Tiny Dancer [Divine Creek Ranch 13] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (28 page)

Camilla gazed at Ben with glowing eyes. “I’m content to take it slow and keep experimenting. I like a variation. I hope you take the classes Joseph offers at Hazelle House.”

Ben asked, “Would you like to have a Dom? Not in a formal setting, or twenty-four seven, but mainly for play at home?”

She paused before answering. “Only if it fills a need
you
have. The class would be a good place for you to determine that. Yes, I would like a Dom that had been trained by Joseph Hazelle, but only if it was a natural extension of your personality. I like giving up control, on occasion, and if it was you I was giving it to, that would make me happy. But even if you never set foot in Hazelle House, or go to a class, you’re just fine the way you are. Both of you.”

She turned her gaze to Quinten, and he nodded, as he lightly stroked the ridge of his erection through his jeans, appearing ready to move on from the small talk.

Quinten replied, “I enjoyed watching Ben use the flogger, but I think just to keep a variety in our crazy kinky sex life I’m going shopping for some feathers.”

“Oh no,” Camilla whispered then giggled. “I’m very ticklish.”

Quinten grinned evilly as he pulled her on top of him and then rolled, trapping her beneath him. She squealed as he playfully tickled her until she screamed and begged for mercy. Ben chuckled as he watched them, hoping for a lifetime of variety with her.

Camilla smiled as she listened to the music of renovation going on around her. A circular saw was in use on one side of the building, accompanied by the percussion of a nail gun and the intermittent whir of a drill. The sun was getting low in the sky outside, and soon the sounds would quiet as the workmen went home.

From behind her desk at The Twisted Bull, she could look out the door and see what would eventually become the club entryway. She was impressed with how quickly Jack had gotten a crew started on the building practically the moment cleanup was completed. It was all moving so fast, and at times, Camilla felt like she was riding a tornado.

Nothing else strange had happened at her house before she’d finally moved out of it, and everything had been fine at the club. Once she’d gotten her new Camaro, she felt like life was somewhat normal again.

Camilla looked down to the license application she was filling out and applied herself to reducing the growing pile of paperwork on her desk.

“Knock-knock.”

Camilla looked up and smiled at Spencer, who stood in the doorway. Affection lit his eyes as he smiled at her, and she was once more relieved that the bears seemed to have gotten over the hurt she’d inadvertently caused them. “Hey, boss. There’s someone here to see you. She’s waiting in the entry.”

When she stepped out of her office, Ace Webster waved at her from his position above her, where he was connecting wiring for a security system. Kemp was on a ladder across the club, running cable for more security cameras.

She’d debated with Ben and Quinten what she’d considered to be overkill on the number of security cameras being installed in the club. She’d understood that they were especially security conscious, and when she’d sat down with them, and Ace and Kemp, they’d realized that the plan she’d already come up with—with Ace’s help—provided more than adequate coverage for the entire club. They’d compromised with her on the point and she’d known that their concern was coming from their hearts and not out of a desire to control her or boss her around. She’d known that her plan was a good one but still appreciated that they were letting her have the final say.

She walked with Spencer out to the front, where a tall woman with long, black hair waited near the entryway, looking around at the progress taking place inside the club. Her skin had an exotic, dark-olive tone, and her body type reminded Camilla of the bombshell movie actresses of the 1950s. She was fresh-faced and wore her long hair pulled back in a ponytail.

She smiled as Camilla drew near and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Sylvan Anders.”

Camilla shook hands with her. “Hello, Ms. Anders. How can I help you?”

“You can call me Sylvan, or Sylvie. I know I may be jumping the gun a bit, but I heard from friends that you’re opening a nightclub here. I’m new in the area, and I’m looking for work.” Camilla noted that Sylvan stood tall and didn’t seem intimidated by all the chaos going on around them. “I’d like to apply to be a waitress in your club.”

“Great. Come with me and I’ll give you an application.”

Sylvan followed her to her office and looked around when Camilla handed her the paperwork. “Is there somewhere I could sit to fill this out? I’d like to turn it in right away.”

“Sure, if you don’t mind a little dust.”

Camilla set a folding chair up outside her office doorway, and Sylvan assured her that was all she needed. Ace and Kemp touched base with her about the security system progress before heading home. Jack came by with a change for her to approve and to check in with his workmen before they went home. Twenty minutes later, Sylvan turned in the neatly penned application, and Camilla walked her to the front door to unlock it and let her out.

Safety conscious because the parking lot still needed work and Sylvan was alone, Camilla waited until she got in her car and started it before she closed the front door and bolted it.

Quiet surrounded her as the dust settled from the workday. With all the subcontractors gone, she walked around the building, having a look at the progress. The area where the restaurant would be was enclosed already, with doorways accessing the nightclub at the front and in the rear of the building. The work was still in the early stage, but she could envision how it would look eventually.

A door slammed at the rear of the building, and Camilla wondered if that was Spencer. The lights flickered off suddenly, leaving the cavernous interior in near pitch-black. The sun had already set outside, and the meager light filtering in through the entry wasn’t enough to light her way back to her office. She reached in her pocket for her phone to make use of the mini flashlight app on it and remembered leaving it on her desk. It was silent in the building, and she wondered again where Spencer was.

Okay, self-rescuing princess, find your way back to the office without injuring yourself and call him, why don’t you? This is going to give me another nightmare for sure.

Knowing that there was a worktable set up with a saw somewhere between where she stood and her office, she held out her hands and stepped slowly in that direction. Her breathing echoed eerily in the wide-open space, and she hesitated when the toe of her boot bumped against something solid to her right.

A scuffing sound came from the back corner, and she called out, “Hello?”

No answer. A cold chill raced up her spine, and she had the distinct feeling someone was watching her.

Her heart lurched. If there was someone she knew in there, they’d respond to her. All the workmen had known that she was still there, so they would’ve left the lights on for her.

She looked back toward the dim entryway and considered making her way back to it. She could leave through the front and go around to the rear of the building and simply turn the lights on from there.

But she’d feel silly if Spencer found her wandering around outside the building because she was afraid of the dark. Besides that, overprotective as they were, Ben and Quinten would be pissed that she’d gone outside the big, deserted building after dark. They’d seen signs that someone had been rifling through the Dumpsters outside the back doors, especially since construction had started, and they wouldn’t want her back there by herself.

She was expecting Ben and Quinten any minute to take her out to supper. Her car was parked in the front parking lot.

What are my options?
Continue feeling around in the dark. Or get the hell out and wait in the car until the cavalry arrives.

Another scuffing sound, this time much closer, was followed by a thump, and Camilla made her decision.

They can tease me all they want, but my mama didn’t raise no fool!

She darted for the front entry, keeping her eyes on the barely discernible light still filtering in through the glass door, keys ready to unlock the dead bolt.

Some self-rescuing princess you are!

She yanked open the door, ready to hit the panic button on her vehicle remote if anyone ran after her, and screamed like a banshee when she collided with a rock-solid mountain. Realizing it was Spencer, she gestured to the front door.

“Someone is in there. They turned off all the lights, and I couldn’t see.”

On alert, Spencer rushed her to her car. “The last workman drove off ten minutes ago. I was outside checking things. Sorry I left you alone. Stay put. Start the car and drive away fast if anyone but me comes out that door.”

She did as he asked and was awed as she watched him turn and sprint back to the building. She wouldn’t have thought that someone so big could move so fast. Or suddenly look so lethal. He reached inside his black leather jacket and pulled a handgun from the back waistband of his jeans as he yanked open the door and disappeared inside.

How is he going to see? Damn! I should’ve given him my flashlight.

Feeling much safer knowing Spencer was with her, she grabbed the flashlight she’d placed in the glove box and ran back to the building. She switched it on as she jerked open the door and called out, “Spencer! Where are you?”

Relief flooded her when all the lights came back on, and she actually felt a little dizzy.

Camilla heard a muffled curse and then, sounding none too happy, Spencer called out, “I’m here, Cami! Wait up there by the door!”

Feeling a little foolish, she stood there waiting until she saw Spencer come through the stockroom doors.

“What happened?”

Spencer looked disgruntled as he replaced the gun at his waist and what she realized was a high-powered flashlight in his coat pocket. “The back door was hanging wide open. Either someone left it that way, or thieves were taking advantage of what they thought was a deserted construction site.”

“I heard a door slam closed in the back right after I let our visitor out the front door. I thought that it was you at first. Then all the lights went out.”

Spencer shook his head. “I was outside checking the perimeter of the building. The workmen all know to leave at least a few lights on in case you’re here or might come by.”

“What’s going on?” Ben asked, concern clear in his expression as he and Quinten came in the front door. “When we pulled into the parking lot, we saw you running to the building.”

Spencer and Camilla explained, and she could tell her men were not pleased when she mentioned the part about running back into the building to loan Spencer her flashlight. Spencer told them he needed to give the building one final sweep before they left for the evening.

Quinten gave her a significant look before glancing at Ben and said, “I’ll help.”

Ben walked her to her office to collect her belongings. She could hardly make eye contact with him because she knew he was upset.

“Are you mad at me?”

“A little. Yes. What were you thinking, running back into a potentially dangerous situation?”

“I didn’t realize Spencer had a flashlight. I thought he’d need it. I felt safe with him.”

“I’m glad, sugar. We want you to feel safe, but what if he’d been outnumbered? What did he tell you to do?”

Shit!
She told him, and he faced her, hands braced on his hips, looking oh-so sexy…and pissed.

“What part of what
you
did was what
he
instructed you to do?”

She bit her lip. If she were standing in front of Joseph, this was the part where she knew she was about to get her booty whooped.

“I’m sorry.”

“We’re having a talk tonight and establishing some rules and guidelines for you.”

“What?” Part of her bristled at his tone and his high-handed attitude, but then her inner submissive rolled over and showed her belly.

“First, and most important. You are never to knowingly endanger yourself ever again.”

Well, I can’t argue with that one, now, can I? He sounds just like Joseph.

Ben looked at her squarely as she stood at her desk, and for a split second she thought she recognized that same steely “Dom” gaze that Joseph had used with her, only Ben created a storm of tension inside of her that had her nipples hardening and her pussy clenching.

What she’d done definitely qualified as knowingly endangering herself. She wondered if she’d earned a spanking. Hot moisture pooled in her cunt as that thought registered.

“Second. If one of the security guys, Quinten, or I give you instructions, you follow them to the letter. They’d never want you to endanger yourself like that.”

“You’re right.”

Her agreement seemed to assuage some of his indignation. “With everything else that’s happened to you lately, we can’t afford to just assume this was some vagrant wandering in.” He came to her and wrapped his arms around her. She pressed her nose against his chest and inhaled his masculine fragrance, wanting to draw some of his strength inside her, too. “Sugar, I can’t bear the thought of something happening to you. I worry when neither of us is with you, even though I know Spencer is perfectly capable of keeping you safe. If you won’t cooperate with what he tells you to do in a situation, then you might as well be out here all on your own. Unprotected.”