by Aidy Award
I jumped up to standing on the bed and bounced with excitement. I squealed. Out loud.
Gray laughed and tugged me down from my cloud nine for a kiss. “I want to keep you happy, by my side, and in my bed. If this will make you happy, let’s make it happen.”
I kissed him back and grinned. “Okay.”
“Okay.”
I scrambled off taking the sheet and blanket with me, wrapping them around my body.
Gray sat naked on the bed. “Right now?”
“Yep. Ever since you put the idea in my head, I’ve been looking at locations. I’ve got a file I started of the best potential listings here somewhere.” I riffled through the desk drawer and pulled out a folder. It had print outs of commercial real estate listings in half a dozen cities across the country. I climbed back in bed and spread them out so we could both see.
“I don’t want to go back to the city. There’s a lot of people, but there are already several clubs and the competition is tough.”
Gray picked up several stapled folios. “There’s a lot here. You’ve been working hard.”
“Yes. I don’t want to stay in Austin either, but I think we could probably get good clientele in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. But look at this place in San Francisco.”
Gray sifted through another few listings and picked one up. “This one.”
I looked at the page. Not my first choice, but if I was there with Gray, it would be perfect no matter what. “Really?”
“Yes, it’s not a large city, but not small, there’s a mix of both conservative and liberal views so you’ll get both the open and willing clientele and the behind closed doors people.” He flipped to a graph on another page. “They’ve got a housing shortage so that means a lot of people are moving in, and there’s a good mix of downtown and suburban.”
Either he was a fast reader or… he didn’t give me a chance to find out.
He pointed to the address of the listing. “This location is in a warehouse district near downtown and the area is being revitalized, so you’ll get it for cheaper than if you try to buy something directly in the city center, and your members will get the privacy they need.”
The spec sheet didn’t have half that information. I gave Gray an eyeballing. “You sneaky bastard.”
He laughed. “You’re not the only one who has been doing their homework. It means something that we both came up with the same place when doing our research. It’s also the last place Foster would think to look for us.”
I hated that Foster had to be a consideration in this decision, but I was happy as pie on the fourth of July that we were going to start a new life together. If Gray felt safer in a city I’d never even been to, then it was my new favorite place in the world. I tackled him and smattered kisses all over his face. “It’s perfect. You’re perfect.”
“Far from it, love, but for you, I try.” The heat in his eyes just about seared me.
If we started something now, we’d never leave the room again. I rolled off the bed and went to my closet. My luggage was ready and waiting to be filled. I yanked clothes off hangers and tossed them in the bags, stopping only to pull on a skirt, a bra and a tank top. No panties, because you never know what might happen later.
Gray, in all his naked glory, joined me in the closet. “Just when I think you couldn’t make me love you anymore, you surprise me over and over. You’re packing to leave now, aren’t you?”
“Why shouldn’t we? This place is done for us. I got what I came here for and more. It’s time to move on.” I yanked down half a dozen items on hangers and threw the whole kit and caboodle into a suitcase.
“Are we running away from home or are you bringing it all with you?” Gray folded his arms and leaned against the wall watching me shove things here and there.
I bit my lip, worrying it. “I need to tell Dominic and Ilario too. I’m not sure they’ll come with.”
“They’re devoted to you.” Was that a bit of grump I detected in his voice?
They were. But I was devoted to Gray and I knew what he needed to hear. It didn’t bother me to tell him over and over, with words or with my body. “The guys and I will never have the same relationship as before.”
He pulled me to him and caressed my neck. “No. They’ll have to find new mistresses.”
I cupped his cheek in my hand and ran a thumb across his lips. “I know, querida, I know.”
His hands snaked down my sides and cupped my butt. “Good. Because you are mine alone. I know you’ve enjoyed your harem, and I wish I could let you play with whoever you wanted, but I can’t. It would kill me to see you with another man now that I finally have you for my own.”
I matched his movements and grabbed his butt right back. “That’s good, because you’re never allowed to touch another woman ever again.”
That not wearing panties thing came in handy then because we had fast and hard sex right there up against the wall of the closet.
Gray’s new nickname was going to be Harvey Wallbanger. He was delicious, and I was drunk on him.
By that evening, we were packed and ready to go. The jet was fueled and the crew ready to head out to our new lives in the morning.
I had one more important task to do before we could leave. I’d made promises to Dominic and Ilario that I was going to break. That hurt my heart, but I knew they would understand.
I saved out one Dominatrix outfit for tonight. The black corset with the red ties and leather clasps gave me the same feeling a new pair of Louboutins used to. There was power in having a new pair of shoes or the exact right outfit.
I made my way through the club saying hello to members and searching out those I called friends and family. I invited Dominic, Ilario, Hawk, and Gray to meet me at the bar. We’d either be toasting to the future or having one last hurrah.
I’d ply the guys all with a little champagne and then pounce to convince them to join us.
Hawk sat down first, with one possessive arm over Lilly’s shoulder. She wore skinny jeans and a deep cut halter and had conveniently lost the gilded lily charm and chain that had marked her as Foster’s. I’d hardly recognized her with clothes on. Or a smile.
It was obvious that if I wanted Hawk to come along, Lilly would be part of the deal.
Ilario joined next and for the first time in as long as I knew him did not come straight up to me and snuggle up. Hay, Dios Mio. I hoped with all my heart he wasn’t already hurt.
Dominic was only a moment behind. His usual seriousness had lifted. Like a weight had been lifted from him. I wondered if Gray had already talked to him or if he simply sensed that he didn’t have to take care with me anymore.
He’d always been almost as protective as Gray. Had that been a burden I placed on him?
If it was, I would not feel as bad about letting him go. I wanted happiness for all of the men in my life. Because I was happy and I might not have found my way to that state without each and every one of them.
Gray snuck into our quiet, expectant silence and bolstered me with his presence. His hand slid down my spine and settled at the small of my back, letting everyone in the room know we belonged to each other with that simple gesture.
I swallowed, suddenly nervous. I should have rehearsed what I was going to say to them.
Tate slid behind the bar and he broke the silence. “God, I need a drink.”
He had looked rather haggard these past few weeks. I wasn’t quite ready to play nice with him though.
“Tate, why don’t you grab that bottle of the ‘88 Dom Perignon Brut I ordered in and get us all a glass.”
Tate raised an eyebrow but then tipped his head and pulled out the flutes. He signaled to the bartender who went toward the house kitchen to get the thousand-dollar bottle of vintage champagne I’d paid as much to have flown in that day.
“Wow.” Hawk said. “Fancy. What are we toasting?”
Hopefully to the future together. I reached out and touched each man’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “You
each hold a special place in my life and I have something important to ask of you.”
Ilario’s face fell. “Mistress, I have already resigned myself to losing your beauty in my life. I don’t think I can toast your departure with anything less than very hard alcohol.”
“Sweet Ilario. You’re right in that we are leaving. Gray and I have decided to open our own club, far away from here.” I didn’t have to say - and far from Foster. “But we want you to come with us.”
Dominic looked surprised. “I thought the two of you were finding us roles at The Ranch.”
It had been Gray’s idea for Dominic to start serving as floor monitor and security for Tate’s place. He answered Dominic’s question. “Things are changing. We both hope you’ll agree to come with us and fulfill those new roles at Angel’s.”
Hawk exchanged a look with Lilly and played with her hair. “You’re sure we’re not crashing your party?”
I couldn’t help being happy for Lilly, even after all the grief she’d caused me over the past months. “Of course not. We’d love for you both to join us.”
“I’m…” Lilly cleared her throat and looked at Hawk. He brushed his lips across hers and nodded to her. She took a deep breath and started again. “I’d like that. And, I’m sorry I didn’t trust you, Angelina. I hope we can become friends.”
Lilly’s cheeks turned pink, but she kept her eyes focused on mine. Out of any words that ever came out of her mouth, these were the most authentic I’d ever heard.
I don’t know what Hawk did to her, but she was a different woman. I hoped the whole thing didn’t backfire on either of them.
I reached for her hand. “Lilly, I think you could add a lot to what we want to make of our club. You’ve got the most experience of any woman I personally know. I really do want to have you along.”
She turned even more pink, but nodded. “Okay.”
Tate popped the cork on the champagne and was looking rather sorry for himself. I almost hated to leave him behind. Almost.
“Tate,” Gray slapped him on the back, “you really ought to close up shop or sell and join us. Get out from under Foster’s boot.”
He poured each of our glasses and then a shot of tequila for himself. “Thanks, but no. I made my bed, and now I’ve got to lie in it.”
I’d learned a lot here, but Gray and Angel’s would not be like The Red Ranch.
I was secretly glad Tate didn’t take Gray up on his offer. The man had betrayed us for money or sex or both. What’s saying that he wouldn’t do that again?
Mierda.
We toasted and I put on a good show of being excited. I was excited, but I couldn’t stop worrying about Foster. Except for a feeling that something had gone down between him and Gray recently, the rest of us hadn’t heard anything of him since the night he left. Not even Lilly.
I wouldn’t spoil the jubilation with my worries tonight. It was really nice to see everyone laughing and chatting about what our fresh start would be like.
I even saw Gray talking with Ilario and then shaking his hand. Ilario had a new determination about him and I was grateful for whatever Gray said to him to give him new purpose.
In the excitement of our decision to open our own club together, I’d forgotten I wanted to get him to tell me whatever he’d been hiding from me.
Gray may have opened up and I knew we were solid, but years of protecting me and secretiveness weren’t going to just go away.
Well, neither was I.
But hopefully Foster would.
Club Love
Three months later and everything was going according to plan.
That scared the snot out of me.
Something bad was going to happen. I felt it low in my belly. A tingle, and not the fun kind. The I-might-throw-up-at-any-second kind.
“Angel, if you don’t stop biting that lip you’re going to be on your knees using that mouth for something else.” Gray was driving us down to the arts district to look around and have a day of relaxation.
Totally his idea. I wanted to power through and use up this good luck while we still had it. But when I’d burst into tears this morning over breakfast because there was no more coconut creamer for my coffee, he’d told me we were taking the day off.
“Don’t think I don’t see you sneaking a look at your phone either. No emails, no texts, no phone calls for the next eight hours.”
I snuck a look anyway to see if Cade had any updates on our building permits and then hid the phone under my butt so Gray wouldn’t snatch it away from me. “Or what? You’ll spank me?”
He glanced at where I’d shoved my iPhone. “No, you’d enjoy that, naughty vixen. What you will get is a week with no orgasms.”
I stuck out my tongue at him.
An evil you’re-asking-for-it-and-I’ll-happily-give-it-to-you grin lit up his face. “Keep it up, my love. I can think of plenty of things for you to do with your tongue, all of which will get you hot and bothered and none of which will get you off.”
I ignored his threat and his smile, which was hard to do. I fingered the mandala style lotus charm on a silver chain I’d found on the bed this morning, along with my clothes after I got out of the shower.
It was pretty and peaceful. A gift from Gray went a long way to soothing my nerves. Not far enough though.
“I don’t know how you think I’m going to take the whole day off. Cade needs the new drawings approved so he can get another new set of permit applications in. Hawk and Lilly want to meet to go over their new idea to recruit members, Dominic wants to go over the applications for the staff, and Ilario—”
Gray pulled over to the side of the road and yanked on the emergency brake. He shoved one hand into my hair and pulled me to him, crushing his mouth to mine. The kiss started off ferociously, taking, conquering, but once I let go and melted into him, it turned into something deeper and passionate.
I absorbed every bit of his calming, dominant energy and returned the kiss.
When he released me, I closed my eyes and sighed, enjoying the warm lust swirling around me. He knew exactly what I needed even when I didn’t and fought him on it.
Gray lifted the necklace from my chest and skimmed his thumb over it. “You need serenity in your life, love. That and more orgasms. Both of which I plan to provide you with today.”
I smiled and couldn’t help letting a small giggle escape. How I loved the way he loved me.
Gray gave me one more quick kiss, then put the car back in gear and pulled back onto the road. We arrived at a row of shops in no time. The rest of the day passed with a bit too much PDA and he even snuck his hand up my skirt when we took an ice cream break in a local chocolate shop. Dirty boy.
He was getting some tonight. More than some. A lot.
The club itself was at the edge of a warehouse district, but not far off the highway. The city had already done a lot of work revitalizing the area and had offered incentives to new business owners. That was good. It was all great.
I did my best to embody the serenity he wanted me to have and had fun exploring the area around the club and finding fun shops and restaurants.
The neighborhood seemed to be filled with people who were open and friendly. The real question was whether they were kinky.
I snuck a peek at my phone twice, okay, three times. Too many hinky things had been happening at the warehouse we were converting, like loss of electricity, an overabundance of water, and the sinkhole in the back lot that had magically appeared yesterday. We needed to start construction before summer and there was a crap-ton to do.
I did need some time away from the intensity of opening our new club, but I didn’t want to lose any tiny bit of momentum. Cade had hired a construction crew and they were originally scheduled to arrive tomorrow. We were having a hell of a time getting our permits approved.
Gray squeezed my hand. “You’re doing it again, Angel.”
I pulled my brain from where it had been at the club. “Hmm? What?”
He tapped my forehead. “Your mind is on the club. What do I have to do to keep you here in the present?”
He wasn’t mad, or flirting with domination this time and that more than anything pulled me back to the here and now.
“Take me to bed, or lose me forever, Goose.”
He chuckled. He’d done that a lot more since we’d up and moved to what I always thought was the middle of nowhere. “I’ll take you to bed all right, but I’m never losing you forever.”
God, I could kiss this man. So, I did.
“If you put your phone on silent and in your bag, I’ll tell you where I’ve hidden Ilario.”
“Aha. I knew it. You’ve absconded with my sweet Ilario.”
Gray laughed but eyed the phone that had somehow found its way into my hand again.
I flipped the switch to vibrate and shoved it into my bra.
Gray raised his eyebrow while staring at where I’d stashed the phone. “Ilario is not exactly the sweet puppy you think he is. I sent him back to the city.”
Ah, that’s why I hadn’t seen him all week. “Por que?”
My phone vibrated with a new text. I ignored it. But it buzzed at least six more times in a row until I was practically getting turned on from all the action my left breast was getting. Then it buzzed another eleventy-hundred times.
“Too bad you didn’t stick that phone between your legs my love, you’d be getting off right about now.”
I huffed and pulled the phone out. Sixteen texts from Ilario.
Grayson said not to call you.
So- I’m not calling you.
But you should call me.
I have found some interesting information.
You must call me.
Right away.
Those six had all come in seconds apart. A short pause and then the next seven.
Or not if you are with Grayson.
I bet you are with him.
He will be mad if he thinks I have bothered you.
Never mind.
Don’t call me.
I miss you.
Many kisses.
