by Becca Van
Emma shook her head. “There’s just me.”
“What happened to your family, sugar?” Gary asked gently.
“Um, they all died in a plane crash when I was seventeen. We were all supposed to go on vacation, but I got sick. I told my family to go, and I stayed with my friend Sally since she was sick, too. The plane crashed, killing my parents and sister.”
“I’m sorry, Emma. That must have been hard on you. Did you have any other family to take you in?”
“No. I stayed with Sally and her family for a couple of months. They were good to me and I finished school, but I didn’t feel right staying there too long. Sally’s family had money problems and four kids of their own to take care of, so as soon as I was able to, I got a job and moved out on my own. I learned to take care of myself.”
“Such a brave little girl,” Jack said from behind her.
“Not really.” She looked at him over her shoulder. “I just did what was necessary to survive.”
The door to the room opened, and Charlie entered with a bundle in her hands. “Breakfast is ready, guys. Why don’t you go and make a start while I help Emma get dressed?”
“Okay.” Gary kissed Emma on the temple. The action gave her a warm, fuzzy feeling, and when he lifted her and placed her to sit on the bed she felt…almost cold. The three men left the room. Jack looked back and winked at her just before he closed the door.
“Oh, you have those three Doms wrapped around your little finger already.” Charlie tugged the quilt from Emma and then took her hand to help her to her feet.
“What?”
“Oh. Didn’t you know that you are in a BDSM club?”
“Excuse me?” Emma asked, not sure she had heard right.
“Haven’t you ever heard of BDSM before?” Charlie asked as she stopped in the bathroom and placed the bundle down on the vanity.
“Of course I’ve heard of BDSM, but I’ve never…I mean, I’m not…”
Charlie laughed and patted Emma on the shoulder. “Don’t worry about it. That bastard brought you here and tried to sign you both up for membership, but when you collapsed, Turner and Barry kicked the fucker out.”
He tried to sign up for membership? Emma had been too terrified back at the warehouse to think of what Andrew had done as anything other than torture. Is that what BDSM is like?
Emma eyed Charlie curiously. She wanted to ask if this cheerful, spunky woman could possibly be involved in BDSM. If she was at this club, she must be, but that made no sense to Emma. What sane woman would sign herself up for what Andrew had done? Emma considered herself lucky to even have survived.
Tears formed in Emma’s eyes at that idea, and she blinked them back as she looked at the pretty Charlie. “I’ll never be able to thank you all enough. I think he would have killed me eventually. I was so scared I was blind to my surroundings and frozen with fear.”
“Hey, don’t go getting all sappy on me or you’ll have me in tears, too.” Charlie gave her a careful hug. “Now why don’t you clean up and get dressed. Jack said not to shower yet because of the cuts on your back. But you can wash up and brush your teeth and hair. At least then you’ll feel semihuman, and after you’ve got some food in your stomach you should nearly be back to your old self again.”
“Gee, thanks. I think,” Emma said sarcastically.
“Oh, sorry I didn’t mean…”
Emma laughed at the frown on Charlie’s face, which changed to a smile. “I just know we are going to be good friends, Emma. I’ll leave you to clean up. I’ll wait outside, but make it quick because I’m hungry.”
“Thanks, Charlie.”
“You’re welcome.” The door closed with a quiet snick. By the time Emma had washed, dressed, and brushed her teeth, her stomach was growling loud enough to rival a hungry lion.
Emma hesitated in the door of the kitchen. She had followed Charlie out the door and down a long hallway and into a large apartment. But seeing so many big men all together made her nervous. Charlie must have realized she’d stopped because she turned back and came up beside her, took her hand, and whispered in her ear.
“No one here will hurt you, Emma. All the men in this club look out for women and would protect them with their lives. You are safe here. I promise.” Charlie tugged her forward and led her over to an empty chair which was situated between Gary and Tank.
She sighed and leaned back, forgetting about her cuts and bruises. Emma yelped with pain and leaned forward again.
“After you’ve eaten I want to take another look at your back, honey.” Jack smiled at her from across the table.
Emma nodded and stared at the food but didn’t move to begin filling her plate. Her stomach let out another loud, unladylike growl, but she was worried if she began eating she wouldn’t be able to stop. She was that hungry.
She caught Tank looking at her from the corner of her eye, and he picked up her plate and loaded it with pancakes, bacon, eggs, and toast. Emma was salivating by the time he put the full plate down in front of her.
“Dig in, Emma. We know you must be starving,” Charlie said as she got started on her own food.
Emma cut into the syrup-covered pancake and shoved a piece into her mouth. She groaned as the sweetness exploded on her taste buds, and before she had swallowed, she shoved another bite into her mouth. She was so hungry she could have inhaled what was on her plate. Even though she didn’t talk or look away from her food as she consumed it, she made sure she kept her manners on a tight rein. By the time she put the last bit of toast into her mouth, she was so full she didn’t think she would be able to move.
She looked at Charlie to see the other woman grinning at her, and Emma gave a sheepish smile in return. “Thank you. That was delicious.”
“You’re welcome. Do you want a cup of coffee?”
“Please.”
“Stay there, Charlie, and finish your breakfast. I’ll get Emma’s coffee.” Jack stood up and walked to the kitchen. He was back moments later with a mug of coffee.
“Thank you, Jack.” Emma smiled up at him. He surprised her by leaning down and kissing her cheek, and then he took his seat again. Emma reached for the milk and poured a little into her mug. When she lifted her head, she found three sets of eyes watching her intently. Gary, Tank, and Jack each smiled at her, and she glanced over to Charlie to find her grinning from ear to ear as she looked at Emma.
“What?” Emma asked, feeling a little uncomfortable at all the attention.
“Nothing,” Charlie replied and then turned to talk to Barry.
By the time everyone had finished breakfast, Emma was feeling weary. She had a full belly after being so hungry, and all she wanted to do was curl up on a bed and go to sleep.
“Emma, why don’t we go back to the other room so I can look at your back again?”
Charlie rose to her feet and began clearing the table.
“Oh, but I want to help Charlie first.”
“No,” Charlie said as she walked around the table. “Go and let Jack tend you. Master Barry and Master Turner will help me clean up.”
“Did you just call them ‘Master’?” Emma blurted.
She felt her face heat as all eyes turned to her. Charlie caught her expression and smiled, but Turner put a big hand on her shoulder and spoke instead. “Charlie is not only our wife but our sub, Emma. She calls us ‘Master.’” He glanced at Charlie with a frown. “If she’s being a good sub,” he added.
Charlie’s smile widened.
Emma blinked and opened her mouth only to close it again quickly, not wanting to look like an idiot in front of the others. Turner’s explanation had raised as many questions as it had answered. Why did he keep saying “our”? Was she in a relationship with two men?
“Come on, Emma. Let’s go.” Jack took her hand in his and helped her to her feet. With a last glance at Charlie—and yes, it seemed she was in a relationship with two Doms, since Barry was kissing her on the mouth and Turner was hugging her from behind and nibbling
on her neck—she let Jack lead her back to the room she’d spent the night in.
While they’d eaten, someone had come in and made the bed and tidied up. At the sound of the door closing, she spun around to see that Gary and Tank had followed her and Jack.
“Why don’t you take your top off and lie on the bed on your stomach, sweetie?”
Emma was hesitant about being half naked with two other men in the room but knew by their crossed arms and dominant stances they weren’t about to let her make them leave. She turned her back to them and pulled the top over her head, wincing when the action pulled on her tight, damaged flesh, but she made sure to keep her breasts covered by holding the shirt in front of her as she climbed on the bed.
“Now get comfortable, honey. I need to get those dressings off and apply more ointment, and then I’ll give you another shot of antibiotics.”
Emma held still while Jack removed the dressings on the cuts she’d sustained from her whipping and then again sighed with relief when the cream he applied to her injuries didn’t sting.
“The cuts have scabbed over nicely and you should be able to take a shower or bath this evening. I’ll get some waterproof bandages. In the meantime I think you should consider what you’re going to do now.” Jack taped more gauze to her back and then rubbed her shoulder. Then he prepared the injection, swabbed her arm, and slowly plunged the medicine into her arm. “All done, sweetie. Do you want help to get your shirt on?”
“No. Thank you, Jack.”
“You’re welcome, Emma.”
Emma managed to get her shirt over her head and her arms in the sleeves while keeping her breasts pressed against the bed. Then, with a quick move, she rose up on her knees and balanced on one arm as she tugged the shirt down. When she turned around, she found three sets of male eyes watching her avidly.
Gary and Tank moved closer to the bed where the armchairs still were and sat down. Jack was still sitting on the side of the bed, and Emma scooted up until her back touched the headboard. After Jack’s tender care the pain in her back had settled down some more, and she didn’t flinch this time when it made contact with the hard wood. Her eyes connected with Jack’s blue gaze.
“What do you mean about thinking over what I’m going to do now?” She glanced over to Gary when he shifted in his seat and then frowned at Jack. “I’m going to go home and get back to a normal routine.”
“No, you’re not.” Gary spoke firmly.
Emma scowled at him and opened her mouth to argue, but Tank spoke before she could voice her opinion.
“Darlin’, it’s too dangerous for you to go back home and to return to work. Mitchell hasn’t been caught and he could come after you again. You aren’t safe until he’s behind bars.”
Emma knew he was right, but she didn’t have anywhere else to go. Even though she had a lot of acquaintances, she didn’t really have any friends, and she’d already told these men how her family had died. She felt lost, like she was adrift at sea without any way to control the direction she was headed. As she was trying to figure out what to do, a cell phone rang.
Gary answered the call and listened intently, all the time pinning her with his eyes.
Is that call about me? Why is he looking at me like that?
Emma couldn’t believe the heat she saw in his eyes as he stared at her. She blinked a few times and mentally cursed when her body began to respond to that look. Crossing her arms over her chest as her nipples peaked, she tried to hide her reaction, which she prayed he hadn’t seen. Lowering her eyes, Emma shifted on the bed and crossed her legs when her clit and pussy began to throb. Moisture leaked out onto her panties. When Tank moved, she glanced up to see that he was looking at her the same way Gary was.
Emma didn’t like the way her body reacted to them and shifted over to the far side of the bed and rose to her feet. She took only a step before she bumped into a hard, warm male body. She glanced up into Jack’s gaze and shivered when she saw he was also looking at her as if she was his last meal.
He gripped her upper arms and held her still when she would have backed away. It wasn’t that she was scared of the three men in the room. What made her so nervous was the way her body was reacting to them, even after what she had just been through. What they saw in her she had no idea. As far as she was concerned she had always been small and plain—almost mousy in appearance, as she had been told by one of her male acquaintances.
“Emma, it’s all right, sweetie. We would never hurt you.”
“I–I d–didn’t think you would,” she managed to reply, albeit nervously, and licked her dry lips.
Gary snapped his phone closed, stood, and moved toward her. “You’re coming home with us, Emma.”
Chapter Four
Tank waited for Gary to explain his order, but his friend just stood near Emma with his arms across his chest and his feet planted shoulder width apart. His questions about the phone call Gary had just received would have to wait until later. From the tension in Gary’s muscles, whatever he had learned couldn’t be good, but he didn’t want to question his friend in front of little Emma and upset her even more.
The little sub had no idea how expressive her face was, and the look of bewilderment as well as the sadness and apprehension which crossed her face almost tore his heart out. He wanted to pick her up and snuggle with her, but he didn’t think she was ready for that just yet.
Tank was secretly glad that Gary had decided she was staying with them where they could make sure she was safe and keep an eye on her. Their property was twenty minutes east of Tigard, a large parcel of land with state-of-the-art security and a high fence around the whole estate, except where their land met the banks of Lake Oswego. Even the dock that protruded onto the lake had sensors which sounded an alert to all three of their cell phones if anyone set foot on the wood decking. No one could get in or out of the place without them being aware of it.
Jack released his hold on Emma’s arms and stepped back when she gave him a shove, and then the little sub glared at Gary.
“What do you mean I’m coming with you? With which one of you?”
“Just what I said, little girl. You’re coming home with all three of us.”
“But…”
“No. There will be no arguing. You won’t be safer than when you are in our home. We have state-of-the-art security. Mitchell won’t be able to get to you there.”
“I’m…”
“No, Emma, and that’s final.”
Tank hid his grin when Emma’s eyes blazed with anger. She took the four steps needed to bring her closer to Gary. She shoved her finger into his chest and kept poking at his Dom friend as she let loose.
“You arrogant asshole. Who do you think you are, telling me what I can and can’t do? You have no right to tell me what to do.” By the time Emma had finished her short tirade she must have poked Gary at least ten times with her delicate little finger, and she was panting.
Tank was happy to see that Mitchell hadn’t broken her spirit. He hadn’t expected to get to see the real Emma Macintosh so soon, but he was glad she still had some fire in her.
Gary grabbed her finger before she could stab him with it again and then bent down until his face was level with hers. He leaned forward to touch his forehead to Emma’s. “You’re playing with fire, little one.”
Emma gave Gary another scowl and then pulled her finger out of his grasp. She paced a few steps away and then spun back. “I can’t stay with you. I have to work.”
“That’s all been taken care of, honey.” Gary straightened to his full height and crossed his arms over his chest once more.
“What do you mean by that?” Emma snapped.
“I had some of my officers visit your workplace to question your boss about Mitchell. While they were there they arranged for you to have a leave of absence until that fucker is behind bars.”
Emma stomped back over to Gary, placed her hands on her hips, and tilted her head back to frown at Tank’s Dom friend. Tank
counted in his head and waited for the fireworks, because he knew without a doubt they would be firing off at any second.
“How dare you arrange my life as if you have the right. I have to work to pay my bills, and if I don’t work I can’t pay my rent. I’m going home and there is nothing you can do about it.”
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that,” Gary said.
Emma leaned back. She looked stunned more than angry, but she squared her shoulders and asked boldly, “If you make me go with you, how are you any different than Andrew Mitchell?”
Gary’s jaw tightened. Tank sensed that his friend didn’t like being compared to a man on the wrong side of the law. Tank stepped closer, and when Emma glanced at him, he said, “Because we care about your well-being, Emma. Mitchell wanted to hurt you.” He held her gaze. “There are a lot of things we want, but that’s not one of them.”
Emma blinked rapidly. Tank could practically see the gears turning. But she didn’t seem to be able to come up with a reply. Instead, she looked back at Gary, who was now wearing a smug grin. That apparently brought Emma’s anger crashing down again. “God, you are so fricking arrogant,” she said. “You make me want to scream.” Emma slapped her palm on Gary’s chest, moved around him, and headed for the door. Her hand was on the knob when she stopped, turned back, and looked about the room. When her eyes landed on her corset she stormed over to it and picked it up, obviously looking for her license and the cash she had stuffed in the secret pocket. How the hell she had managed to do that when she was being held captive and almost catatonic with fear whilst in Mitchell’s clutches, Tank had no idea, but he intended to find out.
Before she could return to the door, Gary gripped her shoulders and turned her around to face him. “You aren’t going anywhere but home with us, Emma. Your boss quite understood about you needing time off work. Especially when we told him one of his employees was the reason you need some time away. You don’t have to worry about your apartment. I’ve arranged for your company to pay your rent while you are away. I’ve also got some police officers watching your place in case Mitchell shows up. One of the officers got the spare key from your landlord, and your clothing and personal items will be delivered to our house later this afternoon.”
