KNEEL (Sins of Seven Book 1)

by Dani René

  “Knowing another man has you on his arm, in his bed, I can’t live with that, Eva.”

  “Then I can’t be with you if you’re going to have another woman kneel for you. I may not be a slave, but I’m a submissive. I’ve always needed the degradation, but from you… From you it feels dishonest. Wrong. I want…” My words trail off because I’m scared. For the first time in a long while I’m afraid of needing someone.

  Since I was sixteen I fended for myself. Yes, Carrick was there, but it was always me looking out for myself. No one else mattered. Now though, when I look at Nathan, I’m so fucking scared, I don’t know how to do this. How do I finally allow myself to be with someone fully? To give them the ultimate control.

  “Eva, you can always tell me what you need or want. I’ll change, I’ll do anything to have you wear my collar. No more other women, just me and you. We’ll set limits, we’ll put precautions in place so I’ll never do something you don’t want.”

  His sincerity causes my heart to ache. It makes my lungs struggle to breathe. But I look into his eyes when I finally admit what I want from him. “I want you to not only be my Dominant, but I want you to love me too.”

  Nate

  Her request makes me smile. “Eva.” I reach for her face, cupping her cheek gently in my hand. My thumb swipes along her lower lip, causing the light pink gloss to smudge and I imagine making her face streak with makeup while I own her. While I finally take her as mine and collar her.

  Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears as we stare at each other for a long while.

  “If you can’t see by now that I love you, I’ll spend each day for the rest of my life showing you. Yes, I want to be your Dominant, but more than that I love you so goddamn much you drive me out of my mind. Never ever question that.”

  Once again, I swipe my finger along the smooth skin of her cheek, wiping away a fallen tear. I watch her swallow, her lips part, and I wonder what she’s about to say. My chest tightens when she reaches for me. Her delicate hand on my face as she regards me with passion so fierce I’m stunned.

  “Nate, I love you too.” Five words and I know my life is complete. I know that no matter what happens from here, we’ll be okay. Things will work out.

  “Come home with me,” I ask her, lifting my thumb to my mouth, tasting the saltiness of her emotions on my tongue. When she takes a moment to answer, I know the answer will be yes. She doesn’t have a choice.

  “Okay,” she says.

  Her response has me releasing a breath I’d been holding in anticipation. Relief sags my shoulders. It won’t be long until Marissa comes strolling into my office threatening me, but if I have Eva beside me, I know I’ll be able to make it through.

  When I pull the door open, I find Carrick glaring at me from the other side. “Are you okay?” His gaze falls on my woman. He doesn’t move, as he waits for her response.

  “Yes, Rick.” She smiles, pulling away from me to circle her arms around him.

  I watch him plant a kiss on the top of her head. A friendly gesture, but it still prickles me with jealousy to see how close they are. In a way, I’m glad she had someone to go to when she needed it, but I’m possessive, and from now on, she’s mine. Only mine.

  He pins me with an angry glare, and utters his warning. “Hurt her again…” I nod before he can say anything more. He doesn’t need to tell me what I did, because I know. We’ll fight to the death for one woman. I can see he cares for her. It’s not love. Not the all-consuming affection that I have for her.

  “Thank you, Carrick, for looking after her when I couldn’t.”

  He nods, offering me a hand and releasing my girl. “If you ever need anything…” He smirks in that asshole way he’s got. I don’t know how he’s never found the right woman. Perhaps because he’s too much like me in a way. He indulges with too many women, but doesn’t allow love into the equation. But for me, there’s no more playing with others. I’ve found my one. The only one I need.

  “There might be something you can help me with. Let me get Eva home and we’ll talk later, I’ll give you a call,” I tell him, our eyes meet in understanding. Carrick has connections in far reaching places. And I have a feeling he’s the one who will be able to get Marissa out of our lives for good.

  Leading my girl down the hall, I can’t help my mind racing with a plan that will once and for all free us from an agreement that I stupidly put myself into. I want that bitch out of my life, but not just mine, Eva’s as well. Her body nestles herself into me as we get to the parking lot.

  The lights of the car blink twice when I press the key fob. Opening her door, I help Eva into the passenger seat. Rounding the car, I make my way to the driver’s side and slip into my seat. Silence lingers as we both figure out what to say. When I glance at her in the seat beside me, I can’t help smiling. It’s where she belongs.

  Her gaze is on me and a soft smile plays on her lips as they quirk into a grin. “I’m tired, Nate.”

  “We’ll be home soon,” I say, starting the engine and pulling out onto the road. Home. For me it’s always been a place to sleep, to perhaps relax, but it’s never been a place I wanted to go after a long day. Which is why I spent my time in casino’s, throwing my hard-earned money away.

  Now I realize that home is more than just a house with expensive things. It’s a place where you feel happiest. A space that allows you to be yourself, and to love yourself. And mine is with her. My home is Eva. With her forgiveness, I feel like I can finally allow myself that luxury. Love.

  The drive is silent, the air feels heavy with unsaid words and thoughts. I want to ease her fears, but I don’t know how. Pulling into the parking lot, I turn off the engine and exit the car. When I reach her door, I snatch it open, scooping Eva into my arms and carrying her into the elevator. Her face nuzzles into my neck, her steady breaths are calm, warming me all over.

  I’d like to play a scene with her, to connect with her, but I think more than anything, I just need to hold her. In the hallway, I manage to get the door open and us inside before slamming it closed with my foot. The place is in darkness as I make my way up to the bedroom—our bedroom—with her.

  She’s sleeping beside me, no questions asked. There’s no guestroom anymore. This is where she belongs and it’s where she’ll stay. I lean down, setting her on the soft navy sheet, tugging the comforter over her small frame.

  I’m about to say goodnight, but her eyes are already closed, her breathing even, and her body curled into a ball. Her long flowing hair fans over the white pillow making it seem as if she’s flying.

  She’s so goddamn beautiful.

  Leaving her, I make my way through to the living room and pull out my phone. I need to talk to Carrick about helping me. If there’s one man who can fuck over anyone it’s him. I tap the call button and wait. Three rings in, his smooth baritone comes from the other end.

  “Nate, calling so soon?”

  “Rick, we need to talk. Marissa Gallagher, she’s a client of Seven Sins,” I start.

  “Gallagher?”

  “Yeah, she’s Eva’s mother,” I respond, but he sounds as confused as I feel.

  He sighs then, frustration clear over the line. “Jesus, will she never learn.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When I found Eva, she was a runaway. Over time, she trusted me with her past, with who she was. I’d found her mother not long after Eva and I stopped…” He trails off and jealousy burns through my veins. He and my girl were together. I don’t need to know that, but he’s telling me without words that he’s there for her. That he cares.

  “Carrick, tell me what the fuck you know.”

  “Marissa came to me the night you walked in and requested Eva. She spoke to me, gave me some bullshit story that she wanted to sort out things with her daughter. I told her to fuck off, that she no longer had a daughter. I told her to leave my club and I watched her walk out. I didn’t realize what her ploy was… She must have wangled her way back in af
ter I left.” He explains slowly as realization dawns on us both. I can see his mind racing with thoughts as he rakes his hand through his hair. “The bitch infiltrated my club when I wasn’t here. Mason doesn’t know her. He has no idea about Eva’s past. So, she came to you? She wanted you because of your kink.” He says as the truth tumbles free and he sighs.

  “I want you to book The Chambers, tell her she has to be there. I’ll make sure she talks,” I tell him, confident that I know one person who is able to fix this for me. I didn’t think about asking him before because he’s busy training a new submissive. But it’s time I call in the sadist.

  “We can do that no problem, but I need to know what you have up your sleeve and I’ll do what I can. Marissa isn’t stupid, she’ll know something’s wrong, but right now, I don’t give a fuck. I’ll call in a favor, have one of my contacts take her out clean.” I know he means that offing the bitch would be an option, and as much as I’d enjoy that, it’s not going to work. Not for what I have in mind.

  “No. We need more, we need leverage,” I tell him, urging him to listen to me.

  “Okay. How?” Eva isn’t going to like it, but if her mother wants to play dirty, I can do that. I can certainly fucking do that. There’s only one man I know that can make this work, I need Carrick to provide the venue, and I’ll provide the entertainment.

  “Oliver Michaelson.”

  He’s silent, and I know he’s weighing his options. Either do this and help Eva, or allow the girl he cares for, perhaps a little too much, to walk away. Because there’s no doubt, I’ll take Eva and run if I have to. I’ll cross borders and oceans for her.

  I settle at my desk, opening my laptop poised to type an email to the one man I know can manipulate as well as he can defend. The lawyer, and sadist, and one of my best friends.

  “Call Oli, I’ll set up the room for this weekend,” Carrick says, I hear the smile in his tone. He knows as well as I do that this is going to be the death of an ice queen.

  “I’ll sort it out. Make sure she’s in The Chambers at ten on Saturday night. Also,” I say, leaning back in my chair as another idea pops into my mind. “Set up three cameras, one in each corner.” The room in question is odd shaped, almost triangular, which allows the three cameras to pick up every angle.

  “Done. See you then. And Nate,” his words halt for a moment. “Don’t hurt her again. Or I will be forced to end you.”

  “Not going to happen, Rick. She’s mine now. I love her.”

  He doesn’t say anything before the line dies and I’m typing out an email to my old friend Oli.

  Eva

  When I roll over and crack my eyes, I find the darkness wrapped around me like a warm blanket. A soft scent hangs in the air, coffee and cinnamon. Sitting up, I find myself in Nate’s bedroom. The silence is beautiful, yet disturbing. The red numbers on his alarm clock tell me it’s five in the morning. I must have slept right through.

  My body aches from the roller coaster of emotions that’ve been pulled from me in the last few days. Pulling my hair into a messy bun, I wrap the hair tie around the long strands, and get up. My feet find the plush carpet, reveling in the warmth radiating from the floor.

  I’m dressed in only a pair of panties and my bra, so I grab the white robe at the foot end of the bed and shrug it on and make my way toward the door. As soon as I pull it open I’m slammed with the scent of delicious sweet treats. There’s a candy scent, with spice, and dark chocolate wafting down the hall. When I step into the kitchen, I find Nathan in only a pair of dark gray boxers, standing at the stove making pancakes.

  With his back to me, I can’t help watching how the muscles move under the tanned smooth skin. The way they slowly pulse, tightening and releasing, which in turn, causes me to ache with need. It’s been a few days since we’ve been together, too long without him and I miss him.

  “Are you going to stand and stare at me all day?” he quips, not bothering to look at me.

  “Do you have eyes on the back of your head, Mr. Ashcroft?” I giggle, padding into the kitchen, flopping onto the stool. When he turns around, I notice how his eyes seem to lighten as he meets my gaze.

  “I have eyes wherever you are, my beautiful diamond,” he utters the words like a vow. A promise that he’s not letting me out of his sight again.

  “Good,” I smile, sitting back, and watching him flip a pancake. Who knew a man as devilish as he is could flip dough in a pan? “How long did I sleep?”

  “Seven hours. Since we got home.”

  “Have you slept at all?” I ask, as he sets a large steamy mug down in front of me filled to the brim with coffee.

  “Partially. I’ve been planning,” he responds, planting a chaste kiss on my nose.

  “Planning?”

  “Carrick and I have a plan. This weekend, we’ll get your mother off your back, off my back for good.” At the mention of the evil bitch, I can’t help shuddering. “Hey,” Nate coos and his hands cup my face, making sure I look at him. “She’s not going to hurt you anymore.”

  “I just can’t come face to face with her again, Nate.”

  “You don’t have to. If you want to come down to Sins and be there for the scene, you’re welcome to. If you don’t, then you will stay here.”

  “Scene? You’re doing a scene with her?” I squeak incredulously.

  “No, I’ve got someone who’s going to make sure she gets a taste of her own medicine,” Nate says proudly. He plants another kiss on me, this time on my lips. The warmth he exudes settles over me causing me to moan.

  “Tell me who. I want to know what you’re planning.”

  “Okay. But first, we eat.” With a flourish, he turns and finishes up the breakfast he’d been preparing for god knows how long, because when he sets a plate in front of me, it’s piled high with pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, and tomato.

  With my mind still reeling on the plan he’s got, I dig into the delicious meal. The thought of seeing my mother again is something I’d been dreading.

  One long day has passed and tonight we’re setting wheels in motion to free Nate and me from my mother’s evil clutches. Stalking into Sins feels different. The long flowing black dress Nathan bought me is incredibly tight and all eyes turn to me as I enter with his arm gently, yet possessively wrapped around me. His fingertips graze the bare skin where the dress has been cut out against my hip, to show off my smooth tanned curves.

  “You look beautiful, Sweet Slut,” Nate murmurs against my ear, causing me to tremble with an ache that tightens my belly. He’s in role. I’m his pet in here.

  “And you look handsome, Sir,” I utter, my voice dropping low so only he can hear me. We reach the bar, and I offer Dylan a smile.

  “Hey, chicka,” he smiles. His face lighting up when he sees me on Nate’s arm. Dylan has been here for far too long not to know what the clients are like. I’m sure he’s heard the stories that have filtered to me from the other toys that Nathan’s taken. Only this time, I know things are different.

  “Have a bottle of your finest champagne delivered to the back room of The Chambers, we have a private party.” Dylan nods at Nate’s command and we turn to find Mason and Savvie on stage. Her beautiful blonde hair shimmers like gold as she twirls in the air.

  “And that is our show for this evening. I trust you enjoyed it and we hope to see you again soon,” Mason smirks, bowing to the audience.

  “Do you want to do that?” Nate whispers in my ear as we head down the hallway to where tonight’s show is about to play out in one of the darkest scenes I’ll witness. I don’t know if I’ll stomach it, but from what I’ve heard of Oliver Michaelson, he’s a savage.

  “Maybe, I love the rope.” My voice is low. I know Nathan is trying to distract me, but now that we’re here, the anxiety twirls in my stomach.

  As soon as we step into the viewing room, I come face to face with a handsome man, a silver fox if you must. His full head of salt and pepper hair has more gray than black, but his face is you
ng looking. He’s dressed in a pinstripe black suit. A silver shirt and black tie under the dark jacket pop in the dimly lit room. Soft red lighting seems to make him look scarier.

  He’s tall, probably over six-feet. With his hands in the pockets of his suit pants, he turns his green stare on us. “Nathan,” he says, oozing sex, danger, and pure vengeance in his smirk. If someone could make me cower, it would be him. His clean shaven rigid jaw is angular, with a sharp nose, and severe expression, shows that this man means business.

  “Oli,” Nate shakes his hand which causes Oliver to smile. He actually grins and I’m trapped in his lure. Small dimples at the edge of his mouth appear, showing off a handsome man that I’m sure would have any woman, or man, falling to their knees.

  His gaze falls on me, pinning me with a sinful stare that almost has my knees buckling. He reaches for my hand, his touch is gentle, commanding, and utter dominance. “Please to meet you, Sweet Slut,” he breathes, his lips find my knuckles and heat sizzles through me.

  “That’s enough, Oli,” the man beside me, my Dominant, growls. Once this handsome stranger releases me, I’m tugged into Nate’s arms. “Go do your job and quit trying to steal my submissive.” The warning earns Sir a chuckle, but he doesn’t respond. Merely bows and heads out the door and into the main room.

  Nate

  When I look at Eva, I know she’s enamored with him. Oliver has a way of weaving a spell around anyone. That’s why, man or woman, he’s had them all at his feet.

  When I met Oliver in college, he took me under his wing teaching me the ways of being a Dominant. Even though I’m not a sadist like him, I find that he understood my need for humiliation. He got to the root of my problem. When I was younger, I’d been through it, humiliated because of my upbringing, of who I was. Not exactly the most popular kid in school.