Enlightened [Sexual Magic 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour)

by Jennifer August

  “What do you mean?”

  She shrugged. “I don’t know. You have to admit, it’s pretty strange. A group of supersexual beings out there watching over us mortals. Guiding us to completion or satisfaction or whatever. I just wondered how it all got started.”

  He chuckled just as the laugh track on the sitcom roared to life, and she jumped lightly.

  “No one is really sure how the Council came into being, to tell you the truth. I’ve heard it dates back to the Middle Ages and some wealthy baron’s wife who first discovered both the Goddess and her own sexual powers.”

  “What Goddess?”

  But he shook his head. “It would take way too long to explain, not to mention I’m pretty sure that would be breaking some hefty rules and regulations. Suffice it to say we’re out there and we’re helping where we can.” His smile was flirtatious and bright. “All in all, it’s a pretty cush job. I get to travel the world, meet a lot of interesting people, and use my abilities to help them find fulfillment.” He lowered his voice. “Plus the sex isn’t bad, and I get a lot of gratification knowing I’ve provided a service.”

  Fulfillment. Envy, long and deep, ricocheted through her. Though she loved her job at the graphics firm, it didn’t give her near the sort of satisfaction that rang in his voice. Her photography did, but she wasn’t able to pay her bills with that.

  Not yet.

  “How long have you been with them?”

  “Six years.”

  “And Griff?”

  A longer silence.

  “Also six years.”

  She tipped her head back. “What’s his story?”

  His jaw worked, and he shook his head. “Griff’s past is his own, Emma. If he wants you to know, he’ll tell you.”

  Another rush of embarrassed disappointment flooded her at the gentle reminder she was a job, not a date.

  “Right.”

  He picked up the remote and flipped through channels.

  “He’s a good guy, though. A little tough. Hard to know. But once you do, he’s in your camp forever.”

  Emma held her breath, focused on the screen, and hoped he’d continue.

  “He was married once.”

  Mason’s voice was so quiet she had to lean in to hear him.

  “She destroyed him when she left. He’s said the Council is the only thing that saved him from the bottle. Or the grave.”

  He went quiet again, and she waited while he skipped through the channels again, but he wouldn’t say anything else.

  Damn. Now she was really fascinated. Griff was an enigma she was eager to decipher. Beyond his hard Dom demeanor was an intriguing man and one she definitely wanted to know better.

  The TV flickered, and a new movie started.

  “Ah, I love this one,” Mason said, scooting closer. He hauled her to his side, draped an arm over her shoulder, and proceeded to cuddle like a professional.

  Emma allowed the tension to flow from her and decided to just enjoy the experience while she had it. “Really?”

  He scuffed the top of her head with his chin. “You sound surprised.”

  “Well, it is a chick flick, you know. Romantic comedy at its finest, I grant you, but I never picked you for the rom-com type.”

  “I appreciate a good story and a happy ending. Besides, I love Meg Ryan.”

  “Duly noted.”

  “Wait a sec,” he said. “Didn’t you look in the armoire?”

  She tilted her head back. “A little bit, why?”

  He winked. “I’m much too comfortable to move and show you, but it’s filled with dozens of these kinds of movies.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Yep.”

  She giggled and cupped his cheek. She ran her thumb over the stubble of his overnight beard. “A romantic at heart, are you?”

  Mason lowered his head and nipped her nose with his lips. “Absolutely.”

  The low tenor of his voice raised goose bumps on her legs and made her breath catch. She moved lower on the couch and gave him a come-hither stare.

  His expression turned sensual. “What do you want, little one?”

  Emma licked her lips and trailed her fingertip down the strong column of his neck. His pulse beat strong and sure beneath her. “You,” she whispered.

  “Am I interrupting something?”

  Griff’s harsh voice jerked them both upright. Mason looked slightly guilty, and Emma couldn’t help but feel it, too.

  She smoothed a hand over her hair as she watched him. Like Mason earlier, he, too, stood in the doorway. But his posture was stiff and unyielding. He appeared unapproachable.

  Maybe I should get my stuff together and go home. She felt unsure of herself. His expression was closed, but tension radiated from him in waves that touched her all the way across the room.

  She looked at him closer, caught the wariness in his carefully guarded face.

  To her surprise, she got the impression Griff was vulnerable in that moment. That he felt hesitant and was angry about being that way. She lifted the blanket and patted the couch next to her. “Come snuggle with us,” she said.

  Surprise washed over his face. In the space of one breath and the next, his body relaxed entirely and he sported a cocky grin. He sauntered across the room and plopped down next to her. “Who could resist an invitation like that?”

  She squirmed between the bulk of both men and put a hand on each of their thighs. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He exhaled sharply then slid his fingers beneath hers and laced their hands together. “Me, too.” He cleared his throat and looked with studious intent at the television. “To be honest, I thought you’d left.”

  Emma’s heart tripped, and she didn’t need Mason’s special ability to feel Griff’s vulnerability return. She squeezed his hand. “Nope, you’re stuck with me until the end of this thing.”

  “Good.” He looked at the television and smiled. “Hey, I like this movie.”

  * * * *

  Griff woke with a crick in his neck and his left arm asleep. He groaned and shifted. A dead weight smacked against his chest, and he opened his eyes, meeting Emma’s sleepy green gaze.

  His throat tightened at the sight of her sweet face.

  “Good morning,” he said.

  “Hi.”

  She flattened her palm to his chest and pushed up and away. He missed her warmth almost immediately and frowned.

  “Something wrong?” she asked. Worry colored her voice.

  “No,” he said, though he wasn’t entirely sure of that. What was going on with this little bit of baggage? He wasn’t used to waking up to someone in his arms. More than that, he sure as hell wasn’t used to it feeling so damn good or so right.

  He rose and stretched. His back unkinked with loud, emphatic pops.

  Emma stood up as well, gently easing Mason onto the couch.

  Griff was surprised at her strength. Mason was no lightweight, but she handled him just fine.

  She tugged on the bottom of the shirt she wore—his, he noted—and smiled tentatively up at him. “I guess I should get going. I have to work today.”

  Disappointment shafted him, and he started to nod then stilled. “Call in sick.”

  She blinked. “What?”

  Griff flicked her chin. “Call in sick. Stay home and play hooky with us today.”

  Her green eyes grew large and her talented, luscious mouth worked. “I’ve never done that.”

  “First time for everything, right? Come on, Emma, play with us today. We’ll do something fun.”

  Her eyes flicked toward the hallway, and he shook his head. “While I would love to take you back to the play room and work your delectable body over again, I think you need a little break.” He tipped his head, remembering just how much of his hand and whip she’d taken last night. His cock stirred. “Unless you really want to.”

  A light pink flush crested on her cheeks, and she looked down at her feet. She mumbled something.

  The h
int of submission aroused him even more. She made him truly contemplate forgoing all his usual controls and cautions. He wanted to be inside of her, to control her with a ferocity that stole his breath.

  “Speak up, little one,” he said. He infused his voice with harsh authority to gauge her reaction, though he knew that rationale was not entirely accurate. He liked Domming her and how she responded so beautifully.

  She lifted her chin. “I said I would not mind another session.”

  Ah yes, exactly that spark of rebellion and defiance was what excited him. It’s what begged him to take her in hand and redden her ass.

  But this was not about his wants. It was about her needs. Most importantly, she needed to learn to properly understand her limits and vocalize them.

  Right now, though, he would have to do that for her. He crooked his finger, turned, and stalked down the hallway toward the play room. He knew she followed him, could feel her excitement.

  He opened up his own talent and amplified her desire as he turned to face her. She stumbled and gasped, one hand flattened against her tummy.

  “Come here,” he ordered.

  She moved closer, and he cupped her breasts, flicking her nipples with his thumbs.

  “Ah,” she said on a long breath as she leaned into him.

  “Tell me what you want.”

  She reddened in the dim light of the hallway. “Another session.”

  He tweaked harder, and she rose a bit on tiptoe.

  “Sir,” she bit out. “Another session, Sir.”

  Griff found himself fighting his base instincts even harder and forced himself to relax his hold. “I’ll note that omission for next time.”

  “Next time?”

  He tapped her nose. “Yes, little one. While I would love nothing more than to spank your pretty little ass to burning pink, your body is not ready. It’s something you must learn to recognize and control.”

  She looked so disappointed he could not help but pull her into a tight hug. Griff pressed a kiss on the top of her head, pleased when her arms snaked around his waist.

  “Are you certain?” she asked into his chest.

  He smothered a groan at the continued temptation. Why was it so hard to deny her? “Yes, little one.” He eased Emma back so he could look in her face. “But, if you’re good, then later this evening we may have a small session. Nothing too harsh, but something you will enjoy. Now go on, call in sick. I’m going to jump in the shower. You can use the one in the guest bedroom.”

  She frowned. “I don’t have anything clean to wear.”

  He smacked her ass. “Then we’ll just have to stop by your house on the way to our outing.”

  Emma tipped her head and studied him. Griff resisted the urge to shift his stance, but just barely. Her gaze was intense and saw more than he was accustomed.

  Finally she spoke, her voice light with mild surprise. “You seem more relaxed today.” She placed her hand on his chest. “More approachable.” With a quick lift, she kissed his cheek. “I like it,” she whispered, then spun and ran down the hallway.

  Tenderness blossomed in his chest, and he shuddered at the unfamiliar feeling. That girl was trouble. She was the forever-and-a-day kind of trouble.

  Worse than that, he was pretty sure he liked it.

  Chapter Six

  “No way. No, no, no, and did I mention hell no? I am not doing that.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s a huge rush.” Griff looked up at the zip line as adrenaline flashed through him. “You’re going to love it.”

  “No,” Emma said. “What I love are my bones intact and in place. Plus, I kind of like living. Dangling 150 feet in the air on a teeny, tiny flimsy piece of wire is not conducive to any of those goals.”

  Mason laughed and chucked her on the shoulder. “It’s perfectly safe, I promise.”

  Her jaw was set beyond stubborn, but Griff sensed her terror. “Are you afraid of heights?”

  “Duh.”

  “Your mouth is going to continue to get you into trouble, missy.”

  She sighed. “I’m not afraid of them, I just don’t like them. Don’t see the need to put myself in a dangerous situation when I can avoid it.”

  He shared an amused look with Mason. “Really?”

  She scowled then gave a light laugh. “Well played, Mr. King. I fell right into that, didn’t I?”

  “Yep.”

  “So, yeah, I see the parallels. I am learning the rules and signs to avoid putting myself into any sort of dangerous situation when the time is right for a, uh, for me to find a Master.”

  Griff tensed at her words and noted that both of them did, too. He didn’t like the sound of it one damn bit.

  Mason moved restlessly, hands shoved into his pockets. A frown formed on his forehead.

  “The difference is that we are in control here.” Griff motioned toward the tower where a queue of people waited to slide down the line. “It’s safe, it’s sane, and it’s consensual.”

  She snorted and shook her head. “Now you’re reaching. Seriously, why do you want me to do this?”

  He laced their fingers together and hauled her toward the tower steps. “It’s a good lesson in blind trust and obedience, Emma. It’s about overcoming your fears and being daring but in a controlled situation. Much like last night.”

  “And if I don’t like it? Don’t want to do it?”

  He paid for three tickets and ushered them through the turnstile. “You won’t know if you like it until you try it.” He snaked his hand beneath her heavy curtain of hair, tangled his fingers in her mane, and tugged. “Agreed?”

  Emma shifted and reached back to clutch at his jean-clad thigh. “Yes,” she whispered.

  Griff grunted and tightened his grip in her hair. “Then you will get your ass on that zip line and try it. If you don’t like it, fine, but at least you will have tried.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  He pulled her head back and kissed her hard then offered her lips to Mason who took her mouth with equal fervor.

  She looked dazed when he released her.

  Griff took her arm, nodded to the couple who stared at them, and propelled her toward the steps leading upward.

  Moments later, she stood harnessed and helmeted. Her body shook with a fine tremor, but her jaw was set, hands clenched into tight fists at her sides.

  Griff double-checked all the equipment before he cupped her shoulders. “Mason will go first, then you, then me.” He stepped aside and waved an arm at the breathtaking view from the platform. The ZipnVu Company had created a feast for the eyes as a slider passed, which featured lush, dense foliage in various shapes, free roaming animals which often ran along the same path, and huge water elements. There was even a portion of the 500-foot line that sent the flyer through an Amazon-forest kind of atmosphere complete with chittering monkeys and humid surroundings.

  The splendor and complexity of the park was one reason why he loved coming here, but mostly Griff got a high from the flying. About the only thing that surpassed the rush was taming a new subbie.

  He smacked Emma’s butt and laughed when she jumped then glared at him. “Ready?”

  “No.”

  “Gonna use your safe word?”

  “No.”

  “Griff, I think she’s being contrary on purpose,” Mason said. He cupped her chin and forced her head back to stare at them both. “Is that true, little one? Are you angling for more punishment?”

  Her cheeks reddened, but her eyes sparkled. “Maybe.”

  They shared a chuckle as Mason nodded. “Mission accomplished. Okay, let’s get this done. We’re coming up next.”

  Griff waited as the attendant motioned Mason forward, checked his gear one last time, and allowed him out onto the platform. His shouted instructions, accompanied by multiple hand gestures, were tossed to the wind. Mason nodded, gripped the T-bar on the zip line, and edged to the jump line.

  Griff looked down when Emma’s hand crept into his as she tried to burro
w into his side. He wrapped an arm around her, kissed the top of her head, and watched his friend jump down. Mason’s gleeful woot of enjoyment lingered in the air as he sped out of sight.

  “Oh crap. Crap. Crap. Crap.”

  Her litany was low, fervent and rapid.

  Griff held her face between his palms. “Deep breath.”

  She whimpered. “Griff.”

  “Sh, come on, my sweet one, you can do this. Conquer your fear. Now, take a breath.”

  She held his eyes, sucked a huge lungful of air, and then expelled it in a rush. Twice more she repeated the process until her gaze was clear and her shoulders set. Griff released her.

  “Kick ass, little one.”

  Her smile appeared genuine. “Yeah. Yeah, I think I will.”

  He eyed her cute ass as she swaggered toward the attendant. One small hesitation at the yellow caution line, and then she stepped over. She looked at him, and he gave a thumbs-up.

  The attendant began yelling his instructions, and Griff saw her shoulders hunch and fingers curl on the T-bar. Even from this distance he saw the white-knuckled grip she had. She wasn’t about to let go.

  The young man grinned, held up three fingers, and counted down, and then she was off, screaming long and loud. Griff couldn’t tell if she kept her eyes open, but he hoped so. Despite the fear, the view was breathtaking and not something to be missed.

  He hurried forward for his turn, impatient to join the pair on the ground and see what she thought. He couldn’t wait to hug her, kiss her, allay her fears and find out if she wanted to do it again.

  * * * *

  “That was awesome!”

  Emma shaded her eyes and stared back up the zip line, unable to believe she’d actually done it. That was way, way, way up there.

  The ride down had been terrifying and incredible.

  Mason whooped, picked her up, and swung her in a wide circle. She clutched at his shoulders and laughed as they twirled. He set her down and kissed her softly. “I’m proud of you.”

  Griff stroked her hair. “Good girl.”

  Their praise made her flush even more. The words had the oddest effect on her—making her giddy and proud.