Mastering Love

by Morticia Knight

  But maybe not as a Master.

  He squirmed around on the boards, not sure what to think—how he really felt about anything. He’d been in Los Angeles for almost a week, and all he’d done was hang around the property, helping wherever he could. He was still convinced he’d never find a man who’d really want to take a chance with him as their boy. But he supposed he could at least go to the club for the occasional interlude with men who had no one else either. Maybe he could find someone like Gabriel again.

  Until that man dumps me once he finds a younger fellow.

  And besides, how could he go to that place anyway? How could he go to Hampton Road? It was just so humiliating to be the interloper. Would everyone at the club know what had happened? Would they talk about him, stare? Even though Linus had been very nice after everything had been arranged, how would he feel if Evan was hanging around the club—naked and available?

  Sam had really wanted him to go. He’d encouraged him to go for days. Sam had even said he’d ask Aaron if it was okay if Evan stayed with him in the other submissives’ den until he felt comfortable. Evan hadn’t said anything except ‘no’. He hadn’t wanted to point out that if he did that, he might have to face Linus.

  But he would have to make up his mind to do something soon. Staying alone in the guesthouse night after night with nothing to do was driving him crazy. He couldn’t even enjoy abusing himself. Despite the fact that no man had control of his body presently, guilt still crept up on him every time he took himself in hand. It wasn’t the same without being granted permission. Or even better—doing it in front of someone while they watched.

  His dick lengthened, and he groaned even louder than before. That was it then. He would go to the club the next time Aaron and Sam offered. He wouldn’t place any expectations on the visit. He would merely see what it was like. If Thomas and Linus were around, he’d be polite and friendly, but otherwise, he’d maintain his distance. Even if all he got out of it was the chance to be mastered for the night, that would be fine. It would certainly be better than spending his evenings drawing in the dirt.

  * * * *

  Ned relaxed in one of the wing chairs of the elegant library. He’d accepted Saul’s offer of a brandy when they’d first entered the room, and Ned currently held the snifter in one hand as he waited for the older man to join him and Thomas. Saul fiddled with a cigar while Thomas regarded him from where he sat on a small, brocade sofa.

  “So, I have to confess I don’t remember you from your previous visits.”

  Ned angled his body more toward Thomas. “They were sporadic, at best, and spread out over a few years. I’ve been traveling the country for several of those years locating prime pieces of real estate for an investor from Cleveland. In the process, I was able find properties I wished to purchase once he’d passed them up.”

  While Ned had spoken, Saul had seated himself in the wing chair opposite from Ned.

  He continued. “Now that I’m ready to settle down—look for a boy of my own—I decided on Pasadena. Of all the clubs I’ve visited, this one has always stood out to me as being top drawer.”

  “Really, old sport?” Saul lit his cigar, sucking on the end a few times until the tip glowed. He let out a puff of smoke. “Why is that?”

  Ned rubbed his forehead as he tried to put into words what sometimes only a gut feeling could explain. “I would say the main thing would be that the submissive men here always appear clean, well-fed and serene. On several occasions, when I’d enter the submissives’ den to choose a partner, I would catch them laughing together. In addition, when I’ve watched the demonstrations—even those that were extremely harsh—I’ve always witnessed the boy’s pleasure at the conclusion.” Ned chuckled. “I’ve never thought to put it into words before. It was merely a sense I had. However, upon reflection, those are all excellent reasons.” Ned took a sip of his brandy. “I should also say that I’m very keen on hearing about your rules.”

  Saul had a somewhat pained expression on his face, and Thomas had his gaze cast down.

  “I beg pardon. Did I say something amiss?”

  Saul let out a mournful sigh. “No, old sport. Not at all. It’s that we’re still suffering the after-effects of the beast who snaked his way in. It was incredibly irresponsible of us—of me.”

  “Saul…” Thomas glanced up, his brow furrowed as he regarded Saul. “You know damn well that it wasn’t all your responsibility—owner or not.”

  Ned straightened. “Owner?”

  “Yes. Saul’s the owner of Hampton Road. Has been all along, the big sneak.” Thomas gave a light laugh.

  Saul harrumphed. “I only did what I thought was proper.”

  “Well. This is all very interesting.” Ned cleared his throat. “But I have to confess, the last time I was here with Linus, I saw absolutely no indicator that anything was wrong.” He turned to Thomas again. ”Please accept my assurances that I have no interest in him other than his well-being. I only ever brought him here because he seemed lost and I recognized a need in him. I’m relieved to find that he’s obviously had that need met.”

  Thomas sighed, nodding his head with a small smile. “Thank you for stating that and I’ll always be grateful that you did bring him here. I’ll confess though that I’m rather protective of him, particularly after what he went through.”

  Ned pressed his lips together before speaking. “May I inquire about that?”

  Saul nodded, a rather grim expression on his face. “A Preston Cornwall showed up here at the club with a young man…” Saul cleared his throat and shifted in his chair. He took a strong puff on his cigar then set it in the ashtray. “Kenneth, my submissive, whom I introduced you to.”

  Ned worked to keep his face impassive. He wanted to hear the full story before he made any judgments. “Go on.”

  “Yes, well, I want to be upfront with you. That sense about things you mentioned regarding Hampton Road and the submissives here? I had it regarding Cornwall, but in his case, he gave me the heebie-jeebies. His treatment of Kenneth became more noticeably abusive the longer he was here. My interest in establishing rules for the club came about after a demonstration where Kenneth was whipped mercilessly to the point where he was bloodied.”

  “That does seem extreme, but I’ve known of some men over the years whose tastes tend toward experiencing a shocking amount of pain.”

  Saul nodded. “Yes, that’s true. As it turns out, Kenneth does love more pain than most. However, he wasn’t agreeing to what Preston did to him. In the demonstration I mentioned, he was fitted with a muzzle gag. There was no way for him to cry for mercy.”

  Ned frowned. It was something he’d never considered before. He’d always stopped whenever a boy pleaded for mercy or if they’d agreed on no more than a certain amount of lashes ahead of time. He’d always assumed that other Dominant men did the same—that it was a sort of credo.

  Perhaps not.

  Thomas interjected. “I also witnessed strange behavior from him. After the demonstration Saul just spoke of, he told me that he never allowed Kenneth to cry mercy. In essence, he admitted that he forced him to take the beatings. There was nothing at all about it that implied submission.”

  “That’s dreadful.” Then Ned remembered something else. “How was Linus involved if Kenneth was this Cornwall fellow’s submissive?”

  “The man was sick.” Thomas’ pursed lips spoke of his distaste for the man. “Kenneth told Saul that Preston enjoyed humiliating him by fucking younger men in front of Kenneth and telling him how much better they were than him. One evening, he brought Linus into the room with him and forced himself on him—”

  Ned gasped. “Oh no.”

  Saul laid a hand on his arm. “No worries, old sport. Kenneth intervened before Linus was raped. But needless to say, the poor boy was traumatized by the event.”

  “So the rules were implemented to prevent events such as that from happening again?”

  Saul nodded. “Yes, along with other changes
. I’m in the process of seeking a proper location to house the submissives who don’t have anywhere safe or clean to stay. When you mentioned you’d brought Linus here—something I’d never realized—it reminded me that I need to get going on that.”

  Thomas spoke up. “When Linus ran from the club after that horrible night, Saul and Master Aaron went searching for him and discovered he was staying at a rather disreputable flophouse.”

  Ned grimaced. He remembered. “Mmm. Shame on me. I dropped him off at that horrid place after taking him home from here. I suppose I used the excuse not to interfere, that he’s an adult, that it was none of my business. I could’ve offered more help.”

  Patting him on the arm again, Saul chuckled with little mirth. “You and me both, old sport. It took a wolf in our midst to bring to light our own deficiencies.”

  Sighing, Ned absently nodded. “So, I take it that this Master Aaron operates in some official capacity here?”

  Saul’s face lit up with a big smile. “Yes, he’s a board member as well as a good friend of mine and Thomas’. I have him to thank for introducing Thomas to Hampton Road after he moved here from Santa Barbara.”

  Ned had heard about a club there, but had never gone. The word on the street was that it didn’t have the best reputation. It wasn’t worth it to Ned to take those kinds of chances.

  “Did you attend the club out there?”

  A darkness crossed Thomas’ features and Ned was certain that any negative gossip he’d heard regarding the club up north was about to be confirmed.

  “Unfortunately, yes.”

  “I don’t wish to pry any further than I already have, but I’m curious. I’d considered attending at one time, but had heard some unsavory rumors. I always wondered if what had been told to me was nothing more than a bunch of hooey.”

  Thomas’ expression hadn’t lightened at all. “I’m sure what anyone ever said to you wasn’t nonsense. It’s a rather long story, but suffice to say, the group up there operated the club according to their whims. They interfered in my relationship with my boy—convinced him that I was a horrible abuser until another Master claimed him.”

  “Um…” It sounded suspiciously like the very thing that had recently transpired with Preston and Kenneth.

  “I know, old sport. I know. It was why Thomas wasn’t originally on board with our situation here. But after witnessing Kenneth’s treatment and discovering it was against his will, he acquiesced.”

  “And of course, I was horrified by what had happened with Linus.”

  Ned considered everything he’d been told. He needed to make an educated decision regarding membership in light of all the new information he’d received. “Yes. I certainly agree that anything done without a submissive’s permission is never to be tolerated.” He searched for a way to be delicate in his next inquiry. “Please don’t take any insult, Thomas. But could you elaborate on what it was the club in Santa Barbara objected to in regards to your treatment of your boy?”

  Thomas looked to Saul, almost as if asking permission. Saul spoke up.

  “You should know that at Hampton Road, we support the permanent marking of our boys by their Masters. As always, only if it’s amenable to the submissive. Will that be a problem for you?”

  “God, no. I’d always dreamed that someday I’d find someone who would bear my mark.” He turned to Thomas. “This was why they chastised you? It had nothing to do with forcibly imprisoning him, perhaps not caring for him properly, beating him—anything like that?”

  “No. I assure you I never did any of those things. I merely wished to mark him as mine by piercing him with my rings, and they objected. Once they’d convinced him that I was wrong to want to pierce him, he left me for another Master who’d been the most vocal in decrying me.”

  Saul grunted. “In truth Ned, what you just described as being of concern is almost exactly how Preston treated Kenneth.”

  Ned plucked a handkerchief from his pocket then wiped a bit of sweat from his forehead. Thomas seemed like a regular fellow, but he’d only just met him. Saul appeared to know him well, but if Saul had never witnessed Thomas at the old club, how could he be sure that what his friend claimed was true? Suddenly, Linus’ well-being jumped to the forefront of his mind again. He noted Thomas and Saul exchange glances.

  “Old sport, I can understand you may find all of this difficult to absorb. However, the young man who left Thomas at the behest of the club members up north is currently residing at Master Aaron’s home nearby. Perhaps you’d wish to speak with him before deciding on a membership?”

  Ned flushed. They were sharp gentlemen. “Please forgive me, Thomas. I only want what’s best for all involved.”

  Thomas nodded. “I understand. I can’t say that I wouldn’t do the same were I in your shoes.”

  “If you could indulge me for a couple more questions?”

  “Of course, old sport. If you decide to join us, we should all be comfortable with one another, have everything in the open. I think you’ll find that we have a strong camaraderie here. I consider all of these men my family.”

  Ned smiled, the tension in his gut easing somewhat. “That’s wonderful to hear.” He directed his next question to Thomas. “May I ask how it is that your former boy ended up here and isn’t with the Master who pried him from you up in Santa Barbara?”

  Thomas sighed heavily. “Yes, good question. I’d wondered the same thing about a week ago.”

  “Oh?”

  Thomas leveled his gaze at Ned. “He was turned out by the very same brute who’d convinced him that I was no good for him. Gave him bus fare for a one-way trip to my doorstep and nary anything else other than a few pennies and the clothes on his back. Yet, I was the abuser.”

  “Oh, dear Lord. That’s appalling. I’ll assume that your attachment with Linus prevented you from taking him back.”

  “I loved Evan, but what I have with Linus is what I’ve always dreamt of. I love him with everything that is in me. He’s my soul.”

  Ned swallowed hard, the sincerity of Thomas’ words affecting him deeply. Not only was he certain that Thomas wasn’t an abuser—either now or in the past—but he was touched by his open affection for Linus.

  That’s what I desire.

  “I believe you, Thomas. I do. I would still like to meet with Evan though. I hope you don’t think badly of me because of it.”

  “Not at all. We’re all still strangers to one another.” Thomas gave him a warm smile. “If it all works out and you decide to join us, I imagine we’ll become friends.”

  “I’d like that.” He regarded Saul. “May I also take a gander at the rules?”

  “Certainly. Let me get you a copy from my desk.”

  Saul rose then ambled over to the large mahogany desk at one end of the library. He opened a drawer then shuffled the contents around, muttering to himself. Ned really liked the good-natured, older man. He turned back to Thomas.

  “Is Evan at the club this evening?”

  Thomas shook his head. “I’m afraid not. Master Aaron told us that he didn’t want to come, even though Aaron’s submissive, Sam, had encouraged him to join them all week.” Thomas sighed. “I’m worried that he’s uncomfortable because of me and Linus being together.”

  “Do you think he still harbors feelings for you?”

  “No, he admitted that the only reason he came down here is because he had nowhere else to go. I believe it has more to do with him worrying that either Linus or I have some resentment toward him for being here.”

  “Poor boy.”

  Thomas nodded. “Let me see if I can’t persuade him to either meet with you at Aaron and Sam’s, or perhaps he can be convinced to come to the club after all.” Thomas frowned. “I really wish he would. He’s submitted to a man for at least five years now, ever since he lost his virginity.” Thomas flushed slightly, which told Ned all he needed to know about that. “I can’t imagine he’s doing very well without anyone to master him. It would do him good to be h
ere.”

  “Yes. I agree.”

  Saul yelled out. “Ah-ha! I thought I put them in the other drawer. I should have Javier do my filing, except I have the poor man practically doing everything else.” He sighed as he walked over to Ned. “Here you go, old sport. Should you decide to join us, we’ll need you to sign this and we’ll keep it on file with your original photos. If you have any questions, please let one of us know.”

  Ned accepted the piece of parchment paper then folded it neatly before tucking it into his coat pocket. He rose, extending his hand to Saul. “Thank you for your time and for filling me in, gentlemen.”

  After Saul let go of his grip, he turned to offer his hand to Thomas. The gesture was stronger than it had been initially. As Thomas loosened his hold, Ned reached into his other coat pocket to retrieve a small silver case that held his calling cards. He plucked one from the case then handed it to Thomas.

  “You can ring me here when Evan’s ready to meet. You can almost always find me at home in the mornings.”

  Thomas accepted the engraved card. “Very good. Will you be staying for the demonstration tonight?”

  Ned considered Thomas’ inquiry. It had originally been on his agenda. However, he hadn’t planned on discovering such startling information regarding the club when he’d arrived.

  “I think I’ll skedaddle for the evening.” He patted his pocket. “I’d like to go over these. You’ve both given me a lot to think about. Thank you for being so generous with your personal tales.”

  “We hope to see you on our doorstep and in our halls very soon, old sport.”

  Ned smiled. “Me too.”

  Chapter Three

  Sam chewed on his bottom lip—the very thing he’d warned Evan not to do. Evan was pretty sure he was a continuous source of frustration to his new friend. Yet he never raised his voice or made him feel bad. Sam always stayed sweet.

  “It’s okay, Evan. Don’t worry about the seeds for right now. How about the oranges? There’s a whole bunch of them that need to be picked. Do you remember how to check to make sure they’re ready?”