Independence: #2 Angel (31 page)

“There are more than…then the one you used before?” She finally asked as they eased through and around Saturday night traffic. Shoppers and partiers would be filling the streets for the next month, so patience was definitely in the mix.

“Many more. Sensation play encompasses a wide variety of objects, Angel. Nothing remotely like a switch or cane,” he said, aware of the tension and hard sound to his voice. “Can I do that? Yes. Does it do anything for me sexually? Not particularly. Maybe because, like you, I’ve been there. I don’t care for blood play or anything that leaves damage that remains. I know we wouldn’t fit if that was what you needed.”

“You weren’t sure what I needed. I wasn’t…so how could you be?”

“I didn’t. But I hoped.”

“I think it was a lot more…complicated…than you first thought,” she told him when they pulled before the club, his parking space near the side with the other five reserved spots.

“But not insurmountable complications,” he returned confidently, shutting the car down and striding to her side. He lifted her to the ground, ignoring her scowl. He tucked her jacket closed against the cold and held her close until they were inside. He signed them in and took her jacket, handing it to the young man who was on duty tonight. He slipped the claim into his pocket and settled his palm at her waist.

Angel didn’t think she’d ever,
ever
get used to the things she saw inside the club. But one thing she didn’t feel or see, was anger. There was so much concentration, so much…release…and relief…and laughter. Maybe that’s why she’d stayed those first two nights, just absorbing and watching.

They approached the bar and she broke out into a smile. Bailey was there with Master Gabe. Angel watched her notice her arrival and then switch her attention to her Master. Hands were up and clasp in front of her and Angel could almost hear the pleading little voice seconds before she kissed him when he nodded. Then she was headed in their direction.

Bailey passed Vianne standing with Master Tanner and Angel almost laughed this time when Vianne did her version of the same thing. But hers was far more openly sexual and deliberate. Angel watched Master Tanner’s palm slide from her waist to beneath the short pleated skirt Vianne was wearing. She knew from experience, there was probably nothing under the skirt. But the results were the same. She kissed him when he grinned and nodded, his head shaking as she ran off with Bailey.

“I believe you’re the target, pet.” Colin said with a chuckle. “Go off with them for a while. I’ll find you in fifteen minutes for dinner.”

“Thank you, sir,” she went to her bare toes and kissed him, stopping only when he pulled a pair of cuffs from the bag and fastened them in place. Identifiers, she knew, to keep the predators away. Vianne and Bailey waited patiently.

“Thank you, Master Colin, for sharing your sub with us for a bit,” Bailey linked her arm with Angel’s and they walked off.

“You realize I had plans for dinner and you two allowed your subs to derail things,” Colin was shaking his head as he met the other two Doms at the end of the bar.

“Yeah…” Tanner watched his wife wander off with the other two. “I think I’m in need of a little serious training. I’ve become a pushover.”

“As long as they don’t think so, we’re safe,” Gabe responded. “And we haven’t had dinner yet. Let’s go shove some tables together and we’ll send for them in ten minutes. No point in being owners if we can’t make things happen.”

“You make a damn good boss,” Colin chuckled, dropping his bag behind the bar and striding alongside the other two. “How’re Vianne and Bailey doing? I know they’re worried about this mess with Angel’s relatives.”

“On edge,” Gabe answered quietly. “I have someone watching out for her when we’re not together. And hell no, she has no idea.”

“Same here,” Tanner moved a chair to the side and shoved one of the tables forward while Colin and Gabe moved chairs into place. “Hell, she’s been doing her job since college, but that doesn’t mean I don’t worry. It was part of our agreement with the resort. Select reporting assignments.”

“The control we believed was ours, is often tenuous,” Gabe said with one hand up to signal one of the wait staff. He took a seat and leaned back.

“Our private lives are fine once we stop the outside from fucking with it,” Colin sunk into a chair and exhaled. “Sorry. Andrea says I’m only a good prosecutor because despite it all, I haven’t lost my urge to hope.”

“But there are times kicking the hell out of something would feel so much more satisfying,” Tanner remarked with a chuckle.

The three of them stood off to the side, tall bottles of water in each hand.

Vianne looked at Bailey and received a shrug so she nudged Angel gently.

“Hun…you’re staring…”

Angel jerked her attention back, heat flooding her cheeks. “Sorry. It’s just…”

“Colin hasn’t used one of those on you yet?” Bailey asked carefully.

“Well…yes…at least it was very soft feeling…” Angel shook her head. “I think part of him was afraid to…afraid how I would react.”

“They aren’t nearly as bad as they look or sound,” Vianne told her with a laugh. “Tanner is very good with them,” she said with a sigh.

“I think Gabe has almost the same kind of collection as Master Reed,” Bailey said in a low voice, nodding at the carefully laid out tools of the play. “Five of them and each one is just a little different. In feeling and sound. Excuse me, Sir…”

Reed Carrington looked up from the items he was arranging in his bag and smiled at the women watching him. He gestured them forward with one raised hand.

“What has such delicious looking subs out wandering this evening?”

“Just kind of a girl talk thing before the evening starts. I wanted to know if I could let Angel touch those? Please. She’s never…felt them before.”

“I have,” Angel said quickly, blushing furiously. “Only not with my…my hands.”

Reed picked up the lightest one, the multi strands of soft leather dangling from the eight inch handle. He kept his gaze on Angel. He knew her history. After the airing of the news story, most of the world now knew of her father and his fanatical behavior.

“Raise your hand, Angel,” he instructed in a calm, level tone. His play partner hadn’t arrived for the night, so he had time to share. He drew the strands across her open palm several times before putting it back and lifting another one. “Each one delivers a slightly more intense feeling, depending on the way it’s thrown.”

“Thank you, Master Reed,” Angel let the strands fall but was fascinated by them as she backed away, raising her water bottle and taking a long drink.

“Trust me…you’ll get into it,” Bailey told her with a long sigh. “The way they work, it’s impossible not to get into it.”

“It feels strange. It’s not like we’re just sitting at the coffee shop talking about our evenings or shoes or books,” Angel crossed her eyes at the laughter from either side of her.

“I don’t have people outside here to talk to about the club or the things that I’ve discovered I enjoy,” Vianne said carefully. “Believe me, it came as quite a shock the first couple times I was here.”

“Even more of a shock at the intensity. God…” Bailey rubbed the cool bottle over her forehead. “It’s like…you want a scoop of ice cream…or do you want a super deluxe Sunday with nuts and whipped cream? What a choice!”

Their laughter was just trickling down when one of the working subs came to their side. “You’re all wanted in the dining room.”

“Oh. Thanks, Terry,” Bailey took a quick look at her friends. “I think it’s dinner time.”

“Is it worrying you, Angel?” Vianne asked as they wound their way through the club toward the large dining hall. She met the surprised, confused look. “The floggers.”

“I…maybe…probably not…I know he’d never hurt me and if it bothered me, he’d stop,” she raised a hand, weakly waving it. “It’s the whole thing Friday. Everyone’s on edge and I don’t know how to fix it. I know better. I know not to trust them.”

“We’re being careful,” Bailey told her. “Gabe has someone watching me when he’s not around.”

Vianne sighed. “Same here. But I don’t think we’re supposed to notice,” she whispered as they crossed beneath the large archway into the dining room.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Angel took in the tables that had been moved together and the collection of finger foods across the surface. A large pitcher of icy water rested there along with another filled with something red with fruit floating inside. Feeling brave, she lifted the pitcher and sniffed before filling one of the empty glasses next to her plate.

How did she know it was her plate? Because Colin was seated next to it and quietly patting the chair beside him. And it really wasn’t a hardship to sit next to him and have him lift a slice of crusted browned potato and hold it in front of her lips. With their eyes locked on one another’s, her mouth opened and she accepted the bite.

“So what were our subs off exploring?” Tanner laid a few of what he knew were Vianne’s favorites on her plate and filled her glass with the fruity liquid. “Sangria. One glass for each, if you enjoy a sweet, fruity wine.”

“This is new,” Bailey said, sipping first before beaming a smile at Gabe and nodding. “Thank you, Sir.”

“We just kind of wandered and chatted,” Vianne answered in between bites.

“Angel was curious about floggers and Master Reed was laying out the ones he was going to use,” Bailey lifted some vegetables and began eating. “He was nice and let her feel them.”

All eyes rounded to Angel, who was working on a combination choke and cough. For a quiet minute she kept her eyes closed until she realized they were not only all watching her, but waiting.

“I was curious,” she said defensively, her gaze locked on the various foods laid out on the table.

“I’ll be certain to give an in-depth explanation and demonstration after dinner,” Colin promised with a chuckle that mixed with those of the other males at the table.

“I’m surprised it’s taken you this long,” Tanner remarked. “I think Vianne was a wreck the first time she saw me lift one in her direction.”

“We played with one of the lighter ones a few nights ago,” Colin returned before reaching for his glass.

“They feel differently than they look,” Bailey mumbled, taking another sip of her wine.

“A lot different,” Vianne concurred, sighing and leaning into the arm behind her.

“Hmm…I think it’s a good thing I’ve been working out,” Tanner pressed his face into her shoulder and bit across the softly scented skin.

Silence fell over them as they quietly paired off, leaving the dining area and going off in different directions after dinner. Angel and Colin were the last seated at the table, his hand on her neck, toying with her hair.

“Are you stalling, pet?”

“I…maybe…a little.”

“Sex with me that intimidating?” He teased, glad her gaze lifted immediately from her plate and filled with some of that fiery defiance. “I didn’t think so. Let’s go. I have a station reserved,” he glanced at his watch and stood up, extending his hand for hers.

“They’re worried,” Angel said softly, the warmth in his hand radiating through her as they walked toward the bar. He retrieved that mysterious canvas bag and guided her through the club. “Master Gabe and Tanner. They’re worried because of me.”

“Wrong. They’re concerned because of your relatives. We’re not the most trusting of souls when it comes to the safety of the person we care most about,” Colin glanced down in time to see the stunned surprise on her face. “Why is that a surprise, Angel? Or is it that you didn’t expect me to admit it?”

“Maybe if it’s not in words, it’s not real,” she whispered shakily.

“Or maybe you keep thinking I’m going to allow your father and his sons to come between us.”

“I wouldn’t blame you, sir. People have work stress and everyday life stress and then something like this…and it’s just not a fair thing to believe they expected this kind of crazy just to get to know someone.”

He walked her into the space he’d reserved and set the bag on the provided small table. “Stand in front of the cross, Angel,” he instructed, sinking into the chair and waiting. “Face the cross. Now…remove your clothing. You can leave the thong,” he told her, laughing at the tiniest bit of a glare that broke free before she turned her back on him.

He’d selected just what he wanted to see her in, something simple and gossamer. She released the button at her hip first and let the slitted, paneled skirt pool at her feet. The top had a scoop neckline that stretched and matched the deep red and green of the swirls in the skirt. He hadn’t given her a bra on purpose but she’d found one on her own.

He tsked loudly and watched her body tense. “I just don’t recall setting out a bra to go with that top this afternoon,” he commented, mildly amused. “Do you suppose my memory is slipping in my old age?”

“I…I’m sorry…” Came the tentative reply. “I don’t like to…I jiggle…”

“I know. Not a lot, mind you, but enough to keep my cock hard and anticipating playing with the nipples when they pebble up. Turn around and let me see.”

She did as he said, the top falling to the floor before she bent her arms and limberly released the two snaps behind her back. The straps slid down her arms. Arms that scrunched a little together until she looked up and saw his face. Slowly, she relaxed her arms to her sides, letting the straps slide to her fingers. One hand released it, letting it swing to the other.

“Fold your things and lay them here, on the table.”

Angel stared at him for a quiet minute before bending and lifting her things from the floor. She walked to the table and carefully folded them, leaving them sit next to his bag before biting her lip and waiting for him to say something.

“A problem, sub?”

“No, sir,” she answered after a lengthy pause, her chin up and dark eyes watching him closely.

“Move to that corner,” Colin pointed to the corner behind the cross. “The markings are on the floor. Pace off the space we have to play. Oh…hands behind your back, please.”

Adding the please didn’t soften it and she knew he was deliberately doing it because she’d worn a bra tonight. Angel ground her teeth, squared her shoulders and moved to the corner.