Tearing Down Walls (Love Under Construction Series Book 2) (27 page)

“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Rumor has it that you’re a Catholic priest in disguise,” she laughed.

Good – nobody’s talking!
, Vic thought. “I’m a long way from a priest, but at least I must be hiding it well.”

“Yeah, lucky you!” she grinned.

Vic decided to cut the small talk. “So I need to ask you something: How would you feel about having a roommate? Temporarily?”

Molly’s brow furrowed as she stared at him. “Never thought about it. Why?”

Vic explained Laura’s situation as Molly listened intently. When he was finished, Molly hesitated. “Can you really stop this guy?”

“It’s not can we, it’s when will we. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. But in the meantime, she needs a place to stay that’s off his radar. I want you to know that your decision will in no way affect your job here or how I feel about you, okay? Just please think about it?”

“I’ll do that. Maybe I can give you an answer by morning. When is she due to be released from the hospital?”

“Tomorrow morning, barring any unforeseen complications.” Vic looked around. “What do I need to take care of before I leave?”

“Not one thing. I think you’re good, so if you want to go on, there’s nothing here that I can’t handle for you.”

They both rose, and Vic gave Molly a peck on her temple. “Thanks so much, sweetie. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’d be stuck here all day!” Molly laughed. “Now go!”

“Steve wants to see you in his office,” José told Vic when the newest Dom glided into the club that evening. José never ceased to be amazed at the transformation he’d seen in Vic. Everyone commented on it, how much more relaxed, strong, and confident he seemed. But tonight, there was a cloud of gloom over his face, and José wondered what had happened during the day. He barely waved and didn’t speak as he passed the front office.

He waved at Peyton and Doug as he walked past the bar, and to Jared, who was sweeping the floor. When he got to Steve’s office, the door was closed, but he didn’t bother to knock, just walked right on in and sat down. There was a sound behind the door, and he looked over to see the newest sub Steve was training kneeling on the floor, plunging a large dildo into herself and stroking her clit, her moans frantic and wild. “Sir, may I please, please come, sir?” she whined.

“No, you may not.” Steve grinned at Vic, then said to the woman, “I enjoy watching you. But silence from this point on until I tell you that you may make sounds. Tell me, my large friend, what do you think about my sub?”

“I think she’s very beautiful. And I think your depravity knows no bounds,” Vic told him. “So congratulations – a winning combination.”

“Thanks! I’m thinking of keeping her, but I’m not sure yet.” Steve watched her again for a few seconds, then said, “We need to talk.”

“Yeah? About what?” There was a low, smoky hum in Vic’s voice, and when he looked Steve in the eye, the older Dom seemed to sort of shrink.

“Are we good?” Steve asked him, regaining his chutzpa and returning Vic’s gaze.

“Good enough.” Vic dropped his eyes and picked at the stitching on his boot. He was still pissed at Steve, but he had to let that go. The need to be at the club and to work together to protect Laura was greater than his need to hang onto his mad.

Steve breathed a sigh of relief. “So, thought any more about sending Laura to Molly’s?”

“Yeah. I talked to Molly about it. She was a little hesitant, but I think she’ll do it. I’m not sure she’ll do it by tomorrow, though, so we need to have somewhere for her to go when she leaves the hospital.” Vic still wouldn’t look at Steve.

“That’s not a problem. I’m taking her to my apartment. It’s a penthouse with one entry, so it should be pretty secure. Thought any more about working with her?” Steve watched and saw something odd flit across Vic’s face, and the large Italian still wouldn’t look at him. “Hey, bud,” Steve started, his voice more gentle. “What’s up with you, huh? Listen, I’m sorry for what I did this morning. That was classless and beneath me.”
I didn’t know anything was beneath you,
Vic thought. “I know something’s going on, but what?”

A sadness passed over Vic’s face that made Steve sad too. “That’s just it. I have no idea.” There was a sound in the corner, and he turned to look at the sub, her face contorted in agony. “And would you please let her come, for the love of god? She looks like she’s about to have a coronary.”

“Sub, you have permission to come whenever . . .” The girl started to scream and convulse, and Steve smiled. “Whoa! Quick on the draw!”

“So, if we’ve got somewhere for her to go tomorrow, I’m going back out front, help the guys get ready. Unless you’ve got something else?” Vic asked, standing, and Steve shook his head. Before he left the office, he walked over to Steve’s sub, squatted in front of her, took hold of her chin, and pulled her tear-stained face up so she could see him. The fragrance of her arousal was thick around her, and it made Vic hard thinking about how wet she was.

“You’re lovely, little one,” he said and dropped a tiny kiss on her forehead. She smiled like she’d just won the lottery, and he stroked her hair, then walked out of the room, but he looked back at Steve from the doorway. “Do not punish her for looking up at me,
capisce
?” Steve nodded.

A little bit of kindness goes a long way,
he thought. Laura had been a little kinder to him lately, but saving someone’s life would do that. It was a lost cause. The club was ten minutes away from opening, and already the place was coming to life. Maybe he’d find someone who needed a little kindness, even if it was just for a little while.

W
hen Vic came out of Steve’s office the next night and strode out into the main common area of the club, the first person he saw was Miranda. “Hey, big boy, busy? I thought maybe we could get a little bondage play in before . . .”

“Let me check with the guys at the bar, see if they need anything.” Vic looked down into her face and thought about how much he’d like to be buried in her.

“Okay. I’ll just wait for you right . . .”

But before she could finish her sentence, Vic saw something that made his blood pressure skyrocket. “Excuse me, honey, but there’s someone with whom I need to have a word.”

What the hell is she doing here alone?
Vic had glanced over at the bar only to see Nikki sitting there, a drink in her hand. He walked right up and growled, “Where’s my cousin and what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

When she turned, Vic almost had to shove his eyes back into his head. She wasn’t Nikki, but she was a dead ringer. “I was just telling this lovely lady how much she looks like someone we all know,” Doug said, trying to give Vic an out for his abruptness.

“God, I am
so
sorry,” Vic said, blushing. “Doug’s right; I thought you were someone else. Let me buy you a drink to make up for my lousy manners.”

“Not necessary.” She stuck out her hand, and Vic shook it. He couldn’t help but think what a strong grip she had for a woman. “My name’s Evie. And you’re . . .”

“Vic. I’m the service Dom here at Eden’s Gate.”

“Nice to meet you, Vic. You’re just the man I wanted to see.”

“Oh? And what can I do for you tonight?” he smiled, still thinking how much she looked like Nikki. By then, any thought of Miranda had vaporized.

“I hear you’re very handy with implements of discipline, and I’m in need of some correction,” she purred, staring up into the depths of his deep brown eyes with her large blue-green ones.
God, her eyes even look like Nikki’s!
What started out as a raging hard-on became an instant, severe pain in his groin.

“Then let’s talk. I have my own rules. Are you here alone?” She wasn’t wearing a collar.

“Yes.”

“Good, because I provide my own aftercare. I don’t like to be interrupted. You will also call me sir while we’re scening.”

“Wait – we’re going to do this in public?” She looked horrified.

“I just assumed that’s what . . . I’m sorry. What exactly did you have in mind?” Vic was trying to figure out what she was working toward.

“I’d like to do this in a private room. I have some . . . issues, for lack of a better word,” she told him, looking him up and down.

He took her elbow and led her back to choose a room. “And what result are you looking for?” Vic was trying to find out if she wanted something general or extremely intimate.
Oh, god, I hope she doesn’t want me to fuck her,
Vic’s mind screamed.
I’m just getting Nikki out of my head, and this woman will just put her right back in there.

“Whatever your chosen implement of discipline is, I want you to strike me until I
have
to safeword. I don’t want you to go easy on me, not at all.” Evie’s huge turquoise eyes pierced into his face. “Then I want you to bring me back from wherever it is that my mind goes. Can you do that?”

“I’ll try, but I have to warn you: The instrument I use is vicious, and I have a rule about how many strikes I can inflict. I won’t go past my set number, regardless whether you’ve safeworded or not. Anything more would be detrimental to
my
mental health, not to mention your mental and physical health.”

“Fair enough.” She looked from room to room. “Don’t you have a dungeon here?”

“Well, yes, but . . .” Vic mumbled.

“That’s where I want to go.” Her tone wasn’t one of request; it was a straight-out demand.

“I’ll have to check with the senior Dom about that. Excuse me for just a minute, would you?” Vic darted into Steve’s office, only to find the sub trainee face down on the desk and Steve pounding into her ass for all he was worth.

“Damn, Cabrizzi, what’s up with you and the just walking in here? Can’t you see I’m busy?” he grunted, pounding her harder.

“Yeah, well,” Vic sputtered, “I’ve got a bottom out here who wants to go to the dungeon for her discipline. And I thought I’d better ask . . .”

“Key’s right there,” Steve panted, pointing at a ring hanging on the wall behind the door. “Help yourself.”

“Um, thanks.” Vic took the key, but he was conflicted. Was he ready to go down there, be alone with no monitors? Evie was still standing right where he’d left her, and he motioned for her to follow him and bounced down the stairs.

The dungeon had been well-prepared, and when Evie walked in, she sucked in her breath. “Wow. Very impressive!” she hummed.

“I’ll be right back. My tool of choice is a one-of-a-kind, and it’s upstairs.” Vic left to retrieve his sjambok, and he was in such a hurry that he didn’t notice Miranda standing near the bar, her eyes two smoldering pits as she watched him.

He ran back down the stairs where Evie was still standing in the exact same spot, but when he walked up with the sjambok, she cooed, “I’ve been in clubs all over the country, well, the world actually, but I’ve never seen one of those. What
is
that
?”

Vic gave her a brief history of the implement, telling her that he’d received specialized training in its use. “Very impressive.
You’re
very impressive. Dark and gorgeous, well-built, and that package you’re packing around down there, well, that’s
really
impressive!” she said, looking at the front of his leathers.

“It’s like every other gift you’ve ever gotten. The wrapping is pretty, but the gift inside is much better. Plus this one will make you scream,” Vic boasted. He liked to wait for an uncollared submissive to ask, but something about this woman made him
want
to try her on for size. Unlike the other women who came into the club, there was a forcefulness about her that was tantalizing in an almost irresistible way.

She shocked him when she said, “Nope. Not tonight. This isn’t about sex for me. If it were, you’d already be buried inside me by now. But thanks for the offer.” Vic was stunned; she hadn’t even seen the monster and she’d turned it down cold, and she was confident to boot. “Now, when shall we start?”

Vic moved in toward her as close as he could without touching her, then wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. Evie watched his whole demeanor change. “Right now, this very minute. You will remove your boots and pants and take your place on the whipping bench.”

Evie took off her boots; she unbuttoned and unzipped her skinny black pants, then shimmied out of them and dropped them on the floor. “Panties as well.” She dropped them on top of the pants. “Hmmmm,” he murmured. It would be easier for her to reach the point of intolerance if she was also uncomfortable with her state of undress. “I think I would like for you to remove everything.” Without hesitation, she pulled her top over her head, then undid her bra and threw both onto the pile.

Vic was a little surprised. He’d gotten used to seeing younger, buxom women coming in and out of the club. Evie was neither of those. He guessed her to be about fifty, and she was far from perfect. Her breasts weren’t especially large, and she had a little sag about her whole torso.

But there was something about her that made Vic feel warm all over. She stood before him, not at all like the other women in the usual crowd there, but it didn’t appear to bother her that she looked far from twenty. There was a glow about her, and Vic’s heart was sucked into the vision before him. For all its faults, her body had a well-loved look about it, sensuous and soft, very thin and very fit without being hard or angular. By all appearances, she was a woman who was used to having a man tell her how precious she was. And he couldn’t get over the look in her eyes – total trust.