Arresting Dominance

by Cassidy Browning

  “I knew you’d come.” Steph stepped up and gave him a hug, pulling him close so that he could feel the contours of her body against him. He glanced at Alice, wondering if she objected to her—submissive? girlfriend?—hugging him. He’d been dying to know exactly how their relationship worked and what it would be like if they ever considered letting him be part of it. If they were lesbians, why would they even be bothering with him?

  Alice smiled and beckoned to him to approach. As he did, her smile went away, replaced by a serious expression. She put a hand on his shoulder.

  “Brody,” she said, fixing his eyes with her own. “Before we go any further, let’s discuss what’s about to happen. You’ve expressed an interest in joining our household, and you took the first step in that direction by hunting my slave Stephanie and then submitting to me that night and last night. We found it very satisfying and hope you did as well. I am assuming, since you’ve shown up here today, that you are at least considering taking the next step. Is that a fair assumption?”

  Brody gulped. He felt like a rabbit being mesmerized by a large and sexy snake. It was an odd sensation. Normally he wouldn’t be attracted by women who were nearly twice his age, but he knew it wasn’t just Steph that was drawing him in. There was an odd kind of commanding presence about Alice. It made him want to kneel in front of her and follow her every command, even if that made him less of a man. Part of his brain was sure that Stephanie would consider him some kind of wuss if he submitted to Alice, but that didn’t make any sense. She did it, too. But that didn’t matter at the moment. Alice seemed to be offering him something more than a girlfriend and sex, although he really had no clue what that was. It was almost as if he were joining a family.

  He nodded, and Alice smiled again. “Good. Steph and I have discussed it, and we’re interested in seeing where this goes. If your other obligations allow it, I’d like you to start spending time with us. I will give you assignments, both to help Steph out with her duties as my slave and to see how I can help you develop your own goals. You are invited to eat dinner at our house any night you’re free, but I will expect you there at least three nights a week. We’ll have meetings to talk about what you want to work on and what kinds of play you’re interested in trying. Is that acceptable?”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Brody kept his face serious, but inside he was punching the air. He was going to be allowed to hang out with them at least three nights a week. That was so cool. He wasn’t sure what he thought about the idea of setting goals for himself, but it might not be a bad thing. Working at the bar, going to the gym, and playing games had been his whole life since he’d left high school. Maybe it was time to think about something else.

  “Excellent. Then my first assignment to you is to allow Steph to give you a new look.” Alice nodded to her submissive, who pulled Brody to a chair and tied a plastic apron around his neck. She seemed to be vibrating with excitement, and Brody shot a pleading look at Alice, who was settling herself in a comfortable chair to watch.

  She raised an eyebrow at him. “Don’t you trust Stephanie to cut your hair?”

  “If you say so,” Brody said warily, wincing as Steph snapped some scissors in front of his face with a teasing grin. He sat back to watch, but she spun his chair away from the mirror and, from the sounds behind him, began to pull out what sounded like bottles and boxes and instruments of torture. Brody closed his eyes and lifted a hand to cross himself, uttering a silent prayer to whatever deity might be listening that he wouldn’t have to find a cave to hide in later.

  Alice laughed, opening a notebook and poising a pen over it. “No need to look so terrified, Brody. Trust me when I say that Steph has better taste in haircuts than you do. Now, while she’s working, we’re going to discuss various types of play, service, and your life goals. That should take your mind off your fears for your public image, at least until she’s done.”

  * * * *

  Jeremy paced the halls of the hospital on Tuesday morning, thinking. Liam was going to be fine, the doctors had assured him. They had kept him overnight for observation, but that was just a formality. The cross hadn’t permanently injured his hand or his ability to do his job—although it might have irreparably damaged their relationship. Liam had only growled at him last night when he’d tried to apologize, and told him to get lost.

  He knew he’d screwed up again, but he could make it right. He’d go make Carly give him Ginny’s phone number, and he’d call her and convince her to come back. What they’d done together had felt good and right. It had never occurred to him before that he and Liam could share a woman, but their threesome had been better than any sex he’d ever had before. Ginny was meant for him, and he was pretty sure Liam felt the same way. For one night, they’d been a family, not just partners and good friends. He wanted that again. He wanted it all the time—and he knew it was possible. He could get her to come back. He had to.

  The first thing to do was go and make Liam accept his apology, he thought, then he’d go talk to Carly. Carly would know how to reach Ginny. By this time tomorrow he’d have her back here. She would understand that she belonged to them—both of them. He could make her understand.

  He heard voices from Liam’s room as he approached. A nurse, probably. He slowed down, wanting to give Liam a little privacy, but then the voice became clearer and he stopped, taken aback. It was Ginny. She was already here. How had that happened?

  “I’m so sorry I didn’t get here earlier,” she said, her voice coming clearly out to Jeremy in the hallway. For a second he felt a surge of joy go through him. She’d come back on her own. There was hope. “I didn’t get into town until after visiting hours. And then I—I wasn’t sure. But I had to come. God damn, though. What a week! Everybody I love keeps ending up in the hospital.”

  Liam gave a soft answer and she laughed. “Carly called me. I was in the middle of dinner with…a friend, and I just jumped up, threw some money on the table, and bolted. I can’t imagine what she thought. I need to call her and apologize—and finish our conversation. But I couldn’t stay there when I heard you’d been hurt. How did it happen?”

  Liam laughed. “Jeremy strikes again. That guy can cause more trouble than a plane full of screaming toddlers.”

  Jeremy’s gut clenched and a cold wave seemed to wash over him. He couldn’t listen to this. Liam was about to throw him under the bus, tell her what a fuck-up he was. It wasn’t that they weren’t always joking about shit like that, but this time was different. Liam was obviously making a play for Ginny on his own, cutting him out—and just when he’d thought they could make it all work together. Jeremy strode into the room and saw what he expected. Ginny was leaning over Liam’s bed, his hands held in hers, the picture of a concerned girlfriend.

  “Well, I guess that worked out well, didn’t it?” he said. He hadn’t meant it to come out in a snarl, but even to his ears it kind of sounded like one.

  Both faces turned toward him. Ginny looked mostly worried and tearful, but there was a smile on her face, too. Her mouth opened, as if she were about to say something, then it slowly closed and her smile faded. Of course it would. He was the one who got her beloved Liam hurt.

  “Don’t worry. I won’t bother you with my disturbing presence,” he said, giving Liam a look that he hoped wasn’t as venomous as it felt. It wasn’t Liam’s fault that Ginny loved him, but Jeremy was sure it was his own fault she didn’t love him, too. He should be happy for them—and he would be, eventually. He just needed some time—and maybe a new partner.

  “What are you talking about?” Liam broke into his thoughts. “You’re not making any sense, dude. Ginny just said—”

  “I heard what she said,” Jeremy cut him off. “Congratulations. I didn’t know we were in a competition. I thought we were in this together but apparently I was way off and you’ve won. I hope you’ll be happy together.”

  He turned and left the room, needing to get away. Striding through the hospital corridors with his boot heels clatt
ering angrily, he cursed himself. He was an idiot. An idiot and an asshole, and completely worthless as a friend and a cop.

  But that didn’t help the fact that the whole thing was his own stupid fault. He couldn’t do anything right. No wonder Ginny had run away the first chance she’d gotten. She might have stayed for Liam, but he’d no doubt screwed everything up somehow. It was just what he did. It was what he always did.

  He loved them both, and they should be happy. He’d just keep fucking up if he stuck around. He’d call Sarge and arrange for Liam to get a new partner. No, maybe he should just give up police work altogether, before he ended up getting himself or someone else killed.

  Not that it would be a bad idea if I got killed, he thought morosely. That would be the simplest solution. He doubted he could even do that right, though. If he didn’t deserve to be a cop anymore, maybe he could buy into a bar. That sounded like a good idea right now—a bar, and a lot of drinks.

  * * * *

  “Are you ready for tonight?” Karl’s voice came from behind Allie, startling her out of her reverie. She’d been standing at the edge of the clearing in the woods, looking at the preparations for the suspension demo, bonfire, and submissive drumming circle that night, feeling both excited and apprehensive.

  Karl and Brad joined her, one on each side, Karl’s arm on her shoulder and Brad’s wrapped around her waist. She leaned in to them, smiling at the evidence of their love and support. They made such a good team.

  “It’s going to be perfect,” Allie said, trying not to give away her nerves. She knew she could handle what was coming. It was just that they’d never done anything quite like it before. “Won’t it?”

  “Of course it will.” Brad gave her a squeeze. “We’ve worked really hard setting this up, and there’s no reason for anything to go wrong.”

  Karl chuckled. “Besides, the whole community has our backs. They won’t let anything bad happen. Are you excited about the suspension?”

  “I am,” Allie admitted with a little wiggle. “It’s going to be cool. I hope.”

  “And dramatic.” Karl gave her a thoughtful look. “You’re sure you can handle half an hour in the air?”

  “Pretty sure. It’s not that much longer than the times we’ve worked up to.” She glanced at the large wooden cross propped against a massive oak tree. “We’re sure that it’s hooked up right? I mean, it did fall on Liam.” She bit her lip, feeling guilty. “Are you sure we should go ahead, seeing that one of our guests is hurt?”

  “Dennis fixed the glitch this afternoon,” Brad told her. “Don’t worry. If anybody knows how to rig a flying cross, he does. Liam is recovering nicely, and he’s not upset about what happened. “

  “I know.” Allie pulled her robe closer around her and shivered.

  Karl tightened his grip. “You’re sure you want to do this? I’m sure we could find another demo bottom for the suspension. Are you going to stress out over not being able to play hostess?”

  She shook her head. “No, I want to do the suspension.”

  Brad laughed. “Good thing. It’s the only way we’ll be able to get you to stay still long enough to enjoy the party.”

  They all turned at the sound of voices to see Daddy Dave coming into view. His two pups were obviously in human mode for the evening. They trailed along behind him, carrying armloads of firewood and followed by a group of community members, laughing and chatting happily, ready to make sure everything was set for the evening’s events.

  Within an hour there was a fairly large group of people assembled. Carly had brought out a coffee pot and plates of cookies and brownies, and Tony and Chuck were building the fire. Brad and Karl and Allie finished making the rounds of their guests and went to the far edge of the clearing to prepare for the suspension demo. Allie took off her robe, leaving herself naked. The air felt a bit chilly, and she rubbed her arms to warm up while Brad laid out their supplies.

  Karl pulled her to his chest and wrapped her tightly in his embrace. “Are you going to be too cold?”

  “No,” she told him. “I’ll warm up as soon as I get into some rope. I always do.”

  He laughed and leaned in to kiss her. As always, his lips were soft and warm, and Allie felt a rush of heat go through her body. His large hands moved over her back and arms and ass, making her forget that she’d been shivering a moment ago. She opened her mouth to allow in his tongue and the kiss became deeper, fusing them together. Whenever Karl kissed her it was as if they became one person, joined physically as well as spiritually. Brad stepped up behind her, completing the huddle, and she sighed in happiness. She was surrounded and protected by her two strong men, knowing that they cherished her as the heart of their little family.

  She turned in their arms and kissed Brad as well before the men loosened their hold and began to put on the harnesses that would later be used as attachment points for the suspension. They wound rope tightly around her chest and hips, making gunslinger handles on her thighs but leaving her arms free. She spared a quick glance around and was pleased to see people already gathering in a loose circle. It gave her a slight exhibitionist thrill to know they were being watched.

  As soon as the rope began going on, Allie could feel her body temperature rising. The chill of the night air seemed to lessen and a pleasant feeling of security and warmth settled inside her. She closed her eyes while they worked, allowing herself to sway slightly and knowing that the guys wouldn’t let her fall. It was her own little ritual—going deep inside herself, as if the bondage offered a structure to support her body while her mind sank into a deep meditation.

  When her harnesses were set, they began to attach her loosely to the cross. Once all of the ropes were set they would lift her into place and tighten the supports so that she was held with her weight distributed evenly between the chest and hip harnesses and the tie points on her legs and arms. Then they would raise the cross into the air so that she and it were swinging from the large branch above her.

  Time stopped and Allie allowed herself to float, barely registering the initial discomfort as the ropes were adjusted. She was finding that every time she did a suspension it got a little less uncomfortable. The first couple of times had been very painful, and she’d only been able to stand it for a few minutes. But with more practice her body adjusted, or she learned how to process the pressure, and she was beginning to enjoy the feeling of rope holding her up while she surrendered to the experience.

  With some arrangements she was able to swing herself back and forth and spin, or have Brad and Karl spin her, and it was a playful kind of session, with them smacking her ass or tickling her.

  This one was different. There was an almost spiritual connection between her and the guys as they silently positioned her on the cross, somehow adding to her internal focus. Her body was helpless and vulnerable, yet she felt secure and sheltered at the same time. They would occasionally stop and run a hand over the parts of her skin that were accessible, checking to make sure she was okay and reasserting the connection between them.

  Allie could hear voices and knew that the crowd was growing, watching the guys work. She had been surprised when she discovered that it didn’t bother her to be looked at—now, in some ways it connected her with the audience, as if their appreciation brought them up there with her.

  When she was securely bound and the guys had satisfied themselves that she was comfortable enough to make it for half an hour, they began hoisting the cross up into the large tree that Jeremy had used in his unsuccessful attempt to suspend it.

  Allie’s meditation was broken as she began to swing back and forth—not freely as she was used to, but as part of a large and heavy unit. Her supports were strong, so that there was no added pain, but the helplessness of the movement was definitely intense, like nothing she’d experienced before. Her eyes flew open and a screech escaped her lips before she was able to calm her fluttering stomach. When the swinging slowed, she was able to focus enough to see almost all of her friends
standing around watching her with smiles.

  Why it would give people so much pleasure to see something like this, she wasn’t sure, but they seemed fascinated. She began to enjoy it in earnest then, trying to make the cross swing some more while Karl and Brad finished off the ropes.

  She didn’t speak to anyone, preferring to internalize the experience as much as possible. But she watched as the bonfire was lit and individual groups went back to their own dynamics. Daddy Dave and his boys tended the fire with a kind of military discipline, as if they were standing guard over the proceedings. Allie suspected that they enjoyed the sense of duty and ceremony.

  She could also see Alice, Steph, and Brody greeting others and chatting amongst themselves. Brody kept glancing at her with wide eyes, she noticed with a small smile. It was kind of fun freaking people out sometimes. She could tell that he had a new look but she couldn’t focus on it. Alice said something to him then, and his attention immediately became riveted on his new Dominant. Steph watched him with a look that was half amusement and half interest while Brody found a chair for Alice and went to fix her some coffee.

  Phoenix was organizing the drum circle, putting chairs and pillows out for the Dominants and submissives who were going to take part. Others were trying to help him or getting in his way, or trying to give him advice. It was kind of like a big, strange family reunion, Allie thought. Her brain was getting a little hazy, and she had a wild urge to giggle as she watched all the people she knew and loved wandering around her in a surreal display while she swung above like a guardian angel. She floated in and out of a contented trance, concentrating on the energy she could feel coming from the people below her and what was being generated from her own endorphins. Scenes like this, bondage that was almost but not quite painful, always gave her a sense of timeless and otherworldly tranquility.