In addition, his luck had blossomed incrementally when he landed a fantastic client his first week in town who happened to love him and had a lot of friends who were disgruntled with their current workout arrangements.
After just two months, Colin had ten clients he saw once a week and a few others who preferred a more flexible schedule. He could still fit in several more, but this was paying the rent on the small house he’d moved into without forcing him to dip into his savings.
As soon as Club Zodiac opened, he’d be set. Until then, he would need to be careful with his finances.
His phone vibrated as he shut the car door. A glance at his watch told him he was still fifteen minutes early, so he pulled his cell from his pocket and glanced at the screen. Lincoln.
He smiled as he connected. “Hey, I’m about to see a client, but I have a few minutes.”
“Hey, yourself. I was just checking in. I got some more paperwork from the city today. We’re one step closer to sealing the deal on that location for Zodiac.”
“Good. I’m getting antsy.” Thank God Lincoln was financing the majority of this venture. The Miami club had done better every year since Lincoln had bought it. After a few years, he’d added Rowen and Carter as part owners. Now, the business was expanding, which was why Colin and Aaron had been sent to Denver. They would share the responsibility of managing the second location.
When Lincoln had first presented Colin with the idea, Colin hadn’t been able to believe his luck. He’d known his sister was somewhere in the Denver area. She’d been there for five years under the thumb of a man Colin suspected was abusing her. He’d jumped at the opportunity to move closer, hoping he might be able to get her untangled from whatever mess she was in.
Aaron had jumped on board quickly also, saying that he missed living in a place with seasons and would love to be able to ski regularly. Both Colin and Aaron had become good friends with the three owners of Zodiac in Miami when they all realized they had spent several years in the military after high school. That sort of thing drew people together. A common ground. Lincoln had liked the idea of pairing two disciplined soldiers up to manage his new location.
“How’s your sister doing?” Lincoln asked as if reading Colin’s train of thought.
“Better. I managed to get her into Rayne’s office a few days ago.”
“That’s good. One step at a time. How’s Rayne?”
Colin leaned against the side of the Tahoe and tipped his head toward the ground, toeing at the concrete. “She seemed good. The usual. Professional. Tired.”
“Any sparks?” Lincoln asked, shocking Colin.
“What? Sparks? With Rayne?” he hedged, surprised at Lincoln’s bold question.
Lincoln chuckled. “I remember seeing you look at her. Sometimes when you watched her scene, I thought you might not be able to keep yourself from intervening.”
“Me? Come on.” Honestly, he was shaken up at Lincoln’s statement. Sure, he’d held a flame for Rayne from a distance, but he had no idea he’d been obvious about it. Hell, it hadn’t been a very conscious effort even on his part.
“Just sayin’,” Lincoln continued. “You know Rowen wouldn’t care. He’s never been happier now that he’s with Faith. He didn’t fully click with Rayne.”
Colin swallowed. “Why are we having this conversation?” No way did he want to get into his possible feelings for Rayne with Lincoln this morning.
Lincoln chuckled. “Fine. I’ll let you get to your client. I’ll call you when I know more from the contractor about Zodiac. And good luck with Rayne,” he added.
Colin groaned. “Seriously.”
“Bye.” Lincoln ended the call, leaving Colin standing in the driveway of one of his most affluent clients as he stared at his phone and wondered how much of Lincoln’s observation was true.
Colin sighed as he slouched against the side of his Tahoe and closed his eyes. He pictured the many times he’d watched Rayne scene in Miami, both at Zodiac and Breeze. Even when she’d been in a relationship with Rowen, he’d kept an eye on her. He usually never would have honed in on another man’s submissive, but he’d found her intriguing.
Eventually, however, Colin had entered into a relationship with his now ex-girlfriend, Sarah. Colin rubbed his forehead as he recalled the less than pleasant memories of that relationship.
Sarah had been a good match for Colin in the fetish world, but within weeks of meeting her, Colin had known something in her personal life was off. He should have trusted his instincts. Would he have possibly approached Rayne back then if he hadn’t been with Sarah? He would never know.
Besides, he reminded himself, from what little he knew about Rayne, she was as secretive about her personal life as Sarah had been. Women with secrets would forever make him nervous.
Chapter 3
On Friday night, Rayne felt a sense of peace as she stepped into Roses and Thorns. She greeted the owner, Master Robert, at the door, surprised to find him in town. It was her lucky day because, even though she hadn’t met him before, he was the only person she marginally knew. When she’d emailed him on Thursday, he’d readily agreed to giving her a guest pass for the night.
After signing a release form in the entrance area, Rayne was led into the club by Master Robert. The kind man didn’t have much time to show her around, but he did point out where things were before he left her to return to the front.
Rayne took a deep breath. Even though she had never fully grasped exactly what her place was in this world, she knew deep inside she belonged to the fetish scene in some way. It was in her soul.
Just glancing around at the various apparatus spread around the main room caused some of the tension to leave her shoulders. Though she hadn’t quite clicked with Rowen a few years ago, she’d known their lack of chemistry hadn’t meant she wasn’t suited for the lifestyle.
She was dressed rather casually tonight, under no expectation that she would do more than meet some people and ease back into the scene. Nevertheless, she had put some effort into her appearance. Her jean skirt was a faded denim that only reached a few inches below her butt. She also wore a lacy black demi bra with a sheer black blouse over it. Her heels were black also and wedge. Not too high. Comfortable.
She had intentionally arrived after midnight so the place would already be hopping and she could blend in to the crowd. It would be tough getting out of bed tomorrow, but she hoped it would be worth it.
The room was dark, the walls, ceiling, and floor all painted black. Each section of the room was dimly lit to illuminate whatever scene was occurring. As Rayne wandered around the periphery, she soaked in a St. Andrew’s Cross, a pegboard against a wall with adjustable pegs, and a table where a female Domme was preparing to do fire play on a naked man.
And then she heard a familiar voice she would recognize anywhere. It was coming from behind her.
For a moment, she continued to stare at the naked man in front of her, positioning himself on his stomach, while her heart rate picked up and she willed her ears not to have deceived her.
Finally, she slowly turned around, and a flush ran up her chest as she confirmed her suspicion. Colin Wynne. He had his back to her, but there was no mistaking his muscular shoulders, bulging arms, and the distinctive tattoo on one arm. He was more filled out than she remembered him. Bulkier than a year ago.
Even though she’d just seen him on Tuesday, she hadn’t been able to appreciate his full physique. He’d had on a button-up shirt and slacks. Tonight, however… Lordy.
He was wearing a tight black T-shirt and dark blue jeans. He was also handling a long length of rope, which didn’t surprise her since she’d often seen him create amazing artistic designs with nothing more than a woman’s body and several feet of rope.
As she approached, drawn like a magnet, he must have sensed her because he slowly turned around.
The smile that lit up his face made her heart race. God, he was sexy tonight. His hair was longer on top than it had been in Mi
ami, the locks falling across his forehead.
“Rayne…” His voice was deep and rough.
“Hey,” she responded, licking her lips and feeling like a dork. Normally, in her day-to-day world, she was confident to the point of cocky, but as she closed the distance with Colin, she felt anything but confident.
She had no idea what he’d ever thought of her, or even if he had ever considered her for a moment.
“Are you a member here?” he asked. “I haven’t seen you around. Granted, I’ve only been here a half a dozen times myself.”
She shook her head. “No. This is my first time.” Shit. Wouldn’t he wonder why she picked tonight? The first weekend night since he’d stepped into her office?
He lifted a brow. “Really? Do you belong to another club in the Denver area?”
“No.” Suddenly chilled under his scrutiny, she crossed her arms and rubbed her biceps with her palms. “I haven’t had time to explore much.”
“You’ve been here a year,” he pointed out.
“Yes.”
Slowly he nodded. And then he glanced down at the rope and held it up. “I was hoping to create a piece of art tonight. You want to be my canvas?”
She swallowed. She wanted to be his canvas more than she wanted her next breath. She wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. “I’d like that.” Though she’d always been at least peripherally attracted to him when they’d both lived in Miami, she’d never scened with him. For over a year, she’d been with Rowen, and after that Colin had had a girlfriend too. She wondered what happened to the woman. It seemed unlikely he was still with her. Rayne tried to remember her name. Sarah. Right.
He reached out with his free hand, and she set hers in his. And then he hauled her closer. She could feel his heat when she found herself inches from his body. His hand roamed up her arm and then higher until he cupped her face. “It occurs to me that even though we’ve known each other a long time, we’ve never scened together.”
She nodded. “True. I was with Rowen when I met you, and then you had a girlfriend after that. Sarah, right?”
“Yes. We broke up after you moved to Denver.” His words were soft, as was his touch on her cheek. He met her gaze. “How much experience do you have with rope bondage?”
“A little. Not much.” To be honest, it had always intrigued her, but she hadn’t ever met someone she trusted to thoroughly tie her up. She’d seen Colin in action, though. She knew he was an amazing rigger. The sight of the rope in his hands made her pussy clench.
Colin threaded his fingers in her hair and ran them through the length. “So silky,” he commented softly. “I’ve always wondered what it might feel like.”
He had? Yikes.
“Do you have a hairband? I don’t want it to get caught in my knots.”
She fought the urge to tip her face into his hand when it returned to her cheek, his thumb stroking casually across her jaw. Instead, she lifted her gaze to meet his as she tucked two fingers into the tight front pocket of her jean skirt and extracted a band.
Unsure if he intended for her to pull her hair back or if he wanted to do it himself, she fingered the band for a moment. Finally, he released her face, gently extracted the hairband from her palm, and turned her to face away from him.
As if he were a hairdresser who played with women’s locks every day, he expertly gathered her length at the base of her neck and then threaded it through the band. After a few passes, he trapped the ends and then doubled it again, forming a bun.
The entire time he had his hands in her hair, her body came more fully alive. Her nipples stiffened, and the thong she wore under her short skirt was soaked. Was her reaction related to the fact that she hadn’t scened in over a year? Or was it a direct result of the specific man handling her?
Either way, she told herself to relax and enjoy the scene. Colin would make it amazing. At the very least, her night was suddenly looking fruitful.
She had no way of knowing if he was as attracted to her as she was to him, nor could she know if he’d ever been, but she intended to pretend for the next half hour or so while he turned her body into a restrained piece of art.
“You mind if I blindfold you?” he asked, surprising her.
She sucked in a breath as her body reacted strongly to the suggestion. Perhaps it was a good idea, because then he wouldn’t be able to see her eyes. She could do this. Scene with him. Let go. He’d always intrigued her. This was an itch she didn’t mind scratching. Right? “That’s fine.”
He rounded to her front, dragging his fingers along her back and then cupping her elbow with one hand while he lifted her chin with the other. “Safeword?”
“Red, Sir.” Oh, how easily she slid into the role with him.
He smiled. “Mmm. I like the sound of that.”
What did he mean? She feared she would take everything he said far more seriously than he intended. She needed to rein in the need to analyze his every word. She’d been out of the game too long. It was just a scene. Turning the reins over to someone else for an evening was exactly what she needed.
Hell, she didn’t have time in her life for more than a scene anyway. But she needed this. She needed it so badly, her body had goose bumps. She’d worked her ass off being the hard-nosed lawyer for months. Except for the various places she volunteered, she hardly had a life otherwise.
Colin danced his fingers up her arms and across her shoulders. His light touch felt like so much more, even through the sheer fabric of her blouse. He seemed to be studying her face and then learning it with the tips of his fingers as he traced around the edges.
After several intense moments, he lowered one hand and pulled a blindfold from his back pocket. The last thing she saw before he covered her eyes was his lips. Did he realize he stroked his tongue across the top one?
The world went black, and the loss of that sense made her shudder. She instinctively crossed her arms and rubbed her biceps, but Colin set his hands on her shoulders, ran them down to her elbows, and tugged them to her sides.
He leaned closer until his lips were an inch from her ear. She could feel his warm breath as he spoke. “Clasp your hands behind your back, Rayne.”
She inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves as she did as he instructed. It had been a while, but instantly her training fell into place. Not that she’d ever fully belonged to a Dom, but she’d played a lot and often in Miami. Enough to know how to present herself for Colin.
So, she clasped her hands behind her back and dipped her face toward the floor.
Colin’s mouth was still by her ear. “That’s a girl. Now, separate your feet and relax. Let go of your stress. Give it over to me. For the next half hour, you don’t have to make any decisions. No one is counting on you to solve the world’s crises.”
She blew out a breath as she parted her feet. Luckily, her heels were not too high, and the wedges gave her some stability. Her nipples were tight points. If he looked hard enough, he would surely be able to see them straining against the front of her lace bra.
A moment of panic filled her when Colin released her and stepped away. “Relax,” he repeated. “I’m just getting my rope.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Seconds later, he was back. Though he didn’t speak. His heat was all around her. It calmed her even before he touched her. “I’m going to do an intricate design I’ve been studying. You’re the perfect subject for it. When I’m done, I’ll show you in the mirror.”
“Okay, Sir.” Her voice cracked.
Colin stroked her chin with his thumb. “Nothing but ropes here tonight, Rayne. No need to panic.”
She nodded into his touch. “I’m fine, Sir.” It’s just been a while.
“Nevertheless, if it gets too intense, use your safeword.”
“I will,” she whispered. The fact that he’d reminded her was enough to calm her further.
Her stress was caused by several factors. Her year-long dry spell was exacerbated by the fact that she didn’
t know anyone in this club, and they’d undoubtedly be watching. In addition, she’d never scened with Colin.
But more important than all that, she hadn’t realized before this week that she was attracted to him. That was the most dangerous factor of all. Her thong was soaked from spreading her legs at his command. Would she have reacted this way to his demands years ago if she’d ever performed with him? Or had the stars aligned in a way that she simply needed this tonight? In front of strangers. After a stressful day. With a man she couldn’t seem to stop thinking about since he’d reappeared in her life earlier this week.
With one hand trailing across her shoulders, Colin stepped behind her, not losing contact. His palm slid down one of her arms next. “Bend your elbows and clasp your wrists, so your arms create a box.”
She did as he instructed, feeling the pull across her chest that lifted her breasts. Intentionally? Probably.
The rope was soft as it glided across one of her hands. And then he began. The first thing he did was secure her wrists where they touched, relieving her of the need to put so much effort into her grip. He wrapped the rope around and through her arms several times, leaving her restrained but not too tightly.
She visualized a spiral up her arms as he worked his way up her biceps, crisscrossing to the other arm. Perhaps her back looked like laced shoes. And then he dangled the rope over her shoulders and stepped around to her front.
He pulled one end diagonal across her chest so that it crossed between her breasts, hugging the underside. He tucked that end into a belt loop at the side of her jean skirt. After doing the same with the other end of rope, he rounded to her back again.
By now, she was nearly panting. It was one thing for him to bind her arms at her back, but now that the rope was so intimately hugging her breasts, they felt swollen and demanding. He hadn’t touched them.
Mastering Rayne: Club Zodiac, Book Four Page 3