Dancing with Deception (25 page)

Sage battled with
himself to stay seated as his beautiful bride fought an internal battle he knew would decide their future in the lifestyle. Being a Dominant was a big part of who he was, but his love for the woman standing so close, yet so far, was exponentially greater. He’d almost gone to her, but Phoenix’s voice came through the small ear bud loud and clear. “Let her do it. She won’t ever forgive herself if you have to rescue her. Save the knight in shining armor for something big…and you know it’ll come soon enough. Those sisters of mine are going to get into plenty of trouble.” Sage had to suppress his smile, because he agreed and they all knew what Joelle didn’t, she was destined to be a Morgan, it was only a matter of time.

The communication devices were turning out to be a stroke of genius. Mitch picked up Joelle and Regi’s conversation about swimming allowing Nate to make a well-timed change to their plan. He had to give his friend credit, he’d altered things so seamlessly neither of the women had suspected their private exchange had been anything but.

He wondered if Coral could hear Tobi’s screams of frustration as her Doms tortured her by keeping her right on the precipice of release without letting her fall over the edge. He doubted she could hear anything over the din of her insecurities. Sage had worried he’d spend years mired in guilt over the hell his ex-girlfriend had put Coral through. Mackenzie’s actions had been just shy of criminal or he’d have seen her locked in some dark hole in hell. Coral hadn’t done anything to deserve the bitch’s wrath except catch his interest. The day they’d gotten married, he’d made a vow—one of the gifts he’d give her was the confidence she deserved. His greatest desire was for her to know how much she was loved.

Joelle stood against
the six-foot hedge watching as everyone held their collective breath. Coral had frozen mid-way between the wet bar and the table where Sage sat waiting for her. Joelle knew the devices her friend wore were only a part of her hesitance. Joelle remembered being the new girl at a play party. It was never easy being the least experienced submissive in the group, but the first party was almost unbearable. And, for a woman who already struggled with her self-esteem, it would easily be paralyzing.

Letting her gaze wander and as she’d suspected there were microphones hidden in every nook and cranny. Any conversation they’d thought was private had no doubt been monitored by whoever was manning the club’s control center. Whoever was sitting in what she’d started thinking of as Spy Central was probably feeding information to the Doms through the small earbuds she’d noted they were wearing. That explained why Regi had been redirected around the pool.

Damn, she’d love to get a look inside the heart of the Prairie Winds Club. Earlier today they’d all been lounging by the pool when she’d said as much, causing both Tobi and Gracie to laugh at her. “We’ve never been allowed inside.” Gracie had looked at Joelle with sympathy and understanding in her eyes.

In what Joelle was beginning to see was typical Tobi West style, the petite blonde whirlwind had stomped her foot in frustration. “It wasn’t for a lack of trying. Damn, I got busted every damned time I tried to sneak in there. Hell’s bells, it would have been easier to break into Fort fucking Knox.”

“Listen to her, Joelle, she’d had enough spankings over this to be considered an expert.” The sarcasm practically dripped from Gracie’s words earning her a death glare from her spirited friend.

“You’re a real comedian, Gracie. I recall you were on the spanking bench right beside me more than once.” Returning her attention to Joelle, Tobi smiled ruefully. “Probably a good idea to erase that one from your bucket list. The
powers that be
tend to be totally anal on this particular point.”

Gracie looked surprised. “Does this mean you’re giving up your scheming to get inside their inner sanctum?” Gracie’s dark eyes danced with mischief as she made no attempt to temper the hopeful tone of her voice.

“Dreamer.” Tobi rolled her eyes at Gracie but her giggle brought a smile to Gracie’s lips. “I’m just rethinking my strategy. There has to be a way to make it happen…I just haven’t figured it out yet. Don’t worry, I’ll come up with a brilliant plan…eventually.” Ordinarily a conversation like this would put Joelle off her desire to see or do something. She’d spent her entire life following rules, always playing the role of the quintessential good girl.
And look where it’s gotten you.
Her harpy inner voice could be a relentless bitch sometimes, but in this case, she was right.

“Well, maybe someday I’ll get the chance to see the control center in Mountain Mastery. Damn, maybe I’ll build my own club somewhere, then no one can keep me out.” She wasn’t sure why it had seemed so important or why she was insanely focused on something that in the great scheme of things didn’t matter at all. Shaking her head to clear out the wayward thoughts, Joelle looked around and smiled, wondering who was watching her watching them. Just thinking about sneaking into the control center at Mountain Mastery made her smile. Not only would it be fun to get one over on Master Nate, but the fact she was thinking about returning to Montana proved where her heart was.
Now I just have to make sure the men I’ve fallen for are thinking the same way.

We’re watching, Joelle.
Damn, I wish I could hear what’s going through her mind because whatever it was, she’d just come to some kind of decision. Time to move, brother—you too, cousin. You need to present a united front.
Phoenix’s words spoken directly into his ear was all the encouragement Brandt needed. Ryan’s nod let him know his cousin was in agreement. They’d waited long enough. Stepping forward in a move so well coordinated it looked choreographed, he and Ryan brought themselves to their full height. The move snapped Joelle from her thoughts, her eyes widened as the sweet flush of arousal washed over her chest.
Perfect.
Crooking his finger, he beaconed her closer and was beyond pleased when she didn’t hesitate to move to them.

“We’ve been waiting all evening for a chance to be alone with you, minx.” Brandt deliberately pitched his voice low, he wanted her to hear how much he wanted her.

“We’ve got an important question for you. But first, we’ve got a scene planned. Let’s move inside.” Joelle nodded even as her eyes darkened and took on the unmistakable glassy look of a sub getting into the perfect headspace. At her nod, they led her into the club’s large main room. Stepping up on the center stage, Ryan saw Joelle’s eye flick to the large ring behind him, but she quickly brought her eyes back to his. “Do you trust us, baby?”

“Yes, Sir. Completely.” Her response had been immediate and spoken without hesitation letting him know she was ready for what they had planned. Securing her arms and legs inside the large frame before attaching the restraint circling her waist, Brandt watched the goose bumps race over her skin each time he caressed her smooth skin with the rough pads of his fingers. Standing in front of her, Brandt framed her face between his hands. Slanting his lips over hers, he didn’t bother with preliminaries—this was all about possession and staking a claim no one would misinterpret. The scene they’d planned would take her over the edge quickly, they’d learned exactly how to send their woman into orbit. But the real goal was to help clear her mind. They didn’t want her thinking to be cluttered by desire when they asked her to wear their collar. The diamond choker felt heavy in his pocket, it wasn’t the weight of the lovely piece of jewelry they’d chose—it was its significance that kept him hyper-aware of it tucked against his leg in its slim velvet case.

Stepping back, Brandt was satisfied with the dazed look in her eyes—it was nice to know he wasn’t the only one affected by the kiss they’d shared. Ryan leaned over her shoulder letting the silk scarf in his hand flutter softly over her breasts. Watching her nipples draw up into tight berries was too much to resist. While Ryan tied the black silk over her eyes, Brandt pulled first one tight bud and then the other into his mouth, sucking until he felt her body begin to tremble against the press of his lips. Brandt knew he could send her over the edge in seconds, but he wanted her desperate for what they could give her.
I want your heart and your head, love. I won’t settle for anything else and neither will Ry.

“Oh no, minx.
Not yet. We’ve only just started. We’re going to make this night one you’ll remember for the rest of your life,” Brandt’s words were whispered against the slope of her shoulder between soft kisses and stinging nips. When she shifted in an effort to get closer to him, she realized two things. First, shifting wasn’t an option because she was bound securely. And second, her contracting muscles had noted the missing plug.
When did they remove it?

“I see you’ve noticed the plug is gone, baby. Not to worry, we’re planning to replace it with something much more interesting soon enough.” Ryan’s words now came from in front of her and were accompanied by the teasing sensation of leather strips dancing over the top slopes of her breasts. “Tell me how it feels, baby. I want to know exactly where your head is every step of the way tonight.” Oh geez, she could already feel herself sliding into that magical place where her only thoughts were about chasing the pleasure, and he wanted a running monologue about how she felt?

“If you don’t give him what he wants, he’ll stop, minx. Contrary to what everybody thinks, I’m not the bad ass and he’s not the charmer.” Oh, she’d figured that out all on her own. The two of them swapped personas like hormonal teenagers…it was spooky how quickly they could switch roles.

Deciding honesty was the best choice, Joelle blurted out the words before she went under for the third time. “I’m already drowning in pleasure. I know you’ve only started, but I think it speaks volumes that I was so lost in the kiss I didn’t even realize you’d removed the plug.” Ryan continued to flick the soft strands of the flogger in a deliberately erratic pattern over her chest, keeping her unsure where the next bite would be. The leather strips were lighting up the nerve endings on the surface of her skin making it feel like little fairies in cleats were tap dancing everywhere the flogger struck. When he moved to her back, Joelle lost her ability to speak for several long minutes. Ryan tied the silk scarf over her eyes and without that distraction, she could lose herself in the moment. She let the increasing intensity of the flogger take her further into the quiet space in her head where nothing mattered but their touch.