by Avery Gale
Chapter 5
After they’d made their way back to the ranch house, Trace ensured that Tori had everything she needed and then quickly moved down stairs to set the chili on the stove to warm and grabbed his cell so he could talk while he threw together a quick dinner. He’d called the Lamonts first, knowing their security staff at The Club would have computer access that mere mortals could only dream about. After he’d finished explaining the situation to Alex and Zach, they had promised to get their team on it right away, and they promised to notify Dylan Marshall, the local sheriff also.
Dylan and his new wife were both former DEA agents and had maintained many of their federal contacts after leaving the agency, so their resources were widespread and reliable. Both Alex and Zach Lamont and several members of the ShadowDance staff were former Special Forces soldiers, but Trace was sure it would be computer genius, Mitch Grayson who would be the one to ferret out everything there was to know about Officer Gary George of the Houston Police Department. There was little doubt that in just a few hours Mitch would have a file on George that would make the FBI envious and the CIA proud.
Trace had a huge amount of respect for his friends and felt humbled at how quickly he knew they would rally around Tori. Satisfied that he’d set the wheels in motion, he slipped upstairs to take a fast shower and was heading back down when he hear soft sobbing from the guest room. Opening the door he saw Tori sitting on the floor with her small suitcase opened in front of her.
Kneeling down beside her, he ran his fingers through her wet hair. “What’s wrong, princess?”
“It’s just so sad. I worked so hard. I worked two jobs all through college, even while I was in law school. And I saved so much money that I was able to move without incurring any debt. Hell, I didn’t even have any student loans. And when I got to Houston, I was very careful, only buying quality clothes that would hold up to the demands of my career, and in the end, I had to leave so quickly that this is all I have to show for all that hard work. I don’t know what I’ll do now. If I apply to transfer my license to another state, I know he’ll find me before I’d even be able to set up a practice or get a job.” Taking a deep breath, she looked up at him and smiled weakly. “My God, I’m such a train wreck, and I’m sure you are tired of hearing me whine. So…” Trace watched as she seemed to draw herself up and took a couple of deep breaths. He watched her as she seemed to literally pull a shield up around herself. “I’m going to stop complaining and just accept the fact that I’m going to have to do whatever it takes. I’ve built a life from ashes before, and I can do it again.”
Trace scooped her up off the floor and moved confidently to the small chaise lounge in front of a large bank of windows. Settling her on his lap, he turned her to face him. “Here is your final reminder, princess. Don’t ever dare to apologize for how you feel. You humble me with your honesty and courage. And the fact that you trust me enough to share your feelings and frustrations pleases me more than I can tell you. Please remember that as we discuss things later tonight because trust is going to be the most basic element in the conversation we’re going to have, all right? And I want you to remember, clothing can be replaced…you cannot. You are safe because you were smart and resourceful. I’ve already made some calls, and as we speak there are several people gathering information for us. By this time tomorrow we’ll know more about the asshole that terrorized you than he knows about himself.”
Smiling at her, Trace set her on her feet and moved to her suitcase and pulled out a pair of yoga pants and a clingy crop top and handed them to her. “Put these on and nothing else.” Smiling at her gaping mouth, he put his fingers under her chin and pushed it closed before he continued. “No, no underwear. You won’t be needing them this evening. If your feet get cold, feel free to put on a pair of socks, but that is all you’ll be needing. Now put them on quickly, and we’ll go downstairs together. You’re in for a treat, princess. Dinner should be ready, and I make a mean bowl of chili if I do say so myself.”
* * * *
Tori couldn’t remember ever enjoying a meal more that she did the chili and crackers she shared with Trace as they watched football on television. He’d been thrilled to find out she was a football fan, and they’d jeered and cheered their favorite teams through two bowls of chili each while they knocked back two bottles of the best wine Tori had ever enjoyed. By the time the games had concluded, they were both enjoying the full effects of the wine and each other’s company. Trace had positioned himself into the corner of the large sectional and pulled Tori’s back against his chest, settling her lush ass between his legs, it was a position he sometimes used for discussions with subs because he could feel every flex of muscle and intake of breath as well as changes in their pulse rate. He’d discovered it often enabled a submissive to answer questions more honestly if they didn’t have to look directly at the Dom. The small measure of distance seemed to afford them a certain amount of anonymity and therefore freed them to open up in ways they might not have otherwise.
After a few minutes of just holding her close and enjoying the feel of her against his cock, he nuzzled close to her ear and traced the shell with his tongue. “Princess, tell me what you know about Dominants and submissives.” He knew instantly that she had some frame of reference by the immediate tensing of her muscles, so he added, “I want to remind you of the importance of honesty, darlin’. You should know that your body language has already given you away. I would also like to know whether or not any of your experience is from firsthand exposure or from if it’s all from reading and research.” He knew she was struggling, wanting to word her answer just right, and he had to smile. Always the counselor, well, Ms. Attorney, I’ll just wait you out.
Tori was reeling, and she was afraid that if she told Trace she’d always harbored a deep curiosity about the Ds lifestyle, he’d think she was some kind of freak or worse yet, that she had done something to deserve the pain she’d suffered at the hands of her stalker. Finally deciding that she was tired of being afraid of her own shadow she answered, “Um…well, I’ve read about it, a lot about it actually, but I don’t have any personal experience. Please don’t think badly of me, but I’ve read some books that were on the edgy side…and well, that’s where I learned about it.”
Trace had been a Dom for years and he had a well developed a very keen sense of listening skills, and what he’d just heard was Tori’s admission to a solid curiosity about the lifestyle. Perfect! Now, my precious little sub, I can tell there is more and you might as well spill it now because I’ll stay at you until I know everything. He decided to wait her out, he was sure she would continue talking if he didn’t rush her and time was on his side.
His patience was rewarded when she finally continued. “I went to a club once in Houston, just to see if what I was reading was true.” Trace had noted how her pulse had spiked and her breathing was little more than shallow panting. “It wasn’t anything like what I expected, it was so scary, and strange men and women kept coming up to me and touching me, I paid a large cover charge and I was only there about twenty minutes. One man demanded I strip and suck his…well, you know. I ran out and never went back.” The shiver that raced up her spine radiated out from her core and didn’t end until it reached her fingers and toes, and Trace felt each tremble.
Tori remembered the abject terror she’d felt as strange men and women had tried to touch her intimately. She’d been terrified the entire time she’d been inside the filthy warehouse that had been converted in to the only club she’d been able to find that allowed admittance by paying just the hefty cover charge. Every other club she’d found required extensive background screenings and waiting periods, and she had been sure she would lose her nerve or that discovery would ruin her fledgling career so she’d opted for the quick look-see that had turned out to be one of her dimmer moments.
Trace had heard enough, shifting her around so they were face-to-face, he started explaining all the reasons her curiosity was perfectly accept
able, but the fact she had put herself in a very dangerous situation was absolutely not acceptable. “First of all let me assure you that your curiosity is completely normal and you should never let anyone make you feel that it isn’t or that you are less because you are seeking a way to fulfill yourself. There is no right or wrong in consensual sex.” He took her small hands between his larger ones and held them securely before continuing. “Now, let’s talk about the fact that you are a beautiful woman who went into an unknown sex club alone, without doing any research about the establishment, its members, rules, safety measures, etc. I am known as a very gentle Dom because I’m tolerant and dislike physical pain as punishment unless it is absolutely necessary. But if you were mine and you put yourself in that kind of danger, you would find yourself over my knee the instant I discovered it, and I’d paddle your sweet ass until I was convinced you would never endanger yourself in such a careless way again.”
Tori had gasped in surprise and tried to pull her hands from his, and even though he knew she was shocked by his words, he was sure she was even more shocked by her reaction to them. He’d no more than spoken the words than he had smelled her sweet scent as her pussy had flooded with liquid heat. She had never had a man care enough to demand she take care of herself and he intended to see that wrong set to right. Trace watched the sweet sub in front of him as her pupils dilated, and he could smell her arousal as he’d spoken of spanking her for putting herself in a dangerous situation. When she had tried to pull back, and he’d tightened his hold as a test of how she reacted to that little bit of restraint and he’d been pleased to see that her eyes had immediately cast down, and her pulse and respiration rates had shifted upward immediately. Oh yeah…princess, you are oh so sweetly submissive.
“Stop overthinking this, Tori, and let me tell you what I see. I see a gorgeous woman who has had to work hard to put herself through college and establish herself in a career that is highly stressful. I see a very attractive and intelligent woman who understands that the world still judges women based on their looks, and despite the fact she is brilliant, many people don’t even look beyond the surface at the needs of the passionate woman underneath. I see a woman who is a submissive but who doesn’t understand the true meaning of the word in the BDSM world. I see a woman who is frightened of being judged and who now faces a danger that is beyond her ability to control so she has run, and I thank God that she ran to Climax where she’ll be safe and protected. I see a woman who now has the opportunity to explore her sexuality, both here and at ShadowDance where the guidelines all revolve around the tenant ‘Safe, Sane, and Consensual.’ I see a woman who sparks a fire in me that I was afraid would never be rekindled.”
Tori felt shaken to her core by his words. How had this man seen so much in such a short time? When she looked up, she felt tears fill her eyes, and she felt like he had stripped away so many layers that she kept wrapped tightly around herself to protect her fragile self-esteem that she was unsure how to respond. When she looked down again, Trace used a finger to lift her chin again and ran his thumb over her lower lip. “Princess, tell me what you think being a submissive means.” Tori was torn between telling him she already knew she was likely a sub but didn’t want to be or lying and just rattling off nonsense. “And let me be clear about something, Tori, I expect you to answer me honestly. Lying, and that includes lying by omission, is not something I will tolerate.” As he spoke the words, it struck him that he was a hypocrite of the highest order. Hell, he still hadn’t told her about all his offers to buy her uncle’s land - Shit! He promised himself he would remedy that as soon as possible, but right now he needed to concentrate on making sure Tori understood exactly what she would gain by indulging her curiosity.
Trace watched as she worried her lower lip, and he practically could see the thoughts racing through her mind. He hoped she’d opt for the truth because he didn’t want to have to back up his promise of punishment. That wasn’t the way he wanted to start with her, but he would if he had to. After all, to not would be a violation of trust. If a Dom told a sub of a consequence, he had to follow through, no matter how much he or she didn’t want to. Oh, sweetheart, don’t lie to me, please. I would so much rather your first spanking was erotic and not a punishment. I can’t wait to watch your beautiful ass turn a nice warm pink under my hand. Staying in control was essential early in their bonding as Dom and sub, and it was taking everything he had to wait her out. He was startled by how important it had become to make her his, but even that realization wasn’t enough to make him stray from a lifelong belief that you should always begin as you intended to go.
* * * *
Tori could feel her heart beating so hard she was worried it would rattle right out of her chest. She was aroused and scared at the same time. Gary George had frightened her more times than she wanted to remember, but this wasn’t that kind of fear. This was a fear of finding something within her that she had never expected, and for some reason she was terrified of letting Trace down, and that didn’t seem logical considering they’d only just met. “Um…well, I…damn this is so much harder than I thought it would be.”
“No, it is actually easy if you will just answer without trying to edit. I assure you, you won’t shock me, you won’t tell me anything that will change the way I see you.” Trace still held her hands in his as he spoke to her but his hold was no longer restraining, rather it was meant to focus her attention on him rather than on her own insecurities.
Tori finally took a deep cleansing breath and spoke with a strong voice. “I have read some about Ds relationships and scenes, and I, well, I suspected I was a sub, well, maybe a little more than suspected. But anyway, I was so curious about it…and…well, it seemed like it turned me on when I read stories about it. But, well, I’m really scared to think about some things, and I don’t want to give up my independence, and I’m scared of being hurt. And well, I guess I just need don’t want to be weak. If I give up all the control, then someone else is the strong one and I’m used to having to be strong and well…um…well, sometimes I like to be on top.” She’d said the last part of the sentence so quietly he had almost missed it.
Keeping her hands enfolded in his, Trace looked in to her eyes and thought for a minute he might fall into their depths. “Princess, when you meet the subs at ShadowDance, you are going to meet some of the strongest women I’ve ever met. We’ll go to dinner there this weekend before attending a Club night, and it will give you a chance to get to know some of the women I’m talking about. But I want to make it crystal clear that giving up control, letting go of all the expectations and just trusting that your Dom will give you everything you need sexually, requires a lot more strength than you know, and best of all it allows the sub to just let go and enjoy. You won’t have to worry about anything except following directions. Your only responsibility is immediate compliance.” His raised eyebrow stopped her when she would have argued. “No, it’s true. I’ll bet your vanilla sexual experiences have been filled with you having complete conversations with yourself in your head wondering if you should do this or should do that. I’ll also bet you have been lost in your worries about whether or not you were doing something right or wrong, and feeling like your body was never going to find that sweet release it craved, and ultimately it didn’t.”
Tori appeared mesmerized by the accuracy of his description and so he continued, “I’d also guess that your partners blamed you for your lack of release, claiming you were frigid or unable to orgasm. Or worse, they pushed you until you felt obligated to fake a response. Did I get it about right?” Trace knew he had nailed it, because he’d seen it too many times and heard about it from other Doms even more. Added to the fact that her jaw had been hanging open the whole time he’d been speaking, well, it didn’t exactly take a genius to figure this one out. He knew his assessment of things was accurate, but he’d have never predicted her reaction. He was shocked when she leaned her head back and laughed so hard she had tears running down her cheeks by
the time she managed to get herself back under control.
Chapter 6
Trace didn’t remember the last time a sub’s reaction had so completely blindsided him. He just sat and stared at her the entire time as she laughed hysterically. When she had finally settled he’d regained his composure enough to say, “Well, I have to tell you that reaction didn’t do much for my ego, princess. Want to tell me why you found my take on your situation so damned funny?”
Tori knew immediately she had offended him, and she sobered and apologized. “I’m really sorry, and I swear I wasn’t laughing at you, well, not directly.” At his raised-eyebrow look she quickly continued. “I was laughing because you were so terribly spot-on that I wondered if someone had sent out a memo or something. It’s kind of humiliating when the most handsome and interesting man you have ever met knows how sexually inept you are. I mean, think about it, I’ve told you about the books I’ve read and my trip to that nasty-assed club in Houston, and you know every sorry secret of my lame sex life…and, well, it’s just so pathetic. Christ, is there a sign above my head that says ‘Sex Loser’? God, I haven’t even had sex for four years because it was so degrading.” Suddenly her laughter turned to sobs, and Trace pulled her into his arms and let her vent all her frustration.