Rescued by a Dom and a Sub

by Eileen Green

  “You keep that up,” Shane began, his voice a couple octaves lower than before. “I’ll be asking for the check.”

  Her eyes snapped open, panic beginning to rise.

  Shane pulled his fingers from her lips and chuckled. “I’m just kidding, pet. However, I would love to get you and Jeremy alone, soon.”

  Clara shifted in her chair, embarrassment consuming her. She wasn’t used to people teasing her, nor was she used to men whispering to her in a sexy tone.

  “Now, about that question. Are you interested in pursuing BDSM?” Shane asked as he sat up straight. “And just so you know, pet. When I ask a question, I expect it to be answered, and answered truthfully.”

  Jeez! He makes me so flustered!

  Her cheeks heated, and her hands were shaking. Shane was demanding, but she found it so fucking sexy. “I am interested in the subject. I’m just not sure it’s for me.”

  His hand was still covering hers. He squeezed it. “We’ll go slow since it’s been a while for Jeremy also. I think you will embrace it fully, angel.”

  The waitress saved the moment since Clara didn’t know how to respond to Shane’s comment. The woman set the dish full of mouth-watering deliciousness in the middle of the table and handed out three salad-sized plates.

  “Can I get you refills?” she asked and waited.

  Shane looked at Jeremy who shook his head. His drink was still nearly full. Then he looked back at the waitress. “The lady and I will have a refill, thank you.”

  The waitress left after a quick nod in Shane’s direction, and Shane began to dole out the appetizers. Clara thought there was enough food there to eat as a meal, but Shane wanted it.

  The alcohol from the drink she had downed was working on her body, and she suddenly felt relaxed and a bit light-headed, her stomach now warm. She had downed the drink, and she wasn’t used to the harder liquor. Wine was what she usually stuck to, and her body was used to that.

  For the rest of the evening, she acquiesced to Shane as he fed her from fork or fingers. She was certain if Jeremy was still sitting on the other side of her, he would have been doing the same thing.

  Shane had talked about his job as did Jeremy. They then turned the subject to BDSM, and Clara was thankful there weren’t people close to them to overhear. Clara knew it was something that was not aired out in the vanilla world.

  By the time they finished eating, Clara had a better knowledge of the lifestyle and knew fully that she was a submissive. Jeremy was also, but he was more of a slave. He wanted to tend to his lover’s needs, from cooking and cleaning to serving them at a club or whatever the Dom needed at any time he was around.

  Fully invested, Clara accepted a date for the following evening. Shane would take her to the club, but since Jeremy was working the next day, he would go with them on Friday. Jeremy seemed a bit put out, but he didn’t say anything.

  Jeremy perplexed Clara. He was quiet but attentive. She liked him and hoped he would relax around her a bit more.

  At her front door later that night, as they had closed down the restaurant talking, both men stood in front of her. They guarded her from being seen from the street. Her heart was pumping so hard and fast she thought for certain they could hear it.

  “Nothing’s going to happen that you don’t want, angel,” Shane said in his gravelly voice.

  “We just want to make sure you get inside safely,” added Jeremy as he raised his hand and cupped her cheek. “God, you are so beautiful.”

  Smiling shyly, she lowered her head. Jeremy raised it back up, so she was looking up at him. “Please don’t do that. There’s nothing to be embarrassed about. You’re so pretty. I can’t believe you haven’t been taken yet.”

  His head bent to hers and his lips pressed against hers. Little zings of electricity seemed to come from his mouth as his tongue swept out and licked along her lips. She opened to him.

  Jeremy took control of the kiss, sweeping through her mouth expertly. He touched every inch as if memorizing the feel and taste of her.

  Clara wrapped her arms around his waist as their tongues tangled, dancing together briefly before he pulled back. Her lips felt full and alive, something she hadn’t felt in a long time.

  His eyes were hooded as he looked at her, sexual hunger in them. She couldn’t believe this was happening to her. Here she was standing on her front porch with two men when she hadn’t had a date in over a year.

  “Can we come inside, pet?” she heard Shane ask. “I’d like to check out the house.”

  She knew it was because of his offer to keep her safe, but she hoped he would kiss her before he left. The neighbors weren’t nosy, but she was sure she’d be the talk of the neighborhood if she was kissed by two men on her front porch.

  Nodding, she removed her keys from her purse and began to unlock the door, her hands shaking. Shane took them from her and opened the door, stepping around her, and entering before her.

  The light came on inside her entryway, and she stepped inside. Shane moved into the living room and checked the windows. From there, he checked the windows in the dining area and the kitchen. She had a townhouse, so the floor was long and not overly wide. Being on the end of the building, she had a window in her dining room as others didn’t.

  Shane came back, passed her and moved up the stairs. Behind her, Jeremy closed the door. Her heart raced.

  * * * *

  Jeremy was confused by Shane’s actions. He seemed like a man on a mission, and Clara just watched him as he moved around her house.

  Placing his hand on the small of her back, Jeremy gently pushed her toward the couch in the living room. She had good taste and the furniture matched.

  A white leather couch and love seat made up a seating area with a chrome-and-glass end table sat in the corner separating them. She also had two slipper chairs in a cobalt blue that framed the gas fireplace, completing the seating. The coffee table and another end table occupied the room. It was a cozy setup, and the colors were relaxing. Her dining table matched the other tables in the room, and the chairs were the same cobalt slipper chairs. She had a good eye.

  Clara sat and crossed her legs. Jeremy sat on the chair closest to her. “If you don’t mind me asking, what’s going on?” he asked curiously.

  She was adorable when she looked at him. Her eyes were a bit glazed from the cocktails she had consumed at the restaurant. With her petite body and the way she had downed the first drink, he was surprised she had been able to walk away from the table on her own.

  “I…um…” She didn’t seem to know how to answer him, so he knew it was bad. She cleared her throat. “I kinda got a threatening note. Shane said he was going to provide security for me. But I figure I live in a gated community, so I should be pretty safe.”

  “But people get in all the time. The pizza guy. Ride-shares.” Jeremy felt uneasy about her announcement. “Where was the note?”

  “One was left on the front door, and the other was on my windshield.” As she spoke, her words came further apart as realization set in. “Oh, God!” she sobbed as she buried her face in her hands.

  Having felt guilty for making her realize the obvious, Jeremy moved over to the couch. He circled his arm around her shoulder and pulled her to him, so her head was cradled against his chest. “I’m so sorry, baby,” he murmured. “Sometimes it takes a different perspective to see what’s right under our noses.”

  It pained him to hear her hurting like this. Since he had laid eyes on her that fateful night, it seemed she was hurt the majority of the time. And, she didn’t deserve it. She was a beautiful woman who deserved to be cherished and protected and loved thoroughly.

  “What happened?” Shane asked as he stepped back into the room.

  “She realized that she wasn’t as secure here as she thought she was,” Jeremy answered. “I would take her home with me, but I have to work tomorrow.”

  “It’s all right. I’ll get her a room at the hotel. She’ll be safe there.” Shane was a c
onfident man who took his job in security seriously. It also proved to Jeremy that Shane made a good Dom who took care of his subs.

  “I can’t let you do that,” Clara said softly as she continued to lean against Jeremy.

  Shane stood across the coffee table for them, his arms crossed over his massive chest. The muscles of his arms so big it looked as if the material of his suit was going to burst.

  “Clara, I told you I would handle your security. I meant it. Now, go pack a bag, at least for a couple of days. We can always come back for more,” Shane said. It wasn’t a demand, per se, but Jeremy knew it was meant to be.

  Clara pulled out of Jeremy’s embrace and stood quickly. Her hands went to her hips, and she appeared defiant. However, her body wavered as a moan escaped her. She appeared to be in pain, and before Jeremy knew it, she crumpled, giving him little time to grab her before she hit the floor.

  Chapter Five

  “Shit!” Shane exclaimed as he moved around the table before him. He helped Jeremy sit Clara back on the couch. “I was afraid she had too many drinks.”

  “I don’t think it was the drinks. I think she stood too quickly, and I think she’s still in a lot of pain. Maybe she overdid it tonight,” Jeremy offered, his body twisted toward her. “It’s been several hours since she had those cocktails.”

  He was timing Clara’s pulse on her wrist with one hand and opening one of her eyes with the other. Shaking his head, he went on. “She seems okay with these two vitals. I’m pretty sure she passed out from the pain when she stood. She probably needs to be staying off her feet. She should have been using crutches, even with the boot.”

  Shane sat on the arm of the couch looking down at his two soon-to-be lovers. He wanted both of them in his life, living in his home and in his bed, and he had only really known them for about five hours. Of course, he had wanted them when he had first seen them on the mountain, but now that he was getting to know them, they were already presenting a stability in him he had craved for so long.

  Clara wasn’t aware at the moment, but Shane was going to win the war on where she was going to be staying for the next week, at least. His house should be ready by then, and then she would move in with him.

  At the hotel, she would be using an elevator, and at his house when it was ready, the master bedroom was on the first floor. There was also an elevator in the house because his mother would need it when she visited. Clara could use one of the bedrooms on the second floor if she didn’t want to share the master yet.

  He feared she was rushing into returning to her normal life, but right now proved she needed some extended recuperation time, and he was going to be the one to make sure it happened.

  “Can you get me a wet washcloth?” Jeremy asked as he stood and gently laid Clara out on the couch.

  Shane ran upstairs and searched a cabinet in the bathroom. Finding a washcloth, he wet it with cold water, wrung it out, and bolted back downstairs. He laid it on Clara’s forehead as soft moans began to emanate from her.

  “Let’s see how she feels for a little bit to determine if we should take her to the ER.” Jeremy sat on the coffee table.

  Glancing around, Shane pulled one of the slipper chairs closer and sat.

  As he took in the cozy yet concerning scene before him, Shane “The Beast” Owens had to chuckle inwardly at the sight. As a Navy SEAL, he had never imagined having a domestic life outside of work.

  It was difficult being in the Special Forces. They were being called upon at any time, day or night. They trained excessively when they were home. Also, it was difficult being out in the field and worrying about family back home. While on a mission, they did not need distractions.

  After he retired from the SEALs, building his business had taken over his life. Sure, he had relieved some stress at the Tiger’s Lair. However, he hadn’t thought about domestic life with a lover. He just didn’t have time for it.

  Now, out of nowhere, he had two people that held all his emotions. He was concerned over Clara’s welfare and had been since the moment he had set eyes upon her. He had thought of her often during the past month.

  During dinner, it had taken all Shane’s sheer will not to call over the waitress, demand the bill, and take his soon-to-be lovers upstairs to his hotel room. They needed to ease into this, especially with Clara.

  The Four Seasons was his home for the time being, at least through next week. He had been living there for about three months now while his house was being built. The construction had begun before Clara and Jeremy had entered Shane’s life, but there was plenty of room for everyone. He had planned for his mother to be able to visit with her heart condition and chronic knee pain and that’s why he had the elevator installed, and she wouldn’t have to maneuver the stairs and become overexerted.

  There was also a room specifically for his daughter, Diana. She was nineteen now, and even though she was an adult, she would have her own room when she came to visit him.

  Diana lived in California now, going to college there. Usually, Shane would go visit her, but she had expressed an interest in visiting him in Denver. He didn’t blame her as her entire life had been in Oklahoma, and she wanted to explore other places.

  That would need to be a conversation to be had with Clara and Jeremy. Would they want to be in a relationship with someone with a grown child? Diana was going to be a part of his life forever, and whoever he wound up being with would have to be understanding of him wanting to spend time with Diana, either here in Denver, or in Tulsa.

  He knew there would need to be a lot of things worked out between the three if they accepted him as a lover and a Dom, but that would come in time. One of the things that would be a deterrent was Jeremy’s job.

  “You said you came here for an interview today, Jeremy,” Shane began. “Do you think you have a chance?”

  The man in question shrugged, obviously unsure of himself. That would have to stop. Shane was certain Jeremy was competent in his work environment. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have a job.

  “Why wouldn’t you?” Shane asked, keeping control of his Dom voice that would normally emerge.

  “There are a lot of applicants with more experience than me. They also have experience in big cities where mine is more rural.” Jeremy sounded defeated.

  “How many times have you applied here?”

  “This is my first time. My life hasn’t quite lived up to what I wanted it to be.”

  Clara moaned, and her eyes fluttered open. Jeremy was on his knees next to her. “Hey there,” he said softly. “How do you feel?”

  As if making an assessment of her body, Clara’s eyes rolled several times before she spoke. “My foot hurts, a lot. It has been all evening, but it got worse when I stood suddenly. Plus, I shouldn’t have had that second drink.” She said the last part with a smile.

  “What about your head? Do you feel sick to your stomach?” Jeremy asked quickly.

  “My head’s fine. I’m pretty sure it was the pain and the drink.” She began to try to sit up. Shane was up and out of his seat in a flash, and was helping her sit up, while Jeremy helped from the other side. “Also, I hadn’t eaten all day, so the drink went straight to my head.”

  Now, both men bookended Clara, her petite stature evident in contrast to their shoulders. Picking up her hand, Shane marveled at how small it was compared to his. He hoped she wasn’t uncomfortable with him or Jeremy because of her size.

  Shane cleared his throat. “If you want to be in a relationship we’ve discussed, you have to take care of yourself, even if I’m not here. You are to eat breakfast, even if it’s just toast and yogurt.” He knew some women didn’t eat a lot at breakfast, or not eat at all, but they really needed to eat something. “As for lunch, it’s always something you need to eat, and then a good dinner, which I noticed you ate heartily.”

  Clara looked up at him, but he couldn’t judge the look she gave him. “The food was good tonight, and I was hungry, but I don’t usually eat that much. And, I do e
at both breakfast and lunch, usually. Since the accident, sometimes I sleep through meals because of the pain meds. Today, I was so nervous about going to meet you that I forgot about eating.”

  Shifting on the couch so that he was half turned toward her and his knee was against her thigh, he was able to look at her without stretching his neck. “Why were you nervous about coming to visit me? You didn’t know who I was before you came to the office.”

  He watched her take a deep breath. Clara kept her head lowered. “I was afraid you wouldn’t believe me when I told you someone was threatening me. I mean, it does seem far-fetched.”

  “Have you told anyone else about the letters?” Jeremy asked as he turned and sat, mirroring Shane.

  “Letters?” Shane asked incredulously. He only knew about the one. “As in multiple?”

  Why hadn’t she told him about any others?

  Clara removed her hand from Shane’s and used it to push her hair back behind her ear. Shane had noticed she hadn’t used anything to hold her hair back. A lot of women would use barrettes, headbands, or even clips or elastic bands.

  He had been holding back as not to scare her, but he wanted to feel her hair. It looked like a black sheet of silk, and the temptation to run his fingers through it was great. He even wanted to drag it across his hardened cock while they were playing around.

  Damn it! Now that image is going to be in my head for a long time!

  Mentally shaking the image away, and talking his dick down from escaping his slacks, Shane watched Clara and waited for her response to his inquiry.

  Slowly, Clara turned her face toward him. Her eyes were still downcast as if she was afraid of him. Had he frightened her with his question?

  “I wanted to see if you believed me when I showed you the one letter. Then you were talking about the accident, and the conversation turned away from the reason I went to see you.” Clara’s eyes shifted up to look at Shane. Vulnerability was evident in those dark brown eyes of hers along with her fear. “I wasn’t that afraid until Jeremy showed me how unsafe a gated community can be.”