Freedom to Submit

STORY EXCERPT

“He’s coming out. Get ready.”

“Roger that.” Danisa Milan sat up straighter and rolled down the driver’s side window. Crisp high altitude air rushed in, forcing her to tug down her ski cap over her short hair. With care, she placed the rented Canon 400mm, F2.8L lens on the half-lowered glass to balance it and pre-focused on the hotel room door. It was after 9:00 p.m. and dark as hell, but at least the tacky, overhead corridor lights cast a strong, yellow glow on the cracked cement walkway and faded hotel doors. Given the lens’s low aperture, she had a chance at an excellent capture.

Danisa loved this part of the surveillance—locating the subject and getting a good shot. Despite the chill, her hands were sweating like they always did. She constantly worried that in the heat of the moment she’d forget to change a setting. Too high an ASA and the picture would be grainy. Too low, and the highlights would be lost, making facial recognition near to impossible. Before she went through her camera check for the tenth time, the motel room door opened. Her pulse jumped.

She looked through the viewfinder once more and rotated the lens for a vertical shot to capture the man’s full body.

She tapped her ear bud. “Subject is outside, but I can only see his back. He’s leaning in and facing the woman. She’s too far inside to see anything other a hand on the doorjamb and an arm encased in a red, silky robe.”

“Do you have any shot of his face? Even a profile?” Nikki whispered, not wanting to interfere with her audio setup from the next room.

“Not yet. Come on, Charles Lane. Turn this way for me please, darlin’.”

She’d been tailing him for six weeks. For the last four Thursdays, he’d come to High Peak Motel in Freedom, Colorado. She guessed he’d picked this location because Freedom was a small town—all of five blocks by four blocks—located about forty-five minutes west of Denver, where he worked and lived. He always met a woman in room 104. Lane was smart. He wore a big brimmed cowboy hat to hide his identity even though it looked kind of dumb with his perfectly fitted suit. The collar of his jacket was always turned up when he came or went, and the man walked with his head down and his hand covering the side of his face closest to the parking lot. Clearly, he was a man who didn’t want to be recognized.

But last week, he’d gotten careless. The thin, pretty woman had stepped outside with him after their rendezvous, and when he turned to kiss her one more time, Danisa had caught them in the act. Unfortunately, her client, Michael Sussman, said he needed one more set of photos to prove this wasn’t a one-time event. She didn’t complain. A job was a job. Besides, that meant she got to hold, fondle, and enjoy this rented ten thousand dollar lens for one more week.

Sussman decided to add audio to the mix this time, so he hired her talented coworker, Nikki Wilder, to do her thing.

The man stepped back and Danisa’s heart raced. She’d set the camera on multiple exposure. As the man turned, she held down the shutter and let it rip. He looked up for a brief moment as if to figure out the source of the sound. In that moment, he exposed his face briefly then assumed his clandestine pose. As soon as he walked back to his Lexus, she released the button. His hurried footsteps implied he didn’t like this seedy neighborhood anymore than she did.

She couldn’t wrap her mind around why the CEO of Denver Mining didn’t pay to have his woman in a classier place. Men.

Time to go. “It’s a wrap, Nik.”

“Roger. Breaking down now.”

Her coworker would need ten minutes max. Nikki and their other sorority sister, Holly Morganton, had approached her four months ago about starting a security service agency together. Since then, the three of them had worked side by side.

Danisa yawned, slipped the camera back inside the car, and rolled up the window. As she leaned over to pick up her case off the torn seat and grab a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, shouts drew her attention. She sat up and looked in the direction of the noise.

“Holy shit.”

“What?” That got Nikki’s attention.

She tried to put the pieces together. “Out of nowhere, this guy appears. He’s yelling at Lane’s prostitute.” The man’s posture was off. He shifted from one foot to another causing Danisa’s sixth sense to go into overdrive.

“Her pimp maybe?”

“Could be.” He was dressed in black slacks and a long leather jacket that hung past his knees. The woman was still in her skimpy robe. Poor thing must be freezing.

On instinct, Danisa lifted the camera to her eye, turned it on, and began shooting. The man suddenly stopped yelling, stepped back, and fired three shots.

Danisa froze. “Fuck. He shot her.”

“For real?” Nikki’s voice trembled. “Is she dead?”

“I don’t know. Call 911.” Danisa’s heart slammed against her ribcage and her hands shook. “Jesus.”

She hadn’t signed up to see this kind of violence. She switched the camera to video mode and pointed the lens at the scene. Nikki had been a former cop and had complained that witnesses never gave an accurate description. Danisa would let her equipment do the remembering.

Her gut swirled with horror at the prone woman’s body. A pool of blood seeped onto the gray cement. “Terrible, terrible.”

Reality struck. Danisa had witnessed a murder. Holy shit. As the man ran down the corridor in her direction, she rotated the camera and followed the fleeing figure. He’d parked in front of room 110. As he opened the door to his Cadillac Seville, he looked around, as if to check to see if anyone had seen him.

Danisa froze, panic ripping through her veins. She wanted to take a still of the man’s face, but as soon as he looked straight at her, her heart stopped. She ducked. Fear drenched her.

Get out here.

ADULT EXCERPT

A whip? He’d been serious? Danisa’s intake of breath came out too loud. “Sir?” She wasn’t sure she was ready for something like that.

“You have your safe word. Say it, and I will stop immediately, but I think you will find the sensation better than you could ever imagine.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

A wild sting raced across her nipple, and she immediately yelped. “Uh.”

The strike was quick, sharp, and directed. The pain stabbed her breast but quickly slid straight to her slit, and she blew out a breath.

“She likes it, Brady.”

Danisa swallowed hard. “Yes, Sir. More, please.”

He whipped the other nipple. She didn’t know the nature of the instrument used, but it seemed thin and strong. Once more the force caused her to suck in her belly. The sting changed quicker this time into wonder. If he kept this up, she wouldn’t be able to hold back her climax.

Brady pulled her arms farther back and higher, tightening her nipples. When Lucas bent over and sucked on the swollen crest, her knees nearly buckled. Waves of desire swept through her too fast.

“Sir. It’s too much.”

He stopped and cupped her pussy. “You will not climax.”

Both men stepped back and let her compose herself. She’d been ever so close.

“You need your punishment from your rebellion in the room.”

“Yes, Sir.” While he hadn’t asked a question, she wanted to remind him she loved her spankings.

“Bend over and grab your ankles.”

She nearly hyperventilated. A set of hands in front of her spread her legs wide and held them in the open position.

The first strike across her rear was rather enjoyable. He’d used a flogger, the type where the many strips were soft leather mixed with what seemed like felt.

“That’s one.”

She could take a hundred and not get a red ass. The second strike was harder, and one part hit her pussy. She jerked, but Brady wouldn’t let her bring her legs together. She wouldn’t judge the punishment as being painful yet.

“She’s not even red. Baby, you aren’t enjoying this much, are you?”

“I’m not about to climax if that is what you’re asking, Sir.”

“I am. Thank you for being so honest. I want what is best for you.”

He moved around the room. Something scraped. The hard whack nearly toppled her. “Holy fuck.” She clamped her mouth shut a second later.

Tears burned her eyelids. She couldn’t breathe, but that lasted for only a second. The pleasure might have set her ass on fire, but it also turned her pussy into a volcano about to blow.

“Do not swear, little sub. For that, I might have to end your punishment.”

“No, Sir. Please. One more.” The heat and pain took her to near oblivion.

“As you wish.” The next strike almost tore a scream from her throat. Her ass throbbed and pulsed, the ache the most intense blow yet.

Wait for it.

Honey oozed down her thigh. The glory took her someplace else. All sounds ceased. Two sets of hands stroked her body, helping to calm her.

“I can smell your arousal, slave. Do you wish to have a cock?”

Her body almost turned limp. “Yes, Sir.” She wet her lips.

“Then you wish to submit to us completely? It is your choice.”

“Yes, Sir. Yes.”

Both men moved away from her. The sound of metal clanking filled the air. Something soft, fur perhaps, clasped onto her ankles rather tightly. Brady was on her left and Lucas on her right. They spread her legs wide, causing her to wobble.

“Put your hands on your knees,” Lucas commanded.

She did and now felt more secure. Not knowing their next move heightened the excitement. They whispered to each other, but she couldn’t make out the conversation. A drawer opened, and soon a slight hint of strawberries filled the air.

Large hands rested on her ass. “You have the best cheeks in the world, baby. Your ass is so red and ripe. Open the gates, because I’m about to enter heaven.”

She hoped that meant Brady would fuck her pussy at the same time Lucas was enjoying her ass. Being able to make love to both men at the same time would be total nirvana.

“Thank you, Sir.”

He smeared lube on her back hole. She didn’t flinch this time, and it wasn’t because her rear was too tired to clench. She now welcomed having him come inside her. He punched in his thumb and circled her muscled ring to loosen her up.

A hard belly bumped her head. She could smell Brady’s arousal under her nose. She debated sucking on his cock, but he might burst before she was ready.

“I hope your swollen nipples aren’t too sore, sugar.”

She bet they would be, especially after the whipping. Remembering that the pain had turned to euphoria made her pussy clench and cramp once more. Brady rubbed the tips, and her mind blanked. She relived the delicious pain to pleasure continuum once more. He continued to pull them taut. Each tug made her pussy slicken.

She was so involved with what Brady was doing that she hadn’t realized Lucas’s cock sat at her entrance. He stroked her back.

“Don’t clench, baby, or I’ll go off like a cocked gun.”

She inhaled to calm herself. He pushed his cock past her tight anal entrance. Lucas took his time, easing down her darkened channel, hitting a small bundle of nerves. He moaned, as did she.

“Oh, baby. You are so fucking tight.” He clasped her shoulder with one hand to keep her from jerking forward as he drove into her.

He slid the other hand under her belly and pressed on her clit. Heat swamped her, and she soared. He knew just how to rub her clit to bring her maximum pleasure.

Freedom to Trust

STORY EXCERPT

Nikki Wilder stood in front of the Child Services door, rubbing her palms together, trying to calm her beating heart. Her pits were damp despite having walked two blocks in the icy cold, and her stomach wouldn’t stop churning. Doubt at her inability to give this child what he truly needed blended with the joy of having someone to love.

Just go in.You can’t turn back now. Mark needs you—whether he knows it or not.

Being a foster parent was a huge responsibility, but she had to do it. She hadn’t been able to get the image of the fearless young man out of her mind for the last three weeks. While hiding in a motel bathroom, eleven-year-old Mark Richie heard three gunshots. Moments later he saw his mom die on the pavement outside their room. That was how Nikki and her co-owner had found him. He hadn’t cried, and he hadn’t struggled when the cops escorted him away. How sad was that?

Go.

Nikki knocked on the wavy glass window and pushed open the door. Summer Ashford, Mark’s Child Services representative, looked up and smiled.

“Hey, Nikki.” She turned to Mark. “Look who’s here.”

Mark sat next to Summer’s desk in a high, straight back chair. His arms were wrapped around his backpack, his gaze cast downward, and he was rocking slightly. Poor child. He still seemed to be lost in some dark place. Nikki couldn’t blame him after what he’d gone through. She couldn’t imagine losing a parent, and especially not at his tender age.

“Hi, Mark.” Blood raced through her body, as she prayed he’d respond.

Christ. For five years, she’d been a Vice cop and had faced guns, thugs, and murderers. She’d never been as nervous as she was now.

He looked up, a flicker of recognition sparking in his eye. “Hi, Nikki.”

Hi, Nikki was a good sign. They’d spoken a few days ago about him coming to live with her. He’d seemed happy, though at times it was hard to tell what was going on his head.

Summer stood. “Mark, can you excuse us for a minute? We’ll be right outside.”

His eye tic started again. Nikki wanted to run to him, give him a big hug, and tell him everything would be okay. Only she didn’t like to lie.

Once outside, Summer moved down the hall a few feet. “The therapist has been working with him extensively, but so far, Mark hasn’t come to terms with his mom’s death.”

“It’s only been three weeks.” It was months before she’d understood the ramifications of her first kill. It didn’t matter she’d saved someone’s life in the process.

Summer ran a comforting hand down her arm. “I know. I just wanted to let you know he might appear a little reserved for a while.”

That was a polite way of saying the highly intelligent loner wouldn’t be running around laughing anytime soon.

“We’ll manage.”

Summer smiled. “I know. When I told him today was the day he got to leave, he actually smiled.”

Hope surged. “That’s great. We’ll get through this.” Repeat as often as needed, Nikki.

“I know. That’s why we picked you to take him.”

That and the fact no one else wanted him. Their third security firm co-owner and computer wizard, Holly Morganton, had searched extensively for a relative, but couldn’t find one. Not knowing the dad’s identity limited the search.

Six months ago in Denver, she’d finished being vetted into the foster parent program. She knew with her job and her age, she wasn’t ever going to find a man or have time for a baby. Foster parenting seemed to be the perfect solution. Just as she was about to take a young girl, the debacle happened at work, forcing Nikki to “move on.” No job and little savings meant no foster child. The emotional scars still hadn’t healed, but maybe now they would. Mark gave her a second chance, and she hoped he felt the same way.

Summer led her back inside, and Nikki spotted a battered suitcase in the corner. He’d lived eleven years and that was all he had? Her heart ached.

She mentally added a trip to the department store to buy him clothes, school supplies, and probably a computer. Then she’d have to stop at the grocery store for food, even though she didn’t have a clue what he liked to eat. Would he be like other kids who lived on hamburgers, pizza, and Coke? Or was he a picky eater? If he spent his evenings at the Golden Nugget where his mom had worked, no telling what he snacked on.

Nikki plastered on a smile and held out her hand. “Ready to come see your new home?”

When Mark glanced over at Summer, Nikki’s heart squeezed. She wanted to be the one he looked to for answers. She lowered her arm.

“Go on, Mark. Nikki’s going to be your new mom.”

If only for a while. If a couple wanted to adopt him, she’d lose him. Nikki pushed aside that negative thought.

He stood and slipped on his backpack then grabbed his suitcase.

“I’ll take that.” She slipped the case from his fingers.

Should I wrap an arm around him for support?  Like her engineer dad, Nikki never was very good at showing her emotions. Her father cared about figures and facts. Connecting with others, he’d claimed, only got in the way of allowing him to explore his potential.

“Thanks, Summer.” Nikki tried to smile, but her lips shook too much.

“Are you and the girls doing your usual Thursday night get-together this week?”

Ever since she and Dani had brought Mark here, she and Summer had become friends. “I’ll let you know.” Her life as she’d known it was about to change and she couldn’t be sure of anything.

ADULT EXCERPT

“How about you boys come over here and take off my clothes. I’m quite hot.” She purposefully emphasized the last word, hoping they’d get the double entendre.

“You just have to ask, babe.”

Zane was the first to arrive. She was barefoot, which made undressing her easier. This time Garth took the lower half and Zane the top. She only had on four pieces of clothing. The sweatshirt and jeans disappeared in a heartbeat.

Garth’s eyes glistened. “Mmm. You are amazing, babe. I kept fighting that fire and digging that ditch faster and faster, knowing the sooner we got those damned flames under control, the sooner I could sink my cock in your pussy.”

Then she had to go mess it up by telling them they couldn’t be together. Thank God, they’d made her see reason. Now, she hoped they could move forward. She nodded to her bra and panties. “Please take them off. I hate when things don’t match.”

Garth crawled closer and licked his lips. “My pleasure. My cock’s so hard I’m not sure I can last long enough to impale you.” He winked.

“Zane, you’re the Dom. Command that he not come until I’m satisfied and weak from all the sex.”

Zane dropped his head back and guffawed. After he swiped his eye he leaned over and kissed her. “You’re the best. I’m going to love teaching you.”

Fine. Be that way. Wait until they saw what she had in store for them. They might change their tune. They were right about one thing. She did lump all men into the same bin. These men would never harm her. Giving her the freedom to trust was the biggest gift they could bestow on her.

Garth pulled down her panties to her knees, but he seemed willing to wait for Zane to finish taking off her bra before he continued. Zane better not dawdle or she might be too far gone to show them how much she loved them. “Hurry.”

Zane sat up. “Babe, tonight we’re going to make love to you at the same time. This is a momentous occasion that takes patience. Let us love you at the pace that will bring you the most enjoyment.”

Damn. Where was hot, sweaty sex when a girl wanted it? Maybe they did know better, but holding off when she wanted them so badly was hard. “I’ll trust you know best.”

Zane looked up and smiled. “Hear that, bro? She trusts us.”

“If that’s true, then perhaps if you’re good and willing, we’ll spank your ass.” Garth leaned over and licked her pussy before she could open her mouth. He looked up. “Trust me when I say you’ll love it as much as I will.”

Maybe she would. Zane popped open the back of her bra and eased off the straps. “I gotta admit, you look better without this.”

She was about to explain why she picked that bra, but sometimes keeping quiet was better. As soon as he tossed the bra to the side, he dove down to her tits. Streaks of deliciousness swam through her veins. Every lick drove her crazy, but she wanted to do something to prove to them she’d changed.

Nikki reached out her hand and fumbled for the side table drawer. When she managed to pull it open, Zane lifted his head.

“You need something, babe?”

“Yes.” She rolled over, grabbed the cuffs, and slapped one end on her wrist and the other on the bedpost. “Now, I’m ready for you to take me.”

Zane’s eyes bugged out. “Are you shitting us? You just cuffed yourself.”

“That’s right. I know you’ll be good to me.” It was her way of showing them how much she trusted them.

Zane sat back on his haunches and shook his head. “I’ll be damned.” Then a big smile captured his lips and joy zipped up her spine.

Garth tossed off her panties and inhaled. “I think someone is a little excited.”

How embarrassing was that? It was true that she was more excited than she’d ever been in her life. Tossing away those old fears had freed her to be herself and love her men. “Just barely. See what you can do to drive me crazy.”

Zane placed a hand on her breast and looked up. “You do remember all my rules, don’t you?”

“You still sticking with that don’t climax stuff?”

He laughed. “You’ll be happier in the end.”

“Then I guess it’ll be your job to try to break me down.”

Zane grinned. “Oh, I plan to, babe. I plan to.”

She tugged on the cuff once and the nightmare flashed in her mind. Her blood pressure soared. You trust them. You can do this. She closed her eyes for a second to focus. Knowing the key sat in the drawer, and that they would undo the restraint if she asked, the near panic began to subside. She inhaled and forced herself to step out of her comfort zone—for them.

When her pulse slowed, she knew she was going to be okay.

Neither man had moved. It was as if they totally understood what she was going through.

A small smile hitched up Garth lips right before he swiped his tongue across her opening. All thoughts of that terrible event diminished, and second swipe had her blanking her mind and writhing.

Oh, my. Why did she have to challenge them to test her like this? Maybe she didn’t have the self-control she prided herself in having. Zane drew one nipple taut, wrapped his tongue around the tip, and then sucked hard. The sharp spike sped down her belly and straight to her clit—a clit that was already being loved and tormented.

Zane crawled off the bed. “Be right back.”

As soon as he left, she lifted her head. “Where’s he going?”

“To get the lube.”