Not on your fucking life.
She murmured something in her sleep as Lucas skirted the seated groups, paying little attention to the others in their erotic pursuits. He’d known she might receive such invitations, but he hadn’t dwelled on how he’d feel about them. Her womanly scent filled his head, and he worried for a moment the next day might be more than she’d prepared herself for. Then again, she’d surprised the hell out of him when she’d gone from a kitten to a wildcat.
Whatever the outcome, one thing was certain. They weren’t sharing her with anyone else.
Chapter Six
Standing in the doorway to her bedroom, Violet looked down at the thin folds of cloth Joseph had placed in her hands. Atop the scanty stack was a large, parchment envelope with a gold seal upon it. “This is what?”
Joseph smiled at her. “Your costume and invitation to your scene. Read it and then put on your costume.”
Gripping the parchment envelope in her hand, she unfolded the filmy garment and held it up. She gaped at Joseph through the thin material, “Joseph! I can see the pin stripes in your suit through this. I might as well go naked!”
Joseph chuckled. “Well, considering the stir of curiosity you created among the male guests last night, I’m sure that would be a welcome option, too. The choice, of course, is yours. See you in a few.”
Her jaw nearly hit the floor as he walked away chuckling.
She’d already done the walk of shame earlier in the morning, after awakening in Josh and Lucas’s room. She could only assume they’d carried her there, and the thought mortified her because they were on the third floor. A note had been left on her pillow letting her know they were doing some last-minute preparations for a scene.
A scene?
She hadn’t wanted to assume anything, so she’d slunk back to her room for a shower, asking herself over and over what she thought she was doing and why she’d strayed from her original intention to only observe that weekend. Dip her toe in the shallow end of the kinky pool with her water wings snugly in place.
She took the cloth confection into the bathroom and held it up to her. The towel she had wrapped around her torso was visible through the fabric in the mirror’s reflection. There were lots of gathers, and it had elastic at the neck and high waist so it would be comfy and might offer a tiny bit of support and coverage.
“But not much. I’ll feel every breeze.” Her nipples tightened at the prospect. Then she imagined if someone were walking behind her. They couldn’t help but see the way her ass jiggled. All those dimples. And her cellulite. Her heart shriveled a little more. Abject humiliation might be someone else’s fantasy, but the thought made her want to go and request a nun’s habit for a costume instead. Something covering her from the tips of her fingers and down to her toes that left only her face visible…while she snuck out the exit.
She looked back at the wardrobe where all her clothing was hanging. No one would judge if she went down there in her pantsuit and pumps, but Josh and Lucas would be disappointed. And she was certain, even though he might not say anything, Joseph would be disappointed, too.
Taking a seat on the stool in front of the vanity, she lifted the seal on the invitation, hoping its contents might help her make a decision.
Beautiful Violet,
Many thoughts and worries must be going through your mind. If you still trust us, put on the costume just as it is—in other words no undergarments—and meet us in the dining room at eight. Shoes are unnecessary, too. We can’t wait to see our little woodland nymph.
Warmly yours,
Josh and Lucas
“Woodland nymph?” she muttered and then glanced at the clock. It was seven forty. “Decision time, girl.” She imagined how she’d feel, looking back, if she decided to scurry home. She knew she was safe with Josh and Lucas. They obviously wanted this with her. And she’d be kidding herself if she denied the feelings that had been growing between them for months. Trying to envision herself with any other man—or men—downstairs was what finally galvanized her into action. This wasn’t about having a wild weekend, it was about the three of them, and if she bailed now, she’d always regret what might’ve been.
She finished drying her damp hair and applied light makeup. Donning the costume turned out to be a sensual affair. The silky fabric whispered on her skin, making her nipples bead into tight points, reminding her of Josh’s and Lucas’s warm caresses. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and noticed the flush in her cheeks and the spark in her eyes. She hadn’t seen that girl in a while. Pushing all negative thoughts aside, she smiled at herself and nodded.
Glancing at the ballet flats in the closet, she recalled the invitation specified no shoes. “Well, at least I can be fairly certain they aren’t planning on chasing me through the woods.”
The wispy hanky-hem of the dress reached her knees, but when she moved, her bare flesh was revealed in brief flashes as high as her hips. The thought made her clench her knees together. One little errant breeze and everyone would know she was a natural blonde.
Giving her reflection a good long perusal, she had to admit the costume fit her well, the high waist accentuating her bust while also giving her a little support. The elastic neckline was probably meant to be worn off the shoulders. She tried it out and smiled at the effect but then pulled it back up on reflex for modesty’s sake.
“Oh, yeah, right, like having your shoulders covered is going to keep people from noticing your freaking nipples are completely visible.” And judging by their condition, and the wet warmth between her legs, her traitorous body was enjoying the costume.
She didn’t know whether to pray to not run into anyone on the way downstairs to the dining room or whether she should hope for an opportunity to gauge a stranger’s reaction to her appearance. Then again, that might scare her back up into her room. The soft carpeting transitioned to slate tile that was surprisingly warm under her feet as she took the first flight of stairs, praying the errant drafts didn’t reveal her quivering girlie bits as the hem whispered against her thighs and hips. The sensation alternated between arousing and mortifying.
She blinked when she noticed Joseph waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs. “Joseph? Don’t you have better things to do? Like oversee this big gathering?” Obviously not, since I need a freaking babysitter to get me into the dining room.
He sounded as if he was stifling his amusement, and his dark gray eyes twinkled as he put his hand to his heart. “You wound me. I’m your friend, and I’m being a good host.”
“Um.” She looked down at her heaving bosom. Oh my God. My heaving bosom? Yeah, it was pretty much heaving, and her nipples were hard enough to drill concrete.
“May I escort you into the dining room?”
“If you must,” she said in a tiny voice as she took the remaining steps to stand beside him, trying to gauge his reaction to her scandalous appearance. He smiled as he looked her over.
“Oh, it’s bad. It’s awful, isn’t it? I can’t believe I’m standing here in front of you like this. I can’t go in there—”
Joseph lifted a hand to halt her litany of all the reasons she couldn’t go forward with this. “I want you to listen to me. First, the way you are dressed right now is fairly normal around here, and rather modest. There are women, and men, dressed in far less in the dining room.”
“There are?” Her heart thudded. Was she relieved or more terrified?
“Depending on what their scenes require, yes.”
“Joseph, how can I go in there like this?”
Joseph squeezed her shoulder. “It’ll require trust. Tell me what you feel. One word, right now.”
No hesitation needed. “Vulnerable.” Open to criticism from everyone who sees me.
Joseph nodded. “Remember you’re here for yourself and not for all of them. Trust in Josh and Lucas. I doubt they’ll let you out of their sight today.”
Maybe so but I still have to go back into the world after this weekend. The
y won’t be with me then. This weekend was going to change her in ways she wasn’t sure she was prepared for. I want my water wings back!
“Do I have to?” Way to sound like you’re four, girl.
He assessed her from head to toe again. There was no lust in his gaze, only compassion. “Yes, I’m afraid you do. And you need to give yourself more credit.” He cocked his elbow out for her, waiting for her to make the next move.
“Are you sure you’re not a sadist?”
That’d been one of the first things she’d asked him once they’d gotten to know each other and he’d told her about Hazelle House. He’d confessed a slight inclination but assured her he had feelings like anyone else. Then he’d looked at her with all seriousness and told her he didn’t draw any enjoyment from the emotional pain she obviously felt. Trusting him hadn’t been an issue from that point forward, and she’d told him about Bodie, Victor, and their painful chapter in her life.
“Let’s put it this way, Violet. I enjoy seeing you learn to accept yourself, even if the lesson is a hard, possibly painful one. The greater the struggle, the sweeter the victory. This is your golden opportunity, now that you’re finally free, to get beyond the hurt Victor—and Bodie—have caused. Just for this weekend, extend the fantasy and see yourself the way I’m sure Josh and Lucas see you, in a positive light. Stop worrying about pleasing everyone else.”
“Ugh. I never should’ve admitted that about myself.”
Joseph scoffed. “Violet, you didn’t have to tell me. It was obvious.”
They were halfway to the dining room entry when a jangling sound came at them from behind. Joseph paused and turned as a voice carrying a hint of a giggle said, “There you are, Mr. H. This place is enormous! I wanted to let you know I’m nearly…whoa.”
Violet’s face flushed with heat as she caught sight of the source of the voice. A curvy woman with flaming red hair. Her jaw dropped, and she gaped at Violet’s state of undress.
Why couldn’t Josh and Lucas have a two priests and a nun fantasy scene planned?
Curious when he didn’t immediately say anything, Violet looked up at Joseph.
Oh, boy. There’s the evil Dom look.
The bubbly redhead had the audacity to grin at him and say, “Mr. H, did you know there’s nekkid people running around here?”
She had both hands on her rounded hips as she shifted from one foot to the other in a playfully flirtatious manner, proclaiming she wasn’t really scandalized. Violet thought she looked like a vintage pin-up girl except she was dressed in a pair of hip-hugging, faded jeans, a pink plaid shirt, and rugged hiking-type boots, with…a tool belt buckled around her hips.
Hey! What’s her scene? How come she gets full coverage and my chee-chees are wobbling in the breeze?
Joseph blinked and cleared his throat. “Miss Carrigan, you do recall me explaining that, while I needed you on an emergency call, I would be hosting an event this weekend and discretion might be called for?”
Violet was a little in awe as the redhead made a swiping motion across her lips and then tossed an imaginary key over her shoulder and winked at him. “I’m the picture of discretion, handsome.” Turning her bright turquoise eyes on Violet, she said, “You look fabulous, by the way.”
Unable to do anything but watch this scene play out, Violet nodded as the little firecracker focused her attention on Joseph once again.
“Did you get lost in the mansion, Miss Carrigan?”
The redhead nodded. “Please, call me Bunny. Everyone does. This place is a freaking castle.”
Ah! So it’s not just me!
She pointed to upstairs. “Even though I’ve been here before, I didn’t realize there were two upper hallways. Somehow I got turned around and took the stairs into the basement. Sorry to barge in like this, but we need to talk about the issue in the master suite when you have a minute.”
Violet was curious how the redhead got away with calling him “Mr. H” and “handsome.” She also wondered at the soft blush growing in the little sprite’s cheeks as she tilted her stance, attempting to look around him at the group assembled in the dining room.
Joseph seemed to grow an inch, but he gave no hint of his inner emotions as he nodded. “Let me get the morning started for my guests, and then I’ll catch you—I mean catch up with you.”
Miss Carrigan chuckled softly and turned toward the stairs. “Okeedokee. You can ‘catch’ me in your attic, unless I get lost again. I left my Leatherman up there somewhere.”
Leatherman? Some poor guy is up in the attic in this heat?
“Miss Carrigan?” Joseph called out. Violet mashed her lips together, trying to stifle a giggle when she caught him ogling the little redhead as she sauntered away.
Stopping on the second step, which put her at eye level with the Dom, she raised an eyebrow and grinned. “Yes?”
“I know it’s easy to get turned around in this big place, but I caution you to stay out of the hallway to the north tower. It’s the one with the long pale blue oriental carpet. If you find yourself there somehow, turn back. Please?”
She tilted her head, and her smile softened at his serious tone. “Sure. Are you having it cleaned or something?”
Joseph shook his head. “Just turn back if you get lost and find yourself there.”
After giving him a cheeky salute, she trotted up the stairs, her hips swaying and making the tools on her belt jangle together. She hummed to herself, and her long, bright red curls bounced with every step.
Violet observed Joseph watching Miss Carrigan sashay away. He looked like a hungry man. And worse for Miss Carrigan, he was a Dom as well. But he also looked like a man most smitten.
He finally shook himself and cleared his throat before looking down at her, seeming once again in complete control. “Sorry for the interruption.”
“It’s all right.” Her stomach trembled as he took her hand and once again turned her toward the dining room where the sounds of silverware on porcelain and the muted din of conversation alerted her that the room was already full. “Um, couldn’t I just grab an apple and go find Josh and Lucas, wherever it is we’re supposed to meet?”
Joseph paused and assessed her, probably noting the way she was perspiring and her hands had gone cold. He was good that way. He somehow also got her moving forward again. “Violet, you’re going to take their breath away when they see you. If you’d open your eyes and look around the room, you’d realize you’re already having an effect on a lot of the men.” He halted their progress and lowered his voice. “Honey, I mean it. Open your eyes.” His voice was firm, and she found even though she was terrified, she wanted to obey him more than she wanted to hide.
Conversation had quieted as many pairs of eyes fastened on her, and she had a moment of terror, wondering if the wispy dress had shifted and her pussy was now blatantly exposed. Joseph made a soft growly, bossy sound a split second before she moved to cover herself and she stilled. She could swear she saw his smirk in her peripheral vision. Licking her bottom lip, she put a brave front on and met a few of those gazes, noting smiles from many of the men—and women—as well as a few frowns.
“Ah,” Joseph whispered for her ears only. “I think your beauty is inspiring a bit of jealousy. That can be a good thing in subs and play partners who have grown complacent.”
“You’re just trying to build me up. They’re disgusted.”
Joseph hmphed and guided her into the room. “Wonder what your play partners will think of that sentiment. I think I’ll mention it to them.”
“You’re mean.”
* * * *
Josh knew his woman had arrived when the room went quiet. The approving smiles of many of the men confirmed it. They were positioned in a corner of the dining room adjacent to the arched entryway so he couldn’t see her yet, and his anticipation grew with each passing second.
His higher thought processes ground to a halt as Joseph led Violet into the room. Every thought in his head, his plans for the weekend
, his desires for the future, solutions for all the reasons she couldn’t handle a permanent ménage—all of it faded to static noise in the background. Lucas was sitting across the table from him, and Josh heard the change in his breathing and when he gulped in reaction.
“Damn,” Lucas whispered before he rose from his seat. Josh followed suit as Joseph led her over to their table.
Then he saw how uncomfortable she was. She glanced over her shoulder at the crowded room and kept maneuvering so the room wasn’t at her back. There was a flush at her throat, but it wasn’t from pleasure. It was from nerves.
Lucas frowned and said, “You okay?”
She bit her lip and looked between them, and in a rough voice, she said, “I’m practically naked.” There was no twinkle of anticipation in her eyes. She was mortified. That wasn’t what Josh had intended.
He was about to speak soothing words when Joseph lifted a hand and said, “She seems to think her appearance is disgusting to some of the guests.”
A tiny little growl came from Violet, and her succulent lips scrunched up into a tight little moue before she glanced nervously at Josh and Lucas, but she kept any thoughts she had to herself.
“Gentlemen, I’ll leave her in your tender care. Enjoy your breakfast…and the morning.”
Josh pulled out her chair, and when she gestured at one that would position her with her back to the room, he shook his head and pointed at the seat that would place her where everyone could see her—and, more importantly, where she could see everyone else. Her only reaction was a slight drawing together of her brows before she sat.
The blush-colored fabric floated around her gently flaring hips, and her gorgeous breasts filled out the sheer bodice and caused him to imagine them filling his own hands, so lush and perfect. He couldn’t hide his smile as he looked her over. The only problem was that she had the neckline pulled up over her shoulders. Her gaze was bouncing all around the room, avoiding everyone’s eyes. Rather than reaching out to fix the neckline, he took her hand, which was cold as ice.
Lumberjack Weekend [Divine Creek Ranch 21] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 7