“East coast,” he murmured.
“Ah, still seeking anonymity.”
“Just not interested in publicizing, that’s all.”
She fell silent and he was glad. Though her voice was sensual and inviting, her words and attitude left him cold. His mother raised him to be polite though, and he would feel like a heel for accepting Kay’s invitation then abruptly cutting out on her.
He decided he’d watch whatever this demonstration was for a few minutes then get back to his room.
After today’s run-in with Madelyn and Noah, he was on the verge of leaving the island altogether. He was pretty sure he’d incurred some bad karma today with his carelessness. He owed them both an apology.
Not only had he lashed and hurt Madelyn, but he’d bolted like a damn coward. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but for a few moments when his hand had been on that whip, and Madelyn had arched in pain from his blow, his cock had grown hard and insistent. Power swept through his veins, leaving him excited and feeling ten feet tall.
But the aftermath left him sick to his stomach and at heart. Madelyn was so small yet so resilient. He wanted to cuddle her and spank her all at the same time.
Both Noah and Madelyn had him in a tailspin of confusion. Gabriel was known for his ruthlessness in the board room. It was a reputation he cultivated with great care. He’d orchestrated many a downfall and takeover using that image.
Being a protector was not something he was very familiar with, and yet Madelyn’s mere presence seemed to pull those emotions out from him with ease.
He looked at Kay then quickly away. She was his female counterpart. She gave off an air of cold determination that he was often accused of imparting.
But surely I’m not as harsh as she is?
The tree-lined pathway opened onto a somewhat secluded cove of rocks, sand, and tropical vegetation. A grotto stood across the sand and to the left of the rocks. It boasted the look of man-made symmetry.
Island music laden with steel drums and poignant guitars drifted on the humid air. There were about fifteen people mingling and dancing on the sand. A few were making out, engaged in acts bordering on public obscenity but heedless of their audience.
Or perhaps the audience was a part of the allure. His own fascination with watching what amounted to live-and-in-person porn had skyrocketed since his arrival.
Kay tugged at his arm. “Over here. See him?” She pointed to a tall, burly man wearing only small blue trunks. He was big but fit, no fat anywhere on his clean-shaven body.
“Yeah.”
“His name is Oscar, and I’m about to whip him.”
“For what?”
Her chuckle sounded more ominous and less exotic. “Because I want to.”
Gabriel eased a step away and crossed his arms. “But doesn’t that go against all the rules?”
“I make my own rules, darling, something you’ll learn if you stick around long enough.”
She moved through the crowd, weaving in and out of the throng like a sinuous serpent.
Gabriel frowned after her. Everything she’d just said went against the safety guidelines laid down by Noah. He flinched. Noah apparently had damn good reason for all the precautions he insisted on. Did Kay feel she could ignore them because she was a woman and not as strong?
Though Madelyn was small, she had strength in her. He’d felt it when he’d flogged her. He was able to see how she bucked and fought against Noah even as she invited his lashing. She was an intriguing contradiction, and he found himself yearning to figure her out.
But first he had to find her and apologize. He needed to apologize to both of them.
Gabriel didn’t follow Kay into the sand circle. He leaned against a palm tree and eyed her as she approached Oscar.
As soon as he caught sight of her, the man smiled, then dropped to his knees, head bowed. Kay reached out and stroked his hair, running her scarlet-tipped nails over his scalp and neck.
Suddenly, she jerked his head back and slapped him hard across the face.
Gabriel winced.
Tendons in Oscar’s neck stood out as she continued to hold his head bent backward. His skin flushed a deep rosy red.
Finally she let him go and turned toward the small rock cave. Gabriel realized the music likely emanated from there. It clicked off and the crowd fell silent.
She bent and pulled open a hidden door. “Hard or soft?” she asked loudly.
“Hard, mistress, please. This worm deserves no sympathy from you.”
“Damn right,” she said.
Gabriel’s nerves scraped at her hissed tone. She was enjoying humiliating the man, luxuriating in her power over him.
Which, of course, was the entire point. He had to shake his own sense of chauvinism away and accept the fact that men existed who longed to submit to women.
He didn’t really have a problem with that. It just seemed Kay was a little too gleeful. She was nearly jubilant with the arrogance of having Oscar at her feet. Gabriel remembered Madelyn’s gentle submission to Noah. She’d been defiant but encouraging. She had asked to be disciplined but not broken.
Kay’s sneering visage spoke of no compassion or tenderness toward the man beneath her. If anything she looked as though she’d gladly flay him alive. Her desire to punish him was nearly palpable.
The idea turned Gabriel’s stomach.
But everyone was different.
Kay stood up from the cabinet she’d been rummaging in and held up a long, black single-tail whip. A shudder of revulsion rippled over him. That whip was meant only for those used to wielding its power because of the potential damage it could do. Like the damage he’d caused Madelyn.
He shoved the memory as far out of his brain as he could.
Kay strode behind the kneeling man and kicked his legs apart. She cupped his chin and forced him to look up at her.
“I’m going to whip you until I am satisfied. Safe word?”
The man hesitated, and Gabriel caught the soft inhalation of a woman nearby. He cast her a curious sideways glance, and she smiled timidly back, then brushed blonde bangs from her eyes.
She didn’t say anything though, and once more he refrained from asking.
“Bottle,” Oscar said.
“Good.” Kay stepped back, cracked the whip a few times, and began. The first strikes were crisp and loud and elicited an immediate reaction in Oscar.
He gasped and howled and begged for more. His cock jutted obscenely against his blue swim trunks and a dark wet spot appeared.
“Don’t stop, Mistress, I beg you. More, I need more.”
Kay continued to lay into him with the whip. The loud, harsh snaps set Gabriel’s teeth on edge, but each blow sent Oscar into a higher euphoric plane.
“Mistress,” he gasped. “May this slave come?”
She stilled, her arm falling to the side, and planted the spike of her high heel against his back.
She must have pressed hard because Oscar winced and arched away from her.
Her laugh was harsh and derisive. “No, pig, you may not come. Get up, I’m done with you.”
Oscar’s face crumpled into such a pitiful expression Gabriel had to look away, both repulsed and uncomfortable.
“But, Mistress,” Oscar wailed.
She ignored him. “Anyone else want a taste of my whip?”
There was silence then unbelievably, the small timid woman next to him stepped forward.
“Yes, Mistress. Whip me.”
Gabriel pushed away from the tree and matched the girl’s steps, halting a few feet away. He met Kay’s glowing green gaze.
“Enjoying yourself, Gabriel?”
He didn’t answer and she shrugged.
“Take your dress off,” she ordered the girl.
“Uh, Mistress, I’m not wearing anything underneath.” The girl’s skin burned bright red with embarrassment.
“So? You’re a filthy whore, nothing more. You want to feel my whip, take your fucking clothes off and
kneel. Otherwise, quit wasting my time.”
The girl trembled. Her lip caught between her teeth and then she tugged her cotton sundress up and over her head. She tossed it to the ground. She was small and built like a dancer with lean muscles, flat breasts, narrow hips, and little pubic hair to speak of. Her physique did nothing for him. He much preferred the lushness of Madelyn’s exquisite body.
A breeze caught the light material of her dress and skittered it across the sand where it wrapped around Gabriel’s ankles. He picked it up as unease continued to bite at him.
He should put a stop to this.
The blonde dropped to her knees in the sand where Oscar had just been, bent her head, and presented her bare back to Kay.
“How hard?”
“Be merciful, Mistress.”
Kay barked a laugh. “Doubtful. Safe word?”
“Franklin.” The word caused a titter to run through the crowd.
“Franklin?” Kay asked and sneered. “Sounds like the pussy name of some ex-boyfriend. You still carrying a torch for him?”
The girl shook her head, and without warning, Kay brought the single-tail lash down hard along her shoulders.
The girl screamed and almost fell forward, caught by Oscar’s strong arms. He pushed her upright.
Again the whip hit her and again she yelped loudly.
Gabriel gripped the dress tight and stepped forward. “Kay,” he began.
“Shut the fuck up, Gabriel, or you’re next,” she snapped, panting heavily as her arm worked the leather over the tiny woman.
He narrowed his eyes. Fuck this, he didn’t need it.
He tossed the dress at the girl’s feet and started to walk away, sick to his stomach at Kay’s vicious display.
The experience taught him one thing. He was definitely not the kind of guy who liked to inflict such massive pain on anyone.
What had happened with Madelyn had been an accident. Surely his arousal had been due solely to the lust he’d felt previously, not when he’d struck her.
The blonde still howled as he reached the tree-covered path.
“Franklin!” came her plaintive wail.
Another loud crack of the whip rent the air.
Gabriel froze then spun on his heel.
Krista landed another blow and then another.
“Franklin, Franklin, Mistress, Franklin,” the girl sobbed and sobbed the words.
The people milling about murmured to each other, but no one stepped forward. Fear and unease littered their faces.
Kay raised the whip again, and he caught the scent of blood on the wind.
“Fuck,” he whispered then sprinted forward.
Kay got two more solid blows in before he reached them and grabbed her arm. “Enough,” he shouted. “She used her safe word. Stop!”
The redhead’s green eyes were full of fire and lust, and she shook hard, struggling against his strong grip. “Let me go, you son of a bitch, I’m not done.”
Oscar pulled the girl off her knees and spirited her toward the trees.
“Come back here,” she yelled wildly.
“Kay, stop it,” Gabriel ordered. He finally wrested the whip from her tight grasp and threw it away in disgust. He dropped his hands and backed away from the crazed woman.
She breathed hard and deep, her eyes wild and furious. “Damn you,” she bellowed and stepped forward. “She was mine.”
A tingle wrapped over his skin, and Gabriel shook his head. “She gave her safe word. You had to stop.”
“That’s always been this bitch’s problem,” Noah spat from beside him. “She doesn’t know when to stop.”
Gabriel stared at Noah, shocked at the absolute venom and fury in the man’s voice. Beside him, Madelyn’s face was ashen and fear flickered in her eyes. He immediately felt protective toward the dark-haired woman.
“What the hell are you doing back here, Krista?” Noah spit out.
Kay, no Krista, still breathed so heavily that one breast had slipped out from her shirt and hung bare for all to see. Her gaze fastened on Madelyn, and a new light came into her eyes.
Casually, she tossed her hair, adjusted her clothing, and flicked a nail toward them. “Hello, darling. So good to see you again.” Her voice dropped to an eerie, husky rumble. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Chapter Six
Madelyn shivered beneath Krista’s piercing, single-minded stare. “Too bad,” she muttered but slid closer to Noah and snagged his hand.
His reassuring squeeze eased her fears a little bit.
When Gabriel appeared at her side and wrapped his hand around her other one, she relaxed even more.
Krista’s green eyes narrowed and flicked between the three of them. She opened her mouth, but Noah cut her off. His anger was palpable.
“You have one hour to get off this island, Krista.”
“Or what?”
Noah leaned forward, teeth bared. “Try me.”
Her laugh was low and disturbed. “Oh, darling, it’s not you I want.” Again her gaze pinned Madelyn. “Come with me. We’ll leave together. I will show you just what a true pain slut you are. Take you to heights of which he is not capable.”
“Non, last time was more than enough.”
“Last time?” Gabriel asked.
He sounded taken aback. Madelyn squeezed his fingers but didn’t answer, keeping Krista firmly in her sights. Palpitations wracked her heart and goose bumps broke out over her legs and butt. She knew the reaction was due to the vile woman’s presence and fought against it.
“Time’s wasting,” Noah said. “I will escort you to your room then to the ferry and off the island.”
Krista’s beautifully smooth face crumpled into a mask of fury. “I’m not leaving, Noah. I paid same as you.” She kicked off her heels and picked them up, dangling the stilettos over her shoulder. She glanced at the silent crowd, most of whom would not meet her eyes. She shrugged. “Amateurs. Always out to ruin a true artist.”
She stepped forward, and both Gabriel and Noah closed ranks, their broad shoulders nearly squashing Madelyn’s head. She could hardly see Krista now, which made her feel ridiculously better.
“If you ever change your mind, little one, I’ll be happy to take you on.”
The words were like poison and Madelyn shuddered. Acid surged in her throat and she choked the bile back.
Then Krista was gone and with her the nearly unbearable tension threading Madelyn’s body. She almost collapsed as the men parted. She grabbed at Noah and buried her face in his shoulder, hot tears slipping from beneath her lashes.
“It’s okay, love, she won’t hurt you again.” Noah stroked her hair and curled his arm around her waist. “God damn that bitch,” he said viciously. “I’ve got to let the Council know she’s here. How in the hell did Clarissa let that slip past her? Don’t we have someone down here?”
Madelyn sniffled and rubbed her nose on his shirt. Another presence crowded her back, emanating warmth, comfort, and security. A second later, a large palm smoothed up and down her back.
Gabriel.
God, they owed him such an explanation. She sniffed again and pulled free, dashing the lingering tears from her eyes. She met Noah’s concerned gaze and cupped his chin. She rose on tiptoe and pressed a soft kiss to his tight mouth, remaining until he gradually relaxed.
Then she turned to face Gabriel, keeping firmly within the safety of Noah’s arms.
“How’d you meet up with her?”
A tall man in a ridiculously small speedo interrupted their discussion. “Hey man, good save.” He grimaced and held out his hand to Gabriel, who took it warily. “I swear I had no idea she was a freaking loony tune.”
Gabriel’s expression showed his skepticism. “Yeah, you seemed to enjoy it when she whipped you.”
The man colored and scuffed at the sand, looking behind him at the few remaining bystanders. “I ain’t gonna lie, it was fucking awesome. I’ve never been whipped that hard. I liked it. A lot.” H
is face fell. “But I messed up when I asked to—” His dark brown eyes settled on Madelyn, and he blushed even deeper. “Well, I messed up.”
“She was pretty tough on you,” Gabriel commented.
Despite his obvious attempt at neutrality, Madelyn caught the tremor of distaste in his voice.
“Yeah, but she was just getting started. I feel bad, ’cause if I’d held on, that girl wouldn’t have stepped up and Mistress would have finished me off.”
Madelyn shuddered. The young man had no idea what Krista was capable of, that much was obvious.
“You got off lucky,” Noah finally spoke. “My advice is to steer clear of her from now on. She’s off-kilter, dangerous.”
“Nah, she just got a little into it.”
“Oscar,” Gabriel said. “Trust him, he knows what he’s talking about. She ignored the most important tenet of the lifestyle by ignoring the girl’s safe word.”
“I’m telling you, that was heat of the moment,” the young man said hotly.
Madelyn stepped in and clasped his forearm. “Non, it was not. Such things are the way she operates. I know because she did it to me, too.”
Gabriel inhaled sharply, but she didn’t acknowledge him.
“She would not stop when I used my safe word, continued to wail and hack at me until my back opened and I bled.” Her stomach lurched again.
“The bitch is crazy, Oscar,” Noah cut in. “Stay away from her.”
“How’s the girl?” Gabriel asked.
Oscar’s gaze bounced from one man to the other and back to her. She gave him an encouraging smile, hoping he’d heed their advice.
“Oscar, yo man, let’s go! There are some hotties up at the Port Plunder bar. I heard there’s a gorgeous switch up there.”
He looked back at his friends and waved. “Yeah, look, I gotta go. The girl, her name is Winslet. She’s fine. A little shaken up, but I got her to the infirmary.” He turned away, and Madelyn sucked in a deep breath, shocked by the deep red stripes, some near to breaking the skin, littering his back.
Krista was definitely on a tear when she whipped this one.
Madelyn prayed the young man would truly stay away, but she had her doubts. Krista was incredibly charismatic. The characteristic was part of what made her so damn dangerous. A sub didn’t realize the danger they were in until it was too late.
Empowered [Sexual Magic 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 6
