The Heart of the Matter: A Doms of The Cage Novel (The Dom's of The Cage Series Book 2)

by P Nelson

  “That little shit,” Eric swore, and Elizabeth jumped at the vehemence in his voice.

  “My thoughts precisely.” Calla laid a hand on Elizabeth’s arm. “Elizabeth, your identity is protected by law here at The Cage. You signed a non-disclosure agreement and so did Jerry. Anonymity is sacred in the lifestyle.”

  “Obviously, this punk needs to be told again.” Eric tightened his hold on Elizabeth for a second.

  “What else did he say?” Calla asked, and by the look on Elizabeth’s face, Eric knew he wasn’t going to like the rest of the story. Elizabeth looked down at the floor and let go of Eric. Her actions were of someone who was afraid or ashamed, and he wanted to put his arms around her again. Elizabeth was under some sort of stress, and as her Dom, he wanted to make it right for her. Eric mentally shook his head. Her training Dom. He was only her training Dom. Elizabeth appeared to gather her courage as she licked her lips.

  “Jerry said he didn’t like the single Dom training, and he wanted to get back together with me.” Elizabeth shuddered as she said the words. “But I don’t trust him, and he hurt me.” She looked at Calla who nodded her head in sympathy. “I told him no. That’s when he threatened to tell my work about my fetish.” Her mouth turned down. “I couldn’t let him use me again. I just couldn’t.” Elizabeth took a deep breath. “That’s the reason why I’m quitting. I don’t want to scene with Jerry. I hate him.” She said the last words as if Eric were going to argue with her.

  “I hate him, too,” Eric replied with a small smile. He looked directly into Elizabeth’s eyes. “You told me a second ago you trusted me.”

  “I do trust you, Master Eric,” Elizabeth replied obediently.

  “Then why didn’t you come to me with this? Were you hoping to tell Calla that you quit and never see me again?” Eric let disappointment colour his voice. “You would have hurt me, Elizabeth.” He knew the admission made him vulnerable, and most of the guys in the dungeon right now would think he was a pussy Dom, but at that moment, it was true. It would have really hurt to have Elizabeth up and quit on him without an explanation. “The Dom/sub relationship is all about communication, Elizabeth. If you don’t speak to me, how am I going to know what you need?”

  “You have to know I never wanted to hurt you.” Elizabeth’s sad eyes stared up at him.

  “Unfortunately, you haven’t had much experience getting help from people,” Calla said. Elizabeth nodded at her. “Well, you’re going to have to get accustomed to people helping you and barging into your life whether you want them to or not. You’re part of our world now.” Calla smiled.

  “So is Jerry,” Elizabeth pointed out, and Eric looked at Calla. He wanted to get the asshole’s address and show him the finer points of his fists but knew he would jeopardise the name of the club. He did expect Calla to do something. “Jerry was on his last chance anyway, I think.” Calla was still looking at him. “Master Dillon had some problems with him during the initial Dom training classes, and now I know about this episode.” She turned her attention to Elizabeth. “The Cage is all about protecting subs and helping them find their submissive side. There’s no place for coercion or blackmail. You said no, which to us is as good as screaming your safe word in his face. Why don’t you go into the ladies’ room and get changed for the evening, and I’ll take care of Jerry.”

  “He said he’d be coming here tonight to play with me.” Elizabeth’s face went from hopeful excitement to grossed out in under a second.

  “There’s no way Jerry is getting onto the dungeon floor let alone playing with one of the subs, beautiful,” Eric assured her. “Why don’t you go into the changing room and look inside your locker. I’ve left you a surprise.” He winked at her. Elizabeth’s face lit up, and Eric felt like he was the luckiest man in the warehouse that night. She turned towards the doors, and he added, “There will be punishment spankings for not trusting me.” Elizabeth slowly turned back to him.

  “Yes, Master.” She agreed with a twinkle in her eye before scuttling off into the ladies’ changing room. Eric waited until the door closed behind him before he turned to Calla. He knew he was going to behave like a caveman, but he didn’t care. He was a fucking Dom, and it was time to take his balls back.

  “How the hell did this little fucker get through your tests, Calla?” Eric knew he had raised his voice, but he needed an outlet. Remembering the look of desolation on Elizabeth’s face when he first saw her broke his heart. “You’re in charge of screening the Doms and subs who play here. You almost allowed some psychopath to continue to hurt Elizabeth.”

  “Calm down, Eric.” Calla straightened her shoulders. She was a gifted psychologist and was not going to let an angry Dom browbeat her.

  “I’m not going to calm down. You fucked up,” Eric accused. The door to the dungeon swung open as he finished his words.

  “I suggest you calm the fuck down, Master Eric, or we’re going to have a problem.” The owner of The Cage came through the door and stared Eric down. He knew he was being an ass and tried to get control of his emotions.

  “Master Eric was expressing some of his concerns to me, Master Flynn.” Calla looked up at her former Master as she spoke in a calm voice. “We have a small problem with one of our trainee Doms.”

  “The one you and Master Dillon came to me about yesterday?” Flynn asked getting straight to the point. Calla nodded and filled Flynn in on everything that had happened. Eric listened impatiently wanting to know what Flynn was going to do to protect Elizabeth.

  Chapter 6

  Elizabeth stopped once she was inside the ladies’ locker room. She could hear Eric yelling at Calla from inside, but she wasn’t sure exactly what he was saying. Half turning towards the door, Elizabeth decided she couldn’t leave her friend out there to face her big, bad Dom alone.

  “I wouldn’t go back out there if I were you,” Delaney said, leaning against the wall separating the lockers from the front lounge area.

  “But I should really try and help Calla. She’s been such a good friend to me.” Elizabeth looked at the closed door and chewed her lip.

  “Calla is an amazing friend, curious little subbie, and even better shrink. She might look all cute and cuddly, but when it comes down to it, she can get her claws out like the rest of us.” Delaney shoved away from the wall and held out her hand. “You want to tell me about it?”

  “Not really,” Elizabeth replied and walked forward.

  “That’s cool, too.” Delaney fell into step beside her as she walked to her locker.

  “Don’t you have to get dressed?” Elizabeth asked trying to get the focus off her for once.

  “No, the boys cancelled at the last minute.” Delaney flopped down onto one of the chairs in the changing room.

  “Does that happen a lot?” Elizabeth opened the door to her locker. Another black box wrapped with a pink bow greeted her.

  “Nope. Which is why I’m not taking it personally.” Delaney shrugged, and Elizabeth used the mirror on the inside of the locker to look behind her. Delaney was scowling and obviously taking it very personally.

  “You want to talk about it?” she asked, removing the box from the locker.

  “Nope. I want to see what Master Eric got you tonight.” Delaney sat up in her chair like an excited puppy about to get a treat.

  “I’m not sure who’s more excited by the box, you or me.” Elizabeth smiled as she undid the bow and let it fall to the ground. She opened the lid and gasped. Delaney got up out of her chair and leaned in.

  “Oh Elizabeth. It’s beautiful. Master Eric certainly thought this purchase out for you.” Delaney remarked as she studied the black corset with pink lace accents. The matching thong was all black. Elizabeth used one finger to pick up the tiny scrap of lace.

  “He expects me to prance around in this?” Her voice was incredulous as she tried to figure out how the tiny triangle would cover anything.

  “Prance, bend over, sashay, do the splits.” Delaney’s grin got wider as she pic
ked up the corset. “Whatever pops into his devious mind. Get undressed and let me help you with the ribbons.”

  “I almost never got the chance to wear this tonight.” Elizabeth slid her jacket off and put it in the locker with her purse and the box.

  “Sometimes the transition into the kink world can be really hard.” Delaney’s voice was sympathetic. “You’re lucky you have a good Dom like Master Eric. There are so many shitty ones out there.”

  “Have you always been with Martin and Linkin?” Elizabeth asked as she wriggled out of her work skirt and panties.

  “God, no.” Delaney was concentrating on working the laces on the corset wider. “My first Dom was a total ass hat,” she commented.

  “You better not let your Doms hear you say that,” a voice called from over one side of the lockers.

  “Can it, Hartley,” Delaney responded with a grin. “Here you go, step in, and we’ll wriggle up your hips. Seriously. They buy these contraptions for us and wonder why we’re late out of the changing rooms.”

  “It’s because they’re hoping to spank us for being late.” A woman came around the lockers and walked over. “Hi, I’m Hartley.” Elizabeth felt instantly self-conscious as she wriggled her hips and did her best to get the corset in place over her naked breasts.

  “This is Elizabeth. She’s Master Eric’s training sub,” Delaney explained as she pulled until the corset finally popped into place.

  “Lucky. I had Master Gaige pre-Lilith. Honestly, he was a good Dom but so strict. Wish I could have had someone a little more fun,” Hartley commented.

  “Master Eric is strict.” Elizabeth didn’t want Hartley to think he was a pushover. Hartley only smiled back at her.

  “She likes him. That’s good.” Hartley went around Elizabeth’s back to help do her laces up with Delaney.

  “Why is that good?” Elizabeth asked as she sucked in a breath at the first pull of the laces.

  “Master Eric just needs a bit of love if you know what I mean,” Delaney answered.

  “Hartley, where are you?” A girl’s voice sounded from somewhere in the room. “If we don’t get out there, all the good Doms will be taken,” the whiny voice complained.

  “Oh, the life of an unattached sub,” Hartley lamented.

  “Sounds like you’re very attached, Hartley.” Delaney’s voice held more than a note of sarcasm. “Why do you hang out with those mean girl subs?”

  “Not all of us can be living the sub dream with two of her very own Doms,” Hartley admonished as she walked back down the row of lockers. “Until then, I get to hang with the rest of the free rangers.”

  “Good luck tonight,” Elizabeth called after Hartley, not sure what to say.

  “You, too.” Hartley smiled and disappeared around the corner.

  “She seems nice,” Elizabeth commented.

  “Hold your breath,” Delaney answered. “No, really hold your breath I’m almost done here.” Elizabeth felt the ribbons tighten, and she waited until Delaney finished tying her up. “Hartley is fantastic. She has a bit of an unhealthy infatuation with our resident porn star, but she’s a good girl. The rest of the girl gang she hangs out with can be vicious bitches. It’s not nice of me to judge, but some of the unattached subs are just waiting for the rest of the girls to fail so they can take our places.”

  Elizabeth stepped up to the floor to ceiling mirror and barely recognised the woman staring back at her. She might be curvier than some of the other subs in the club, but she looked sexy in the corset. A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye, and she wiped it away quickly. She turned to thank Delaney, but the other woman was already shaking her head.

  “Put all the shit you deal with outside of the club in a box and shove it under the bed. The dungeon is for you. It’s your time, and Master Eric will help you get what you need.” Delaney sighed, and her eyes looked sad. “Enjoy it, because when it’s done, it will break your heart.” With those last words, Delaney turned and walked down the row of lockers and disappeared into the changing room. Elizabeth glanced back at herself in the mirror. With the tiny thong covering nothing of value and her breasts spilling out of the top of the corset, she was ready to go out on the floor and meet Eric.

  Jerry and his blackmail attempt had burnt some of her enthusiasm away, but Delaney was right. She had thirty days to play with Master Eric, and she needed to seize them. He made her feel things she never experienced before, and she was honest enough to admit she wanted more, a lot more. Determined to take back control of her life, Elizabeth straightened her shoulders and walked out of the changing room and onto the dungeon floor. She spotted Eric pacing back in forth in front of the bar area. He looked up, and his eyes roamed over her body with an appreciative light. Elizabeth focused her gaze on his face as she walked through the people in the dungeon. He gave her the courage to cross the floor. About a foot away from him, she sank down into her slave pose with a couple of wobbles due to the tight corset.

  “Good evening, sub.” Master Eric’s voice intoned from above her. Elizabeth did her best to keep her gaze on the floor, her hair hiding her nervous expression.

  “Good evening, Master Eric.” Elizabeth’s voice had become breathy with excitement.

  “Are you ready to play this evening, beautiful.” Master Eric ran his hand through Elizabeth’s hair as he asked the question. He had worried the trauma of the day would keep her from coming out to meet him. She looked so vulnerable and torn a half an hour ago standing in the reception area. Eric wanted nothing more than to wring Jerry’s Dom poser neck. A seething anger still burned under his skin, but he did his best to tamp it down. It was Elizabeth’s time, and she needed it more than she realised.

  “Yes, Master,” Elizabeth replied smoothly, the sound of her agreement going to his cock.

  “I’m happy to hear it because you’ve been a naughty sub this evening.” Eric stroked her head reassuringly as he admonished her. “You should have called me right away and told me what happened with Jerry. I’m responsible for your well-being over the next thirty days, and I demand that you communicate with me. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Master.” Elizabeth’s voice held the hint of tears, but Eric was not going to be swayed by her feelings of remorse. She would have to take her punishment like a good sub. Once she had her licks, they would be even once again.

  “Good. You will get fifty smacks with my hand this evening for not calling me,” Master Eric announced his punishment as he squatted down on his heels. Using one finger, he lifted her chin up to meet his eyes. “And, beautiful, a repeat incident will be one hundred smacks on that luscious ass of yours. I want to give them to you, so you’d better not give me an excuse.”

  “No, Master.” Elizabeth’s eyes had grown large, and Eric leaned forward and pressed a chaste kiss on her forehead.

  “Master Eric, I need to speak to you and your sub for a moment.” Flynn’s voice sounded from beside them, and Eric looked up.

  “No problem, Master Flynn.” Eric stood up and held a hand out for Elizabeth. She got up awkwardly, and Eric wondered how long it would take her to become accustomed to the corset. He would enjoy all her awkward attempts to kneel and stand in the meantime. “Master Flynn, I’d like you to meet my training sub, Elizabeth.” He introduced Elizabeth who had stepped imperceptibly closer to Eric at the sight of Flynn. The owner of The Cage was an impressive man, born to rule the boardroom and the uncontested alpha Dom of The Cage.

  “Welcome to The Cage, Elizabeth.” His voice rumbled over the sound of the DJ music. “We have spoken to your former Dom.”

  “He wasn’t really my Dom,” Elizabeth interjected, and Flynn eyebrows shot up into his hairline. “What I mean to say is he was my boyfriend, but we never played together. I wanted to, but he said that it was weird and well…” Her voice trailed off.

  “Ten smacks for interrupting another Dom while he was speaking, sub.” Master Eric grinned when she turned startled eyes on him.

  “Oh, sorry, Master Fl
ynn.” Elizabeth recovered quickly.

  “I’m sure the apology will be sweeter coming from your reddened ass, sub.” Master Flynn’s eyes studied Elizabeth before he turned his considering gaze towards Eric.

  “You were saying, Master Flynn.” Eric prompted, feeling uncomfortable under the scrutiny. Whatever Flynn saw between them was for Eric and his sub.

  “Yes, I’ve spoken to your former boyfriend and reiterated the rules of the contract he signed. Apparently, Mr Matthews was not completely aware of the legal and financial implications it would cost him should he break the non-disclosure agreement. He has been reminded.” Flynn’s voice was as hard as granite, and his jaw tightened. Eric knew he was a captain of industry, but The Cage was his baby, and he didn’t take kindly to people threatening his offspring. “As such, his membership in the Dom training class is cancelled. It appears you paid for both your memberships, and I don’t think it’s fair for you to be out of pocket. Your bank account will be refunded his portion of the money.” It was silent for a minute.

  “Thank you so much, Master Flynn.” Eric watched as Elizabeth’s face turned red as she tried to keep her emotions inside. “I don’t really know what to say.”

  “Calla tells me you’re ready to work on your sub training, and I wish you luck.” Master Flynn smiled at her, but it hardly reached his eyes. “I want you to call Master Eric or Calla if you have any more problems with Mr Matthews. He doesn’t seem like the type of man to cause any more trouble, but I’ve been wrong before.” Eric saw Flynn struggle with something before he took a deep breath and addressed them both. “Have a good evening.”

  “Thank you, Master Flynn.” Eric held out his hand. “I will take good care of her.”

  “I have a feeling you will.” Flynn shook Eric’s hand briefly before disappearing into the crowd of people in the dungeon.

  “Wow, he’s kind of a scary guy,” Elizabeth observed as she watched where Flynn had gone.