Essential Master (Doms of Napa Valley) (20 page)

Forcing his eyes open, he was consumed by
the fire in Steph’s gaze, and the heat radiating from Nicky. Standing just a
few feet behind her, Sir watched with approval and was that…affection in his
gaze? Zeb didn’t have time to muse on it however. Steph moved closer, her
finger under his chin, lifting his face. “I bet I could send you to subspace
very easily with this.” She dragged the flogger across his thigh, mere
centimeters from his aching cock.

“Yes, Ma’am.” He forced the words past his
suddenly dry lips. “I’ve been known to slip into subspace during a scene with
the flogger.”

She nodded before stepping back. “That’s
good to know. Because it’s one of my quirks. The idea of sending you outside of
yourself with this flogger is…arousing.” She returned to the toy cabinet and
pulled out several other items. “You know about Master’s fetish with clamps.”
She delved into a small drawer, taking out something small he couldn’t see
before straightening. “Well, it’s only preceded by his desire for anal play.”

The idea that Nicky loved anal sex wasn’t
surprising. By the man’s own admission, he loved sex with both men and women.
As Steph rejoined them, she handed Nicky the clamps and an anal plug. His ass
clenched as Nicky took the items from her. While Nicky squatted down in front
of him, the splay of Sir’s legs accented the prominent bulge resting there.
Zeb’s unease at being in their playroom disappeared as he recalled how Sir’s
cock had felt against his tongue, thrusting in and out of his mouth. Even as
he’d had fucked Steph this morning, Zeb had been unable to not wonder just how
it would’ve felt to have Sir fill his ass with his thick length.

“This is part of me, Zeb. I’m not into
heavy impact play. I can paddle your ass red if it’s what you need to come. I’m
even proficient with the flogger.” A smile tugged at his lips. “Who do you
think taught Steph? But in the end I need to see jewelry hanging from your
little nubs, to tease your ass with dildos, plugs and any other variety of toy
to get you ready for me, and know I can do anything within reason to your body,
and you’ll beg for more.” His eyes met Zeb’s. “Even more than bondage, or toys
- it’s your submission I crave.” Nicky gave a rough sigh before opening his
hand.

Nested on his broad palm were two shiny
little clamps, the inside of them covered with leather padding and a small
screw to tighten them, along with a thin leather collar.
Symbols of ownership
. Zeb’s heart began to pound. Did he dare take
what Nicholaus was offering him? To give the couple in front of them what they
needed?

He looked back and forth between them. They
had included him in their relationship, had taken an interest in him outside
the bedroom - something Allison had never done, and given him a taste over the
past month of what being their submissive would be like. He was tired of taking
it slow. He wanted them. Slowly releasing the chain, he lightly touched the
offerings before meeting his Sir’s eyes.

“Then I offer it to both of you, if you’ll
have me.” He swallowed hard, wanting to go to his knees to offer his submission
in the most basic of forms. As he slipped down to his knees though, he was only
there for a moment before Nicky hauled him upright with an uttered oath and
kissed the breath right out of him.

Chapter Nineteen

Zebadiah
rapped on Ethan's office door. After spending the rest of the evening with Sir
and Ma'am, he'd only come home late last night to find a note hanging from a magnet
on the fridge. Ethan wanted to talk to him. It wasn't surprising, but he really
didn't want to hear once more how Ethan didn't think he was ready for another
relationship. It'd been nearly nine months since the attack and for the first
time in a long time he felt almost like his old self. For that he had Nicky and
Steph to thank. Their acceptance of his limitations and their support of not
just his re-emerging submissiveness, but also him as a person, had slowly begun
to heal the wound Allison had caused with her abuse.

"Come in, Zeb." Ethan's voice
filtered through the door.

Pushing it open, he slipped in and wasn't
surprised to find Davis sprawled out on the loveseat
. Great, just what I need. To be ganged up on by two Doms.
Mentally
girding himself for what he was sure was going to end up being an epic
confrontation, he was surprised at the first words out Ethan's mouth.

"You look good. Being with Nicky and
Steph has put a bounce back into your step." Ethan nodded as if to
himself.

Relief washed over him. "So you're not
going to tell me how I'm moving too fast and I need to slow down?"

Ethan shook his head. "No. You're a
grown man, Zebadiah, and the broken submissive you were when you first came to
us is mending."

Davis chuckled from the loveseat. "I
still say it's because he finally got laid, but if you want to lay the
improvement in Zeb's attitude on your mythical Japanese theories, go for it.”
He looked over at Zeb. “Either way, I was impressed on how you handled yourself
at the police station yesterday, Zeb. You've grown."

Zeb chuckled. "You mean I've finally
grown a pair and won't let Allison ruin my life anymore?"

A huge smile crossed Davis's face.
"Yeah, that'd be another way to put it. I talked to Steph this morning,
and she said you stood up to Allison at their place."

Sinking into the chair, Zeb sighed. "I
wouldn't stay I stood up to her, but more like held my ground. I didn't
confront her or anything, but I didn't try to run this time. It probably helped
that she wasn't trying to lunge at me. I think she was more stunned than
anything to see me. I honestly don't know if she realized I was on the premises
or not. I mean my car was there, but she probably figured if anything, I’d stay
hidden inside. But I couldn't let her try to put another wedge between us. I
just got through Steph's head that the subpoena didn't matter to me. I wasn't
about to let her presence undo what progress I'd made."

"Which is very reminiscent of the old
Zebadiah." Ethan sipped on his tea. "And that leads me to why we
wanted you to talk to you today. You're no longer the sub who needs our
constant supervision or protection."

Unease settled in the pit of Zeb's stomach.
"So is this your way of telling me I need to find a new place to
live?" His mind whirled. He could probably move into his grandfather's
home. It would mean a bit longer drive when he wanted to see Steph and Nicky,
but they were worth it.

"Nothing like that. You have a place
here until you no longer want or need it," Davis was quick to reassure
him.

Ethan nodded his agreement. "What we
really wanted to talk to you about is this upcoming weekend. We're hoping you'd
be amenable to returning to your position as a D.M. We're short staffed and
wouldn't normally ask, but Toby and Davis have a family reunion on Saturday,
and they’re planning on leaving Friday afternoon."

"Of course. You should've mentioned
earlier you needed an extra hand." He leaned forward. "You know I'm
always willing to help out. Do you need help on both Friday and Saturday?"

Davis chuckled. "See! I told you he'd
jump at the chance to help us."

Ethan glared at his partner. "You know
no one likes an ‘I told you so,’ Davis." Ethan steepled his fingers.
"We could always use an extra body on Friday, but Saturday is going to be
the issue. Which is why I need a favor.” Ethan set his cup down.

“A favor?”

“Yes. Would you be able to talk to Steph
and Nicky? We need a D.M. for the Flogging Room, and another for the Massage
Room. If they wouldn’t mind taking a shift, we can work out an arrangement on discounted
fees, or perhaps using a private room before or after club hours."

Rubbing his hands on his pants, he looked
from Ethan to Davis. What the men were suggesting wasn't unknown. In the past
they'd worked out similar offers with other Doms who'd been at the club since
its inception. So to ask Nicky and Steph to do the same, after only five
months, was a bit of a surprise.

"I can ask them, but I'm surprised you
haven't asked them yourselves." Zeb shifted, not entirely comfortable with
the idea of asking for a favor of this magnitude from his Sir and Ma'am. As a
submissive, it wasn't in his nature to demand anything from his dominants.

"Why? Because you're the perfect
bribe." Davis retorted. "Do you honestly think either of them would
be able to resist the idea of having you alone to themselves, in one of our
private rooms, for a few hours with no interruptions?"

Zeb shook his head. It was true, the very
posh private rooms were in such high demand, Ethan and Davis had to assign them
in short one hour increments. The idea of having access to one of
them...particularly the bondage one with the sex swing for a few hours of
uninterrupted fun… was enough to make him harden behind the fly of his jeans.

"All right, I'll do it." He moved
to stand. "Is there anything else?"

Ethan shook his head, returning to the
paperwork in front of him. "No, but if you could let me know their answer
as soon as possible, I'd greatly appreciate it." He scratched something on
the paper.

"No problem. I'll stop over and ask
them in person this afternoon." Zeb gave Ethan a grin. "I'll try to
make it an offer they can't refuse."

Behind him, Davis chuckled as Zeb left the
room.

"Quit worrying, Ethan. If I know
anything about our Zeb, when he puts his mind to something he’ll succeed. And
if he doesn't? I'll just cancel my trip."

* * * *

Steph
was washing her hands at the sink when she noticed Zeb's tiny Honda pull up
between her and Nicky's SUVs. Her heart leapt with happiness. While they hadn't
been expecting him, she was sure Nicky would be happy to see him once he
surfaced from his office. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she sighed
. Which gives me two hours to keep Sexy
busy.
Her womb quivered at the possibilities of having their sub at her
tender mercy for such a time.
But first,
I have to get him to agree to it.

Moving with purpose, she met him on the
porch before he had a chance to ring the bell or knock. A plan was brewing in
her head, a pleasant surprise for Nicky when he took his late afternoon break.

"Hey, Sexy, I wasn't expecting to see
you today. Is everything okay?" She couldn't resist the urge to touch him,
and brushed her fingers over his shoulder.

 
He
nodded. "Yep. I was missing you and Sir, so I thought I might bring a
basket of goodies over." He lifted a tin-foil covered plate she hadn't
noticed. "I was in a baking mood this morning, and wanted to get your
opinion on some tweaks I made to one of my Gram’s recipes. I've been playing
with a vegetarian line for my bakery. I thought you and Nicky might be willing
to be my guinea pigs?"

Steph's heart melted. The fact that he'd
brought his goodies all the way over for her and Nicky to test them when he had
a house full of taste-testers, touched her. "Well, it depends. What's in
it for me?"

"Ummm..." He seemed flabbergasted.
"My undying thanks?"

"Relax, Sexy. I was thinking of a
trade. Nicky and I will test your new creations if you help me set up a
surprise for our Master."

His lips parted as her meaning seemed to
sink in. "A sexual one, Ma'am?"

"Of course. Unless you don't feel
comfortable with the idea of putting yourself in my hands until Master surfaces
from his man-cave."

In a daring move that would've shocked her
even a week ago, he took her hand and pressed it against his cock. The hard
length seemed to grow further under her fingertips.

"Does this feel like I'm
uncomfortable, Ma'am?" His voice was husky as he continued to hold her
hand against him.

"No, it sure doesn't." She gave
him a grin before tugging him towards the door. "Come on. Follow me, but
be quiet. Even though Master is usually deaf to everything while he's working,
I don't want him to realize you're here."

Feeling like a teenager trying to not get
caught, Steph led Zeb past Nicky's closed door and down the steps to the
basement where the playroom was. Clicking on the lights as they entered, she
softly closed the door behind her.

Standing in the middle of the room, Zeb
looked around before crossing to one the counter. Setting down his plate, he
stripped off his shirt, baring his chest. Lust pulled at her as she watched the
flex of his muscles while he bent over to remove his shoes. When he finally
stood and reached for the snap on his denim shorts, she stopped him. If she saw
him in the raw, she couldn't promise herself she wouldn't take him to the
ground and fuck him until he was screaming her name.

"Leave ‘em on, Sexy." She kept
her voice firm but non-threatening.

His hands dropped from the waist to rest
comfortably at his sides. "Yes, Ma'am." His lips curled up in a
sensual smile. "Whatever my Ma'am wants."

She chuckled before heading towards their
toy cupboard. Pulling open the doors, she rummaged around, looking for some
very specific items. Deliberately taking her time, she wondered how long he
would stay on the other side of the room before curiosity sent him scrambling
to her side.