by Livia Grant
He held her hand, dragging her behind him as they rushed to the exit.
Chapter Two ~ Jaxson
“I don’t think you heard me correctly so let me repeat myself. We will be opening in exactly two weeks, with or without your help. I’ve jumped through legal, zoning, and financial hoops. I’ve already secured the grand opening entertainment and I’ve started hiring and training employees. If you think for one minute I can’t fire you this morning and have another contractor on the ground by noon, you’re fucking delusional,” Jaxson warned their security contractor with a deadly calm voice.
“Don’t threaten me, Davidson. We have a contract. You want to fire me, fine. But you’ll still pay me every dime.”
Jaxson chuckled. “You didn’t have your lawyer review the contract before you signed it, did you?”
His response was met with silence, so he continued. “Listen up, George. I’m an honest businessman. I don’t want to exercise my out clause unless I have to, but here’s the deal. We will open on time. That means you’re gonna have to get used to me having my boot shoved up your ass or you need to tell me right now if you’re not capable of pulling it off on time and I’ll find someone who can.”
“Screw you, Jaxson.”
“Is that a ‘Yes, sir, I understand’ or a ‘You’d better find someone else’?”
His barb was met with dead silence, making the sound of the garage door going up pierce through the quiet morning. Jax smiled, relieved Emma and Chase were back so soon.
“Fine. I’ll pull two other crews off the jobs they’re on. I’ll throw everything I have at your project, but you owe me,” the unhappy contractor threatened.
“And I’ll pay you every penny you earn. You really didn’t read the contract, did you? I added a five-figure incentive to meet our aggressive timelines. You can take your wife on a nice vacation when it’s all over.”
“Fuck that. My wife is boning our insurance agent. I’ll use the bonus to hire a lawyer and start divorce proceedings.”
Jaxson stifled a chuckle. “Hey, whatever works for you. The point is I know I have high expectations, but I’m willing to reward those around me that can make it happen.”
“Fine. I’ll clear my schedule and meet you at the job site this afternoon. I’d like to walk the property with you and make sure we’re crystal clear on your expectations.”
“Wise man. I hope to have my new head of security onboard by then. He can walk with us. It’ll save me time to explain it all to both of you at the same time. Later.”
Jaxson hung up just as he heard the door to the attached garage close. He’d been working at the kitchen island of the house they’d rented just a few blocks away from the new club. It was cramped, and in desperate need of renovation, but the location was convenient for the frequent trips back and forth to their new property. Still, he couldn’t wait until construction was complete, and they could move into their newest home.
He heard Chase and Emma chatting just before they rounded the corner. It still amazed him that his heart could actually ache at times when he caught a glimpse of his lovers. The physical twinges in his chest were happening more frequently in the last few months and the reason was no mystery.
He’d fucked up. He was in way too deep now to stop it, but he never should have set the insane timeline for the opening. It was pushing him, and everyone around him, to the brink and he fucking hated it.
Chase greeted him first. “I was happy to see your car still in the garage. We were hoping you’d still be home.”
He didn’t have the heart to tell his lover he was already late and needed to leave soon. “I wanted to congratulate you on your successful interview this morning. I’m glad I didn’t go with you. I might have interrupted to bitch-slap Brandi if she’d pawed you one more time.”
Emma threw her purse down on the counter with a huff before crossing to the coffee pot to grab a cup of brew. “Yeah, well, my palm was twitching there a few times, too.”
Always the glue of their trio, Chase soothed them both. “I took care of it, didn’t I?”
“I was so fucking proud of you. I think I’ve officially rubbed off on you. You cut her to the core at the end there, exactly how I would have handled her if it had been me.” Jaxson didn’t share that he’d cheered out loud at Chase’s parting comments to his old babysitter.
A grinning Chase approached him, leaning in to hug Jaxson around the waist as he answered, “Yeah, well we do enough rubbing it was bound to happen.” Jax felt the hard cock of his lover jabbing his hip, rushing blood to his own growing erection.
Cupping Chase’s package through his dress pants, Jaxson groaned. “I wish I had time to take this bad boy out and play, but I should have left for the property already.” Not for the first time, Jaxson stumbled on the description. He didn’t know what to call the location of their newest venture. It was to be their home, but it was so much more than that. It was a gated paradise with gardens and pools, a grand three-story house with a full basement. It was, by almost anyone’s standards, a mansion, yet he hated how pretentious he sounded using that word.
Chase wasn’t to be deterred. The sexy blond’s hands roamed lower to cup Jaxson’s growing appendage just as an unexpected visitor joined them.
“I stopped by the mansion first, but when you weren’t there I decided to look for you here.” Lola paused momentarily, taking in the occupants of the kitchen. “Oh, I see you’re being distracted. I thought you wanted to stay on schedule.”
He’d hired Lola Garcia as his personal assistant for that exact reason––to stay on schedule. So why did it annoy the shit out of him to have her constantly lecturing him about what he was working on?
Maybe because he was the fucking Dom of their household and he didn’t take kindly to women, or men for that matter, who imposed their will on his. He was the one who called the shots.
“I’m on schedule. I’m meeting people there after lunch.”
“The two final candidates for head of security are waiting to meet with you now. I didn’t like leaving them there together.”
“Then why did you? I don’t need you here.” He didn’t miss the evil looks he was getting from both Chase and Emma. They hadn’t been thrilled with the addition of Lola to their West Coast team in the first place. Her continued appearances in their private space were putting additional strain on the trio.
“Of course you do. You need me everywhere. I already sent out the VIP invitations that we talked about yesterday early this morning. I also placed the order for the glassware and grand opening swag. They should all be here in a couple of days.”
Lola’s welcome efficiency balanced her annoying bossiness most days. “Excellent. You go back to the property. I’ll be over within the hour. Let’s push the interviews back to after lunch.”
“No way, I’m not leaving without you. We have too much work to do,” she lectured. She’d crossed the kitchen and was presently grabbing the coffee pot directly out of a stunned Emma’s hands while reaching for a nearby mug and boldly stealing the last of the java.
He took a deep breath, much like he often did when working with his assertive Runway manager, Maxine Torres, back in D.C., trying to recognize her value to the process.
“I appreciate your diligence. I even appreciate your assertiveness, but there is one thing you’ve not learned yet, Lola,” he declared. Extricating himself from Chase, he stood with his arms across his chest until she finally turned around to face him after fixing her coffee.
There wasn’t a submissive bone in the assistant’s body. She met his glare with her own steady look, even having the audacity to crack a smile at his continued gruff demeanor. He wasn’t used to being challenged—not by Doms at Black Light and certainly, not by women employees.
“What is it I still need to learn?” she prodded, unaffected.
“I’m the boss. You work for me. If I tell you to go to the property to wait for me, I expect you to say ‘Yes, sir,’ and move your ass.”
The woman had a serious death wish. If it were just his own ego on the line, he could have dealt, but Jaxson didn’t miss the muffled moan from Emma. He glanced up as she was turning to look out the window above the kitchen sink, just in time to see the familiar tears in her eyes. His Emma was not happy. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure it out, and that flutter in his chest came back stronger than before, this time because he had a growing fear that she was starting to slip away from him and Chase.
If he were a good Dom, he’d have them boarding a plane for a far-away destination where they could reconnect… talk… make love… fuck like rabbits. Not for the first time, he regretted that he’d set them on this insane schedule.
And he was wasting valuable time.
“No one in my life is a child, Lola, and while I appreciate how you get shit done that won’t save you from getting axed if you ever speak in such a disrespectful tone to me or about my submissives ever again. It’s clear you don’t appreciate our lifestyle. Fine. I don’t give a shit. But as my employee, I do expect you to follow orders when given. Now, take your coffee and go back to the club. I’ll meet you there within the hour.”
Lola’s eyes dilated. She was having serious issues following orders. They played chicken, waiting to see who would flinch first. Wisely, it was Lola.
“Fine. I’ll meet you there, but don’t take all day,” she huffed, hitching her purse higher on her shoulder and retreating without another word.
Chase broke the silence. “Wow, she’s worse than Maxine. I can’t believe you let her get away with that shit.”
Even though he agreed with Chase, Jaxson didn’t appreciate having it rubbed in his face.
“Listen, we’re on an incredibly tight schedule. Making personnel changes at this juncture would put the opening at risk. We just need to get through the grand opening, then we can re-evaluate and make staffing changes if we need to.” He paused, turning back towards the sink. “Emma, are you okay, baby?”
She didn’t turn to look at him as she replied, “Yeah, just great.” Her voice was pinched. “If it’s okay with you, I’d like to go spend the day with Khloe over at her beach house. She and Ryder got back yesterday from her on-location shoot in New York.”
As much as he hated when Chase and Emma weren’t with him, he was relieved to know Emma could take a day off from the stress of the opening plans. He and Chase had both been worried about her for the last few weeks. The men couldn’t put their fingers on it, but their Emma wasn’t herself.
“That’s an excellent idea. You’ve been working so hard on dealing with the financial end of things, you could use a day off.” Jax paused before looking at Chase. “I’m sure you could use a day off too. You could go with Emma if you’d like.”
“Oh no, you don’t. You’re not getting rid of me that easy. You need me to keep handling the deliveries and coordinating all of the vendors.” Chase stopped and grinned at Emma’s back. “Anyway, I’m sure the ladies would like an afternoon of gossip without us men hanging around.”
Chase’s assumption made Jaxson feel worse, not better.
“Wait a minute. I don’t want them completely alone. Khloe has a lot of crazies still trying to get to her. I don’t want Emma exposed to danger.”
Emma finally turned around to add, “Even if Ryder is gone, Trevor will be there. One of the two of them is with Khloe at all times.”
She was right. Jaxson acknowledged while the list was short of who he’d trust to protect his submissive, Ryder Helms and Trevor McLain were at the top of that list.
“Fine, but I don’t want you to drive there yourself. We’ll call you a car. Text us when you’re ready to come home, and one of us will come get you.”
Emma hadn’t made eye contact with him since Lola had burst in. He watched her body language, picking up on her hugging her middle and rocking gently.
“Emma, eyes.”
Several long seconds passed before she complied. The second her unique violet eyes met his, the ache in his heart stabbed.
“Come here, baby.” He held his arms wide, relieved when she rushed forward, allowing him to hold her tight. Chase didn’t miss his opportunity to move into their favorite position, stepping close to Emma’s back and sandwiching her between the two men who loved her.
No one spoke. Words weren’t needed. Every second that went by, the trio got stronger as if being locked together like puzzle pieces had the power to refill their depleted tanks with love. They’d been too busy, allowing life to pull them apart. Jaxson hated to end their embrace.
“I promise you both. One week after the opening, I’m going to book us a long weekend away somewhere. Just the three of us. No talk of work. Just us. Naked, sleeping, eating, and fucking.” He felt Emma hugging him tighter with his promise.
Regretfully leaning back, Jax took charge again. “Chase, you’d better change for the construction zone. Emma, go pack a small bag with your swimming gear. I’m sure you girls will enjoy taking a dip and maybe walking along the beach.”
Emma clung to him until he had to almost pry her loose. Something was definitely wrong. He just hoped she could hold it together until after the opening when he could focus on something other than business.
Both men watched as their girl headed to their room to collect her swimming gear.
Once she was out of earshot, Chase mirrored his own fears.
“Something’s wrong.”
“I’ve seen it too. She’s shutting us out. If I thought I could spank the truth out of her, I’d tie her down and wail on her ass until she told us the truth.”
Chase glanced up, worry shining in his eyes. “I’ve tried to get her to open up. I’ve begged. I’ve tried to Dom it out of her. She’s dug in.”
“Do you have any idea about what’s bugging her?” Jaxson asked, desperate for answers.
“Honestly, I don’t think she likes California. It all started around the time we got serious about the West Coast project.”
“It has taken up more of our time than I’d expected it to.” Jaxson sighed. “And I fucked up rushing the opening schedule. It’s too aggressive. She’s gotten the short end of our time for the last few months.”
“Don’t blame yourself. You were honest with us. We agreed to the plan.”
“You did. I don’t remember Emma saying more than two words. I took her silence as consent.”
“Oh no, you don’t. She’s been an active participant in the project, working up all of the financial models and setting the final budget. At any point during those crazy long working sessions she could have spoken up if she didn’t want to pursue the project. Emma may be our submissive, but she’s not a pushover. She’s had no problem standing up to us in the past when we needed her to. Hell, that’s one of the things that made us fall in love with her.”
“I guess. I just wish she’d open up and be honest with us.”
“You and me both. We’d better get going. I don’t want the two security dudes to kill each other before we get there.”
Chapter Three ~ Emma
“Emma! You’re here!” Khloe Monroe flung the heavy front door of her Malibu beach house wide just as the driver brought the car to a stop in her circle driveway.
Emma grabbed her purse and the small duffle before exiting the car. Her pulse was racing, her nerves fried. She hadn’t wanted to stay in the awful rental all day, and she certainly couldn’t stand the idea of spending another day watching Lola pawing Jaxson or the gay interior designer hitting on Chase. All things considered, spending the day with Khloe had sounded like heaven until on the drive over, she realized she’d also be spending the day with Ryder.
There was a time when Ryder Helms had scared the shit out of her, but those days were over. It wa
sn’t fear of the man that had her wanting to limit her time with Khloe’s Dom and significant other. No, it was Ryder’s eerie way of forcing the truth out of people. It had to be his CIA interrogation training, but the one thing she knew with complete clarity was people with secrets shouldn’t spend time hanging around him.
And she had the world’s biggest secret.
“I’ve missed you!” Khloe squealed as she hugged Emma close.
Emma hadn’t felt like herself in weeks… hell, months. For a brief moment, she leaned into her girlfriend’s hug, allowing Khloe’s genuine joy at seeing her push down her internal panic.
“I’m so glad you called me. I’ve been going crazy spending so much time in the chaos of the construction zone,” she admitted.
Khloe released her, linking her hand through Emma’s bent arm to tug her into the house. “Come on in. Trevor was just making us a light lunch. Emphasis on the word light… I hope.”
Emma smiled as they entered the gorgeous home of the award-winning actress. She'd visited several times in the last year, but this was the first time without the guys. Her heart constricted as it did often these days each time she was forced to acknowledge how far apart their threesome had started to drift. There was a time she had almost felt smothered by their love. For two years, she’d had almost no private time because at least one of the men had been with her. Most of the time she’d loved it, but what a fool she'd been to not treasure their attentiveness more.
“Hello. Earth to Emma.” Khloe’ s voice cut through her internal angst.
“Sorry, I zoned out.”
Khloe had turned, looking her up and down. “Is everything okay?”
She felt guilty causing her friend to worry enough, small frown lines popped up on the actress’ forehead, so Emma forced a smile. “Oh yeah. I just haven't been sleeping the best and we've all been under a ton of stress trying to get everything done in time for the opening.”
