“So touchy, Caleb,” Mack replied as the elevator doors opened.
They all walked down the long, dark hallway. Illuminated by wrought-iron sconces, the hallway was made of hard stone and concrete. The air was cool as they moved and quickly passed several guests that were lined up. “What the hell is going on?” Caleb asked as he noticed several regulars whispering as they passed.
“Gabriel cleared the room. Only Jason, Janie, and Gabriel are in there. Gabe figured you guys wouldn’t want anyone seeing Janie trussed up.”
“Fuck! Just open the damn door, Mack,” Jeff shouted.
Standing back, they watched as Mack inserted his key. Once the door was opened, they walked in and saw Janie strapped to the Saint Andrew’s Cross. Her arms and legs were spread, and she was wearing some god-awful dress, but it was her screaming that stopped them all in her tracks.
There she was, in full form, screaming and cursing. “Where are you, asshole! Why aren’t you going to finish what you started! I asked for this, you bastard! Whip me!” she screamed furiously.
What the fuck! Jeff thought.
Looking around the room, Jeff saw Jason.
Sitting at the edge of the stage, shaking his head, he looked worried. When Jason looked up, he saw Jeff and immediately stood. The long twelve-inch bullwhip he held in his hand fell to the floor.
“What the fuck did you do?” Caleb shouted as he ran toward the kid.
Jason backed up, holding his hands up in defense. “Caleb, listen, man. You gotta calm down. It ain’t what you think!” he shouted before Caleb’s fist connected with his face.
Jeff just stood there looking at the scene. Something was off.
What was he missing?
“Jeff, we have to talk. You have a big problem here,” Gabriel said, walking over to him.
“Tell me about it. That prick used a whip on her. He is lucky only Caleb is beating his ass,” Jeff replied angrily.
“No, you don’t understand. It’s Janie,” Gabriel began. “Jason stopped whipping her over ten minutes ago. He refused to go on. She was asking for too much. Even Jason has his limits.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Caleb asked, walking over and rubbing his knuckles.
“Janie, she wanted more, but Jason refused. He told her she had had enough, but she disagreed. She wanted him to continue to whip her. She kept saying it felt good, that she wasn’t ready to quit. She kept shouting, ‘I can feel.’ Do you know what she meant by that?” Gabriel asked, looking for some sort of clarification.
Jeff looked at their woman, who was madder than a red hornet. Her shouting and curses were vibrant and colorful. She was gloriously pissed.
Thinking there was only one way to get to the bottom of this, Jeff walked over to Jason. Helping him to stand, he looked the kid in the eye and saw regret and compassion. For the first time since meeting the young buck, Jeff had some respect for the kid.
“Jason, how many times did you whip her?”
“Only twenty. I used the eight-inch split-headed bullwhip. I figured she wouldn’t be able to handle anything else. I made sure I didn’t leave a single mark, but her fanny should be nice and warm. I couldn’t do what she was asking for, Jeff. I can’t do that. I just can’t.” Jason’s voice hitched as he explained.
Grabbing the kid in for a hug, Jeff wrapped his arms around him. “I know, man. You did the right thing. Thank you.”
Janie’s shouts were becoming less and less as her voice began to crack under the strain. They all watched as eventually she succumbed to her fate. Relaxing against the restraints, her body had physically and mentally given out. Now all they had to do was figure out how to help her, because their cupcake desperately needed help.
“You boys better take her in hand fast, ’cause if you don’t get her under control, she will find someone who will give her what’s she is asking for, and it won’t be pretty,” Justice said, staring at the stage.
“Well thank you for that assessment, Mr. Helper! What the fuck do you think Caleb and I have been trying to do? We have tried everything.”
“What about giving her what she wants?” Mack said, walking toward the stage. “She clearly doesn’t have a clue to what her limits are. Maybe you should let her experience what she is truly asking for. Eventually she will find her hard limit. Then you can work from there. Because, boys, this girl craves pain, and unless you up the ante, Justice is right. She will find someone else.”
“You know, Jeff, I read that report Braxton brought over. There was something in there we can use. It’s harsh, but it might work. I think you were right all along. Janie has lived her whole life without emotions and the loving touch of someone who cared. All she has ever known is indifference. Maybe we need to bring her past crashing back to the forefront.”
* * * *
Janie was so tired. Her whole body ached. So when she felt someone lift her from the cross, she gladly laid her head on his shoulder. She didn’t want to do this anymore. She wanted to go home. She was done.
Realizing she was destined to live her life alone, she accepted her fate. She came close to having it all, but like her past, it was ripped away from her so quick, all she could do was distance herself from everything and everyone and move on.
She was good at doing that.
He laid her down on a soft surface. Relaxing, she reached up to remove the blind and earplugs he had asked her to wear. As she took the plugs out, she heard what sounded like a car driving along the road. Thinking maybe he had opened a window, she ignored it and removed her blindfold, only to be blinded by a bright light.
Janie was once again sitting in the backseat of the car, looking at her beautiful mother. Her smiling face glowed as she looked lovingly at her and then toward her husband, who raised her mother’s hand and softly kissed it. Everything was once again blissfully wonderful.
Then everything turned dark.
The memories came crashing back as Janie screamed bloody murder.
“Momma! Daddy! Don’t leave me! I love you, Momma! Don’t leave me!” she screamed over and over again as strong arms embraced her, holding her tight.
“I’ve got you, sweetheart. I won’t ever leave you,” a voice soothed as she screamed her nightmare out.
“Let it go, Janie. We have you. We won’t leave you,” another said as she fell into the darkness of her mind.
* * * *
Janie woke sometime later to find herself spooning between Jeff and Caleb. Holding her tightly against them, their soft breaths told her they were asleep. The soft sounds of Lady Antebellum’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” played softly in the background. Slowly, wiggling out of their arms, she moved to the end of the bed, wrapped her arms around her knees, and looked at them.
After everything she had done, everything she had put them through, they stayed. Janie had a lot to deal with, she knew that, but looking at the sleeping men before her, she figured that if they could go through everything she had put them through, then she could meet them halfway. It wasn’t a hard concept to understand.
Compromise meant the give and take from both parties. She had never been put in a position to use that skill, but, closing her eyes, she promised herself she would try.
Too many walls were crumbling down. Her whole life was pressing in. Everything she thought right was wrong. She now had two men who had stayed by her side over the last few weeks, friends who opened their arms and their houses to help her, and a community she avoided welcomed her. She had spent her life evading emotion, and now she was being held, cherished, and loved.
The last brick had fallen, and when she looked up, they saw her, the real her. The Janie she had kept so tightly secured. She knew they saw a lonely, scared woman, craving life and love.
“Come here, baby.” Jeff smiled as he opened his arms.
Rushing into his embrace, she welcomed the powerful strength as he wrapped his arms around her. She loved the smell of him. Wild and clean, his strong presence eased her fears. She m
oved closer into him. “I’m so sorry.”
“Awe, baby, you got nothing to be sorry for. We’re just happy you’re here with us. You are staying with us, right?”
“If you guys still want me,” she whispered.
“Hell yeah we still want ya!” Caleb loudly said, getting up from the bed. “And we want you to come home, too. So, get that fine ass moving, sweet cheeks. I’m hungry and horny. All this drama is making me cranky.”
Janie and Jeff turned to watch Caleb walked naked to the bathroom, scratching his ass along the way. Giggling and hugging Jeff closer, she muttered, “Is he always so frank?”
“He’s worse.” Jeff smiled.
Chapter Ten
Jeff insisted that Janie get some psychological help with the trauma of her parents’ death. Though Janie didn’t want to talk about it, she relented to make Jeff happy.
Kelly Conner, the assistant to Doc Jenkins, came highly recommended, not only from Jeff and Caleb but also from Emma Quinn, who was still seeing Kelly regularly herself.
Kelly was a cute girl. Perky and friendly, Janie took a liking to her right away, which made their time together easier. When Janie was not with Kelly, she immersed herself at the library. The brothers thought it best that she took a break and just concentrated on healing, but the library was one thing Janie put her foot down on.
It was novel for Janie.
Never being an assertive person, the liberation of saying no and meaning it felt wonderful. She took her newfound inner strength and continued on, stepping across boundaries that she had shied away from.
So when Macie walked into the library and invited her to a girl’s night out, for the first time ever, Janie accepted.
“Seriously? Oh my God, Janie! We’re gonna have so much fun tonight. All the girls are gonna be giddy when they find out you’ll be there,” Macie said, hugging her tightly.
“I can’t wait. I have wanted to accept for so long, but I wasn’t ready.” Janie smiled.
“Oh, honey, don’t you worry none about that. We’re just happy that you’re going now. Look, I gotta run. You tell those men of yours to have you at my place by seven. Me or one of the girls can bring you home later if you don’t feel like staying overnight.”
“Okay. That sounds good. Thanks, Macie, I mean for not giving up on me.”
“Janie, honey, you’re one of us, and we don’t ever give up on our own,” Macie said seriously. “Now, I better git. I’ve got a lot of stuff to get done before tonight.”
Janie watched as Macie talked exuberantly on her phone as she left the library.
Finishing up her inventory for the day, Janie went about cleaning and rearranging shelves. She loved this place. Everything about it soothed her and made things seem better. Making her way down the aisle, she hummed softly to herself. After twenty-five years, she felt like she was finally waking up and living. She looked forward to where her life was taking her and where her relationship was headed with the Hicks brothers.
It had only been a week, but so much had changed. Janie felt as if almost a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Jeff and Caleb were wonderful, giving her time, talking to her, helping her see that she wasn’t alone, and even each taking time to spend some one-on-one alone time with her.
Of course she would never tell them, but sometimes, they could be a bit much.
Either way, she adored them and looked forward to seeing them come closing time.
Grabbing the last book from her cart, Janie reached up and put it back into its place when she heard the snickers of someone behind her. Turning, Janie came face-to-face with none other than Brittany Malone, the mayor’s wife.
“Never thought that loudmouthed cow would leave. So, who let you out of the crazy bin? Last I heard you freaked out on the cross. What a shame, too. Those boys will soon tire of you, and when they do, I’ll be back in their arms.”
Janie stood frozen in place. She didn’t know what to say. She had known that the mayor’s wife was once involved with the brothers, but they assured her it was nothing, more of a passing mistake that they quickly fixed. Looking at the striking redhead, Janie felt dowdy. Even dressed in her best skirt and white silk blouse, she paled in comparison to Brittany. Her tall, thin frame should have been on a runway somewhere in New York, not in cow country. Janie knew her body was soft in places and her skin was very pale compared to Brittany’s, but there was nothing she could do about that, because she burned in the sun.
“What can I do for you, Mrs. Malone?” Janie whispered.
“I’m warning you. Stay away from my boy toys. I don’t share well. Besides, they don’t love you and will never marry you. You’re nothing but a fat, frumpy cow that can’t please—”
“Look who’s calling the kettle black, bitch!” Emma said, coming up behind Janie. “Get your skanky ass out of here before I let the whole damn town just how you like your ass buttered, or shall I say stuffed with a variety of edible—”
“You wouldn’t dare?” Brittany whispered, backing up as Emma approached.
“Don’t fuck with me, Britt. You were trash in high school, and you’re still trash. Get the hell out of here before I kick your ass, and you better keep you damn opinions to yourself,” Emma berated as Brittany quickly made her way from the library.
Janie felt the trickle of tears fall as Emma walked back over to her, engulfing her in her warm embrace. “Don’t cry, Janie. That bitch wouldn’t know a kind word if someone stamped it on her mouth.”
Janie knew Emma was telling her the truth, but it still hurt to have someone say such vile things about her. It was hard adjusting to allow people into her lives, and she knew some would like her and others wouldn’t, but no matter how mean the person was, it still hurt.
“Come on, Janie. It’s closing time. Let me drive you home,” Emma offered, hugging her tighter.
* * * *
Jeff and Caleb were loading hay when Emma and Janie drove up. They watched as Emma said her good-byes and, seconds later, watched as Janie ran into the house, upset.
Walking over to Emma’s car, Jeff didn’t stop Caleb from checking on Janie.
“Hey, cuz.” Jeff smiled, leaning down and resting his hands on her door.
“Hey, Jeff, we still on for the BBQ this weekend?”
“Yeah, no problem. What’s happened?” he asked, cutting to the chase.
“Brittany cornered her in the library. She said some really mean things,” Emma informed him.
“Fucking bitch!”
“Yeah, my sentiments exactly, but you guys need to be careful. I don’t think Brittany is going to go away. She was pretty adamant about you guys belonging to her.”
“We don’t belong to anyone but Janie,” Jeff said firmly.
“Well then, you better make it permanent soon. Brittany isn’t gonna walk away quietly.”
“Thanks for bringing Janie home, Emma,” Jeff said, standing and looking at the house.
“No problem. See you guys this Saturday,” Emma shouted as she drove off.
Walking into the house, Jeff saw Caleb holding Janie as she cried into his chest. The thought of anyone hurting his woman angered him, but it was her tears that broke his heart.
He hated seeing her cry.
He walked over and gently stroked her back. “I’m so sorry, baby. You want to tell us what happened?” he asked.
After getting Janie some tissues, Jeff and Caleb sat on the couch and listened as Janie told them what happened in the library. Their woman had been through enough shit over the last weeks, and to have that vindictive bitch spew her filth was not helping.
Janie was working through her avoidance issues, along with her emotional detachment, but to add appearance into the fold was too much. They loved this woman and they’d be damned if they would allow anyone to wreck her self-confidence.
Jeff knew they needed to head this off before it got out of hand.
“Come with us, Janie. We want to show you something,” Jeff asked, taking her hand, ush
ering her toward the master bedroom.
Thanks to Brittany, Janie’s self-esteem hit the floor hard. God what he wouldn’t give to have five minutes alone with the mayor’s wife. He wanted to wring her pencil-thin neck!
Helping Janie to sit on the bed, Jeff sat next to her as Caleb kneeled down at her feet. “Sugar, don’t let what that woman said upset you. She has nothing on you. You are beautiful, curvy, and just plain gorgeous. I love having my hands on you and knowing I’m not holding onto a stick. And if you don’t mind me being blunt, damn, baby, you got back!”
Her giggle warmed Jeff’s heart. He felt her shoulders relax as she leaned into him, and he smiled. “You know, Caleb’s right. I love your heart-shaped ass. I love your tiny waist and your full breasts. You are what a real woman should look like. You are also kind, generous, sweet, and very smart. But you know what really matters?”
“No?” she sniffed.
“That Caleb and I love you. We want you, not her, you.”
“Really? You like the way I look?”
“Janie, if I could stay in your body all day, I would.” Caleb grinned, wiggling his eyebrows and making Janie laugh again. “There’s my girl. Now, how about Jeff and I show you just how much we love your body?”
“But I have to go to Macie’s tonight.”
“Macie won’t mind if you’re late. If you want, I’ll call her and tell her,” Caleb offered.
“Oh no you won’t! I don’t want her knowing I’m late because we are having sex!”
“Sex? Who said we’re gonna have sex? Jeff and I are gonna worship your beautiful body.”
“But I thought we were going to the gym?”
“We don’t need the gym for what we’re gonna do,” Jeff whispered, nibbling her neck, “Clothes off, Janie.”
* * * *
Janie’s core temperature rose dramatically. She loved it when they told her what to do. Standing and divesting her attire quickly, she stood before them naked, baring all of her imperfections, and by the look in their lustful gazes, they couldn’t wait to eat her up.
Janie's Tempting Submission [The Men of Treasure Cove 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) Page 10
