Soaring Free Read online

  Joni gave a slight nod of her head.

  “BDSM is freeing to those who want and need to give up control.” Tom moved to the sofa near the far wall and sat down. Nic followed and sat beside him.

  Gabe never removed his eyes from Joni and noticed the way her eyes perused their bodies up and down. He glanced down at her chest when her arms twitched and saw that her nipples were hard little points pressing against her shirt. When she shifted in her seat and crossed her legs and she squeezed her thighs together, he had to bite back a grin.

  She was affected by all of them and that gave him hope.

  “Small amounts of pain cause endorphins to race through a person’s system and heightens pleasure,” Gabe said in a calm modulated voice.

  “But what if the person’s not into pain?”

  “Most people aren’t.” Nic leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs, dangling his hands between his legs. “There are a few who are into masochism but the Club of Dominance doesn’t condone any hard pain. The members and staff have to read the policies and sign to agree to those rules. First and foremost a sub’s well-being is to be protected. Everyone involved in a scene knows that the motto ‘safe, sane and consensual̓ are to be adhered to at all times.”

  “Anyone breaking the rules would be thrown out and never allowed back. There are safe words in place that can and will stop play,” Tom explained. “If the sub on the receiving end of the play is unsure they can use the word ‘yellow’ which will stop a scene temporarily so the Dom, or Doms, and sub can discuss the situation and get to the uncertainty or fear their submissive is experiencing.”

  “Trust is a huge component in BDSM play,” Gabe said. “It’s the Dom’s job to make sure he reads his sub’s body language. To know that they aren’t taking her beyond her limits.”

  “And if they do?” Joni asked.

  “Then the sub uses the word ‘red̓ and everything stops.” Gabe could see her mind going over what they’d told her. He wondered if she had an inkling that she was submissive. He doubted it very much. Unless a sub had experienced BDSM or read about it, the sub would never even suspect their deferential tendencies.

  Joni’s surname was more appropriate than she would suspect. She was meek in every way except her career, which was good for him and his friends. They didn’t want a slave or an obsequious person twenty-four seven. He and his buddies wanted a woman who would submit to them in the bedroom, but stand up and be counted in every other aspect of her life.

  Joni wasn’t a pushover, thank god. He had a feeling she had been holding herself back after she’d gotten hurt. He could practically feel the passion vibrating down deep inside of her and he wanted to be around if she ever let go and let her true self out. It was going to be a delicate operation dealing with her. They didn’t want to break her, but set her free. But he suspected she was going to be a hard nut to crack. He hoped he was wrong, but after working security and having Dom training, plus the few relationships he’d had, he was damn good at reading people.

  The relationships he’d had when he was younger hadn’t lasted long and he knew that was mostly his fault. He’d always felt something was missing and after a few beers with Nic and Tom, he’d begun explaining how he felt. He wasn’t surprised when they had admitted to feeling the same.

  The day they’d met Turner Pike was the best day of their lives. Turner had called for a quote to landscape the garden at the club and after speaking to the man a few times he shocked them all by telling them they were dominants.

  When Turner had told them about BDSM and suggested they attend the Dom classes, they had jumped in with both feet and never looked back. They had played with subs learning their craft and even shared a couple of times, but none of those women had engaged their hearts.

  Joni was the first woman that held all their interest and he was determined to keep her in his life. Even if it was only as their bar manager. Hopefully in the not too distant future she would come to trust them and let them all explore the attraction they had for each other.

  Only time would tell.

  Chapter Five

  Joni didn’t want to be intrigued by what they were telling her, nor turned on, but she was. Never before had she responded to the mental images running through her mind. Then she realized it wasn’t just their words that were making her horny. It was so much more than that.

  These three men had such a commanding, confident presence she couldn’t help be drawn to them. And that wasn’t all. Yes, they were stunningly good-looking in a rugged, manly way, with their muscular physiques she’d never seen on anyone other than gym junkies before, but they weren’t over the top in the overblown way some men were. They were well proportioned. They were all over six feet give or take a few inches and although they seemed quite relaxed as they tried to explain their sexual proclivities to her, she felt like they were coiled, ready to strike at any time and she was their prey.

  There was an air of danger surrounding them, yet she knew they would never hurt her physically, which made her feel more secure than she ever had been in her life. But she wasn’t about to let her guard down because the lessons she’d had from the school of hard knocks had shown her men couldn’t be trusted.

  She’d been totally devastated when her father had left her and her mother and although she’d missed him and blamed herself since she was a small child, figuring her recent bad behavior had something to do with him walking out, that had been nothing compared to when he’d come back after years of estrangement and killed her mom by running her over.

  The pain of such betrayal had never left and neither had the anger that had turned to hatred. It didn’t matter that the police had found a medical diagnosis from a doctor claiming her father was medically insane, nor that he had been charged and institutionalized never to be released. The grief and anger somehow never left her and she had been so vulnerable when she’d met John, aka Angus. He’d just proven to her that she was right in her regards to men. She’d vowed never to let another man into her life or her guard down again.

  Her ex-boss hadn’t helped in her opinion of the opposite sex. She felt like he’d used her for the last five years and when his business had gained the notoriety he’d been aiming for, thanks to her, she’d become superfluous.

  The only thing that was a constant in her life was good old-fashioned hard work and self-reliability. Until someone proved her wrong she didn’t think she’d be changing her opinion anytime soon.

  Joni sighed when she realized she’d spaced out. When she glanced up at each of the men they were all looking at her with worried expressions on their faces, and she wondered if she’d given some of her thoughts away by her facial expressions. If she had there wasn’t anything she could do about it now, but she wasn’t about to voice any of her private thoughts.

  “Okay,” she said after thinking back over what she been last told. “The women who let men dominate them have an out if they want it. But what happens if the man or men don’t take any notice?”

  “That would never happen,” Tom said. “There are security cameras everywhere which are monitored at all times the club is open. There are dungeon monitors who scout the place to make sure the subs and Doms play by the rules.”

  “Dungeon monitor?” Joni asked.

  “Security guards, if you will,” Gabe replied. “Dungeon monitors are usually experienced Doms. All Doms take a turn as monitors. Turner made sure that every qualified dominant member agreed to volunteer as a monitor.”

  “How can a person be qualified to be a Dom?”

  “We attend classes,” Nic answered.

  “Why would you want to do that?” Joni asked.

  “We like to be in control,” Gabe began. “Being in control is a turn-on for a dominant just like giving up control is a turn-on for a submissive. Subs aren’t the only ones who have their pleasures enhanced by endorphins. It’s a rush when we can make a sub scream in ecstasy or send them deep into subspace.”

  “What’s sub
space?” Joni asked and hoped they hadn’t heard the breathless quality of her voice. She couldn’t believe all this talk was getting to her. Her pussy was so damn wet, her undies were uncomfortable, and her clit wouldn’t stop its damn throbbing. It was like her heart had somehow connected to her pussy and every time it beat her clit ached and her cunt clenched, releasing more of her cream.

  She’d never reacted this way in her life, not even with the sleazy, lying Angus, and didn’t know what to make of it.

  “Subspace is when the mind and body connect on a level so deep the sub goes into a dreamlike state. I heard Charlie say it was like floating on a cloud. Everything around her was pushed away yet she was highly aware of her Doms’ movements at all times. She likened it to being in a state of hyperawareness yet floating surrealism.” Gabe crossed his arms over his chest and waited for her response, because she was frowning again.

  “That sounds like a total contradiction.”

  “I suppose it is,” Tom said. “The only way a sub could ever know what subspace is like is if they experience it for themselves.”

  Joni narrowed her eyes at him and wondered if he was trying to challenge her into taking the bait he dangled. She may look like a dumb blonde but she wasn’t that naïve. At least not anymore. “I’ll take your word for it.”

  She decided it was time to get back to work and back onto things she knew about. “You’re going to need to order more fresh vegetables, and since Brent has e-mailed through an extensive list of fresh herbs, and from the records I can see that’s a regular occurrence, I think it would be better to set up planter boxes along the kitchen windows and grow them ourselves. That way he has whatever he needs on hand and can pick them as he needs them.”

  “That’s a great idea,” Tom said as he rose to his feet. “Do you want to handle that or should one of us?”

  “I will.”

  Tom nodded, and then looked at his cell phone when it buzzed. “We need to get out to the bar, Nic. The regulars are starting to arrive.”

  Nic nodded and stood up. “I’m glad you applied for the job, Joni. I think you are going to be a valuable asset to us.”

  Joni’s heart filled with warm fuzzies and she couldn’t stop the smile that formed on her lips. “Thank you. I’ll try not to let you all down.”

  Tom and Nic nodded and left the room.

  “What time does the bar open and what are my working hours?” Joni asked.

  “Brent and his team get here at ten to prep for lunch, although we only serve burgers and simple fare. Dinner is a little more opulent and our busiest time, but finger foods can be ordered, too. We don’t like to have people drinking with no possibility of eating, too.”

  “That’s smart. There is nothing worse than a drunk man with an empty stomach,” Joni said.

  * * * *

  “I hope that’s not from experience,” Gabe said and could have cut out his tongue when she tensed up all over. He might have hit the proverbial nail on the head with that remark, but he suspected there was much more than that to her fears with men. He nearly sighed with relief when she started talking, but cringed inside when her voice came out in that cool, professional tone again. When they’d been explaining BDSM to her, she lost that cool collectiveness she tried to portray and he loved how her light voice had a hint of huskiness come through that he hadn’t noticed before. He wished he could take his words back but he couldn’t turn back the clock.

  “Can I see the lunch and dinner menus?”

  “Sure. They’re out at the bar and bistro area.” Gabe stood and was about to help Joni, but she was on her feet and striding toward the door before he could assist her. He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration and followed.

  * * * *

  Tom glanced up when Joni and Gabe sat at the bar. Gabe handed her the lunch and dinner menus but he could tell by the expression on his friend’s face he was unhappy. Tom quirked an eyebrow at him but Gabe gave a slight shake of his head, and mouthed the word, later.

  Once Tom was finished with his order he walked closer to Joni. “Do you want a drink, love?”

  “I would love a mineral water, please.”

  Tom added ice and a slice of lemon to a cold glass, held the tap over the glass, and filled it before pushing it close to her.

  “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome. You want anything, Gabe?”

  “Cola.”

  Tom passed the cola to Gabe and watched as Joni made notes on a pad and then she grabbed her glass and slid off the stool.

  “Where are you going?” Gabe asked.

  “To talk to Brent. I want to make a few suggestions on how to improve the menu a little.”

  “He won’t like changing the menu, and they cost a lot to print.”

  “I wasn’t going to change the whole menu. In fact I think what he has on here is fine, but most of these are simple pub meals, and there is nothing wrong with that. But if he had a specials board he could add a couple of more upmarket dishes and attract more money into the hotel.

  “We can have a special board hung on the wall over there.” Joni pointed and Gabe was impressed because the board would be seen from every part of the dining room and also by patrons heading to the bar. “Plus we can have an easel-type blackboard outside on the sidewalk with prices next to the specials. If we can entice people in wanting to treat their taste buds and they know how much it will cost them in advance, I think you will get a lot more customers.”

  Gabe smiled and nodded. “I love your idea. I’ll leave you to speak with Brent.”

  The cool expression left Joni’s face when she smiled back. Tom’s breath hitched in his throat and his dick hardened at the passionate sparkle in her eyes. She was a gorgeously beautiful woman, and when she dropped her aloofness, she was captivating and seemed to glow from the inside. He so wanted to tap into that emotion she had buried deep and have it directed his and his friends’ way, but she was nowhere near ready yet.

  “What happened?” Tom asked as Nic moved up next to him.

  “I put my foot in it.”

  “What did you say?” Nic crossed his arms over his chest.

  “We were talking about drinking and food. She thought it was great that we continue to serve snack and finger food after meals are finished. She said there was nothing worse than a drunk with an empty stomach, but there was this tone to her voice. Before I could think about what I was saying, I said ‘I hope that’s not from experience’ and she clammed right up.”

  “Fuck!” Nic pointed a finger at Gabe. “I hope you haven’t ruined our chances with her.”

  “Nic, calm the hell down.” Tom nudged Nic’s side with his elbow. “You can’t argue when we have customers. You can’t accuse Gabe of anything when she’s not even ours yet. Plus, she was more than happy when she left if the smile on her face was any indication.”

  “Noticed that, too, did you?” Gabe sipped his soda.

  Tom nodded and smiled. “That little girl loves it when we praise her so I suggest you start brushing off your compliments and use them as much as possible.”

  “She was turned on when we were talking about BDSM,” Nic stated the obvious.

  “Yes, but how do we get her to agree to trying it?” Tom asked.

  “She’s mistrustful. The only way we can gain her trust is to be honest,” Gabe said.

  “So what?” Nic raised an eyebrow. “We tell her we are attracted to her and want a ménage BDSM relationship with her?”

  “Yes.”

  “Shit, Gabe. That could very well send her running in the opposite direction.”

  “I don’t think it will,” Tom said. “She was unemployed until today. She uses work to circumvent loneliness. Her career is her solace and even though she may refuse us, or laugh in our faces, I don’t think she’ll ever quit a job unless something really bad happens.”

  “How would you know that?” Nic asked.

  “When you went to the bathroom I called her last employer. This Gerrard guy co
uldn’t praise her enough. He said she was so efficient she was almost machinelike and although he didn’t want to let her go, his sister has the controlling percent of shares in the business and threatened to sell her half out from under her brother if he didn’t hire her son, his nephew.”

  “What a bitch?” Nic muttered.

  “No doubt.” Tom shrugged.

  “Does Joni know any of this?”

  “Only that he sacked her to give her position to his nephew. Not the reason why.”

  “We need to tell her,” Gabe said.

  “I agree.” Nic relaxed his stance. “If she knows the reason she was replaced had nothing to do with her, or her abilities, she may relax even more.”

  “It’s certainly worth a try,” Tom said.

  * * * *

  Joni really liked Brent. He sort of felt like the brother she’d never had. She’d rolled her sleeves up, washed her hands, donned an apron, and asked him what he wanted help with.

  He’d been surprised but had immediately put her to work chopping and dicing a ten-pound bag of onions. She would have laughed if she hadn’t known she was being tested. So without a complaint, she donned the gloves and started. She’d learned to breathe through her mouth while dealing with such pungent bulbs. Although she knew it wouldn’t stop her eyes from tearing up eventually it slowed the effects down.

  “Have you ever thought about having a specials board for a more developed palate?” Joni asked, hoping Brent didn’t get his nose out of joint.

  “This is a pub, love, not an a la carte restaurant,” Brent snorted.

  “I know that and I wasn’t going to ask you to serve escargot, nor change the menu selection. I just thought it would be nice to entice more people in if you served something more than steak and chicken parmesan. Sometimes people may want to taste something a little more elaborate.”

  “Like?” Brent checked the dishes of baked cream potatoes and other vegetable dishes his apprentices were putting into the bains-marie. He dipped a clean spoon into the sauce and tasted it.