by Desiree Holt
“Uh, yeah. Maybe.” How did he phrase this? “But not here in the store. Could I maybe buy you a cup of coffee? Do you have time?”
Reece still had a puzzled look on his face, but he nodded at Hondo. “Sure. I’ve got a little time I can spare. The Feed Bag okay with you?”
“Absolutely.”
“Didn’t you come in here to get something?” Reece asked.
“Nothing that can’t wait.”
Ten minutes later, they were seated in the very back booth of The Feed Bag, cups of hot coffee in front of them. Hondo could feel Reece Halliday’s eyes on him as the waitress checked to see if they wanted anything else before walking away. It was five thirty, a time when a lot of people came in for early dinner so there was plenty of noise to cover their conversation.
“So…” Reece put his cup down and looked at Hondo. “What can I do for you?”
Hondo fiddled with his coffee cup, trying to figure out just where to start. Reece Halliday was one of the most influential ranchers in the entire Hill Country and very well respected. He and Hondo hardly ran in the same social circles. He couldn’t just approach him with the kind of questions Hondo had, as if you were asking about a breed of horse.
“This must be really bad if you have such a hard time getting it out,” Reece commented.
“Yes and no.” Hondo cleared his throat. “A friend of mine, Sax Mitchell, said I should find time to chat with you.”
Something flitted across Reece’s face, but it was gone so fast Hondo wasn’t even sure he saw it.
“That right? Sax Mitchell?” He took a careful swallow of his coffee. “How do you know Sax?”
This is a lot harder than I thought. Well, I guess I should just put it out there.
“He owns a club I used to belong to. In Wyoming.”
“A club.”
Hondo nodded. “He, uh, said it would be good for me to contact you. That you could hook me up with a similar club here.”
Reece studied him in silence. Hondo had to stop himself from squirming.
“You’ve been here more than a year now, Hondo. How come it’s taken this long for you to talk to me?”
Hondo shrugged. “It’s not the kind of subject you can bring up easily to someone you don’t know that well.”
More silence. Then, “You wouldn’t mind if I called him, would you? Just to check things out?”
Hondo blew out a breath. “I wish you would. Really.”
He waited while Reece pulled out his cell phone, scrolled through his contacts, and selected a number.
“Sax? Yeah, hello. Reece Halliday here. I’m having coffee with a guy named Hondo LaBar who said you told him to contact me…Uh huh…Uh huh…That right?…Okay, then, I think I can help him out.…Good to talk to you, as always.” He disconnected the call and slipped the phone back into his shirt pocket. “So…you’re looking for a private club in the area. Like Sax’s.”
“I am.” Hondo took another drink of coffee.
“He tells me you’re into edgeplay but he guarantees you’re a responsible Dom.”
“You have to be, especially when you take things to the level I like.”
Reece nodded. “Good to hear you say that. Well, he recommended you highly and I take everything he says at face value.” He paused a moment. “Clint Chavez and I own a club called Rawhide just at the north edge of San Antonio. It’s very private, just as Sax’s is. Mainly because it’s in the same type of community—conservative ranchers.”
“You manage to keep it well-hidden,” Hondo, commented.
“We do. But that’s because we choose our clientele very carefully.” The waitress approached and Reece waited while she refilled both cups. “If I okay a trial membership for you, it means you’ll most likely run into some people from this area who will surprise you. Discretion is a must here.”
“I know about being discreet,” Hondo told him. “I don’t want my—what shall I say, proclivities?—advertised any more than others would. It’s a very private thing.”
“As it is for all of us.” Reece reached in his hip pocket, pulled out his wallet, extracted a business card, and handed it to Hondo. It had only a name and phone number on it. “The club is called Rawhide. This is my partner, Clint Chavez, and his private number. Give me a chance to give him a heads up, then call and set up an appointment.”
“I appreciate this.” Hondo took the card from him.
“Clint will ask you about experiences, personal preferences, anything important. Then he’ll issue you a one-month trial membership. If it works for both of us, we give you a permanent card.”
“Thanks.” Hondo tried to think what to say next.
“You’re good,” Reece told him, as if sensing that he needed assurance. “Get in touch with Clint and he’ll fix you up.”
Hondo insisted on paying for their coffee. Outside the men shook hands, and Hondo stood on the sidewalk, watching Reece walk away. For the first time since he’d arrived at the Lucky L, a sense of anticipation curled through him.
Life might be looking up. Maybe he’d finally meet the right woman who had the same edgy needs he did.
He couldn’t help wondering if Bailey French could ever turn out to be that woman.
Chapter Three
Bailey swallowed nervously as Liz Wright ushered her into the main area of Rawhide and introduced her to the dungeon master. She’d met Clint Chavez, one of the partners as well as the manager, when she filled out the membership papers earlier. His smile and casual manner had set her at ease immediately. And of course, having Liz with her helped enormously.
The woman had taken great pains tonight not to wear the mantle of boss but rather that of a friend as she guided Bailey through the application process. She had even been thoughtful enough to gain them access to the club through the rear door. Clint had been waiting for them, ushering them right into his office.
Her only real hesitation had been when completing the section on Preferences. If she put down edge play, she might end up with yet another Dom who saw that as permission for abuse. Or worse yet, a Dom who thought it might be interesting to try but when push came to shove couldn’t handle it.
“Go ahead,” Liz urged in a soft voice. She and Bailey had discussed this before tonight. “Every guest and member here is screened like this and comes with a recommendation. Additionally, Clint and the dungeon master monitor every situation.” She smiled. “There’s no better place to meet the right man for this than Rawhide. You can trust the place. Trust us.”
So she’d answered the questions and signed her name. Now, it was time to step out in public, so to speak. Make her presence known. See exactly what and who Rawhide had to offer. Since her conversation with Liz, she’d hardly been able to think of anything else. Would this be the place she would finally meet a Dom who would not abuse the power she gave him? Who would understand her need for edge play and treat it respectfully? Or conversely, not run from her like a frightened child?
As they walked down the short hall to the main room, she heard the sounds of muted conversation against a faint background of soft music. She wiped her palms against the soft leather of the skirt she wore. Paired with high-heeled sandals and a soft cherry red silk shirt, it was one of the outfits in which she felt the most comfortable. Tonight, stepping into a strange environment and after her last disaster, she needed as much comfort as she could get.
She paused at the point the hall widened into the big lounge area and took in a deep breath. The room was pretty full, some people talking quietly, chatting, while others were engaged in foreplay. Bailey remembered the first time she’d been exposed to that and then asked to participate. She hadn’t thought she’d enjoy an aspect of exhibitionism, but in the confines of the clubs she visited, it seemed as natural as breathing.
“Ready?” Liz touched her arm.
She gave the woman a faint smile. “I hope so. I’ve really missed this, but…”
She’d been very open with Liz about her prior bad experiences and her boss
had assured her that Rawhide members and guests were screened very carefully to avoid situations like that.
“Reece and Clint have positions of responsibility and respect in both the vanilla and BDSM communities,” she said. “They can’t afford mistakes.”
“Okay. Let’s do it, then.”
Alex, Liz’s husband, was waiting for them at a small cluster of chairs in one corner. He rose as they approached, kissed his wife, and smiled at Bailey.
“I thought you might want to sit off to the side this first time.” His voice was as kind as his wife’s. “Do some observing. Check out the clientele.”
“Thank you.” Bailey managed a smile.
Had Liz told him everything? Probably. She had a feeling they didn’t have any secrets from each other. How had he reacted when he learned of her extreme needs? When she looked in his eyes she saw only kindness and understanding. Of course, she knew none of the details of the Wrights’ sexual preferences.
Nor do I want to.
She settled herself into one of the small barrel chairs and crossed her legs, exposing just enough thigh to tempt without being too bold. Clint had offered her a pink bracelet to wear, signifying she was an unattached sub available for the night, but she’d decided she wanted to scope out the situation first. History had taught her to be very, very careful.
When the waiter appeared at their table—a gorgeous young boy wearing only tight pants that left nothing to the imagination and an intricate metal collar that identified him as someone’s sub—she ordered club soda with a slice of lime. Liz had explained that Rawhide, like most upscale, selective BDSM clubs, permitted no alcohol unless the client stated they were not there to play that night. Alcohol could lower inhibitions and blunt the awareness of risk. That was how she’d gotten into trouble in the first place.
She didn’t think she’d end up with anyone tonight, but she wanted a clear head just the same. She had just taken a sip of her drink when she saw Alex smile at someone behind her and sensed a presence.
“Reece mentioned you might be here tonight,” he said. “Happy to have you join us.”
Even before she turned to see who it was, Bailey’s spider sense sent warning signals along her spine. When she heard the voice that answered, her stomach knotted.
“Thank you.” Hondo LaBar’s bass voice sounded even deeper in the quiet atmosphere. “I appreciate the connection. And the company.”
The heat emanating from his body surrounded Bailey like a cloud. Hondo moved so he was within her field of vision, and every bit of moisture in her mouth dried up.
Holy crap!
This was an entirely different Hondo than the one she saw day in and day out. At work the machismo was there but it wasn’t blatant. Tonight, the Master had come to play and every part of her body snapped to attention.
Clad only in slacks made of material soft enough that his thick erection was obvious, his naked chest was polished with some type of oil, his muscles hard and flexing beneath the dim lighting reflecting off the surface of the skin. The pants rode low on his hips, and rising from them to dance across the hard plane of his abdomen, was a tattoo of a mustang on its hind legs, front legs pawing the air. On his left shoulder, a flaming arrow in vivid colors pointed straight at his heart.
Bailey was mesmerized by the sizzling power radiating from him, ramped up with the aura of hot sex. That power drew her automatically as it always had, but the thread of fear that he’d misuse it as others had was strangely absent. Well, she’d made the decision to dip her toe in the waters. She just hadn’t expected to fall into the deep end so soon. Yet strangely, with Hondo, there was no fear of that power that she’d had with others.
She was suddenly seized with a desire to lick every inch of the incredible body art.
And it was obvious from the glitter in his eyes as he let his gaze wander over every inch of her that he had similar ideas. He wanted her. Like a thirsty man wanted a cool drink.
“This is the last place I expected to see you,” she told him when she could manage to speak.
Something flared in his eyes. “I could say the same.”
Alex pulled over a chair from another grouping. “Sit down, Hondo. Join us. I know Clint spoke with you after your meeting with Reece, but if you still have questions, I’ll be happy to answer them.”
“I’m good. Thanks.” Hondo folded his lean body into the chair, balanced one ankle on the opposite knee and gave Bailey a frankly assessing look. “So…” He dipped his head at her. “Your first time here, too?”
“Um, yes.” She took a long drink from her glass.
“I’m glad to see you here.” His gaze raked over her from head to toe. “Very, very glad.” His voice was low and deep.
It vibrated through her like a tuning fork.
Bailey fumbled for something to say next, but her brain seemed to have frozen in place. All she could think about, all she could see, was this potent man sitting next to her, the mantle of the Master nearly visible. Tonight had been all about finding a Dom who would give her what she wanted without invading her emotions. That had obviously gone out the window.
When she’d allowed herself to give in to her sexual fantasies about Hondo LaBar, she had never imagined, even in her fertile mind, that he would emerge from the very masculine, very sexy cowboy to a man who lived and breathed control. And damn it, that essence was overrunning her system and melting her defenses. Lordy, she wished her instincts were working better. She caught the amused glances of the Wrights as a stiff silence fell over the group.
Finally Alex set his empty glass on the table.
“I think Liz and I will wander into one of the rooms.” He said it as casually as if he were telling them he was going for coffee. “Maybe you two can get more comfortable here without us.” He paused and exchanged a glance with Liz. “I’m trusting both of you to follow the protocol because you both come with recommendations. Don’t let me down, okay?”
Hondo’s jaw tightened, and the muscles clenched before he forced his usual laid-back smile. “It’s all good. You have my word.”
“All right, then.” He nudged Liz ahead of him. “Have fun, kids.”
“You think Alex is right?” Hondo asked her when the couple had left.
Bailey lifted an eyebrow. “About?”
“Can we? Get more comfortable with each other?”
Bailey ran her finger around the rim of her glass. “I don’t know. I’m still getting over the shock of seeing you here in the first place.”
“Same goes.”
He traced the tip of one finger along the bare skin of her arm, sending shivers skating over the surface. Just the thought of indulging in edgeplay with Hondo had her nipples so stiff they ached and her pussy so wet her thong was soaked. And she didn’t even know if that was his thing. How did she find out? And was she really ready to take that step? With him?
“Bailey?” He took one of her hands in his, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. “Let’s not beat around the bush here. We’ve known each other for the better part of a year—”
“As co-workers,” she reminded him.
“And there’s a lot of heat between us.”
“But I—”
He went on as if she hadn’t said a thing. “I have to tell you, I’ve wanted you from the first day we met. I know we both felt it, despite the fact that you’ve done your best to ignore it.”
“For good reason.” She took a sip of her club soda, hoping it would cool her off. Just being near Hondo in this venue heated her blood to near the boiling point.
“Because we work together. I get that.” He nodded and shifted slightly in his seat. “But damn, Bailey. Here we are. And we’re not at work.”
She wet her lips, trying to gather her scattered thoughts. She had come here wondering if she’d be able to connect with someone after all this time. She wanted it desperately, after such a long dry spell, but a part of her still had reservations. Her spotted history had left scars.
She
certainly hadn’t expected the man she connected with so explosively to be Hondo LaBar. Should she tell him why she had other reservations or just be rude and blow him off?
Not literally, of course. She swallowed a grin then realized he was still waiting for her answer.
“What goes on within these walls is no one else’s business,” he reminded her. When she still didn’t say anything, one corner of his mouth tipped up in a half smile. “Maybe it’s Fate that brought us both here tonight for the first time.”
“I’m not sure I know what you’re getting at?” But of course she did.
That smile was the kind that melted panties. “Sure you do, sweetness. That look in your eyes isn’t just for satisfaction after a long dry spell. You want something most men can’t give you. I recognize it.” He leaned forward and picked up her free hand, rubbing his thumb over her knuckles. “I can give it to you, Bailey. However you want it.”
She wet her lips. “You don’t know everything I want, Hondo. And why should I tell you? How do I know I can trust you?”
He leaned closer. “You’ll never find out if you don’t try. Hell, sweetness, you can’t deny the chemistry simmering between us all this time. More than just the usual sexual pull. I respect you, Bailey. I want you to believe that. Nothing will change that.” He moved even closer. “But more than anything, I want to find out what’s really put that look of hunger in your eyes. What is it that really turns you on? What haven’t you been getting?”
Hondo was right. There was something pulling them together that was so strong it was almost visible. Was he into the same things she was? There was only one way to find out, and she couldn’t hold herself back. Not with the aura of this man surrounding her.
“I don’t want to do anything to affect the situation at work,” she repeated. “I’ve worked hard to get where I am, and my job’s very important to me.”
“I promise you that won’t happen. Bailey, I said it before. Whatever happens between us will not change how much I admire you as a trained wrangler and as a person. And I would never say or do anything to diminish you in the eyes of the people we work with.” He studied her face. “Liz made the move to bring you here tonight, to let you into her private world, so you know she respects you. Okay? Anything else?”
