The Gate (Dark Path Series)

by Grant, KT

  Erika reached for the folder but paused, an idea popping into her head. The thought was so implausible and wicked, to even think it caused her breath to quicken. She laughed then covered her mouth.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She grabbed Catherine’s hand. “I may have an idea that could have Max on his knees after all. I can prove to him I’m not like the past lovers he walked all over and pushed aside when he tired of them.”

  “Hey now, I never said he was cruel to them—”

  She waved her hand. “Whatever. I’m sick of being controlled. I’ve allowed it to go on for too long. I always had my father to lean on and Chris, who I adored and thought I had a future with. But then I met Max, who in his own way tried to make me dance to his tune. I’m sick of it.” She rapped her knuckles on the table. “What if I take what he’s taught me and used it for my own benefit to show how far I’ve come? When I return from New Orleans—”

  “It’ll be too late by then. You’ll lose the courage, and you’ll be begging him to take you back. It needs to happen sooner. How about tonight?” Catherine tapped her finger over her bottom lip, examining Erika as if she was trying to measure her up in some way.

  “Tonight, but how—?”

  “One Friday a month, The Gate puts on a show on the fourth floor. As a rule, I’m the mistress of ceremonies and judge the acts, even contribute to some of the…sketches performed. It can get pretty shocking because everything is in the open and on display. Nothing is left to the imagination. Max never participates, just watches. But if you were involved, took over my role for the night, that would get him to act. With my guidance and tutelage, I can transform you into an incredible spectacle The Gate and Max will never see coming.”

  She swallowed. “Uh, I don’t know. All those people watching—”

  Catherine moved out of the booth, plopping down next to Erika. Taking both her hands, she squeezed them, her entire face lighting up. “Hear me out. I can make sure the boys don’t go too far with the act and—”

  “The boys?” Her voice came out at a higher pitch than normal.

  Catherine glanced around, frowning when the two people sitting at the table next to them seemed to have overheard. They turned away, talking in low whispers.

  “It might be best if I take you to The Gate to show you what I mean.” She moved in close. “We can talk as much as we want there, and I can explain to you what to expect tonight. If you say no, then fine. Either way, you’ll be able to see Max before you go, and maybe you two can talk, clear the air without going to such lengths to get his attention.”

  She’d always played it safe because she had buffers to protect her. But when Max came into her life, they all faded away. This was the time to prove, not just to herself but to the world, she wasn’t limited. That she could stand on her own, no matter how daunting it might be.

  “All right let’s go.”

  Grinning, Catherine jumped up. “Just wait until you see what I have in store for you. The boys arrive around four to get some practice in. I’ll introduce you to them, and you can check them out.” Her eyes glossed over. “They’re quite beautiful.”

  “Before you tell me more, I’m going to grab a latte. I have a feeling I’ll need it.”

  She nodded. “Better make it a large. We can pick up some breakfast on the way there.”

  Erika grabbed her things and gave her order, adding an extra shot of espresso. Instead of grabbing a taxi or taking the subway, a town car waited for them out front.

  Catherine crossed her arms and scowled. “I guess I didn’t tire him out like I thought. I’ll have to work harder next time.”

  She sipped her coffee. Why is she upset at her lover’s thoughtfulness?

  The driver opened the passenger door and announced he was at Catherine’s disposal for the entire day. She grudgingly thanked the man and pulled Erika into the car with her.

  Her heart accelerated and her stomach somersaulted. Whatever the woman had in store for her, it would no doubt shock as well as tantalize. She couldn’t wait.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Max ended the phone call. Instead of his personal cell or his office phone, he used a throw away cell to make his plans. With his jet fueled, he was ready to leave whenever he decided. He also chose the two most trustworthy members of his security team to grab Erika and whisk her to the airport. Enough was enough. He was sick of waiting. After Roger Walsh’s funeral, he would have her snatched and taken to his vacation home in St. Thomas in order to hash out their problems. He would prove to her he wasn’t the cruel bastard she might think him to be.

  But thanks to Milton, she might already believe that. He dug his fingers into the back of his neck, wishing he could throttle the dickhead. Every day he and Erika were separated, Christopher was one step closer in snaring her. The asshole had come first in her life, and she was fond of him—too fond—which allowed him to easily seduce her.

  “What’s with the pouting?” Catherine walked in, her hands in the back pockets of her jeans.

  “I don’t pout,” he snapped. “And why aren’t you dressed for the show?”

  “I was heading up to my suite to get ready. It’s going to be amazing. I’ve outdone myself.”

  “I’m not up for it. I may hang in here until—”

  “No!” She rushed to him. “Enough with the pouty brooding or whatever it is you’ve been doing for the past few days.” She rested her palm on his cheek. “Erika needs time to reevaluate things.”

  “I can’t wait any longer. Right now she could be with—” He grimaced and chewed his thumbnail.

  She snatched his finger away. “Give her some credit. She’ll come around. Are you worried her friends are going to stop her from seeing you?”

  “Yes.” One in particular.

  “Are they aware of your plans to take down Walsh Publications? Are you still going forward with that?”

  “I’m undecided. In light of Walsh’s death, I might wait to see how things are in the next year.” By then I’ll have Erika with me again and have moved forward with phase two of my plan.

  “I think it’s for the best.” Catherine patted his arm, rose up onto her toes, and gave him a light kiss on his mouth. “Tonight is going to be my last hurrah for awhile. Tomorrow I leave with Raymond for places unknown.”

  He caught the slight tremor in her voice, and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tightly. “You’ll be okay. Just do whatever Raymond wants. It’ll all work out.”

  A watery laugh erupted from her. She wiped under her eyes where they glistened with dampness. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “We’ll see each other again. You can count on it.” Cupping her face, he kissed her forehead.

  “I better get ready. The doors open in less than an hour.” She pulled away.

  Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, he stared at her face, memorizing her every nuance. She didn’t meet his eyes, and he wondered what else she was hiding. Before he could inquire, her cell pinged with a text message. A smile broke through her agitated state.

  “Your usual table will be waiting for you.” With a wave, she skipped out of the room.

  Sitting in his chair, he opened his desk drawer, took out his bottle of tequila, and drank straight from it. Tonight, he would lose himself among the needy souls who entered his domain, but his yearning for Erika would remain.

  ***

  Catherine struggled, but Bryan was too strong. Shoving her against the wall, he kissed her. How could I be so stupid? Why didn’t I take the elevator instead of the stairs?

  If she’d been more aware of her surroundings instead of shooting off a text message to Erika, she wouldn’t have been grabbed around the waist and dragged into the stairwell by him.

  She tasted his frustration and lust, his tongue skirmishing with hers, his teeth nipping. Her body responded, dampening between her thighs, aroused even as she tried breaking free.

  This was a new side of him. Did he know after tonight she
might never see him again?

  “Bryan, stop right now,” she ordered, although her voice was too shaky and breathless to halt him.

  He ignored her, choosing to increase the pressure of the kiss, his hand slipping between her legs to cup her.

  Her hips thrust upward. Cursing, she gave his bottom lip a sharp bite. At last, he backed off.

  “What the hell are you doing? I gave you what you wanted, and you promised you’d leave me alone.”

  “I didn’t promise anything.”

  He ground his palm over her mound. She gasped, her eyes fluttering closed. He circled his thumb over her swelling clit, making her tremble.

  “It was just a fuck between us,” she moaned. “A dirty, nasty fuck. Nothing more.” Twisting her fingers in his shirt, she hopped up onto her toes as the pressure increased in her pussy.

  “And what was that after you took me up to your suite, tied me to the bed and rode me until dawn? That wasn’t just nasty fucking. That was us, making love.”

  “No! You’re deluded to think it’s—”

  His mouth crashed down on hers. She whimpered, digging her nails into his chest while his lips roamed over her in domination. He was a hell of a kisser.

  Unzipping her jeans, he stuck his hand inside to cup her bare mound. “You shaved for me?” He swiped his finger across a moist fold.

  It wasn’t for you! She wanted to tell him nothing more would go on between them. She was already on shaky ground with Raymond. If he found out she was in the stairwell with Bryan, he would make her suffer.

  When he pulled out his dick, she gasped. A silver hoop pierced the head. The tip shined with his discharge.

  “What did you do?” she moaned, remembering when he said he would pierce his cock when he met the one.

  “It’s for you. For us.” He thrust forward, his cock pressing near her entrance.

  “How can you be so stupid?” Tears filled her eyes. “It means nothing!”

  “You mean everything to me. Cathy, I lo—”

  She slapped her palm over his mouth. Only two men had ever told her they loved her. If he said those special words, she would fall apart.

  He didn’t bat her hand away. Eyes twinkling, he lapped her palm, but she didn’t remove her hand. Never taking his gaze from hers, he wrapped her leg around his hip and, holding his dick, slid inside her.

  She wailed—at least to her ears it sounded like one. His cock ring nuzzled her G-spot, sending ripples of pleasure throughout her entire body. She’d never fucked a man with a cock ring before, and she was beyond sensitive to the new sensations it created.

  Bryan swiveled his hips, going deeper. Latching onto his arms, she jerked her pelvis up, her eyes rolling back in her head. He reached under her ass to keep her standing. She moved her hand from his mouth, and when he dipped his head, she kissed him, whispering his name. He whispered her name back, causing the earth to move for her.

  He didn’t say anything more about love as she let him pummel her. She rode the wave, wanting one more night in his arms. She would give him that and then leave him without any word or reason, at last breaking him.

  A piece of her soul would be destroyed in the process.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  When Catherine didn’t text her back right away, Erika remained calm. Another thirty minutes passed then the dark-haired, mistress of ceremonies texted, saying an emergency had come up and she wouldn’t be there during the show. Erika started hyperventilating. She took so many hits from her inhaler she became woozy. It also didn’t help that Rosco, the head choreographer in charge, kept her well hydrated with orange juice. The juice ended up having a kick with vodka Catherine had okayed. She was supposed to stick to two glasses, but ended up drinking two more when she saw what Rosco and the “boys” were wearing—and what was sticking out of their asses.

  She’d never heard of ponyboys until Catherine showed her a website with various BDSM terms and pictures. At first, she didn’t believe what she saw. But after reading the page and seeing all the pictures, she realized it was a real thing.

  The six men she’d been introduced to had changed from their jeans and T-shirts into golden, assless Lycra shorts with matching high heel boots. They were oiled from head to toe. To complete their attire, an anal plug with a horse’s tail attached was wedged in between their ass cheeks.

  The men strutted around, talking to one another as if it was a normal, everyday occurrence for them having a butt plug affixed to an animal tail up their asses. Even worse, they were all drop-dead gorgeous—muscular builds ranging from light to dark skin tones with the most well-defined abs she’d even seen. Not even Max’s physique came close to these Adonises.

  Oh God, Max. She gulped her drink. Searching for more booze, she almost twisted her ankle in the knee-high boots Catherine selected for her and sat down on a chair. Unlike the men, she was dressed all in white, wearing a tight vest with nothing underneath and a skimpy flare skirt that, when she bent over, showed off her thong. She’d been adamant in wearing the covering even though the mistress of ceremonies had urged her to go commando. She also wasn’t too keen on the gold eye shadow, blush, and lipstick or the glitter sticking to her skin, but she’d conceded when Catherine promised Max wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off of her.

  She fiddled with the eye mask she would wear and took another puff from her inhaler.

  “Hey girl, are you ready for your time to shine tonight?” Rosco, the dancing coach, bent down to fluff her hair away from her shoulders.

  She gave him a big grin, her lips numb from the alcohol. “I’m scared shitless, but thanks for asking.” She peeked over his shoulder to look at his tail. “How can he slouch down and still keep it up his butt?”

  “It takes a lot of practice, honey.” He winked, flashing his gold painted eyelids.

  She covered her mouth. I can’t believe I said that out loud.

  “I think you need a pep talk before we begin. Walk with me over to the corner.” Rising to his full height, he grabbed her hand, and led her away from the rest of the group.

  “Thanks,” she mumbled.

  He flipped back his dreadlocks and smiled, showing a full set of white teeth. She smiled back, getting a good look at his nipple rings glimmering on his dark chest.

  “Now, listen to me. The boys won’t do anything you don’t want to do. The second I see you’re uncomfortable, we’ll stop. I’m a pro at reading body language, so I can tell when someone isn’t into something. Also, here’s backup.” He produced a whistle on a long cord, placing it around her neck. He nodded, pleased. “If one of the boys does something you don’t like, just whistle. Catherine has put us in our place many times with one blow.”

  “I’m so nervous.” She held her stomach. “I hope I don’t end up puking all over the stage.”

  “We’ve all been there before.” He led her to the carriage and opened the door for her to get inside. It was also white and gold, reminding her of a Roman chariot.

  “Line up!” he hollered, and the men rushed to do his bidding.

  They tied a combination of belts and ropes around their waists. Rosco arranged them, going as far as groping their ass cheeks to fix their tails.

  Picking up the whip, she flicked her wrist. Catherine had taught her how to use it, including many other things she never thought in a million years she would end up doing. She took another puff from her inhaler.

  The crowd’s screams and cheers increased. Her heart seemed to jump into her throat.

  Rosco came to her side, rubbing his palms together. “In a few minutes, the DJ will introduce us, and we’ll trot out as you slash that whip of yours in the air. When we reach the center of the stage, we’ll stop. I’ll escort you out, and we’ll dance around like we practiced.” He grabbed her wrist, kissing her knuckles. “Just go with the flow. You might be amazed by how easy it is to let your inhibitions fall away. I promise I don’t bite.” He kissed her hand again, slapped her ass.

  She yelped from the une
xpected sting.

  He laughed then walked away. “Just whistle.”

  Just whistle. Something so easy to remember. She lifted the whistle to her mouth, ready to blow the moment anything got out of hand. But the show tonight served a purpose. She needed to remember that. She would prove to Max she was strong, able to handle anything. I just hope he doesn’t go batshit when he realizes what I’ve done.

  Before she forgot, she pulled on the eye mask. When a booming voice came over the speaker, the crowd screamed. Christina Aguilera’s Dirrty started playing. When the curtains fell away, Erika and her entourage moved forward.

  She slashed the whip high in the air, commanding her ponies to move faster. In no time, they were in the middle of the stage where she stared bravely into the audience. She couldn’t make out any faces because of the spotlight overhead, but still tried locating Max at his table near the edge of the stage. A flashing light blinded her, triggering big purple spots to dance in front of her eyes.

  Rosco opened the door and took her hand.

  “Remember, the whistle,” he whispered, and she nodded at him. Boosting her high in his arms, he circled the stage.

  People cheered. She held her hands over her head, waving them around. When he placed on the floor, he grabbed her hips, grinding his pelvis into her ass. She was stunned for a moment, although they’d practiced the move many times earlier.

  Remembering the whip, she snapped it in the air. The other men dropped to their knees, rocking their asses high in the air, their tails whipping around to the crowd’s delight.

  Her other hand cramped. Not realizing she still held her inhaler, it tumbled to the floor and rolled off the stage. She almost cried out, but stopped when Rosco cupped her breast.