The Red Door (The Door Series Book 1) (26 page)

I saw Jackson’s eyes harden. “May I, Sir?”

“Yes. I’m going to go down to the club. Meet me there when you’re done.”

I felt Calvin touch my shoulder then walk out, but I never took my eyes off of Jackson. I watched as he glanced at Mitch. Then Mitch came over and kissed my head.

“I’ll go see if I can find Alex and settle him down.” Mitch left too, shutting the door behind him. As soon as it was shut Jackson grabbed me into a tight hug and didn’t let go, didn’t say anything. He held me for what seemed like forever. When he stepped back I saw his eyes had watered.

“Jackson, what’s going on?”

“Ari.” I watched as he shook his head. “Ari, you don’t know me. Not really. Not outside of the guy I am with my family. You don’t know me in this club. I tried to tell you that before. To have you understand that, the Jackson you know and love, is not the Jackson who comes to the club. I keep them separate because the people I know and love are not ready to meet the man I am here.”

“Okay, so you hide this side of yourself. Why? You told me your parents know you come here.”

“My parents know I come, but my dad is the only one who knows the real reasons why. It isn’t only the club. I am training to be a Dom, but it’s more than that. I enjoy being topped, but it takes a certain type a person to be able to top me. Mitch, for example, can top me. No, I’m not attracted to him in any sexual way, but he has the authority to do it. Colby has tried, but it never worked. I honestly think I could submit to Diana, but she would be the first woman I was able to.”

“So, you want to be a switch?”

“Yes, I want to submit, and I want someone to submit to me too. I just never found someone I was able to submit to that I wanted more with. That is until Master Calvin. It just happened. He walked in and I knew. I can’t explain it. The attraction was just there.”

“You know he’ll expect things from you. You’ll need to be…open.”

I watched as he smirked at my use of the word.

“You mean Master Calvin will expect me to submit sexually to him. Would it surprise you if I told you he wouldn’t be my first?”

“Umm.” What?

“Why, Ari, you hypocritical little bitch. You had both men in here last night with you, in what I am sure was a highly sensitive situation, and now you’re going to act all self-righteous toward me.”

“No! I’m surprised. God, Jackson, you never acted like you wanted any of this,” I yelled at him. I was mad that he thought I would judge him like that.

“Well, I wasn’t ready to admit it! Do you think it’s easy to admit you want a man as big as Calvin to beat the shit out of you and fuck you while not letting you cum? God, Ari what the fuck is wrong with me?” he yelled back.

I looked at him hard. That image rolling around in my head was doing things to me. I didn’t know if it was the thought of Calvin doing this with Jackson or the thought of his fine redheaded ass doing it to me. I shook my head trying to figure out what was wrong with me. Was this really the life I wanted? I didn’t know. Now, with being a target, I no longer had a choice. Until the case was solved I agreed to be seen at the club and protected by the people who came here. I let the image Jackson just gave me run through my head again. It didn’t seem that bad of a deal on my end. I shook my head. I had two of my own fine-ass men I should be picturing. “Ugh! I hope nothing because that sounds hot, and I already think I am fucked in the head enough.” We looked at each other. Both of us breathing hard over our righteous indignation, and we started to laugh.

“Hmm, Ari, we’re fucked up.” He laughed harder.

“Well, after last night, if we are then I want to embrace it.”

He looked at me closely. “Are you good after last night? Is everything smoothed over? I’m not asking for details, I just want to know you’re fine.”

“Yes. Did you know I would go back to them?”

“More like the fact that I knew they weren’t going to let you go.”

“Oh, okay. I’m good and glad they didn’t want to let me go. And this whole thing with Calvin…are you going to be okay? Mitch told me he’s a sadist and likes head games.”

“Yeah, I can finally say that I know I’m fine, without agreeing to get people off my back.”

“You said your dad knows the real reason you come here?”

“Yeah, I was having trouble in school. It was becoming harder and harder to control certain reactions during sensitive times.”

“Sensitive times?”

“Gym. Locker room.” He smirked. “I would get pissed off about it and end up fighting. Finally, I told my dad, and the rest is history.”

“Well, then, I’m happy for you. It’s going to suck not being able to talk and hang with you. It’s a full-time thing, isn’t it?”

“It’s going to be. I’ve been picky with the men I’ve chosen, and it was always done in complete privacy. I’m eighteen, and since I’ve finally come to terms with who I am, it’s time for me to be open and honest with those I love. I am attracted to Calvin and want to include him in my personal life. I plan to tell my family Sunday. Calvin’s going to step back and let them get used to the idea before he invades Sunday dinners, but the relationship we want is for him to be a Master over both me and our sub, who we want to be a woman.”

“I hope you find her soon. Not that I think you couldn’t be happy with Calvin the Invader, but I know how much you like being the Dom, and I don’t see him letting you top him.”

“Calvin the Invader?” He laughed as he said it. “That’s a good one. He’ll get a kick out of that, fitting as it is. And no, I don’t think I would ever want to top him, but he will be finishing my training so I will still be able to do it even if it’s on his terms. Actually, it turns me on more knowing he still has the ultimate control over me while I do it.”

“Ugh, I did not need the image you put in my head from Calvin the Invader. Gross!”

“What, were you not talking about how he is going to invade my ass?”

I threw my hands up and covered my ears. “No! I was talking how he is invading our friendship, not what he’s going to do to you!”

“You didn’t mind picturing it a few seconds ago, but the words embarrass you. Cute! Or were you picturing yourself with both Calvin and me?”

“Nope! I have all the men I need. Go get your own girl and then you’ll be in a relationship like mine.”

“Yes, Ari, I will. And as happy as Alex seemed to be this morning, before your little fit, I cannot wait.”

“Oh please, Alex will get over it.”

“Yeah, after he invades that ass.”

“Oh, shut it,” I whispered and smiled big watching as he returned the smile. “Come on, let’s go find our Masters.”

We went down to the club and did a walk through. It was the first time I saw anything past the bar in person. The video surveillance could never do it justice. We found Calvin, but no Mitch or Alex. I watched as he turned and looked at Jackson, who walked over to him and knelt down on his knees in front of him. Calvin petted his head, but raised his eyes to me. Waiting.

“Master Calvin, may I speak with you?”

He smiled at me and nodded his head. “I knew one day Mitch would take on a sub worthy of him. I didn’t expect him to want someone so…” He looked me up and down. “Naïve. And before you get mad that’s not an insult. You have the whole wide-eyed innocent package. And from what I’ve been told you truly are innocent in all of this, and you don’t know the rules. I wonder if he likes it because he’s the first and gets to teach you his way. Train you up how he likes you or if he wants to take the Angel, like Alex calls you, and make her his own wicked little slut.” I flinched hard enough for him to see and knew that was the reaction he was looking for. From what I had heard about him up until now and the little bit I spoke with him, I knew he was testing me again. I began to wonder what the lesson plan was.

“I’ll be what both Alex and Mitch need me to be. I’m sure I will change in the process. We all will, but they have both made sure I understand I’ll be theirs and theirs alone. And I never said I was an Angel; that was all Alex. If I had to choose between being an angel or a slut, I’m sure I will enjoy the trip to slutdom.”

“The more I talk with you the more I like you, Ari. I’ll admit that I am jealous of what Mitch has found and even though I have Jackson, we still need a sub. Someone innocent and sweet but has a hunger to please her men sexually. Someone like you, who would push against the limits set and argue back; receiving the punishments I love to give,” he whispered walking over to me. “I know you have feelings for Jackson and he you. I know you pushed them aside for Mitch and Alex. If they get to be too much or not enough, you come find me. I will gladly put you on your back and show you how it feels to be totally dominated by two men.” He reached up and cupped my face making me focus on his. “Mitch and Alex have issues they need to work out between each other before they can advance to having a real relationship with you. If you get tired of waiting for what you truly need, come to me or Jackson.” He leaned in and slid his lips across mine breaking the spell and making me jerk back.

“Mitch has done nothing but talk you up, and you’re doing your best to pull me away from him. Now that he’s happy, you would take it away?”

“Is he happy, Ari?”

“Yes.” Why would he even ask? Of course he’s happy.

“Is he happy with you or the fact he finally has Alex?”

“What do you mean ‘finally’?”

“Alex has been at this club for months and since he came here Mitch hasn’t had sex unless it was a scene with Alex. Oh, he’s helped with other scenes but never engaged. And he always managed to be around to watch or participate any time Alex was in a scene. So while Mitch agreed to escort you, it wasn’t until Alex came on the scene that he pushed for more.”

“No. I don’t believe that.”

“I’m not trying to make you believe, Ari. I’m giving you the facts as I know them.”

“And how would you know them? You’ve just arrived.”

“True, I did get here last night, but I have had access to the feeds for months now. Plus, Mitch has always been totally open and honest with me.”

“He told you he wanted Alex?”

“I will not share anything Mitch has or hasn’t told me in confidence.”

“Then why say anything at all?”

“Because, like I said, I find myself jealous for the first time since I have become a Master. I don’t like the feeling. Now, you know if they don’t give you what you need or you feel pushed aside, both Jackson and I would love to take you on.”

I shivered, despite my anger at him for making me doubt. The image of Calvin and Jackson replaying in my head. I watched as he smiled and went to reach for my face again. I casually stepped back a few steps.

“I asked to talk with you. I wanted to tell you I was sorry for my outburst up stairs. And that I support Jackson’s decisions.” I heard my voice shake as I said it. I turned and walked back toward the front. I needed my men. I needed them both to prove to me that Calvin was nothing more than what I called him. An Invader.

I made it to the front of the club and saw the office door was open. I walked over and looked in and saw Mitch standing by the fireplace. He had one hand leaning against it while the other pumped his cock. Alex was leaning against the wall in front of Mitch and I could see one hand wrapped around Mitch’s pumping hand.

“God, Alex, I needed this. Since I sucked your cock this morning, I’ve been ready to burst.”

“I know. I enjoyed making you wait, but you’ll still owe me one since I jacked you off in bed this morning.” Alex laughed.

“Fuck! Don’t stop. Don’t ever stop, my Alex.” I watched as Mitch came all over his and Alex’s hand. Then everything they said hit me. They turned to each other two times while I slept and didn’t invite me this time when I was awake.

And in bed?

Right beside me?

My eyes watered and I quickly left and decided to focus on finding the bad guys and not the two idiots I already found.

I left the club and went straight to Becca’s. I was happy it was Saturday since she had the weekends off. I needed to talk everything through with her. I had held it all in and now I was in breakdown mode thinking about everything—from my parents being murdered and being a target to having a very confusing relationship with two men. She immediately grabbed her phone and called her parents. I wasn’t ready for them to know everything about me yet, but Becca didn’t ask. They came over and I told them the highlights, leaving out the more intimate details. They decided to go help Holly go through old tapes. We left after I made sure everyone knew that the information was confidential and was not to be shared with anyone.

Becca and I went back to the club to help Alex and Mitch. I was hurt and didn’t want to face them, but I knew that this was more important than our relationship issues. I lucked out since they were both gone. I wondered who was supposed to have guard duty now. Why all the hoopla if the threat wasn’t that big a risk? Would they have used that as an excuse to keep me closer? Surely, they wouldn’t drag everyone else into it if that was the case. Still, I looked around the front of the club when I came in, and I knew no one was around. I knew the front door wouldn’t have been left unlocked if it was that dangerous. I shoved the thoughts away getting more and more pissed.