Surreal (Divine Trilogy #3) (5 page)

With a languorous stretch, Erin shifted in the warmth of their bed. Despite the earliness of the hour, she felt energetic. It was time for them to start their holiday vacation. In a few hours, she and Jayden would be getting into the packed Wraith and heading south to Corpus Christi, where Jayden’s sister and her partner were hosting the holiday festivities. They were both looking forward to spending time with the whole family. Though only a month had passed since the family’s Thanksgiving gathering, they’d had such a good time seeing her Da and Jayden’s relatives that she was eager to do it again.

After the Mastersons had hosted the family at the ranch in Sweetwater, they’d all agreed Benny and Joon’s first Christmas should be in their own home, meaning Stephanie and Veronica were up next on the hosting roster. Everyone was excited for the chance to dote on Steph and Ronnie’s twins and give them a grand first Christmas.

The previous weekend, while shopping for his niece and nephew, Jayden had pretended to grouse at Erin’s exuberance as she picked out toys and cute, tiny outfits. However, more than once she’d caught the sparkle of joy in his ocher eyes. That joyful glimmer had been paired with an easygoing grin, and there’d been no doubt to her that he’d enjoyed the outing as much as her.

Not all the shopping had been for the babies. Erin had convinced her lover he needed to give Steph and Ronnie more than a restaurant gift card—his apparent gift of choice, she’d learned. At her insistence, they’d ducked into a lingerie store, where Erin had been able to select a few tasteful but sensuous pieces for her future sisters-in-law. Now the whole lot, including the gifts for their parents, was tucked into the Wraith’s trunk, covered in festive wrap and ribbons that the adults would appreciate
on
the boxes while the babies would have fun once it was
off
them.

It was easy to reflect on how her life had turned around for the better at Jayden’s side. Erin snuggled closer, and he sighed, the hand tossed above his head coming down to scratch himself through the covers.

She suppressed a giggle and moved her head closer to rest on his chest. For several minutes, Erin enjoyed the rhythmic rise and fall while he breathed at a steady, sleepy pace. Drawing her knee upward over his thigh, she slowed when nearing his crotch, then stopped altogether. A slight bulge had blocked her progress.

Erin slipped from beneath the covers and scurried across the darkened room to the en suite, the soles of her feet luxuriating in the plush carpet. After relieving the pressure on her bladder, she washed up and brushed her teeth.

Free from all potential distractions, Erin traversed the space and crawled back into the bed. She ducked beneath the covers to settle between her fiancé’s legs. While she looked on, his semi-erect cock twitched and shifted against his toned stomach. She could imagine it saying in a teasing lilt: “Hi, how are ya? Fancy a play?”

It was definitely one of the times when she was thankful he insisted they sleep in the nude.

Licking her lips, Erin stretched her neck so she could reach his pretty cock with her mouth. After nuzzling his soft balls with her nose, she feathered kisses upward along his shaft—some with sealed lips, others with mouth parted so her warm breath caressed him.

No longer did Jayden sport a semi. He’d swollen to full size, the flesh was tight, and she longed to taste. Opening her mouth wide and drawing her lips against her teeth to prevent an accident, she moved over him.

To Erin’s surprise, she was able to complete three full tight-suctioned passes before a large hand wove into her hair. Seconds later he bucked up, ramming his cock against the back of her throat while preventing her head from moving. Her physical response was immediate, and her inner thighs became slick.

Fresh air rushed over her hot skin when the covers disappeared. Jayden tightened his grip on her red locks and pulled. Reluctant to let go of her treat, Erin had to allow his girth to fall from her mouth so she could be guided up the length of his body.

The surrounding darkness did not deter the couple. The moment she was close enough, their lips found the each other. Erin stretched her body atop his, and though she was small, she was cocooned in a sense of security. It didn’t matter what position they tried. She never failed to fit against him like they had been made for each other.

Jayden’s hand relaxed in her tresses while their bodies softened and molded into one another. Wide and warm, she felt his hand move down her back with a gentle kneading pressure on its descent. He reached her waist, and the air whooshed out of her when their bodies twisted—he’d rolled them in an unexpected move.

A contented sigh escaped Erin when the weight of him settled against her and he nudged her thighs apart. Their tender kisses continued on, Jayden driving forward, burying himself deep, and filling her with his love.

With the barest movement, the two lovers ground against each other, just enough sensation burning in their loins to keep them on a honed edge. The whole time their eyes were locked in a gaze that spoke of everything each felt for the other, even when Erin reached the moment when her body burst into a flurry of tingles and the desperate need to come smashed into her.

Jayden didn’t want her asking permission when they were together like this, but Erin was still working on that. Her mouth didn’t form the word, but her eyes did.
Please . . .

Always attentive to what she needed, he pressed his hips tighter against her and pushed up on his arms, breaking their kiss so that he could thrust with ease. Erin lifted her knees toward her chest then let them fall outward. With Jayden’s increasing tempo, she could feel her clit swell. Her hands moved to his chest, where his muscles undulated beneath her fingertips while he worked his length within her.

“I’m almost there, sweet girl. Please . . . join me.” Though spoken with control, she sensed his need in the husky depth of his voice, so she let go with a loud cry that was matched by his own a few minutes later.

*~*~*

“You’re sure we have everything we need? We are going to be gone for a whole two weeks, after all. Wouldn’t want you to run out of anything in the back forty of Corpus Christi,” he teased after putting her last-minute bags into the back seat of the car—all three of them.

“Oh, shut it. I’m still adjusting to normal living with people who have money, Jayden. I get nervous over what to wear and change my mind . . . a lot.”

For a moment, Jayden was surprised by her admission. He’d had no idea she was intimidated by his wealth, considering the topic had never come up. He helped her into the car, choosing to wait till they were moving before he said anything. The Wraith purred to life, and after making sure the gate was secure behind them, they said goodbye to the Villa.

“Does my money bother you?” He shot her a glance before the light changed at the end of the street. “Because in a few months, it’s going to be your money, too.”

Erin flashed him a beautiful grin, but he had to return his attention to the road. At least the emerald sparkle of her eyes was burned afresh into his retinas. She was happy. This pleased him.

“I don’t think it’s so much that I’m bothered by it, just that I’m still learning, if that makes sense. I grew up where sweatpants and old tees, comfy and grungy clothes, were fine for informal get-togethers. Your family tends to do things on a little bigger scale than that, and I’m still trying to find my happy medium.”

“You don’t have to change anything on my account, or theirs. You’re perfect just the way you are.” Jayden let go of the steering wheel to grasp Erin’s hand and pulled it over to rest on his thigh, their fingers laced.

“I love you,” his girl said, then she giggled.

Since they were at another light, Jayden reached out and grabbed her knee. Erin squealed as expected and begged him not to tickle.

“Tell me what’s funny or I will,” he negotiated.

Her cry of, “Okay!” was breathless.

Satisfied with his victory, his hand went back to the wheel, and he accelerated with the green light.

“To be honest, I’m more worried about how I’m going to not lose my mind in the next two weeks.”

“How so?” He flipped on his blinker then pulled into a parking lot.

“That’s a long time to go without playing. I can’t promise
Catherine
won’t turn bratty after being hidden away like that.” She giggled again, which he found enchanting.

Jayden gasped in mock-disbelief, playing along with her. “Is my pet threatening me?” The deepening timbre of his voice was automatic, and he felt a stirring in his crotch when her breath caught in reaction to him.

With a slow movement to the left, right, then left again, Erin shook her head while whispering, “No, Sir.”

“You have to trust me, Erin. They know about my choices, and we’ve agreed to disagree on our views. What matters to them is that I’m happy. Is it too much to show respect for their beliefs by not flaunting my sexual tendencies in their face? I think not. And rest assured, my jewel, I will make it up to you.”

A shiver racked her body at his declaration.
If they hurried, perhaps there would be time for a quickie inside.

It wasn’t until he was opening his door that Erin noticed where they were. “Now this is just cruel, Jayden,” she whined, and he laughed.

“The club is closed right now, sweet girl. We have a recognition ceremony coming up, so all the board members need to review the applicant portfolios. Angelique was going to leave my packet in the conference room for easy pick up on our way out of—”

His words trailed off when they came around the corner of the building. There were two cars parked in the back lot, which was supposed to be employees only.

“Something wrong?”

Erin’s gentle voice kick-started his mouth again. “Um, no, I don’t think so, anyway. If I’m not mistaken, that red car is Natalie’s.”

“She’s the bartender, right?”

“Yeah. Don’t recognize the other car, though. Maybe Natty is using the lot as a meeting point for a group activity or something over the holiday.” He shrugged and held the backdoor open after he’d unlocked it.

The club was quiet save the hum of the heater. When they reached the stairs that led to the upper floors where the business offices were located, Erin told him to go on ahead so she could use the bathroom. To her left was the Hall of Play, the back section of the club where the private play rooms were located. Every few rooms were separated by a bathroom.

“I’ll be back in just a couple of minutes. Meet you here.” Jayden kissed her nose, then mounted the stairs.

Erin spared a few seconds to watch him ascend the steps, or to be more exact, to watch his ass ascend. His jeans hugged him with precision, making for a rather luscious bowl of eye candy. On impulse, she gave a wolf-whistle, laughing when he shimmied his ass for her before he disappeared around the corner at the top.

A long-missed sense of normalcy, and dare she say peacefulness, warmed her while she stepped into the first toilet in the long hallway. Afterward, she returned to the base of the stairs to wait for Jayden. She recalled that her phone had chirped a text notification while she was occupied, so she pulled it out to check.

Sorry~ Samantha called with a small emergency. Give me fifteen to make some calls. Help yourself to a juice or water behind the bar. Xo ~J

Not fussed, though not particularly thirsty, Erin sauntered over to the bar anyway. She was a little curious. This was the first time she’d been inside the club without being in the mind frame for play. Erin could lift her eyes and really look around the place right then, without risk of repercussions.

She found it amusing that under the silence and fluorescent lights, the sensual gothic feeling she loved about the club had dissolved.  Looking around, it was nothing more than a large room made of wood, concrete, and metal. It was amazing what the right lighting and music could do. Of course, the absence of life played a large part in the current atmosphere. Any space could become a den of sin when filled with aroused, consenting adults giving into their darkest desires.

Ducking behind the bar, she found the small fridge that housed the juices and grabbed a grape-raspberry. Her hand was slipping from the handle, having just closed the fridge, when she noticed a board of keys tucked at the back of the shelf, under the bar.

This reminded her that spare room keys were kept there, and her curious nature flared up. Master always used room three when they played here. She wondered if the other rooms were similar in design and decor, or if they had varying themes.

Checking the time on her phone, she saw she had at least five more minutes, but knowing Jayden and business, it would be more like another fifteen before he’d return. She snatched a random key off the board and made her way back to the Hall of Play.

Heart racing and adrenaline coursing through her, Erin looked at the number on the key tag. Seven. Down the hall she went, wondering what she would find . . .
four, five, six
, there it was. Slipping the key into the lock, she turned it.

The door was swinging open when Erin heard a muffled scream. Spinning on her heel, she tried to zero in on which direction it had come from. A few seconds later it came again, to her right. Backing up to room six, Erin put her ear to the door.

A whistling sound, followed by a resounding crack, made her heart freeze. She’d recognize that noise anywhere. The bottle of juice slipped from her fingers and hit the carpeted floor, rolling a couple of feet before stopping.

Her hand braced against the door, and she leaned forward to listen better. The club was supposed to be closed and locked up. There should be no one inside at all, let alone there being a scene taking place without any dungeon masters on the premises. It didn’t take a genius to see this violated the safe ambience that the club prided itself on providing.

Under the slight pressure of her weight, the wood inched forward, opening—much to Erin’s surprise. Another whistle, crack, and scream—not muted this time—met her ears when the barrier swung away.

The scream faded into a whimper while Erin looked on.

Fear-drenched sweat gathered at her pulse points before seeping from all of her pores and tainting the air around her. A ringing started up in her ears. Erin was pretty sure the bound naked woman, whose backside was on display, was Natalie, the bartender. The springy, brown curls were unmistakable.

Movement on the periphery drew her gaze up and to the left, where a blue-haired young man stood, a manic gleam in his eye. In his hand was a bamboo cane.

With horror, she recalled bumping into this same man, Dominick Poles, her first night at the club—and how the bartender had swooned over him.
Oh, god—how long had this been going on?

“H-hello, is someone there? Please, help me . . .”

“Shut up!” Another sickening whack and a fleshy
thwap
.

The desperation in Natalie’s voice, coupled with the atrociousness of what she’d stumbled upon, tore at Erin’s heart. Drawing upon the reserves of strength that Jayden had so patiently helped her to rebuild, Erin spoke out. “It’s okay, Natalie. Jayden and I are here. You are going to be fine.” To hear the resolve in her words shocked her. Her body was frozen.

A low cackle began, growing into a dark laugh that made Erin’s spine hurt with the malice it contained.

“You stupid whore. Who do you think you are, barging in here uninvited?” His eyes moved up and down her body, lingering on her fitted sweater. “Though I could be convinced to mount you up as well. That could be . . . fun.” Dominick sneered the last word, and the images his suggestion conjured sent a wave of nausea through her.

In the back of her head, a tiny voice was begging Erin to run, insisting that this wasn’t her battle, yet she did not retreat. She couldn’t. Instead, she stepped into the room, and defiance stiffened her body while she crossed her arms over her chest and planted her feet in place. Raising her eyes, she met his stare head on, determined not to crumble—for Natalie, and for herself.

Dominick’s arm moved faster than she could see. The whoosh of air being displaced was the single warning she got before the cane connected with Natalie’s ass. Blood appeared, then trickled down her rump in a crooked, thin line.

Casting her eyes over Natalie, seeing the scabs and contusions threatening to burst with even the lightest touch, Erin came to a conclusion. This was her battle. Erin had survived an abusive situation and was now recovering because she’d had help. People had cared about her. She wouldn’t leave Natalie to try and understand alone.

Again Dominick laughed and raised his arm. Since it was obvious that her words were no longer keeping his attention from the bound girl, Erin leapt in of front of him, her arms raised to absorb the inevitable impact, and declared “Red!” at the top her lungs.

*~*~*

It figured. Jayden wanted to get this trip underway, so of course there were last minute problems with the holiday orders.

If it isn’t one thing, it’s another
, Jayden thought while closing the door behind him for the second time. He’d been halfway down the stairs when he’d realized the applicant packet was still in the board room, so he’d had to go back.

Packet now in hand, he descended but was not alarmed when he didn’t see Erin straight away. However, concern bloomed when he reached the bottom of the staircase and still didn’t see her.

Ice flooded his veins when her emphatic cry carried from the Hall of Play. The memory of the cars in the lot outside flashed in his head. Dropping everything, Jayden let his long legs carry him forward in a sprint. He soon found an open door and in mere moments had assessed the situation.

A blue-haired man, who had to be Dominick Poles, stood with his arm raised, back to the door. Cowering before him was Erin.

Except she wasn’t cowering. When Jayden’s eyes raked over the grouping, pride bloomed with the realization that his sweet girl was in a defensive stance, protecting the woman behind her. Seeing Erin in such control kept his anger in check . . . for the moment.

“If you finish that swing, I will take that stick and use it on you myself.” His voice did not waiver, the fury boiling inside him evident in his emotionless tone. “It’s been much too long since I’ve had the pleasure.”

Poles jerked around in surprise. “Oh. Hi, Mr. Masterson. I was just—”

“Listen, Poles, I don’t know what the hell you’re doing inside this building right now, since the club is not open,” his eyes cut over to Natalie and back, “but this stops now.” Looking to Erin to check her for damage and finding none, he calmed a fraction more. Though her creamy skin was paler than usual, it appeared she was no more than shaken. He returned his attention to the bartender.

Natalie was a different story. Her wrists were suspended above her head in cuffs with a basic buckle on them, so no key was needed. Jayden heard her whimpering sobs and looked closer. The more marks he saw on Natalie’s body—both aged and fresh—the more his admiration of Erin increased, right along with his ire. How she’d put herself in the way of Dominick’s attack, he’d never know.

Was it strange that the more assured he was that his precious jewel was safe, the angrier he became?
He pursed his lips in a tight line to avoid screaming and then attacking the idiot. Erin had never seen him angry, and he did not want her to. She didn’t need to worry that he was capable of such dark thoughts. Besides, the last thing Natalie needed right then was another male venting his anger in her proximity.

The poor thing was already terrified, as was proven by the acrid scent of urine in the air and the puddle at her feet.

It saddened him to realize their vacation had just been shortened. Indiscretions the likes of which had happened here could not be swept to the side. Swift action was necessary for all parties involved.

In the blink of an eye, Jayden transformed into the man-in-charge. Staring down the room’s occupants, he challenged them to say anything while he retrieved his phone and hit the speed dial for Samantha’s private line.

“Jayden, I told you I had it covered—”

“Samantha,” he barked, his voice gruff and no-nonsense, “I need you to call my mother and tell her we won’t be arriving tonight. I’ll call her later to explain. You’re a doll. Gotta go. Bye.” His mother wasn’t the only one he owed an explanation after that. He’d hung up on his secretary before she could get a word in.

Erin’s eyes widened, her confusion and surprise evident.

In the name of efficiency, Jayden needed her full cooperation, without question or hesitation. A little warning bell was sounding in his head that she might not be as calm and collected as she appeared, and that worried him. Even if they made it through the next few hours without any incident, Erin would need to deal with what she’d walked in on—whether she wanted to or not. He had no intention of taking her on vacation without being positive she was okay.

“Catherine, get Natalie down and take her to the bathroom. Help clean her up. Understand?”

“Aye, Master.” Her gaze shifted down.
God, she was so perfect for him.

He hated to put the girl on the spot in her fragile condition, but Jayden needed to know what had transpired before he could proceed. “Natalie, can you tell me what happened?” he asked from behind her in a gentle but firm tone, and she began to shake.

“Master?”

“Yes, Catherine?”

“May this girl suggest she get Natalie sorted and covered before you question her? She is in a vulnerable state.”

Of course, I should’ve thought of that.
“By all means. One more question, though, and a simple nod or shake of your head will suffice. Natalie, did you let this man into the building?”

She shook her head.

Bastard!
“Thank you.” He moved to stand in front of her but stopped about a foot back, not wanting to crowd her. Bending at the knees and dipping down to her eye level, he took her chin in his hand and encouraged her to look up at him. “Erin is going to take care of you now. You are safe, Natalie.”

Gratitude flooded her brown eyes along with the tears that now brimmed over.

At the feel of Erin’s small hand on his forearm, he looked over to see the same look of gratitude in her eyes, too. He must have done something right.

“Love you,” she mouthed.

Jayden mustered a smile. “Lucky me,” he mouthed back.

Their moment of sweet levity over, the Dom turned to deal with Dominick. With long strides, Jayden closed the distance between them, experiencing more joy than he should have when the man flinched back with fear in his beady, blue eyes.

“Give me that.” It was nothing to yank the cane from Poles’ sweaty grasp. Jayden then pinched Dominick’s ear and began dragging him from the room. Again, he was secretly pleased when the man squealed like a small child.

At the sound of whispering when they neared the threshold, Jayden paused and looked back. Erin had released Natalie’s wrists and was kneeling to do her ankles.

“I’m so sorry, miss—”

“Shh, none of that, lass. Come now, let’s get you freshened up. And call me Erin.” Erin stood tall and took the girl’s trembling hand to lead her past the men and into the hall.

“But why? I asked for this; I—I deserve what he did,” Natalie whimpered, cringing when they neared Dominick.

Erin’s back stiffened.

“Dunna ever think that. No matter what. I’m going to tell you the story of a girl I once knew who wasn’t too unlike you, Natalie. My story . . .”

Jayden stood there immobile while her accented words faded as they walked away. If Erin was ready to share her horror with a near stranger, she had come much farther than he’d hoped.

Next to him, Poles shifted on his feet and let out a discontented grunt, so in a partial daze, Jayden got them moving again.