Darkest Fire

by Tawny Taylor

  He was now facing the reality of bringing his own children into the world, and bearing the responsibility of protecting them and preparing them to take his place someday.

  He didn’t want his wife to live in fear—not that she was now. To protect her from the stress of living under a constant threat, he hadn’t told her anything about the Black Gryffons, The Secret, or the Chimera.

  More important, he didn’t want his children to grow up like he had. Like his brothers had. He wanted to be able to take them to the park, the zoo. He wanted to cheer for them as they hit a home run, sank a basket, or scored a touchdown. He wanted them to laugh with friends. And go to parties.

  He wanted them to be normal children.

  No matter what he did, as long as The Secret remained theirs to protect, and the Chimera continued to try to steal it from them, his children would be imprisoned. In a cell of duty, responsibility, and fear.

  Could his brothers understand where he was coming from? Or would it take the pending birth of their first children before they’d see what he meant?

  Then again, had those worries been the true cause of his father’s almost-fatal mistake?

  Talen stepped closer. “We’ll keep going as long as you ask us to. We’re not going to stop.”

  Malek relayed his assent with a nod.

  Drako looked at both of them, seeing both the men they were now—loyal, trustworthy, brave—and the frustrated and lonely boys they’d been. There was no easy answer here. No cut-and-dried right or wrong. Good or bad. His reasons for taking action were as valid as his brothers’ reasons for not.

  What’s my duty? What’s most important? he asked himself.

  The answer: to protect The Secret first and to prepare the future Black Gryffon members for their duty later.

  Protect and prepare.

  His son, he vowed, would be prepared for all possibilities. To lead an attack as well as defend against one.

  “Let’s go home.” He pushed away from the van, heading toward his car, parked outside.

  Malek and Talen both gave him a gape-mouthed stare.

  “Are you sure?” Talen asked.

  “We trust you,” Malek said.

  Stopping beside his car, he gripped the door handle in his hand. “We’re not ready for this. Don’t know what the hell we’re doing. No, we’ll keep going as we have, defending The Secret, just like our father and his brothers.”

  “It takes one hell of a lot of balls to admit something like that,” Talen said, following him outside. “It’s stuff like this that makes me respect and trust you more.”

  “I agree.” Behind Talen, Malek smiled. “Makes me proud to call you my brother.”

  Each brother gave him a clap on the back as they headed to their cars.

  “Don’t go getting all sentimental and girly on me.” Drako scowled.

  Malek was half in and half out of his car when he said, “Hey, Drako, do you still want us to move back home?”

  “Yeah. Why don’t you come home tonight, and I’ll introduce you.” Drako watched them drive away before he closed the storage unit’s rolling door and locked it.

  So that was it. They were back to the same-old, same-old. Watching. Waiting. Hiding.

  14

  Rin stood in the kitchen, hoping, praying, the man standing next to Drako, the one with the spiked platinum hair and the razor-sharp gaze, wouldn’t say anything about last night. Not only was she sure he was the dom from the dungeon, but she was 100 percent certain he recognized her.

  “This is my wife, Rin.” Drako, standing between his brothers, motioned for her to move closer. “Rin, these are my brothers.” He pointed to the one on his right. “This is Malek.”

  Malek offered Rin a hand and a smile.

  “Sure, I remember Malek. I never would’ve thought we’d meet again under these circumstances.” She shook his hand and stepped back. “Good to see you again.”

  “And this is Talen.” Drako introduced his other brother, the one Rin recognized from the dungeon. Had Andi known the dom was Drako’s brother? If so, why hadn’t Andi warned her?

  “Good to meet you.” She avoided meeting his gaze as she shook his hand. A very awkward silence fell over them. She decided to break it by saying, “I should go find my sister, so I can introduce her.”

  “Sister?” Malek echoed.

  Drako cleared his throat, and Rin watched as the two men exchanged pointed looks. She guessed, by the stern expression on her husband’s face, Malek was a player. Good to know. “Yes, why don’t you go find Lei?”

  “I’ll be right back.” She headed up to the bedrooms to hunt down Lei, still unsure whether Talen had recognized her or not. She knocked on her sister’s door and, at Lei’s invitation, ducked into the room and shut the door behind her. “Drako’s brothers are here.”

  Lei didn’t respond, which was so unlike the little sister she’d known her whole life. A year ago, Lei would’ve been dressed in her best, makeup perfect, satiny hair brushed to a glossy sheen. Even a few days ago. Not today. Although Rin had noticed when they’d gone on their shopping spree, Lei had mostly chosen oversized sweatshirts and loose sloppy pants. Not one garment was form fitting or stylish. As each day passed, Lei seemed to be withdrawing more. And today, she looked probably worse than Rin had ever seen her, the poster child for What Not To Wear. Her hair was scraped back from her face, hanging in a low ponytail. She had not an ounce of makeup on, not even lip gloss, and she wore the biggest, ugliest sweatshirt she’d bought. It practically hung to her knees. She’d claimed it was cold in the house.

  “Lei, they’re waiting to meet you.”

  “Why?” Lei snapped. Rin’s heart lurched. She hadn’t seen her sister act like this before. Her face was pale, her mouth drawn into a tight line. “Why do they want to meet me?”

  “I’m sure they are just being nice.” When Lei turned away, to grab a book and flop onto her bed, Rin sat beside her. “Is something wrong?”

  “No, not at all.” Lei gave Rin what she probably intended to be a smile. It was far from it. “I’m just busy. Reading. I have a test coming up.”

  “You told me your first test was next week.”

  “There’s a lot to memorize, and I want to do well.”

  “And I appreciate that.” Rin set her hand on Lei’s knee. Was it trembling a little? She could swear it was. “Lei, you’re acting a little strange. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine.” Lei set aside her book. This time her smile was a tad more convincing. “Rin, this is an opportunity I never imagined I would have. I’m going to college, and not having to work my ass off to pay for it, like you had to. I don’t want to waste the opportunity you and Drako have given me. I don’t want you to have any reason to suspect I don’t appreciate it.”

  “I know you appreciate it.” Unable to shake the feeling that her sister’s pronounced obsession with devouring Psychology: An Introduction (11th Edition) had nothing to do with her ambitions for school and everything to do with something else, something deeper. “I’ll give them your regrets.”

  “Thanks.” Without looking up from the book, Lei reached for a nearby notebook and flipped open the cover.

  The first page was blank.

  Rin closed her sister’s door behind her and headed back down to the den. She was relieved to find all three brothers were gone. No need to try to cover for her sister yet.

  Worried about Lei, Rin headed for the library, hoping she’d find a phone book there. It was time she faced the truth—Lei wasn’t herself. She’d isolated herself a lot lately. Slept day and night, when she wasn’t at class. And it seemed the arrival of Drako’s brothers was making her withdraw even more.

  She needed help.

  Rin hesitated when she saw the library door was closed. Male voices rumbled inside, but they were too muffled for her to make out any of the conversation. She told herself they could be talking about anything, not necessarily her visit to the bondage club. It was easy to imagine they w
ere though. And that inspired her to make a quick change of plans. She’d go to the public library, use the computer to look up local psychiatrists. While she was there, she’d pick up some books to read.

  Thinking Lei might want to go with her, she headed back up and knocked.

  Lei didn’t respond. Instead, she inched open the door and peered through the crack. Once she saw it was Rin, she opened it wider. “I told you, I’m too busy—”

  “No, I’m not here for that. They’re doing something else now. I’m going up to the library. Want to come?”

  “Yeah.” Lei hurried inside, slipped on some tennis shoes, and, after peering down the hall, headed toward the back of the house.

  Rin motioned to her room. “I have to get my shoes on. And I need my purse.”

  “I’ll wait for you outside.”

  “Okay.” Rin went to her room and exchanged the comfortable but frumpy sweatpants and T-shirt she had been wearing for a pair of cropped jeans, a knit top, and sandals. And once she gathered her purse and keys, she headed out to the car.

  It was glorious outside. Not too hot; not too cold. The perfect early summer day. The air smelled wonderful. She wished Drako would open up the house, let some of this fresh, clean air blow through. She would be comfortable without air conditioning.

  Rin found Lei sitting in the car, staring straight ahead. She started the car, backed up, and turned the car, driving down the long, meandering driveway toward the road.

  Lei had very little to say as they drove the short distance to the library. And once they were parked, Lei hurried into the building, heading in one direction while Rin went in another. Rin researched psychiatrists, writing down some names and phone numbers, and then wandered through the fiction section, selecting a couple of mysteries, a romance novel, and a thriller to take home. After she applied for a new card and checked out her books, she went in search of Lei, finding her sitting in a quiet corner, curled up in a cozy chair, reading.

  “Are you ready?” Rin asked.

  “Sure.” Lei set the book aside, cover facing down, and started toward the door.

  “Don’t you want to check out the book you were reading?”

  Still walking, Lei waved an arm. “No, that’s okay.”

  Rin flipped the book over. The Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Sourcebook: A Guide to Healing, Recovery, and Growth by Glenn R. Schiraldi. It almost made Rin feel better, reading that title. At least, even if Lei wasn’t willing to admit it to her, Lei recognized something was wrong.

  When Rin got in the car, she started the vehicle and, without saying a word, handed her sister the piece of paper with the names and phone numbers on it.

  Lei said a soft, “Thanks.”

  The rest of the drive was in silence, but Rin was feeling better about Lei as they headed back into the house. In fact, she was feeling better about a lot of things, until Drako stepped out of his office, his expression very cool. “Rin, may I please speak with you?”

  So formal. Talen must have told him.

  “Sure.” She headed into his office, took a seat in one of the steel and leather chairs in front of his desk, and clasped her hands together. Her palms were sweating.

  Drako sat in the chair next to her, instead of going around to the opposite side of the desk. He looked at her for a moment. Unsure whether jumping in and trying to defend herself would make things worse or not, she just waited for him to speak. “My brother Talen told me he saw you at a play party last night.”

  “Yes, I was. I went with a friend. I only wanted to watch.” This might not have been the way she’d wanted this subject to come up, but at least it was out, and now was her chance to tell him how she felt.

  “He told me what you asked him.”

  “I want to understand, Drako.”

  “Understand what?” He leaned forward, arms on his knees. At least he wasn’t backing away. That was a good sign.

  “Domination and submission.”

  “Why?”

  “Does it matter why?”

  He thought about her question for a moment, then shrugged. “Why didn’t you come to me?”

  “I wanted to, but I wasn’t sure how to bring it up. With our situation being what it is, I was worried you’d take it the wrong way, like I was trying to invade your privacy or something.”

  Again, he took a moment to consider what she said before responding. “I might have.”

  “You see, then?”

  He clenched his hands together. “So, what are you thinking? Would you like to explore D/s? Go to a dungeon?”

  That wasn’t exactly what she’d had in mind, but she wondered if a little experimenting might help her understand her husband better than talking about it. “Yes, I would. But only with you. I . . . I want to feel what it’s like to be tied up.”

  His lips thinned. He shoved his fingers through his hair and stared down at the floor.

  “Would you rather I find another dom—”

  “No.” He looked up. “For every one that knows what he’s doing, there’s one that doesn’t.”

  Trying to pretend it wasn’t a big deal, she shrugged. “You could recommend someone.” She really, really didn’t want him to do that, but she had a good feeling he didn’t want to either. Perhaps her husband had a bit of a jealous streak. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, although it grated slightly, since he was expecting her to be fine with him playing spank-me games with other women. What was good for the goose should be good for the gander, as the old cliché went.

  “No. I’ll do it.”

  “Okay.” She resisted the urge to beam a great big smile at him. “When? Where? I’d rather have privacy. I don’t think I’m an exhibitionist.”

  “That’s fine. We have a few things down in the basement, something of a private dungeon.” He checked the clock sitting on the credenza behind his desk. “Meet me downstairs at nine. Wear something that’s easy to get in and out of. When I get there, I expect to find you waiting and ready, on your knees.”

  “I will be, you can count on it.” She set her hand on his knee. “Thank you.”

  He leaned back. “I’ve got some work to do, so . . .”

  “I’m heading out to get ready.” She hurried for the door, more than pleased with how that had gone. She couldn’t have asked for any better.

  Eight fifty-five.

  Rin made one last attempt at adjusting the hem of her skirt. It didn’t budge, one way or the other. She supposed that should make her feel better, but it didn’t. Ironically, she knew it didn’t matter how short the skirt was, or whether her ass was hanging out the back. Nobody was going to see her. Nobody but Drako.

  But that was the point.

  This was the first time. Their first time. And she wanted it to be better than any experience he’d ever had before.

  Perfect.

  No pressure there.

  She shook out her hands, trying to release some of the tension. She was absolutely freaking out. For more than one reason. Yes, she’d been waiting for this chance for some time. She’d anticipated, hoped for, and fought for this. Now that the time had come and she was about to step foot into a strange new world of domination and submission, she wasn’t sure if she was ready.

  You can’t back out. Not now. There’s too much at stake.

  That was the truth.

  Remembering Drako’s directions, she walked to the center of the basement dungeon, her fingertips dragging across a couple of pieces of wood and vinyl furniture as she passed them.

  She lowered herself to her knees, back to the wall. Closed her eyes, and focused on breathing. In. Out. Innnn. Outttt. In the distance, she heard footsteps coming down the steps—thump, thump, thump, thump. She lowered her head just as he entered the room.

  This was it. If he let Rin into this place, exposed this part of himself, there’d be no turning back. Would her submission bring him to his knees? Knock down the defenses he was struggling to hold up? God, he hoped not. Loving her could be the end of him,
and his brothers.

  Somehow, he would have to hold back the most vulnerable piece of his soul. If he focused on serving her, he might be able to do that. It was his only hope.

  She looked so beautiful and delicate kneeling there, hands resting upon her thighs, fingers woven, palms clasped. Her hair was a silken tumble of waves that obscured part of her face. She was wearing clothes that were too sexy, the short, tight skirt not what he would have liked to see her in. But he couldn’t fault her. She’d made an effort. That, he respected. He’d have to teach her what kind of clothing he preferred.

  “Take off those clothes.” He stopped directly in front of her, watched as her eyes snapped to his face, lingered there for a moment then dropped back to the floor.

  “O-okay. Did I do something wrong?” She sounded so unsure. That wasn’t what he wanted, but he understood her nervousness. This was all very new to her, uncomfortable. Someday, he would see her become the confident submissive he knew she could be. He would help her get to that point.

  “No. I just would rather see you wearing something else.”

  “Tell me then.”

  “I’ll show you. Later. For now, I’d rather see you unclothed. You’re beautiful, and I want to look at you.”

  Her lips curled into a semismile as she wiggled out of the snug garments. She folded them and set them on the floor beside her. “Better?”

  His gaze wandered over her form, slender legs, rounded hips, soft but flat stomach, round breasts. She truly was lovely, every inch of her. “Much.”

  Still standing, she clasped her hands in front of herself, straight arms hiding much of her torso, including her mound. “I-I don’t know anything about this.”

  “I’ll teach you.”

  “Will we pretend?”

  “No. There’s no pretending between us. Only reality.” He went to her but didn’t let himself touch her. Somehow, he had to maintain a little distance between them, while still gaining her trust. That was going to be one helluva trick.