in her life, now her best friend was telling her to risk it all, put her heart on the line. Even as petrified as the thoughts made her, Kindle knew she had no choice if she wanted to truly be happy.
You looked happy. Out of everything I’ve ever seen of you, nothing compared to the joy captured on your face in that kiss, her mother had said to her. Kindle hated to admit it, but Beatrice had been right. In that moment, in Masaun’s arms, she’d felt unspeakable joy.
“Thanks, Em.” Kindle returned to the couch.
“It’s what friends are for—loyalty, understanding, bitching you out when you’re being pigheaded—just the basics.” Emmalee smiled as she brought her water to her lips.
Kindle laughed. “Well, now that you’ve gotten me on the right course with my relationship, which do you want to hear about next…me resigning from my job or my mother showing up at my house?”
Emmalee started choking and sputtering water all over the place.
Patting Emmalee’s back, Kindle stared at her friend. “You all right?”
“Are you trying to kill me?” She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth.
Rising from the couch, Kindle went to the kitchen for a paper towel. “No, just looking for some of that loyalty, understanding and bitchiness you were just preaching about.
Emmalee stuck her tongue at her then coughed some more. “See if I come…again…in your hour of need.”
Bringing the napkin back to her friend she smiled. “You will, because you love me.”
“Not so much anymore.” Emmalee wiped her mouth and hand then took another drink, slowly. “Now tell me about the stranger that came to your door.”
~YH~
“Mr. Langston?”
“So, you’re the man attempting to ruin my daughter’s career?” The tall, dark skinned man rose behind his desk.
Masaun stared at the lofty man before him. He had known deciding to see Kindle’s father, on the man’s turf, was a risky move. Figuring he had seen the article in the paper or the news broadcast, he would not be pleased to meet him. However, it was something he had to do. “I’m Masaun Hawkes. I’m not trying to harm your daughter, but I care deeply for her.”
“Well, you have a shitty way of showing it. Letting her name get smeared all over the paper.” Mr. Langston jammed his hands on his hips and stared at him through tight angry eyes.
“I didn’t let that happen. Trust me, if I could have stopped the asshole I would have. I’d have beaten the hell out of him if I knew the mess he was going to release.” Normally a more calm and controlled person, Masaun allowed his emotions to show a little. This man before him was Kindle’s father and he wanted him to understand that he would and could protect Kindle with his very life.
The yawning silence stretched between them as their tension filled the room.
Lowering his hands, Mr. Langston pointed to the single chair by his desk. “Take a seat. I assume there’s a reason you’ve come to see me.”
Exhaling, but keeping his guard up, Masaun sat down. Once Kindle’s father returned to his own chair, he began, “Your daughter is an extraordinary woman.”
“I’m sure for a candy shop owner, she must have been quite the catch.” Mr. Langston leaned back and crossed his legs, normally an odd position, but the dignified man seemed to pull it off.
Masaun slowly lifted an eyebrow. He could have shared with Kindle’s father that he had been an extremely successful lawyer with a high six-figure income at the end of every year, but he didn’t want to impress this man with status, but gain his overall understanding, if not acceptance. “My store is successful and I have more than the means to provide for your daughter, even if she didn’t work.”
“Oh, Kindle will work. She’s put too much into her career and regardless of the pictures in the paper of your spanky-spanky night, she’s still on top. Most likely will be elected to the CA position next year.” The older man’s voice was filled with pride.
“She probably will. Kindle is one of the best lawyers I’ve seen.” Masaun watched the smile spread across the man’s face as Mr. Langston stroked his gray tie. “But will she be pleased doing it?”
“What is that supposed to mean?” He raised forward some in his chair.
Shifting and folding his leg up, Masaun made himself more comfortable in the chair. “Kindle is a smart woman. A consummate professional that will stop at nothing to make you proud.”
“You mean make herself proud.”
Masaun shrugged. “I’m not sure if she knows the line between your wishes and her desires.” That wasn’t completely true, Masaun knew through the long night discussion he had with Kindle, hearing her talk about a summer she spent as a paralegal in college with a pro bono lawyer. Her eyes would light up as
she shared with him her experience being with the small litigation team. When he’d asked her why she never went that route, she simply said, ‘I love my father. He’s all I have and I enjoy making him proud.’ That had ended the conversation.
“Kindle could do anything she wanted. She chose to be a lawyer. She loves it.” His voice was emphatic.
“Yes, she does.” When the man relaxed again, Masaun went on, “I didn’t come here to debate Kindle’s career choices. That belongs to her and I’ll stand by whatever path she takes.”
“As will I,” Mr. Langston confirmed.
“Even if that path is me? A Dominant male with a proclivity for bondage you may not understand?”
The corners of Mr. Langston’s mouth drew in as the older man pursed his lips.
Not so quick to agree with that, I see.
“How did you and my daughter meet?” Mr. Langston laced his fingers together in his lap.
“Through her best friend, Emmalee.”
“Emmalee, an extremely bright woman. She has made her parents very proud with her career. What was it, some sort of dinner party?”
Fishing for answers? Masaun wondered how much Kindle has shared with her father. It had been almost a week since he’d seen her last. With the news all over the media, he was sure her father had called her right away. What had Kindle told him or had she been avoiding her father as well? That would explain why the man seemed to have so many questions. “I won’t go into details of the particulars of mine and Kindle’s relationship. I will leave that for your daughter to share what she is comfortable with, if she hasn’t already.”
Mr. Langston turned his head and gazed toward the bookshelf lining his wall with various academia textbooks then he glanced back at Masaun. “So, if you’re not here to share the sordid details of your association with my daughter, let’s get to the reason you have driven from Virginia Beach to Williamsburg?”
“I plan to marry your daughter.”
“I hope this wasn’t your attempt at getting my approval?” The man eyed him across the desk.
“No. I stopped seeking people’s approval about my decisions a long time ago.” Masaun held his gaze. “You don’t know me. However, I hope one day as you see the way I treat and care for your daughter, that I make her happy, I’ll earn your respect.”
Red Hots Page 25