Bailey: Independence #1

by Karen Nichols

  “Are you in pain?”

  “No. No…I…oh, god…”

  Gabriel took her hands in his after wiping his palms on the cloth he’d brought with him. He lowered her dress and gripped her waist, helping her stand up. He studied the little wince and the twitching with a satisfactory nod. It definitely was not pain he saw in her eyes.

  “Embarrassed?” He teased, tilting his head to peer into the lowered lashes. She mumbled and he had a guess at the words and laughed. “No matter what we show the world at the club or private parties, you’re mine, Bailey. Only mine. But you are my pet and I will display you proudly. Just as you went out of your way to please me by presenting yourself. This isn’t so very different.”

  “Yes, sir,” she whispered, shifting while he brought her heels, righting them for her and holding her hand while she stepped into them. “Thank you.”

  “You’re beautiful,” he murmured, taking her mouth softly before stepping away. He quickly cleaned up the things he had out, leaving some on the nightstand before taking her palm and leading her from the house.

  Bailey was grumbling and twitching. Until Gabriel blocked her from getting into the car. Her lashes flew wide when his palm went straight to the bare pussy lips, parting them and stroking through the dampness that had collected there.

  He stroked it up and over her clit, all the while hooded dark eyes daring her to move or speak.

  “Think about this, Bailey,” he said firmly, taking her body to the edge and withdrawing his hand. “Do you want to come, baby?”

  “Gabriel…” suddenly her body jolted. She hadn’t seen him slip his hand into the pocket of his slacks, the abrupt humming and soft vibrating making her body straighten and shudder.

  “No coming, Bailey. Not without permission,” he brushed his mouth over hers and stepped back to pull the door wide. “Inside. I’ll run in and get your shawl. No touching. If you come without permission, you’ll be visiting the bench in front of Jeremy and his guests tonight. Are we clear?”

  She nodded rapidly, shifting and whimpering at the vibrations coursing through her. She saw the single arched brow.

  “Yes, sir. I won’t. I’ll try,” she whispered, grateful when the door closed and he chuckled instead of scowling at her.

  Gabriel returned in a few minutes and handed her the shawl, buckled himself in and started the car. “Emma really took to you last Friday. She wasn’t sure you would be willing to come to the anniversary, though. She was worried about you.”

  “She was sweet. Kind.” Bailey wrapped herself in the shawl, shifting slightly to the side and sighing. He’d at least turned the buzzing off. She let her head rest against the back of the seat, watching him in the darkness.

  “You have that effect on people, Bailey.” Gabriel took one of her hands in his, carrying it to his lips.

  “I understand people like the lieutenant not…believing that I’m in some kind of danger,” Bailey said quietly. “But Emma knows you.”

  “Emma was concerned because you were new to the lifestyle, Bailey. It’s been a few years since I’ve had a sub of my own and I think the reputation I had, was that of being quite strict and exacting,” Gabriel explained after a few minutes of thought. “I don’t believe I’m a tyrant.”

  “What kind of party is it, Gabriel?”

  “A fairly normal one,” he said with a chuckle. “The first hour is a social hour of sorts. On their main level, basically regular clothing. For the most part. Food and things to drink. Two drink minimum. Their play room is like mine, it encompasses the lower level. They don’t have children and both work and love their jobs, just like you and I. A very nice hot tub but no pool. There are some small private chambers, not as big as the club, but there won’t be as many people, either.”

  “Do you have parties?”

  “I’ve been known to,” he admitted easily. “I might be inclined to have them more often just to show off your beauty.”

  “I don’t want to disappoint you,” she didn’t know if she was getting accustomed to the heat in her face, but it seemed to be there a lot lately. “I don’t understand why it feels so right and what happens to the other person I am?”

  “That is an ageless question, Bailey and the person you are is still there. Why is it so difficult to see them both? Consider it a situational ethics thing,” Gabriel smiled to himself when she shifted, her eyes shooting to his when his thumb hit the button on the remote and tiny, very low vibrations began coursing through her.

  “You’re trying to distract me,” she growled, shifting and glaring at him.

  “You don’t behave the same way with your parents that you do with your friend at work, do you?”

  “Oh, god no! I’d have been dead before I reached sixteen,” she confessed, watching the crinkles at the corners of his mouth and eyes when he laughed.

  “Then how is this so very different, Bailey?” Gabriel really didn’t expect an answer, especially when he tapped the button again. She moaned softly and it didn’t surprise him that the erotic sound had his cock pushing against his slacks. “Remember your instructions, pet.”

  “It isn’t so very different,” she finally answered, her teeth together and hands clasp on her lap. It was impossibly insane to even try and forget that you not only had something vibrating through your sexual bits but that you weren’t wearing panties and your nipples felt like they wanted to burst through the fabric of your corset.

  “Swallowing your pleasure, Bailey?” Gabriel chuckled and tapped the button to off as he cruised along the curving driveway to the large house.

  “Have I mentioned how much you annoy me at times?”

  “I’m picking up on that,” he laughed and drove beneath the large covering where two young men stood patiently. “Best behavior, pet.” He stepped from the car, watching one of the young men open Bailey’s door, the open appreciation on their faces making him smile. He held out his hand for her, securing her snugly against him and handing over his keys. His palm caressed over her hip and onto her ass as they walked up the stairs to the double doors.

  Bailey thought about their talks and his laughter. She didn’t know how other relationships like theirs was outside of what she saw in the club. She had nothing to judge by, but she did know she enjoyed being with him. And that seemed to hurt just a little. She hadn’t asked questions around work, but Patsy had and the answers she came back with only seemed to sink her a little more. Bailey was far from his normal flavor of the month.

  “Gabriel!” Jeremy stood in the door, a huge grin on his face. “Hello again, Bailey. Emma has been pacing for the last thirty minutes, worried you’d change your mind.”

  “I’m punctual,” Gabriel teased, his palm sliding possessively over her behind. “And you know I wouldn’t do a thing to upset Emma.”

  “Thank you for having me over…” She faltered, glancing to the side at Gabriel. He hadn’t told her how to address his friends.

  “His name is Jeremy until we go below, Bailey,” Gabriel leaned in and brushed her head with his lips as they walked into the large, open dining and living area.

  “Bailey!” Emma broke from a small group of people she was speaking with, dressed in a halter dress in shimmering shades of autumn. Ignoring the males, she hugged the other woman tightly and drew her away. “Go talk to someone. Shoo!”

  “You’re trying to get me in trouble?” Bailey choked on her laugh, her hand up for the large sparkling glass of cherry colored liquid. “What’s this?”

  “A kind of cranberry, strawberry and a little rum for a kick. Oh, you’re not allergic to anything, are you? I should ask…I’m just so glad you’re here,” Emma grinned broadly. “I’ll introduce you around,” she looped her arm with Bailey’s.

  “I get the impression you’re surprised, Emma,” Bailey took a sip and sighed. “This is really good. Thank you. Come on, what aren’t you telling me?”

  “I…I’m just really glad you’re with Gabriel.” They walked slowly around the table with plat
es of things to nibble on. “He needs someone who…who talks to him…and listens. And I don’t mean the lifestyle part alone. I just saw something in his eyes when he was with you that hadn’t been there before…and you make him smile.”

  “I guess it’s normal for them to make us nuts since we do it to them at times.” Bailey sipped her drink and smiled as she was introduced to people. Regular looking people that wouldn’t attract a second glance in the mall or on the street of downtown Seattle. Of course there were a few exceptions and she had to wonder how many were wearing panties but when her mind went there she felt a little jolt and missed half a sentence until her mind settled.

  The rest of her took a lot longer to settle, especially when she looked up and saw Gabriel watching her. That netted her a wink and a flush of heat to freckled cheeks that she hastily turned away from him.

  “Tormenting you, is he?” A short woman in her forties asked with a knowing chuckle. Silver grey eyes sparkled. “Charles does it to me all the time. I love it. It shows they’re thinking of you even when you’re apart.”

  “Or he’s sadistic,” Bailey murmured and accepted the laughter from her new friends. All were women and all were a wide variety of professions and one man in his late twenties with muscles beneath his tee shirt and a bright smile that welcomed her to their group. She found out that Evan belonged to Dianna and they’d been together over two years.

  She was still working so many things out in her head when an annoyed voice ripped through the peaceful music and companionable chatter and laughter.

  “Oh, no,” Emma took her hand and pulled her toward the back of the room. “She was not invited here.”

  “Who?” Bailey looked toward the door, lashes wide when both Jeremy and Gabriel went immediately forward at the sound of the greeting.

  “Good evening.” Her voice was low and sultry and the woman let her gaze sweep slowly over the people now watching her.

  Bailey stared. Older but just as beautiful, the tall blonde was dressed in a filmy silver dress that clung everywhere. And she seemed to have all the right female parts for it to cling to.

  Blue eyes took in the large room, settling on Gabriel and aggressively glancing from the floor up.

  “My sister was right. You are still deliciously handsome,” she stepped forward, her hand up and about to touch him when her wrist was grabbed and lowered to her side. Full lips were pulled into a sexy pout.

  “You weren’t invited here, Belinda, and you’re interrupting a private gathering,” Gabriel released her wrist and took her arm. “Now you’re going to leave.”

  “I never was very good at orders, Gabe,” she spun on her heels, eyes scanning the people watching her. “But I understand you excel at that aspect of life these days.”

  “You weren’t good at a lot of things, Belinda,” he said drolly. “Including being faithful. This is a private party,” he said again with a lethal calm that made Bailey shiver.

  “Oh, I’ve heard about the type of private gatherings you attend,” blue eyes glittered from a little too much liquid courage and anger. “Where’s your latest toy? Stephanie said she was sure you had one. It wasn’t nice of you to ignore her request. If you’d accepted, I wouldn’t be here and we’d be having a romantic dinner in a restaurant downtown.”

  “No, we wouldn’t. That was the message she was supposed to give you,” he looked at her eyes and took a casual sniff. “You’re drunk. Did you drive here?”

  “Ever the concerned husband,” she patted his cheek and casually sashayed into the room. “I have a driver outside waiting for me. So which one is she?” Full lips pouted as she looked around. “Quite a variety. Hardly from the high end climbers.”

  “Good night, Belinda,” Gabriel took her arm and this time didn’t release her. He had her spun around and on the porch before she could protest. He gestured to an older man standing near a black vehicle. “You her driver? Take her back where she came from.” He ordered when the man nodded quickly.

  Gabriel took her down the steps and up to the car.

  “I don’t want to see you, Belinda. We’ve been divorced over ten years. We didn’t care about one another then and I sure as hell don’t care about you now. Good night,” he said firmly, striding back to the house and not looking over his shoulder when she let out a scream.

  “Gabriel, are you all right?” Jeremy met him when the door opened, his gaze going to Emma and Bailey at the back of the room. “She’s not happy.”

  “I’m sorry, Jeremy,” Gabriel ran one palm over his head and onto his neck. “I don’t know what’s going on with her or her sister.”

  “I know you didn’t bring her or want her here,” Jeremy shook his head. “We’ve both seen women like that through the years. Suddenly we achieve something and we have leeches clinging like we were in the swamps in Florida. I’m locking down the doors and letting the valets know they’re now on guard duty. I’ll see you downstairs.”

  Gabriel nodded and stared at Bailey laughing with Emma, Chelsea, Evan and Laurel. They were good, nice people and made her feel comfortable. Something the woman from his past wasn’t going to give her. He waited while others claimed their subs before stepping forward with Jeremy and lifting Bailey’s hand.

  “Let’s walk, pet,” he carried her fingers to his lips and led her toward the lower level. “She wasn’t invited here, Bailey.”

  “I know that,” but she felt that uncomfortable thump in her stomach.

  “Do you trust me?” Relief flooded through him when her head came up, eyes immediately on his and his answer in her eyes. “I need that. More than I thought possible. But not just from anyone. From you.”

  “Yes, sir,” she whispered, shoving the doubts aside and smiling at him. “Could I ask a favor, Sir?”

  “You can always ask, pet,” he guided her down the curved, wide staircase, the room opening abruptly at the end and spreading from one end of the house to the other. He stepped off to the side, giving Bailey time to take in the open room. Bathrooms were clearly marked and there were three of them below level. Heavy wooden beams with additional support runners formed the beginnings of the personalized dungeon.

  Gabriel loved watching her take in new things. He also realized how important the people he’d selected as his core friends in this lifestyle were to him and now to Bailey. They were selective, most together over two years but most importantly to him, while touching was permitted and helping with scenes, they did not advocate sharing their subs sexually.

  He was far too possessive of Bailey for that, another thought that had struck him the instant another man or woman looked her over. Yes, there was pride that she was his, but there was the new sensation of ownership. He’d never experienced that with the other subs he’d played with through the years. But then, he’d never taken any of them to the place he lived before, either.

  “Could we sit somewhere and kiss?” Bailey focused on the opening of his shirt, not looking up until his fingers came beneath her chin and forced their eyes to meet.

  Gabriel offered a small smile and leaned down to kiss her. Softly capturing the flavor of the drink Emma had created. He loved the bow shape of her mouth, his tongue tracing her lower lip and pulling it between his teeth. He lifted his head and remembered the layout of the floor, he led her to the left and a small alcove of old fashioned cushioned sofas and chairs. A heat pit sat in the center, already prepared and glowing warmly.

  He sat back and looked up at her.

  “On my lap, Bailey.”

  She started to slide onto his thighs when his head shook.

  “Astride me, pet,” he gestured to her good knee. “Right here,” he patted his thighs. “I’ll hold you up, no weight on the knee.”

  His laughter was warm, deeply amused when she worked to do what he said and then remembered what she wasn’t wearing.

  “I…but I’m not…” she hastily looked behind her and felt the heat in her face.

  “No delays, pet. No modesty. That ass is mine and if
I want them to see how very fine it is, so be it,” the hard master tone was back and she moved almost without thinking. “Very nice. I think this might be a very good idea to begin our evening.”

  He parted her thighs further and slid himself to the higher edge, her weight against him now and his palms caressing along her thighs to her center. Not only was she hot, she was slippery with her juices. His thumbs each stroked one side of her labia, pulling it wide and letting his nails graze over the swollen clit.

  Bailey’s body gave a little shudder, her palms up and immediately on his face. Fingertips stroked along his jaw before she took the kiss she wanted. Over and over again until they were bother breathless.

  “I never got to just neck when I was younger,” she breathed against his mouth, trialing her tongue along his jaw.

  “What about the wild and reckless kid?”

  “Oh, that was because of clubs and science lab and drama and theatre. Didn’t care about boys back then. They were immature and annoyingly predictable,” Bailey nipped at his ear. She rested her cheek against his temple, her fingers toying with the short, perfectly clipped bark brown strands.

  “That does sum up teenaged boys,” he murmured, his palms slid beneath her dress to her ass. He squeezed and pulled her closer before letting one hand drift to his pocket. The tapping of the button made her not only jump, but he could feel it vibrating against his balls where she rested lightly.

  Bailey groaned softly. She wondered if he had only indulged her because he felt guilty about his ex-wife showing up and she wondered how far she could push. Having his fingers on her right now would be so very nice.

  She ranged her kisses back to his mouth, her tongue plunging inside his and stroking, teasing and taking the flavor that was Gabriel. She groaned into his mouth when his palm slipped to her pussy, sliding two fingers inside and stroking.

  “Sir…please…”

  Ten minutes of kissing and feeling up his sub had made it damn impossible to be comfortable. Everything about her went straight to his cock and it was letting him know in no uncertain terms that it wanted relief. The sooner the better.