Walking back into Julien’s house paralleled a life so foreign yet so natural. Nika greeted them at the door, then sprinted out.
Amid a low growl and burst of speed, the black and gold shepherd made a beeline for the back yard. Seconds later, her snarls rent the air.
“Adara, stay here, I’ll be right back.” Julien snatched his gun from the kitchen drawer and slipped out the back door.
Adrenaline scored her veins. If their stalker possessed the balls to intrude in the light of day, he either held a lot of skill or nerve, or both. Fingering the locket around her neck didn’t alleviate the anxiety building within.
Small dunes framed the generous, well-tended lawn. The floor-to-ceiling glass allowed her to watch Julien’s stiff strides toward the area where Nika stood. The shepherd sniffed at a small lump on the ground where grass met sand, growling then moving off to track her unseen quarry. When Julien reached the mass, his gaze swept the path to the beach before settling back to a small mound. Minutes later, Nika returned and sat by his side.
With dread in her heart, she watched him pull out a handkerchief and stoop to pick up what looked like a slab of meat. He gave it a cautious sniff while tilting his head, then holding the chunk away from his body. Minutes later, Nika trailed him through the kitchen door.
“What’s that?”
“Looks like we had a visitor sometime early this morning. They left Nika a nasty present…” The snap of the cabinet door closing made her jump. Very carefully, he placed the raw steak in a plastic bag. “Thank God she’s trained to not eat anything she finds…I don’t know what it’s laced with. I’ll get Conner to pick it up and send it to the lab.”
The evidence of their morning’s intruder looked innocent enough, yet life had taught her to look beneath the surface. With each passing hour, she appreciated not just her newfound freedom, but the people and dog that accompanied the new life. Someone considered Nika a threat. “How long will it take to identify the drug?”
“Couple of days.” Julien’s tight expression matched the anger in her heart. His subsequent phone conversation with Conner proved brief and to the point.
True to his word, Julien began her self-defense training with a mile-long combination run-walk down the beach. Two sets of footprints beside one set of dog prints etched the wet sand, temporary evidence of her new family. After the early afternoon discovery, she realized how easily everything could be washed away.
When they returned, the bag of meat on the counter had been replaced with Conner’s note.
“Your brother got here fast.” Acid corroded her stomach at the thought of anything happening to Nika.
“He lives fairly near. Ready for the next phase of training?”
The exercise room was more of a dojo with an American slice of workout room in the back. Black tape marked off a large square in the center.
“My brothers usually come over on the weekends if it’s nasty outside, and we spar in here. Let’s get started.”
His teaching style exuded patience, not to mention thorough explanations of the moves. He wanted her to know not just how to kick someone’s ass but the reasoning behind where to hit, the best timing, and why. He watched her mimic his movements, first evaluating her form, then giving her a target.
“Each time you throw a flurry of strikes, see it in your mind’s eye. Visualize not only your target, but the damage you intend to inflict. Since you’re not used to fighting back, this will help eliminate any split-second hesitation if the situation arises.” He grinned his satisfaction with her next burst of energy.
When Julien applied hand wraps and well-padded training gloves, determination filled every crevice of her soul. The target location moved after each blow.
Initial hits lacked energy and were tentative and soft before his encouragement and goading concentrated her will, anger, and determination through her hands. Constant chatter built her confidence and focus.
He tailored his comments to her punches as he channeled her energy into constructive action, continually evaluating her strength and form throughout. By the end of the session, she’d found unknown muscles, a small price to pay for the strength and confidence gained. His promise to rub out the kinks later kept her going until sweat covered her skin and breaths came short.
Tendrils of spicy aroma from grilling steaks drifted through her senses in the late afternoon as he further detailed the BDSM lifestyle. The remnants of his earlier poignancy became a memory as he warmed to his subject. Many of the culture’s facets appealed to her adventurous side. There were changes involved, natural and to be honest, exciting, increasing her desire to embrace many of the aspects, except for those dealing with whips.
“Julien, I’m afraid of punishment. I’ve had enough to last a lifetime.”
“Adara, you’ve not been disciplined. You’ve received abuse, plain and simple. Pain and pleasure are two sides of the same coin. It’s a matter of degree. I can prove it to you at the play party tonight. You can talk to some of the subs, learn what you can. If you decide to look further—we can talk more, see what you think.” His countenance grew serious before he continued.
“This type of relationship is not undertaken lightly. There would be lengthy discussions about limits, both yours and mine, likes, dislikes, responsibilities, and tolerances. You hold all the power, letting me know what we can and cannot do.”
“So…I can decide to not allow certain types of punishment?”
“Absolutely. And don’t forget, there are things I refuse to do, also. I will never leave a scar or permanent mark of any kind. Adara, a relationship can be any combination of anything we both agree on.”
He sounded so reasonable on the surface and everything experienced concerning him during the prior six months confirmed him a man of his word. He was asking for a chance to show her the difference between himself and her family. At the same time, he’d vowed to keep her safe. She wanted to please him, be with him. In counterpoint, if she turned away from him, the thought was unbearable. Day-to-day existence without Julien presented a bleak option.
Somewhere between the sun’s westerly slide and millions of stars capping the earth, Adara firmed her decision to keep an open mind. Julien was right about her inner strength and it was time to make her own decisions, her own path. She couldn’t do that without keeping an open mind. If, in the end, she decided to walk away, it might break her heart, but it would be her decision.
Fear comingled with excitement as she entered the great hall once again. This time, she was armed with the knowledge that she could walk away and Julien would still be there for her. She chose not to look at the wall décor until she felt stronger.
The lights remained dim yet cozy, if she could classify such a large room with all kinds of torture implements on the walls. Soft music played in the background. If she closed her eyes, it would sound and feel like an intimate haven, not the playroom from hell.
“Julien, glad you guys could make it. Adara, you look nice tonight.” The air of authority surrounding Nate always felt natural. Seeing the Crofton men in the current setting, she realized it wasn’t an air they adopted, more of a natural part of them. Whether dressed in leathers or casual work clothes, it was who they were.
The sight of Julien in leathers had taken her breath away. She’d already enjoyed cursory explorations of his physique, but the open vest exposing that wonderful expanse of lightly furred, muscular chest kept her in a state of arousal. The disappearance of the happy trail below the waistband added a certain animal charisma.
“Thank you.” She couldn’t utter more. Sudden insecurity sidled her closer to Julien as he put his arm around her shoulders.
“Hey, Nate, would you mind if later, Adara spoke with Sherri for a bit?”
“Sure, no problem. Why don’t you join us at our table when you’re ready?” He indicated a table across the room before ambling away.
Adara wore another one of those outfits. One she could never wear in public. Thanks to conversations with Julien, she knew he’d never ask. Sheer dint of will controlled the urge to fidget. A few surreptitious glances revealed other women dressed in the same type of skimpy clothes, mingling as if enjoying a cocktail party.
“Adara, remember, when you’re in here, you address a Dom as sir. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Good. Otherwise, you may speak freely tonight.”
“This looks so normal…wait…tonight? As in other times I can’t speak freely?”
“When we come in here on most nights, you won’t speak unless directed to do so. And yes, this is normal. Though you may see someone receive a spanking, any further play ends up in one of the theme rooms.”
“Theme rooms. That’s where the scenes take place. Yes?”
“Yes. Down either of the two hallways are rooms off to each side. Each is designed for a certain type of play.”
“Um, okay. Is that what you want to do with me? Do they have whips in there, too?”
“Some do, though they’re not used in the way you’ve experienced. Remember, two sides of the coin. Lear more before making a decision.” He pulled her close to his chest, bending down to murmur in her ear, “Remember when I slapped your ass? You came. All things in moderation. All things negotiable. Remember the rules I showed you? No permanent marks. And most important, you decide your limits and I will always, always respect them.”
“I remember, and I understand the difference in my head. It’s just when I see all those canes and stuff…”
“I know, sweetheart. Desensitization. We’ll get there. Be patient.”
A loud smack followed by an audible gasp made her jump and turn in his arms to find the source of the distress. On the far side of the room, Nate sat in a straight-backed chair at the end of the table. The petite blonde she’d seen earlier lay over his knees with her ass exposed. Again, he raised his hand and made contact with her cheeks using a flat-handed slap. Yet, no one else in the room seemed to even notice.
“Oh my God. It’s Nate! He’s beating her. In public. Julien, you have to stop him.”
“Easy, Adara, look closer. Look at Sherri’s face. She’s not in pain. What do you see?”
Just as Julien said, a look of ecstasy on the submissive’s face belied fear or distress. Three more smacks elicited a wiggle.
“Oh my God. She’s enjoying that? No.” Adara fidgeted under Julien’s stare. “How can she possibly enjoy that?” To her horror, she watched as Nate caressed Sherri’s bare ass before sinking two fingers between her cheeks, twisting his wrist to swirl his fingers inside.
“He’s checking to assess her response. She’s probably soaking by now.”
“Dear God.” Adara felt her breasts swell, her nipples harden, poking through the lace of her bra. There was a tingling sensation between her legs. “How can this happen?”
“Adara, look at me. Now.”
She couldn’t take her eyes off the spectacle as Nate slapped Sherri’s ass until it blushed bright pink all over.
“Adara. Look. At. Me. Now.”
The voice. Seconds ticked by as her mind struggled to decipher his words. Nervously she glanced at Julien. Heat crept up her neck, engulfing her face. A huge lump of dread formed in her throat.
“Tell me what you’re feeling. Right now.”
“F-fear.”
“Is that all?”
She shook her head, but couldn’t verbalize the chaotic thoughts tying her tongue.
Silence. For the life of her, she couldn’t answer.
Julien took her by the elbow and led her across the room and down the hall among the theme rooms.