Bonds of Hope

by Lynda Aicher

  Quinn nodded. “That’s part of my issue and why I’m doing this submissive role. Apparently you’re not the only one who can’t stop seeing me as a little kid.”

  “Has Marcus had that problem?” Kendra wiggled her eyebrows in a comedic Groucho Marx impression.

  Quinn’s stomach did that odd drop and flip at the thought of all she’d done with Marcus. She ducked her head to hide her grin. “No. He hasn’t.”

  “Ooohhhh,” Allie drawled knowingly. “I smell a story.”

  “I thought I was here to ask you questions,” Quinn countered. She didn’t want to talk about Marcus or what they’d done. He was hers. Private.

  Allie held Quinn’s challenging gaze for a second before raising her hands in surrender. “You’re right. Shoot.”

  The relief loosened her spine and Quinn escaped behind her coffee to gather her thoughts. The liquid had gone tepid, leaving an unappealing brew that she forced herself to swallow. She set the mug down and tried to find her interviewer mode. “How did you know you were submissives?” She scanned the women, the question open to whoever wanted to answer.

  “For me,” Cali finally said into the growing silence, “it was simply a feeling I’d had for a long time, but I wasn’t exactly sure what it was until I found the courage to explore and figure out.”

  “I was drawn to it after I visited a leather club in college,” Kendra said. “And technically, I’m more of a masochist than a true submissive.”

  There was a difference? Quinn had been at the club for five days and no one had defined those distinctions to her. Just when she thought she knew so much, she discovered there was still a lot to learn.

  They all looked to Allie.

  “I told you,” the woman insisted. “I don’t see myself as a submissive. Not in the purest sense of the word. I don’t mind when my men take control in bed, but in my head, that doesn’t make me submissive. A little kinky, sure. But I don’t play at the club or have any desire to be bound to a bench and hit with a whip. Pain is not my thing.”

  “Yet you’re all friends.” Quinn was trying to wrap her head around the differences of each woman.

  “Sure.” Cali smiled at the other two. “Our sexual preferences have nothing to do with who we are as people. Just like everyone else. But I think the connection has made the three of us closer.”

  “The commonality factor then?” Quinn could understand that. It was the reason all of her friends were fellow actors.

  “No. It’s more that it made us realize we had friends we could trust and who would still be there, despite our different lifestyle choices.” Cali reached to either side of her and grabbed her friends’ hands. “I don’t know if I’d have Jake right now if wasn’t for these two talking me through my insecurities and doubts.”

  Quinn couldn’t imagine that level of depth and friendship. Jealousy flared like the ugly green monster it was always described as being—harsh, mean and cutting. But it was directed at herself, not the three friends who’d so openly exposed themselves to a stranger.

  “Same here.” Kendra covered Cali’s hand with her own. “And although it’s not related, I’m certain I’d lose my job if my private life became public.”

  “That doesn’t seem fair.” Quinn had never considered that as a factor. Yet she’d gone to great lengths to keep her tutoring at the club a secret. The reasons weren’t all that different—the “public” wouldn’t understand. “Wouldn’t that be illegal?”

  “Who knows,” Kendra said, her shoulder lifting in dismissal. “I’m sure the school board would find some reason that was legitimate.”

  Allie crossed her arms over her chest. “And I’m positive that my lifestyle choice of a threesome wouldn’t sit well at my law office. The terms of partnership actually contained a respectability clause that they’d probably enact if anyone found out.”

  “Then why do you stay there?” Quinn frowned. “Why work in a place that’s so shallow?”

  “Says the actress.” Allie shook her head then flicked her chin at Quinn. “Why are you doing this role? I don’t know you, but it doesn’t really seem like it fits your image.”

  “That’s why I’m doing it.” Once again the questioning had circled back to put Quinn on the defensive. “To break me out of that little-girl image that won’t let go.”

  “Do you like acting?”

  “Yes.” The auto response was there once again. She’d never been asked that question before, but everyone here seemed to think it was relevant.

  “And I like being a lawyer.” Allie tilted her head, her chestnut curls tumbling down her shoulder. There were women in Hollywood who would kill for hair like that. “Sometimes you put up with things until there’s a better offer or a reason to get out.”

  “I know that,” Kendra inserted with a sigh.

  “Me, too,” added Cali. “I stayed in a stagnant marriage for years longer than I probably should have.”

  “I stayed in an abusive relationship until the threat of death motivated me to run.” Kendra hugged herself, a visible shiver shaking her body.

  Now that was interesting. And confusing. “You were in an abusive relationship, yet you like pain? I don’t understand that.”

  “Most don’t. And honestly, I don’t require you to understand.” She gripped her mug and gave a tight smile. “It took years and a very patient and caring man to get me to accept it. That’s all the matters.”

  “That’s very strong of you.” Quinn spoke the honest words without thought. Growing up in a world based on what other people thought, it was impossible not to be impressed by that level of personal confidence.

  Kendra gave a soft hum. “Maybe. But it took me submitting to Deklan to find that strength.”

  “That’s so counterintuitive.” Yet it explained some of the emotions she’d been wading through with Marcus. With him, she never felt weak.

  “Isn’t it?” Cali nodded, the understanding shining in her green eyes. “But it’s true.”

  “I didn’t get it either,” Allie agreed. “Yet every time I give myself to Seth and Tyler, I feel free.”

  “But that’s really about the Dom,” Kendra interjected. “The wrong Dom can make you feel cheap and worthless. There’s a very fine line between abuse and dominance.”

  That was the exact point Marcus had hammered home to her when she’d pulled that foolish stunt that first night. This wasn’t a world to stumble blindly into.

  “What do you guys know about Marcus?” Was he really all that he presented to her?

  Cali grinned. “He’s a good guy, Quinn. From what I know, you have nothing to fear from him.”

  “Yeah,” Kendra agreed. “Deklan was the one who moved him into the role of training submissives. He talks highly of Marcus and his Dom skills.”

  “And he just bought into the club,” Allie said. “The guys only brought in people they trusted when they added the new partners.”

  Marcus was one of the owners? The information stunned her a bit and proved that there was a lot she didn’t know about him. And there were people she’d known for years and didn’t trust half as much as she did him.

  “Has he treated you okay?” Kendra’s question was posed in concern, not doubt.

  “Yes.” Quinn couldn’t stop the smile that seemed to appear whenever she thought of him. “He’s been great. I’m learning a lot from him.”

  “Are you liking it?” Allie drilled her again.

  “Would you leave her alone?” Cali shot a pointed look at Allie before shaking her head. “Ignore her, Quinn. Allie forgets to turn off her interrogation skills when she leaves the office.”

  Allie’s burst of laughter filled the room and lightened the mood considerably. She stood and grabbed her empty water glass. “Too true. Sorry, Quinn.”

  “You can tell her to bug off,” Kendra added. “She usually listens.”

  “Ha!” Allie scoffed as she grabbed a coffee mug from the cupboard. “What kind of lawyer would I be if I didn’t ask questions?
” She poured some coffee in the mug and held up the pot. “Does anyone what more?”

  Quinn declined, but Allie came around to refill the other two at their consent. Quinn admired the confident way Allie owned who she was. The jeans and scoop-necked brown sweater were simple, yet elegant in the way they hugged her curves. But more than that was the way she held her shoulders back and did everything with a purpose.

  The rest of the conversation moved into general topics about the area, the weather, their jobs, family—all the things friends talked about. It was relaxing in a completely comfortable way. There wasn’t a single bit of snide animosity or gossip about who did what or went where or was seen with whom. What a novelty.

  “I should get going,” Quinn said after a while. The sun was casting long trails through the windows, and she had to get ready for her night with Marcus. “Thank you for inviting me over. I really appreciate your openness.”

  Allie glanced at her watch. “Yeah. Me too.” She looked up and smiled. “And no problem. I hope I didn’t scare you off.”

  Quinn’s laugh rolled from her chest in waves. “You didn’t. I’ve been grilled far worse from nosy paparazzi during a simple trip to the store. This was nothing.”

  “Dang,” Kendra mumbled as she stood. “That must suck. I hated growing up under the scrutiny of Chicago’s high society. I don’t know how you endure having your whole life open for dissection for the world to pick apart.”

  Quinn shrugged. “Honestly, it sucks. But I learned long ago I can’t change it, so I figured out how to live with it.”

  “And how do you do that?” Allie’s brow was furrowed, and Quinn could almost see the wheels spinning in her mind.

  “By remembering that everything I do and say has the possibility of being splattered across every tabloid in the world.”

  “Wow. That would be awful,” Cali said as she followed Quinn toward the door.

  “It’s part of the business I learned the hard way.” She turned back to the women who’d been so nice to her. “Thank you, again.”

  The crisp air brushed over her cheeks and blew her hair around her head as she hurried to the rental car. The sun had disappeared behind a cloud, leaving the sky dark and gray with the coming night. She had a lot to think about before she met Marcus that evening. More than anything, her discussion with the women had only confirmed that whatever was growing with Marcus was something special. Now she just had to decide what to do about it. If anything.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “How’s the training with Quinn going?”

  Marcus snapped his head up to find the other owners all staring at him. Shit. That was a loaded question. “Good.”

  Seth raised a brow, leaning back in his chair. “Details?”

  “What?” He heard the defensiveness in his voice and let off another mental curse. He leveled his tone and worked up a smile. “The week’s been good.” Way too good. “She’s either a fantastic actress or a submissive at heart.” Well, he knew the answer to that now. The other night had not been an act.

  “What do you mean?” Vanessa sat forward. “She’s only here to learn about the world, not be a part of it.” She’d been on the road with the Minnesota Glaciers hockey team representing several of her clients since Sunday and was only now catching up on the club business.

  Marcus ignored the amused grins on the faces of Jake and Rock and stared Vanessa down. “On Monday she signed a contract to be my sub for the week.”

  Vanessa scanned the table. “Did the rest of you know about this?” The collection of nods confirmed that she was the only one who didn’t. “Damn it. I leave for five days, and you guys let this happen?”

  Deklan shrugged. “What does it matter? The paperwork’s on file. It’s all above board.”

  “You do remember who she is, right?”

  “Of course.” Deklan frowned. “What does that have to do with it?”

  “I checked the contract myself,” Noah spoke up. The low timbre of his lawyer voice smoothed through the room with the calm assurance he was known for. “There was nothing that precluded her participation as an actual submissive.”

  “That’s not the point,” she insisted.

  “Then what is?” Marcus relaxed into the chair. He knew what Quinn was about. He’d learned a lot about his sub in the last five days. She might have been nervous to start, but that had faded by the end of their second night. “I did everything by the book. She wanted this, so I obliged. I thought you’d be happy that I was giving her my full attention.”

  So much attention that he’d rescheduled all of his client appointments to next week after her contract ended. This week was all about Quinn. The anticipation of the coming night had the energy humming on his skin again. But the rapid bounce of his leg beneath the table was the only vent he allowed. He was saving the rest for Quinn. Keeping his hands off her then sending her home last night had been the truest test of his control.

  One he’d almost failed, yet it’d been important. He’d given her time to think about the Scene and where they were going and what he wanted from her. It could backfire, or it could get him exactly what he wanted—all of her.

  Vanessa sighed and slumped back in her chair. “Never mind.” She rubbed her forehead. “Just be careful. We don’t need any backlash from this.”

  “On that note,” Seth interrupted, giving them a pointed glare. “The first week of business has been good. You all know the Halloween party was an overwhelming success.”

  “And a fucking security nightmare,” Deklan grumbled. “Like always.”

  Seth narrowed his eyes. “But no issues.”

  “None,” Rock stated.

  “Who’s on the floor this week?” Jake flipped through the schedule Seth had handed out earlier. The conversation turned to the coming rotations and coverage. Between the seven owners, they were trying to create a schedule that gave everyone more nights off while always having at least two owners working the club floors. Except Rock, the man rarely took a night off and never left the security room.

  After thirty minutes of wrangling names and negotiating their own itineraries, Jake tossed his pencil on the table and scrubbed his hands over his face. “This sucks. How are we doing on hiring?”

  Seth blew out a breath and rubbed his brow. “Slow.” His hair was pulled away from his face in a stubby tail at his nape, but a few strands had escaped to hang around his face. “We need to talk about expanding responsibilities among everyone.”

  Jake frowned. “How so?”

  Seth sucked in a breath, looking away. “I need help.”

  The silence that followed was only broken by the distant clang of dishes from the kitchen. Seth never asked for help. Everyone knew that.

  Marcus recovered first. “How so? What can we do?”

  “Yeah,” Jake said. “What’s wrong?”

  Seth shook his head. “Nothing’s wrong. I’m just...” He sighed. “I’m just tired.” He leaned back and cupped his hands behind his head, staring at the ceiling. “I promised Tyler and Allie I’d bring it up today.”

  “Okay.” Deklan nodded. “So talk.”

  “Shit, this is hard.” He sat forward to brace his arms on the table. “I’d like to hire some people to help with the operational side of the business. This stuff—” he waved a hand at the papers spewed across the table, “—is tedious, but necessary. Staff scheduling, payroll setup, membership callbacks, all of it. We’re still low on staff, but our membership applications have doubled. Seems every Tom, Dick and Harry thinks they can get in after seeing The Den on the news. Of course, most of those are rejects, but they still have to be processed.”

  “So do it,” Jake said when Seth stopped for a breath. “Get some fucking help. None of us disagree.” A quick scan of the table showed everyone nodding.

  “I can help with hiring and membership interviews,” Marcus said. “Hell, it’d be nice to put my degree to work.” Vanessa and Noah had fulltime jobs outside of the club, and Rock was strictly i
nto the security stuff. Jake was spending more time with his BDSM equipment business, which left Marcus and Deklan to step up.

  “What about the training?”

  Marcus shrugged. “Most of that’s in the evenings.” He glanced at Deklan before adding, “I was also thinking of bringing in a couple of our experienced staff to take that over.”

  That got Deklan’s attention. “What are you talking about?” Deklan had run the Dom and sub training programs since the club opened and still handled the Dom training both for employees and members.

  Yeah, he should have discussed the idea with the man first, but the topic came up here, so he plowed on. “If we hand over membership training to a few of our experienced employees, that’d free up more of our time. I can think of five people who’d be great at it and would love the opportunity.”

  The deep scowl told him what Deklan thought of the idea even before he spoke. “How will we manage that? What if they do a bad job and members complain?”

  “Really?” Marcus rolled his eyes. “It’s called trust. You trained them all. Would you put them on the floor if you didn’t trust them with clients? This is no different.”

  Deklan shook his head. “I don’t know.”

  “Look.” Marcus sat forward. “I know we’re all control freaks.” Rock snorted and quickly ducked his head when everyone glared at him. “But if the business is going to grow, then we have to trust our employees with more responsibility.”

  “Which is exactly what Allie said,” Seth said with a sigh. “The idea has merit, Dek. I’d rather have you and Marcus helping with the management stuff and let others take over the daily things.”

  “I have a degree in business management,” Marcus added. “Let me use it.” The more they talked about it, the more he liked the idea. “In fact, give me all of the employee stuff. I know everyone who works here and the jobs. I can handle the hiring, scheduling, politics and the bullshit that goes with it.”

  “Seriously?” Seth raised his brows, the doubt clear. “You’re volunteering to take that shit on?”