by Cara Adams
“Fuck. That’s true.” Mason’s heart sank. What would happen if Adelaide refused to come because it was too hard to find a replacement for her?
“Dammit, I’ll find someone myself if necessary. How hard can it be?” he asked.
Wade stared at him. “Reception is a pretty important job. The receptionist has to know every member of staff and how to contact them, as well as use the computer program for the scheduling. That’s why Tammy and Trinidad did it last time. The public face of The Dom’s Dungeon has to be accurate, as well as above reproach.”
“Maybe they’ll do it again. It’s only a week. And after all, everyone is entitled to vacation time.”
“That’s true, and I haven’t noticed Adelaide take a vacation. Of course, we haven’t taken one either, and now there’ll be three of us gone at once. Maybe it’s just as well the Alpha contacted Simon last night. Likely Tammy already knows and will be looking for a solution for us.”
“Good point. Go, Tammy!”
Wage punched his shoulder. “Idiot.”
“Let me finish writing this e-mail to Simon. When’s Adelaide on duty? Is she still on nights?”
“Yes, she is, and we don’t have a client until six so we should be able to talk to her either just before she starts her shift or in the early part of her shift before the dinner crowd arrives.”
“Good. We’re off after the lunchtime event until six then? That should be long enough for us to plan our trip, although we can’t book our tickets until she agrees to come with us, of course.” Mason kept working on the e-mail to Simon. The event at lunchtime was a simple demonstration of BDSM equipment. It was a moms’ group outing, so all they wanted was to see a few men in Dom clothing strutting around with some whips and maybe a flogger or two. Wade had a paddle with a heart shape embossed on it, and he had pink fleecy handcuffs. Neither of them was serious BDSM equipment, but they were the kind of thing the ladies would go home and talk to their friends about. Hopefully it would result in a several groups returning for dinner one night and to watch the stage show. It was all good advertising for the club, and who knew? Maybe some of them would be back as regular clients.
Wade came over and read the e-mail over his shoulder, suggesting a small change, and then they sent it off.
“All we need to do now is to talk to Adelaide,” said Wade, returning to his own chair.
She couldn’t say no. Surely she wouldn’t refuse to go with them? She had to come. It was the only thing they could think of to win her as their mate.
* * * *
Adelaide arrived a few minutes early for her shift, as she usually did. Often she and Juliana would talk about their day and catch up on the news with each other. They were friends as well as colleagues. Today, however, there were half a dozen people crowding around the counter, so Adelaide took up a position beside Juliana and asked, “How may I help you?”
It was at least fifteen minutes later when the last query was dealt with, and she turned around to find Juliana slumped on the chair behind the computer.
“Busy day, huh?”
“Hell yes. I haven’t updated the schedules yet. I’m sorry about that.”
“Hey, no problem.” Adelaide could do that as soon as she had a quiet time.
“That moms’ group display today must have been quite a show. They’re coming back here for their breakup party. Not just the group we had today, but all the neighborhood moms’ groups. They want a meal, mocktails, and a full show.”
Adelaide grinned. “Wow. What a success. Let’s hope they all enjoy it as much as they must have liked the show today. It must be difficult for them all to hire babysitters as well to get out to party.”
Juliana giggled. “Oh, this group is mighty smart. They hired a kids’ play center to run a party for their children while they were here. I reckon the moms and the kids will all be looking for a nap right around now.”
“That’s great. I love the way the dungeon is reaching out into the community. I love that we can make people happy and give them a good time.”
Juliana nodded, her bright red ponytail bouncing back over her shoulder. “Maybe you should think of a nice reward to give Mason and Wade for all their hard work on the show for the moms today then.” She gave Adelaide a naughty look and left the desk. Adelaide hurried across to the computer and sat down. Yes, Wade and Mason had done the moms’ party. Lucky moms. No wonder they’d all had such a good time. Mason and Wade were truly delicious to look at in the Dom costumes. Well, they were delicious at any time of day or night, but especially in their tight black pants and smart boots.
When dressed as a Dom, Wade had a naked chest, with a black leather band across it. He had Velcro sections on the leather so he could attach his whips to it and leave his hands free as he worked.
Mason preferred to wear a tight black T-shirt that still showed off his excellent musculature and broad shoulders. Both of them had the kind of physique Adelaide admired above all others. But she also liked their humor and good nature. She really did need to get to know them better as people, though.
She blinked and blinked again. Almost as if she’d conjured them up from her musings, they were marching across the foyer toward her desk now, still in their costumes. This was the second time they’d done that to her. It was becoming a habit.
“Hi, Adelaide. We were hoping to talk to you before you got too busy,” said Wade.
“You’re lucky. When I arrived, it was hectic, but everyone has disappeared at the moment.”
“We’re Doms. We always have impeccable timing,” said Mason. His hazel eyes were sparkling with green and gold flecks as he teased her. Adelaide’s knees started to wobble with lust for them both, so she rested her ass on the chair as she waited to find out what they wanted.
“At the Aardvark you asked us if we went back to our homelands often, and we said no. But we got to thinking that it might be nice to go back for a visit. We hoped you’d come with us,” said Wade.
“We want to show you the land where we grew up. Maine is truly beautiful, especially the forests and coastline. Have you ever been there?”
Adelaide looked from Mason to Wade and back again. “I haven’t ever been to Maine, although I’ve heard it has very pretty scenery. As you originally said, though, it’s a bit far from here for a day trip, so I don’t think me visiting your home would be very practical. I work weekends, remember?”
“When was the last time you took a vacation?” asked Mason.
Adelaide sat more comfortably on the computer chair. “Um, now let me think. My family didn’t have a tradition of taking vacations, and I had to work all through college. Summer was just an opportunity to work full-time instead of when I didn’t have classes.”
“You and T didn’t go to the lake or the mountains in summer?” asked Wade.
She’d forgotten she’d made that slip at the restaurant and almost named Trey. She shook her head. “Likely the last vacation I took was when I was a teenager. I suppose that means you’re now going to tell me I’m overdue to take one?”
“Absolutely. Will you come away with us for a week, please? We’ll fly to Portland, rent an SUV, and show you where we grew up,” said Mason.
“Uh-huh. And Leif and Simon are going to clap their hands with happiness to find three of their staff are missing for a week? I don’t think that’ll happen.”
“Simon already knows. He didn’t say no.” Wade’s statement completely surprised her. It was lucky she was sitting down already, or she might have fallen from the shock of his words. But then she pictured Tammy’s bright green eyes in the changing room and heard her words again. “Get to know Mason and Wade.” If she stayed with them for a week, she really would know them by the end of that time. It was what she ought to do. If she was to overcome her unreasonable fear of shape-shifters and claim the two men as her Doms she had to say yes. How could she refuse anyway? Two wonderful men had asked for her company. These were the men she wanted as her Doms and in her bed. There was only o
ne answer possible. “Thanks. I’d like to come with you. When did you plan to leave?”
“We were thinking of flying up there Wednesday. We need to confirm that with Simon and Leif and get tickets, but would Wednesday work for you?” asked Wade.
“So soon? What sort of things will I have to pack?”
“The evenings can be cold, so bring some sweaters and a coat,” said Wade.
“You’ll need to tell me which airline you choose. I need to check the baggage allowance so I don’t have to pay an excess fee.”
“Hell, yes. I don’t want to get caught out either. Maybe wear the coat,” said Mason.
A group of men stepped out of the elevator from the parking lot and headed toward the reception desk. Adelaide watched them as Wade said, “We’ll talk to you again later, when everything is organized.”
“Yes. Thanks.”
* * * *
At first, Wade had assumed packing for a week in a cottage would be easy, but that was before he started slinging items into his duffel. The Alpha had warned them it was already getting cold. When the Alpha used the word “cold,” he wasn’t suggesting, “Consider packing a sweater.” He meant, “It might snow soon,”
It was a wonderful gift to be offered the country cottage to stay in. It was an isolated cabin deep in the woods where people could be completely alone to silently watch the birds and animals in their native habitat, or possibly play some BDSM games without anyone hearing the screaming as his woman orgasmed. But it did mean bringing a coat and sturdy boots in case it snowed while they were there. He and Mason would have to walk or ski out and bring the tractor back to clear the track when it came time for them to leave.
The good news was that the cottage was equipped with snowsuits and skiing gear. The bad news was that his winter boots were damn heavy. He’d have to wear them and pack a lighter pair. Also, he wanted to bring some BDSM toys, and all that stuff wouldn’t fit in his duffel. He’d need to bring a suitcase, which was annoying. Still, the extra space in the suitcase allowed him to pack a few more toys, so the news wasn’t all doom and gloom. He looked forward to teasing Adelaide with these toys.
When Mason had booked their flights, they’d had the option of changing airplanes in Philadelphia or in Detroit and had decided on Detroit because it was an airport they’d both traveled through before, so they hoped to be able to navigate it reasonably well.
Wade grinned to himself. There was nothing a Dom hated more than not being in control. Two Doms was just twice as bad. Right now, though, he was excited at the thought of spending a week with Adelaide. Alone in the cottage they’d be able to talk and get to know her properly, as well as show her around the pack land. It was deep in the barely inhabited forest of central Maine. But to get there they’d take her along the coast road first, so she could see the beauty of Maine’s rocky cliff tops and stunning views out over the ocean.
On Wednesday, he woke before his alarm went off and was showered, dressed, and had made coffee before Mason appeared. They arrived at Adelaide’s apartment block in plenty of time, and when she wasn’t waiting outside for them, Mason waited in their car while Wade went inside. “She might need help with her luggage,” he said.
“I hope she hasn’t overslept. She’s usually punctual at work.”
Mason was right. In fact she was frequently early. Wade hoped everything was all right. As soon as he stepped inside the building, he guessed the problem. The elevator had a sign on it saying, “Out of Order.” Wade began running up the stairs. Poor Adelaide, carrying a suitcase and hand luggage was bad enough around an airport, but to do it down a flight of stairs was not fun at all.
Wade heard the stairwell doors open at the third floor as he approached them, and it was Adelaide. She was wearing a heavy coat and had a purse slung over one shoulders and a carry-on bag over the other. She was lifting her suitcase with one hand while holding the stairwell door with the other.
“Here, give me the suitcase.”
“Thanks. I’ve been pressing the button for the elevator for the last ten minutes, and it’s still stuck on the fourth floor.”
“On the first floor there’s a sign on it saying it’s broken.”
“That explains why it didn’t come then.”
He waited while she took her coat off and then held out his hand for it. “I’ll carry that for you, too.”
“Thanks. It’s much too warm. It’s just that I couldn’t hold everything in my hands.”
Mason was still waiting right out front, and soon they were settled in the car and heading for the airport.
“I’m really excited about the idea of a vacation. Thanks so much for inviting me to go with you.”
Mason said, “You said your family didn’t really do vacations. Did your parents have to work?”
“Dad was a workaholic. He always said he couldn’t take time off or someone else might be given the experience or clients he needed to get ahead. Then, when he made it to upper management, he said no one else could be trusted to handle things as competently as he did. He kept working harder and harder and longer and longer hours to beat new deadlines and sales records he’d set. By the time I was a teenager, I knew he was a classic heart attack waiting to happen. When he had one, it wasn’t the warning kind of one. It killed him. But Mom said, and I agree, that he would have been devastated at being forced to go part-time or, heaven forbid, retire. Basically he killed himself working, but that was how he wanted to live his life.”
Wade’s jaw dropped, and he had to deliberately blank his face. “I’ve met workaholics before, but they aren’t usually quite as dedicated as your father was.”
Adelaide shrugged. “It was what he wanted. Everything was always what he wanted. Mom’s life had to fit around him.”
“Is she doing okay without him?” asked Mason.
Wade turned to watch Adelaide as she replied. But she smiled so it was okay. “Would you believe she works as a grocery store check-out chick three days a week and she loves it? She gets a discount on her food, she’s made a heap of friends, and it gives her an interest as well as an income. I don’t know how good Dad’s life insurance was, but she’s coping all right.”
They followed the directions to the long-term parking lot and caught a shuttle bus to their terminal. Even waiting in an enormously long line didn’t bother them. They had plenty to talk about, and their airplane didn’t board for a while yet. Wade was already having an amazing time. He was in vacation mode and enjoying himself already.
* * * *
Mason had allowed two hours for them between flights. That was certain to be plenty of time to disembark from their first airplane and get to the departure lounge for the second one. Both he and Wade had been to Detroit Metro before, and they should be able to find their second terminal fairly easily. He knew ground transportation was busses, and he was even moderately sure he could remember where to go to line up for them. Besides, airports always had excellent signage. It wasn’t going to be a problem. Two hours was ample time. Maybe they’d even be able to stop for coffee and a snack.
That was until they were circling over Detroit airport and the pilot announced, “I’m sorry, ladies and gentleman. There’s a slight delay here at Detroit. Someone has attempted to land east-west instead of north-south. We just need to be patient while they get that sorted out.”
Ten minutes later they were still circling in the sky, and the pilot said, “We’re number fourteen in the line. Some folks were running low on fuel, so they got bumped in front of us. But it shouldn’t be too long now.”
Adelaide whispered, “It’s good to know if we run out of gas we get priority.”
Mason snorted and grinned. “We’ve got plenty of time anyway. We had two hours to find our next departure lounge, and Detroit’s nowhere near as big as some airports.”
“That’s right. In some places there are trains to catch, aren’t there?” she asked.
Mason relaxed a little as Adelaide and Wade swapped stories they’d hear
d about transportation and airports. But he couldn’t relax completely. They’d already used up half an hour of their time, and they were still in the sky.
When the plane finally started to land, the cabin crew announced that several people would be allowed off the airplane first, as they needed to hurry to catch an international connection. Everyone else was to remain in their seat. Mason looked at his watch again. Hopefully there’d still be a little over an hour by the time they disembarked. They wouldn’t stop for coffee or a snack unless the coffee shop was right near their gate lounge, but they still should have enough time to make the changeover easily.
Finally they landed and half a dozen people were escorted to the front of the airplane. Wade, who had the aisle seat, jumped up and handed them their carry-on luggage, and Adelaide dressed in her coat. Mason smiled at her. She might be hot but likely that would be easier than carrying it. She still had her purse and her carry-on to hold, although perhaps Wade would take the carry-on for her. At least with three pairs of eyes they should find the signs to ground transportation easily enough.
Mason was a little edgy, but deliberately held himself in control. He was a Dom, and he planned everything. They didn’t need two hours to change airplanes. They still had close to an hour, and that was more than adequate.
The crowd swung left as they exited the gate lounge and flowed down the concourse. There were signs everywhere, but Mason couldn’t see one for ground transportation yet.
“I don’t see the bus sign,” said Adelaide, swiveling her head around.
“Likely it’ll be up ahead somewhere. Most people are walking this way.”
Mason hoped he wasn’t walking too fast for her, but he felt itchy and edgy. There was a deep urge inside him to keep moving, to find their bus, to get to the other terminal.