Chapter Ten

Chapter TenThe first familiar person I saw on entering the Vault’s basement was Briar. She stood off to the side, talking into her cell phone, seeming somewhat exasperated. She also seemed oblivious to how hard a particular male was staring at her from a nearby table in the lounge’s dining area.The aforementioned male, Trace Lacroix, was a famous actor. He was also pretty chummy with a voice actor, Kaleb Westley, here in the basement. The two men were fond of sharing women, and I’d caught both men eye-fucking Briar on several occasions.Catching sight of me, she gave me a quick wave, pointed at her phone, and then mouthed, ‘five minutes.’I nodded and, wanting to give her a heads-up, slid my eyes toward Trace.Still chatting away to her caller, she tracked my gaze. Her eyes narrowed on Trace, who simply gave her an unapologetic smile. With a snort, she turned away and refocused her attention on her phone conversation. That only made his smile widen.I wondered if she realized that giving her back to a male as dominant as Trace would have come across as nothing short of a challenge. Possibly not. Briar was a smart woman, yes. But she’d grown up around many larger than life characters and was quite simply used to dismissing their attempts—whether playful, harmless, or aggressive—to overwhelm, intimidate, push, or dominate her.His hand splayed on my lower back, Danton leaned into me. “I take it you want to say hello to your friends before we head to our table.” He tipped his chin toward the bar, and I only then noticed Izzy and Inaya waving at us.I smiled. “I do. They’ll hunt us down if I don’t.”As we approached, Inaya swerved on her barstool with a grin and said, “Well, hey. I was worried you two were never going to come back to the club.”As if I could have permanently stayed away. “I missed it.”Bracing her elbow on the bar, Izzy said, “I used to miss it while I was away. Though not quite as much as I missed Redwater itself. My mum had it right when she said that it’s like the place has its own gravity.”I nodded. “I can’t imagine living anywhere else.” Sensing Danton stir beside me, I followed the direction of his gaze and noted that the owner of the Vault, Blake Mercier, was waving him over.Danton put his mouth to my ear. “Wait here for me. I’ll be back in a minute.” He subtly brushed a kiss over my temple before he stalked off.Inaya put a hand to her chest, her face soft. “I’ve never seen him do that before.”“What?” I asked.“Any PDA. It was so sweet.” Twirling her ankle, Inaya regarded me carefully. “You look sappily happy.”“And you look smug,” I shot back.Her smile kicked up a notch. “Because I was right. He’s totally into you. I’m relieved he admitted it to himself and agreed to scrap the arrangement to take things to the next level. It’s a good thing for him, really, because I was going to write a super dark song about him if he didn’t. I would have done it to Cole too, but he stepped up as well.”“You didn’t tell me that,” said Izzy, sitting up straight on her stool.Inaya shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”Izzy frowned. “Why would I ask if you were going to write a vengeance song about the bloke in my life?”“It should have occurred to you.” Inaya raised her index finger. “I’m one of your besties and a lyricist who hates when people upset those she loves.”“Aw, you love me?”“In a sense.”Izzy snickered. “Bitch.”“Skank,” Inaya playfully sniped.I rolled my eyes before fixing them on Izzy. “Where’s Cole?”“On his way here,” she replied. “We’re weirdly not having tea—dinner, whatever—in the lounge first. He said we won’t be needing food. All I can think is that there’ll be munchies provided in whatever private room he’s booked. But I don’t know for sure, because he’s being all mysterious about it. Which room did Danton book?”I shook my head, replying, “No clue. He won’t tell me either. Rarely ever does.”“Well, I want all the details from both of you later, since I have to live vicariously through you,” Inaya cut in.“Maybe you’ll find yourself someone to play with here tonight,” I said.“Nope, me and Briar will be heading straight up to the roof to watch tonight’s comedian—he’s freaking hilarious. You and Danton could skip your plans and come join us, Cat,” Inaya suggested, but I could see she knew I’d veto that.“As our plans involve orgasms, I’m not interested in canceling them.”Izzy snickered. “I said pretty much the same thing when she invited me.”Inaya shook her head with a mock sigh of disappointment. “Dumping your friends for cock. You should both be ashamed of yourselves.”I let out a soft snort. “You’re just jealous because you’re not getting laid on a regular basis.”“Totally,” Inaya easily admitted.I chuckled. “There’s got to be someone here who’s caught your eye.”She grimaced. “There are several, but my conversations with them all went the same way. They only see Inaya Rose the rock musician, not little ole me.”Briar materialized at my side, her lips flat. “I need Tequila.”I frowned. “Uh-oh. Did your mom do something to piss you off again?”“No. And I’m not pissed, just frustrated.” Briar gave the bartender her order and then elaborated, “My dads invited me to go for a meal tomorrow night. Although Ansel is a terrific actor—award winning actor, actually—I can always tell when he’s hiding stuff from me. So it didn’t take me long to sense that there was something shifty going on.”“Did he fess up what it was?” I asked.“Eventually.” She slapped cash on the bar as a glass of Tequila was placed in front of her. “It was supposed to be a set up. Neither he nor Troy planned to actually show at the restaurant. Their plan was to have some guy there waiting who they think will be perfect for me.”“So they’re taking the matchmaking to the next level,” said Izzy with a wince.Briar sniffed. “Pretty much, yeah. Ansel didn’t apologize. He just went on and on about how I can do so much better than Grover. I know you guys agree with that. But it’s easy with him.”Inaya cocked her head. “In what way?”Briar knocked back her drink. “I seek out dominant men, but I’m not very submissive. Nor do I have a real fetish. I just like to be helpless. That’s it. That’s what I get off on. Grover’s good at catering to that.” She placed her glass down on the bar. “Although there’s only so many ways someone can bind you before it starts to feel tedious.”Inaya’s brow furrowed. “Sex should never be tedious.”“Grover’s not exactly inventive, but he’s a good match for me.” Briar folded her arms. “Others were all ‘tell me what you want me to do.’ I don’t want to have to run the show.”“That’s not being helpless,” said Izzy.“Exactly,” said Briar. “Tops are great at giving me what I want. But I can’t give them what they want, I can’t submit in the way they need, so it never works out for more than one night. Although Grover likes control, he isn’t a Top. He doesn’t need absolute submission. So in bed, we work.”Inaya gave her a soft smile. “Now I get why you haven’t brushed him off despite rarely seeing him. Sorry I pushed you to find someone else.”“You only did it because you care.” Briar gently squeezed her arm. “Thank you for caring.”Inaya went to speak again, but then something behind me caught her attention. “Ooh, Iz, your dude is here.”Seconds later, Cole wrapped his arm around Izzy’s waist, lifted her right off her stool, and pulled her against him. He gave her a soft, hungry kiss. “Sorry I’m late, baby.”“No worries.” Izzy pressed a hand to his chest. “How did the meeting with your manager go?”He grunted. “It went.” He nodded at Danton, who right then sidled up to me and took my hand in his.“Say your goodbyes,” Danton told me. “I want you all to myself now.”I wished the others a good night and then allowed Danton to lead me to the lounge. We ate, drank, talked, and laughed. Well, I laughed. He let out the occasional soft chuckle.I was having a great time. Right up until, mere minutes after ordering me to sit on his lap, he discreetly snaked his hand under my dress and started teasing the absolute shit out of me. His fingers homed in on my clit—rubbing, plucking, rolling, and circling it. Not only was I soon wet and eager to come, I was also unallowed to come.As such, it was something of a humungous relief when he announced that we were heading to the room he’d booked. Leaving the lounge, we walked along the hallway, across the dome—a large ballroom that was much like a miniature club—and down yet another hallway before he stopped at a particular door. With a swipe of his membership card, he unlocked it.And I stepped right into a beach cabana.It was spacious with an outdoor bed, two sun loungers, and a table with two chairs. Glasses, bottles of water, and a bottle of edible sun oil rested on the table.White, gauze drapes fluttered slightly with the artificial breeze. Only the rear drape was open, revealing a large beach hut made of driftwood, reeds, and grass. Inside was a hot tub, seating area, small fridge, and cooling fan. The latter was necessary, given it was hot enough to convince you that you were in fact on a tropical beach. Especially when the air rang with the cry of seagulls, muffled voices, and the crashing of waves sweeping ashore.Coming up behind me, Danton spoke into my ear. “What did I ask you to do the moment we entered the private room?”Remembering, I set my purse on the table and then shed my clothes. I hung them over the back of a chair before placing my shoes beneath it.Danton circled me, lightly skimming his fingers along my stomach, sides, and butt. “Perfect.”The combination of his touch and the ‘breeze’ made my nipples tighten and my skin break out in goosebumps. He didn’t miss it; satisfaction rippled across his face.His gaze alive with heat, he halted in front of me. “Stay where you are,” he said, his voice low, deep, and ringing with authority.He took off his own clothes slow and easy. His cock was already full and heavy, and my thighs momentarily clenched at the sight. I doubted I’d feel him inside me any time soon. He had that look in his eye. The one that told me he intended to take his time.Naked, he crossed to me, his face cold, his jaw set, his eyes twin pools of hunger. “Now here’s how things are going to go,” he said, calm and expectant and all assertiveness. “You’re going to lie down on that bed over there flat on your back and close your eyes. After that, you’re not going to move. You’re not going to talk. You’re not going to make a single sound. You’re not even going to open your eyes.”I blinked. The latter rule was new.He skimmed his finger along my jawline. “Your only purpose right now is to please me. So let everything else fall away. All my perfect little toy needs to focus on is lying still and quiet while I do whatever I want.”Predictably, my hormones did the fucking wave.“One last thing. I know you’re on the pill. I’ve seen you take it. So I’ll be taking you ungloved tonight. If you have an issue with that, say so now.”My taut nipples prickled. “No issue.”Satisfaction heated his gaze. “Bed.” It was nothing short of a non-negotiable order, and everything in me responded to it—heating, melting, tingling.My pulse racing, I crossed to the bed, positioned myself on my back, and closed my eyes. My body was already a hot mess after his teasing in the lounge. So, damp and needy and buzzing with anticipation, I was strung tight as I waited for him to move. I wouldn’t have thought that having my eyes closed would heighten my excitement, but it did.I heard a cap flip open, and then the scent of coconut laced the air.The oil.The mattress dipped in places, and I had the sense that he was kneeling over me. He lifted one of my hands and began a light massage, the oil warm from the heat of his palms. His fingers and thumbs kneaded and glided with just the right amount of pressure.When my hand was limp as a noodle, he moved onto my arm. My other arm was next, quickly followed by my shoulders and my neck.There was possessiveness in the press of his fingertips and how his hands shaped and squeezed as they swept over me … like I was clay for him to mold in whatever way he wished. All the while, he whispered compliments and praise that soaked into my being just as the oil soaked into my skin.Hands closed over my breasts, and it took everything in me not to gasp. He stroked and plumped, and then thumbs were circling and flicking my nipples. He didn’t linger. He massaged his way down to my stomach, hips, thighs, legs, and feet.At this point, I was as pliant as a ragdoll. I was also close to trembling with need, my core hot and throbbing. And I knew that any minute now he’d do something to catch me off-guard; something that would make me buck or moan if I wasn’t careful. I braced myself, determined not to in any way react.It occurred to me that he might instead actually roll me onto my stomach to massage my—A tongue licked at my slit, and I very nearly jumped. It swept between my folds again and again, pausing every now and then to dip inside me or circle my clit. Oh God, it felt so fucking good. If I hadn’t had so much practice at remaining outwardly unresponsive I’d have had no chance of holding back my moans.“Love how my toy tastes.” Danton licked a pattern over my folds. “She’s being a very, very good toy, doing exactly what I told her to do.”Well, it was in my best interests. And I rather enjoyed the challenge. What I loved more was the pride that coated his voice.“And if anyone else tried to play with her, I’d rip them apart limb from limb. I never was good at sharing my toys.”Hands spread my thighs wider apart. He draped himself over me, his hips settling in the space he’d made for himself. My nerve-endings were so over-sensitized I nearly gasped at the sudden amount of skin to skin contact.He pushed his hips slightly forward, and the blunt head of his cock pressed into me. Teeth dragged over my earlobe. “Still no moving or making a sound unless I say.” He slammed home.My breath caught in my throat, and my eyes almost snapped open. Jesus. Even though I was braced for it, I still nearly moaned with the pleasure/pain.He rode me hard. Fast. Unapologetically aggressive.I forced my body to remain still, but there was nothing easy about it when he took me like a conqueror claiming his prize. I was so sensitive inside, and he was so thick that it forced me to really feel every drag and throb of his cock.The tension built quickly, and I knew I’d fracture at any moment. He hadn’t ordered me not to come. I knew why. He enjoyed watching me fight to give no response as I came.I tried holding back my release, but I couldn’t. It swept up and over me like a tidal wave, so fucking intense. Through some miracle, I managed to keep my lips clamped shut, trapping my whimper in my throat, and held myself perfectly still.Danton growled. “Good. Fucking. Girl.” He pulled out of me, flipped me onto my stomach, yanked up my hips, and slammed back inside. “I think it’s time you get your reward.”Knowing that meant I could move and make as much noise as I wanted, I opened my eyes and threw back my hips to meet each plunge of his dick. The groan I’d swallowed back over and over finally slipped out of me.God, it was wild and explosive and absolutely fucking glorious.His dick began to swell. My pussy began to tighten. And I knew we were both close to imploding.He grabbed two fistfuls of my ass and upped his pace. “You first. Then you’re going to take my come inside you like the good little fuck doll you are.”He slapped my ass hard, and I went tumbling over the edge with a choked scream—soaring and shaking and distantly aware of him exploding deep inside me.Then I was pliant as wax once again.Danton collapsed over me, catching himself on his forearms. He pressed a kiss to the back of my shoulder. “Should have scrapped the condoms sooner. The feel of you around my cock is sheer fucking heaven.” He trailed more kisses along my spine as he slid out of me.Now used to him staying with me after sex, I didn’t tense in anticipation of him making a fast departure. I rolled onto my side as he fell onto his back beside me.“Get over here,” he said, as he was prone to do.I snuggled into him. “I didn’t know there was a beach cabana room.”“It’s new. Used to be a therapist’s office, I think.”Ah, right, we’d never used that. It wasn’t unusual for the owner to have rooms remodeled when they lost popularity.“I’ve got a question for you,” he said, skating his hand down my back to palm my ass. He squeezed it. “Anyone ever been up here?”“Yes. Once.” It hadn’t been the most pleasurable experience. A little too painful for my tastes. “There’s no way I’d be able to stay still and quiet during anal, so don’t even go there in your head.”His lips quirked. “You’d get used to it.”“No. No, I wouldn’t. I didn’t like anal much anyway.”“It hurt?”“Yes.”“Then whatever prick took your ass didn’t do it right.”“He’s a prick? Why?”“Because he had you, and I don’t like it.”I held back a smile by sheer force of will, but it no doubt lit my eyes. I probably shouldn’t like his possessiveness so much, but I dug it all the same.“Got another question,” he said. Like the previous one, it turned out to be sexual. As did the next. And the next. But the conversation gradually shifted to everyday things, some light, some not so light.“I have a question,” I said. “It’s a little personal, though. So you probably won’t answer.”“Probably not,” he agreed, but humor glittered in his eyes. “You won’t know unless you ask.”I twisted my mouth. “You know all about my family. I was wondering if maybe you could tell me a little about yours. But only if you want to,” I hurried to add.His eyes tracked the path of his fingers as he dragged them along the arm I’d tossed over him. “We were poor as shit. My parents were junkies, and they weren’t much good at being parents. They weren’t bad people. Weren’t cruel or abusive to me or my brothers. They were just selfish.“They sold every gift we ever got to fund their habit. Mom often hated herself for it—it was written all over her face. So then I’d comfort her, because I was a kid and didn’t have the experience to understand that she should feel so bad about it.”Without thought, I burrowed further into him. His voice was so toneless, his expression so blank. I was sorry I’d brought up the subject. I was about to suggest we drop it, but then he continued.“Anyone who ever talked about my parents all said the same thing—not shitty people, just weak. When it came to their drug habit, they were even weaker. My dad screwed over a lot of people in his efforts to feed that habit. It eventually bit him in the ass. Six guys came to the house. The one waving the gun around made us all line up. He shot my mom first. Then my older brothers. Then me. Then my dad.”My chest ached. How he could relay that story so matter-of-factly I didn’t know. “Wait, you were shot as well?” I hadn’t heard that.He nodded. “Neighbors called the cops when the shooting started. Paramedics managed to save me, but not the others. They died.”“And the six guys who went to your house?”“They’re no longer breathing.”I knew it was likely that he had something to do with it. “I’ve never lost anyone close to me, so I don’t know what to say to comfort you.”He shrugged. “You don’t need to. It was a long time ago. I was a kid.”Like that made any difference.“I have more enemies than my dad ever had, and they’re far more dangerous. You’re now on their radar, and I fucking hate that. You can’t give me shit when I do what I have to do to keep you safe.”“I already agreed to your terms.” And if I hadn’t, I would have done so after hearing that story. Wanting to get rid of the hurt in his eyes, I joked, “Although … I suppose it might be fun to disobey you now and then. You’re cuter than hell when your face turns red.”“Yourass will turn red if you disobey me when it comes to your safety.”“Will there be blisters?”“More than you can fucking count.”I snickered. “Relax, I’m messing with ya. Now kiss me. You fucked me good and proper, but I didn’t get a kiss, and my mouth is feeling neglected.”His lips quirked. “We can’t have that, can we?”