Evernight Publishing
www.evernightpublishing.com
Copyright© 2013 Sam Crescent
ISBN: 978-1-77130-293-7
Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs
Editor: Karyn White
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
DEDICATION
This book is dedicated to the readers and writers who love possessive men.
OWNED BY THE DOM: PART ONE
The Owners, 3
Sam Crescent
Copyright © 2013
Prologue
Five years ago
James Castleden stared at the woman in front of him. They’d been dating for a short time. In all of that time he’d kept this side of himself hidden. He wore no shirt, and his leather pants didn’t help him. When he was helping train a sub he liked wearing his leather pants. It was a strange kink he held, disciplining a woman and dominating her. He’d accepted who he was, even though he’d hidden that part of himself away from Veronica. For the first time he’d thought he could really make a go of it, to finally have a vanilla relationship with a woman. He’d been wrong. No matter how many hours he spent with Veronica, his true self couldn’t be denied.
She wasn’t supposed to see what was held in the dungeon. His lifestyle wasn’t open for her to stare at or ridicule. Veronica Star looked at him like he was some evil person. She was his waitress at Ravage, but her job description was confined to the top level not here.
“How could you do that? What is this place?” she asked.
“This is who I am, Veronica.”
He saw her gag in disgust. He placed the coiled whip down on the table in front of him. They were in one of his private rooms where couples could go after a session for some quiet time.
“You’re disgusting. I let you near my sister,” she said.
James got angry. Prudence Star was not in any danger with him. There was no way he’d ever allow anyone to hurt the younger woman. At eighteen she was a breath of fresh air in his jaded life. From the moment he’d met her, he’d seen she was different. Young, fresh, and seeing the whole world for the first time. He enjoyed being around her because she didn’t expect anything from him other than the pleasure of his company.
“Don’t you fucking dare insinuate anything about her.” He moved closer invading Veronica’s space. The woman flinched once then glared at him. He saw her true colours, and he didn’t like it. At one time he’d thought she was the one. He loved watching her. The graceful way she walked around his club. The kindness in her eyes as she smiled at him.
She was different from the other women, and different from her sister. Veronica was still pure in her own way.
This side of her was a different matter. She wasn’t open or giving him a chance to explain. Veronica was going on the defensive, and he hated it. So many people tried to judge him about his lifestyle, and they had no right to.
“You kept this from me. What else have you kept from me? I know Prue likes you. I’ve seen the way you two are with each other.”
James placed a hand over her mouth. “Don’t go down that road. You’re angry at me, not with her. She’s your sister, and I saw her as such.”
“I don’t get this lifestyle, James. I see it is a part of you, and I refuse to be part of it.”
“Then I guess we’re done here,” he said. At one time he’d really thought she was the one woman for him. He couldn’t believe how wrong he’d been.
“My notice is effective immediately,” she said.
“I expected as much.”
She moved toward the door. Her back was ramrod straight as she walked toward the door. His heart ached for what he could have had with her.
“I suggest you keep what you saw down here to yourself,” he said, thinking about the repercussions at the last minute.
Veronica turned to him. “What?”
“You may hate everything you see here, but that contract you signed when you first started working for me is binding for all parts of the club. Not one word to anyone, otherwise there will be consequences.”
She shook her head. “I can’t believe I thought you were the one.”
“Then it is a good job you got out before I did something sick to you.”
“Promise me one thing,” she said.
“What?”
“You’ll protect Prue. I don’t want her mixed up in a place like this.”
“I think that is her choice to make.”
“Please, I know you care about her.”
She was right. He really did like her sister.
“Fine, I’ll make sure.”
“Good.” Veronica left.
The moment she walked out of the door, James felt like a wretched shit. He kicked the chair across the room trying to rid his body of the anger the confrontation had caused.
He’d wasted his time. James knew he should have been open with her. Veronica was different from the women he’d dated.
James grabbed the coiled rope from where he’d placed it and walked out of the room. Cadeon greeted him as he moved back to the club.
“Trouble in paradise?”
“It was never paradise,” James said, grabbing his drink off the table.
“I knew it wasn’t.”
“What do you mean?” James asked, staring at his friend.
“You never cared about where she was.” The few words made James angry. “Before you start ranting and raving at me, let me explain. When she was around, you had no desire to keep her clamped to your side. The men she served drinks to would touch her butt, and yet, you wouldn’t respond.”
James listened, not liking what the other guy was saying.
“There is a reason we’re who we are, James. If she was the right woman it wouldn’t matter where you were. No man would be allowed to touch her without your anger rising. Your need to know where she was would consume your every waking moment. If Veronica was your woman then you wouldn’t be down here training a sub. You’d be wherever she was.”
“Maybe my father was wrong. This is in my blood. The possessive crap is not.”
“It is not crap. You’ll sense it with the right woman.”
“Have you found it yet?” James asked.
Cadeon smiled. “I’ve not felt the full pull of possession and need. I’ve sensed it with some women I’ve dated. There is a woman out there for me. I’m waiting for her to fall right into my arms or my office. In fact, I wouldn’t care where she fell as long as I was the man to catch her.”
James smiled at his friend’s description, unable to argue with his words. Veronica hadn’t invoked that kind of need, but he’d thought she was the one. He thought about Prudence, her younger sister. He’d never see her again, and he knew he’d miss her. James hoped she got everything she wanted out of life. She was sweet and deserved so much happiness.
He didn’t understand why he felt a sudden twang in his heart at the thought of Prudence happy with another man. James really wanted her to get everything she wanted out of life.
****
“You dumped him? How could you, Veronica? He was a cutie and so nice,” Prudence said. Her textbook lay open on her lap. She was in her first year of college and was struggling through her courses, not that she’d tell her sister wh
o excelled at everything.
“Not everything is about looks, Prue.” Her sister was banging some saucepans down on the hob. She winced listening to her sister bang around.
Prue knew it wasn’t about looks. James was so much more than something pretty to look at. She’d been intrigued by him from the first moment she met him. His dark brown eyes seemed to look at her and have so much knowledge about her from a single glance. She really liked him and would miss talking to him. They’d only talked a few times, but she felt like they’d connected.
“He’s older than you, Prue. Don’t even start thinking about it.”
Prue blushed and was pleased her sister wasn’t witness to it. His age didn’t bother her. She liked the man he was, not what was in his bank balance or the way he looked. He was unlike any other man she’d ever seen.
“I don’t want you seeing him, Prue. I mean it.”
“You don’t have to keep saying my name, Veronica. I get it. James is out of the picture.” Prue glanced down at her book as a wave of sadness consumed her. She’d never see him again, and she didn’t like it. Prue knew he’d never look at her like he did her sister. Veronica was perfect whereas she was not.
Pushing those thoughts to the back of her mind, she concentrated on her textbook. The last thing she needed was to flunk any of her classes. She was only just making the grade now. Her parents would be on her case if she failed anything.
The sounds of the pots and pans banging around in the kitchen faded from her mind as she thought about James. She didn’t understand her desire for him. His age and his relationship with her sister should put her off, they didn’t.
She must be the worst sister in the world.
Chapter One
One year on from His Obsession
Prudence Star stared up at the blaring light outside of the night club, Ravage. One small and simple word and yet to her it held so much meaning. Two of her friends had become regular members of the club while she’d held back, scared to take the next step. Ever since the media had covered the exclusive club she’d been waiting for an opportunity to visit James. The owner had dated her sister for a short time. Prudence had only met him a couple of times. The few chance meetings had left a lasting impression, on her at least.
“Are you coming, Prue?” Her friend called to her pulling her out of her thoughts. All of her friends shortened her name down, and she was more than happy with that. She hated her first name.
“Yeah, I’m coming.” She followed behind Anya and Becky in the hope of trying to calm her raving nerves. She’d been in many clubs in her older years. Prue didn’t know why this one was making her so nervous. She pushed her hair out of her eyes in order to stop her hands from shaking. Ravage was a club like every other club she’d visited. Get a grip. The media had been inside the club. Prue could recall the anger on James’s face at having his place invaded. She knew James preferred his privacy. He never gave anything away about himself unless he had to. The man on the front door gave them a once-over. Prue didn’t like the feel of his eyes on her body. There was only one man she wanted to look at her body, and this guy wasn’t him.
Stop thinking like that. You promised to deliver this stupid letter for your sister. Also, you want another look at the man who’s been plaguing your dreams for the last few years.
James had begun dating her sister while Prue was only eighteen. There were only seven years between her and Veronica.
“You don’t look old enough,” the doorman said.
Prue blushed. What more was she supposed to do? Her face might look young, but her body was that of a woman. How could the man mistake her for being younger than twenty-one? Her two friends sniggered. She shot them a glare. Opening her coat wider, she placed a hand on her hip and stared at the man in front of her.
“Are you trying to tell me that I don’t look old enough to be here?” she asked.
“Last time I checked, Veronica’s little sister was not allowed inside this club. You’re too young, sweetheart. When I started working for the club I was ordered not to let you inside.”
“Not too young to stare at, though.” She snapped at the man feeling really annoyed at her sister’s protectiveness.
“What can I say? I like looking at beautiful women, and you’re a beautiful woman, Prudence.” Anya and Tonya were giggling as they made their way inside the club.
“I’m going to have to get this checked by the big man himself,” the guy said.
She growled. “You do know it has been five years since my sister quit this place?”
“So? You can never be too careful, especially with all the press lurking about trying to get inside.” A scowl replaced the easy smile on his face. She wondered how bad things had gotten. The press release about this place being a BDSM club was leaked months ago. Why were so many people desperate for a piece of this place and that other club, Possession?
“Do I need to wait outside?” she asked. The cold nights were back with vengeance. She didn’t mind the cold so long as she wasn’t outside feeling the worst of it.
“No, you can wait at the bar while I go and check out some ID.”
“Don’t you need my ID?” she asked.
“Nope, I’ve got my orders, Prue.”
He took her by the elbow leading her through to the bar. From what she saw passing through the club looked like any ordinary club. It had a long bar with booths or tables dotted around. The colouring was dark with plenty of spot and head lights around. The dance floor was heaving with sweaty bodies. She stared longingly. Prue loved to dance. The guy placed her on her seat. She sat down feeling like a told-off schoolgirl rather than the twenty-three year old woman she actually was.
“This is ridiculous,” she said.
“Sorry, babe, rules are rules.”
He signalled the bar tender. “She is Veronica’s little sister. Make sure she doesn’t have anything alcoholic.”
“I’m over twenty-one.”
“Sure thing, Leo. Be careful, James is not in the best mood tonight.”
She heard Leo groan then leave. “That guy is named Leo?” she asked.
The barman nodded.
“After the painter?”
The barman nodded once again.
“Do you have a name?” she asked.
“Jermaine, miss. I’ll get you some water.”
Prue knew it was useless to even try to argue with the man. She spun round on her seat and watched the dancing couples. The heat radiating around the club was becoming uncomfortable. She stood up and removed her full length coat. Sitting back down in her chair, she watched Jermaine approach. He looked her over and stopped. Her face might be young like she thought before, her body however, was all woman in all the right places. She wasn’t model thin or massively overweight. At least to herself she wasn’t overweight. Her body shape had always been on the bigger side. Her hips were always larger, and her breasts were the same. She did have a small waist, compared to the rest of her. Her thighs were large as well. Veronica had been the thin girl in the family with the golden hair and kind eyes, while she’d been on the chunkier side. When she stood next to her slimmer older sister she thought she looked like an elephant. It was when she was around her family when she felt she didn’t like herself. She loved her body and had learned to accept her curves, with the help of a professor while she was at college. She would never tell anyone about that part of her life. Jermaine handed her over her drink. She thanked him then continued to stare at the sea of bodies.
“Are you really Veronica’s little sister?” Jermaine asked.
“Did you know my sister?”
“Yes, she was a heck of a good barmaid and one hell of a waitress when she needed to be. Leo has only been with us a year. James makes sure everyone knows you’re not allowed inside. It was one of his rules when Veronica left.”
That was Veronica all over. Her elder sister would excel at everything.
“Yeah, I’m her younger sister.”
Someone w
histled from the bar to gain his attention. Prue watched him walk away. She picked up her water and sipped out of the straw he’d given her.
Running her fingers through her hair, she stared at the dance floor. She kept playing with her hair. She’d gotten it coloured the other day, and she didn’t know if she liked it. While she’d been at the stylist, she’d asked them to dye her hair black and red. They’d dyed the top part black, and then underneath there were flashes of red.
“Have you been let out to play with the grown-ups?” Anya asked, taking a seat next to her.
“You could have waited for me,” she said.
“Where would the fun have been? That guy on the door looked hot, Prue. You have to admit he was worth a bit of your time,” Becky said, sitting on her other side. Prue kept looking at the dancing couples. She so wanted to be with them.
“I’ve been told to stay here until he gets my clearance or something. I think Veronica put some sort of protection order against me at this place.”
Becky snorted. “Miss goody-too-shoes is always spoiling your fun.”
“She means well by it. Veronica doesn’t want to see me get hurt.”
“Or have a life. She is a control freak, Prue. She’ll try to stop you having your fun, so that she can have her own fun. I don’t like it, and neither should you,” Anya said.
“Please, don’t talk about her. She’s still my sister. Why don’t you guys go and have some fun? I’m going to wait to be given permission.”
Prue looked at the dance floor longing to be in with the crowd.
“Is your jailer here to stop you?” Becky asked.
She looked behind her to see Leo hadn’t returned, and Jermaine being flirted with by a brunette at the other side of the bar. Prue glanced from the dance floor to the barman and back again.
Screw it.
She wanted to have some fun, and if breaking the rules was the only way she was going to get it, then that is exactly what she was going to do.
Owned by the Dom: Part One (The Owners) Page 1
