“I don’t suppose she told Stella which one?”
Don shook his head. “She would’ve told me. You were right about her being in a tough relationship, though. She was crying quite a bit with Stella last night. I stayed in the kitchen until it was safe to come out.”
Kent gave a weak grin. He was sad that Brooke had been upset and he hadn’t been there for her, but could well imagine Don the Dom’s face when he saw her crying. Don was almost afraid of that much emotion.
“Do you think she’ll be well enough to go to the club tonight? She’s supposed to be resting,” Kent asked with a frown.
“Stella won’t take her if she’s not up to it, son. Besides, she assured me she just wants to show her around, let her see what it’s really all about. Your little girl seems to have a very warped view on the subject. Probably understandable. Anyhow, Stella promised me she won’t let anything happen to her. Besides, I’ll be there.” Don’s voice became a gruff growl as he finished his sentence.
“We’ll see you there, then. Much obliged for your help.” Kent doffed his hat and heard Don laugh raucously as he left the hotel. Looked like Travis wasn’t the only one on to him.
Kent noted Brooke’s car in the parking lot outside and took down the license plate. The car was very old and had lots of dents and scratches, some of them quite severe. The oxidation of the scratches indicated that they had been there for some time, and the shape showed that someone had been in quite a hurry when they had gotten them.
He pouted as he made his way down the busy street. Everyone smiled and nodded as he passed them. He suddenly dodged into a shop doorway and grinned. Stella and Brooke were just coming out of the lingerie shop, chatting excitedly.
Brooke was carrying a large bag with the shop’s brand emblazoned in glitter along the front. Kent couldn’t help wondering what they had been buying, and his heart fluttered a little at the thought of finding out tonight. He watched them cross the street and nodded with approval when he saw they were going to the small diner. Stella was looking after Brooke well. He felt a jolt in his gut and wished he had looked after her better himself. Once they were out of sight, he took the turn that led him to the sheriff’s office.
“Well now, you missing us already, deputy?” Sheriff Mason Bains looked up from his desk as Kent strolled in.
“Yeah, right.” Kent grinned at his boss. “You on your own?”
“Uh-huh, Jolene’s just taking her lunch break. Something wrong?” Mason frowned. He could always see right through Kent’s poker face.
“Can you run a check on a car for me?” Kent gave Mason a sheet of paper with the license number written on it.
Mason looked at it and frowned. “Is this something to do with that girl you and Travis found?”
Kent nodded. “Said her name’s Brooke Adams. I had a quick look on the internet but I can’t find anything. She’s from Chicago; works as an admin in a large manufacturing company, but I don’t know anything else, except that something’s not right.”
“You think she’s a crook?” Mason frowned.
Kent shook his head. “I doubt it. But she might be in trouble. She’s got scars and welts on her body. Travis saw them, thinks some of them might be quite recent.”
“You seen them?”
“Nope.”
The sheriff nodded slowly and looked back to the piece of paper. “I’ll check this out and let you know. She still in town?”
“Yep. Staying at the Montgomery Hotel. I’m hoping this weather’ll keep her here long enough for us to find out what’s going on.”
“I’ll get on it right away,” Mason promised.
“Much obliged to you, boss.” Kent nodded and left the office. He hurried back up the street, careful to reach his pickup at the hotel without Brooke seeing him. He couldn’t wait to tell Travis that they had a chance for a date with her tonight.
Chapter Seven
Ty’s was nothing like the clubs Brooke had visited in Chicago. Although it was obviously a BDSM club with dark walls, loud music, and the usual paraphernalia, such as a St. Andrew’s Cross, spanking benches, and a suspension station, it didn’t seem half as frightening as she was used to. Brooke peered excitedly into the main room from where they stood, waiting.
“Good evening, Stella, it’s nice to have you home.” A large, handsome man in leathers and a black, tight-fitting tee met them in the foyer. They sure seemed to breed them big around here.
“Thank you, Ty. I’ve brought along a guest tonight. This is Brooke Adams; she’s staying at the hotel for a few days.”
Ty cocked an interested eyebrow at Brooke and gave her a dazzling smile. He looked even more handsome than before. “Good to meet you, Brooke.” He shook her hand while Stella signed her in. “May I take your coat and shoes?”
Brooke reeled in surprise before removing her coat. Back in Chicago, that sort of job would never be undertaken by the owner of the club. It would be deemed too menial for them to bother with.
Ty whistled his approval at their outfits. Brooke felt really good in her new dress, and Stella had worn the new red corset with a black skirt.
“I have to give you this,” he explained, handing her a sheet of club rules. “I’m sure Stella will keep you in check anyhow, but it’s company procedure.” He winked as she took it. He really was a charismatic guy.
“Brooke’s only planning to take a look around tonight, Ty. She’s been to clubs before in Chicago,” Stella clarified, handing the pen to Brooke so she could sign her name.
“Well, I’ll be around all night if you have any questions Stella can’t answer for you. And if you should decide to play later on, be sure to give me a holler. I promise to go easy on you.” Ty gave her a wink, making Brooke blush.
They could hear the music from the lobby. Not the usual Nine Inch Nails, which used to give her the creeps as soon as she set foot inside her local Chicago club. This was something she hadn’t heard before—sexy, but not scary. Stella led her into the large room, where she was immediately met by smiling faces and welcoming nods. Brooke felt strangely at home already. A small, circular bar was set up in the middle of the room where most of the men seemed to congregate. There were comfy sofas and artificial plants in one corner, while the stations covered the other three walls. It was quite early, so the place wasn’t too busy, and the people at the stations were mainly discussing their plans for tonight’s scenes.
“Let’s get a drink first.” Stella led her over to the bar, and the men stood back to let them through. Everyone seemed to know Stella, and seemed genuinely happy to have her back home. Brooke smiled. It must be lovely to have friends who cared about you so much.
“Evening, Ben.” Stella caught the eye of the barman who came over and offered them both a beaming smile.
“Stella. Lovely to see you, ma’am, but did you really have to bring this awful weather with you?” His bright blue eyes flashed as he teased her, and everyone around them laughed.
Stella rolled her eyes with a giggle. “There’ll be a storm in here tonight if you don’t get on and fetch me my usual,” she admonished with a laugh.
Ben jumped to it in mock concern and started pouring her a large glass of white wine.
“If you’re playing, you’re only allowed a couple of alcoholic drinks, but if you’re not, you can drink as much as you like. What will you have, Brooke?” Stella smiled at her.
“I’ll just have a Coke, please.” She thought about how tired she had been after the champagne last night and decided not to chance alcohol again tonight.
“Coming right up.” Ben wasted no time in lining their drinks up on the polished oak bar for them.
“Hey, Brooke, Aunt Stella.” Hal Jones squeezed in beside Brooke, grinning broadly at them. Brooke had to look twice to recognize him. Hal looked totally gorgeous in black leather pants and a smart black shirt.
“Hi, Hal.” She gasped.
He looked her up and down admiringly. “Love the outfit. Have you been to these places bef
ore?”
“Yes, though not quite like this one,” Brooke said with a grin. Not only did she have the new dress, but she had put on her makeup and pinned her hair in a sort of half-up, half-down style, which showed off her curls and the length beautifully while keeping it out of her eyes.
Hal chuckled. “No one does BDSM quite like Moone.”
“You can say that again.” Fred Hammond appeared at the other side of Stella. Ben must have seen him coming because he handed him and Hal a large glass of Coke at the same time.
“Mr. Hammond, how’s Blackie?” Brooke’s voice was laced with concern for the poor horse.
“Don’t you worry about him, he’s fine, darlin’. How are you? Travis told me he found you in a ditch.” Fred frowned at her.
“I’m fine now, thank you, sir. I bumped my head and got a few more bruises but nothing serious.” Brooke looked around. Fred still wore his Stetson and cowboy boots with his Levis, but tonight he wore a smart shirt instead of the checkered ones he had always worn at the stables.
“You come back anytime you feel like a ride, darlin’. No charge, it’s the least I can do,” Fred offered with a relieved expression.
Brooke beamed at him. “Thank you so much, sir. But I’ll be happy to pay…”
“Nonsense. As soon as you’re up to it, d’ya hear?” Fred sounded quite gruff and firm about it, so Brooke decided it was best not to argue. She had already had a hard time trying to convince Stella that she should pay for her own dress earlier. She’d have to come up with a way she could repay these nice people later.
“Thank you, sir, I’d like that,” she replied meekly, giving him a shy smile.
Fred Hammond seemed happy with that.
“What do you think of the place, then?” Stella asked Brooke, gesturing to the room.
“I like it. Does it get very busy?” Brooke replied, before taking a sip of her coke.
“At weekends mostly. During the week it’s pretty quiet.”
Just then a woman screamed from the St. Andrew’s Cross, and Brooke shot around. Melinda was tied up there, her back to the room. An older man in black leathers and no shirt was using a flogger on her.
“Don’t worry about her, she’s all noise,” Stella said, shaking her head. Brooke’s strong reaction to Melinda’s passion seemed to have unnerved her.
“She loves that flogger too,” Hal said, turning back to his drink.
Brooke was looking around the room intently. “Where are the dungeon monitors?” she asked.
Fred laughed. “We don’t need them here. The sheriff or deputy is in most nights, and we guys all keep our eyes and ears open. We’d all spot trouble a mile off, not that we ever really get any.”
“Have you met Mason Bains, our sheriff?” Stella asked Brooke.
She shook her head, causing her blonde curls to fall forward on her shoulders. “No, I haven’t met the sheriff or deputy yet.”
Stella and the guys exchanged a puzzled look.
Things soon started to heat up in the club, and the sounds of moans and cries could be heard over the music. Every now and then, a loud yelp or scream would cause Brooke to jerk around in her seat, but she was pretty sure nothing bad was going on.
“You want to take a look around?” Stella asked after they had finished their drinks.
Brooke swallowed hard, but smiled. “Sure.”
“Perhaps I could show you?” A familiar voice behind her made the hairs at the back of Brooke’s neck stand up on end.
She closed her eyes momentarily and then stared at the counter in front of her, not daring to turn around. Excitement, dread, and anxiety mixed in her stomach, and she thought for a second that she was about to be sick. She took a deep breath and smelled Armani and leather.
“Fine by me. I’ll have another glass of wine please, Ben.”
It would appear that Stella had decided for her, and Brooke did her best to smile as she eventually turned around. Travis was wearing black leathers and boots, and a black blouson shirt that was open almost to his navel, allowing the hairs of his chest to peek through. To say he looked gorgeous would be a gross understatement!
His eyes seemed to widen and darken as he stared at her.
Brooke watched as Travis gazed over the swell of her voluptuous bosom and down the laces cinching her plump waist. He looked as though he wanted to devour her. His expression turned from hopeful to sultry in an instant, causing her stomach to flip. He held out a hand to her, and she purred as she took it.
“Hi, gorgeous,” he murmured and kissed the top of her head.
Brooke flushed and followed him away from the bar. She knew she should be annoyed with him for taking her away from her friends, and she still felt hurt he had betrayed her by peeking at her body without her consent, but it was hard to be angry with someone who radiated this much sex appeal and heat. She took a deep breath and reminded herself of how sexy she had found Chad just before he turned on her, and resolved not to be taken in by it.
“How much have you seen?” Travis was obviously referring to the club, but Brooke had a point to make.
“Not as much as you, obviously,” she replied curtly.
His eyes fell and he sighed sadly. She felt sorry for him and almost regretted being so brutal.
“I’m sorry, Brooke. I didn’t mean to—”
“Was it while I was unconscious or when I took a shower?” she snapped at him.
He turned to face her, running a frustrated hand through his tousled waves. He still held her hand. “The shower. It wasn’t intentional. I opened the window in the bedroom and caught your reflection in the closet mirror.”
She took a deep breath. It didn’t make it right, but she was relieved he hadn’t just peered around the corner like some cheap voyeur.
“My body’s private,” she informed him simply.
“I know, darlin’. I’m so sorry.” He placed a finger under her chin, which tilted her face up to look at him.
Her stomach flipped again. He really was the most handsome man she had ever seen, and she had to fight hard to keep her resolve not to kiss him there and then.
“Why didn’t you tell me instead of telling Kent about my body?” She jutted out her chin and concentrated on the betrayal instead of how sexy he looked.
“I didn’t know how to tell you without scaring you. I didn’t want you to think I’d been spying on you.”
“You had.”
“I didn’t mean to, darlin’, I swear.”
“So why brag to Kent about it, then?” Her eyes were steely as she spat the words out, forcing herself to dwell on the hurt and deception instead of what she really wanted to concentrate on—what those lips would feel like all over her body.
“I was worried about you. I could see you’ve been hurt, and I was hoping we could help you.”
“You can’t!” She flared at him as tears threatened the corners of her eyes.
“How do you know?”
“It’s none of your business.”
His grip on her arm tightened as she tried to turn away.
“OK, I’m sorry. We just care about you, that’s all.” His voice was calm and quiet, infuriating her all the more. She hadn’t shouted yet, but she sure felt like yelling at him. Her blood boiled, and her face turned red with frustration and anger.
She stared at his too-handsome face and wanted to slap the concerned expression from it. “I don’t need you to care about me,” she hissed, glaring defiantly at him.
Brooke expected him to apologize once again and geared herself up to deal with the hangdog expression she assumed would grace his gorgeous face. She was wrong. Travis’s eyebrow cocked up and he stared into her fuming face.
“Really?” he asked in an even voice.
Brooke started to tremble. She wasn’t sure if he was about to walk away from her for good. Dread filled her entire body, and she wondered if she had pushed him too far. After all, he had apologized, and his reasoning did sound plausible. He didn’t seem like the kind o
f guy who would peep at a girl in the shower, either. With his looks, he didn’t need to resort to dirty tricks.
She sighed, forcing herself to look away from him. She couldn’t deny that the thought of being cared for by the two gorgeous hunks would be a dream come true, but she knew she was in no position to stick around playing happy families. Much as she would love to stay, she was on her way out of there just as soon as Mother Nature allowed it. Chad would be gaining on her even if he couldn’t actually get into town yet; the floods wouldn’t last forever.
She looked back up at him, nodding sadly. “I can look after myself. Besides, I’m leaving tomorrow. I can get Stella to show me around the club tonight.” She turned to walk away from him, but he held her firm.
“I said I’ll show you the club.” His voice was low and deep.
Something about that voice had an unholy effect on her.
Travis’s demeanor changed in an instant. He stood tall and determined. He was apparently done with apologizing. “I know this place isn’t your typical BDSM club, but then Moone isn’t a typical county town. Folk here have different views on life. We tend to live and let live. So long as no one gets hurt, we can all live the way we want to. The same goes for their kinks. We don’t practice the high protocol you might be used to. We come here to have fun, not to get terrified or harmed.”
Brooke’s stomach churned as he spoke. He was like a tour guide in one respect, telling her all the facts. On the other hand, he was obviously getting across a few very personal points. She followed him over to the spanking bench, where a very pretty sub was enjoying a pleasurable session with her attentive Dom. She seemed petite with short, dark hair that fell over her face. She was naked and moaned with pleasure at each whack and rub. If she wasn’t already in subspace, she wasn’t far from it. Brooke’s pussy gushed as she imagined Travis doing that to her. She squeezed her thighs together, clenching herself. When she looked up, she flushed to see that Travis had been studying her reaction to the scene. A sly smirk crossed his face.
Ménage on Moone Mountain Page 7
