by Marie Tuhart
“The Smithsonian.”
“Yep. There’s so much history in DC. I wanted to explore it all.”
“I hear the passion in your voice. Why didn’t you pursue history and find your niche? I can’t see you being afraid of hard work.”
“It wasn’t that.” She pushed away from the sink. “My father is in politics, and that makes life a little more difficult.”
“You mentioned your father didn’t approve of you going into library science.”
“He didn’t. He also didn’t want me getting a degree in art or archeology or museum studies either. I really wanted to be a curator, so that meant master’s degree, the work experience, and possibly a PhD. After all that, library science was a better option.
Damon rubbed his forehead. “I don’t see what the issue was. You don’t strike me as someone who gives up that easily. Especially for a career you clearly wanted to have.”
“You have to think about politics. Perception is everything and so is appearance. While working for a museum is an honorable job, those jobs were for other people, not me. My father wanted me to find a young man who had political aspirations and become the best political wife in the world.”
“Tessa, you’re a great woman, but I can’t see you holding your tongue with some of these, shall we say, not too bright politicians. Including your father.”
She snorted. “You have that right. At one party, someone was talking—I can’t even remember about what—and they had the facts all wrong. I gently corrected him, and I got this, ‘Oh honey, you’re so cute. Now go run along.’ I lost it. Let me tell you, no one was a happy camper after the party. Especially my father.”
“I would’ve loved to see you let them have it.” He guided her to her sofa. “So, since you have the day off, what shall we do?” His fingers played with her hair.
“Don’t you have work to do?”
“I’m fine. I do need to run over to Colby’s shop to see if he can make us some new wristbands.”
“Colby? “
“Yeah, he runs Durham’s Leather Shop.”
“Oh, that new place that opened down the street from Lara’s cafe.”
“That’s it.”
“Okay. News reports say most of the damage and power outages are on the way out of town, not in town. Except for the library. There’s a big tree in the parking lot. Go do what you need to do, and we can have dinner tonight in town.”
“Why don’t you come with me? We can have lunch at Sweet and Savory, grocery shop, and I’ll cook you dinner at my place. They should have the roads cleaned up by then.”
“But you already cooked me breakfast.”
“If you haven’t already noticed, I like cooking. And you, my lady, loved every bite of that omelet.” He paused. “Please.”
Tessa chuckled. “There you go with those big eyes and fluttering lashes. Okay, let me get dressed. Your clothes are dry, I made sure to get them washed and dried this morning.”
“What? You don’t like me in the sweats?” He stood up, and the fabric outlined his hard cock.
She closed her eyes so as not to reach out and cup him. “Behave, Damon.”
“That’s no fun.” He pulled her up from the sofa. “Go dress, and if you’re really good, I’ll buy you dessert after lunch.”
“I’ll be a perfect angel.” She shimmied into the bedroom and closed the door, laughing. There was something about Damon that brought out her wild side.
* * * *
A rich, earthy smell greeted Tessa as she walked into Durham’s Leather Shop with Damon. She’d been a little uneasy when she saw all the motorcycles parked outside. She’d never been around bikers.
Damon kept his arm around her waist as he guided her to a man with short black hair, his navy T-shirt clinging to his chest and outlining his broad shoulders. “Hey, Colby.”
“Hey, Damon.” The man held his hand out.
Tessa glanced around the shop as they shook hands. Biker guys mingled around the shop. Some of the bikers were big guys with tattoos and in leather, whereas others were kind of normal looking guys in jeans and boots. Her gaze took in the rows and rows of amazing leather goods. There was a portioned off section with a sign that said ‘Over 21 Only.’ She was intrigued.
“Tessa, this is Colby.”
“Hello.”
“Hi, Tessa.” He smiled. “Are you looking for something special?”
“Actually, I was hoping you had a few minutes to chat,” Damon said. “Max, Jordan, and I talked about something different for the wristbands and were wondering if you could make something for us.”
“Sure. Let’s go sit down.” He gestured to an area with a couple of leather-covered chairs and a sofa.
“Great.” Damon looked down at her. “Do you want to explore or sit with us?”
“I want to sit with you. I’m curious what you’re going to have Colby do.”
“You know, curiosity can kill,” Damon whispered with laughter in his voice as he guided her to the sofa.
“Very funny.”
Damon sat down next to her, his thigh touching hers. Colby took the chair across from them.
“So what are you guys thinking about?” Colby asked.
“We’ve been having issues lately with the wristbands catching on stuff. When we first started using them, it wasn’t an issue. But now it seems they’re starting to fray and catch on equipment.”
“That can be a problem.”
“So we were thinking if you could do some sort of leather type band that we could use. Something that wouldn’t interfere with play but also with restraints or anything like that.”
“I’m pretty sure I can. But silicone would be a better choice for cleaning purposes. The only problem might be the fastener. I can’t use anything too big.”
“Can you make them in colors?”
“Oh yeah, that’s right, the bands are color coded.” Colby rubbed his chin. “That shouldn’t be a problem. Here’s the forty-thousand-dollar question. How soon do you want them?”
“Can you do some mock-ups so we can see what you can come up with? We’re willing to pay you for them.”
Colby waved his hand. “No need. I can do mock-ups. Say, in a few weeks I’ll have some ready for you?”
“That’s great. Thanks.”
“Sure.” The men stood and shook hands, then Damon helped her to her feet.
“Would you like to look around?” Damon asked.
“I’ve been dying to.” She was curious.
“Then let’s go.” Damon slipped his arm around her waist.
“You like touching me, don’t you?” Not that she minded. She enjoyed his touch.
He grinned. “You have no idea, but this way, I can make sure you don’t run away.”
“I haven’t run yet, have I?”
“No, but you never know.”
Tessa didn’t realize how big the shop was. While there were rows of jackets, vests, and chaps, there were also belts, bags, gloves, knife sheaths, and wallets. Damon guided her to the partitioned section.
“Oh my,” she whispered when they entered. While the room wasn’t huge, it was good sized. On the wall hung floggers, whips, and fetwear.
“Colby takes special orders,” Damon said as he pulled a flogger off the wall. He twirled it, and she turned. His eyes narrowed. “Did you think I’d hit you?” He held the flogger out.
“No.” She ran her fingers through the falls of the leather flogger. “I wasn’t expecting it.” Tessa put her hand on his tense forearm. “I know you would never hit me unless it was a negotiated scene.”
His muscles relaxed under her fingers. She wondered why he’d tensed up so badly. Maybe something in his past. They had talked, but she was sure there were things neither of them had mentioned.
“Does Colby do a lot of custom work?” she asked as they left the adult stuff behind.
“He takes some. I know he has a small shop in the back of his store where he does his custom work.”
&nbs
p; “He’s truly talented.”
“Hey, Damon, come over here for a second,” Colby yelled.
“Be right back.”
Tessa started flipping through the leather bags. There were saddlebags, big leather bags, and some small ones. Nothing really for a woman. She moved toward the gloves.
“Can I help you with anything?” a male voice said next to her.
She looked up to see a young man with a buzz haircut, flashing green eyes, and a wide smile.
“I’m just looking.”
“For anything special?”
“Not really.”
“I’m Kase. If you need help with anything, please let me know. We only get a few of the bikers’ women in here.”
Tessa wondered why. “Do you have leather jackets for women?” Not that she planned on buying one, but she was curious.
“A few. Let me show you.” Kase led her over to the small rack. There were maybe ten jackets on it.
“Thank you.” She slid through the jackets on the rack. All small sizes and not much variation. She’d bet the men’s weren’t like this.
“Hey, Kase,” a customer yelled.
“Be right there.” Kase glanced down at her. “Holler if you need me.” He loped off.
Tessa looked up to see Damon and Colby watching her, so she made her way to where the two men stood.
“Find anything you like?” Damon asked, his eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Not really.” She looked at Colby. “You don’t have a lot for women.”
“I don’t.” Colby ran his hand over his short-cropped hair. “I’ve been trying to find a way to make the shop appeal to women. Not even my biker guys bring their old ladies here.”
“Maybe because there’s nothing for them.” Tessa almost groaned. There went her mouth again.
Colby stared at her. “Any ideas? I’m open to them.”
She bit her lip. Maybe he wouldn’t take her words the wrong way. “There are no leather purses for women, so that would be a start. As for jackets, you have exactly ten, all in small sizes. As much as we women want to be skinny, we’re not all a size two.”
“What else?”
When she hesitated, he said. “Please, I really want to know.”
“You do custom work, right?”
“I do.”
“Advertise it. Women sometimes want something special for their man, even if they’re not a biker. A wallet, belts, gloves, and probably even a jacket. I don’t know what else you can make.”
“I can do a lot of things.” Colby stared down at her, a thoughtful look on his face.
“As for women’s jackets, I would say if you are worried about inventory, keep one in each size and, if someone wants one, order it. If it happens to be a tourist, offer free shipping or something like that.”
“Damn, why didn’t I think of that?” Colby glanced at Damon. “Where did you find her?”
“My secret.” Damon cradled her to his side.
“I’m the head librarian and have some contacts if you need to talk with other merchants.”
“I might do that. Thank you for your input.”
“Anytime.”
Damon escorted Tessa out of the shop. “I think you made a friend,” he said.
“Sometimes it just takes one person’s input to see all the possibilities,” she said as they walked hand in hand down the sidewalk to Lara’s cafe.
* * * *
Saturday night the next week, Tessa pulled on a short black skirt and wiggled her way into a purple and black corset. She had several corsets in her closet. It felt good to wear one, but she’d forgotten how tight they could be. She loved hers because she could tighten them in the front, so no need for someone to help her.
Damon had brought her to his house, after a quick stop at hers so she could pack up an outfit for tonight. They’d had a nice dinner and, now, were both dressing for the club.
Tessa smiled. Damon told her they would play a little bit tonight. It didn’t have to be a full-on scene, but he planned on touching her in the club. She didn’t have a problem with that.
Who was she kidding? He’d already brought her to climax more than once with his touch. After the storm last week, they’d made it out to his house Friday afternoon. His property was undamaged. Lucky for him, trees had fallen in such a way that the driveway wasn’t blocked.
He’d made her dinner and drove her home. He’d wanted to spend more time with her over the weekend, but the library opened Saturday morning, so she went in to help out, and on Sunday, she had things to do around her house. They’d gone to the club Thursday night for her class.
She stared at the two pairs of shoes she’d brought with her. Both black, one with three-inch spiked heels, the other one-inch wedges. She knew the club rules, so the wedges were out, but she also really didn’t want to wear spiked heels. Darn it.
“Are you almost ready?” Damon yelled.
“Just a second.” What was she going to do about shoes? She could go barefoot, but that didn’t appeal either. She left the room carrying her shoes.
Damon looked up, and his eyes sparkled. “I like the outfit.” His gaze roamed from her head to her toes. “Why are you holding your shoes?”
“I’m not very fond of spiked heels when I’m going to be on my feet all night, and I only brought a pair of wedges.”
“Yeah, no wedges. You can go barefoot.”
Tessa shook her head. “I don’t like the idea of someone being able to step on my toes.”
“If they do, I’ll have their head. Haven’t you noticed how many go barefoot?”
“Not really.” Tessa tossed her shoes in the bag with her regular clothes. “There is a solution.” She dug her phone out of her purse and dialed. “Hey, Sierra, can I borrow a pair of shoes for tonight? Yes, those will work. Thanks.” Tessa smiled at Damon. “Problem solved.”
“Good to have friends.”
“I’m very fortunate to have them. Especially when they wear the same shoe size as me.”
“Let’s go.”
Because they were at his house, it only took them about fifteen minutes to drive to the club. Damon turned down the road, stopped at the gate, and punched in the code, and waited.
“Not again,” he said and punched in the code again. Nothing.
“You want me to call the club?”
“Not yet.” He punched the code one more time. The gates swung open. “About time,” Damon muttered. He drove through and waited to make sure the gates closed behind him. “I’ll have to tell Max. I almost feel sorry for the gate company.”
“Have you guys been having trouble with it?”
“We did. And the last time they were here Max told them to fix it or replace it. We thought it was fixed. It’s almost like the gate has a mind of its own.” He pulled into a parking spot and helped Tessa from the car.
She wobbled a bit in her heels and held tightly onto Damon’s arm.
“I think I understand now why you didn’t want to wear them,” he said as they made their way inside.
“Yeah, I used to be able to wear them often, but now my balance isn’t what it used to be since I haven’t worn them in some time.”
Ralph was sitting at the table. “Evening, Master Damon, Ms. Tessa.” He turned the sign in book around. They both signed, and Ralph handed Damon a purple and white wristband.
Damon slipped it on her right wrist, before he bent down. “Hand on my shoulder; I’m going to remove these shoes so you don’t kill yourself.”
Tessa did as he said and sighed as he removed her shoes. “I was crazy to think about wearing them, even for this short period of time.”
Damon straightened and held the shoes out to her. “Go put them in a locker with your purse. I’m sure Sierra is waiting for you.”
“Yes, Sir.” She smiled and wiggled her hips as she walked down the hall.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Sierra rushed over and hugged Tessa the second she stepped into the ladies’ locker room.<
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“Me too.” Tessa walked over to the lockers and put her stuff inside before shutting it.
“Here’s the shoes.” Sierra held out a pair of black satin slippers to her.
“Thank you. I can see I need to upgrade my shoes.” Tessa sat down and slipped them on.
Sierra stared at her. “I’ve never seen that corset or skirt before.”
Tessa’s face grew warm. “Ummm, yeah. It was in the back of my closet.”
“Are you going to be okay tonight?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” Was there something she didn’t know?
“I’m here, Crystal and Jordan should be here soon. We might all play later tonight.” Sierra’s cheeks turned pink.
“It’s okay.” Tessa stood up and smiled at her friend. “I don’t know how much Damon and I will play tonight, but I can handle it.”
“I’ll admit we don’t usually watch each other scene, but I have a feeling that the guys might team up at some point.”
Tessa shivered thinking about their intense Doms.
“I bet they will.” They walked out together to see Max and Damon talking.
The impact of Damon’s gaze hit her like a freight train. Why now, she wasn’t sure. Her nerves tingled with excitement.
“Our two beautiful women,” Max said, coming over to them. He glanced at Damon who nodded. Max took Tessa’s hands in his. “Welcome back. I’m glad you’re here.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek.
“Thank you, Max,” Tessa said as he released her hands.
“What was that all about?” Sierra asked, her gaze going from Max to Damon and back.
“Protocol,” Tessa said. “Max looked at Damon for permission to touch me.” The familiar world of the lifestyle slid over her skin, and her muscles relaxed. Here she didn’t have to make all the decisions. She could let Damon take control with the knowledge she was safe with him.
“Jordan said he will be here about ten.” As Max pulled Sierra into his arms, Tessa smiled in silent reply to Sierra’s knowing grin.
“I’ll cover until he gets here,” Damon said.
“Fine. We guys need to discuss how we want to go about getting more help.”
“Yep.” Damon took her hand, and they made their way into the club. “I’m going to leave you in the green area for a bit while I work.”
