She frowned at the newcomer. "He"s coming home with us. He is completely out of the blackmail business. He"s going to be a cowboy."
"Probably not forever," Lucas interjected. Sam had noticed Lucas seemed much more confident than he had this morning. Something had given Lucas a sense of self, and Sam doubted it was the haircut.
Lucas stood up to the man named Slater. "I"ll probably go back to school. Jack said he could use a lawyer. I think I could be good at that."
Slater snorted derisively. "You never were before. Your sister is the lawyer. Don"t even try to compete with her."
"He isn"t trying to compete with anyone." Abby practically growled at Slater. Sam hid a smile. Abby"s mama bear was coming 168 out. Slater should step carefully. "He doesn"t have to. He just has to be Lucas. You just get on a plane and head back to wherever you came from. Don"t you give Lucas another thought. He"s not going to give you one." She slipped her arm through a surprised Lucas"s. She patted his hand comfortingly. "Goodbye, Mr. Slater." She turned and started to lead Lucas off. She seemed to remember that she was supposed to follow someone. Her red hair shook as she impatiently waited on Julian.
"I wouldn"t mess with that one, Mr. Slater," Julian said smoothly taking his place at the head of the group. "She seems to have taken your charge under her wing. It"s a delicate wing, but I believe you"ll find it has claws."
"d.a.m.n straight it does," Abby shot back.
Julian frowned. "Language, Abigail."
She shrugged. "Sorry."
"No, you"re not." Julian sighed, and his head gave a little shake of despair. He looked the campaign manager over. "Are you still going to try to talk to Lucas? He doesn"t seem interested in talking to you."
Slater followed doggedly behind. "Yes. The contract I signed gave me club access through tonight. The senator wants his son to come home."
Sam doubted that. The senator wanted his son to shut up. Julian stopped and stared at Slater for a moment, his mouth flat and his eyes flinty. Sam knew that look. It was the one Jack always sported when he was plotting some terrible revenge. Sam wondered what the h.e.l.l the older guy had done to put that expression on Julian"s face.
"Fine, Mr. Slater," Julian finally allowed. "I will honor our little contract. You will honor your end. I believe the rules of the dungeon were fully outlined. Have a good evening, Mr. Slater. Abigail, Samuel, please follow me."
Julian turned and started to walk again. Sam walked beside his wife, slipping his hand through her open arm. He smiled as Lucas leaned over.
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"Abby, are you going to insist on acting all motherly toward me?"
Lucas sounded disappointed.
"I can"t help it, Lucas. I am a very motherly person."
Sam caught Lucas staring at the gap in her robe. It showed off her perfectly creamy skin and the round beginnings of the b.r.e.a.s.t.s Sam loved so much.
"All right, Abby, but you gotta know, I already have an Oedipus complex about you," Lucas shot back.
Julian and Abby laughed. Sam wasn"t sure what that was, but he doubted Lucas could ever look at Abby like a real mama.
"It"s good to know his education wasn"t a complete waste," Julian tossed over his shoulder as he led them into the playroom. "Lucas at least paid attention in English cla.s.s."
Sam walked into the playroom and stared at the stairs in the back that led to the dungeon. He"d been there a hundred times, but it felt brand new. Sam took a deep breath and walked toward his new life.
The dungeon was awfully dungeon-like, Abby thought as Lucas helped her off the last step. Sam"s hand was on the small of her back as she took in the s.p.a.ce. The lighting here was soft and lent the entire place a bit of a gloomy atmosphere. The walls were black and the floor a dark wood. The fixtures were all a heavy wrought iron, giving the place a medieval feel. She preferred the playroom. If she had the choice, she greatly preferred the playroom at their ranch. It was more intimate. It didn"t have the amount of toys Julian"s large playroom did, but it was theirs.
It seemed as though everyone had gotten the word. The dungeon was full. Abby knew her eyes were big and curious as she watched the people milling about. She realized that her white silk robe made her stand out in this crowd. Jack had orchestrated this very carefully.
The night before, Sam had tried to make her blend in by wearing the 170 leather miniskirt and bustier. The white silk she wore now was very different from the leather and black fetish wear everyone else had on.
Her hair was soft and flowed down her back. All he"d allowed her was a bit of lip gloss. As she walked through the severely dressed club members, she knew Jack had done it on purpose. She looked like a virginal sacrifice. Of course, the robe wouldn"t matter in a little while. Jack would take it off, and she had nothing at all on underneath. Abby"s breath caught on a scene in front of her.
"What"s that?" Abby nudged Sam.
There was a young man intricately tied up and hanging from a hook over his head. Abby realized that Jack liked to bind her hands together, but she knew it was nothing like this. Rope wound around every part of him in an elaborate pattern. The thin rope wrapped carefully around his waist and the V of his thighs. His p.e.n.i.s was on full display, caught in the bindings.
"It"s called Shibari," Julian explained as he led them through the dungeon. "It"s a j.a.panese bondage art. Master Leo teaches a cla.s.s."
"I do, indeed." Master Leo joined them. Abby felt his eyes on her.
He appeared to be roughly thirty, though the perpetual air of authority around the Dom made him seem a bit older. He gestured to the man in the ropes. Abby noted that despite the tight bindings, his eyes were closed, and he seemed peaceful. "I taught his Domme how to bind him. I believe this sub finds it soothing. I would be more than willing to show you, little sub."
"You"re going to get your a.s.s kicked if you don"t leave my brother"s wife alone," Lucas said before Sam could.
Abby was grateful Lucas was taking charge. Sam was an acknowledged submissive. This Master Leo person didn"t like it when subs offered up a potential a.s.s kicking. Lucas was acting as her guardian. It seemed perfectly acceptable that he make all manner of threats.
There was a slight smile on Julian"s face. Abby got the feeling Julian rarely smiled brightly. Even when he looked amused, there 171.
wasn"t a sense of joy about him. He was always in control. "I wouldn"t push Jackson tonight, Leo. It"s a special night for him. He won"t have you disrupt it with your obvious admiration for his wife."
Master Leo inclined his head toward her. "She"s a lovely submissive. I can"t help but admire her. I think training her would be a challenge."
"I"m as trained as I"m going to get," Abby muttered under her breath.
Lucas clutched her arm and stared at the Dom. "We are supposed to be finding my brother, not taking a tour."
Julian held out a hand. "I believe Jackson has found a loyal friend in you, Lucas." He turned to Leo, who was following the group now.
"Have you prepared the room as I asked you to?"
Leo inclined his head slightly. "Of course, Master Julian. All is in readiness. I have several eager partic.i.p.ants."
"Partic.i.p.ants?" Abby wasn"t sure she liked the sound of that.
"Not for you, dear," Julian a.s.sured her. "I have another matter to take care of this evening. Don"t worry about it. It no longer concerns you."
Abby would have asked about when it had concerned her, but she suddenly saw Jack standing on a large raised stage. He looked dark and dangerous and entirely yummy. He held a long whip in his hand.
"You"re sure it"s not going to hurt?" Abby squeezed Sam"s hand.
She moved closer to Sam. His eyes didn"t move from the sight of Jack with that whip. His clear blue eyes had taken on that sleepy look she equated with desire in Sam. "It"ll hurt a little, Abby, but then it"s going to feel good."
Julian flicked his wrist. The crowd parted quickly at his command. Abby wondered if everyone obeyed Julian. If everyone did his bidding, who was he friends with? Who did he argue with and discuss things with if everyone was submissive toward him? She felt a little sorry for the Dom.
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Then Jack was holding his hand out, and she wasn"t thinking about Julian any more. Lucas gave her a hand up. She was enfolded in Jack"s arms.
"You are the most beautiful woman I"ve ever seen, my Abby," he whispered in her ear. "Show them."
Abby took a deep breath and shrugged out of her robe. She was naked in front of a crowd of people, but there were only two who mattered. She shivered slightly despite the warmth of the room. Jack ran his hands down her shoulders. "Just follow my lead, and Lucas will be taking care of you in no time at all, sweetheart. I love you, Abby."
She kept silent because he hadn"t asked her a direct question. She nodded, letting her love for him shine. He put his hand out, and she sank into her submissive position. She tried not to think about the St.
Andrew"s Cross that dominated the stage. It was a large wooden X, and she"d taken note of the fastenings she was sure would be used on her wrists and ankles. Once she was bound, there would be no getting out until Jack deemed it time.
Jack sounded very formal as he began. "Master Julian, this woman belongs to me. She wears my collar and my ring. She shares my name and my home. She has offended you and seeks to make reparation. Will you accept?"
"I will," Julian replied.
Jack turned to her. She could only see the tips of his boots.
"Abigail Barnes, who is your husband and master?"
"You are, Jack."
He used the tip of the whip"s handle to bring her chin up so she looked at him. "Do you submit to me?"
"Yes." There was no hesitation. She trusted him with her body and soul. She breathed out all of her anxiety and let Jack take control.
"Then prepare to serve me." Jack motioned for her to get up then led her to the cross. Gently he bound her face-first to the apparatus.
The straps were leather but cushioned with something soft. Jack made 173.
certain they wouldn"t cut off her circulation. He made her wiggle her fingers and toes. When he was satisfied, she felt him pressed against her back.
"Your safe word is apink", Abby," he whispered. "I expect you to use it if this gets to be too much to handle. I"ll stop immediately and get you out of here. Julian said nothing at all about silence, so scream all you like."
He stepped back, and she knew she wouldn"t. She would do anything to avoid it. It would bother Jack. He liked the sounds she made when he spanked her, but she didn"t think he could handle it if she was in real pain. She gritted her teeth and prepared to survive this experience.
Abby closed her eyes. There wasn"t anything to see except a black velvet curtain. She heard the crowd get quiet as Jack probably unfurled the whip. She was glad she hadn"t seen it uncoiled. She tried to think about every fantasy she"d ever had about Indiana Jones.
"You will count, Abigail," Jack demanded. "Count of ten."
CRACK!.
She tensed when she heard that terrible sound. Every muscle in her body did exactly what she didn"t want it to do. When the lash struck the fleshy part of her a.s.s, she was rigid. All the breath left her body as the burn sizzled. It wasn"t exactly pain, but it wasn"t comfortable, either. She forced herself to breath.
"I need a count, Abigail," Jack said patiently.
"One," she managed with a shaky voice as she wondered how she could get through that nine more times.
It happened quickly the second time. Abby felt the burn across her thighs and gasped. "Two," she nearly shouted. Her mouth had gone dry and her breath came in pants. She was grateful for the bindings.
Her fingers curled around the leather that held her in place.
Again. The third blast came across her b.u.t.tocks. Fire seemed to splash across her skin. It sizzled and cracked and retreated, leaving something else in its wake.
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"Three," she managed.
Jack worked fast. He didn"t give her time to think or prepare for the next lash. The minute he heard her count, he struck again. By the time she made it to ten she was crying, but the burn was sinking into her skin. It seemed to course through her veins and it hurt, but it also made her feel awfully alive. A strange sense of pride washed through her. She"d made it through and hadn"t screamed, hadn"t begged him to stop. By the time the lash had bitten her the last time, she"d felt an odd kinship with the whip. It was taking her someplace. The cessation of that horrible burn was a pleasure in and of itself. She sagged against her bindings, so tired she didn"t think she could walk. She wished Jack didn"t have to deal with Sam. This was the time she craved, when the pain was over and her body hummed, when Jack took such sweet care of her.
"You were wonderful, sweetheart," he murmured as he efficiently pulled her out. Lucas was at his side. Jack worked on her hands while Lucas pulled her feet out. "I"m so proud of you." His hands lightly traced the skin where the whip had landed. She knew what was going through his head. He was checking to make sure he hadn"t done any real damage. After a moment, she felt him relax and knew he was satisfied. Abby could tell the whole episode had done something for him. He was aroused as he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly before pa.s.sing her off to Lucas. Lucas helped her into her robe as Jack turned to Julian.
"Are you satisfied with my wife?" Jack asked.
Julian nodded briefly. "She did well for a novice. I take it Samuel has chosen to take the majority of the punishment. Or did you force that on him?"
Abby watched Sam practically bound on to the stage. He was grinning as he shrugged out of his clothes.
"Yes, I was terrible to him, Julian." Jack watched as Sam approached. Sam tossed his clothes to the side. "I had to force him."
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Sam got into position, head down, palms up as Lucas swept Abby up and carried her off the stage. Jack was going through the ritual he"d performed with her for Sam. Lucas found a chaise lounge set aside for the occasion. There was a small table with another vodka and cranberry juice waiting.
"Here you go." Lucas pressed the gla.s.s in her hand and steadied her. "Are you all right?"
She nodded as she took a gulp. She really was all right. The entire episode had been very enlightening. Abby knew it wasn"t the last time she"d feel the bite of that whip. She"d been close to going someplace else.
"Does it hurt?"
"Yes, Lucas, getting your a.s.s whipped hurts," Abby replied sarcastically. She felt a smile tug her lips up. It was a little like jumping into near-freezing water. There was a creek in Willow Fork that was always cold. She had jumped into it every summer. It was horrible, almost unbearable while she was in it, but when she got out, and the sun hit her skin, every pore was open and the world seemed like a different place.
Lucas held a bottle of something. "I"m supposed to wipe this across your a.s.s."
She shook her head. There was no way she was letting Lucas rub her naked bottom. He was her brother-in-law. "It can wait for Jack."
Lucas let out a sigh. "He said you would probably refuse, but he wanted it here. Do you want me to take you back to the room?"
"No." She wasn"t going to leave them. She gingerly sat down, and Lucas followed, sitting next to her. The pain was already gone, and she was surprised she wasn"t very sore.
There was a mighty crack, and Sam shouted out, "One." There was an almost jubilant satisfaction in his voice. Lucas hissed.
"Wow," Lucas said. "That is not what he did to you."
A line of red appeared on Sam"s backside. It looked angry and painful, but Sam just counted through it. The whip cracked through 176 the air. It was a harsh sound and made Abby jump. Somehow it hadn"t sounded that way when she was tied to the St. Andrew"s Cross. The sound had been gentler even when the whip stung along her skin.
Sam tensed the first few times. The muscles of his back bunched up, and he groaned. After the first few, though, he seemed to relax.
Abby stood and watched as the whip danced. It seemed almost like an extension of Jack himself. The man and the whip moved in perfect harmony, the action sensual in its fluidity. She found herself holding her breath as the whip flew back and Jack began again.
She wished she could see Sam"s face. It would give her a sense of what he was feeling. She could see Julian"s. He watched with rapt attention. While others switched their attention between the two men working the scene, Julian Lodge watched only Sam. After a moment, his serious gray eyes found hers. She looked away, but not before she saw that Julian, for everything he had, was a lonely man at heart.
She let her attention get back to her husbands. Sam"s back was red and swollen. Abby watched as he let his head sag when the count reached ten. His voice got languid and heavy.