Natalie Acres (16 page)

Her evening had been uneventful. She awoke pissed over the fact, too. What kind of men paid a handsome sum of money to spend the night with her and didn’t touch her?

She released an exasperated sigh and hit mental rewind, reliving the highlights of the day before. She might have gone to bed full of frustrations, but she could face the morning with a smile as she remembered the way Sebastian’s talented fingers had strummed her pussy into a tight frenzy of hot, chaotic confusion.

Flipping to her stomach, she groaned into the pillow. What had Wyatt said? Oh yes, “a day or two after tomorrow” was what he’d promised, which meant she could count on a fuck date occurring sometime within the next seventy-two hours.

She’d set her sights on right after midnight.

What the hell was wrong with her? She rolled to her back and stared at the ceiling. She seemingly had a knack for attracting men who didn’t know how to take a woman to bed and fulfill her every fantasy.

In reality, she could only blame herself. After she’d challenged Wyatt and Sebastian, defiantly refused to give them any other information, they’d said their farewells and left her to spend the night alone.

Her fingertips skimmed her lips. Bruising kisses, she mused. They hadn’t abandoned her without leaving her with something to think about. Each had given her forceful mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, breathing arousal into her body as desire threatened to consume her all night long.

She glanced down at her wrists then. Hadn’t they bound her to the bed before they’d said good night? She lifted both arms in front of her face.

Yes, she’d been bound. They’d tied her up and left her. Now she was free. Warm rays of sunshine shone in the room as if to warn her. A spotlight was on her.

“Of course,” she thought, quickly leaving the bed. Walking around the room, she checked the four corners, eyeing the crown molding in an effort to spot the tiniest of miniscule lenses.

Noticing her purse on the nightstand, she quickly crossed the room, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door, stooping to retrieve those hooker heels on her way out. Once her hand hit brass, she jiggled the lever.

To her dismay, but not necessarily her surprise, she was locked in. She wheeled around and studied the large chandelier in the center of the ceiling.

“There you are,” she mouthed, wondering if both men were observing her.

While she couldn’t see any detectable equipment, the chandelier had multiple large and small teardrop ornaments hanging from its center. The light fixture was the perfect place to conceal surveillance equipment.

“Damn it,” she grumbled, throwing herself on the bed and chastising her lame attempt for even considering a ridiculous departure. Where would she go? Better still? Why would she want to leave? Dropping her shoes to the floor, she fumbled in her purse for her cell phone and called Trixie.

Her darling sister picked up on the first ring. “Go ahead and thank me.”

“For what?” Kimberly asked. “I’m locked in a humongous bedroom that looks like a suite straight out of an ostentatious European castle. And this place has an unnecessary dungeon feel, no thanks to the limitless sex furniture.”

“Sounds like heaven.”

“Trixie, I’m locked in here for God’s sake,” Kimberly said.

“And you can stay there as far as I’m concerned. You need to come to your senses.”

“This is about Jason.”

“It’s about my sister,” Trixie said. “I love you, Kimberly. I adore my family. You know that.”

“Jason will be worried sick.”

“And you care why?”

Kimberly thought about that for a moment. Hadn’t she left his place the day before swearing she was done with him? Hadn’t she decided to take control of her life again?

“I don’t,” she quickly and confidently admitted.

“That’s a healthy start. Besides, you can only guess what he did last night when he couldn’t find you.”

“Went to the club?” Of course he would have gone to Clink. Whenever he couldn’t find Kimberly, he recruited a couple of arm ornaments and headed to the club hoping to cause a scene.

“He didn’t stay,” Trixie told her proudly. “Brock and Tristan met him at the door and told him to leave.”

“He’s been kicked out so many times, it doesn’t faze him.”

“Let’s not talk about Jason. What do you think about Sebastian?”

“Why didn’t you ask me about Wyatt?”

“I’ve already witnessed that explosive chemistry with my own eyes. You practically drool all over yourself when you see him.”

“Sebastian is no better.”

“I knew you’d feel that way. He’s a babe for sure.”

“Trixie! You’re a married woman.”

“I’m not dead. A friend of mine who frequents lifestyle clubs in Columbia described him as a walking, breathing streak of sex.”

“He is for sure.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I think he’s more man than I can handle.”

“Jason Neely was more man than you could handle. He’s not even a man, honey. He’s an animal. He fucks for kicks then leaves you to wonder where he is and when he’ll come home to you.”

“Okay, let’s get one thing straight,” Kimberly said. “I lived with the man for several years, but this past year I’ve been using him. I’ve used him for sex and nothing else.”

“Next time try fucking a vibrator. At least when they run out of juice, there’s a little warning ahead of time. Ya know?”

“No, I didn’t,” Kimberly admitted.

“They power down, little sister. They don’t have as much strength in their wiggle.”

“Sounds like Jason for sure.”

“You gotta admit, honey. Not too many men pass out in between their woman’s legs.”

Her sisters would never let her live that one down. Then again, there wasn’t just one incident. It had happened enough to send home a message. Booze mattered more than she mattered.

Kimberly narrowed her gaze on the magnificent stone fireplace in the corner of the room. In front of the hearth, an unusual piece of equipment caught her eye.

“I’m not in much better shape here. I’m horny as hell after last night and I’m stuck behind closed doors with this…this sex furniture.”

“Well, try it out then. There’s more than one way to lure a lion out of his den.”

Kimberly gnawed on her thumbnail. “You know what, big sister? You’re right.”

“Have fun,” Trixie said, laughter in her voice. “Oh and by the way, Ansley told me you were taking the week off. It’s good to know you’re willing to explore this thing with Wyatt and Sebastian. I don’t know that much about Sebastian, but you have to admire the man.”

“Admire him? Why?”

An audible gulp filled the receiver. “You don’t know?”

“What don’t I know?”

“He called Daddy Kane,” Trixie said. “I have no idea what was said, but he more or less told him you were staying in Columbia for a long weekend. Then he called him back and said he’d changed his mind. You’d be there for a week.”

“He did what?” Instant anger rolled over her.

“I think it’s admirable.”

“I think he assumed too much too soon.”

“Calm down, honey. You have to understand where the man is coming from. He went over a few things with Daddy Kane. Apparently, he believes you’ve been exploited by Jason over the years and he wanted to assure the parents he wasn’t in this for sexual thrills. I think it’s romantic.”

“I think it’s pushy as hell,” Kimberly bit out. “And it’s not romantic.”

“Oh I forgot,” Trixie drawled. “You don’t believe in romance. You’ve had such an unsatisfactory relationship that the idea of romance must be a fantastical notion. No one, not even your sisters who have provided proof to the contrary, could live happily ever after. Much less enjoy the power of romance. Right?”

“You got it,” Kimberly muttered.

“I have a feeling two men are about to prove you wrong,” Trixie said. “Don’t fuck this up, Kimberly. Don’t call Jason and don’t answer his calls. I don’t know much about Sebastian except hearsay. Wyatt, however, is a different story. I’ve spent a lot of time with him and he’s a standup guy. And Mitch says he’s crazy about you.”

“By the way, how did Mitch meet him?” Kimberly asked.

“Wyatt didn’t mention Cow Camp at all?”

“What about the camp?”

“I’m not supposed to say anything, but you know how Mitch wanted to convert the place into an adult lifestyle retreat?”

“Yes.”

“Wyatt and Sebastian tossed in some money. They each own thirty-three percent now.”

“Why didn’t Mitch come to me?”

“He actually thought about it, Kimberly. Fact is, he decided against it because he didn’t want Jason involved. He wanted to meet with you today to explain his position. Obviously, you’ll be a little tied up this afternoon.”

“Let’s hope,” Kimberly teased. After a moment of silence, she added, “Mitch should’ve talked to me. I’m family. Plus, I’m more knowledgeable about kink clubs than these guys.”

Trixie laughed. “I wouldn’t count on it. You’re the one who said there was a lot of equipment in that bedroom. Look around, baby sister. You’ve finally met your equals, maybe even your
superiors
.”

“You’d like to think so.”

“No, honey. You’d like to think so.”

They said their good-byes and Kimberly prowled around the room. At the foot of the bed, she noticed the curved padded bench. Located under the cushion, a drawer held lubricants, condoms, and vibrators of all shapes and sizes.

She shivered as she thought of the endless possibilities.

On the other side of the bed, she caught a glimpse of a box with graduating steps. At first glance, someone might confuse the container as a three-step footstool. Kimberly knew better.

She’d seen these spanking benches in lifestyle catalogues. A submissive knelt on the lower wooden platform and leaned over the elevated padded area. Her arms would then be secured by the cuffs and attached to the hooks located on the slab of wood in between. In this position, a sub’s bottom was up and her head was down.

God help her, she could only imagine the spankings.

Her gaze immediately went to the hooks next to the fireplace. Filled with leather whips and floggers, the display was enough to make a submissive long for an erotic spanking.

Next to the window, a large wooden
X
with hooks, straps, cuffs, and chains made Kimberly’s mouth water. The kind of punishment she liked most was the punishment that placed her in a vulnerable position, one everyone could view, possibly even appreciate.

Still, her favorite piece of furniture was definitely the sawhorse. Thick padding covered the classic discipline table and all sorts of toys lined the shelf underneath.

A door slammed behind her. Sebastian strolled across the room carrying a breakfast tray. “Good morning.”

“I was wondering what had happened to my hosts,” she said, eyeing the assortment of fruits and breads.

“Wyatt went down to the car to retrieve your luggage.”

“I didn’t bring anything with me. I hadn’t planned on an overnight stay.”

“One of your sisters packed a bag for you.”

“Ansley.”

He grinned. “I’ll take the fifth.”

“Tell me something, Sebastian,” she said, trying her best to cop a sexy strut as she greeted him in the center of the room. “Just how many Cartwells were behind this meeting of ours?”

His lips twitched. “You know I spoke with your father.”

“Yes.”

“And how do you feel about that?”

“You probably don’t want to know.”

“I asked,” he said, setting the tray on the floor and scooting the spanking box away from the bed. “And I’d like an answer or you can take your punishment.”

She wasn’t good at talking about her family, particularly the father who had alienated her once she’d started seeing Jason. “I’ll take the spanking.”

He pointed at the box. “I had hoped you’d be willing to start early.”

Kimberly knelt to the box, draping her arms around the curved wood and pressing her chest against the padded support. “This won’t change my mind. I might be persuaded to talk about Jason, but Daddy Kane is off-limits. We have a complicated relationship.”

“One which you caused,” Sebastian told her, selecting a nice whip—one she would’ve chosen for herself—from the wall.

Before she could say anything about his choice, he snapped the end against her bottom. The burn wasn’t intense thanks to the bodice covering her. And undoubtedly he realized why she hadn’t flinched or groaned.

Kneeling beside her, he whispered at her ear. “Do you enjoy pain, sub?”

Her pain threshold was great. He would’ve instantly known as much after the first strike.

“As long as pleasure follows, I invite the pain,” she told him.

Wearing only pajama pants, Sebastian looked like he was dressed for sex more so than bed. The buttons at his crotch stretched forward with his length and his eyes darkened.