Independence: #4 Hayley

by Karen Nichols

  “Public display was another thing you indicated interest in.” Dane had come to her other side.

  Whose palm was on her stomach? Oh, god, which one of them was on which side of her? She couldn’t think…

  “Stop thinking, Hayley,” Dane ordered firmly.

  When the hand slid into the top of her thong she knew it was Jack because it was on the other side from where Dane’s voice had come from. And the heat of his body had left her even as more heat, a different kind of heat began filling her when she felt the strong, long fingers stroking over the neatly trimmed pussy.

  “Hmm…nice…she’s trimmed real short,” Jack said, scraping his chin along her shoulder. “Very soft…alluring.”

  She realized listening to their words was as much a distraction as when his fingers expertly parted the puffy, full lips of her pussy and stroked through the heat that had gathered there. Damp and hot, she couldn’t stop the groan when the heel of his palm pressed against her clit.

  Their intelligence and sense of humor was as strong a pull on the girl in her as their take charge attitude and self-confidence.

  “Ohhh…” she knew it was her voice moaning. And it was definitely her hips twisting and trying to force him to move to the right spot.

  “Huh…go figure…the mouth says no…but the body…” Jack teased the dampness from the center up and over her clit, circling it and pressing just outside the small nub.

  “Damn you.” Hayley knew the growl was a mistake the instant the words left her lips. The teasing stopped between her legs and several swats began across her thighs and ass. Her body jerked on the cross. Her hands tightened on the cuffs she was straining against.

  “Manners, little girl,” Dane tsked from behind her.

  She felt another series of something smack against her back and ass, this time from the other side. That’s where Jack had gone. She’d rather he’d stayed and finished what he’d begun. She didn’t know what they were using, each one had a different feeling to it, different sensations that ranged from stinging to soft and caressing. Weird. Then they switched and the stings began harder from Jack’s side.

  Hayley clenched her teeth, gripped the cuffs tightly and squeezed her eyes tight. She knew this darkness, no matter the sounds and sensations outside her. This darkness was where she hid so no one could find her.

  “Oh, no, little sub,” Jack murmured when he felt her withdraw. Her body went slack and her breathing almost returned to normal. He raised a hand and Dane stopped, following his lead, Dane moved to press hard against her side, while Jack took up the other side.

  A quick game of rock, paper scissors and Dane grinned and flattened his palm over her stomach. His fingers teased the edge of her thong, drawing slow, sensual lines from one hip to the other before delving inside.

  Jack felt her breathing hitch and he pulled the mask from her eyes, his mouth bit down hard on her shoulder.

  “You can’t retreat, Hayley. We want you here…with us…”

  “She has amazing control because she zones out and just follows orders. I think she needs a lot of work on her focus,” Dane commented, his fingers gently stroking over the soft down covering her mound. “She’s wet…and the labia are full and clit swollen…”

  When a low, soft groan broke from her lips, Jack pulled the elastic covering the breast on his side out of his way, allowing the small, full mound to be free. He scraped a calloused thumb over the puckered nipple, watching as the pale skin wrinkled and responded.

  “And she responds so sweetly to us…” Jack lowered his head and sucked the nipple between his lips. “Part of her wants us to have her control, wants to trust us with it,” he whispered, blowing softly over the tautly wrinkled nipple. She had begun pulling on the restraints again. He continued talking as though she wasn’t present. “But I think our little sub is afraid of what that surrender brings to the surface.”

  “Hmm…and she wants to surrender that control, but on her terms,” Dane slid his palm fully between her thighs, cupping the swollen labia and running two fingers between them to the small, hot opening. “Damn, she smells good…like fresh hay and sunshine.”

  “Doms don’t settle for terms, Hayley,” Jack murmured, dragging his tongue around the nipple while the other palm lowered the lace from the other breast. “We make rules and expect adherence to them. We want you here, with us. Not distracted or zoned out.”

  “She’s stubborn,” Dane watched her face. Sweat had broken out across her brow and though she kept her mouth tightly clenched shut, her breathing was ragged and her body betraying her. With two fingers poised at the opening of her pussy, his thumb circling her clit, he raised his other hand behind her and brought it down fast and hard on her ass.

  Her eyes opened and she screamed when his fingers plunged inside her.

  He could tell Jack had bitten down lightly on the nipple he had in his mouth, his other hand cupping her other breast and twisting that nipple to a fine peak. Her body jerked and convulsed between the pair of them. He continued stroking inside the taut muscles, his cock pressed hard against her hip as the tremors faded.

  Dane found himself staring at the woman. It wasn’t hard to believe the tension of the last hour and half helped her along. He’d been hard since they began bidding on her, just from the anticipation. Combine all that anticipation along with what he and Jack had put her through and she exploded like a Fourth of July firecracker. And from the look on her face, it was a sharp surprise to her.

  They withdrew slowly, continuing to stroke her skin and ease her from the experience. He gently opened the cuffs at her feet first and then her hands. She fell limply against Jack while Dane quickly cleaned up the station. Jack carried her to one of the large, empty couches and waited while Dane draped a warmed blanket around her shoulders. Jack had her tucked on his lap, her head against his shoulder while Dane pulled her legs onto his thighs and gently stroked up and down.

  “That wasn’t planned,” Dane murmured, his hands holding her legs in place.

  “No. But it was damned amazing,” Jack remarked, keeping himself relaxed enough to allow her to cuddle down. “We’ll definitely have to work on her stamina. I’m betting we can get at least another four or five out of her over a couple hours.”

  “We can’t put her in a car on her own. Not for a while,” Dane exhaled.

  “We have two extra rooms. We know where her pack is, probably including car keys,” Jack nodded slowly.

  “And we even know someone who can tell us the kind of car she drives,” Dane drained the water and tossed the empty bottle to one of the many containers scattered through the club for recycling. “I’ll do a quick clean and get her stuff and see if I can pin down Bailey.”

  “We’ll wait here.”

  Chapter Six

  It was a very warm, very comfortable space. A space she hadn’t been in before and welcomed. It wasn’t that her life was all that hectic, but the relatives had a way of making her want to scream. Considering what some of her friends had messing with their lives, though, she knew her issues were mild and downplayed them a lot.

  She wiggled and pushed her face against the very fresh smelling softness. Her toes stretched out long behind her and her arms pulled from beneath her hips and shoved above her head. All with cushiony softness beneath her.

  That brought a frown. Slightly squared chin lifted from the pillow but her vision was obscured by the mass of waving light brown hair. Elbows were shoved to the side, two hands and ten long, slim fingers raked through her hair, pulling it out of her face. Lashes blinked over blurry eyes that narrowed and then shot wide.

  Then her hands shoved against the surface and she bolted upright. Blankets and sheets flew around her. Her gaze swept down her body with an audible gulp. She reached for the soft fabric, stroking her fingers over her arm. It was not her shirt. It was well worn, soft chambray blue with sleeves that went well past her hands. She shoved them up on each arm and took a chance looking at her legs.

  At t
he moment, they were bent out like a pretzel. Using only two fingers, she cautiously lifted the edge of the shirt, dropping it very quickly. Nothing underneath. A little whimper eased from her throat.

  Okay, girl. Not so bad. You are mostly dressed. And alone. She hadn’t been drinking. She knew where she went last night. She remembered surviving the auction and the hours after. It had been too dark to get good looks at the two guys.

  Oh, god! The cross!

  Memories came flooding back, her head swiveling from side to side, taking in the modest bedroom. It was mostly daylight outside, a soft grey light spreading through the room from the two windows. Then her gaze fell on the open door, the sight making her sigh as she scrambled to the floor and almost ran for the bathroom.

  Damp fingers scooped cold water onto her face and ran through the waist length hair. Natural curls sprang up with the traces of water left behind. It had long been trained to part and fall and she absently lifted it behind her shoulders. Eyes mostly awake stared at the counter. Someone had left her a new toothbrush and paste, something she used gratefully.

  Did she have dinner the night before? She frowned into the mirror. She’d been nervous as hell. Okay, scared to death. She rinsed her mouth and inhaled deeply. That’s when the scent of food ratcheted through her like a flash fire in California.

  Her nose twitched and she left the bathroom, straight through the next partially open door and down the hall. The house was big, with wide halls and all the doors sitting open. No guessing where you were going. But she was following her nose and her stomach was roaring approval.

  Then she hit the large open expanse of the body of the house. Her toes curled on the cold stones beneath her feet and she stared. Two men wearing jeans that seemed to be defying gravity clung to their hips. Each had a large mug of something between two hands, their voices low as they leaned against what looked like real stone counters. She wanted to run her hands over the smooth gold flecked chocolate stone.

  “Good morning,” the one with short clipped dark hair nudged the other one with an elbow.

  The one with straight brown hair that didn’t seem to obey much, turned to her with a smile. “Hey…”

  Both were immediately silent when she held up her palm, one finger extended. She swallowed and sighed at the tanned, flexed and muscled chests and arms. Now she had a clear and unobstructed view of the men who had occupied most of her evening. And all she could think was…wow.

  Taking a slow breath, she turned the finger to her own chest.

  “Hayley.” She said carefully and then turned the finger in turn to the short haired one.

  “Dane,” he answered, grinning at her.

  The finger moved to the other. “Jack,” he said, a flash of white in the grin he offered. “Good morning, Hayley. We have food. Coffee…tea…juice…” he winced slightly. “Not sure if we have milk…it’s grocery day.”

  “How did I get here?” She asked, ignoring the rumbling appreciation from her stomach. She really didn’t want to think about the purring appreciation occurring in other parts of her body. Not right now, at least.

  She didn’t move closer, just stood outside the large dining area. The space was open and airy, with a vaulted ceiling and tons of windows and skylights. But it wasn’t chilled. Ceiling fans turned slowly above her, something that caught out of the corner of her eyes as she stepped forward. Then she stopped, frowning at the hand that had been extended, the gesture that had made her feet move without talking to her brain.

  She froze in place when the sound of mug clinking against stone broke into her reverie, her head up and eyes on the noise. She almost took a step back. Almost turned and ran. But the tone of the voice, the sharpness, brought her immediately alert. Instantly frozen in place.

  “Hayley!” Jack spoke sharply, just loud enough to catch her attention.

  But it was Dane who moved forward. She looked from one to the other, eyes wide and breathing coming too quickly, like a bunny caught in the middle of two starving wolves.

  He felt her body tremble when he placed one hand on the center of her back, the other on her arm, guiding her forward. She offered no protest, not a word, even when he lifted her into one of the padded chairs surrounding the high breakfast bar.

  “Juice? We have apple and orange,” Jack slid a glass forward.

  “Apple, please,” she answered instantly.

  “Good start. Scrambled eggs, sausage patties and toast,” Dane pulled a large plate from inside the oven, lifted the cover and placed it before her. He added silverware before returning to lift his cup and lean against the counter, watching her. “If you don’t like that choice, tell us what you want, Hayley.”

  “How did I get here?” She repeated, lifting the fork and scooping up some of the bright yellow eggs. She groaned gratefully as she chewed. “Thank you. I think I missed dinner last night. I was a little nervous.”

  “We brought you here from the club last night,” Jack told her, refilling the juice she’d almost drained. “You weren’t in any condition to drive. Actually, you seemed almost comatose and exhausted.”

  “Your pack is in the bedroom where you were sleeping, along with the keys to your truck. Which is really sweet, by the way,” Dane remarked appreciably.

  “You drove my truck!?” She demanded, swallowing hastily and glaring from one to the other.

  “She’ll share her body with us, but her truck is off limits,” Jack laughed, his head shaking.

  “I am not a slut.”

  Dane closed one eye. “That’s heavy conversation for this time of the morning, but okay. We do not consider you a slut, Hayley,” he told her firmly, honestly. “I don’t know which of your relatives that one comes from, but…”

  Pale brown lashes squeezed shut, one hand raised with one finger up. “I am sorry.”

  “I have a feeling we might have to work to convince you that we don’t have the opinions or beliefs of the male relatives you’ve been exposed to all your life. Open your eyes and finish eating.” Jack waited patiently for her eyes to open and for her to resume eating before continuing. “Not everyone has the same views or opinions of sex and relationships as we do.”

  “Or even of the people in the club,” Dane added. “Or I’m thinking, some of your close friends.”

  “I’m sorry. I might have mouth issues,” she murmured, relief on her face when both of them laughed. “I…umm…don’t remember what happened after…” she winced, her gaze kept on the fork and food on the plate. “I remember the cross,” she said after swallowing. “I remember I kept thinking…about where I was and…” she shook her head slowly.

  “I think a lot of tension slipped free last night, Hayley,” Dane said simply, moving and lifting the coffee pot from the maker. He refilled his cup and offered it to Jack before sliding it back into the burner. “And I’d take another guess that you’ve been wound up for a long time and possibly even overworking yourself…”

  Jack sighed when her silence stretched out.

  “Hayley, have you read anything about the Dom/sub relationship?”

  “Not very much,” she finally admitted, picking at the piece of toast when she finished the last of the sausage patty.

  “When did you eat yesterday?” Dane asked curiously, smiling at the surprise on her face. At least he managed to get her to look up at them.

  “I…lunch…” she shrugged. “I think I was a little nervous about last night.”

  “Did you drink anything?” Dane knew his voice had hardened because she looked up instantly, meeting his gaze. She shook her head.

  “Water. Mistress Dianna gave me water before the auction. And I had water while we were talking,” she said, finishing the toast and draining the juice. “Thank you. That was delicious.”

  “You don’t go to the club on an empty stomach, Hayley.” Dane took the plate and glass to the sink, leaving them there and meeting her gaze as he walked back to the counter.

  “It was a hectic day. I usually eat on the run o
n good days,” she admitted, but surrendered a nod. “I know. I won’t again.”

  “They have a restaurant there,” Jack told her, his tone a little softer than his partner’s. “Don’t let him get to you. He likes to boss people around. That’s why he’s in charge of the crews,” he told her with a wink when she nodded.

  “I…I’m going to get dressed and go home. Thank you for…I don’t know what happened last night. I never slept so good though,” she said, aware of the heat flooding her cheeks.

  “Are you embarrassed about what happened yesterday, Hayley?” Dane moved around the counter, striding easily to stand in front of her, stopping her from leaving the breakfast stool.

  “Of course not…” she winced at the dual brows arched in her direction. “Maybe. Just a little.”

  “Let me make another guess,” Jack said smoothly, moving to lean on the counter at her side. He watched her body tense with Dane in front of her and him very close to her side. She kept nervously playing with the cuffs of his shirt. “Sex is supposed to be something that happens in the dark. With one person. After long, and perhaps arduous dates. It definitely isn’t something you talk about bright and early at nine in the morning on a Saturday.” He watched her bite the side of her mouth. “Does that about cover it, Hayley?”

  “We should probably be grateful she waited to rebel until now,” Dane remarked, his hands out and taking hers from where they were clasped on her lap. “Are your parents still alive, Hayley?”

  “My father is…they had my brother and then me…mom died when I was three,” she answered.

  “I’m sorry,” Dane put one hand beneath her chin and tipped it up. “Do you think we can be friends and just talk awhile?”

  “I…it wasn’t supposed to be like that,” she said, finally giving up trying to pull free of his hand around her chin. “I mean…I thought it was just there…and just…there really isn’t room in my life…my family would never understand…”