Siren Unleashed [Texas Sirens 7] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (30 page)

They wouldn’t want to leave her alone in a place they didn’t know intimately. And they wouldn’t have invited Logan in, therefore they’d used Kitten as her guardian. They really were good Doms.

“I’m supposed to text the Masters when you wake up.” She reached for her ridiculously blinged-out cell phone and started to text. “Chase asked me to text photos of you while you were sleeping. It’s all right. I only got a few where your nipples were showing. The Master will likely be very disappointed. They were concerned about your safety, Nat. They didn’t want you to think they left without a good reason. I do not know what that reason is, but I bet it was good.”

“They aren’t the only ones concerned.” Gretchen wore her spa uniform, dark pants and a spa T-shirt and sneakers. “You just left without telling us where you were going. One minute you’re up for a murder rap and the next you were gone. Damn, Nat, I was worried.”

Nat sighed. Now she would get to hear about all the ways she’d screwed up. Gretchen almost always took the negative view, but then she’d been with Hawk the longest. “Sorry, the Dawson Doms didn’t give me much choice.”

Gretchen’s dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, but it shook a little as she laughed. “I am just so shocked that you’re with those guys. Seriously, they’re hot. I like them.”

Holy crapballs. Gretchen didn’t like anyone. “Really?”

Gretchen looked down, frowning. “I’m sorry, Nat. I know I can be a pain in the ass, but I want you to be happy. I’m with Kitten on this one. You should grab them and run and not look back. Whatever happened between you and Stan, it doesn’t matter. They’re rich. They’re smart. You won’t do any time if you stick with them.”

Nat lay back. “I did not kill Stan, Gretchen.”

Gretchen frowned. “Well, I had to ask. I heard rumors about the two of you.”

“God, his wife is crazy. I never touched the man except to get rid of the knots in his traps. The man was a ball of stress.” And it brought up the question as to where Gretchen would have heard rumors. Gretchen didn’t have many friends on staff. She went into town on a regular basis, but as far as Nat knew, she didn’t have friends in town, either. How far spread were these rumors?

“Nat would not have slept with someone called the Furniture King,” Kitten said primly. “I don’t think Nat has slept with anyone since…well, she hasn’t in a while. Except for Master Ben, of course.”

“I doubt there was a lot of sleeping going on,” Gretchen replied.

Nat was well aware she was blushing. “I thought I was sleeping with Chase. Now I kind of want to sleep with both of them.”

“Nat wants a ménage.” Kitten clapped her hands.

Gretchen leaned over, frowning. “What will your parents think?”

“My parents are a D/s couple. They should think this is all their fault. If they had done a better job with teaching me to hide my sexuality, this wouldn’t be happening. Guilt. They should have instilled a whole lot of guilt in me if they didn’t want me to run off with the first two überhot rich Dom twins who need to share. I mean, seriously, they should have planned for that.”

Suddenly she really wanted to talk to her mom. Her mom would be amused by Chase and charmed by Ben. Her dad would hate them both, but that was okay because he was her dad.

And Ben and Chase would likely be horrified that she was thinking about taking them home to meet the folks.
God, move fast much, Nat?

She stopped.

“What is it?” Kitten asked, proving she was far more astute than most people gave her credit for.

“You know that little voice in your head? The one that talks to you and makes tons of sarcastic comments?”

Kitten grinned. “I call mine Miss Kitty. She’s quite vulgar.”

Gretchen shook her head. “No. I don’t have some inner voice. I think that’s called insanity, Natalie.”

But it was her insanity. Since she was a kid, she’d had this voice in her head that told her when she was being a dumb-ass. It was the same voice that had whispered to her when it was time to paint and what she should make come alive. It was a voice that died when she’d been taken.

But suddenly she saw herself working, her hands moving across a canvas. Colors. Beiges and greens. Earth tones for Ben. He was rooted, a glorious man who built a home for the ones he loved. Blues and reds for Chase because his head was a chaotic, beautiful mess. She saw the whole painting in one flash of imagery. Sleek lines and gorgeous colors. It would encompass the way she felt. Free. Saved.

“Nat, you’re crying.” Kitten touched her face, wiping away the tears she hadn’t known she was shedding.

“I’m happy.”

She was. She wanted to work. She hadn’t wanted to work in years. Oh, she went to her job, but that was what it was—a way to earn cash. Painting, that was her work, and she’d ignored it for years. She didn’t even own a paintbrush anymore.

“OMG, you guys are pervs. Seriously, what’s up with y’all and no clothes?” Georgia walked in carrying a small black bag.

Abby Barnes followed right behind her. “Don’t worry about it, hon. This space has seen a ton of nudity.” Abby was a gorgeous woman who looked younger than her forty plus years. She wore tight-fitting jeans and a green shirt that accentuated her skin and red hair. “Now, I came up here to tell you that dinner is in twenty minutes and your men are on their way back. Georgia here seemed to think you might want to pretty up.”

“I brought my makeup. All Chanel. I’m so excited. Makeover. Ben and Chase asked me earlier to play around and see if I can make you look a little different. You know, for the undercover work. They know I spent some time on the stage. I totally got into makeup and costumes. And Abigail has a shockingly large collection of wigs.” Georgia grinned as she started to open her overly large makeup bag.

Abby laughed. “Well, I have been known to play dress up. Though I seriously doubt they want you in the naughty nun’s habit or looking like the slutty nurse.”

“I don’t know. My brothers have some weird taste.” Georgia opened her case.

Nat grimaced. She didn’t really love makeup, but Chase and Ben were so hot she felt a need to try, and Georgia obviously knew what she was doing. She was lovely and so put together. Nat’s version of a chic outfit was whatever went with her uniform pants. Georgia was their sister. She fit into their world. How the hell was Nat supposed to fit in? She’d grown up fairly middle class and her parents hadn’t exactly been mainstream. Ben and Chase had grown up rich.

Of course, this little session wasn’t really about making her look good. They wanted her to look different. So she could go undercover with them as their sub.

“Maybe I should wash my face first.” It seemed like a good idea before someone put a bunch of makeup on her. Abby handed her a robe, and she made her way to the bathroom.

Nat heard the chatter as everyone told Kitten to put on some clothes and Kitten pouted. It was kind of nice to be surrounded by people. She’d walled herself off for the last few years, choosing to be alone as much as possible.

“Hey, they have enough makeup out there to kill a cow, you know.” Gretchen leaned against the doorway.

Nat smiled, turning on the hot water. “Georgia seems very knowledgeable.”

“Yeah. So you and these guys, huh?”

Why did Gretchen have to be so curious? “I don’t know. Right now it’s just play, you know?”

“I didn’t think you played anymore.” There was a hint of judgment in Gretchen’s voice. “You’ve ignored the Doms who were interested in you.”

Nat found a washcloth and soaked it in hot water. “I wasn’t interested in them.”

“You don’t think that’s a little arrogant of you?”

Nat stopped, staring at Gretchen through the mirror. “Where are you going with this, Gretchen? I have the right to decide who I want to be with. Just because some Dom thinks he wants me doesn’t mean I have to go with him. Where is this coming from?”

She shrugged, her brown eyes sliding away. “I just know some Doms who said you were rude. I think it’s unbecoming.”

Nat felt her shoulders square. “Who said I was rude?”

“I’m not going to break trust. Just know you’re getting a reputation.” Gretchen looked at her through the mirror. “I think it’s great that you found a Dom. I wish it hadn’t been two, but you tend to do things your own way. I don’t think a ménage can really work. Men are jealous creatures.”

“They’re fine. They’ve shared before.” But Chase’s words were coming back to haunt her. He hadn’t wanted to share this time. He’d wanted her for himself. What if he changed his mind?

“I hope you’re right. I just worry that two men can’t really share.”

“I think Jack Barnes and Sam Fleetwood would say something different.” Jack and Sam shared a wife and each other.

“It’s not the same. Jack is the head of this household. Jack makes the rules. Sam and Abby both belong to him. It would be different if Sam wasn’t sleeping with Jack, too. How do two alpha males share?”

When they seemed to share one brain, how could they not? Still Gretchen’s words were making her think a little too much. Was it something that could work over the long term? All the long-term threesomes she knew had a Dom and two subs. She’d heard Leo was sharing with his brother, but they’d only been together for a short while and they’d had a rocky start. How could someone as obviously possessive as Chase really share? “Like I said, it’s not serious.”

Gretchen sniffled a little. “It can be hard to share, to give and give to a person and to know they still want someone else.”

Nat turned. “What are you talking about?”

Gretchen shook her head, standing up straight. “I’m just making a point. Jealousy will always happen. But you know better than the rest of us, don’t you? You always have.”

“I never said I was smarter than anyone else.”

Gretchen held out her hands palms up. “I’m screwing this up. I’m sorry, Nat. It’s been a stressful couple of days.”

“Yeah, I know.” She was the one under scrutiny for murder.

Gretchen was the one who huffed. “You know this isn’t easy on anyone. This has been hard on me. You’re important to me. I need you.”

Nat took a deep breath because Gretchen was self-centered, not selfish. She had to remember the difference. Gretchen had been through a lot. “I know. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you where I was going.”

“I understand. I do think I like them, Nat. They seem nice. Well, one of them seems nice. The other one seems like a Dom.” Gretchen smiled a little. “I guess you know which one I would prefer.”

Nat toweled off her face and thought about what Tate had said when they had talked by the pool a couple of days back. “Are you looking for a Dom?”

A smug smile lit Gretchen’s lips. “I kind of have one.”

Nat sighed inwardly. “Tate?”

A little smile lit up her face. “He wants me, but I haven’t taken a collar yet. I have to be sure. I think he’s going to test me before he asks, but I’m ready for it. I have to admit something, Nat. I was very lonely until he got here. The last seven months have been so nice. He’s really brought me back to life. He’s very commanding, very domineering.”

“Are we talking about the same Tate?” Nat asked. Tate was laid back. He was kind of known as the Surfer Dom. He played and he was obviously well trained, but he hadn’t struck Nat as a twenty-four-seven kind of guy.

“You don’t know him the way I do. He’s what I need. He’s very dominant in the bedroom.”

“You’ve slept with him?” Damn. How had she not seen that?

Gretchen shrugged. “I’m not as damaged as you. I can handle it. I know what I want, Nat.”

“But do you really know what Tate wants?” Because according to Tate himself, it wasn’t Gretchen.

“I know what he thinks he wants, but sometimes men can be stupid. He’ll come around. I’ll give him what he really needs, and he’ll see that we belong together.” Gretchen’s eyes went oddly cold. “Stay away from him, Nat.”

“I didn’t try to get close to him.”

“Just see that you do. He’s mine.”

“I thought a Dom didn’t belong to a sub.” Frustration welled as she realized that she might not be able to put up with Gretchen’s shit much longer. Years had gone by and this was what she got from Gretchen?

“I’m a good sub. I know how to treat my Dom. And I know how to protect him, too.” Gretchen ran a hand through her hair. “Sorry. I just really like him.”

Gretchen gave her that same smile she always used, but for the first time Nat could see it didn’t really reach her eyes. Maybe Nat had been so mired in her own misery that she hadn’t seen Gretchen’s.

“I don’t want him to hurt you,” Nat said. Gretchen had been hurt before, so fucking hurt.

“He’s not the one who can hurt me,” Gretchen replied. “Anyway, I’m going back out to tell Gaby you’re okay. I think I’ll skip the makeover. I have some things to do. See you tomorrow, I hope.” Gretchen walked out, taking her dark cloud with her.

“I don’t like the way she talked to you, Nat.” Kitten slid into the bathroom, a robe belted around her body.

“She’s still in a bad place.”

“You’ve made excuses for her for a long time,” Kitten pointed out. “I know you made them for me, too, but the only person I lashed out at was myself. I worry about her.”