by Sara Brookes
They’d certainly found a way to make it work for them. Spectacularly so.
Saint leaned closer to kiss her cheek. “But it certainly seems to work for you. Doesn’t it, angel? You are submissive to your core.” When she turned her head to answer, he captured her mouth. His lips were hard and soft at the same time. She opened for him, sighing as his tongue slipped into her mouth like luscious silk, sliding against hers, over and over, her core pulsing and aching. Needing.
Lord, this man could kiss.
If she hadn’t been wet before, she was soaked now.
When she’d started out on this little spontaneous adventure to Northern California, she hadn’t been prepared for the rush of emotions. Whenever she’d been at home, watching a scene with Saint and Boyce, she’d assumed her reaction was because she’d been recalling the passionate night they’d shared. That she longed to relive their very heated, very satisfying night.
This was all becoming so much more than she’d bargained for.
Saint broke away, sharing the heated air of their quick breaths for a few seconds before speaking. “Come to Noble House tomorrow, Grae. Let me put you on display. Share you. Show you off.”
The compelling, husky tone of his requests made her want to curl into him with every fiber of her being. Almost...except for the part filled with fear. If she sucked up her courage, went to the club, and allowed herself to be displayed before all the cameras...gah.
The thought made her stomach ache.
“Look at me,” Saint demanded quietly, a dominant edge to his tone. If he’d told her to kneel, right here in the middle of the park, she’d have gone right down. Without hesitation. The idea caused a small panic in her gut. Submitting to Saint and Boyce came so easy. Too easy.
Saint brushed his thumb against the pulse point in her wrist. “You know you’re in good hands, right?” She bit her lip as she nodded. “Need to get out of your head, baby. Just let it all go. End up your own worst enemy if you keep this up.”
“Believe me, I’ve tried.”
Saint leaned in close, the faint scent of the woodsy cologne Boyce wore wafting over her. Despite her apprehension about his chosen topic, she smiled. He smelled so good. The combined scents of Saint plus Boyce reminded her how much she wanted from these men.
Saint cupped her face, his gaze steady, those vibrant clear green eyes assessing. Commanding, yet loving. She wanted more than anything else to belong to him. To them. Oh my, yes. She shivered at the thought.
“Is that why you’ve never been at any club for longer than a few months?”
The glow that had been spreading through her vanished. “Should have known you’d look through my files.”
“It’s my responsibility to.”
Grae should have appreciated the fact Saint was so thorough, but her annoyance was too riled up. “What else did those notes say?”
He gripped her chin in his strong fingers, forcing her gaze to arrow in on him. A clear signal he was the one in charge. Inarguably. Utterly. He said quietly, “Avoiding my question isn’t going to negate the need to answer.”
She couldn’t stop the trembling shudder that rippled through her. Damn it. She couldn’t understand why this was happening so damn fast, or how. This man scared her while making her burn. Accepting the offer to scene at the club was one thing, but Saint wanted to get inside her head and find out what made her tick.
Maybe she’d been wrong and they weren’t looking for friendship with a heaping helping of sex.
“Grae,” Saint muttered sternly.
Fine. “The other clubs were good enough. Just...not the right fit. I wasn’t going to join Noble House, but the concept of a hybrid club appealed to me.”
“I’m glad you found a place that suits. And I’m glad you decided to let Boyce and I know you were around.” He touched her cheek, nose, chin, caressing her as he smiled. “I still want to show you off to everyone.”
She longed to experience the amazing sensation of being at their mercy before hundreds...maybe thousands of gazes. All watching the beauty of the men working together with a submissive. If she was still at home, she would be all over that scene. If she thought too much about the fact she would be the submissive in the scene...well, she just wouldn’t.
She needed more. Needed them.
And if in front of an audience was how she got them, however briefly, she’d take it.
“All right.” Grae gathered her courage, and jumped. It was time. “I’ll come to the club for a public scene.”
Chapter Twelve
Boyce was wired. Everyone at Noble House was dressed for pleasure tonight. The lounge area was packed with members donning leather, lace, silk, and satin. The flashing lights and shadows added a surreal dimension to a place where foreplay and fucking was driven by a primal beat. Someone had fired up the vintage jukebox in the corner and several couples had paired off on the dance floor area and swayed in time to the slow, erotic beats filling the room. One man wrapped his arm around his partner’s waist, spinning her slowly as he nudged her closer to a nearby alcove. With her back against the wall, the man pushed against her, undulating his hips to the sensuous rhythm.
Sex in the lounge area wasn’t off-limits, and the man took advantage of the lack of rules and her skimpy dress to lift both of her legs around his hips. He at least had forethought to sheathe himself with a condom before he penetrated her, immediately moving with driving thrusts as she dug her fingers into his shoulders. Another couple slowed their dancing so they could admire.
A few others watched from the booths along the back wall, hands and fingers disappearing under tables as they all openly observed the couple in the throes of wild passion. Boyce watched them all from the waist-high table near the entrance to the lounge, loving the reminder of why he was a member of the club.
Light splashed over the large steel crest that hung on the opposite wall, just over the couple. Three lions positioned around a shield. The symbol of Noble House. Unlike a few other members, Boyce had never felt the need to permanently brand himself with the club’s logo. He firmly believed that symbol belonged to Kochran, Saint, and Enver and the bond of friendship the three men shared. Allowing any member who chose to mark themselves with the symbol would dilute everything the crest stood for.
He tapped his fingers to the beat as the couple in the corner finished with a series of loud, noisy groans. He hadn’t been able to sit still for more than five minutes at a time since Saint told him Grae had agreed to a public scene. This kind of excitement and anticipation hadn’t fueled him in as long as he could remember. It made him want to push past all the shit that kept him from doing the things he liked the most.
They’d had a long discussion about her. About what she meant to them, together and separately. How she made them feel. What she made them want. Most of all, about how much she worried them.
He’d been pleased to learn he wasn’t the only one concerned about her and about how much she was pushing herself. How much stress she continued to deal with even though she brushed off their inquires whenever they asked. How she was with them and yet...not. That arm’s length she maintained between both men. The gap hadn’t increased in size, but it hadn’t diminished either.
Every time they thought they’d wiggled their way through her defenses, she erected that wall again and sealed it with the strongest glue Boyce had ever seen. Saint and Boyce were both determined to break it down and help her shovel the remains away if that’s what it took for her to find a place where she didn’t have to shield herself from them. For her, he was determined to block out the rest of the shit and return to the part of the club he loved the most—Court.
He didn’t understand her reluctance. The days since their scene had been nothing short of incredible. She’d spent time with them doing the most mundane things. Dinner at a cool, casual bistro. A
picnic in the park across the street from their place. She’d even gone grocery shopping with them a few nights ago.
All ordinary, normal tasks. And they had been wonderful.
Boyce liked to think she felt the same way. Why else did she return their phone calls and texts? Someone who wasn’t interested in exploring further wouldn’t bother wasting their time. He knew Grae liked delayed satisfaction, but this sort of behavior bordered on sadistic.
A loud cheer filled the room as the copulating couple broke apart to straighten their clothing and mussed hair. Their skin was flush with excitement and not the telling embarrassment most people would have worn had they gotten caught fucking. The man clasped the woman’s hand and they made a beeline for the doors of Court, where they could continue their play.
Boyce looked over to the archway as someone entering the lounge caught his attention. Angel. The word was a whisper in his head that sent his heart into a rapid gallop and his lungs constricting as though all the air had been sucked from the room. He loved that sensation. Experienced it every time Saint came near. To have that sensation with Grae...fucking amazing. It further cemented his feelings for the woman.
He lost his train of thought as he admired the corset and form-fitting pants she’d chosen for the night. In a room full of people, the world suddenly seemed as though it was only populated by the two of them. Hundreds of passionate, dirty, and sweaty scenarios flashed through his mind, bringing his arousal level to the boiling point. She was a goddess.
His gaze lingered over the way her breasts were almost spilling out of the corset with each breath. He wanted to take care of her every need because he knew she would do the same for him. Longed to cross the room so he could touch her to see if she felt the energy his admiration had fueled. Though he’d never felt the urge to make sure others knew a woman was his, he sure as hell wanted to now. He longed to hear her voice even though she was only feet away. Wanted to curl around her in bed. Bury his face in her cunt. Anything to keep this surge of feelings closing in on him way too fast at bay. He thought he’d had it all under control, and he did—to a point. But Grae made his world fray at the edges in the most delightful way.
Grae stepped through the arched doorway. Her gaze scanned the area looking without really seeing. She appeared lost. Maybe even a little frazzled.
He longed to go to her, to smooth away those jagged edges that seemed to be getting sharper every time he saw her. But tonight was all about her. About her coming to them to accept what they had to offer. At much as it pained him, he needed to stay in his chair and wait for her to finally see everything he had to offer her.
I shouldn’t be here. I shouldn’t be doing this.
Even as Grae repeated those words over and over in her head, she slipped her membership card into her back pocket. That damn cadence had kept her awake nearly every night since the trip to the museum. But here she was, front and center, at Noble House.
Again.
She felt as though the kiss Saint had branded her with in the park still burned on her lips, their date imprinted in her brain. She’d spent time with the men alone during college, obviously, but the trip to the tech museum had been the first chance she’d gotten to spend with Saint by himself since she’d thrown caution to the wind.
As much as she adored being with the men together, she loved getting to know Saint on his own. Seeing the kind of man he’d become. Hearing about the business he’d started from nothing because he was tired of generating money for someone else.
The opportunity to spend time alone with Boyce hadn’t presented itself yet. She wanted to be fair to him and give him just as much quality time. When she’d mentioned her desire for some alone time with him, he’d winked, promised her he was working on something special, and assured her he would let her know when the time was right.
When Saint had asked her to come to Noble House tonight, she’d been unable to resist that charming smile. Those mesmerizing eyes. So here she was, cinched up tightly in a deep-green corset Asha had helped lace her into. Grae couldn’t breathe, but the tight nip in her waist made her feel soft and feminine.
Grae wasn’t normally the type of woman who got dolled up, but she suspected it also had something to do with the club. With the men. She’d always enjoyed wearing outfits during play that she wouldn’t normally consider. As though pretty bras, lacy panties, and boned corsets allowed her to strip away who she was on a daily basis. Even for the date with Saint, she’d chosen an outfit she’d promptly stuck in the back of her closet when she’d gotten home.
As Grae nodded to some members she recognized from the Keep, she spotted Boyce off to one side. His mouth curved up into a grin as she approached where he sat on the far side of the elevated bar. Noble House was an alcohol-free zone. It was one of the aspects that had attracted her to the club long before she’d forked over her personal information, limit list, and dues.
Clearer heads prevailed during scenes. She’d rather experience the haze of subspace from a well-trained Dom than take the edge off with a few glasses of liquor.
Though Boyce’s jaw and mouth were relaxed with an open friendliness, the impression vanished as she joined him. “Have a rough day?” he asked in a low, rumbling voice.
“I look that bad, huh?”
In truth, despite the way she’d prepped for the night, events earlier in the day wouldn’t allow her to relax. Despite her argument the day before, the producer was still convinced his scene change was the direction to go. And he wasn’t happy with the decisions the director had made in regard to the promotional images she’d been working on. The studio bosses had assured her that while her work was stellar, the cut wasn’t the mood they were looking for.
This movie, and the people funding it, had been a constant struggle. They repeatedly changed their minds on a whim after explicitly detailing their vision. She was there to help them get to their ultimate goal, but every time she presented her product she’d discover they’d changed their minds without telling her.
She’d been in the business long enough to understand the concept that a summer blockbuster release wouldn’t be treated the same as a Christmas release in terms of marketing. Most of the people she was currently working with on this film didn’t have a clue. Even though she’d delivered the tone they’d requested. Even though it meant she would be able to charge them a bit more for her billable hours, especially because they wanted a rush date. But it also meant she needed to get back home to her office. The standard laptop she’d brought on this impromptu trip wouldn’t cut it if she needed to retool everything. It was set up with the basics such as email and internet. Not her complicated, and very large, graphic programs. She’d need something beefier to handle that.
“No, worrywart, you’re beautiful as always.” He touched the side of her face and the contact with him began to evaporate the tension in her muscles. As he pulled his hand back, he dropped it to lightly tap the inside of her wrist. Boyce’s caress reminded her how gentle he could be when he touched her. “But you’re overthinking something when you should be focused on relaxing.”
“You’re right, I am. But it’s all gone now. Promise.”
Boyce’s smile returned. “Good. Can’t have you thinking about all those handsome studs you work with in Hollywood when you’ve got two men who adore you and are hung like elephants.”
Her burst of laughter made his eyes sparkle with humor. Joking with him felt good. Right. A sense of ease washed over her, eradicating any remaining traces of her job struggles. “Where’s Saint?”
Boyce gestured over his shoulder to an elaborate pair of doors. “Court.”
Which meant, if she decided to scene with them tonight in hopes of getting what she desired the most, she’d have to be in front of all those cameras.
Saint had said that was exactly what he intended to do, but once again, knowing made it far, far more r
eal and frightening. Suddenly the tightness of her corset wasn’t sexy. Her breathing felt labored and shallow.
Still...though she was concerned about the attention, she was mildly curious how everyone went about ignoring the presence of the cameras. Wasn’t it distracting? The knot of worry in her gut grew heavy.
Were her desires that important?
Were the men that important?
“Grae?”
“Sorry.” She shook her head in an effort to remove the fog. “Off in my own little world, apparently.”
“I can see that.” Boyce leaned closer. Charisma flowed off him in waves. It wasn’t something he did intentionally. It was just a natural part of his makeup. Grae found it hard not to be attracted to him despite her worry for the scene that was about to take place. Whatever had clicked years ago between them had been reawakened. The potency of the connection made her dizzy. Sweaty. Highly stimulated. “Scared?”
Leave it to Boyce to see right through her. “A bit.”
“Do you want to see the setup before you dismiss us for the night?”
“That obvious, huh?”
“A bit,” he repeated. “You wear it well, at least.” He closed his hand around the back of her neck, then moved up to fist her hair. He tugged, gently at first, then used more pressure to angle her face toward his. “You wear a lot of things well. Like this corset. But you wear naked well, too. Saint’s setup tonight is going to show all that gorgeous skin.”
“To the world?” She swallowed as a thousand different scenarios played in her head. Was this something she could go through with? Even though this would be a public scene, there was a possibility Boyce would join them, and that was enough for Grae to continue to consider what lay beyond those doors. She’d be exposed in there with nothing between her, the people in the room, and the members who’d logged in for the night. But it would help reassure the members that Boyce could resume the level of activity he’d once engaged in on the main floor.
