by Dakota Trace
The man’s jaw closed with an audible snap. “You can’t keep me from talking to her, Tremaine.”
Ethan leaned forward, his hands splayed on the desk. “Don’t forget, Mr. Vayarti, I’m your court-appointed psychiatrist. If you so much as make one move against Sabella, which I happen to think may be stalking, I’ll have you slapped back in cuffs so fast your head will spin.”
“You’ll have to prove it!” He sneered at Ethan. “Besides you can’t keep Bella from seeking me out.” Louis stood to leave. “This isn’t over, Dr. Tremaine. She was mine long before she was yours.”
“Ah but in the end it’s who keeps her that counts.” Ethan wanted to hurl something after the man as Louis slammed the door to his office. Reaching for the phone on the desk, he called Security. “Toby, it’s Ethan. Mr. Vayarti just left my office more than pissed off. Please notify the DMs on the floor to keep a close eye on him. If he does anything, and I mean anything, that breaks club rules, have him escorted out.” He hung up the phone after Toby agreed to relay the message and rubbed the back of his neck. He suddenly felt very dirty and any centered-ness he’d felt after his session with Sabella was now gone. If he thought he had the time he’d take a quick shower, but his little one had been alone long enough. Picking up the bottle of now sweating water, he opened the door between his office and his private playroom.
“Sabella?” He glanced towards the couch, expecting to find her still cuddled where he’d left her. Adrenaline flooded his system as he took in the empty cushions. That’s when he noticed the crumpled blanket at his feet. Stooping down to pick it up, he frowned. Where had his little one run off to? The bathroom perhaps? But surely she wouldn’t have left her blanket here and ventured across the hall to use the amenities. Setting the blanket on the counter, he took a step forward to go check when he stepped on something. Backing up, he frowned, then saw it, hidden in the shadows under of the edge of the counter. Fury warred with disbelief as he picked up the collar. No sub had ever removed his collar without his permission. “She took it off. I’m going to paddle her little ass.”
Exiting the playroom, he strode across the hall and pounded on the bathroom door. “Sabella, don’t make me come in there after you.”
* * * *
Huddling in the warm car, Sabella couldn’t quit shaking, but it had nothing to do with the cold winter air. Even wearing a trench coat to cover her nudity and a heavy blanket, Sabella still couldn’t get warm. She’d trusted Sir and his betrayal reached her soul. Especially after the connection she could’ve sworn they had. But she didn’t understand why he’d sneaked around behind her back. A low moan built in her chest. She might have accepted another lover into their relationship, if he’d asked, if they’d agreed upon it before hand, but he hadn’t. He’d taken Louis into his office and made an arrangement without her consideration. Submissive she may be, but she wasn’t a doormat. He could not use her to welcome whomever he deemed to be worthy, at least not without discussion. Another tear slid down her cheek and she brushed it away angrily. She needed to put him out of her mind. In the driver seat, Lauren was slowly driving down the long drive away from New Beginnings, noticed her movement.
“We’ll be off their property in a few, Bella-mía.” Lauren picked up her hand and squeezed.
It had been pure luck on Sabella’s part when she’d scaled down the beam into an empty coatroom next to the check-in area. She’d been contemplating stealing a person’s coat to leave, when Lauren had entered in the room to hang up her own coat. Her friend had been shocked to see her in such a state, and when Sabella had explained in rather jerky breaths what had happened, Lauren had wanted to go give Ethan a piece of her mind. But she had managed to convince her all she wanted was to go home to her father’s apartment. Lauren first tossed her trench coat to her friend, then had made a production of distracting the Dom at the door, after handing Sabella her car keys with a soft order to go wait in the car. She hadn’t had long to wait, about five minutes, before Lauren had joined her.
“So, he actually told that rat’s ass that he’d share you with him?”
Sabella had to think hard. Had he actually said he would? Or had there been a qualifier on it? “It was pretty straight forward. He said he’d consider it as long as...”
Lauren glanced over at as she turned out onto the highway. “As long as he what?”
Sabella shrugged. “I didn’t take the time to find out.” Leaning her head back against the rest, she allowed her eyes to drift shut. “I honestly didn’t think he’d do something like this, Lauren.” Tears seeped out from behind closed lids. “Do you know I actually figured out what the whole BDSM world was talking about tonight? For the first time ever…”
“You found sub-space?” Lauren slammed on the brakes. “You didn’t tell me that!”
Grabbing the dashboard, Sabella scowled at her friend. “Well excuse me, I was kinda freakin’ out after finding out the man I lov…I mean the Dom I trusted…was going to give me back to the slime who screwed me over before. It totally slipped my mind to tell you he’d managed what others hadn’t been able to do. ”
Lauren slowly pulled back onto the highway making a u-turn, heading in the opposite direction of Sabella’s apartment with her dad. Sabella froze, thinking for a moment her friend was going to take her back to the club. “Where are we going?”
She spoke, while keeping her eyes on the road. “There’s not a prayer in hell, I’m gonna leave you alone tonight - not after finding sub-space. I don’t want you to do anything stupid.” Her fingers tightened on the steering wheel “What I should be doing is marching you back to Ethan’s side. Because no matter what I may happen to think of him personally at the moment, I know he’s an upstanding Dom who wouldn’t screw a submissive over. He’d take care of you. But instead I’m going to take you home, clean you up and tuck you into bed, where you’re going to tell me everything that happened.” She looked at Sabella out of the corner of her eye. “Then and only then - will I decide if Dr. Ethan Tremaine needs to die, or if I need to take your ass back to him to be punished for jumping to conclusions.”
Sabella’s eyes widened. “You sure you’re not a Domme, Lauren? You could give some of the club’s dominatrixes a run for their money.”
“Why? Because I won’t let you hide behind bullshit excuses?” Lauren gave a snort. “Girl, you ought be used to it by now.”
Sabella was quiet for the rest of the short drive. They were just pulling into the driveway in front of her friend’s shabby chic bungalow - a gift from Lauren’s wealthy parents, when Lauren’s cell phone rang. Picking it up, Lauren glanced at it, a grimace crossing her face. “It’s probably Ethan. The number comes up as New Beginnings.”
“I don’t want to talk to him…” Sabella curled in on herself. She couldn’t….no she wouldn’t deal with him again. She knew exactly how vulnerable she was to him. It wouldn’t take much to her to take him back.
“Relax, I’m not gonna make you talk to him.” She placed a hand on Sabella’s arm, before shutting off the car. “But I can’t ignore him. Not only could he revoke my membership, but even if I wasn’t worried about that…” She sighed. “No matter what he’s done or hasn’t done, he needs to know you’re at least safe. Whether he’s your Dom or not, he’s still a human with feelings, Bella.”
Sabella nodded slowly. It made sense. If she were in Ethan’s shoes, she’d still want to make sure the sub made it home safely and wasn’t in a ditch somewhere, freezing to death. “Fine. But I’m holding you to it. I…” Her eyes closed. “I can’t deal with this right now.”
“And I’m not asking you to. Just take my keys and let yourself in. Let me deal with him and I’ll be right in.” Lauren placed the keys in her hand. Scrambling out of the car, she headed up the boardwalk to Lauren’s little home. The sound of lapping water from the running river behind her friend’s house should’ve been relaxing, but instead, she barely heard it over her pounding heart, as she fumbled to unlock the front door. Letting hersel
f in, she dropped the trench coat over the back of the couch. She moved in front of the stone fireplace and leaned against the mantle. Staring at the pictures of Lauren with her family and even several with her, Sabella sighed. Picking up the nearest picture of her and Lauren, she almost wished she was the same girl as the one in the picture. Taken shortly after they’d both graduated high school, she was so young and wet behind the ears, you could see the innocence radiating off her. Tracing a finger over her smiling face, Sabella felt the tears sting her eyes.
“Yes, she’s with me, and no, I’m not going to put her on the phone. She’s not in any shape to talk to you or Ethan, Davis.” Lauren entered the living room, kicking off her shoes. “Besides I thought you weren’t talking to me anymore.” She stopped next to Lauren and rolled her eyes. “I don’t care what you threaten me with. You can revoke my membership and it won’t matter. I’m still not going let you badger her into feeling guilty. Her world was turned upside down tonight, and until she can come to grips with it, she’s off-limits to both you and Dr. Tremaine.” She snapped the cell phone shut, before cocking her hip and tossing it on the mantle. “Now let’s get you out of these ropes, cleaned up and then we’ll talk about what happened tonight, my Bella-mía.” She guided Sabella out of the living room and into the master bath.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“Come on, Ethan, you’ve been in there for two days. You can’t hide forever.” Davis continued to pound on the bedroom door.
Rolling into a sitting position, Ethan cradled his pounding head. Perhaps overindulging in soju last night wasn’t the wisest decision I’ve ever made. But it had dulled the memories of finding his collar on the floor and his submissive gone. The sense of deja-vu had hit him hard as he’d stared at the empty bathroom. It had grown even worse when he contacted Security, only to find Sabella was nowhere on the premises. That’s when he’d broken down and asked Davis to call Lauren. When his friend had assured him Sabella was safe with Lauren but didn’t want to talk to him, he was taken back to the time when he’d called Ryouko to find Tamiko, only to be told she didn’t want to talk to him, that she was divorcing him. It hadn’t mattered his wife had died mere days later coming home from a club, because her new Dom hadn’t had the prudence to make sure Tamiko hadn’t gotten behind the wheel, after imbibing her favorite rice wine.
“I’m not going away this time, Tremaine.” The growl in Davis’s voice wasn’t lost on Ethan, despite his aching head. “Either you haul your ass out here, or I’m going to come in there and you’re not going to like the consequences.”
“Bite me, Davis.” He slowly stood, his natural grace gone, as he dealt with the aftereffects of his little drinking binge. Stumbling to the door, he pushed his dreads back from his face. Opening it, he glared at his friend. “What the hell’s your problem? Didn’t Eileen suck you off enough last night?”
Davis crossed his arms. “I’ll have you know I sent Eileen home last night, when you decided to tie one on.” He looked Ethan up and down. “You don’t seem any worse for wear.” He turned to head down the hall. “Take a shower and meet me in the kitchen. Breakfast is ready,” Davis threw over his shoulder before disappearing around the corner.
Ethan wanted to groan as his stomach heaved at the thought of food, but still headed for the shower. A strong cup of tea and some ibuprofen were in order.
Twenty minutes later, Ethan walked into the kitchen he shared with Davis, feeling clean if not human. Seated at the table, his friend was reading the Sunday morning paper. As he sank into one of the chairs, Davis looked over the top of his paper at him. “There’s tea on the stove and a bottle of pain killers on the counter.”
Ethan nodded slowly, continuing to stare at the polished wood. Everything ached, not only his head but his heart. This was why he didn’t do more than temporary. It hurt too damn much when they left him. And they always leave. They never stick around, they use me for what they need, and then they’re gone…
“Here.” Davis shoved a cup under his nose and two white pills. “We’ll talk when you feel a bit more human.”
Ethan nodded, picking up the pills. Popping them in his mouth, he took a sip of the tea and nearly spit it out, but forced it down. Lifting gritty eyes, he met Davis’s gaze. “You know for a guy who spent nearly thirty years in Japan, you make a lousy cup of tea, Davis.”
Davis shrugged his massive shoulders, before reaching for the paper. “Just because I grew up in Japan doesn’t mean I can cook a decent pot of rice either. Not every man from the Orient can make tea like you do, dude. Now drink it up, so I can chew your ass and not feel guilty.”
Ethan, who had been lifting the cup to his mouth, paused mid-lift. “I haven’t done anything to warrant an ass chewing.”
Folding the paper up, Davis sighed. “You went off the deep end, Ethan. You promised me the last time I pulled you out of that bar in Okinawa, you’d never do it again.”
“And if I hadn’t listened to you, I wouldn’t have touched another drop of Soju.” Fury consumed him. He slammed the teacup down on the table, splashing the tea. “But I let you set me up with her. You and your talk of letting the past be in the past, that it was time for me to move on. That there were better options! I would’ve been better off with Ryouko than the viper you found. She got what she wanted, then left me, and didn’t have the common decency to face me. Instead she ran like a coward. So don’t you dare remind me of a promise I made before we came back over, when it’s partially your fault.”
“Are you done?” Davis’s cold tone did little to faze his anger. Which made him even angrier, as his friend looked past Ethan as if he found the whole discussion boring.
“Not really.” He smirked. “But look on the bright side…it’s better I found out now than before I did something utterly stupid like offering her a permanent collar. I’d have been truly screwed then, trapped in another relationship by my honor. I never should’ve thought to look for more than a temporary relationship with a submissive. No, Sabella burned me but good. If I were a vengeful man, I’d say she could go…”
“Don’t say it, Ethan…” Davis pleaded, his eyes going to the door behind him once more.
“What…that she should burn in hell…and what the hell are you looking at?” He twisted around to catch a glimpse of Sabella.
Standing in the doorway with angry, humiliated tears running over her cheeks, she brushed one away. “I can’t believe I let Lauren talk me into coming back here. That I was wrong about what I thought I heard…obviously I’m not welcome anymore.” Then she turned and was gone. A moment later the front door slammed shut.
He was tempted to follow her, to find out why she was crying when Davis tossed the paper at him. “You stupid fuck. You’d cut your nose off to spite your face. Do you realize how fuckin’ long it took Lauren and me to convince her to come back, after she overheard part of your damned conversation with that asshole? She thought you were going to share her with him. That you were pulling your ‘temporary Dom’ shit?”
Shock now competed with anger, as his headache returned with a vengeance. “Why would she think after what we shared, that I would give her over to that slime?”
Davis held up his hands and began to count off with his fingers. “One, your damned reputation. From the first night she visited the club, she was told you not only did you only play on short term, but you also picked out your sub’s next Dom. Two, she told me she feels like she’s been taking advantage of your nature by turning to you, with this business about the sex offender registry. Which is utter nonsense and I told her that.” He held up three fingers. “Three, you dumb fuck, you’ve never told her you wanted her for anything more than a few scenes and that damned demonstration. Lauren and I both believe she fell in love with your stubborn ass, despite all the many reasons not to. But not once have you ever given her an inkling of your true feelings towards her.”
“I…” His head was spinning at the idea Sabella might actually have fallen for him. They hadn’t known each
other long enough. Love took time. Lots of time, sometimes even years to grow. “…she can’t love me. She left me because she got what she wanted.”
Rolling up the newspaper, Davis slapped him with it. “You stubborn ass. The only reason she left the club is because she heard you talking to Vayarti, and thought you were going to share her with him.”
He opened and closed his mouth several times, trying to think of something intelligent to say, but could come up with nothing which make the messed up situation better. Finally he sighed. “But as her Dom, I could share her with whoever I saw fit…”
“True, if you hadn’t made your point about being exclusive. Not only did you tell her you expected her to adhere your standards, but I stressed the fact to her when you were together, that was it for you. She had every expectation of exclusivity. If you weren’t seeing other subs, she expected to only serve you. That’s the reason she fled when she heard you offer to share her with another. She thought you were going back on your word, even though you and I both know you’d sooner share her with a snake, than that son of a bitch.”
“I didn’t know she was there…I’d never have said it if I’d known…” He had a sinking feeling in his stomach that had nothing to do with his hangover. If she’d only heard the first part of his offer, she had every right to be upset...even feel betrayed.
“I know, but it didn’t stop her from being hurt.” Davis sighed. “You’ve got to understand, just before she met you, she made a huge mistake when she trusted a Dom who couldn’t or wouldn’t keep his promises to her.”