by Maren Smith
But seeing her now wouldn’t do, not if he wanted to continue keeping her at arm’s length, looking at her as his best friend’s little sister instead of the woman he couldn’t stop obsessing over. The raw edginess he’d lived with since losing his witness last winter ached for release, and his conscience craved atonement. He hoped to achieve both while here, well before he looked past Carlie’s glasses into those whiskey eyes that haunted his dreams.
As soon as he and Dane disembarked from the bus, his partner split to report to Marshall’s office for his assignment. Not being a member, like Luke, it had taken some convincing to get the head Master and their witness’s cousin to allow Dane in for the weekend, but his prior experience as a Dom went a long way in soothing Marshall’s ruffled feathers. He wasn’t happy about the intrusion of additional agents, still insisting Grace would stay safe within the protective walls of the Castle. But Luke knew Carmen, and just how talented the assassin was at both disguising himself and coming up with iron-clad false identities.
His stomach rumbled, reminding him how long it had been since he’d picked up a quick breakfast on his way to Granger. Luke had time to grab something to eat before he reported to Marshall’s office also, when he would introduce both Luke and Dane to Grace. Returning downstairs, he nodded to people he knew as he crossed the marbled foyer to the Café. All he needed was a quick sandwich to tide him over. He’d introduce Dane to the buffet later. If he remembered correctly, Thursday’s Italian cuisine drew a large crowd and offered one of his favorite menus.
Over a hundred people were in residence and/or visiting the luxury BDSM resort on a daily basis, so there were always new faces. That had been a benefit when he’d been here to play, looking for a willing sub to spend a few hours of uncomplicated, sexual indulgence with. But with that many people traversing through the three-floor castle, not to mention the dungeon below and the courtyard, gardens and outbuildings, the task of watching for a sign of Carmen would be daunting. Just another reason Marshall needed as many extra pairs of eyes as they could get. He and Dane would go their separate ways but keep in touch via messages left at an assigned spot they would figure out that afternoon.
Twenty minutes later, Luke wound his way back up to the second floor, the stone staircase lit with old wall sconces that lent an eerie, yellow glow to the darkened interior. Rapping on Marshall’s office door, he entered and spotted him seated behind his large, mahogany desk, the afternoon sun shining in from the two tall windows behind him turning his blond hair even lighter. Those piercing blue eyes held a hint of frustration, but the small curve of his mouth welcomed Luke back.
“Good to see you again, Luke. Dane and I have gotten acquainted, and he’s convinced me he has enough experience he can blend in with the Masters and subs this weekend. I still don’t like it though.”
“That goes without saying.” Luke glanced at Dane, who sat in front of the desk, and flipped him a rueful grin. “Welcome to the Castle, partner.”
“Thanks, I think,” Dane drawled in return.
“This guy would have to be Houdini to get past my security. Grace is safe here, I’d bet my reputation on it,” Marshall bit out, his frustration evident.
“Don’t underestimate him. I did that once and showed you the results. I won’t do so again, even if it puts our friendship, and my membership here, at risk.”
“Luke’s right,” Dane put in, his voice hard with anger at the way The Butcher had eluded capture since murdering their witness. Like Luke, Dane took every affront as a personal insult. “Carmen is about as bad as they come, literally no conscience.”
Marshall sighed, rising when Kaylee, his wife, entered with Grace Barnes. Luke raised a brow when he noticed Kaylee’s baby bump. Damn, he’d been away too long. “It seems I’m behind on congratulations to you both.”
Marshall’s proud smile and Kaylee’s pretty blush showed how pleased they were. “Thank you, Master M,” she replied.
His attention switched to Grace, and Luke would never have guessed their witness couldn’t see from watching the way she settled on the settee with minimal guidance from Kaylee.
“Grace, Agents Montgomery and Morgan are here. They’re just going to introduce themselves, let you hear their voices so you’ll recognize them if need be,” Marshall said. Kaylee took a seat next to Grace, squeezed her hand and smiled at her husband.
“You have nothing to worry about here,” Kaylee assured her for what Luke suspected wasn’t the first time.
It had taken getting used to, seeing the strict head Master settled down and happily married, but his wife’s petite stature and long brown hair reminded Luke of Carlie and just a few minutes in her company and anyone could see why she made Marshall so happy. Striding over to the settee, he laid a hand on Grace’s shoulder.
“I’m Agent Montgomery, or Master M, Grace, whichever you prefer. I’m just one of several people who will be around to ensure you stay safe, even though the odds of Carmen finding you here are slim to none.” He didn’t feel those odds were true, but it wasn’t the first time he’d sought to reassure a scared witness by skimming the truth.
“Thank you. I appreciate everyone’s concern.” Her soft voice held a slight tremor, but after what she’d been through, that wasn’t surprising.
Dane stepped forward and lightly touched her hand, giving her notice of his closer presence before introducing himself. “And I’m Agent Morgan, or Master D, Grace. It’s nice to meet you, although I wish it were under better circumstances.” His tone gentled from the one he used when addressing Marshall or Luke. As blunt and harsh as his partner could be when he felt the situation warranted it, victims and witnesses always responded in a positive manner toward Dane’s compassionate and understanding side. The protectiveness he often exuded matched what Luke felt when with Carlie and could come off just as strong.
A small smile curved Grace’s lips with the tilt of her head toward Dane. “Thank you, both of you.”
Luke and Dane nodded their appreciation to Marshall before leaving, not wanting to push their welcome, or the head Master’s patience.
“That went better than I expected,” Dane commented as they walked toward the stairs.
“Yeah, now let’s hope the rest of our stay here goes as smoothly.” But experience told Luke that wasn’t likely. Damn it.
Carlie stepped off the Friday-morning bus at the gate and ran her sweat-dampened palms down her jean-covered thighs as she got her first glimpse of the Castle. Crossing the drawbridge, she paused to look over the side and admire the colorful koi swimming in the encircling moat before entering the massive courtyard through a wrought-iron portcullis. Brought over from Scotland stone by stone, the fifteenth century castle and its surrounding outbuildings were as close to history as she’d ever been. That alone would have been an awesome experience if only the nerves making her second-guess her decision weren’t getting in the way.
“Come on, Carlie.” Jana took her arm and tugged her along. “No one here will bite you, unless, of course, you want them to.”
The mischievous twinkle in Jana’s blue eyes eased Carlie’s tense shoulders a fraction. “Your descriptions of this place didn’t do it justice. It’s fricking awesome.”
“Wait until you get the tour. You won’t be able to decide where you want your Dom to take you first. Personally, I’m fond of the Roman Baths. Lots of water-slick skin.”
Carlie giggled, wishing she could be as open and sexually adventurous as her best friend. Her one big hope for the outcome of this weekend was that the Dom assigned to her would be effective in replacing her BDSM exploring fantasies with Luke with memories she could start over with when she moved.
“Water play sounds like fun, but the pictures of the gardens caught my attention.” She loved being outside, especially during the warmer months. The thought of experiencing a warm breeze wafting over her bare breasts drew goosebumps that had nothing to do with getting out of the hot sun when they moved over to the admissions table set up under a
shaded canopy.
After turning in their required signed accountability waivers and recent medical records and receiving their individual packets that held a bracelet colored to match the program they chose to join, room numbers and partner assignments, they took a seat in front of a podium, waiting for the orientation to start.
“What fake name did you give them?” Jana asked.
Carlie replied in a quiet undertone, “Cinderella.” Like in the fairy tale, she would be dressed up and the center of one man’s attention until noon on Sunday. Then she’d revert to plain, mousy Carlie and return to her quiet, vanilla life.
“Hoping to meet your Prince Charming, huh? I’ll be Cleo, but we can still call each other by our names in private, just don’t give them away to anyone else. There’s Mrs. Hardwick. She’s the head housekeeper.”
Thirty minutes later, her head reeling with the rules and consequences if broken that Mrs. Hardwick lectured them on, Carlie followed Mr. Grimsley, the head butler, through the tour which ended at Wardrobe. She glanced at her red bracelet, the color for individual programs, reassuring herself for about the tenth time she was wearing the right color. Since the mammoth club hosted amenities for every kink, from pony play to ‘Littles’ to an authentic dungeon for those into harsher, serious S&M play, she wanted there to be no misunderstanding about her desires when she met her Dom at the meet and greet shortly. Being a virgin sub, she wanted to stick with what she fantasized about and had researched the most to start with.
“No means yes and onion means no,” she mumbled under her breath while flipping through a rack of costumes in her size. She still had trouble with that rule.
Jana chuckled next to her, clutching a harem costume in her hands. “You’ll get the hang of it, don’t worry. What’d you find?”
“Nothing yet. These are supposed to be my size, but they look small…”
“Don’t worry,” a young male attendant said, strolling over to them. “We can adjust anything to fit you.” He flipped through the array of outfits and pulled out a sheer, white peasant blouse and black, calf-length skirt. “Perfect. Let’s get you dressed in this. It’ll compliment your full figure and give your lucky Dom some lustful ideas. Ditch the clothes, everything except your panties.”
Heat enveloped her face and she took a step back. Jana started to say something, but the attendant beat her to it with a frown. “Do you need to visit Master Marshall’s office already?”
Carlie stiffened and went cold. Getting sent to the head Master’s office would result in a spanking by him, and there was no way she wanted to risk that humiliation.
“Think of it as practice for later,” Jana suggested before she stripped and broke the ice for her.
Taking a quick glance around the busy room, Carlie saw several other people changing where they stood, donning outfits with the help of an attendant. As she pulled her top over her head and shimmied out of her jeans under the watchful, now approving eye of the young man, she discovered being one of many helped ease the uncomfortable embarrassment, but not her discomfort with revealing her round figure.
As she stood there in bra and panties, her plump body on display, the attendant added to her chagrin when he pointed to her white cotton, hipster panties. “You’re not wearing a bracelet for age-play fetish, so those have to go too. Let me see what I’ve got for you.”
Jana chuckled behind her and he turned his frown on her. For a young guy that stern look packed a wallop and compelled them both to take an automatic step back.
With a swiftness that took Carlie by surprise, he reached out and swatted Jana’s naked butt with a stern rebuke. “She’s a newbie, cut her some slack.”
“Yes, sir.”
“How’d you know I’m a newbie?” Carlie asked, surprised.
He rolled his eyes. “Please. I can spot ‘em every time. Be right back.”
“Toby may be young, but he can discipline with the best of them,” Jana whispered.
“Serves you right for laughing at me.”
Toby returned carrying a package he ripped open. “Why are you still wearing those?”
Carlie quickly stripped the panties and bra off, her buttocks clenching as she imagined the sting of his hand connecting with her flesh. He held out a pair of pale pink, satin bikini panties with a black bow in the back. Bending to step into them forced her to brace herself on his shoulders and she felt the surprising muscles he hid under his shirt. Thankfully, he pulled them up without lingering or staring then lifted the blouse over her head. She heard someone assisting Jana behind her, but didn’t turn around, too eager to get covered after that mortifying scene.
Toby stepped back after he’d tucked the blouse into the full skirt then fisted his hands on his slim hips and looked her over from head to toe with a critical eye. He nodded in approval, which went a long way toward easing her anxiety, then pointed to her feet.
“Definitely go barefoot with that outfit. Come back in the morning and I’ll have a few more outfits set aside for you. Enjoy your stay at the Castle.”
Carlie breathed a sigh of relief when he walked away to assist someone else. Turning, she saw Jana fully dressed and naked under the sheer harem costume. “What now?”
“Now, they’ll escort us to the ballroom for the meet and greet, and you, girlfriend, will be on your own with your Dom. Just let him know during your ‘get to know you talk’ what you will and won’t do, which is also on your app form and he’ll have a copy of it. Remember the safeword and you’ll be fine. More than fine, you’ll have a blast.”
Carlie didn’t have to wonder for long how the Dom assigned to her would find her once she entered the massive, opulent ballroom teeming with people. Within a few minutes, a tall, lean man with light brown hair and warm blue eyes approached her with his hand out. He wore a white bracelet, labeling him a Dom, along with a red to match the program she was in.
“You must be Cinderella. Your picture didn’t do you justice. You can call me Master Jones.” He gave her fingers a light squeeze, then took his time looking her over from head to toe.
Her toes curled into the floor when his eyes lingered on her breasts through the sheer blouse, but considering what some guests were wearing, and not wearing, she figured she was one of the more moderately clothed people in the room. “It’s nice to meet you, Master Jones.”
Grasping her elbow, he steered her toward one of the small sofas. “Let’s sit a moment and go over your preferences. I know this is your first visit and you’re interested in exploring bondage, maybe a little pain play.”
Carlie didn’t mind the way he pulled her onto his lap, and she even experienced a small thrill when his semi-erection shifted under her butt. Here, with every body type on display, she didn’t feel like a dumpy, boring Plain Jane. But she also didn’t get that warm glow Luke’s nearness conjured up, and her girly parts weren’t pulsing with lust the way she responded whenever she heard his voice or felt his arms wrap her in a hug. Tears pricked the back of her eyes. Was she doomed to failure before the weekend even began?
Luke took one more look at his assigned sub’s picture before entering the ballroom. He was late, as Marshall’s frown told him, but he’d taken a few minutes to watch a few scenes going on around the Castle, hoping to bolster his interest in meeting ‘Daisy’ and coming up with ways to fulfill her fantasies. According to her application, the tall redhead was an experienced sub who enjoyed sensation play, including pain. Right up his alley, but as he scanned the throng of people for her, he couldn’t prevent Carlie’s round face and short body from coming to mind.
“Fuck it,” he muttered when he spotted Daisy’s bright head. Before he could reach her, however, shock brought him to an abrupt halt in his tracks. Anger came fast on the heels of surprise when he came within a few feet of a sofa and saw Carlie, his Carlie, wearing a peasant costume and perched on a man’s lap. What the hell is she doing at the Castle? Without thinking, he marched up to the couple and demanded in a low, furious voice, “What the fuck
are you doing here?”
Those gorgeous whiskey eyes widened in surprise behind zebra framed glasses. “Luke?” Her whispered reply held a note of betrayal, one that cut him to the quick and spurred his anger at finding her here. She was so green, she didn’t realize she’d just broken an important rule by uttering his real name.
“You two know each other?” the Dom drawled, his face reflecting amusement at their expense.
“I need a word with you,” Luke told the other man, reeling from her unexpected presence and its possible ramifications. What was she thinking? He pointed a finger at Carlie. “You stay put for a minute.” Stalking a few feet away with the other man, whom he’d never seen before, his mind warred with his body’s instant response at seeing her here. His unwanted, unwise attraction toward her that had popped up out of the blue during the week of Evan’s funeral hadn’t abated one iota since. It had been an ongoing, internal battle to keep her at arm’s length physically when he wanted nothing more than to strip her and pull her close before tying her down each time he saw her. How the hell could he keep from fulfilling that fantasy with her here, at the Castle, a place he’d fantasized about bringing her only in his dreams?
Not only would her presence draw his attention away from his job and purpose for this visit, but Evan would roll over in his grave if he knew his beloved baby sister showed an interest in the proclivities indulged in at the Castle.
