Keep Me: A BDSM Romance (2 page)

Diane swings around, starts and cranes her neck to look up at him. He literally looks twice her size. Her voice cracks briefly before it becomes all sugary sweetness. “No, of course not. What can I help you with, Sir? I hope my employee didn’t give you too much trouble out there.”

Caleb glowers around the room. I’ve seen the look before, but usually it’s aimed at trouble makers at the club. He’s the most effective bouncer I’ve met in my life.

“Trouble? No, no trouble. Not yet. I just dropped in to commend...” He looks around the kitchen as if he doesn’t know exactly where I am, then points at me. “Her. If all your employees are as sweet and helpful, I can see why your business is so successful. You should give her a raise.” His gaze turns right on Diane, and his gravelly voice turns to steel. “It’d be good to remember that.”

“Y—Yes, Sir. Thank you.”

He nods, more at me than at her, then turns and walks off, leaving Diane standing there, sputtering. I might love him a little, if only just for that. When she faces me again, the lightning is still in her eyes, but she keeps her voice even. “What are you standing around for? Grab those trays and bring them out there. Apparently there are customers who want to
commend
you.”

I so need to find another job. Again.

*****

I
shut my front door behind me, leaning back against it, tempted to just slide down until I sit. Finally home. Well, home for now. Amber’s been letting me crash here for several months now, and despite all her assurances, I’m sure I’m cramping her style.

It’s quiet and the lights are off, so I guess she’s out. Probably somewhere with Eric, her hot shot biker boyfriend. That suits me just fine. Alone is what I need right now, some time to come down after the reception. It was like a full evening anxiety attack.

I still can’t believe no one saw me, other than Caleb. He saved my ass more than once, standing between me and the crowd, or distracting people who knew me when they got too close. We worked like a team, and he hadn’t had to do any of that. To be honest, I think he enjoyed it a little even. God, he’s a gem. I need to buy him a round or two next time I see him. He’s earned it, and then some.

I draw a deep breath and let it out slowly, my tight shoulders and tired back only now seeming to realize that I got away with it, and that the evening’s over. A hot bath sounds really freaking good. I kick off my shoes. A hot bath it is.

My phone buzzes. Now what? No one ever sends me messages. Especially not at eleven at night. I dig through my purse until I find my crappy old phone. It’s a wonder it still works, but I don’t really have the money to spend to get a new one yet.

The message is from Caleb. Curiouser and curiouser.

Tuesday night at the club. 7:00pm. Be there.

What? I don’t understand. Did he send to the wrong number, maybe? My fingers work the screen.
Wrong number?

I head to the bathroom to start up the water and wait impatiently for the tub to fill. Muscles I didn’t know I had, ache after running around all night. My feet and calves are sore, and my head feels like mush. Who’d ever think catering was so much hard work?

My phone buzzes.
Nope. Right number. Wear something cute.

How drunk did he get at the reception after I left?
Cute? Is this a date?
The idea wasn’t abhorrent, exactly, but it was definitely unexpected.

It takes a little longer this time. I’m just slipping into the deliciously warm water when the rattle of the phone’s vibration against the porcelain tub startles the crap out of me.
Sorry. Not a date. Paying work.

No way. Caleb wouldn’t be... My fingers race.
I’m just going to assume this isn’t what it sounds like.

This time the reply is quick.
Nope. You’ll enjoy it. See you on Tuesday. Good night.

Well, that’s final. Guess he’s not telling me. What could he mean? My mind conjures up scenario after scenario, but none of them make sense. He’s counting on my curiosity to get me there, and it’s working. Damnit.

I lean back and close my eyes, muscles slowly unknotting in the hot water, picturing his slightly crooked grin while he’s sending me mysterious messages. Even in my mind, his smile’s contagious. I trust him. It’ll be alright.

I
walk in Tuesday night at ten to seven. Caleb’s not working the door, but Adrian, his usual backup, gives me a nod and a smile as I walk by. The line to get in is long for a Tuesday, so it’s good to be a regular.

Inside, the steady bass thrums so deeply I feel it in my chest. The dance floor’s alive and the bar’s packed. Strobed lights flash in time with the music, making the crowd look like leather and latex clad robots.

I wave at some familiar faces, but Caleb’s nowhere to be seen. Weaving through the crowd, I try not to touch too much sweaty skin. I’ve got my cutest little red dress on, and it’d be nice to not look like I walked through the rain to get here.

Towards the back of the club, through a short corridor, are the play areas. It’s packed here too. Some are playing, like the pretty girl on the rack getting worked over by a burly guy in a leather suit. That guy sure knows how to handle a whip. Maybe I should get to know him better. The rest are standing, crowded around the center stage, as if they’re waiting for something to happen. What’s going on?

I see Caleb. He towers over them. It’s the first time in years I’ve seen him dressed for play, and it’s an impressive sight. Mouthwateringly impressive. He’s shirtless, showing off his broad chest and powerful muscles. Black leather pants hug his tight ass. In his hand he holds a long flogger, the leathery strands alternating between black and deep red. He’s like a god, surveying his domain, and I already want to be a part of it. Wow.

When he notices me, his strict face breaks into a confident smirk, as if he’d known I wouldn’t be able to stay away. “Viv! Over here.” He motions for me to come closer.

Suddenly everyone’s eyes are on me. Usually, I don’t have a problem with crowds, but I feel a little put on the spot right now. Especially since I don’t know what’s going on. I wet my lips and swallow the lump in my throat, gathering my courage.

He’s lucky I trust him.

The crowd parts as I approach, so I can see what I have in store. A stage fills the center of the room. Caleb’s standing on it, surrounded by fancy old furniture: a deep leather chair, a wooden coffee table with elaborate cutout trim and a heavy bookshelf packed with thick books. A thick, expensive-looking area rug is laid out underneath it all.

But what draws my eyes is the set of stocks to his side, low to the floor. In sturdy wood with metal fittings, it looks medieval compared to the rest of the furniture. Heavy, simple and intimidating. The shutter can be locked with a padlock, and there’s a big hole for a head and two small holes for wrists.

My head and my wrists, I’m beginning to realize.

I tear my eyes away and examine the rest of the scene. A duster and apron hang from a hook on the bookshelves. Is this some sort of role play scenario? Obviously, I’m part of this somehow, but how it’s paid and why? No idea.

I’m so confused. “Caleb, what’s going...”

“Quiet, slave.” His face turns hard and his voice stern as soon as I step up on the stage. “Present!”

Almost without thinking, I drop, finding the thick rug soft under my knees. Straight-backed and resting my ass on my heels, I cross my wrists behind me and look straight ahead. Posture perfect.

Wait, why am I doing this? I’ve done slave play enough times that the positions are second nature. I just didn’t expect them today. “Caleb...”

“Silence!” His voice thunders, making a shudder go through me.

Got it. I won’t get any answers until we’re done. That’s alright. I haven’t played since before... Well, the whole Gabriel and Dawn clusterfuck. This might be exactly what I need.

Okay, need to center. Clearing my head, I try to get into the right headspace, letting my shoulders relax. Feeling as ready as I’ll get, I wait in anticipation.

Caleb ignores me and addresses the crowd instead. “Well, now that we’re all here, I’m ready to start.” The smirk is clear in his voice. “First of all, I’d like you all to meet my lovely assistant, Vivian. She’s filling in for Kate, who couldn’t make it tonight due to other commitments. I’ve seen Vivian in action before, though, and I’m sure she’ll do great.”

Agreed to might be stretching things a bit, but I’ll play along. Already the familiar tingles rush under my skin. I shiver softly, my hormones firing up, but otherwise do my best to hold perfectly still. I’ve never been mastered by Caleb, but I’ve yet to meet a Master who’d expect anything less.

“Next, I’d like to welcome you all to this demonstration of Master and slave play. It’s nice to see so many taking time out on a Tuesday night.” He works the crowd like he’s done this a lot. How have I not seen him lecture before? “You’ll be treated to some straight submission, perhaps some mild humiliation, and if you all help me keep an eye out for mistakes, we should be able to get in a couple of solid rounds of punishment as well.”

Oh God. I can only imagine the kinds of spankings someone built like him can dish out. Just the thought sends a rush of heat into my lower stomach.

Caleb comes around to stand in front of me. With my gaze straight, I’m looking right at the suggestive bulge under his leather pants. It’s funny. I’ve never thought too much about that particular part of him, but right now, I have to admit I’m pretty curious.

“Notice her posture. Looking straight ahead. Attentive, alert, waiting for my command.” He runs his hand through my hair like a soft caress. “She’s a good pet. Well trained.”

The crowd murmurs. This is so strange. Sure, I’ve done slave play before, and in front of an audience even, but never as part of a demo. This time, I’m just a prop, and it’s strangely impersonal and exciting at the same time.

“Let’s see how she does with commands. On all fours, Pet.” There’s steel in his voice, but it’s not necessary. I obey, putting the fact that everyone can look up my dress out of my mind. At least I’m wearing panties. “Good.” He sits into the leather chair. “Fetch my slippers.”

I scan around, and spot them on the rug next to the stocks. Knowing what he expects, I crawl over there on my hands and knees. I feel silly doing this in front of the crowd, but part of me loves it too. Not sure why, but I’ve always enjoyed these games.

The slippers are soft leather moccasins. I make the mistake of picking them up with my hands when I hear his chiding voice, like he’s scolding his dog. “Nuh uh uh. I said
fetch
, Pet.”

Right. Putting the slippers back down, I try to get at an angle that lets me pick them up with my teeth. I hear chuckles in the crowd, which make my cheeks burn. I can be a good pet, damnit. How hard can it be? Hard enough. The slippers prove difficult, and it takes several tries before I finally manage to get them both in one bite.

Lifting my head proudly, I crawl to Caleb with as much grace as I can manage. Our eyes meet, and he beams approval at me. It’s a nice feeling, especially with so much having gone wrong lately. Maybe this is exactly what I need.

I drop the slippers next to his bare feet, unsure as to what he wants me to do. If I’m supposed to put them on with my teeth as well, we’ll be here all night.

“Present.”

I sit back up on my heels, hands behind my back.

He ruffles my hair a little. “Good girl. You may put my slippers on now. With your hands.” He makes it sound like he’s doing me a favor, but there’s no question that it’s an order.

“Good. All fours. Footstool.”

I scramble into position in front of him. When he puts his feet up on my back, crossed at the ankle, they’re heavy. I look down, not quite able to meet the gazes of those around us.

“As you see,” he addresses the crowd, “slave play, like all types of BDSM, is about trust. Vivian didn’t even know what I had planned for her tonight, but she jumped right into it. We trust each other. She knows I won’t do anything to harm her, and I know she can be counted on to follow my orders. She’s a good girl.” He pats my head again.

I try to be the best footstool I can be while he continues. “We didn’t agree on a safeword before we started, which is not something I’d normally recommend. Vivian’s experienced, and we have a standing club rule that if nothing else is agreed on, the traditional red and yellow are assumed. I know Vivian knows this.”

To be honest, I’d forgotten. I was so caught up that safe wording didn’t even occur to me. I’m not about to ruin his presentation, though.

“Anyway, I’m sure the poor girl is getting sick of my big paws on top of her, so I’ll give her a break.” He takes his feet off me and stands. “Present standing.”

I get up as quickly as I can. Hands behind my back, feet together, head bent and eyes down. It’s a long time since the last time I did slave play, but it’s stuck with me.

“Look at me.”

I lift my head, meeting his eyes. Under the soft lights in the play area, they look gray rather than blue. The intensity in them startles me. They crinkle just a bit in the corners when he grins.

“You failed to pick up the slippers properly. That’s one punishment so far.” The crowd murmurs. It’s obvious which part of the demo they really want to see. “Just remember that.” He gestures at the duster and an apron hanging on the shelf. “Dust my living room.”

I blink. And here I thought I was in for a spanking. Menial labor? Or just more tasks for me to fail? Doesn’t matter. An order’s an order. I pull the apron over my head, grab the duster and look around. I start with the coffee table. Everything’s clean, so it’s all for show, but that’s just part of the play.

Meanwhile, Caleb lectures. “See how she moves with elegance? The slave’s job is to please her Master at everything she does.” Immediately, my mind is filled on ideas for other ways he might want to be pleased as well. No idea if the audience can see it, but I definitely feel my cheeks flush.

“The best slaves are efficient, hard-working and enticing all at once, every move they make aimed to both fulfill their duties and to entice their Master.” I can hear the grin in his voice when he concludes. “A slave that fails to fulfill her duties because her Master couldn’t keep his hands off her is the best kind, in my opinion. It even gives me cause to punish her afterwards.” The crowd chuckles.