Marc glanced over at Angelina and decided to strike while the iron was hot, a favorite expression of his grandfather’s. “Great. So, Adam and I can demonstrate on Luke and Karla.” Already knowing the answer, because Adam had spent many hours showing him the ropes, so to speak, Marc still had to play ignorant. “Damián, are you any good with ropes?”
He grinned at Marc, but played along. “Actually, yes. But I have to head to the shop. Still trying to catch up after taking time off to be at my niece’s sixteenth birthday party in California last week.” He’d grown up in a town—something or other Gardens—between San Diego and Camp Pendleton and had strong ties with his sister and her daughter. Damián turned his attention to Karla and winked. “I’d be happy to give you some advanced lessons later, though. Maybe after your sets are over Wednesday night?”
The chokehold Adam had on his fork as he glared at Damián made it clear to Marc that wouldn’t be happening. He grinned. If Adam wanted her, he’d better mark his territory soon before Damián moved in. Suddenly, Marc couldn’t wait to see Adam practicing rope bondage on Karla tonight. Angelina on Luke? Well, maybe not as much. But it was time to get this show going.
Marc smiled across the table at the two chefs. “Thank you, Karla and Angelina. That was a wonderful meal.” A round of praises went around and everyone carried their dishes to the kitchen and loaded the dishwasher. The leftovers were stowed in the fridge and Damián took his leave.
“So, we’re finally going to get to see this modern marvel,” Adam said.
“Well, it’s new to most of you. Luke’s been up there installing the furniture he made for me.” It was too pathetic to admit he and Luke were the only ones who’d been there. But that was about to change.
Angelina reached out and touched Luke’s forearm. “You make furniture, too, Luke?”
Marc tamped down the jealous feelings that reared up. This was what he wanted, wasn’t it? He’d try to keep his distance from her tonight and give them a chance. He had been monopolizing her since Saturday night.
“Yeah. Equipment might be a more accurate description.”
Marc led the group up the staircase. On the first landing a panoramic view of Denver spread out before them and the ladies stopped to look and comment on it. The lights twinkled as twilight set over the city. Marc preferred the western view from his bedroom to this one, though. Mt. Evans dominated that view, one of the prettiest sights in the world, next to Angelina. He watched her looking out the window in awe and wonder.
Marc cleared his throat. “This way,” he said as they continued up to the second floor hallway. He led them down the hall to his bedroom and walked up to what probably looked to them like a closet door and opened it. He flipped on the light switch, illuminating a staircase to the tower room. Standing aside, he motioned for them to enter. “Last set of stairs.” The narrow stairway forced them to go single file. Marc noticed Angelina had been holding Luke’s hand, which she released before stepping through the doorway.
Marc was the last to head up the stairs and closed the door behind him. When he reached the top, he saw Karla’s eyes open as wide as saucers and Angelina looking as if she’d tackle him to get back downstairs before taking another step.
Shit
. He hadn’t realized seeing the cross that was identical to the one at the club, since Luke made both of them, would have such a strong an effect on her. Tonight certainly was not proceeding as planned.
* * *
Angelina came stockstill beside the king-sized bed sitting in front of thick red velvet drapes, but the site that riveted her was the St. Andrew’s cross on the other end of the room. Frighteningly like the one at the Masters at Arms club, it brought back memories of being beaten by Allen. Suddenly wound tighter than Uncle Guillermo’s
mandolina
, her body began to shake.
Oh, God, I can’t do this!
She backed away.
“Easy, pet.” Angelina didn’t realize Marc stood behind her until his hands went around her, encircling her waist. He nuzzled her neck. “I don’t want you to fall down the stairs and hurt yourself.” Marc’s arms tightened around her and she closed her eyes, lowering her head. His warmth soaked into her cold skin, making her feel safe. Marc whispered in her ear, “I’m here,
Amore
. Don’t be afraid.”
She nodded. Tearing her gaze away from the floor she looked up to find Adam, Karla, and Luke staring at her with concern. Her face grew warm. She’d called this party together, so she’d better get with the program.
She pulled away from Marc and turned to force a smile a thanks. When she left his arms, her body felt chilled again. “So, where are the ropes?”
Marc reached out and tapped his index finger against the tip of her nose. “Watch out, Luke. This one’s rather anxious.” Marc grinned, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Come, everyone. Let me give you the ten-cent tour first.”
Marc took her hand and led her over to Luke and then released her to him. She had the distinct impression he was pushing her toward Luke, who gave her a look of sympathy and took her hand in his, squeezing it. She smiled up at him and followed Marc to the right. She saw a wooden desk and what looked like the examination table in her doctor’s office, complete with stirrups. Her face flamed and her butt clenched as she remembered his words last night about knowing of a place where they could play doctor.
Angelina realized she hadn’t been listening.
Focus
.
“Of course, there are more theme rooms at the club, but these just happen to be a couple of my favorites. Luke made the desk, too.”
Angelina went over to run her hands over the gold-streaked walnut desk. The detail was amazing, for something that would just be used for…oh, don’t think about what kinds of fantasies were played out on that desk. She wondered how many woman he’d had laying there.
Don’t go there, Angie
.
“I’ll get the rope.” Marc went to a cabinet in the corner. The rest of them walked across the room and Karla went up to the cross Angelina had been trying to avoid staring at. Karla ran her hands over the cherry wood, so like the one at the club. Angelina shuddered.
Karla looked at Adam. “How does she support her head on an X-shaped cross?”
When Adam just stood there as if he’d been turned to stone, Luke started to move forward to answer to Karla’s question, but Angelina pulled his hand back. When he looked down at her, she shook her head. He looked back at Karla, then Adam, and realization dawned. Luke smiled and nodded.
When it became clear to Adam that no one was going to answer the question for Karla, he stepped closer to her and reached down for her wrists. He lifted them over her head and when he took a step toward her, she instinctively stepped back and came up against the cross. Her eyes opened wider and she stared up at Adam. Angelina could see the pulse in her throat throbbing. Is that how Marc judged her response to him, by watching for tells like that? Adam pressed her wrists against the wood where one might attach them if wanting to restrain them.
“Your hands go here. Now, are you thinking about where you head goes at this moment?”
Karla shook her head.
Adam cleared his throat and stepped away, releasing her hands. “Don’t worry. The sub can keep her head upright, let it drop to whatever position is comfortable for her—or do whatever her Dom orders. Same for male subs.”
Angelina watched as Karla continued to stare as if mesmerized, leaving her hands exactly where he’d placed them.
Oh, Karla. Don’t look at him like that if you don’t mean business
.
Angelina needed to bring her friend back to the present, so she ignored her aversion and walked up to the cross. “Believe me, Adam’s right. If you’re strapped to one of these, the last thing you’ll be thinking about is what to do with your head.”
Karla blinked and focused on Angelina, her eyes wide in wonder. Clearly, Adam’s touch had affected her more than she’d expected. Angelina leaned forward and whispered, “Are you okay, sweetie?”
Karla whispered a one-word description. “Ka-thunk.” Angelina chuckled. Karla leaned away and made eye contact, smiling. Angelina loved seeing her eyes sparkling. She just hope Karla knew what she was getting into if she decided to pursue Adam.
Marc joined them near the cross and took Angelina’s hand. Her stomach muscles clenched when he stretched her shaking hand out, forcing her to touch the cross. The wood was smooth, warm. Her heart jumped into her throat. Which way would he restrain her to the cross? Her stomach churned. Why, then, did she feel her pussy getting wet thinking of what he might do?
He smiled. “The cross isn’t all that different from the center post. Just a device for restricting the movement of the submissive. If your Dom is trustworthy, the experience will be very erotic and one you will…enjoy.
Keeping her hand in his, he walked over to the equipment next to the cross. Angelina hadn’t even noticed it until now, but she looked more closely.
Good God!
The contraption was made of leather and wood and looked like something out of a Victorian dungeon. Velvet pads provided a place to rest her knees, along with cuffs to restrain her ankles and thighs. A narrow bench-like expanse would support her trunk. She noticed a wide leather belt over the middle of the bench for her waist. At the other end was a round cushion much like the face rest on the table at her massage therapist’s.
Total restraint. She imagined herself kneeling, face down, arms outstretched and being strapped to the armrests that gave the appearance of those on a lethal injection gurney. The numerous leather straps with shiny brass buckles would keep her arms, legs, and even her waist restrained so she couldn’t interfere with a punishment.
Angelina began to shake. Her clit stirred to life. How could something like that turn her on?
She looked at Marc. He smiled. “This is a spanking horse. Luke made this, as well as the cross.”
Luke? How could such a sweet man make such devices used for torture? Okay, to be fair, they were only torture devices when in the wrong hands. But still! Angelina couldn’t get over how much the cross looked like the one at the club. She hadn’t seen any other crosses used for this purpose, but wondered if there was a standard pattern all BDSM craftsmen used or something.
She turned to Luke who shrugged. “It’s become a kind of hobby since I met Marc.”
Angelina was baffled that there were so many otherwise normal people involved in this subculture. She’d definitely led a sheltered life.
Marc handed Adam two bundles of rope still in the store packaging. Good to know he hadn’t used them on another woman.
* * *
Adam took the silk rope bundles from Marc and tried to think what he could demonstrate on Karla without getting too close. Well, how the fuck did he plan to tie her up without getting close? But perhaps he could minimize contact.
How the hell he’d gotten wrangled into this scene still baffled him. But the thought of Karla and Damián doing a Shibari bondage scene together rotted his gut. He looked over at Karla, who was intently watching Marc show off his spanking horse.
When had she gotten interested in this stuff? At the club, she could hardly watch most of what went on while she sang in the great room. Now she was curious about rope bondage
and
spanking?
Don’t be thinking about spanking her, old man
.
No, he’d tie her up. That was it. Then he’d just go right back to avoiding her. That had worked for the last couple months, although he didn’t realize until dinner yesterday how much she needed someone to talk to about Ian.
“Well, who wants to go first?” Angelina asked.
Adam looked up to see her looking between him and Marc. Wanting to get this over as soon as possible, Adam stepped forward. “Karla, are you ready?”
When she looked at him and smiled, he saw a sparkle in her blue eyes for the first time since he’d been with her that Thanksgiving nine years ago. He’d been so intent on avoiding her that he hadn’t provided her with an ear for listening or just a hug when she needed one. If he wasn’t always thinking such perverted thoughts about her, he could have been the friend she’d come to Denver looking for.
Man, he’d sure fucked up this mission.
She stepped toward him and his eyes zeroed in on the red bustier she wore that left her shoulders and arms bare. Her breasts filled out the cups of the top and there was no fucking way he was going to demonstrate tit bondage. He’d keep those breasts pointed in the opposite direction for this tutorial.
“Do I call you Master Adam or just Sir?”
Aw, hon. Don’t ask me to pretend to be your Top. What are you trying to do to me?
“If you need to address me, Adam will be fine.” When he saw the disappointment in her eyes, though, he amended, “Or Sir will work, too.” The smile on her face made him realize how much he’d missed her smile over the years.
“Turn around.”
So much for her smile. Using his Dom voice, he’d wiped it right off her face. Karla didn’t strike him as particularly submissive, so her immediate response surprised him. She turned around and presented him with her gorgeous black curls cascading down her back. He wanted to run his hands through those thick locks, but restrained himself.
How was he going to narrate what he was doing when he couldn’t keep his mind on the task at hand? He’d done numerous demonstrations of Shibari at the club with Grant over the past four years and hadn’t had any trouble concentrating with her.
Focus, man
.
“Shibari is the name Westerners use for the ancient art of Japanese rope bondage. In their culture, it actually was used for non-sexual purposes.”
Fuck. This is definitely non-sexual, too, Karla
.
Don’t get any other idea in your head.
“Most often, for restraining prisoners.”
Adam could see that he couldn’t begin the Teppou technique until he first wrangled her hair into submission.
Don’t be thinking about getting her anything into submission, old man.
He finger-combed her hair from her scalp to the nape of her neck. When Karla moaned, his dick went into a full salute. Total clusterfuck.