CHAPTER NINE
She was such a sucker for pain.
Nick left her reeling from his proposal. Veronica felt as though she was in the middle of the aftermath of a stand-off right after the dust settled and everyone wondered what had just happened. For her, Nick happened and turned her world upside down.
“Bella, you want me to go after him? Marlo is just a text across the street.”
Veronica had difficulty pulling her attention from Nick’s retreating back to Angelo whose face was hard. She turned to the younger man, staring at him blankly, her brain belatedly understanding what he was saying.
“Angelo, you shouldn’t be threatening and picking fights with people let alone tourists.” She scowled and looked down at the beer stein condensing in the heat. Lord, if Angelo involved his best friend Marlo, who reminded Veronica of a sumo wrestler fed with risotto and calzone, Gio would have a fit. There was no saying what Angelo’s mother would say either.
“Then why was he threatening you?” Angelo swaggered towards her.
She made an impatient sound. “Nick didn’t threaten me. He gave me a proposal.”
Angelo’s face cleared and his mouth lifted. “Of marriage?”
“No! Of --”
That’s when she saw the rest of the kitchen crew, their faces expectant.
“Get back to work.” She groused.
“I’m waiting, bella.” Angelo had the temerity to tap his foot!
“That goes for you too.” She glared at him in warning.
He snorted. “My uncle’s the owner.”
“Don’t go pulling rank with me.” She left the bar and wiped the bar stools.
“Veronica, I take care of everyone Uncle Gio is fond of. That includes you and the staff because my uncle, he trusts you. Ergo, I trust you.”
Trust. The irony. Veronica couldn’t stop shaking her head, her lips curling to one side, unable to stop the disdain she had for the word.
“Nick wasn’t doing anything bad,” she muttered.
“Except to propose to you.”
She growled. Angelo’s eyes rounded and he stepped back.
“Argh! Are all Italian men so possessive?”
Mocking amusement twinkled in the young man’s eyes. “You want me to answer that?”
“Ooohhh…get on with you!” she snapped. “We haven’t got all day to prepare for tonight with a party of twenty arriving!” She was sorely tempted to stomp her foot when Angelo guffawed.
“Seriously, cara,” Angelo said between chortles. “Your Nico, he’s got it bad for you as you have for him. Why delay the inevitable? Give it a shot. You know, whatever he proposed which I think might have something to do with the building at the end of Gerome Street.”
He nudged his head towards The Club.
“I’ve been there as a guest,” he continued. “But it’s not my--what do you British say?--not my cup of tea. So whatever floats your boat, who am I to judge?” He smiled indulgently before walking up to her to give her a kiss on the cheek before walking away.
Would wonders ever cease?
“You better get ready to leave for that building. You smell like onions and, bella, I don’t think onions would be a suitable perfume for partying there.” He tossed over his shoulder.
“But --”
“Go, Veronica!”
She slumped on one of the chairs still filled with disquiet. How could Nick ask her to enter into the very same lifestyle she fought so hard to leave? How could he suggest that experiencing the lifestyle with him would be different and more pleasurable?
And why the hell was his proposal getting more and more attractive by the minute?
Face it, Sherri. A part of you wants it.
That was the first time her conscience called her by her real name. A form of exorcism, perhaps? Veronica didn’t really know. What she did know was that she just couldn’t go through the torture again. Just the thought sent her heart tap tapping to the tune called anxiety and had her gut churning with the beat.
But the pleasure...oh the pleasure.
At times in the dark before she drifted to sleep, she’d relive the times when Christopher allowed her a peek at the zenith. And just as she came close to coming, he’d deny her orgasm but took his.
“Opportunity only knocks once, Veronica.” Angelo burst out of the kitchen in a singsong voice, went around a table before returning to the bowels of the cooking area. “Time is flying, cara.”
“I’m going! I’m going!” she hollered back, untying her apron while grumbling under her breath how men could be naggers.
* * *
“I don’t think I can do this,” Veronica whispered.
Bettina took her hand. “Oh God, your hand’s like ice!”
Veronica had called Bettina the moment she decided to take Nick’s offer. Bettina was all ears, not once did she ask Veronica why. It was Bettina who helped her pick the dress and taught her to put on make-up. Something that she seemed to have forgotten.
“I’m going back home.” Veronica shook her head. “This is a mistake.”
When she took her hand away, she teetered on her four inch heels and was falling backward. Her heart took a dive while dismay crunched her face.
“Veronica!”
“Oh shit!” Her arms flailed, trying to hold on until she hit something solid.
Warm.
Solid.
All male.
She inhaled, closing her eyes to stop her heart from flying out of her chest while breathing in the scent of musk and bergamot. Her belly fluttered, her body becoming very much aware of the man behind her. An arm snaked around her waist breaking her backward momentum.
“I’ve got you,” Nick’s deep masculine voice sent shivers from that point by her ear down to her girly bits.
“Are you okay, Veronica?” Brock rushed towards them his face filled with concern. Adam followed at the more sedate pace and they stood on either side of Bettina.
“I’m fine,” she stammered, flushing at the attention they were getting. And as though it came naturally to her, she hid her face against Nick’s chest. She sighed when his hand came up caress her bare skin.
“Let’s go inside.” Nick suggested before kissing her temple. He didn’t let go of her and Veronica nearly moaned when she felt his touch on the small of her back. While her dark blue dress demurely covered her front, it left her arms bare and dipped very low down her back all the way to where Nick’s hand was. At that moment, the heat from his hand was sending jolts of desire to her core. Something awakened within her that made her just want to feel every inch of Nick’s body against her. She blew out a breath as if that would strengthen her conflicted resolve. She shook at the thought of what she signed up for by going to The Club.
“Don’t be scared, Veronica.” Nick looked at her, his own desire blazing in his dark brown eyes.
Oh shit, she felt like melting.
“I’m not scared,” she said, her voice suddenly husky.
“Then why are you trembling in my arms?”
“Because you’re right.” She looked up, baring herself to him. “I want to know what real pleasure is. With you.”
CHAPTER TEN
Dark.
Warm.
Close.
Comfortable.
How odd that after everything, this place, The Club, would be comfortable. This was the embodiment of all she had run from, all she has been both fearful and desirous of.
The room they had entered was a bar, a dance floor, and a room designed to give privacy that was on display. A woman, tall, brown haired and commanding, waited for them just a few paces away from the entrance.
“Nicholas. This is not standard operating procedure.” There was no mistaking the rebuke in her voice.
“Mistress, my apologies. I did not realize there were restrictions--”
“I'm allowing this because Bettina and her gentlemen are well known and well respected. They tell me you have something amazingly rare planned, and I a
m intrigued. However, if you wish to use my Club again, I ask that you become a member.”
“Naturally, Mistress.”
Odd to see Nick defer to her in such a way, but she clearly did not take shit from anyone for any reason. Nick had called her mistress. There was no doubt in Veronica’s mind that she was indeed one with the woman’s tight black get up covering her from the neck down.
The woman looked at her and Veronica couldn’t stop herself from lowering her eyes. “Who is your guest?”
“Sherri--”
She dared to cut him off. “Veronica, please, sir.” Nick hadn’t told her to call him ‘Sir’, but she was inside The Club. Besides, she also wanted to be in the good graces of the Domme in front of her. And maybe, just maybe, she could immerse herself fully in this new persona, and leave the fearful, scarred Sherri behind forever.
Nick's mouth quirked up. “As you wish. Veronica. This is Mistress Tally, the owner of this fine establishment. She's allowing us in this evening, graciously.” He looked at Adam, just behind them. “Set up?”
“As usual, all safety precautions in place.”
Adam leaned down to Bettina's ear. “Just wait until you see Nick's amazing talent.”
“I had to turn people away, Master Travers.” Tally was, obviously, intrigued--but not nearly as much as Veronica was. “Perhaps you might consider another demonstration in the near future.”
“It is, of course, up to my sub.”
Tally nodded. “Adam, please allow our guests to the Magnifique.”
Adam nodded, gesturing to the door at the back of the room.
Nick kept his hand on the small of her back as they crossed the room. Veronica couldn’t stop her heart from thudding so loudly in her ears. Christopher never brought her to a club. The playroom in his house and sex with him was the only window she had to the lifestyle.
The door opened to stairs, and the little group followed them up to the top floor. Winding through the rich, warm corridors of dark wood and burgundy carpets, Adam pointed them to a door near the end of one short hall. “We had this prepared for you, just in case. It's yours for the night, no matter what.”
“Thank you.” Nick graced her with a blinding smile, laced with lust and desire as he guided her in the door of the room Adam had opened. “I will let you know in a few minutes if this goes forward.”
With a quiet snick, the two of them were isolated from the little group. Veronica turned--
She stumbled back into Nick’s broad chest, and couldn’t stop the well of fear that took residence in her stomach. There was a saddle horse in the corner. There were whips and paddles against the wall, and all she remembered was the pain. Her breathing started to spike.
“Nick...I mean Sir.” She was beginning to hyperventilate. Her eyes, wide with fear searched his and instinctively, she let out a soft whimper. She squeezed her eyes shut in an attempt to stop the waterworks. She gripped his shirt. Oh Lord, she couldn’t stop the tremors wracking her.
Nick pulled her close, shaking his head. “No, no, Veronica. No. We’re not going near those. Not at all. I should have told them to take them away.” He swore under his breath. “Oh, my sweetness. I’m sorry.”
Veronica looked up at him, still panting from the panic that swamped her. “No?”
His warm fingers found her chin and grasped gently. “You are not ready for that again. Someday, I will show you what it is really like to be flogged and spanked. Properly. But not tonight. You are still too close to that pain. Tonight, I want you to trust me. I want you to believe that I mean you no harm. And I want to show you off.”
“V...voyeurism?”
“A very special kind.” Backing them both further into the room, Nick helped her sit on the bed as he stood over her. “Have you ever heard of fire play?”
“Fire play?” The very idea was frightening.
“It is beautiful and sensual, pet.” He caressed her cheek with his fingers. “Gentle and dangerous. I don’t want to bring you back into the lifestyle with the very things that hurt you and drove you away. This is nothing, absolutely nothing like that.” Carefully, he tucked her hair behind her ear. “Say no. Say no if you aren’t ready. We can stay here, in this room, and I will make love to you all night.”
She sucked in a surprise breath, her eyes wide. Already, Nick was so different from Christopher. This was so different from what she was led to believe. Nick was gentle, soft, and yet had a powerful presence, one that comforted her, reassured her.
Made her trust him.
Her tongue wet her lips and Nick’s eyes followed its movement. The low growl he emitted made her belly clench.
“May I have a safe word, sir?”
“You choose, sweetness.”
“Christopher.” The word popped from mouth without thought.
Nick grimaced. Veronica shook her head. “No, no. I don’t want it to be a reminder. Fudge ripple. Let’s use fudge ripple.”
This time, Nick chuckled. “You love fudge ripple ice cream!”
“Yes, so when I use my safeword, it’s time for ice cream.”
The chuckle expanded into a laugh. “You’re delightful, sweetness. Now, I’m going to go finish setting up in the Magnifique. I have a request for you. If you haven’t already, I would like you shave your mound clean. No hair.”
Flashing bright red, Veronica averted her eyes. “I...did that already. Earlier today.”
“Mmm. I like that. I’m glad you did. You’ll strip and put on the robe on the door. Pull this gorgeous hair up, into a bun. I will be back for you in just a few minutes.” There was a pause. “Promise to obey me as though you were my sub, Veronica. Say it.”
She paused ever so slightly before she spoke. “I promise to obey my master and sir,”
Nick’s gaze darkened. He bent down to whisper against her mouth, “I have wanted to hear those words from your lips for so long.”
As far as first kisses went, this one had no comparison. Soft, warm, careful lips pressed against hers, his tongue tracing the seam of her mouth asking, begging for entrance. She opened, welcoming him, his taste, his tongue, his domination. He took, too, sweeping in and tangling with hers, and her toes curled. It was a marvelous feeling to be dominated again--and this time with the real power resting in her hands. She never doubted this man would obey her as she obeyed him. He was already more in tune with her than Christopher had ever been. He commanded, and she obeyed, willingly, much to her surprise. His kiss was hot, lustful and ignited her own desires, something that she thought had long since gone.
Drawing the knees-to-jelly kiss to a close, he peppered her lips with tiny little kisses, and whispered her name. “Sherri.” There was a pause. “No longer. Veronica. My Veronica. I can’t wait to show you off, show them you’re mine.”
A moment later he was gone. From her, from the room.
Daring to stand, Veronica was relieved to find that her knees had not in fact turned to jelly. She headed to the bathroom at the back of the room and slipped the dress off her shoulders as she went. It pooled around her feet as she pulled the robe around herself. Naked under the dress had been the way to go--no bothersome bra or panties to deal with.
A few moments later, Nick was slipping in the door. “Adam remembered everything. Bettina is a lucky woman.”
Veronica nodded. “Those two spoil her.”
“And I plan to spoil you.” Cocking his head to the side. “I was going to bring you in there in the dark, but… I want to see you. I want to see you naked, before we leave this room. I want to show you off. And at the same time…”
With his easy pull of the tie, the robe slipped open and she stood there, breasts bared, sex framed with the terrycloth. Seemingly unable to contain himself, Nick walked forward and palmed one of her breasts. Focusing on the nipple, he teased her to a peak. Veronica gasped as a fire blazed a trail to her core and making her wet. Nick’s focus shifted and he teased the other into a hard pearl and Veronica almost moaned. “Shit, you’re perfect.”<
br />
Those words both excited and terrified her. She wanted Nick's hands on her. All over her. The ghosts of her past with Christopher started moving in and she stiffened.
Nick tilted her chin. “Veronica.”
“Yes...sir.” She couldn’t stop the thread of tremor in her voice.
“Don’t,” he said gently but firmly. “The past doesn’t belong here. Is that understood?”
She swallowed, heaved a sigh before nodding. “Yes sir. It won’t.”
Nick smiled. “Good. Would you like to wear the robe, or shall I carry it for you? You'll need it after.”
“Whatever Sir prefers.”
When his smiled widened, her whole body tingled. “I prefer you naked.” He slipped the robe down her arms, catching it before it tumbled to the floor. His hand traced the contours of her body, and--
Nick stopped just below the curve of her ass.
Oh, no. Her alarm bled out of her eyes as they snapped up to his. His smile disappeared and in its place was the countenance of a man filled with shocked anger. His face hardened, lips tight. Without a word, and with the most tender of care, he turned her around, and knelt behind her.
Veronica knew what Nick would see. The skin at the back of her thighs just below the swell of her cheeks was crossed with white and raised angry scars. Scars etched into her body every time Christopher had taken his pleasure. The last gift Christopher had given her the night before Danny died. She was marked forever, he had said, so no other man would touch her.
The tears she tried so hard to curb finally won. They welled and fell faster than she could wipe them away. Still, Nick traced each scar with the tip of finger, following each from beginning to end.
“Can you feel anything here?” his voice was almost a whisper.
“Yes,” She nodded. “It's most superficial. There are one or two where there was nerve damage.”
His touch was curious, kind, but she heard the oath under his breath before he spoke. “Veronica. I disavow him. I disavow everything he was, everything he did to you in the name of his twisted pleasure. No Dom ever treats his sub this way and stays respected in the lifestyle. I am furious that he marked your perfect skin, and I am angry that he marked your soul.” The soft touch of his skin on her disappeared, and she found herself pulled against him as he dried her tears. “I’m sorry he did this to you, my sweetness. If I could heal your flesh and remove the reminder of what he did to you, I would. But I can mend your soul. Let me try?”
Come Fly with Me (The Club Book 21) Page 5
