Ravish

by Marie Tuhart

“Why does it matter so much?” The more she thought about it, the more she thought she’d imagined the guy taking pictures today.

  “Are we in a relationship?” he asked.

  “I’d like to think so.”

  “Part of a relationship is talking to the other person, especially when something is bothering them. I can’t fix it if I don’t know about it.”

  “Why would you want to fix it?” She tilted her head.

  “Because I’m a man.”

  Lara let out a laugh. “Such a guy thing.”

  “You bet. Now tell me.”

  “I’m blowing this out of proportion; I know I am. Keith stopped by the café yesterday afternoon, right before I closed.”

  “What did he want?”

  “To make a nuisance out of himself.”

  “It was more than that, or you wouldn’t be upset.”

  Lara wrinkled her nose. “He told me I was being watched.”

  Colby stiffened. “By who?”

  A tremor slid up her spine at his quiet words. “Colby, you can’t confront him.” She could see the headlines her father would make sure happened. Local Leather Shop Owner Attacks Banker’s Son.

  “He threatened you.” Colby’s voice was hard and cold.

  “My family is always threatening me.” The minute the words left her lips, she froze. Colby stiffened even as his arms tightened around her. “That came out wrong.”

  “I don’t think so.” Fingers nudged her chin up. “What have they done before?”

  Lara sighed. “I’m considered the black sheep of my family. I told you how they’ve reacted to things I’ve done in the past.”

  “Yes, but you never mentioned any threats.”

  “It’s just little things, like my mom calling me over for dinner and pushing Walter at me even though we’re divorced, and I’ve told her we’re not getting back together. Or my dad, who was angry I insisted on certain protections in my business loan from his bank.” Yeah, that hadn’t been a fun conversation. “You saw how Keith and Walter were with the bikers. It’s stuff like that.”

  “They’re making your life hell,” Colby whispered.

  “They try.” Having Colby’s arms around her made her feel safe. “I think this was just Keith trying to rattle me, and it worked.”

  “It was more than his words, wasn’t it?”

  “I thought I saw someone taking pictures across the street from the café today.”

  Colby’s eyes narrowed.

  “I’m sure it was just some tourist.”

  “Yet it bothered you.” Colby lowered his head. “If anything happens, and I mean anything, even if it’s just a feeling, you call me, or better yet, if any of the bikers are in the café, tell them. I’ll spread the word.”

  Lara shook her head. “I don’t want anyone to get into trouble.”

  “No one will. I don’t like this, Lara. Your family is abusive.”

  She considered his words. “Dysfunctional.”

  “Semantics. I want you to promise me, if anything happens, you’ll call me. Even the slightest thing.”

  Lara stared at him. “I can only promise to call you after the event, during the event may be too difficult.” Especially if she had to get the police involved. “Weren’t you going to show me your sketches?” she said, trying to get their conversation off her and her crazy family.

  “I’m not forgetting this.” He slid her from his lap onto the sofa. “I’ll get my sketchbook because I did promise you, and I don’t go back on my word. Remember that, Lara. Because I give you my word: I will keep you safe.”

  Warmth filled Lara’s veins at Colby’s words. She believed he would keep her safe, even if meant him getting into trouble. Well, she wasn’t going to allow that to happen. She would protect him as he protected her. He didn’t realize how vicious her family could be.

  * * * *

  Lara stood staring at her closet on Thursday evening. What to wear tonight? She had a skirt already picked out, but the top was the issue. She wanted something easy on and easy off.

  A shiver slid over her skin. Tonight, she was going to try and go topless at the club. Not that she thought it was a bad idea, but she was still nervous about it. She finally settled on a lacy blouse she’d bought years ago, but thought was too sheer to wear outside the house.

  She dressed and applied her makeup before glancing at the clock. Colby would be here any minute. Lara slipped on a pair of ballet slippers and a jacket. Barely a minute later, her doorbell rang.

  “Hi.”

  “Hello, beautiful.” Colby leaned down and gave her a kiss. “Ready?”

  “Yes.” Lara grabbed her purse. “Whose car do you keep borrowing?” she asked as he led her down the steps.

  “Damon’s. It’s a little hard to ask you to ride my bike when you’re already dressed for the club.”

  “How about this next time. Ride your bike here and we take my car?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.” He was always so concerned about her. “It’s silly for you to keep borrowing a car.” Besides, if her family was watching, it would freak them out to see his motorcycle parked outside her home late at night. She smiled at the thought of making her family crazy.

  “So, this weekend you’re catering at the club again?” Colby asked as he drove.

  “Yes, Max wants to do it once a month and see how it goes.”

  “Shall I come by the café and help you?”

  “If you like. Pretty much everything will be ready. I’ll just need to load the hot boxes and other stuff.”

  “If Max is going to continue having you bring food, you need to talk with him about keeping some supplies at the club so you don’t have to bring so much.”

  “That’s not a bad idea.” Lara shifted in her seat.

  “Nervous about tonight?”

  “A little.”

  “You don’t have to go topless; it’s all up to you.” Colby reached over and took her hand.

  “I know, but I’d like to try.” She forced her mother’s nagging words that appearances were everything to the back of her mind. This was for her and Colby.

  Colby turned down the driveway and stopped at the gate. After punching in a code, the gate opened, and Colby drove through. They parked and made their way into the club. “Go put your things away; I’ll be in the club waiting for you.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Once inside the ladies’ bathroom, Lara took a deep breath. Okay, she could do this. She put her jacket and purse inside a locker and shut it. Lara checked her hair and makeup before leaving the room.

  Colby was just inside the club doors when she walked in. The second the music reached her ears, her body settled. The music had a primal beat to it.

  His gaze went from her head to her toes, to come back and linger at her top. “Nice top.”

  Her face flushed. “I hope you approve, Sir.” She began to lift her arms then dropped them back to her sides. This was going to be hard for her.

  Colby’s lips twitched, and she glared at him, then realized he was only wearing a pair of pants, no shoes and no shirt. “Won’t you get cold, Sir?”

  “With you in the room, the temperature is always hot.” He captured her wrist before she could curve her arm over her chest as another Dom walked by with a glance at her.

  “Lara.” His warm fingers cupped her chin and lifted her face. “I can’t stop anyone from looking at my beautiful partner, but I can promise you no one else will touch you.”

  Air rushed out of Lara’s lungs. She hadn’t even realized she was afraid of someone else touching her until Colby said it. “Thank you, Sir.”

  “You’re mine, sweetheart. No one else’s.” He brushed a kiss over her forehead, then looked around the room. “There’s a flogging scene going on; would you like to go watch?”

  “Yes, Sir.” Maybe if she focused her attention elsewhere, she’d forget how exposed she was in this lacy top. Colby led her over to the scene and found a place for them to si
t. Or should she say he sat and pulled her into his lap. Her back was against his chest, and his arms rested around her waist.

  Lara kept her concentration on the couple on stage instead of Colby’s arms around her or the heat coming from his body, seeping into her skin. The sub on the stage was tied to a St. Andrew’s Cross, nude. The Dom had on pants and loafers. What was it about these men going shirtless?

  “See the flogger in his hand?” Colby whispered. She nodded. “That one has more tails—or falls—to it. It will create a thuddy feeling. It’s a good one to warm up with.”

  The Dom brought his arm back and let it fly. Lara flinched when the flogger made contact with the sub’s ass.

  “That’s got to hurt, Sir.”

  Colby tapped his fingers against her arm, not hard, but the impact was there. “Did that hurt?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “That’s what the sub is feeling. Both are experienced with flogging.”

  “But...” Lara shook her head. “I’m sorry, Sir; I just don’t get it.”

  “Think of it this way, how did my fingers feel against your skin were when I tapped you?”

  “Soft and gentle, Sir.”

  “Now think about how it feels when someone pinches you or snaps a towel that hits your butt. What’s the difference?”

  “Oh.” She tilted her head. “So what you did with your fingers is considered thuddy, but a snap of towel would be stingee, Sir.”

  “Simplified, but yes. The heavier the flogger is and the wider the tails or the number of tails, the more thuddy it will be. Some subs like both, some only thuddy, some only stingee.”

  “Why do I have a feeling stingee, even though you said like a snap of a towel, is so much more than that, Sir?”

  “It can be. It all depends.”

  Lara considered his words. “It sounds like you’ve tried it, Sir.”

  “I have.” He leaned closer to her. “Most Doms have. I’m not going to say all, because I don’t know all the Doms at the club personally, but I do know many of us wouldn’t do something to a sub we haven’t already tried.”

  “Who would dare flog a Dom, Sir?”

  “You’d be surprised.”

  What he said made sense, but still, who would want to take on a man like Colby, let alone someone like Max? She shifted on Colby’s lap. The Dom switched floggers, and Lara kept her gaze on the scene.

  The sub would moan every so often, but Lara noticed the Dom didn’t strike in the same place, but moved around, then came back to that first place. He also paused and rubbed the areas he flogged before continuing.

  “Sir, why does he stop and rub the sub?”

  “A couple of reasons: It keeps them connected; she feels his touch and hears his voice. It also helps the blood circulate.”

  “I’ve noticed the Dom moves spots, Sir.”

  “Right. You don’t want to keep striking in the same place because it will cause bruises.”

  A shiver went through her body.

  “I don’t believe in bruising a sub. Some subs want it, and it takes a particular Dom to give that to them. I like knowing my sub has felt my flogger and doesn’t need a visual reminder the next day, but she’ll remember exactly where I caressed her skin.”

  Her toes curled as heat swept through her veins. How would it feel to know where he flogged her the next day? Her breath caught in her throat. She shifted in his lap.

  “Someone is wiggly.” His palms spread out over her abdomen.

  “Sorry, Sir.”

  “Notice how the Dom is very careful where he flogs. He is only doing her shoulders, ass, and the back of her thighs.”

  “I did, Sir. Why?”

  “To make sure he doesn’t hurt her. He avoids the neck area, the kidneys, and lower back.”

  “Makes sense.” Colby’s hand moved, and Lara tensed.

  “Easy, sweetheart.” His voice was soft as he inched his hand under her top.

  Lara could barely breathe as his fingers moved higher until they were right below her breasts, his nails teasing her sensitive skin.

  “Sir?”

  “Watch the scene.”

  Colby’s voice had dropped a notch. He had to be kidding. Lara bit her lip when his palm covered her left breast. He was touching her. Out in the open of the club. Why wasn’t she telling him no? But this was no different from last Saturday, was it? Maybe because she wanted his touch more tonight.

  When he switched to her other breast, her skin tingled with need. Her clit pulsed. She was getting turned on. That shouldn’t have surprised her, but it did. Hell, her ex could barely get her wet and she loved him. Which proved the old saying that one shouldn’t marry without sampling the treat. With Colby, all it took was his touch.

  Cool air touched her skin, and she moved her head to look.

  “No, sweetheart.” Colby nipped her jaw. “Keep watching the scene.”

  “Yes, Sir.” Lara swallowed, trying to control her breathing. What was Colby doing? One hand was on her breast, but where was the other one. The sub on the stage cried out, and the Dom stopped flogging her.

  Lara kept her gaze on the Dom as he walked over to his sub and talked to her while rubbing her shoulders. The Dom smiled and set the flogger aside, and then began releasing the sub.

  “I guess they’re done,” Colby said.

  “Why did she cry out, Sir?” Lara was confused; she hadn’t seen anything different in the way the Dom had flogged her to cause her to cry out.

  “She climaxed.”

  “Oh.” Lara ducked her head. It never occurred to her that someone could orgasm from a flogging.

  “None of that.” Colby tapped her chin.

  “What, Sir?”

  “Embarrassment. Nothing is taboo here.”

  “Not even ignorance, Sir?”

  “You’re not ignorant. You don’t fully understand play yet, so none of that talk.”

  Lara wasn’t so sure. The couple sharing the sofa with them stood, and Colby, instead of standing, maneuvered her and lifted her legs up so they were now resting on the sofa.

  “Can you answer my questions truthfully?”

  She stared at him. “I always do, Sir.” Why was he questioning her?

  “Did watching the scene arouse you?” Need coursed through her veins, and Colby chuckled. “Based on how pink your skin is, I’m going to take that as a yes. There is nothing wrong with that. How did you feel when I was playing with your breasts?”

  “It was nice, Sir.”

  “Just nice? I guess I’ll have to up my game.”

  Lara didn’t like the wicked gleam in Colby’s eyes, but she didn’t know what to say. It was nice. “Your touch was soft and gentle, Sir.”

  A cry from across the room had her stiffening. Colby turned his head, and when he looked back at her, his lips were tilted up. “Just one of the subs on the spider web being spun around.”

  “Sounds dangerous, Sir.” Spider web? Oh yeah, she remembered now, the big metal wheel that looked like a web.

  “If it wasn’t a Dom who’d practiced on it, yes. But Master Max is there watching and making sure nothing goes wrong. Now back to you.”

  Lara let out a sigh.

  Colby held her gaze. “Sweetheart, if you don’t want to play in the club, tell me.”

  “It’s not that, Sir.” She shifted on his lap. “I’m not sure how to explain it, Sir.”

  “What is going through you mind?”

  “I’m excited, but there is an underlying thread of unease.”

  “Do you know what is causing the unease?” His voice held concern.

  “I...” Lara stiffened. “Damn,” she whispered. Appearances mean everything flashed through her mind, again.

  “Would you please share?”

  She glanced around, there was no one near them. “Please understand, Sir, this might come out a little wrong. I trust you.”

  Colby lifted his hand and placed his palm on her cheek. Lara leaned into his touch. “I understand. And, for the mo
ment, drop the Sir and talk to me.”

  “We’ve never really discussed how secure the club is.” Would those who saw her here take it to the outside world? She knew the club had rules, but that didn’t mean everyone followed them.

  “Are you worried about your safety?”

  “No. I said that wrong. I meant security wise. Remember what I said Tuesday.”

  His eyes narrowed. “There’s the gate, and Ralph checks everyone in. Are you worried about someone getting into the club who doesn’t belong?”

  “There is that, but also outside the club.” She let out a sigh. “After Keith told me they were watching me, I became worried about the club.”

  Colby froze. “Lara, you’re safe here.” His arms tightened around her. “As for outside the club, that’s why we have the rules. You don’t mention who you see in the club.”

  “I believe you. I’ve tried not to let his words get to me, but tonight...I’m sorry.” She ducked her head. Why was she letting her family issues interfere with her relationship with Colby? Maybe because it was so ingrained in her to walk the straight and narrow?

  “Sweetheart.” His arm tightened around her shoulders. “There is nothing to be sorry for. I think we need to talk more about your family.”

  “Probably.” He had a right to know what was going on. “My family would have rather I stayed married to my ex. They throw us together whenever they think they can, which is why I rarely visit my parents anymore.”

  Colby shook his head. “What is your brother’s issue?”

  “Keith thinks I need a keeper. He’s a couple of years older and followed in our father’s footsteps.” She gave a bitter laugh. “Heck, so did Scott, my other brother. I’m the baby of the family.”

  “What about your mom? I can’t imagine her putting up with all of this.”

  “Hazel Meyer never has a hair out of place, let alone shows any defiance toward her husband. The only reason I got to go to Berkeley was because I agreed to go to the business school. It backfired on my father, but he never realized it until I graduated.”

  “So they’ve always tried to stifle your nature?”

  “A good way to put it.” Lara stopped as Max walked up to them.

  “Everything okay?” he asked.

  “We’re fine, but Master Max if you would pull up a chair for a moment and tell Lara about the security of the club and how only members can get in.”