Fragile: Book One in The Everett Gaming Series

by Sera, Drew

  “Very good. I’ll review her file next week in the evenings. Lets go ahead and schedule her for Tuesday of the following week.”

  “The week of Thanksgiving? That should be fine.”

  Chris and I ended our call and I started to shut down my computer. It was almost 2:30 and golf time was approaching.

  The golf game was tense. I knew Anthony was fired up over some recent bits of information Sydney had told him and he’s seeing red. Matt is back to pushing at Anthony some trying to get him to admit he feels something for Sydney. I know he does. There’s no way he can’t. Sydney has had a positive impact on him.

  At Irons, I settled into the big leather chair next to the couch where Anthony sat with Sydney and watched how at ease they were in each other’s company. He lazily stroked her shoulder while he spoke quietly to her. He was telling her a dirty Dom/sub joke. She intently listened to him and held onto every word he said. Then when he got to the punch line, she burst out with laughter. Sydney’s laughter always made Anthony and I smile. He and I looked up at each other and though he’s been tense lately, he still smiled at me knowing and understanding exactly what I was smiling about too.

  My smile fell apart though when off to the side I saw Paul leaning against a high top table at the bar, drinking a beer and gazing at Sydney. Watching behind him was Blake. Good. I told Anthony and Matt that I was going to go talk to Blake. Paul didn’t say anything as I walked by him though. My stomach was bothering me some so I ordered a 7UP at the bar and leaned against the bar top next to Blake.

  “So, tonight you and Anthony are going to talk to Evan, huh?”

  I nodded and noticed that hearing Evan’s name made my stomach ache more. I turned to watch my friends alongside Blake. Anthony was talking and Sydney was laughing along with Gina and Matt. He leaned in and kissed her head and pulled her against his body.

  “Are they like that all of the time?” Blake asked me.

  “Blake, he’s so protective of her it’s like he’s her Dom.” I turned on my seat to face Blake. “Honestly, it’s like how Matt is with Gina.”

  Blake knew exactly what I meant with that reference and turned to look at how serious my face was and then returned to watch Anthony and Sydney. They were enjoying themselves and for once, it was nice to see a woman in Anthony’s arms that I knew he truly had feelings for. I know he’d never admit it though, and that was my problem. Their carefree demeanor flicked off like a light when Evan sat down in the chair that I had vacated.

  Anthony sat up straighter and turned to face Evan, opening his position on the couch so Sydney would feel protected by him.

  “He’s very in tune with her, isn’t he?”

  I couldn’t answer Blake because I noticed how Sydney’s knees began to bounce lightly and she started to play with her fingers. Anthony covered her hands though and tugged her closer to him. He knew she was nervous. Why was she nervous around Evan all of a sudden? I knew Sydney was looking forward to a scene with Evan but I had to make sure Evan and I were on the same page.

  “Excuse me, Blake. I’ll catch up with you later.”

  I headed over to my friends and remained standing and looked down at Sydney and Evan.

  “Evening, Colin.”

  “Evan.” I glanced down at Anthony and his tense stare was back. “Did you want to go talk?”

  Evan knew that I was referring to our talk about their scene and stood up. I swear I saw Sydney make herself small and lean into Anthony. I knew Anthony had wanted to be a part of this discussion. I knelt down and tilted Sydney’s chin up so she’d look at me.

  “Baby, Anthony and I are going to go talk to Evan for a bit. You are to stay with Matt and Gina. Understand?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good girl, baby.”

  I bent and kissed her forehead and then Anthony gave her a squeeze before placing a kiss on her cheek.

  “Remember, it’s just talking tonight, sunshine. Relax, sweetheart.”

  Matt was standing and I knew once Anthony and I moved, he’d sit on the couch by her with Gina.

  I led Evan and Anthony outside to where we’d have some privacy. It was November and cool outside so not many people would be out there. Anthony turned on one of the heat lamps next to where we sat. Anthony and Evan sat across from one another and Anthony looked tense, stressed and wanted to be anywhere but here.

  “Evan, have you given any thought to what kind of scene you want to do with Sydney?” I asked him.

  Evan set his beer bottle down on the patio table and nodded while swallowing his last swig of beer. I stared at the empty bottle wondering how many that had been tonight.

  “Yeah, I’ve been thinking about that. I wanted to see what you guys thought since you’ve been spending the most time with her.”

  Noble. I’ll give him that. At least he was thinking of her and was very well aware of some of the stuff that’s been done to her physically and emotionally. I knew he wouldn’t hurt her intentionally. And that’s why we were having this conversation; so I could let him know of potential triggers.

  “Evan, it’s your scene. You tell me what you’re thinking about and we’ll go from there.”

  He looked slightly annoyed but I didn’t give a fuck. This was Sydney. Our fragile kitten. I already had a less than perfect image of Evan after our discussion last week about him wanting a slave but to play with Sydney on the side. That still hadn’t settled.

  “Well, tell me what to avoid.”

  I ran my hand through my hair in exasperation. I wasn’t going to sit here and play twenty questions with him.

  “Don’t do any bondage with her or restrain her. Especially her wrists.”

  “Not a problem. What else?”

  I glanced down at the beer bottle. “Don’t have any trace of alcohol on your breath.” He gave me a ‘don’t be stupid look.’ I knew that Evan never drank before he played. I had to voice it though. Maybe just to make myself feel better.

  “You know me better than that, Colin. What else?”

  I was drawing a blank and my mind was racing all the same. I didn’t want her to scene with him and was internally struggling with making a decision that wasn’t for me to make. Finally, Anthony spoke up. Up until this point, he’d been dead silent. Evan and I both turned to direct our attention at him. He wasn’t looking at us, but instead was looking out over the pools.

  “Don’t touch her neck,” Anthony said.

  “Fuck, I love necks. What’s wrong with her neck? Is there physically something wrong or is a head thing?”

  “It fucking hurts her.” Now Anthony turned to look hard at Evan. “She was burnt with cigarettes and it fucking hurts. You want to see how much, touch her there. But be warned that if you do, you’ll have to answer to me.”

  “Fuck, Graves. Calm down. I’m asking these questions so I don’t hurt her. I want to make it a good experience for her. She’s a cutie and I think she’ll be a lot of fun to play with.”

  To play with.

  I know that ultimately that’s what a scene is about; playing. But it rubbed me the wrong way to hear him say she’d basically be a toy for him. Sydney isn’t a toy. She’s a wonderful, naturally submissive young woman who needs a loving Dom who will care for her day in and day out. Scening is also about making connections and forming bonds.

  Anthony let his head flop back against the couch cushion and exhaled loudly. I looked back at Evan and he was eyeing Anthony still.

  “Okay, no neck touching, bondage or alcohol. What else?”

  I was near panicked. My brain wouldn’t work and I was bothered by the realization that I couldn’t think anymore about pointers to give Evan about scening with my baby. My baby.

  “Don’t touch her sides.” Anthony paused before telling Evan that Howard would rub sandpaper over her sides during sex. Evan winced but nodded. “Don’t make any swift movements. And don’t grab or put your hand on the back of her head.”

  “Okay, good to know.”

  Anthony conti
nued on and I felt like shit. What the hell was wrong with me?

  “Don’t jokingly call her a bad girl. Howard did that and Colin is trying to reverse those effects.”

  “You’re helping too, aren’t you?” Evan asked him. I quickly glanced up and noticed Anthony had dropped his head downward to look at the ground. He didn’t answer Evan. “Thank you both for talking with me. I’ll continue to work on a potential scene idea and then will call you during the week to discuss what I’ve come up with and would like to do.”

  Anthony didn’t say anything and all I could do was nod. Here I was negotiating a scene for Sydney, without Sydney, and I couldn’t even keep it straight to remember things to caution Evan about. He headed inside and Anthony and I stayed where we were. I waited a few minutes to calm down before I started talking. I knew he wouldn’t start the conversation.

  “Look, I’m not happy about it either, Anth. But it’s what Sydney wants. She wants to scene with a Dom. A good one. You and I know lots of them.” I wanted him to tell me that he doesn’t want Evan to scene with her because he cares for her and wants her. I silently prayed for him to say that and when he didn’t, I got pissed and started pushing.

  “She’s not ready, Col.”

  “She’s not or you’re not?” I cringed when I said that and met his stare when he brought his head up to look at me. A smart person would have stopped there, but I kept going. I was out of control and I had no logical explanation other than I didn’t want her to scene with Evan. I continued to spout more shit that had no truth behind it. “I saw how both of you reacted when Evan sat down next to Matt tonight. Why was she acting like that?” The tone of my voice sounded like I was accusing him of something. I was acting like a prick.

  “I don’t know. But I picked up on it too and moved so she could grab onto my jacket to calm her down. As to why she felt like she needed to grab hold of me, we’ll have to ask her because I don’t know.”

  I don’t know why I was losing my temper with him. I was taking my frustration with Evan out on him. “You seem to have some additional insight on how she’s doing emotionally.”

  A vein in Anthony’s neck was becoming more prominent now and his forehead was creased. I was stirring the hornet’s nest with a stick. I knew he felt something for her otherwise he wouldn’t be acting like this.

  “For fuck’s sake, Colin! You know what I know! You think she and I just climb into bed go to sleep in that room you’ve tossed us both in? Who the fuck do you think sits up with her when she wakes up from a nightmare and tries to get her to talk? I tell you everything she and I talk about so you have the upper fucking hand to help her. Goddamn you, Colin.” He paused and stared at me. “Why was anything I said tonight a shock to you? Sure couldn’t have been the burn marks on her neck because you saw them at the hospital. You know the asshole rubbed her sides raw. She told you that herself. Why didn’t you mention any of that?”

  I have never had a heated discussion or argument with Anthony, ever. This had me nervous, upset and my heart was pounding. I don’t know why I hadn’t mentioned any of it. My head isn’t clear where Sydney’s concerned and bottom line, I didn’t want her to scene with anyone but Anthony.

  “Anything else you want to say, Anth?”

  “Yeah.” He stood and walked over to stand right in front of me and I stood up too be level with his eyes. “The next time you want to talk to another man about scening with Sydney, you better make sure I’m there too because I’d hate to think of the things you forget to mention.”

  He was right. So fucking right. I froze and was beyond pissed at myself over it. When he turned to go back inside I reached out and grabbed his arm. I realized it was the arm that had the stitches in it from Howard’s visit to work and I lessened my grip.

  “Are you sure you’ve said everything you need to say, Anth?”

  He and I stared at each other and then he opened his mouth as if he were going to say something. He brought his hand up to rub on his chest and then closed his mouth and nodded.

  “I’ve said what I wanted to say. She isn’t like other subs or bottoms. Be careful with her, Col. This is too soon and she’s very vulnerable.”

  He pulled his arm out from my grip and headed back inside.

  “Fuck!” I said under my breath once he was inside. I sat back down to think and clear my head before going back inside.

  Chapter 57

  Friday, November 15th

  Anthony

  I had to see her. I was wound tight and the only thing that could calm me down was for my eyes to rest on her. I was disgusted with the conversation I had just had with Evan and Colin. I stepped back inside the club and saw her sitting next to Matt. The ache in my chest was getting worse though. Fucking heartburn was going to kill me. Blake was sitting in the chair next to Sydney and he was talking to Matt. I just stood there and stared.

  A soft voice finally caught my attention and I turned to find Claudia standing behind me and to my right. I have played and scened with Claudia a few times before and Colin and I both played with her previously.

  “Master Anthony, would you like to whip me?”

  The word “whip” takes on a whole new meaning for me now. Sydney’s body had been thrashed by a whip and belt.

  “Not tonight.”

  That’s all I could say to her as I kept my eyes glued to Sydney.

  “Come, Claudia. I’ll take you down in the dungeon and take care of your needs. Besides, Master Anthony isn’t good with whips,” Paul said and off they went. It boggled my mind how he could dish out so much shit and yet in the same sentence shows me respect by adding the “master” title.

  Paul always liked to throw salt on wounds. I didn’t give a fuck though. I didn’t want to play anyhow. I knew I wasn’t good to be with right now. The only place I wanted to be was right where I could see Sydney. I started rubbing on my chest again. I think I need to talk to Matt or see a doctor. Maybe it’s the stress.

  Blake made eye contact with me and I swore under my breath for him not to come over to me. Fuck! No! He stood and started over towards me but I quickly made my way to the bar and sat down and began tapping my fingers on the bar top impatiently.

  “What’ll it be Master Anthony?” Max asked while standing in front of me just as Blake took the seat next to me. Fuck!

  “Anthony,” Blake started but I ignored him.

  “Max, double vodka,” I said and returned my gaze to the bar top. I didn’t want Blake to start talking to me. Blake was my mentor and often likes to get fatherly with me. I have the upmost respect for him, but right now I just needed to not have him talk to me. Like Matt, he likes to try to get in my head. And I knew that I didn’t want to hear what he was going to say.

  Max stood staring at me as if I had never ordered anything. The Irons bartenders know I don’t drink, so I suppose when I ordered the vodka they were waiting for the punch line. I just needed it in front of me.

  “Anthony how was your talk with Evan?”

  Fuck! I didn’t want a goddamn reminder of that conversation.

  “Fine.”

  Aside from owning the club Blake also liked to listen to his members and throw his two cents in. He’s been a good friend of mine over the years and taught me so much about the lifestyle.

  Back in my early twenties, I started coming to Vegas on the weekends while I was in college. I knew I was into kinky shit and had dark, sexual needs. I went to a few clubs in California and had heard about Irons in Vegas. I came to one of their rare open houses where Masters would mentor a new member or two. Membership rates were $25,000 at the time. But I knew this was a special club and I badly wanted to be a part of it. At the start of the open house, I had to fill out tons of forms and then went through a series of classes, interviews and seminars and took tours of the club. I had the money, but in order to get in, someone had to see something in me and offer to mentor me. I met all of the Masters and was interviewed by many of them. By the end of that weekend, I was told I’d hear so
mething by the end of the following week if a Master would take me on. That evening when I got to my hotel, I got a call from Blake saying that he’d mentor me. I had heard that Blake never took on a new Dom to mentor solely and that it was more common for two and sometimes three Masters to mentor a newbie. Blake just took me. I learned so much from him and am what I am today because of him. But right now, I didn’t want Blake’s attention.

  “Are you alright, Anthony?”

  “Yes, I’m fine Blake.”

  I knew that he wasn’t buying it either. I knew he was watching me nervously tapping my thumb on the bar.

  “She smiles when your name is mentioned in conversation.”

  Goddamn it! Why the fuck is everyone so eager to tell me stuff like this? I’ve been trying to tell myself each day how I’m not what she needs even though I can tell that I make her smile and feel better. But still, she deserves better. Blake just wouldn’t fucking stop though.

  “Matt was telling Sydney about how much you and Colin helped him with Gina. Every time he mentioned your name, she’d smile and her eyes would light up.”

  I didn’t need to hear any of this. Blake was doing this on purpose. My vodka was placed in front of me and I could feel Blake’s eyes on me, urging me not to down the liquor without breathing a word. I hadn’t had a drop of alcohol in years. Last time was half a glass of champagne at a New Year’s party. I never had a problem controlling alcohol and was never an alcoholic. But my mom and her husband were and I fucking hated the shit. I worried alcoholism was in my genes. I had my hand wrapped around the glass and had the glass half way to my lips when I smelled the vanilla from her shower gel. Sydney.

  Vanilla on her skin has become the sweetest smelling thing for my senses and it broke down past my barriers I thought I carefully crafted in place. I felt weak and worn out. I set the glass down, shut my eyes and thanked the stars for sending her to me. However, it was also like sending an angel to the hands of a devil.

  “Sir?”

  I turned and saw her standing a foot away from me while biting her lower lip nervously.