by Tara Rose
“Sounds perfect,” said Blaine. “And the parade and festival sound like fun. We should go.”
Rowena gave Carma a pointed look. “Let’s all go together. That way we can introduce Blaine to some of the townspeople.”
Carma shot Rowena a grateful look. There was no way they didn’t know that Blaine’s picture had been all over the news, but they didn’t mention it now, and it didn’t appear they were going to. Not only that, but they were willing to spend time with him, Carma and Mateo.
“I don’t know,” said Van. “Blaine might move back home when he finds out we’re all nothing but a bunch of hicks.”
“You honestly think Lake View is any better? Besides, this town is starting to grow on me.”
Van and Rowena exchanged a glance that Carma couldn’t interpret, so she sent the guys into the dining room while she helped Rowena get their lunch ready. “Thank you, Rowena.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Carma. Remember when the shit hit the fan with me and Van? You were there for us. All that crap about his uncle having embezzled money from the company was about to rain down on him in a bad way, but you stuck by us.”
Carma embraced her friend. “I was just so happy to finally see you and Van working things out. And your real friends know that he wasn’t responsible for his uncle’s actions.”
“But the town didn’t see it that way. It was thanks to you and a few others that he came out of that with the company still intact. Look, I know it’s been rough this past week for both you and Annalise, and I won’t lie to you. She was ready to string up both Blaine and Mateo Friday night when that story broke on the news. Van and I tried to stop her from racing over to Mateo’s, but even Chad and Dustin couldn’t convince her to leave it alone.”
“She’s only looking out for me.”
“I know that. I’m just letting you know that I won’t do the same thing, okay? And neither will Van. It’s obvious how much Mateo and Blaine care about you. I don’t know how this will turn out, Carma, but just know that Van and I are here for you, no matter what comes of it, okay?”
“Thanks, Rowena. That means everything to me.” Carma wiped away a tear, and then she picked up the bowl of potato salad. “Let’s go eat lunch.”
* * * *
Sunday afternoon, Carma walked into Sassy Brassy, Passion Peak’s fetish shop, with Mateo and Blaine. The shop was tucked into the string of stores along Juniper Street, across from Expressions Salon.
Briana Salmon, whom everyone called Brassy, greeted them. “Carma, it’s been too long since I’ve seen you in here. And Mateo, why haven’t I seen you in here before?” Her gaze roamed over Blaine. “Who’s your friend?”
“Blaine Peterson, meet Brassy, otherwise known as Briana Salmon.”
“Nice to meet you, Brassy.”
“Mm-mm. Nice to meet you, sugar. Have a look around, and you all know if you have any questions, just ask.”
“Thanks, Brassy.” Carma steered Mateo and Blaine away from Brassy, smiling as she did so. “I think she was about to eat you up, Blaine.”
“Bet she’s a lot of fun at a party.”
Carma grinned up at him. “Want me to give her your number? I’m sure her husband wouldn’t mind.”
“Ha-ha, Carma. You’re hysterical.” Blaine stopped in front of a display of floggers and fingered a leather one with thick straps. “I should try this out on you in one of the fitting rooms.” He glanced around. “Or better yet, in public.” He gave her a look that would melt butter. “What do you say, Carma? What if I ordered you to bend over, right here and now?”
Carma opened her mouth but nothing came out. She honestly had no idea what to say or how to react.
Blaine chuckled. “I’m teasing. Relax. But I do love the look in your eyes right now. It’s a combination of turned on and bratty. Very appealing.”
“Carma,” said Mateo, “why don’t you pick out a few things you’d like us to try on you? Anything at all. And while we’re here, we’ll buy you some proper club wear as well.”
“Okay.” Carma giggled as she began to walk around the shop with Mateo and Blaine in tow. She’d been in here before, but it had been with Rowena or one of her other friends, and they’d been the ones buying things. This was like being a kid again, and her parents had just set her loose in a candy store and told her to buy whatever she wanted, only better. Sex toys wouldn’t give her cavities or make her sick to her stomach afterwards. And, as an added bonus, she’d get to share them with Blaine and Mateo. What more could a girl want?
Chapter Twenty-Three
“Good morning. I’m Blaine Peterson here to see Jay Thomason.” Blaine watched the face of the receptionist at Notus Monday morning, hoping he wouldn’t see a spark of recognition in her eyes. This was a small town, and even though he knew not all of its residents had been tuned to the national news stations Friday night, it was entirely possible word had spread around by now that Passion Peak’s newest resident was facing possible narcotics charges in Chicago.
If she’d heard the news, it didn’t show on her face. “Oh, of course, Mr. Peterson.” She pointed toward an uncomfortable-looking sofa against the wall. “Have a seat. I’ll ask him to come down.”
Blaine perched on the edge of the sofa and glanced around at the black-and-white framed photographs on the walls. They appeared to be pictures of the town, and he smiled. Nice touch. Most of the residents worked here, so it only made sense to feature prints of their town inside the building. The doors on the elevator opened and Blaine’s boss strolled toward him, a welcoming smile on his face and his hand outstretched.
“Glad you made it, Blaine.”
“Thanks for not firing me before I even started.”
Jay patted him on the back. “Nonsense. You told me what was going on, and that’s all I ask. Honesty. Have you met Summer Andrews?” He glanced toward the receptionist, who gave them both a quick, bright smile. Blaine indicated they had met. “Good. Let’s get you upstairs to meet your lab mates, and get you started.”
The morning passed by in a blur for Blaine. Everyone he met either hadn’t heard about his pending charges back home, or they were pretending they didn’t know. By the time lunch rolled around, he’d already begun work on a project, and hardly noticed the time passing. The team he was on had ordered Chinese food delivered, so he ate some and made small talk while his thoughts drifted back to the previous evening with Carma and Mateo.
They’d purchased two outfits for Carma, a new flogger, a vibrator, and a pair of handcuffs that had intrigued her just before she confessed a cop fantasy to them in the shop. If they all hadn’t been so tired and sore from the previous couple of days, he and Mateo both would have been more than happy to fulfill that fantasy.
Blaine had been worried about this morning, and was actually glad they’d taken a break. He hoped to make up for that later this week. They were both having dinner with her tonight, and had promised to spend as much of the coming weekend with her as possible, including attending the parade and festival downtown on Saturday. Blaine wished they could all take about a month off work and spend the time together. He’d missed having Mateo around so much, and was shocked to realize that he didn’t mind sharing Carma with him.
All the fantasies of sharing a woman they’d talked about in college had been the stuff of wet dreams, and if Blaine were being honest, he hadn’t really believed an arrangement like that could work in real life for very long, but he’d been proven wrong. It was a huge turn-on to watch Mateo flog Carma, and make love to her. Did Mateo feel the same way about watching him with Carma? They hadn’t really talked about it, and Blaine knew they’d have to eventually. But for now, he was determined to enjoy this for as long as possible, and hope like hell he wasn’t summoned back to Chicago one day.
“So, how do you like Passion Peak so far?” Ian Malloy’s voice snapped Blaine back to the present. He was on Blaine’s team, and had a warm smile and a confident aura about him. He looked athletic, and Blaine wondered if
he’d played football in college.
“I like it. You a native?”
Ian nodded. “Yep. Born and bred.”
“Ever been anywhere else?”
“Not really, unless you count Denver. I did my undergrad and graduate work at the University of Denver. You went to Colorado State University, right?”
“Yes. That’s where Mateo Alvarado and I met.”
Ian smiled. “Well, if you need to know where anything in town is, just let me know. And be sure to check out the parade and festival this weekend downtown. That’s the highlight of our summer here.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. Already going with some friends.”
“Good. I’ll probably see you there.”
Blaine hadn’t considered that until now. He’d most likely see his coworkers a lot from now on. What would they think when they figured out that he and Mateo both were dating Carma?
Was that what they were doing—dating her? Blaine wasn’t sure what they were doing, or where this was going, but he knew that he liked it. Carma was everything he’d ever fantasized about, all rolled up into one kind, caring woman with beautiful eyes that looked right into his soul.
He was in deep shit here, but he didn’t care. He was happy for the first time in so long, that he hadn’t realized how lonely he’d been until now. But what would happen if he got the call he was dreading, telling him to come home and testify? What if he were arrested? Why the fuck had this happened when he’d finally found the perfect sub and lover? It was so fucking unfair.
* * * *
Mateo found it difficult to concentrate on his work Monday morning. Not only was he picturing Carma in the red-and-black club wear they’d bought her, but once she’d confessed her cop fantasy and picked out a pair of real handcuffs, that’s all he’d been able to think about.
Each time he helped one of the ranch hands restrain a lamb so they could tag its ear, he pictured Carma in her new handcuffs, wearing her new crotchless panties and nothing else. The pens they had herded the lambs into became a cage that he and Blaine could lock up Carma inside to keep her there until they were ready to flog her and fuck her again.
And it wasn’t only the incredible sex. Watching her come out of her shell and open up to him and Blaine about her long-held fantasies was exciting. She’d buried them under shame and guilt, and had convinced herself they were wrong because of what her horrible cousin had done to her all those years ago. But they weren’t wrong. They were sexy and exciting, just like she was.
The change that had come over her the past week was remarkable, and it made him proud as a peacock to realize he’d had something to do with that. During the time he and Blaine gone to clubs in Denver, he’d listened to Blaine explain over and over about what being a Dom was supposed to be, and this was it. It was all about caring for and cherishing a submissive. A Dom literally held her life in his hands. It wasn’t only about punishment, discipline, or sex.
He had no idea if he was also a Dom to Carma as Blaine was, but he wanted to be. He and Blaine would need to talk about that. But one thing Mateo knew without asking Blaine was that they were both trying, in their own ways, not only to help Carma explore her sexuality, but to start to help her heal from the trauma of her past. It was a tenuous road, as Mateo well knew. He had issues of his own to get past.
“Looks like this batch is all set,” said Mateo, straightening up and clapping Larry Wilson on the back. “Thank you for helping today. You should be just about finished with your PT, right Larry? How much longer did your doc say you need to wait until you could return to working for Van?”
“One more week, but I hope you’ll keep me on here as well, Mateo” Larry looked so sad that Mateo was taken aback. “You and Van both could have fired me. I just want you to know how much I appreciate the fact that you didn’t.”
Mateo shook Larry’s hand, unsure what to say. It had never occurred to him to let Larry go. Everyone made mistakes. If someone had given his father second chances, he might not have drank himself to death while the rest of the family kept the business going.
“And, just so you know, I’ve decided to check out that Open Arms place. I’m starting a program there next week.”
“That’s great, Larry.”
“Yeah. I just hope they can keep it going for a while. The woman who registered me said they’re short on funds these days, and some of their programs might need to be cut.”
“Places like that always are. It’s sad, isn’t it?”
Larry nodded. “Yeah, sure is. See you tomorrow, Mateo.”
Mateo watched him walk away. His limp was no longer noticeable. Larry had healed physically, and Mateo hoped they’d be able to help him at Open Arms stay off the booze for good this time. As he prepared to go inside and wash up, he thought about what Larry had said.
Mateo loved this ranch and the business. He was grateful that Pedro took care of the paperwork end of all this so that he could do the physical work. It had helped keep his head clear these past two years, and that had kept him from blowing his brains out after Fiona’s suicide. But it hadn’t been enough to pull him out of his self-induced aversion to going out in public. Carma had done that.
Did she even know what she’d done for his mental state? Probably not. When Mateo thought of all the fantasies he’d had about Carma over the years, he realized he’d truly had no idea what she was really like. The cheerfulness he’d always admired had been nothing but a mask she wore to cover up deep pain and fear. What he’d assumed was naiveté and inexperience from shyness, or social awkwardness, was actually the manifestation of a need to protect herself from terrible memories, or from having her trust broken again.
He and Blaine had peeled back the layers to expose a vibrant, sexually curious woman who was submissive by nature, but most definitely not a doormat. She was also intelligent, with a witty sense of humor. And, she was one of the most kindhearted people he’d ever met.
Mateo couldn’t wait to see her again, and the realization he was falling for Carma hadn’t escaped his consciousness. He didn’t mind. He welcomed it. He’d been so lonely and so closed-off from everyone for years. Carma made him feel alive, and in turn, that made him want to get out more and be with others. He wanted to breathe the air in this town, and get to know its residents better, and enjoy his life for a change. All because he’d dared to take a chance and finally ask her out.
Nothing could ruin this. It simply couldn’t. He wouldn’t allow it to.
* * * *
Carma glanced up from Angela Davidson’s hair to see what all the fuss was out in the lobby, and nearly dropped the hair dryer on Angela’s head. Nash Stonecraft had walked in, and was talking to Darlene. Although he’d been a couple of grades ahead of her in school, he didn’t look anything now like he had when they’d been younger. Mateo and Blaine had introduced him to her at the club on Friday night, so she recognized him now, but the Nash she’d remembered from high school was a geeky, shy kid.
“Is Nash a client here?” asked Angela, craning her neck around the mirror at Carma’s station. “You never told me that.”
“He’s not. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him in here before. I hope everything is all right at the club.”
The second it was out of her mouth, Carma wished she could take it back. Angela’s eyes grew wide, and then she narrowed them. “What club? Indulgence? You know about that?”
Carma stared at Angela, wondering if she should just play stupid. “You mean you do?”
The two looked at each other for a few seconds, and then both burst out laughing. Angela’s face was as red as the logo on the bottle of products at Carma’s station. “Oh my God, Angela. I had no idea.”
“Hang on, don’t jump to conclusions. Brett and I went there a few times when we were trying new things to spice up our relationship.”
“What did you think of it?”
Angela grinned. “I liked it, but Brett was freaked out. Definitely not his thing. More importantly, Carma, what
did you think of it, and were you there with Mateo, or that other delicious-looking man I saw you with at dinner with the other night. Or both, perhaps? Spill it, Mandanici.”
Carma turned on the hair dryer and began to dry Angela’s hair. She avoided Angela’s grin in the mirror, and instead focused on watching Nash and Darlene, deep in conversation. What was going on? She hoped nothing further had happened with Blaine. She wished she could check her phone right now to see if either he or Mateo had left her a text or voice mail message.
Angela’s hair didn’t take long to dry, and as Carma finished, Nash was walking toward the back where the stations were, with Darlene in tow. Carma didn’t try to avoid looking at him. That would just be silly.
Nash nodded in Carma’s direction, recognition dawning in his blue eyes. Carma returned the nod, surprised that he remembered meeting her. When Carma glanced down at Angela’s reflection, she was certain the woman was going to have an orgasm right there in the chair. Her eyes followed Nash and Darlene’s progress through the shop toward the back room, but Carma knew she wasn’t watching Darlene. Angela’s face was slightly flushed and her lips were parted. Carma was surprised not to see drool collecting in the corner of her mouth.
“Ah, Davidson? You okay down there? Did I have the blow dryer on too high or something?”
“Fuck you,” muttered Angela, blushing worse than she had earlier.
Carma laughed and began to apply spray to Angela’s hair. “He’s a looker now, isn’t he? I mean, he wasn’t ugly or anything in school, but he has such a commanding presence now.”
“He’s gorgeous. What’s going on with him and Darlene?”
“Nothing. She’s devoted to Ron Carson. Don’t sweat it.”
“Thanks for the intel. So…you didn’t answer my question. Who were you at Indulgence with?”
Carma glanced around, and then lowered her voice as much as possible to still be heard above the noise in the salon. “Not for public discussion.”
