“More of the weekend type. I don’t want anyone, even Ryan, telling me what to do every minute of my day.” He gave a mock shudder. “That would drive me insane.”
“Probably me, too,” she said. “But at the same time, I think I should explore every facet so I can learn what I like and don’t like. The problem is, where do I do that?”
Joel leaned forward. “My best suggestion is to find a reputable online community and join it. Be very wary, very coy. Don’t give up any personal information, but be extremely honest. Most boards these days have a large mix of newbies, social players and lifelong, hard-core members. And I’ve found most people in the lifestyle are more than happy to share their knowledge. Watch out for trolls, though.”
“What are trolls?”
“Idiot Neanderthals who insist on things like being called Master immediately or who are only interested in how fast they can cow you. They’re easy to spot. A true Dom has respect for those around him, especially subs who do not belong to him.”
Belong to him. The phrase sent a shot of excitement straight to her clit.
Though Emma had done almost all the things he suggested, she was eager to go home and try again. With his information and guidance, she didn’t feel quite so intimidated. She already had a few checklists and profiles floating out there, but had no idea if the sites were what he deemed reputable.
They talked a while longer, Joel jotting down some sites she should visit, some topics to research. The more the alcohol flowed, the looser his tongue became, and soon she was squirming in her seat from his explicit recollections of past play.
“You really let him whip you in public?”
Joel winked. “We were in the safety of a confined play area with people we knew and trusted.”
“How did you feel?”
“Fucking incredible. Giving up control and power to him is one thing. To be stripped of it in public, to be bound and helpless...God, it was hot.”
She swallowed hard and nodded. Yes, it sounded good to her.
He checked his watch and half-cursed. “I’m going to be late meeting Ryan.” His tone was more satisfied than worried.
“That’s a good thing?”
He stood, grabbed her coat, and helped her into it. They walked out of the restaurant, and he hugged her close. “After all our talk, I’m hotter than a damn firecracker. I need his passion and control. I’m looking forward to being reminded I’ve broken the rules and must pay the price.”
“How?” she asked breathlessly.
Joel nuzzled her ear. “I suspect he’s going to whip the hell out of me when I tell him why I was late.”
Emma drew back in alarm. “You won’t tell him about me, will you?”
“Darlin’, he already knows.”
More heat suffused her, and Emma shoved one hand into the lined pocket of her peacoat. “Well, hell.”
“Come on, I’ll walk you to your car.”
Hand in hand, they strolled up the sidewalk, the silence between them comfortable. Emma could not stop the excitement burning in her. She could not wait to get home and play.
She wished she could experience it in person. She wanted to really feel the taste of leather on her skin, bow her head in deference, be punished for an infraction. Emma wanted to do all the things she and Joel spent the last few hours discussing.
But below that, simmering beneath her excitement, darker thoughts batted at her. The ones she usually kept confined in a neat, safe place, only allowed out when she needed to come hard.
They passed by the three-tiered fountain tinkling on the square. “Wait,” she said and hurried forward. Digging in her purse, she pulled out a handful of coins. Two quarters winked at her beneath the street lights. She inspected them carefully. Both were eagle quarters, and oddly, each had rims painted a brilliant blue. Probably some bored teenager with a fresh bottle of nail polish.
Perfect.
She closed her eyes and squeezed the quarters in her hand. “Okay, universe, I’m ready to listen. Help me find my true desires, explore and expand my boundaries.”
She tossed the quarters into the burbling water and laughed, hugging Joel’s arm.
“You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Yep,” she said. “Certifiable.”
They continued on, past shuttered, closed shops, and she paused every now again to window-shop. A movement shimmered in the reflection of the glass, and she turned her head but saw nothing.
The skitter of pebbles sounded at the corner of the building. Probably a poor dog looking for something to eat. Her heart swelled at the thought of a lost and shivering animal, and she looked in the direction of the darkened alley, but Joel’s strong fingers held her back.
“Uh-uh, I’m late, not crazy. We need to pick up the pace or I won’t be sitting for a week.”
She grinned as she dutifully fell into step next to him. “Sounds like fun.”
“Ha, just wait until your ass is striped and raw from a beating, then come and tell me how much fun it is.”
Again, her pussy clenched and spasmed.
They finally made it to her car, and he settled her inside and hunkered down in the open door. “Promise me a couple of things,” he said.
Emma tipped her head. “Like what?”
“First, be extremely careful. You never know what kind of weirdos are out there. And you are kinda naïve.”
She stuck her tongue out at him. “Second?”
“Don’t hold back on anything. You have no boundaries, no limits right now. While you’re seeking those, keep an open mind. But don’t be afraid to say no. You might be a sub, Emma, but you are the one in control. Without boundaries, you’ll be ripe for the picking for someone unscrupulous, but I trust you’ll vet anyone before you play. And you know Ryan will.”
She shivered, and it wasn’t from the chilled November wind. No, it was the ever-growing sense of sexual excitement pushing at her.
“All right, Joel, I promise.”
His lips quirked in an almost-embarrassed smile, something she found odd considering everything they’d been discussing tonight. “What?” she demanded.
He scratched the side of his neck and cleared his throat. “There’s a store on Kepper Street called Satin Secrets. Know it?”
Her eyes widened, and she felt a responding blush creep over her cheeks. “Yeah.”
“Good,” he said gruffly. “Go tomorrow and ask for Cherry. Tell her I sent you, you’re a neophyte and in need of direction. Give her a budget, and she’ll take care of the rest.”
“I can’t do that,” Emma gasped.
His smile relaxed as he chuckled. “Darlin’, you’re going to be doing much naughtier things than just visiting a sex-toy shop. Think of it as getting your feet wet.”
Somehow she didn’t think that was the part of her anatomy that would get wet. She shifted on the cold leather seat before nodding. “All right,” she said decisively. “I’ll go tomorrow after work.”
He hugged her quickly. “Have fun, sweetie. Just think, you’ll have the whole weekend to play with your new discoveries, too.”
She laughed and pushed him away. “I will not be giving you a report, though.”
He pouted. “Well, hell, you mean we can’t compare notes? I’m crushed.”
“Idiot,” she said fondly and cranked the car to life.
He stood, and she closed the door, put the car in reverse, and left the parking lot, watching in the rearview until he turned and headed for his car. He reached it and lifted a hand in farewell. She checked the traffic on Grove Street and looked again in her mirror, but Joel was gone. Only dark shadows covered the ground where they’d been. Her heart skipped for a moment. Oddly enough, the shadow looked almost as if it writhed then fell still, man shaped. Joel? She lifted her foot from the accelerator and hesitated, eyes still on the shadow. It did not move again.
A pair of headlights flared to life in the parking lot, and then a shiny red sedan pulled out. She heaved a relieved sigh as
Joel turned left and headed the opposite direction.
She giggled. Joel was going the wrong way from home, but he probably was heading to Satin Secrets himself to pick up supplies.
Emma gunned the engine and headed home. She had some research to do. She needed to figure out just what kind of submissive she was.
Then, she had to find a Dom to tame her.
Chapter Two
Griffin King strode up the sidewalk of the Council’s discreet, immaculate brownstone. Neatly trimmed hedges of English holly, ripe and colorful with orange berries, bracketed the building. A strip of equally manicured flower beds fronted the hedges, the soil filled with small plants. He didn’t know the names, but he liked the way they looked. The grounds were elegant and refined, much like the Council’s indomitable leader, Clarissa.
Griff found it hard to believe it’d only been six years since he’d joined the Council as an Enricher. It was harder still to remember what his life had been like before then, except to say he’d been miserable and emotionally destroyed.
Griff paused and drew in the crisp November air. It helped clear his head of the random bad memories of his ex-wife, their failed marriage, and the funk he’d been in before Noah and Madelyn had shown up on his doorstep with their remarkable tale of magic, sex, and a job offer.
He loped up the steps, rapped twice, and twisted the brass knob. The old oak door swung silently inward. A warm, inviting scent of spiced pumpkin wafted on the air.
He smiled with appreciation.
“Good afternoon, Mr. King.”
He nodded at Susan, the Council’s uber-efficient receptionist. “Hi, Susan. Is Clarissa in? Mason and I have a two o’clock appointment with her. He here yet?”
Susan winked up at him. “Mr. Shaw is in the lounge.” She lifted a tin of chocolate-covered biscuits. “That blue-eyed charmer never fails to impress.” She looked with pointed exaggeration at his empty hands.
Griff chuckled. “Sorry, Susan, I got nothing.”
She shook her head. “You never do.”
“I’m a cad, I know.”
Her robust laugh spilled over him. “I refuse to believe it.” She leaned forward, eyes twinkling brightly. “Actually, Clarissa is upstairs with the American Scryer.”
He whistled. “Holy hell, they found someone else? An immortal?”
“Maybe, not sure about the immortal status, though. I don’t think we’ve had one since Kade.” Susan raised her hand. “Fingers crossed.”
“Yeah,” he said with a nod. Neither he nor Mason were immortals—those were even more rare than undiscovered Enrichers. But finding another talented Enricher was quite a coup since most people were usually unaware of their abilities until the Council intervened. He’d not known he could channel emotions before he stepped foot in the Council’s training area. Finding out he was also a lesser empath had been interesting. “Thanks, Susan.”
He skirted her desk and headed for the lounge where he found Mason sprawled on a sofa, eating a peanut butter sandwich and watching the sports network.
Mason lifted a hand in greeting when he entered. “Susan tell you about the Scry?”
“Yeah. Pretty amazing. Makes, what, the fourth this year?”
“Sounds about right. Weird that for so long there was nothing and now so many.” Mason slanted him a sidelong glance. “Almost as if the universe is trying to tell us something, don’t you think?”
With a scowl, Griff grabbed a soda from the fridge and settled next to Mason. “Damn, Mace, don’t start that again. Your restlessness was the whole reason we took a break. I expected you to come back ready to go again.”
His partner shrugged. “What we do is great, Griff, don’t get me wrong. I like helping people.” He gave a wide, white-toothed grin. “And you know I love the sex.”
Griff’s gut twisted. “But?” he asked softly.
Mason looked away. “I don’t know. It all still feels so superficial. Like there’s something more and we haven’t found it. Yet.”
Though he didn’t give voice to his thoughts, Griff knew his friend was talking about Fi, Alec, and Kade. That triad was a freaking Hallmark commercial for togetherness. Griff took a pull off his drink and squelched a sigh. He knew the realities of marriage and commitment. They didn’t mean jack shit. He nudged Mason. “What time did you get in?”
“Late. Close to three this morning. I slept on the couch so I wouldn’t wake you up.”
“I wouldn’t have minded,” he said softly. “It’s been a couple of weeks since I’ve seen you. You were gone early, too. Running?”
“Yeah.”
Griff studied his partner, noted the new air of ease on his face. “You look rested, though. I think your vacation did you good.”
After nearly six years of constant clients, his partner had declared he’d needed a break. Clarissa and the Council agreed, and they’d been taken off the roster. Mason had taken the opportunity to hightail it to a fetish-themed destination resort where any and everything goes. He’d offered a ticket to Griff, but he’d refused it.
Instead, he spent the three months restless and in need but had not sought anyone out. There was no one in his life he could meet for a booty call, anyway. When Clarissa phoned with a new job, Griff found a relief he’d not been expecting.
“How was your trip to Pleasure Isles?” he asked his partner.
“It was awesome,” Mason said. “Lots of tits, ass, and more sex than one person could have. Even us.”
Griff raised his brow. “Really? I take it you accepted that challenge?”
“Hell yeah,” Mason said. His forehead furrowed, and he shifted on the couch. “Although, I did have an encounter that weirded me out.”
A wave of anxiety washed over him, but it dissipated quickly. Griff studied his partner with renewed interest. “That felt odd. What happened?”
Mason sipped at his soda. “It was damn odd. I hooked up with a Domme—tall, sleek, and a bottled-crazy redhead. I should have taken that warning to heart.”
Another shudder rippled over Mason and seeped into Griff. He studied his partner for a long silent moment, then gripped his thigh and gave a light squeeze. “Mace? Everything okay?”
“Yeah.” Mason shrugged. “She was into some out-there shit. I mean, I like a good whipping as much as the next sub.”
Griff squeezed again. “Yes you do.”
Mason laughed. “Yeah, well, this was too much. She wouldn’t stop. If it hadn’t been for Noah and Madelyn, I think she would have flayed me alive. As it is, I still have stripes, and that was almost two weeks ago. Hell, if I still had a badge, I would have locked her ass up for assault.”
Griff’s breath caught, and he leapt up. “What? Let me see.”
“I’m fine,” Mason said and waved him back to the couch. “It’s nothing.”
“Show me anyway,” Griff growled.
Mason sighed and rose, turning and lifting his Polo in one motion.
Griff hissed at the faint but multiple red stripes littering Mason’s usually smooth back. He traced them with his fingertips, noted the trembling, and flattened his palms. “Fuck,” he said succinctly. “You’re certain you’re okay?” He used his best “don’t fucking lie to me” Dom voice, the tone Mason always responded to.
Mason pushed his shirt down and flopped back to the couch. “Yeah. Noah took care of me. Good thing he can speed up healing.” Mason met his gaze. Darkness shuttered the normally bright blue eyes. “I was bleeding. A lot.”
He wanted to find the bitch and rip her head off and shove it up her ass. Griff wanted to show her what real pain was. No one messed with the people he cared about. “What happened to her? What’s her name? Does the Council know?”
“I didn’t see her again after that. I think her name was Krista or something. Honestly, I didn’t pay much attention. She was hot and sexy. I could feel her passion. I just didn’t realize how tainted she was.” He curled his lip in disgust. “People like her give our community a bad name.”
“Yeah. So, the Council?”
“I haven’t said anything. Don’t know if maybe Noah or Madelyn did or not. Hell, I don’t even know where they are.”
“On assignment, as you two shall be shortly. Told us what?” The crisp, lightly British-accented voice came from the doorway.
Griff and Mason jumped to their feet.
“Hello, Clarissa. Looking lovely as always,” Griff said.
She flicked her long black hair off her shoulder and favored him with a no-nonsense stare. “Thank you.” She speared Mason with an arched glare. “We’ll be talking later, Mr. Shaw. For now, we’re ready to see you. This way.”
“So, what’s the word on the Scry?” Mason asked as they followed her down the hallway toward the Council room.
Clarissa waited at the double doors, and Griff reached around to open them for her. She smiled before resuming her normal, impassive expression.
“Thank you,” she murmured as she glided toward the long table. The seven Council members were congregated, talking in low, excited murmurs.
“Ladies and gentlemen, a little decorum, please.”
Esme scooted off the table and smiled widely. Large, luxurious waves of dark-brown hair bounced as she moved. She was the youngest and newest Council member, and she’d brought nearly as much energy to the board as Fi had to the ranks of the Enrichers. “Clarissa, love, dinna mash upon our excitement. ’Tis a grand day for us. Four new Enrichers in one year is nothing short of magic.”
The rest of the Council members nodded and offered low murmurs of agreement.
“I concur, Esme, but until he is here and properly vetted, I urge caution.” Clarissa winked, which nearly shocked Griff into gaping. “But yes, I rejoice as well.” She looked askance at him and Mason. “I have a feeling we’ll need more Enrichers in the coming months and years.”
What the hell does that mean? Griff didn’t know, but he had an uneasy feeling she directed the comment at the pair of them. Hell, he had no intention of going anywhere. He was perfectly content with the status quo.
He loved helping people, he loved having sex, and he loved knowing he could count on his partner. Mason had never let him down. Unlike his ex-wife who’d turned into an addict and manipulator. The horror of what Anna had done still haunted him.
Enlightened [Sexual Magic 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Page 2
