Bound to be Tamed: Emergence, Book 2 (21 page)

“Those jackasses had the audacity to apply at
my
club first thing Monday morning. Thank God I was too distracted about Stephanie to accept their IT proposal during our meeting. I nearly pissed myself when I saw how close I’d come to signing a contract with them and—” Jason shook his head and tried to catch his breath. “Well, I just thank God you were both there and prevented the situation from getting any worse.

“May I ask you a few questions?” Jason tried to calm his racing heart, but he had more questions than he could even put into sentences.

“Go ahead. Though I’m not sure we know all the answers. We haven’t known Stephanie that long ourselves.” Dane glanced at Aiden as he asked.

The men had an obvious connection that could only come from years of experience. They were long-time lovers. And he didn’t doubt they were intimate the way they stroked each other and looked each other in the eye.

“Thank God she quit that job and never went back.”

Aiden shook his head. “Yes. Though it was tough convincing her. She’s a determined woman and independence is high on her list of priorities. You can thank Colleen for that. The woman apparently had a revolving door of men who mistreated her, giving Stephanie the backbone she needed to ensure she was never dependent on anyone.

“Entering this lifestyle has not been easy for her to swallow. She’s a natural submissive, Sir, but she’s still learning to accept that.” Aiden sobered.

Jason stared at him, unsure if he wanted to jump across the table and wring his neck for dragging Stephanie into this lifestyle or thank him for caring enough about her to save her from herself. “Are you positive she’s right for this lifestyle?”

Dane smiled. “Trust me, Stephanie doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do. She’s a strong-willed woman with her head on straight. She’s educated and damn smart.”

“When did you two meet her?”

“She lives in our building, so we’ve seen her around. She was always…frumpy is the right word,” Aiden began. “She hid from the world under dark clothes. She wasn’t fond of men, to say the least, and it took some convincing to get her to go out with us.”

Dane jumped in. “The three of us got trapped in an elevator last week as though the stars had aligned in our favor. Aiden spilled coffee on her like the true man of grace he is.” Dane smiled at his partner and then turned back to Jason. “Long story short, we discovered we all three needed someone to accompany us on dates over the weekend.

“We agreed to go to her company party on Saturday, which didn’t end up happening, and she agreed to be our fake submissive on Friday. The clincher was she fell into the role with unbelievable natural ability.”

Aiden took up the story. “After the fiasco Friday night, we asked her to quit her job and become our permanent sub. And that’s how we got to this point.”

Dane cleared his throat. “I can’t imagine how she’s going to react to finding out about you, and God, Lori.” His eyes widened. “Are you certain she’s your friend’s daughter?”

Jason remembered the folder under his hands and lifted it up. “Here’s all the information. I have no doubt.”

“Should we call her?” Aiden asked. “She’s with Lori right now. We were hoping the two of them would hit it off and Lori could help her decide if this lifestyle is right for her. But, God, Lori is her sister. That changes things.”

Jason shook his head. “Let’s not. I can’t think of anyone better to help Stephanie with this transition. Lori can assess better than anyone I know whether or not Stephanie is suitable to this lifestyle. I mean, I don’t want to doubt you, but you’re both new to the life also, right?”

“Yes.” Aiden nodded. “We’ve been attending meetings, working with Lori and practicing the lifestyle for about six months. We were looking for a third.” Aiden paused. “Does Lori know she has a sister?”

Jason nodded. “Yes, but it’s been years since we’ve discussed it. I’m sure it hasn’t occurred to her Stephanie might be that woman.”

Jason stared at both men. How had two women he’d felt responsible for both found themselves involved in the BDSM lifestyle? Lori, he understood. Jason had always been in contact with her. He’d been her only father figure. He’d worried when she’d declared she wanted to start coming to his club years ago, afraid he’d influenced her, but she’d been insistent, had already engaged in several D/s relationships and was a member of other local clubs. But Stephanie too? What were the chances?

“Forgive my interference. I want to be sure she’s safe. Is she possibly just easily swayed? Two sexy guys and all?”

“Not a chance.” Dane laughed. “Not Stephanie. Nothing about the last week has been easy for us. She’s completely scared of losing herself and her self-sufficiency. Trust me when I say that Stephanie isn’t entering this lightly.

“However, she has risen to every challenge and has proven to crave submission. We couldn’t be more humbled.”

Jason swallowed the lump in his throat. “I’ll have to take your word for it. Please don’t hurt her. I never married and have no children of my own. I love Lori as though she were my own flesh and blood. I felt a responsibility toward her as soon as her father died, and I feel the same way about Stephanie. I’d like to have a relationship with Stephanie too, if she wants it.”

Aiden nodded. “We’d never intentionally do anything to cause her distress, emotional or physical. You have our word.” Aiden pulled out his cell phone.

Jason reached out a hand to stop him. “Don’t. She’s under enough stress this week. Let’s not add this bombshell. It’s going to be very stressful for her to meet with me and learn about her father. It’s going to be doubly stressful to find out Lori is her sister. It’s been years. Let’s give her some time before we add anything to her plate. We can plan something for next week. How about meeting somewhere? All of us. That way everyone involved can be there at once.”

Aiden paused and set the phone on the desk. “Are you sure?” He narrowed his gaze. “I don’t like the idea of keeping this from her.”

“And I can’t imagine the number of things on her mind this week,” Jason added. “This is going to be a huge blow to her. Difficult to explain and even more difficult to understand. Plus, it should really come from me. I’m the one who knew their father better than anyone else. I have to go out of town this weekend. Family reunion. I’m leaving Friday at noon. Let’s wait until I get back.” He motioned at his desk and office as though that explained everything. “This meeting deserves way more than I can give it today or tomorrow.”

Dane looked at Aiden. “Maybe he’s right. She’d never be able to concentrate on her submission if she learned about this.”

“Please,” Jason pleaded. “Let’s make arrangements for next week.”

“We were planning to come to the club this Friday,” Aiden said. He shook his head and wrinkled his nose.

Jason wanted to do whatever was best for Stephanie. Since she was new to the lifestyle she would be experiencing every emotion known to mankind. He couldn’t stand the idea of adding to that. It would be hard for him to keep her identity to himself, but he owed her this. He hadn’t been there for her for most of her life. The last thing he wanted to do was alienate her by busting up a new relationship she obviously was flourishing under. Or maybe that’s exactly what he wanted to do. He worried for her. He wanted the best for her. Was she truly a submissive? Was he doing her a disservice by not trying to talk her out of the lifestyle?

There was no way she could give her submission its due chance with this bombshell of information, especially since Jason wouldn’t even be around to talk to her this week. “Like I said, I won’t be here Friday. That’ll give you three space to explore without worrying about me. If you need anything, see Carlton.”

Aiden and Dane pondered the idea in silence.

Dane finally spoke. “I’m still not sure I like this plan, but we’ll give it a try. If anything changes, anything at all, we reserve the right to tell her and connect you two.”

“Agreed.” Jason stood, wiped his hands on his pants and nodded toward the door.

Both men followed.

“Oh, take this.” Jason handed them the file on his desk. “I made a copy and put it in my safe. If you have any doubts, you won’t after you see that.”

Dane took the file. “Thank you, Sir.”

Jason felt a slight weight had been lifted off his chest. He was anxious about meeting Stephanie and discussing her father’s disappearance from her life, but he was inordinately glad she was in these two capable sets of hands who so obviously doted on and cared for her. And he was incredibly pleased to know Lori was working with her. If he had to choose anyone on the planet to help Stephanie right now, it would be Lori.

All he could do for now was hope Stephanie wasn’t making a mistake. When he met her, he’d grill the hell out of her to ensure she wasn’t being unduly coerced. Couldn’t one of Stan’s daughters be vanilla?

Chapter Fourteen

Stephanie opened the apartment door when a knock occurred at precisely eleven o’clock. Aiden and Dane had gone to visit the new club and then were heading straight to the restaurant.

She’d expected Lori at eleven, but the woman’s promptness was amazing. “Hi,” she murmured as she let Lori in. Why did she feel so shy around this lady?

“Hey.” Lori smiled broadly. She set her bag down by the door and wandered toward the living room couch. “I hope the guys gave you permission to be at ease with me. I want us to be equals when we’re together. Eye to eye.”

Stephanie had to laugh at that. She followed Lori and sat in an armchair next to the sofa. She plucked at her shirt and tiny skirt when Lori glanced back. “If you consider this equal. I’m betting you’re wearing a bra and panties.” Stephanie cringed. She was glad Aiden and Dane had allowed her to wear anything. She should be grateful. They really liked her naked.

However, the clothes they’d handed her as they left were not exactly what she would have had in mind. She tucked her legs under her, her calves making contact with her bare pussy. Finally, she crossed her arms over her breasts, anything to conceal her nipples, which insisted on remaining erect no matter what she did. The damn stimulant the guys put on her didn’t help, and the tight tank they’d decided would be a good shirt for this morning didn’t jibe.

“Been there, done that. No worries. I could take my undergarments off if you’d like?” Shit. Lori was serious.

Stephanie shook her head. “Not necessary. At least one of us should be comfortable.”

“Are you? Uncomfortable, I mean?”

Is this an inquisition?
Stephanie had the sense she was at a shrink’s office. All she needed was a chaise lounge to lie back in and she’d be ready to let the good psychologist tear into her brain. She shivered.

“Shouldn’t I be?”
Good, answer a question with a question.

Lori smiled. She was good at that. It wasn’t even fake. Try as she might, Stephanie couldn’t come up with a good reason to dislike the woman.

“You are what you are. No one can tell you otherwise. That’s the most important part of the D/s lifestyle. Aiden and Dane, well any Dom for that matter, can only make requests. You have the right to turn them down at any time. Make sure you exercise that right.”

Stephanie narrowed her gaze and shook her head. “I’m not sure about that. They have a lineup of punishments they like to use that reaches a mile long. I don’t think I’d want to disobey their wishes anytime in the near future unless I want to spend a lot of hours every day horny beyond belief without release.”

Now Lori laughed. She tipped her head back and giggled. “Isn’t that the point? I mean, the entire reason you agreed to submit to them is because you like the way it makes you feel, right?”

“I guess.”

“You hold all the power, girl. Don’t you know that?”

“Me?” Now Stephanie had to laugh. A single “Ha”. It wasn’t sincere.

Lori leaned against the arm of the chair and grew serious. “I’m not kidding. Think about it. The only way any Dom can truly be in a relationship with a submissive is if that party is willing to give over his or her power. They can’t force you.” She paused. “Well, they could, but then it wouldn’t be a willing D/s relationship at all. That’s an entire other bag of worms. You aren’t a slave. You’re a willing sub. Am I correct?”

Stephanie nodded, but tucked her lower lip between her teeth. It hurt when she bit down, but the pain grounded her.

Lori continued, “So all the power is really yours. They’re at your mercy to submit to them. Sure, it makes them feel fantastic to have your permission to manipulate you any way they see fit, but trust me, they both know if they fuck that up, you’re out of here.”

“You think?”

“Girl, I know. I’ve been on both sides. Since I’m the Domme in my current relationship, I can tell you I wake up every day relieved when I discover my sub is still there and still willing to obey me. It’s empowering and fulfilling, but even more so for her.

“Tell me you don’t get a rise out of doing their bidding?”

Stephanie thought about that for a moment. God, she was right. It was heady doing as the men demanded. It made her adrenaline pump knowing she’d pleased them and in response, it turned her on. She’d been horny more hours in the last week than her entire life. “I do,” she admitted.

“Turn around the way you see it. Instead of thinking you’re under their thumb and at their command, consider that they are at your mercy. Every time they ask for your compliance, you have the power because they have to hold their breath hoping you will obey.”