Two Doms For Angel

by Holly Roberts

  “In her culture, it’s the honorable thing to do.”

  “Do we need to worry about Angel’s family doing the honorable thing for her?”

  “No, that’s been taken care of. Hooriya Amin Kassis died of a drug overdose. Angel Philips has lived around the world. Her mother was American, and her father, Spanish. She is educated and holds a degree in English Literature.”

  “I take it you pulled strings?”

  “Yes.”

  “So explain why Angel Philips is your slave?”

  The silence stretched on while Monroe poured himself another helping of amber liquid, then took a long slow pull.

  “She was terrified when she came here. She thought I meant to kill her. I remember the look in her eyes. She was so afraid, but I think she actually yearned for me to take her life.”

  The tumbler traveled back to his lips and tipped. Zach watched Monroe’s Adam’s apple move as the liquid traveled down his throat. He so often found himself mesmerized by this man.

  “Even after I told her about you, it was obvious she didn’t want to live. I had no intention of teaching her the finer points of BDSM when I found her. I actually hadn’t planned to bring her here, either.

  “You just happen to carry sleeping medication with you wherever you go?” Zach couldn’t keep the disdain from his tone but Monroe ignored it and continued.

  “The first week she was here, she existed in an almost ghost-like state. I’d seen it before, overseas: shock, self-loathing, and shame. She didn’t cry and barely noticed what happened around her. I received a slight change of behavior when I talked about you, but it was short lived. Her nightmares became worse and I finally moved her into the room connected to mine. I surrounded her with your pictures. It helped.”

  Zach wasn’t ready to talk about the pictures.

  “So you figured if you beat her a little bit, she might come around more?”

  Zach watched as Monroe’s hand tightened on the glass. It was the first reaction that Zach had seen since entering the room and he held his hands up in apology when Monroe’s eyes found his. Zach wondered if Monroe’s look really could kill.

  “She asked about the ropes; she was fascinated. So, actually, it started with Shibari. When I bound her, she talked. It was almost as if binding her, set her free. I realized I used the rope in the same way. They’ve always set me free.”

  “Rope work and slavery are fairly far apart.”

  “I’m not so sure. When I create, I hold my model’s life in my hands. It’s the ultimate power exchange. It even worked with you.”

  The last of the alcohol left the glass but this time Zach didn’t watch. The words tore from his throat. “I’m not your slave.”

  “No, you are not. How simple this situation would be if you were.” The tumbler hit the table. “I remember you at twenty-five.”

  “We’re not that far apart in age.” Zach had to do something to change the subject.

  “Oh, we are decades apart in age. We are also miles apart in our feelings for each other.”

  Zach let out the breath he held. “I told you many years ago that I wasn’t gay.”

  The laugh was back but this time it had an undercurrent of anger.

  “My feelings go past sexual, Zach. They always have. You’re the one who insists on putting love in a box. I rescued Angel for you, but then she rescued me. I have no plans to give her up.”

  “Then I should leave.”

  “And that’s always been your answer. You run.”

  “What exactly do you want from me?”

  “That’s easy.” Monroe’s brown eyes came back up and pierced into Zach’s. “I want it all.”

  Zach couldn’t stay still. Standing up, he paced the room. He wanted so badly to run, but Monroe was right; running was always his answer.

  But he was older now, he told himself, more mature. That made him laugh; maturity had nothing to do with it. He was scared shitless. His hand went through his hair.

  “When you say these things, Monroe, all I can think about is sex and it’s not my thing. I’m a kinkster for Christ’s sake. I admitted it years ago. I have no problem with homosexuality or any of the other shit involved in this lifestyle, but being with a man doesn’t do it for me.”

  “What about a woman and a man?”

  “Is there a difference?”

  “I think there could be. She needs us both and we need her. I’ve touched you, Zach, and you got over it many years ago.”

  “I never got over it.”

  Those damned eyebrows rose. “No, I guess you didn’t but neither did I.”

  “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

  “I can’t believe it’s taken this long.”

  “You actually think a threesome will work for us?” The anger he felt came through loud and clear.

  “No, I don’t think a threesome will work. It’s more than that. I want you to marry her.”

  Now it was Zach’s turn to laugh.

  “So now you’re picking my bride. Is there any facet of my life you could manage not to control?”

  “Interesting. You didn’t say no.”

  “No! She loves you, and you want me to marry her?”

  “Now you’re being obtuse. She loves us both, but she needs marriage. She needs to feel clean and have her shame completely wiped away.”

  “Then you marry her!”

  “No.”

  “So if I marry her, she’ll just jump into bed with both of us and feel no shame?”

  “I think with time we would all adjust.”

  “Adjust? You think her sleeping with two men is an adjustment? I know for me it goes far beyond a simple modification of my thought process.”

  “Why?”

  “You can’t be serious?”

  “Do you remember when I made you go to the club and submit to a domme?”

  “Yes, that’s not a memory I’m likely to forget.”

  “To be a good dom, you need to understand what a sub goes through, how they feel, what it takes to completely give up your power. You were at the domme’s mercy. If I remember, she beat the living shit out of you. You could have used your safeword but you didn’t. Even when she put a butt plug up your ass, you didn’t safeword.”

  “Your cock is never going up my ass.” He stopped pacing and faced Monroe, trying to decide if he should finish the beating he started last night.

  “So, you make it a hard limit.”

  Zach was too stunned to speak for about thirty-seconds, “You actually think about putting your cock in my ass?”

  “I doubt there’s anything concerning you I haven’t thought about.”

  “This is fucking unbelievable!”

  “I know your feelings for me are wrapped up in a tight, neat package. But what about your feelings for Angel? She loves us both. We could have it all.”

  “You’d be the one having it all, but you don’t figure in the package I want with Angel.”

  “And I think you need to stop lying to yourself. My hands have been all over your body. I’ve seen the way you watch me. You think there’s nothing sexual in your feelings for me?”

  “No, I don’t.” It was his final word. It was also a lie, and Zach knew it.

  “When are you leaving?” Monroe always knew what Zach was thinking and what he would do.

  “This afternoon. I need to say goodbye.”

  “She won’t stop loving you.”

  “I doubt I’ll ever stop loving her.”

  He walked out.

  Up in his room, Zach changed into sweats and then took off for a long jog. He made it five miles and then walked another two. He ran away but all it got him was the long path back.

  Chapter Thirty-three

  No one was around when he made his way to his room and a shower. He felt light-headed because he hadn’t eaten, but he took his time, delaying his goodbye as long as he could. He knew it would be hard not to ask her to come with him, but he also knew the bond b
etween Angel and Monroe went too deep.

  Monroe’s bedroom door was open when he walked passed, but Angel wasn’t inside. He made his way down to the kitchen and grabbed a banana to keep from keeling over. Marguerite was standing at the stove.

  “Have you seen Angel?”

  “El la llevó a la sala de juego.” Her eyes shot fire.

  There was censure in the look, too, but he wasn’t sure if it was aimed at him or Angel. He understood the two most vital words of the exchange though, and headed to the playroom.

  The music through the door gave him pause. It was opera: sensual, gritty, consuming. Why the thought that Monroe was with Angel hadn’t occurred to him immediately was beyond him. His hand grasped the doorknob. He took a breath and turned the handle, entering the room.

  The scene stopped him cold.

  Angel was naked, hogtied, and suspended from the ceiling about two feet off the floor. Her head was hanging down and Monroe lay under her, resting on pillows. His hand smoothed wispy strands of hair from her sweating face, then stroked her breasts, squeezing her nipples. She swayed above him, seemingly oblivious to the pain she must be feeling. Zach knew the strain on her arms was incredible but her eyes were closed, her face almost dreamy.

  Monroe’s hands stopped her slow turn. He kissed her cheek, and then the line of her jaw. Grabbing the long braided rope of hair at the nape of her neck, he pulled back and brought his lips to hers before letting her head gently fall forward again.

  Seeing Monroe with Angel, loving her, and wanting her so badly it hurt — Zach could only stare.

  Monroe’s hand lifted and the light flashed off the blade in his hand. At the same time, he grasped the back of Angel’s neck, placing his other hand in her braid. He pulled it away from her neck and severed her hair. All of it.

  “What the fuck did you do?” Horrified anguish poured out with every syllable.

  Monroe turned to Zach, his face showing no emotion. He rolled to the side and used the knife to cut through the rope holding Angel above him. She landed beside him and he made quick work cutting the remainder of rope. Angel sagged into the pillows.

  Monroe stood, then picked her up and carried her to the couch. Zach’s eyes followed, and then went back to the pillows where her glorious hair lay.

  His eyes watered. He wanted to scream. Slowly, he moved forward and bent. He shakily brought the braid up to his face.

  The music stopped. He turned and saw Monroe toss the remote to the floor. He could hear Angel’s sobs. The twisting in his gut unbalanced his world,

  “What. The. Fuck. Did. You. Do?”

  “It’s yours, Zach.” Monroe’s arms tightened and pulled Angel further into his body. “She wanted you to have it, and I can deny her nothing.” His fingers traveled through the short strands of hair almost floating across her scalp.

  His hands tightened around the braid. Fuck!

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Two months later…

  “Derrick, you need to catch up on reports. You’re stuck at a desk until they’re finished, do I make myself clear?”

  “Yes, LT. Thank you, sir.”

  “Get out of here and get started.”

  Zach checked the calendar on his phone. He had a meeting this afternoon and then needed to catch up on his own paperwork.

  It felt good to be back. Deciding to accept the desk job seemed to be his only option after returning from Houston. He dragged his feet for two weeks and then scheduled an appointment to speak with his old captain.

  The job wasn’t the same but even with the improvement to his knee, its weak moments kept him out of the field. Babysitting rookies wasn’t his idea of fun, but Zach remembered the supervisors who took the time to steer him in the right direction. Now he was one of them.

  He worked, he went to the gym, and he drove two hours to an out-of-town kink club every other weekend.

  He tried to forget.

  It wasn’t enough. He wanted Angel, and he needed his friend.

  A few days after returning home, he received a package in the mail containing Angel’s braided hair. He placed the box in his spare room and swore he would never open it again.

  He lasted a week.

  Kinky was wrapping an unattached braid of hair around his hand and getting a hard-on. Kinky was bringing the hair to his nose and picturing a woman hanging from the ceiling being kissed by his best friend. Kinky was imagining his hands, running through her short strands then holding tight while he fucked her mouth. Kinky was dreaming about the three of them writhing together in a mass of sweaty, gleaming flesh.

  His captain grumbled when he took the following week off work, but he needed to go see his parents. He looked forward to the drive, and then a week of playing board games and walking along the beach. There was a local club he planned to visit, too. He wasn’t in a relationship but needed to relieve stress in the only way that worked for him.

  ***

  The day after he arrived, his mother baked a cake for him. A few hours later, he went for a run along the beach to burn off the calories. The sun was setting when he made his way back. After a quick shower, he went into the kitchen where his parents waited.

  “Would you like some coffee?” His mother rose to get him a cup.

  “Sit down, please. I think I can manage getting my own.” He smiled to take the sting out of his words.

  “I know you can, but without a woman to take care of you, I feel your poor old mother must continue the chore.” To her, a wife would solve all his problems.

  “The day you are old and poor will be the day dad buys his speedboat.” It was an old joke.

  He grabbed a cup and poured his coffee before settling down at the table.

  His dad looked at him, then looked at his mom before turning back to him.

  Zach waited.

  “Your mother and I thought it might be a good time for you to tell us what’s bothering you.”

  The room grew smaller and Zach grew younger.

  After taking a deep breath, he started talking. Once he decided to come clean with his parents, he couldn’t stop the words from tumbling out. He told them everything; about Monroe saving him in the Marines, and how they had become friends, and then about Angel.

  His mother wiped her eyes. His father placed his still strong hand over Zach’s.

  “We love you, son. We will always love you. More than anything, we want you happy.”

  His mother jumped in. “Do you know how many times we wondered if you were gay?”

  Zach felt his face turning red.

  “We didn’t care, we just didn’t understand why you wouldn’t tell us.”

  “Six months ago, I would have strenuously denied being gay. As for the other kinks, well… it just never seemed right to tell my parents.”

  His mother blushed, spared a quick glance at his father, and said, “You think you’re the only one who has a corner on kink?”

  Zach looked between the two.

  “Okay, this is a little too much for me,” he said. “If one of you hangs from the rafters, I really don’t want to know.”

  They all laughed and then talked long into the night. The conversation was mostly about Angel and Monroe.

  He left the next day. He had a long drive ahead of him.

  “Bring them both here to visit.” His mom kissed him on the cheek while Zach squeezed her for all she was worth. Then, his dad pulled him in for a hug.

  “Monroe already feels like another son, and your mother has never given up hope of having a daughter or granddaughter.”

  “I have a lot to work out first.”

  “I know, son. Just remember we love you, and will love the people in your life too.”

  During the long drive, Zach realized coming clean with his parents was the first step in admitting who he really was. He’d always known they would accept him no matter what. His problem had always been accepting himself.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  He worried that they might be gone, a
nd when Marguerite answered the door, the feeling multiplied. It should have been Stephens letting him in. Marguerite’s ample arms engulfed him and her Spanish filled the air.

  “Are they home?”

  “No, signor. Volverán mañana.”

  Zach was almost relieved but knew waiting until the following day would likely kill him. He didn’t know how Monroe and Angel would feel about his sudden return, but he needed to get this huge monkey off his back. He had to join them in bed at least once and find out if there was any chance of a future here.

  If, they would have him.

  He slept in his usual bedroom and resisted the need to sleep in a bed where he could smell Angel. He thought of her hair and wondered how it looked now. He fell asleep thinking about her swinging above Monroe just before he cut it.

  Marguerite cooked him pancakes in the morning. Against her protests, he helped her clean the kitchen. They both turned at the sounds coming from the front of the house. The muted voices floated into the kitchen.

  “Master, may I please skip my lesson today? I know Stephens is tired.”

  “Stephens is never too tired to give you lessons, but I’m sure we could compromise. I want to work with a new rope design before Melody comes tomorrow for a photography session. You will be naked and ready in five minutes.”

  Her laughter traveled down Zach’s skin and centered in his cock. Before he could decide what to do, Monroe found him.

  Marguerite left the room muttering Spanish under her breath. Zach caught just a small part of a “stupid man” comment and smiled.

  “It sounds like you’ll be busy for a while but I was hoping we could talk later. I’m staying in the guest room, but if that doesn’t work for you, I can take off tonight.”

  Monroe was drinking him in with his eyes. “It will always be your room if you want it.”

  “That’s what I’d like to talk about. How is she?”

  “Better.”

  “Better?”

  “Better than when you left.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “She’ll take you back, even if it’s only occasionally. She loves you.”