Buried Treasure (Silver Creek Resort Book 1)

by Melinda Barron

  Autumn coughed.

  “That won’t be necessary,” Autumn said. She didn’t find it necessary to explain herself further.

  “Okay,” Rosa said. “I’ll unpack your bag when it arrives and—”

  “That won’t be necessary either,” Autumn said. “I can take care of it myself.”

  “As you wish,” Rosa said. “Then I’ll finish dusting, and I’ll be out of your way in two shakes.”

  She dropped another curtsey and went back to work, and Shawn stepped closer to Autumn. “Want a tour?”

  “Sure.” Actually, she wasn’t so sure, but it was best to just keep things on an even keel. If she let him know she was a little disturbed at the idea of seeing a dungeon she was afraid he would use it against her. Or maybe not, she wasn’t sure. Shawn and Ethan both seemed to be on the up and up, and she didn’t think they would tie her up and do things to her against her will.

  But just in case she hoped there was a dead bolt on the front door that couldn’t be opened from the outside.

  “There is a fully stocked kitchen, if you don’t want to eat in the lodge, three bedrooms and two baths.” He was pointing at rooms as he talked. “The dungeon is the second room on the right. There is a hot tub in the master bathroom, along with a soaker tub if that’s what you want.”

  A woman clad in the same French maid’s uniform as Rosa came in carrying Autumn’s bag. She nodded at Shawn and then took the bag into the main bedroom.

  “Can we do anything else for you, or do you want to be alone for a while?”

  “I’m going to take a bath,” she said. Autumn would like to lay her papers out and look them over. The letter she’d shown Shawn was in her purse, but the rest of the things were in her car, hidden in the spare tire well. It had all the newspaper clippings, the police report, the print outs about the coordinates.

  “Sounds good,” Shawn said. “While you’re soaking, you might want to get things straight on your research. We’ll expect the whole truth tonight, not just a letter.”

  Autumn just stared at him. “If you want fifty thousand dollars from me, you need to be totally honest,” he said.

  “If you don’t trust me, why did you invite me here?”

  “You’re pretty,” he said with a shrug. “And I’m a Dom. If I have you here, there’s more chance of the two of us playing, if you know what I mean.”

  “At least you’re honest,” she said.

  “I hope I can say the same about you when it’s all over,” he said. “I’ll see you at seven. Or, if you prefer, there is a cocktail party at six. It’s in the lodge.”

  He left before she could ask him more questions, like where his cabin was, and what she was supposed to wear for dinner. She hadn’t brought anything with her except a pair of jeans and a few shirts, just in case she found something she needed to hunt in this area that she could take back to the antique store.

  When all three of them were gone she took out her cell phone and called Trey. She considered it lucky that it went to voice mail. She told him she’d seen an ad for storage units in the Vegas area similar to the one she was going to, and she planned on staying a few days and checking those out, too. There was a little part of her that hated lying to him about where she was, but it wasn’t the first lie she’d told him. A lie of omission was the same thing as a lie, wasn’t it? She hadn’t told him about the letter, or the research she’d been doing.

  Why was she feeling guilty about not sharing this information with Trey? More to the point, why was she considering taking it from Shawn and Ethan, and their partner Randy, who was not here at the moment?

  She should have done a little more research about what happened if they actually found the money. Did they have a responsibility to tell the authorities if they found it? Probably, but she wanted the money, even if she had to share it.

  She would love to be able to pay off debts, and have a little bit of cushion. But there would be the little matter of explaining where that amount came from, and the attention wouldn’t be good.

  “Stop thinking,” she said. She went into the bathroom, searched the shelves and found a bottle of lavender bath salts. She filled the tub and added the salts, and after she was naked she lowered herself into the soothing, fragrant waters.

  A little cubby in the marble had all sorts of items, including a few vibrators that were sealed in packages, various lotions, a set of anal balls and, already blown up and ready, the only vanilla item besides the bath products—a bath pillow. Autumn attached it to the marble and settled into it, closing her eyes and relaxing. If she wasn’t careful, she might fall asleep and that wasn’t a good idea.

  “You should have turned on the jets.”

  Autumn gasped in shock. She threw her arms across her breasts, and at the last moment, she thrust one hand between her legs.

  “What do you think you’re doing here?” All of a sudden, she felt as if she were in a pot of boiling water. Now she knew how a lobster might feel being stuck in a vat of hot water.

  “The chef asked me to come and see if you were allergic to anything.”

  “Bull hockey,” she said. “You could have called the room.”

  “And missed seeing you in the bath?” He left, and she sighed in relief. But moments later he was back. He put a chair in the middle of the large room and sat down.

  “Get out,” she said.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” he said. He stretched his legs out and crossed his arms over his chest. Autumn turned her back, using the high walls of the tub as a shield so he wouldn’t see her naked.

  “Do you do this to all your customers?”

  “Depends on to whom the customer has been assigned, I mean as a Dom.” He crossed his feet at the ankles. “If she was my sub for her stay, I might come in while she was in the tub, to catch her off guard.”

  “You did that,” she said. “Would you please leave?” She wished she’d chosen bath bubbles instead of salts. She wouldn’t feel so naked.

  “You didn’t answer my question,” he repeated. “Are you allergic?”

  “No,” she said. “I can eat anything. Now, please leave.”

  “Tell me about your love life,” he said.

  “What is this, an interview?”

  There was that look again, the one that made her nipples hard. “I got to thinking that it really wasn’t fair of me to throw you to the wolves if you decide to come to the cocktail party.”

  “Then I won’t go,” she said. “That solves the problem. See you at dinner. I’ll be on time.”

  “We are full this week, and the people attending are big into the lifestyle,” he said.

  She wondered what she had to say to get him to leave. But she had to admit she was curious about what would happen at the party that he had to come here and warn her about. She decided to ignore her nakedness and ask a few questions.

  “What is happening that might upset me?” She put her hand on the edge of the tub and placed her chin on it.

  “Tell me, Autumn, have you ever done anything kinky?”

  “That’s none of your business,” she said. “I’m not here to play with whips and chains. I’m here to discuss a treasure hunt. Although I have to admit you’ve roused my curiosity.”

  “Whips and chains? Well, that’s a pretty good clue.” He wiggled his eyebrows. “Did you like it?”

  “I’m not saying I played with whips and chains,” she said. She cringed when she realized how loudly she’d spoken.

  “Me thinks she dost protest too much,” Shawn said. “This is a judgment free zone. If you enjoy being tied up and spanked, you’re in the right place.”

  “I don’t believe this,” Autumn said.

  Shawn chuckled. “You didn’t spend much time on the website, did you? You would realize you can believe it when I’m talking about being in the right place.”

  “That’s not what I meant, and you know it,” Autumn said. “I’m here about the money, and that is all. I didn’t book a room here. Yo
u brought me here.”

  “You’re right, I did, and I think you should come to the cocktail party,” he said. “What size are you?”

  “Why, do you only accept size two blonds?”

  He sat up straighter and put his elbows on his knees. “We’re equal opportunity Doms. I would say you’re probably a size fourteen, thirty-eight D?”

  “If you think I’m going to confirm your guesses think again,” she said.

  “I’m going to have X bring you a dress for the party,” he said. “Size fourteen?”

  “Depends on the dress,” she said. “Tell me, why do you call this woman X? Does she not have a real name? Or is it Xena, and you just want to shorten it?”

  The water was growing colder. Autumn wanted to get out and wrap herself in a towel. But she supposed they did need to talk about a dress. She didn’t exactly have any good clothing to wear to a cocktail party.

  “A size fourteen should work,” she said. “Now, will you please leave so I can get out?”

  “We have a few unattached visitors tonight.”

  That caught her attention. “What do you mean by that?”

  Shawn stretched back out, but this time he locked his fingers behind his head. “I told you that we cater to couples, and to Doms and subs that are looking for a little unattached fun.”

  “Okay,” she said.

  “It was actually Ethan that mentioned the two Doms we have visiting might see you as open.”

  She jerked upright, her breasts bobbing above the water.

  “Open to what?”

  “Open to play,” Shawn said, in a voice that said, duh, you should have figured that out on your own.

  And she should have. She was at a place where they had sex and practiced domination and submission. This was something she’d never even thought about. Of course, she’d read the books, but those were fiction. This was reality. This was a cocktail party with real Doms and real subs.

  “Maybe I should just go to dinner,” she said. “Or maybe I should stay here, eat in my room, and we can discuss the hunt later.”

  “You afraid of what you might see? Or that you might be intrigued by what you see?”

  Yeah, she was.

  “I’m afraid the unattached Doms might not be as nice as you are,” she said.

  “Everyone has been vetted,” Shawn said. He took his phone out of his pocket and his fingers moved across the surface.

  “Who are you texting?” she asked.

  “X,” he replied. “I’m telling her to bring several selections of size fourteens to your cabin.”

  Oh, that was interesting. “Are you telling me you have a selection of clothing, in different sizes, waiting for people to use?”

  “You’re surprised by that?”

  “Yeah,” she said. “Why?”

  He winked at her, and it suddenly occurred to Autumn that she was sitting in the tub, naked, and her breasts were above the water for him to see. She sunk back down.

  “Have you ever heard of role playing?” he asked.

  “Of course,” she said.

  “We have a closet full of costumes, which includes regular every day clothes if that is what people want.”

  She’d never thought about that. She was nervous about being at the party, and she once again thought about saying no. But she was also intrigued.

  “Okay, I’ll pick out a dress and be at the lodge at six.” She thought about the women she’d seen setting the tables when they’d arrived.

  “There is one other thing we need to discuss,” he said.

  “And what’s that?” she asked.

  “A collar.”

  At first, she hadn’t thought she’d heard right. She shook her head. “Excuse me?”

  “A collar,” he said. “For you to wear.”

  This time she didn’t just sit up, she stood up, the water dripping down her naked body. “Not no, but hell no. I’ve changed my mind. I’ll stay here.”

  He cleared his throat. Then he retrieved a towel from the cabinet and brought it to her. She wrapped it around herself and got out of the tub.

  “I’m afraid this part is not negotiable,” he said. “If one of our Doms sees you without a collar, he’ll think you’re fair game.”

  “Then tell him no,” she said.

  “Tell him what, you’re here to hunt up a treasure that could be worth a lot of money? If someone were to figure that out, what’s to keep them from trying to find the treasure and take the money? You’d be out in the cold, so to speak.”

  She hadn’t thought of that. “Can you have a tray delivered to my room?”

  “I can, but if you are wandering around and someone sees you, they might be attracted to you. You are a very pretty woman.”

  “Thank you,” she said after a moment’s pause.

  “Listen, the subs I play with wear a choker collar made of rhinestones.” He winked at her again. “If you wear it, you’ll feel like you’re wearing jewelry to match your dress, and they will leave you alone.”

  “I feel like you’re trying to control me,” she whispered.

  “I’m trying to keep you from having to answer awkward questions,” he said. “If they think you’re with me, you’re gold. That’s all you need to know.”

  Autumn wasn’t sure that was all, but she kept her doubts to herself. There was a knock at the door.

  “That will be X,” he said. “If there’s a green dress, pick that. It will look good -with your green eyes and make your brown hair stand out. Once you’ve picked a dress I’ll have her bring the bling, so to speak.”

  “Thank you,” Autumn said. She once again wondered what she was getting herself into. Maybe she should just offer him the papers at a reduced price and leave. But then she thought about the money, and how much more she could make, and she decided wearing a collar was worth it… just this once.

  Chapter 3

  She did choose the green dress, which surprised her. For one thing she wasn’t used to following directions from men she’d just met. For another she wasn’t a dress person. This particular dress was one piece, and she hated to ask X for help, but she had to.

  X, who turned out to be a beautiful woman with cocoa skin and big blue eyes, had told her it was a wrap dress. Then she’d helped Autumn into the garment. Autumn stared at herself in the mirror. She’d never felt so sexy, or worn something so sleek.

  “You’ll want to wear heels,” X said.

  “And end up on my knees,” Autumn said with a laugh.

  “Both you and Master Shawn might enjoy that,” X said, and then giggled. Autumn decided she liked this woman.

  “May I ask you a personal question?” Autumn said.

  “As you wish,” X said.

  “How long have you worked here? Or do you work here? Or are you, um, what do you call it, bound to Shawn, or Ethan, or Randy?”

  “My Master sends me here once every few months,” X said. “I don’t participate in sexual activities. I perform housekeeping duties and whatever other non-sexual tasks the Masters desire.”

  Autumn studied the woman. She looked to be about forty years of age, about the same age as Autumn. She wore a simple shift, but the collar around her neck was ornate, black leather decorated with large red rhinestones. She had rope sandals on her feet.

  Her outfit was very different from the one Rosa had worn, which was very sexual. Autumn made a mental note to ask Shawn about the differences in uniform for the ladies she’d met.

  “What size shoe do you wear?” X asked her.

  “Nine,” Autumn answered. She looked down at X’s feet. “Those sandals you’re wearing look like something I’d like.”

  X laughed. “We’ll do short heels. And Master Shawn sent up a silver collar to complete the outfit.”

  Autumn shook her head. “I’m not into heels, but the collar scares me more than falling flat on my face.”

  “You’re new to this?” X asked.

  “Very,” Autumn replied. She wanted to say something
about the treasure, but she knew that wasn’t a good idea. That needed to be kept between the three owners and herself.

  “My Master has taught me more about myself than I could ever had done on my own, and not just sexual things,” X said. “If you allow Master Shawn to guide you, you’ll be surprised at what you find buried beneath the surface.”

  It was on the tip of her tongue to tell X that she’d rather leave here with a barrel full of money than a head full of guidance from a man she didn’t know. Stay silent, she reminded herself. You don’t know these people, there is no telling what they would do if they were faced with the information there was money buried on this land.

  X handed her the collar. It was light to the touch, and looked like something a person would wear on an evening out; at least a person who didn’t live her life in jeans, t-shirts and sandals.

  “Would you like me to fasten it for you?”

  Autumn thought about saying not no but hell no, but then she remembered Shawn’s warning about the unattached Doms, who might consider her as being what she could only think of as prey.

  “Thank you,” she said. She turned her back and tried not to wince as X placed the stones around Autumn’s neck and clicked the clasp in place. Although the jewelry was lightweight, it felt as if she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

  Autumn put her hand up to the choker and gently pulled on it.

  “What brought you here, if you’re not sure of things?” X asked.

  This would call for some creative thinking. “I met Shawn and he invited me,” she said. That wasn’t a lie.

  “Then he really must see something then,” X said. “Don’t fight it.”

  She patted Autumn on the shoulder and headed toward the door without saying another word.

  “Thank you,” Autumn said as X disappeared through the door. Autumn was sure she heard a faint, “You’re welcome.”

  A glance at the clock showed it was about twenty minutes to six. Autumn was pretty sure there wasn’t a golf cart waiting outside, which meant she would have to make it to the main house on foot. She looked at the heels X had set out for her. They were about two inches, which was too inches too high in Autumn’s book. She couldn’t remember if there was pavement, or gravel outside. A look out the door showed a golf cart waiting for her.