Dancing with Deception

by Avery Gale

  “Yes. I was coming to find you and Brandt. I need to talk to you. I need to do something. I’ve wasted too much time being scared.” All the words tumbled out so quickly she wondered if he’d be able to sort it all through. His smile softened and he brushed his fingers down the side of her face in a caress so gentle she knew it was a prelude to whatever he was going to say.

  “Brilliant and brave—damn, you are an amazing combination.” He didn’t say anything else but stepped aside as Tobi and Gracie both excused themselves with promises to meet again later in the evening.

  “You already knew, didn’t you? You knew I’d decided.” She wasn’t sure whether to be annoyed or grateful Ryan and Brandt always seemed to know what she was thinking—often before she even realized where her thoughts were headed.

  “No. But when Micah alerted me to the conversation you were having with Tobi and Gracie, it wasn’t a stretch to know where it would lead you.” He grinned and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. “Tobi West has an amazing effect on everyone she meets. She’s a handful—don’t get me wrong, I know she leads her husbands on a merry chase and they adore her for it. But her joy and compassion shine through from the very depths of her soul, and it draws out the best in those around her. I’d only met her a couple of times before this trip, but from what I’d heard, I’m not surprised your conversation led to this. Truthfully, your time with them wasn’t an accident. Everyone working on this case believed the two of them might be a good sounding board for you since Coral isn’t available. What’s that old saying? Something about girlfriends and sisters being better than therapists?”

  Joelle wasn’t sure how she felt about Ryan inferring she needed a therapist, but she understood what he’d meant. Without giving herself a chance to hesitate, she threw her arms around him hugging him close. At that moment, with his arms wrapped tightly around her, everything seemed so simple. The decision seemed easy and the sea ahead smooth sailing. She knew reality was going to be far different, but she wanted to enjoy the illusion for a little while. Reality could wait…at least until tomorrow.

  Chapter Nine

  Ryan and Brandt had already enlisted the help of every resource they thought might be even remotely helpful in their attempt to uncover who was responsible for the problems Joelle had been facing. The Wests and their team were also working to narrow down the list of suspects, but so far had only eliminated a couple of people from the list Joelle had given them.

  The consensus of the team members meeting in Kyle and Kent’s office was Joelle was probably right, former senator Helen Rodrick was the most likely suspect. Her obvious ties to two different pharmaceuticals companies, and the hidden ties they’d uncovered to several other companies, that would take a huge financial hit when the news of her discovery broke put her at the top of their list. Adding all that to the fact the woman was running for President made her not only their prime suspect but also a frighteningly powerful adversary. Hell, even eluding to such a suspicion would put them on the watch list of every alphabet agency in the damned country—not something agents involved in covert ops for the government could afford.

  While the other men made some discrete calls inquiring about Ms. Roderick’s known associates and employees, Ryan had drawn the prized straw and gotten distraction duty. Christ, how lucky was he to be the one who got to entertain the gorgeous redhead who’d just had the revelation they’d all been expecting. Kent West had called it right when he’d said a short conversation with Tobi would drive anyone to an epiphany.

  The only call Ryan made before coming to find Joelle was a brief conference call with his dad and uncle. Brothers Donald and Dean Morgan had remained close despite choosing vastly different career paths. Geographically they’d settled miles apart, but both men had a Midas touch when it came to business. From all accounts, Dean’s eldest son, Sage, had inherited his father’s and uncle’s same business acumen. There had been talk recently of combining Morgan Enterprises and Morgan Energy so Dean and Donald could retire, making Sage the CEO of the newly formed Morgan Holdings. Ryan had encouraged the plan; with the stipulation the combined company also branch out into medical research. And now, after finding Joelle, his support of that joint venture was going to be even more adamant.

  The elder Morgan brothers were putting their heads together to organize a press conference in Houston for Joelle to share her discovery with the world. Their media connections would go a long way to ensuring Joelle’s safety. The best way to dodge a bullet was to put several things between the sniper and the target. She’d been on her own long enough, it was time to show her what family support was all about. Her father may love her in his own skewed way, but from what Ryan had learned over the past few days, the man hadn’t backed her when it mattered the most. There was a part of him that resented the hell out of the way she’d been treated. What could she accomplish if she had the kind of family support he and Brandt had been privileged to grow up with? Hell, their family still had their backs—it was the way things were supposed to work.

  Holding Joelle in his arms soothed him in a way nothing else ever had. It was a good thing he hadn’t known she’d have this effect on him when they first met—hell, he’d have probably never finished med-school. Her spine had been ramrod straight when he’d first pulled her against him, but after a few seconds, she’d relaxed into his arms. Feeling the tension drain from her body as she made the decision to let him lead her where she needed to go pumped up his ego to what his friends would probably feel was a dangerous degree—but he didn’t care.

  “As much as I’m enjoying this moment and as fulfilling as I find it to just hold you in my arms, we need to head inside—I have something special planned for you.”

  Joelle lifted her face giving him an uncertain smile. “A surprise? Remember, I’m a scientist, so surprises aren’t really my forte.” It was obvious she was choosing her words carefully though he wasn’t sure who she was trying to appease—herself or him.

  Deciding this was a good time to clear up that particular point, he cupped his hands around both sides of her face smoothing feathered strokes over her flushed cheeks. “Baby, don’t ever feel like you need to measure your words around me. I won’t presume to speak for Brandt, but I can tell you my experience has been he won’t want you to feel as if you need to always be on guard. We’ll demand your honesty—not only with us but also with yourself, that is nonnegotiable. There will be times we don’t like what you have to say, but as long as you aren’t rude, we’ll respect your right to express your opinion.”

  She nodded in understanding and Ryan couldn’t wait to get back inside so he let the non-verbal answer go unchallenged. “Now, remember, even though I’m not a stickler for high protocol, this is a kink club and as you know there are basic rules universal between clubs regardless of where they’re located. Keep those in mind when we cross the threshold because the last thing I want to waste time on is dealing with some damned self-professed super Dom who wants to lay his hands on what Brandt and I consider ours.” He hoped his grin would ease some of the anxiety he knew his words would likely instill once she took a deep breath and considered what he’d said. The declaration had been necessary, but it didn’t mean it wouldn’t be unsettling.

  “Yours?” Well, that didn’t take long. Ryan wasn’t sure what part she hadn’t understood or if she was simply denying their claim on her.

  “Yes, ours. If that’s a problem for you, I suggest you speak up before this goes any further.” There was a bite to his tone, but Ryan didn’t care—this needed to be cleared up quickly. He studied her closely—hell, he was watching her so closely he saw the subtle shift in her eyes and the small creases at the corners seem to recede as her cheeks flushed.

  “Really?” This time, the question was more hopeful than questioning and Ryan let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

  “Yes, really. Christ woman, I can see why Brandt calls you minx.” Pulling her hand, he led her back to the open doors of the club’s ma
in room. He’d set up one of the small stages near the back where they wouldn’t attract as much attention and he couldn’t wait to get started. Hopefully, Brandt would be joining them before the scene was over, but he had every intention of keeping her fully focused on their scene instead of worrying about why her other Master was missing.

  Leading her up the three steps and to the center of the small stage, he saw her eyes widen at the odd-looking apparatus in front of her. It was a very specialized version of a St. Andrew’s Cross—one the West brothers had specially built and modified it a time or two over the past couple of years. The cuffs were extra-wide and lined with removable fabric pads that were changed after each use so they were not only comfortable, but also sanitary—an important perk as far as Ryan was concerned.

  The cross was made of metal finished to look like an antique relic from the old west, but the state of the art lighting and hydraulic systems definitely made it a Dom’s best friend. There wasn’t any part of a submissive a Dom couldn’t secure or expose for his pleasure using this amazing piece of equipment, and the options for positioning his or her body were unlimited.

  Ryan gave Joelle several seconds to take in everything around her before stepping closer and bringing her attention back to him. He could see her pulse pounding rapidly at the base of her throat. Her breathing had become faster, shallower with every breath she took. And her eyes were dilated with what appeared to be a healthy mix of arousal and anxious anticipation. Perfect.

  “Strip, baby. I want access to every luscious inch of you and I want everyone in this club to see what lucky bastards Brandt and I are.” She took a deep breath and slowly gathered the hem of the short black dress they’d chosen for her. Joelle crushed the hem in her fists before pulling it over her head in a move so inherently seductive he wondered for a few seconds if she was deliberately taunting him. The garment they’d given her was obscenely short and cut to her navel, hell it was little more than a piece of black silk. Of course, they’d conveniently forgotten her panties so in one deliberate move she was standing in front of him completely bare.

  Swirling the tip of his finger around the outer edge of her deep pink areola of first one breast and then the other, Ryan watched with satisfaction as her nipples pebbled so tightly he knew they had to be aching with need. “Perfection. You are pure perfection, love. Every time I look at you, I’m amazed anyone can be so beautiful both inside and out.” He’d kept his voice pitched low to enhance the intimacy between them—he wanted her focused on him, not their growing audience.

  Trailing his fingers along an imaginary line between her rounded breasts he traced a leisurely path all the way to her navel. Leaning down, he swirled the tip of his tongue around the outer edge before tickling the center with several quick lashes. “You always taste like fire and honey. Sweet, yet scorching hot. You’re an addiction I don’t ever want to be overcome. I’ll treasure each moment together and cherish your trust every single day.”

  She was already falling so far into the submissive mindset he wasn’t sure she fully comprehended what he was telling her, but he’d keep telling her until she understood. He and Brandt agreed her childhood had left her feeling as though she had little value aside from academics. From everything they’d learned, her father had loved her in his own way, but the rare displays of affection had always been tied to some accomplishment. For a young girl with a submissive mindset it hadn’t taken her long to associate approval with academic achievement—now it was their job to teach the woman she’d become the joys of unconditional love.

  Using the pads of his fingers, Ryan drew lazy circles over her bare mons. God, he loved being able to see every inch of her. He’d almost swallowed his tongue when he learned all the smooth skin hadn’t come from waxing but was a result of a rare personal indulgence. Joelle blushed when she told them how she’d gone to the spa with her college roommate. And after just one waxing decided she loved the look and feel of the results, but she hadn’t been able to imagine repeating the experience every three months so she’d researched options. Always the researcher. She’d opted for laser treatments, deciding the temporary discomfort once was far better than repeating the experience several times a year. Personally, Ryan was thrilled—the thought of anyone other than he or Ryan having their hands so close to sex made him see red.

  “Slide your feel further apart, baby. I want access to those slick folds. I want to be able to fuck you with my fingers and feel your muscles clamping tight as they try to pull me deeper inside.” Her feet slid apart and her eyelids slid lower as she fell further and further into the scene. It only took a few pumps of his fingers to bring her right to the edge of release, but he had no intention of letting her come so quickly.

  When he pulled his fingers free, she groaned at the loss and a shudder worked through her when he licked his fingers clean. The sweet honey still coated his tongue when he leaned forward and kissed her. The kiss he’d meant to be sweet and tempting—a little sample of her taste, turned carnal and incendiary almost from the beginning. Ryan slid his other hand up the straight line of her spine to tunnel under her long, silky red hair. Cupping the base of her skull, Ryan tilted her head allowing him to deepen the kiss. Thrusting his tongue into her mouth with long, strong strokes mimicking the move his dick longed to repeat, he felt her beginning to go lax in his hold. Stepping back, he moved her quickly into place in front of the cross and secured her before he lost his damned mind completely and fucked her right where they stood.

  Pulling a hair clip from his back pocket, Ryan twisted the silky length of her hair into a rope before securing it against the back of her head with the turquoise clip. Leaning over her shoulder, he spoke against her ear, “I wanted your beautiful hair off your back so it doesn’t get tangled in the braided lashes of the flogger, baby.” Opening his mouth over the sensitive spot where her neck joined her shoulder, Ryan clamped down until she gasped softly. That sweet sound sent a bolt of electricity straight to his cock. Christ, he was already worried about a permanent zipper imprint and now he felt himself swelling enough he worried he would burst.

  “I’m going to warm you up, baby. And then I’m going to send you so far up you’ll wonder if the pleasure is ever going to end. But rest assured, love—Master Brandt and I will always catch you, so don’t hesitate to take flight when you’re given permission.” Stepping back, he began the slow, methodical thuds against the fleshiest parts of her ass. Her skin was so fair the soft lashes brought the blood to the surface and quickly turning her ivory skin a spectacular shade of rosy-pink. As he spread out the falls, he slowly increased the pace but not the intensity of the strikes so she’d sink as far into the sensations as possible before the balance of pleasure and pain started to tip ever so slightly in the other direction.

  Brandt had been totally enthralled as he watched Joelle and Ryan’s scene. Every security feed in the control room had a joystick allowing whoever was manning the station to zoom in—the video so crystal clear he’d been able to hear every breathless sigh and see each and every goose-pebbled inch of alabaster skin as he’d finished up his calls. It was a miracle he hadn’t broken his damned neck racing down the fucking spiral staircase to get to there. And now, standing at the edge of the small stage, watching Ryan send her so deep into subspace her entire body was vibrating to what he suspected was an internal rhythm much like the constant beating of the ocean waves against the shore. She was safely secured to the West’s modified cross so there was no worry she’d injure herself. He was grateful because she was obviously falling helplessly over the edge of what was going to be a cataclysmic release. He doubted either of them were aware of the increasing volume of the audience as the other Doms used the moment to bring their own submissives pleasure.

  Brandt understood why the other club members were so captivated with the scene—hell, it was beyond hot. What amazed him was how unaware Ryan seemed to be of his surroundings. The man had been a Navy SEAL for fuck’s sake. Dom-space was a great place to be, but it co
uld be dangerous. The scene was taking place in a BDSM club, so there was a lot of support close by, but this clearly illustrated why it was always advisable to play in a club or with a third person nearby. When both Dom and sub were this focused, they were both far too vulnerable.

  He felt Kyle West step up beside him before he actually saw him. Kyle had always exuded the kind of presence associated with leaders and alpha males—he was one of the few men Brandt had ever known who could walk down the crowded streets of Hong Kong without so much as a single physical encounter. No one jostled Kyle West. Hell, people unconsciously cleared a path for him to walk unobstructed through markets that were a labyrinth of humanity others had to weave through. Tobi was the only person Brandt had ever seen stand up to Kyle—aside from his twin brother, of course.

  Brandt remembered hearing about Tobi and Kyle’s first meeting. She’d been on her way to interview Kent for some local magazine, but her car hydroplaned off the highway during a thunderstorm leaving her stranded along the side of the road. After several unsuccessful attempts to stop a passing motorist, she’d stood in the middle of the highway so she wouldn’t be missed by the next vehicle driving by. Kyle had nearly hit the petite blonde bundle of trouble. When he’d stopped and made his way back to her, he’d been furious. His anger fueled by fear at the close call and adrenaline drenched relief she was unharmed. But she’d stood toe-to-toe with him, despite the fact Kyle was easily a foot taller, refusing to back down as he’d questioned her intelligence and sanity.