Bailey: Independence #1

by Karen Nichols

  “We need to have a discussion of the word understatement,” Gabriel managed to say as she turned back to face him.

  The corset she wore was an almost pristine white, with thin straps that held the lace cups surrounding her breasts in place. It stopped at her waist, showing off her stomach and the small gold ring in her naval. He really liked the freckles that seemed to burst from the top of the corset like pale fireworks. Added to the package was the intricate way she’d woven her hair on Mondays, a few stray tendrils rebelliously curling around her face while the rest was pinned into place at the back of her head.

  He removed the bin, placed it on the floor and gestured to the seat.

  “Please, sit down and we can continue our discussion,” he laughed at the hint of a challenge that flashed in her eyes before she slid onto the chair with a little yelp. “I suppose the leather might be a tad chilled.”

  Bailey sat stiffly, her shoulders back and head up.

  Gabriel stood up and he wouldn’t have thought it possible for her to straighten any more, but she did as he moved behind her. He cleared his throat loudly when she started to turn, her body facing front immediately. He studied the thick mass of hair for a few seconds before he began removing small almost invisible pins.

  Bailey closed her eyes and felt her hair slowly fall around her shoulders. She didn’t look again until she heard the pins clatter against the plastic of the bin. She met the dark eyes studying her again from his seat as their food was laid out before them.

  “Thank you,” she said politely but didn’t move.

  “Please, pet, eat your dinner.” Gabriel inhaled and ground his teeth rather than adjust his slacks with her watching.

  Bailey wasn’t sure how she managed to keep from squirming while she ate but the seat did warm up and it wasn’t so bad. Except for the whole eating dinner in your underwear thing.

  “I have to ask exactly what you consider ‘just underwear’, Bailey?”

  She wasn’t sure which she hated more. The low chuckle while she was hastily trying to chew or the heat flushing into her cheeks at his chuckle. She kept telling herself that glaring was not acceptable. She held up a finger for patience while she swallowed.

  “Normal…if anyone had told me I would be sitting discussing my underwear…”

  “Why do you believe anything would be an unacceptable topic, pet?” He marveled at how his words brought a small frown to her features. The sweet, heart shaped face now framed by long waving deep red hair. “If I believe in honesty and expect it from you, why would any topic be off limits? Friends shouldn’t have boundaries. If you ever believe I’m not being honest, I expect you to call me on it, Bailey.”

  “Yes, Sir,” but she continued to stare before returning to drag a fry through some ketchup and salt. “I like lace and pretty underwear. So I suppose for me, this is normal.”

  “I’m not complaining, pet, believe me. It simply isn’t what I would have expected to find.” He met the cautious look with a shake of his head. “But I’ll be certain to check from now on.”

  “What did you expect?” Bailey swallowed her bite and pulled her lip between her teeth.

  Gabriel glimpsed the self-doubt and reached over to brush the thick, deep red hair behind one ear. The gold hoop glittered in the lights of the dining area, his fingers brushing down her jaw before retreating to his food.

  “People have been talking to you today, haven’t they?” He almost laughed at the slight tip of her chin. “It’s difficult to avoid, pet. I’m not ashamed of being with you and I won’t hide it. Janet tells me I’m too arrogant to give a damn what people think, but that none of it will be directed at me. And for that, I’m sorry, Bailey.”

  “I can manage them,” she said quickly, very aware of how fast her heart had begun to pound at his words.

  “Pet, I am serious about this. If someone, and I mean anyone, says or does something to you because of me, because of us…I want to know. This does not get you a free pass for defiance, Bailey.”

  “Patsy thinks they’re jealous,” she said, quietly finishing her burger. “That you’ve never…no one in the company has an idea why you chose me, especially the women who might have wanted…well, were interested in you.”

  “Huh…I can’t say I don’t notice them. But being favored because I run a company was never my idea of a good basis for a relationship.” Gabriel pushed his plate to the side and took her palm. No tugging was necessary as she came right to her feet and let him guide her between his knees. “What happens in our private life is no one’s concern or business. If anyone bothers you about it, I want to know.”

  Bailey decided for now, silence was her best bet. But she knew by the look on his face that he wasn’t buying it. And lord knows where her brain was that she actually tried taking a step back, his fingers closing over her wrist very snugly.

  “I am not a tattle. I can fight my own battles,” she said quietly. “Sir.”

  “There are things about women I will never grasp but I do know how to manage my sub,” he informed her, the rigid, stern Dom back in place. “Terry, have this bin taken to my first floor office.” He looked at Bailey. “Do not move, sub.” He quickly took his suit jacket off and added it and his tie to the bin before rolling his sleeves to his elbows. “With me, sub.”

  “Yes, sir.” Bailey felt her sex twitch and knew she was in trouble. “Umm…may I ask a question, sir?”

  “Ask.” He kept up his pace, her body visible out of the corner of his eyes.

  “Shouldn’t there be a kind of separation of church and state sort of thing where our jobs are concerned and…well…and this?” Bailey barely caught herself before her face was smashed into his chest. She was so intent on watching her feet that she almost missed when he stopped and turned. “Oh, crap!”

  Gabriel caught her shoulders and lifted until she was on her toes.

  Bailey ignored the chuckles and interest of the people around the huge social room. Even people in the areas involved in scenes came to a momentary stop.

  “Elliott, tell me one of the public spanking benches is empty.” Gabriel held her without breaking eye contact or raising his voice. He watched her pulse jump.

  “Three and five are open, sir,” the young submissive serving drinks answered within a minute.

  “Thank you, Elliott. We’re going to have a little discussion about your natural tendency for independence, pet. Me and your very pretty pink ass,” he moved swiftly, tossing her over his shoulder and ignoring the yelp. His palm came down hard on her twitching behind which brought another yelp.

  “I think it was a fair question,” she whispered, ignoring the shocked looks from people they passed, her hands clinging to his belt and head thumping against his back when another swat hit her behind. “Three, Sir!” She shouted out with only a hint of defiance in her tone.

  Gabriel had to admit. If only to himself, that he almost lost it right then, the laughter inside him threatened to break free at her spirit.

  “I seriously have to wonder how many switches your father wore out on your ass, pet,” he ground his teeth together, mostly to keep from laughing. A few of his friends didn’t help because they had given in, their loud hoots of amusement echoing around them. He stopped at the far end from the main entrance and lowered her to the floor.

  “No, seriously, sir,” she said hastily. “People talk. They look at me like you picked up an alien off world and…and they’re catty…some of them…I’m not sure I understand what your definition of ‘bothers me’ is…”

  Before she could move or speak, he spun her around and bent her over the padded saw horse. One hand held her down in the center of her back.

  “Do not move, Bailey.” He knelt and quickly had her feet locked into the cuffs before securing her wrists on the other side. He adjusted the length of the ropes and dropped one sharp swat before stepping back to admire his work.

  She tried wiggling, her teeth grinding and mouth about to open when another swat landed on her
ass.

  “Not one word, pet. Not one. For the moment be glad you’re just on display.” He turned and nodded at the roaming monitor. “You’re on for the main area, Jess?”

  “For the next two hours,” the other man acknowledged, his eyes going over the freckled globes and long legs. “Yours, I take it?”

  “Mine. Make sure she keeps breathing for me, would you? And anyone showing interest can issue a few swats.”

  “I’ll let the other monitors know. We’ll watch her. Swats, huh? How about four from each Dom in the area?”

  “Good. She’s earned them,” Gabriel said loudly, his head shaking as he headed to his office where he finally let his laughter loose.

  Bailey gave up moving until she felt the piece of something being pinned to her panties. Oh, please, she thought, holding her breath until the first set of four swats landed on her ass.

  Her yelp was met with another swat.

  “Silence, girl. The note says you’ve earned four swats from each master in the room. Are you questioning your master’s choice for you?”

  “No, sir,” she answered immediately, gulping in air quickly.

  “Breathe, little sub,” the one named Jess came around and pulled all the long hair to one side. “Better?”

  “Yes, sir, thank you, sir,” the answer came instantly to her lips, her eyes closing for a quiet minute.

  “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Master Gabriel with quite that look on his face before, little sub. I’m just not sure that’s a good thing for you,” Jess said with a low chuckle before moving off to check other scenes around the large room.

  “Mouth overrides brain,” she murmured to herself, jumping when the next palm struck her in an upsweeping motion.

  ****

  Gabriel came out of his office thirty minutes later, nodding to Jess who came to speak to him well out of range of where his sub was tethered.

  “She does have a tendency to stop breathing,” Jess remarked with only a slight bit of concern. “Rumor says she’s only been around the scene a week.”

  “Since the Halloween party,” Gabriel agreed, standing with his feet apart and arms crossed over his chest.

  “Issues?”

  “Not so much with surrendering,” Gabriel searched for the description. “More with independence. Solving all her own problems.”

  “That’s a tough one to break,” Jess clapped him on the shoulder as Dianna came towards them. “All alone tonight, Mistress?”

  “Evan has a class tonight for his final thesis,” she answered easily, glancing toward Bailey. “I wanted to borrow your sub for a bit, Gabriel. With your permission.”

  “You need someone for a scene?” They walked toward Bailey, tints of pink around the edges of her panties where the bare palms had found skin and nothing else.

  “Just a little girl talk,” she answered simply. “And I think she might need some fluids.”

  “I’ll bring you some water,” Jess said, striding toward the bar.

  “I’ll get her wrists,” Dianna said, bending at the waist, the form fitting leather skirt betrayed the long legs on the tall Domme and the secure way the black corset clung to her figure. “Easy, little sub. Don’t move until he has your ankles free. You might be a little dizzy so you’re going to stand up very slowly.”

  “Yes, Mistress,” Bailey answered automatically.

  Gabriel massaged up her legs and carefully slid his arm beneath her knees when she stood up. When she started to wobble, he lifted her from the floor.

  “Just lay still a minute, pet,” he told her, firmly but tenderly. “By the fireplace, Dianna?”

  “Perfect. And you may go off and socialize for half an hour,” she informed him, the same stern sound in her voice that all the Dom’s had. She met the startled green eyes with a slight tilt to her lips. “Stand her beside the chair, Gabriel. Please.”

  “Mistress Dianna has requested you for half an hour, Bailey.” He carefully set her on her feet, holding her with palms around her waist. “Steady?”

  “Yes, sir, thank you. I’m alright,” she answered nervously, her eyes immediately on the floor. She offered no resistance when his palm cupped her chin and tilted it up.

  “Assume your position beside the chair, pet.” Gabriel took her hand, holding her steady as she sunk to the thick pillow. He stopped her when she moved to put her hands behind her and placed a bottle of water into her hand first. “Drink, Bailey.”

  She hadn’t realized how very thirsty she was now that all the blood was settling back into places it belonged. She drank half the bottle and set it beside her. She drew in a deep breath before straightened her shoulders and placed her hands behind her back and head up, eyes down.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  Gabriel nodded at Dianna and went to the bar for a drink for himself.

  “You’ve upset his normally controlled world, little sub.” Dianna leaned back in the thick cushions, her long legs crossed and one booted foot swinging absently.

  “I…it isn’t intentional, mistress,” she answered honestly, relieved when the Domme laughed.

  “I don’t believe it is. What has you confused?” She watched the other woman nip at her lower lip, obviously considering whether or not she could be trusted. “I’ve known Gabe as a friend for over ten years now. Long before he had the wrong kind of women chasing him,” she laughed softly. “That isn’t true. He’s always had women chasing him. He learned faster than most that what they wanted wasn’t what he needed.”

  “I don’t fit what people are accustomed to seeing him with,” Bailey said quietly.

  “Why is that part of the problem?”

  “He said he isn’t interested in anything but the play and sex.” Bailey felt the heat in her cheeks. “And that’s fine. I…I can accept that. But…”

  “You don’t strike me as naïve enough to believe that, Bailey.”

  Bailey sighed and closed her eyes. “That’s where it gets frustrating and confusing. He’s the Dom. He tells me honesty is vital to the….the roles.”

  “Sometimes we lie to ourselves,” she shrugged casually. “I think his long held behavior is coming into conflict with what he really wants. You’ve made him smile and relax. I haven’t seen that from him in a few years.”

  “But why? How can I…” she sighed and shook her head.

  “I don’t believe it was anything traumatic. More he really threw himself into what he wanted, the club and his business. Having Belinda appear out of nowhere brought back memories I don’t think he wanted. Being driven can mess with your personal life if you’re not careful and that’s part of what tore apart his marriage. There was more, mostly being that Belinda was not the supportive type,” Dianna confided, her palm naturally falling on Bailey’s head with a gentling stroke. “I think you have the courage to press for the honesty he demands from you.”

  “And not sit for a week,” Bailey murmured, risking a look up at the woman when she laughed.

  “Are you having nightmares, Bailey? Because of the murders,” she was impressed when the redhead kept her eyes on the floor.

  “I see them when I sleep. I don’t suppose they’re nightmares, though,” she drew her tongue around her lips. “I thought you were a doctor?” She added hastily. “Mistress.”

  “I am. But I’m also a psychologist and Gabriel is worried about you. And…” she drew in a long, slow breath. “Puzzled on how he should handle the problem of how you disobeyed him.”

  “He doesn’t understand,” she whispered fervently.

  “Explain to me. I believe I do understand but I want to be certain,” Dianna said gently.

  Bailey drew in a shaking breath. “Someone wants to hurt him. Someone wants to use me to hurt him. How could I…I know it’s only been a week and part of that we weren’t together or talking but…he ordered me to hide! To hide like…like a coward!” She ignored the tears falling over her cheeks and was glad her hair hid her from view. “I don’t think I could stand it…he just went outsi
de and…and…what if he needed me? What if I could have helped…”

  “Shhh…” Dianna placed her hand gently on Bailey’s head, stroking over the soft hair. “I know. Men think we’re so very fragile, don’t they?” She felt her head nod. “Is that why you were on the bench?”

  “No, ma’am,” Bailey sighed wearily. “It’s because of work. It’s like…like high school all over again because people…the staring and whispering and catty comments.”

  “You work at the same place,” Dianna guessed.

  “Worse. He’s the owner,” she whispered. “I’d never met him before I came here. I didn’t know who he was and…and I kept the mask on all night and he never saw my face until…until Monday when I went to his office to fix his computer. But now people see him with me…and we went to work in the same car…” The words came out in a mixed jumble that had her shaking her head in defeat. “And if I go to the elevator, it’s like they automatically assume I’m being summoned and…and…”

  “And all the catty bitches came out of the closet,” Dianna guessed. “And Gabriel being Gabriel, first, doesn’t even notice it and second, he wants to handle that problem for you.”

  Bailey forgot and looked up at her with a rapid nod before shifting back to stare at the floor.

  “He doesn’t understand. I have to be able to hold my head up and deal with them myself,” she said softly. “That’s why I was in trouble, Mistress.”

  “Hmm…that one is a little more difficult to explain to a man. We want them to defend us, but we’d also like to show them we can handle ourselves,” Dianna, straightened when the noise began at the front of the large room.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “I want her now!” Shouted the shrill, angry voice. “I know she’s here. I’ve been looking for her. Her car’s at her apartment, but she’s not there. Which means, she’s with you. In this…this hell-hole!”

  Dianna shifted her long body to the edge of the chair. “Bailey, I want you up and over my knees, now. Face the fireplace. We need to hide that hair.”