Gabriel's Light (Doms of Chicago) (13 page)

Zhenya’s face heated. She couldn’t even begin to imagine
initiating sex, let alone being brave enough to do it at her place of work.
“Really? She played with him in his office?”

“She did more than play if you get my drift. And that’s where
the bet came into play. If she could get him to come without the other party
knowing, he’d let her wear her
BenWa
balls, however
if the person figured it out…well then not only did she get her bottom warmed
for being so forward with her master, she also ended up suspended with a buzzer
against her clit. She used to say, she never knew whether she wanted to win or
not.”

Zhenya’s mind whirled. “Dear Lord.” She could only imagine what
it would like to have that kind of relationship. She hadn’t been so lucky with
Ossie. She’d waited on her master, had given him what he wanted inside their
bedroom, but their play had never moved beyond closed doors. Ossie had been too
self-conscious about the fact someone might actually realize he liked to tie up
his wife. He’d been serious in his play.

“Like I said…the somber side you’ve seen, that’s not the Gabriel
we know and love. Our Gabriel always had a ready smile. Loved to play with his
submissive, and was always there to offer a helping hand.” The wistful tone in
Nisey’s
voice was surprising, just as astonishing as the
man she was describing to Zhenya. “Damn I miss him. I hope he comes back soon.”

Reaching out, Zhenya squeezed
Nisey’s
hand in reassurance. “Of course you do. And I’m sure, one day when you least
expect it, he’ll be back…and maybe you’ll be able to introduce him to me -
because that Gabriel is one I’d love to meet.”

Nisey
nodded, and opened her mouth as if to say something else, but was interrupted
by a familiar Irish tinged voice.

“If you girls are done gossiping, Olivia and Jude are here to
escort you to a safe house they’ve arranged for you, Zhenya.”

Rolling towards the door,
Nisey
gave
Caelan
a smile. “We’ll be up in a minute,
Máister
. Let me
get her presentable.”

Concern in his amber eyes,
Caelan
nodded. “Make it snappy. I want her moved before Gabriel gets back. He’s going
to be pissed when he finds out she’s not going to Olivia’s.”

Sitting up straight, Zhenya panicked. “Where am I going then?”

“Hark is taking her in.”
Caelan
stated
softly, before slipping back out of the playroom.

“Are we talking about the same Hark - the one we were talking
about at the Mall?” Zhenya asked, her eyes widening.

Nisey
looked grim. “I’m afraid so.” Rolling off the bed, she grabbed Zhenya’s hand.
“Now move your ass. I don’t want to be anywhere in the vicinity if Gabriel
catches sight of Hark.”

Zhenya allowed herself to be tugged over to the bar. “And why’s
that? Surely the two men are reasonable.”

Nisey
arched a brow at her. “Honey, the last time Hark and Gabriel were alone in a
room together…” She shook her head. “…well, let’s just say I want my house to
remain in one piece, and leave it at that.”

Chapter
Thirteen

Humming softly to Sophia, Zhenya tried to not panic as the
minivan ate up the miles between
Caelan’s
house and
wherever
Harkahome
“Hark”
Akula
was taking her and her baby. She only could trust
Caelan’s
decision, and if he thought Hark’s place was a good place to hunker down until
Sebastene and his henchmen had been dealt with, then so did she. Taking in his
alert features and economical movements as he drove, Zhenya had to agree with
Nisey
. The man never seemed to miss anything with those
sharp eyes. He took in everything around him. Not just the traffic in front of
him, but his eyes were constantly moving, checking mirrors, the surrounding
vehicles and if she wasn’t mistaken, he was even watching behind them. Probably
for a tail, not that she thought they had one.

After her emotional breakdown in the playroom,
Nisey
had helped her gather up what she’d needed for a
short stay before escorting her out the back door to the waiting minivan. If
she hadn’t been so scared about someone trying to snatch Sophia, she would’ve
laughed at the idea of a fearsome Native American driving an old battered up
vehicle. When she’d just looked at it in confusion, the baby carrier hooked
over her arm and diaper bag over the other, Hark had just shrugged and said in
a soft but dead voice, “It runs.”

After buckling Sophia’s infant car seat securely into the back
seat with the seat belt, she’d settled down on the bench seat next to her,
while Hark loaded the back of the mini-van with Sophia’s pack-n-play, her
portable swing, and a bag of clothing for both herself and Sophia. When he’d
slid his huge form behind the wheel, she had a tearful good-bye with
Nisey
after promising to call her when she got settled, no
matter what Jude had said about keeping communications to a minimum.

“We’ll be at my home in about fifteen minutes, Ms. Zhenya.” His
voice broke through her thoughts. “But before we get there, we’ll be passing a
Wal-Mart. Do you need to stop for anything? Formula, diapers?” He kept his
voice even as he spoke for the first time in the forty minutes since they’d
pulled away from
Caelan’s
home.

Mentally running through her list, she decided she needed
diapers for Sophia and tampons for herself. “Yes, if you don’t mind. Sophia has
enough diapers for the night but she’ll probably be out by morning.” She
conveniently left out mentioning the feminine products.
Caelan
might trust him, but she sure didn’t feel comfortable asking a strange man for
such an intimate item.

“No problem.” Flicking on the turn signal he slowly decreased
speed and exited the Tri-State
Tollway
. Within
minutes he was pulling into a huge parking lot under a familiar blue and white
sign.

“If you’d like, I can sit in the car with Sophia, or you can
give me a list and I’ll grab what you need.” He placed the minivan into park.
“It’s awfully cold outside and the little one shouldn’t be out in the cold any
more than necessary.”

Chewing on her lip, she glanced down at Sophia. She was sucking
on her fist, and her eyes were finally shut. “You’re right.” She reached for
her purse on the floorboard. “If you don’t mind. It won’t take me more than a
few minutes.”

He nodded. “It’s not an inconvenience at all.” He dug into the
back pocket of his jeans, retrieving a couple of twenties out of it. Then he
handed it to her. “Here, use this. I don’t want you using your debit card. If
your stalker found you the first time that way, he’s going to be watching the
transactions, and then he’ll be able to track you down to my place.”

She opened her mouth to protest but stopped herself. He was
right. Her debit card probably was tagged, but she still didn’t feel
comfortable taking his money to pay for her daughter’s needs. She was supposed
to be taking care of Sophia. And that did not include accepting handouts from
any man. “I have money…

“You can pay me back when it’s over, Zhenya. Please?” He smiled,
the curving of his lips changing his whole face, making him look friendly
despite his huge size. “I know what it is to have to some pride - well I’ve
been accused of having more than my fair share of it, but I’d feel better if
you didn’t use your card.”

She slowly took the folded money from him. “Thanks, you’ll get
every dime of it back, I promise. I may not have a lot of money but I always
pay my debts...” Hooking her purse over her shoulder, she started to slide out
of the van.

“I don’t doubt for a moment you will.” He smiled. “Now go, so we
can get home. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving.”

Before she shut the door, she promised she’d grab some chicken
or something. “I’ll be right back. Her binky is pinned to her jacket if she
starts fussing. Just push it in her mouth and it’ll quiet her down.”

* * * *

After their quick stop at the store, where she’d picked up not
only diapers and her tampons, but also a couple of the rotisserie chickens
because the smell was driving her nuts - reminding her she hadn’t eaten since
this morning, they finally arrived at his home. She stared up the large
two-level home. It was painted a pretty shade of cream, with its burgundy trim
providing a strong contrast. It even had flower boxes around the bay window. It
definitely wasn’t what she was expecting her bodyguard to occupy.

“It’s….” She held the baby carrier.

He chuckled. “…not what you were expecting.” Unlocking the door,
he deactivated the alarm. “I shared this place with my former master and his
wife. When they died, they left it to me. It has some really good memories.” He
urged her inside. “I was lucky to have them.”

She stared at him in surprise. If someone had asked her, she’d
never have guessed Hark to be a submissive. He was
freakin
’
huge, and moved with a manner that just screamed alpha male to her. How could
he be a submissive?

He noticed her silence and sighed. “Is it going to be a problem
that I’m bi-sexual, Zhenya?”

She started. “What? Why would your sexual orientation matter to
me?”

“Well, it does to some.” He shrugged his huge shoulders. “I’ve
been spit on, jumped and even had the hell beat out of me by so-called friends
because of it.”

“Then they weren’t your true friends. I could care less about
who you sleep with. It’s a personal choice and as long as it’s consensual, then
it’s nobody’s damned business but your own.” She knew her tone was vehement
when he held both hands in supplication. She relaxed, setting Sophia in her
carrier on the couch. “I’m sorry….I didn’t mean to seem preachy. It’s my own
personal soap box.” She placed her hands on her hips. “Feel free to knock me
off of it next time.”

He chuckled. “You’re something else, Ms. Zhenya.”

“So I’ve been told.” She smiled. “If I seemed surprised earlier,
it was your mention of a Master, and it has nothing to do with your sexual
orientation. Believe me when I say I honestly don’t care who you sleep with.”

He visibly relaxed. “That’s good to know but why would my having
a Master seem odd? I know
 
Nisey
and
Caelan
had to have told
you I was in the lifestyle. I’ve been a member of Olivia’s since it opened back
in the late nineties. Not that I’ve been active in recent years. Not since
Teresina gave birth to Master’s son, Alex. We were too busy raising him to go
to the club.”

“I just wouldn’t have pegged you as a submissive, I guess.”

He grinned. “I wouldn’t classify myself a true submissive. To
the right man, I’m submissive. To the right man or woman, I’m a Dominant.”

“A true switch then.”

“Yes, now I need to go fetch the rest of your things, if we’re
done discussing my sexuality and preferences?”

An embarrassed flush stained her cheeks. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t
have…”

He squeezed her shoulder. “Nonsense. I brought you into my home,
I figure it allows you a few questions. I wasn’t expecting these, but I was the
one who opened the door about my true nature when I mentioned George as my
Master instead of by name.” He let go of her. “Now if you want to take Sophia
upstairs to the second room on the right, I think you’ll find it nicely
equipped for your needs. I dug Alex’s old crib out when
Caelan
called asking if you could stay here. I’ll be back shortly with your things.”

She nodded, relief washing over her. “Thank you.” Lifting Sophia
out of the carrier, she climbed the steps and found the room he’d directed her
to. Decorated with puffy white clouds in a blue sky above a beautiful landscape
scene, the room obviously belonged once upon a time to a small child. Laying
down her daughter on the exquisite crib built out of a cherry stained oak, she
tucked her under the lamb print blanket. Sophia stirred slightly but when she
set the binky in her mouth, her daughter sucked a few times before drifting back
off to sleep. Once she was certain Sophia was again slumbering peacefully, she
wandered around the room taking in the details of the mural painted on the
walls. The grassy meadow, which should’ve been childish was instead as if she
was staring out across a vista in the southwest. The red hues of the plateau’s
rocks were broken up with cactus and other shrubs and the skyline was decorated
with hawks. She was examining what looked like a mountain lion lying in the sun
when Hark found her.

“Supper will be ready shortly.” He peeked in on Sophia, tucking
the blanket back around her legs before joining her in front of the wall. “It
reminds me of home, and I wanted Alex to have the same view I had as a child.”

She glanced up at him. “You painted it?”

“Guilty as charged. It’s not something I take very seriously,
but George insisted I paint it when I mentioned hiring a local artist to come
in and do it. And of course what Master says goes, so…”

“…you painted it. You did a phenomenal job, Hark. If I had a
nursery for Sophia, I’d be begging you to paint something like this for her.”
She followed him out of the room, cracking the door so she could hear her
daughter cry.

He shook his head as they entered the kitchen. “No, I’m
flattered, but that mural is one of a kind…”

“I can understand.” She noticed he’d taken the chicken out of
their protective carriers. The microwave dinged as they walked in. “I
understand it has a special place in your heart. Maybe when I get my own place
I can convince you to paint something similar to it, not of the southwest - but
perhaps something from my homeland?”

He moved to the microwave, his back to her. “Perhaps. We’ll
see.” He turned back around with a plate holding three steaming baked potatoes.
After setting them on the table, he moved to the stainless steel fridge in the
corner. As he retrieved several items from its shelves, she placed a baked
potato on both of their plates.

“Your Master was quite right, you have a talent, Hark. You could
get thousands of dollars from not only parents but from real art dealers if you
let them feature your work,” she said, after he deposited butter, sour cream
and real bacon bits on the table along with a bowl of tossed salad mix.
Flopping down in the chair, he rolled his eyes at her comment.

“And I’ve heard this lecture more than once from people higher
up than you, Ms. Zhenya. I’m not an artist, just a guy who likes to paint
pretty things because I enjoy it, not to make money. Now, eat your food.” He
dug into his chicken.

“Fine, be that way.” She picked up her fork. “But don’t be
surprised if I pester you the whole time I’m here about it.”

“Then don’t be surprised if I paddle your butt for it,” he
retorted with a grin.

Sighing, she held her tongue before digging into her salad. Now
she had a feeling why he and Gabriel didn’t get along the greatest. They both
were too bossy for their own good.