But once in a while, when passions rose and Hazard wanted to play, she was willing to defer to his strong, confident nature. Anyone else would hurt her or scare her too much.
She also sensed that as alpha as Hazard was, he had a compassionate streak that made him an excellent lover and kept him from being too arrogant or bullying.
“Jax, the only way Avery can see you naked is with my permission,” Hazard stated after Avery stopped gaping and came back to her senses. “That’s not going to happen. We clear on that?”
“You used to be good at sharing, Trev,” Jaxon countered.
Hazard’s arm went around her shoulders, hugging her close to his body. “My sharing days are over.”
Jaxon bowed low at the waist. “I concede, but if either of you change your mind or get bored, don’t forget me.”
Avery couldn’t fight the smile that came to her face. She’d already wiped ménage off her list. For those who enjoyed triads or unconventional sex lives, she applauded them. If their relationships were mutually acceptable and all parties were onboard, she was all for it.
“Congratulations, Red, you’ve earned a spot on my best friends list.”
“Thank you. As have you,” she said, pleased. “What did I do to deserve the honor?”
“Got Trevor to look to a future he could have with you instead of a past that was done a long time ago,” Jaxon answered honestly.
“Perhaps you should follow my lead, Jax,” Hazard commented, not looking panicked or angry by Jaxon’s statement. “If I can look forward, you can.”
“My case is different. Call it a cruel twist of Fate, bad karma, whatever, I fucked up big and my future was taken from me. Nothing short of inventing time travel can change the past,” Jaxon said, briefly looking lost and sad.
Avery’s heart broke for him. Sadness dulled his violet eyes.
“It wasn’t your fault, Jax,” Hazard stated, speaking softly and directly at his friend. “You weren’t home, how could it have been your fault?”
“If I hadn’t been traveling and promoting myself, everything would have been fine.”
“Bullshit, if you’d have been home, you may not be here anymore. Ever think that?” Hazard argued.
“That’s the thing. Why did I deserve mercy and they didn’t?”
Refusing to interrupt or interfere in the conversation, Avery followed as best that she could, but understood that Jaxon and Hazard needed to work this out their way. For reasons she could only surmise, Jaxon had a serious case of survivor’s guilt.
It was difficult to lose a loved one. A few times he’d said they, meaning more than one person. Jaxon had an affinity for threesomes. Tragically, he must have lost two loved ones.
“If I can find a way to forgive myself for some of the stupid-ass things I’ve done before, during and since Marianne, you can do the same for being human.”
“Can we change the subject? We’re bringing Red down.”
“I’m not going to pry, Jaxon, but I’m a good listener should you need to talk,” Avery offered. “No matter their mistakes, everyone has the right to love and to be loved. You’re not the exception.”
“Yeah, I am, Red.”
“Fuck that, Jax. You did nothing wrong, nothing. We’re about to head on over to the theater and get settled in for Gabriel’s show. Come with us if you’d like?” Hazard asked. “I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“Can’t, I gave Brock the night off to take his girlfriend out. Think he’s going to propose.” Jaxon grabbed up a bar towel and wiped off the countertop.
“Save me a dance for when we come back, Jaxon,” Avery said.
“You bet,” he agreed, smiling and flirting back as was his nature.
Jaxon went back to bartending and Hazard helped Avery out of her barstool. Taking her hand, he guided her through the back of the club to a door that opened up to a side street. It was a bit chilly and they’d stored their coats when they entered the club.
“Do you think Jaxon will ever tell me why he’s closed himself off from love?”
“I don’t know, baby. It’s not like he doesn’t have relationships. It’s that they tend to be temporary and are always on his terms.”
“His house in the mountains has a dungeon. He’s a Dom,” she said confidently.
“He has multiple dungeons and playrooms. Four are meant for hardcore practitioners of BDSM. Some are more about sex fantasies and bondage and meant for the curious or those looking for a jolt in their sex lives.”
“I’ve the feeling my brother’s castle is the same way. Jaxon’s a complicated man.”
“True. What Jaxon won’t hide from you is the fact that he’s a Master who trains submissives for their Dominants or Dommes or gives them the attention their vanilla partners can’t.”
“Ryan Hathaway is a Dominant. But I get the impression there are times he and Alexander switch.”
“That’s one thing Jaxon is not.”
“He’s not a switch.”
“No, but Doms tend to switch for him because he’s that good at what he does. There’s no one better at handling a sub’s needs than Jaxon. With him, they are safe.”
“How do you know so much about what goes on in his mountain house?”
“He’s my best friend,” Hazard stated. “And I’ve researched the lifestyle when I was younger. Certain parts, bondage, yeah, I’m up for that. Spanking, I could get off on it. The rest, no, it wasn’t for me.”
“Jaxon looks out for you, you know?”
“Sure, I try to do the same for him.”
“Guess it’s safe to say we’re no longer fuck buddies.”
“It’s safe to say we’re lovers, Avery. I’d like to be your friend too. Talking with you the last few days has been as easy as talking to Jax.”
“One of the things I’ve learned about my parents was that they fell in love late in life because they became friends.”
“That’s nice. I’ve got to tell you, baby, I’m glad we’re no longer fuck buddies. I hated that term.”
Avery laughed. “Chalk it up to tequila.”
“I loved every moment of tequila night. Hope we have a ton more.”
“I’d like that,” she said.
They walked on. Only then did she notice the air was brisk, hinting of the winter still to come.
She loved the way Hazard tucked her under his shoulder as if she were precious. His body heat warmed her instantly. A Hazard blanket was all she’d ever need on a long cold winter night.
Unfortunately, after a few more days, they had to go back to their lives. They’d have to figure out a way to be together, but he had the playoffs and she was confident the Griffins were poised to win their first league championship. First up were the divisional playoffs, practice, team events, media coverage.
She was due home Friday, where she’d move ahead with planning a spa-like atmosphere for Ryan Hathaway’s patients. Teaming PT, therapeutic massage and homeopathic remedies with Ryan’s superior surgical skills was exciting.
Yet the idea that she’d be in Massachusetts and Hazard would come back to Dare after football season made her wonder what frequent flier plans they should enroll in. To make it work, they’d have to keep communication open and honest.
Until Thursday morning, she wouldn’t let worry impact all the things she hoped to do with Hazard while they were together. There was still time to have fun.
Keeping that in mind, she cuddled closer as they went around to the other side of the gigantic building that housed the Truth or Dare Club and Casino and theater.
A marquis billboard across the top of the glass and brass entranceway read, Performing Tonight, Master Illusionist and Home-Town Hero, Gabriel Krystiyan.
“It was kind of Gabriel to give us passes to his special box,” Avery said, watching Hazard reach beneath the collar of his blue shirt to withdraw two hanging passes hooked to a lanyard.
“He gave them to me when I walked him and Sawyer out of the restaurant,” he replied. “
Gabriel’s box is usually set aside for VIPs or his revolving dates.”
“Then we should consider ourselves lucky to have this opportunity.”
“Yeah, I didn’t meet him until Jaxon invited me to visit Dare and proposed a partnership in the Truth or Dare Club. I’m real glad to call Gabriel a friend now. He’s a good guy.”
“Gabriel, Sawyer and Jaxon were all on that camping trip you’d mentioned.”
“Yes, they were. It’s a guy thing.”
“I totally support that. After our vacation is over, I’m going to need some ladies’ nights out. I’m going to miss you terribly.”
“Keep your schedule open for me. That’s all I ask.”
“Without a doubt, I will.”
“After football season, we could come back here and figure things out. After Dallas and Grace McKay got married, I moved into the apartment she’d been renting from Kyran and Anna in Virginia. It’s a seasonal lease and they don’t mind when I need to come home to Nevada.”
“I’d love to come back, except I can’t take an extended vacation so soon after returning to work. I could manage a long weekend in Virginia or you’re welcome to visit New England.”
“Maybe your Bostonian friends can teach me their accent when I’m visiting.”
“The Maddox brothers grew up in South Boston. Their accent is thick and dialect distinct. Not sure that’s something that can be taught. Then again, I worked hard to lose my Kentuckian accent, as did Alexander.”
“When you orgasm and call out my name or shout, you’re all sexy-sweet and the accent is thick. I love it. Come to my playoff game, win or lose, we can celebrate or commiserate with some down-and-dirty fucking.”
“I’d have to check with Ryan to see if he’d be okay with it.”
“I can’t argue with that. Sure don’t want to upset Alex’s husband. Then I’d really be on your brother’s bad list.”
“Don’t worry so much. I can handle my brother.”
“Again, it’s a guy thing. Brothers take care of their little sisters.”
“I’m thirty-three years old. He doesn’t have to worry about me anymore.”
“Doesn’t matter how old you are, baby. Alex will always want to protect you. Chloe was very studious in high school and didn’t date much. She’d had her eye on attending Berkeley and boys were secondary. I kept an eye on her anyway.”
“I bet you were an excellent big brother.”
“We were two years apart in age, both in the same high school. Guys knew if they disrespected my sister, they’d end up in the ER. Once she grew up and married Robert, I liked him enough to walk her down the aisle at the wedding.”
“Your father didn’t attend?”
“My father and Chloe don’t talk all that much.”
“Why? A girl needs her daddy sometimes. Despite his faults, my dad never missed any of my riding competitions or the important things like graduations or prom and homecoming dates.”
“My father didn’t believe her when she’d called him to tell him she’d been raped and asked him to come home.”
“How could he not believe his daughter?”
“The man she accused was the school guidance counselor and a friend of my father’s. He refused to come home and support her.”
“That’s terrible! I can’t imagine how she must have felt.”
“She was terrified and blamed herself because she’d stayed after school to work on a project. The counselor was considered pretty cool by the students and she didn’t think twice about joining him in his office to discuss course options for eleventh grade.”
“Poor Chloe, the bastard should be castrated.”
“She told me she’d said no a dozen times, but the fucker threatened to ruin her GPA and any chance at future scholarships if she put up a fight or told anyone.”
“He should have been turned into a eunuch. How did you find out?”
“Came home after an away game our football team had lost and was pissed that there was no water. Went to confront Chloe about using up the well water and found her huddled in the bathtub, crying.”
“My god, what did you do?”
“Picked her up, dried her off, then drove her to the hospital. From there, I called the police to report it and later beat the crap out of the sick fuck when lack of evidence came out in his favor.”
“Chloe showered,” Avery said, sadly realizing Chloe’s mistake. She couldn’t blame her. She’d have done the same thing.
“In her initial complaint, she’d claimed she was a virgin. The physical exam revealed that there was some minor vaginal swelling, but no bleeding associated with a recently torn hymen. All the physician could say with conviction was that she’d had intercourse.”
“There are a lot of reasons a woman’s hymen is torn before she has sex. Mine was from using tampons incorrectly when I wanted to go swimming. It was a big, painful mistake that ended up making me sick too.”
“Sorry, baby,” he said in sympathy.
“Thank you, Hazard. Guess you really didn’t need that information.”
“No worries. When it’s your time of the month, I’ll give you a massage if the cramps are bad. Whatever you need, I’m your man.”
“I’ll hold you to that. Let’s get back to your sister.”
“Chloe told me on the way to the hospital that she’d never had sex before. I believed her. Even if she’d had sex a hundred times before, it doesn’t excuse rape.”
“Well said, Hazard. She needed her big brother to beat the fuck out of that counselor. If something like that ever happened to Charlotte, you can bet I’d move heaven and earth to see the motherfucker pay.”
“I like when you get feisty.”
“This is nothing. Physical, sexual, emotional abuse of any kind pisses me off.” There were a lot of reasons for that. Primarily, her own brother had been a victim. “What happened to the guidance counselor?”
“Her case wasn’t prosecuted, but other girls came forward with accusations. They all had a similar story in that he’d take them to his office and give them a soda. After drinking it, they’d forget anything that happened during the counseling session.”
“He drugged them,” Avery said.
“The ruse didn’t work on my sister because she didn’t like diet drinks and faked drinking it.”
“I hope he finally got more than a beat-down.”
“He’s in jail and a registered sex offender. He’ll never get the chance to rape again.”
“Thank God justice was served. You let Chloe know if she ever needs a friend, she can call on me anytime. Your father apologized, I hope.”
“He sent flowers. After he moved out of Nevada, he became more interested in his second wife’s family. At least they’ve stayed together.”
“Do you have stepsiblings?”
“My stepmother was widowed with two daughters when my father met her. She’s been good for him and their marriage works. I like her and the girls.”
“Do they know about the playoffs?”
“Sure, I got dozens of emails and texts.”
“Tell me about your brothers.”
“Let’s get inside first,” he suggested, leading her into the gorgeously appointed theater.
The lobby was crowded already, but Avery took a minute to look around.
The carpeting was red and plush. The walls were all made of red oak with brass trim. House lighting was bright enough for the patrons to see safely, but didn’t strain the eyes.
Hazard pointed to a grand spiral staircase that wound up to the balcony area and they headed that way. He flashed the badges to an attendant, who recognized Hazard and quickly moved to show them to Gabriel’s personal seating.
The attendant swept a lush red curtain aside, gesturing to the gorgeous box and six well-appointed chairs, each with red velvet trim and plush cushions.
“Here we are, Mr. Osbourne and Ms. Grant. Mr. Krystiyan’s seating provides the best view in the house. He informed me there would onl
y be the two of you for the late show. Enjoy.”
Hazard thanked the attendant and closed the curtain.
“This is beautiful,” Avery said, looking around in awe.
The box was beautifully appointed. Rich dark-red wall-to-wall carpeting spread from the curtain to the thigh-high balcony wall. Small brass sconces lined the oak walls and special opera glasses were stowed along the front wall. Devices for the hearing impaired were hung along the side wall.
Walking up to the front, Avery looked down at the patrons being shown to their seats. Truth or Dare Theater wasn’t the biggest she’d ever seen, but it was certainly charming and reminded her of a small version of older Broadway theaters.
The balcony had six deluxe boxes like Gabriel’s and they were already filled. Catwalks were strung about above them and not far to the right was a tech booth. Vaguely making out shadowy figures up on the catwalks and standing by spotlights, she tried to look around for some clue as to the magic tricks they’d witness tonight.
As far as she could tell, they could be seeing the tech and lighting for a high school musical. But she was confident that Gabriel Krystiyan would put on an entertaining show. The stage itself was dark, a thick red curtain keeping anyone from seeing the preparations going on behind it.
“Have a seat,” Hazard offered, guiding her into the middle chair and sitting down beside her. He took her hand between his palms to warm her, blowing warm air upon her knuckles. “I’m sorry we stayed outside so long.”
“I didn’t mind. Tell me about your brothers. We have a few minutes before the show starts.”
“Eric and Jacob, they’re the youngest. Crazy enough, they were born in the same year. How that happened is a mystery only God can explain, considering how little my father was home and how often my mom was out on the town.”
“Wow.” Saddened by the way Hazard talked about his parents, she wished there was something she could do to mend the fences.
“There was a time when he didn’t believe they were his biological sons. He made sure before he agreed to alimony payments after the divorce.”
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