Bound Between You, page 3
part #4 of Tender Control Series
Not falling for the first Dom to say hello to him didn’t mean the little sub needed Mitch in his life. No one needed to be tortured like that.
“Your physical touch is not required for me to use my safewords.” He huffed like he shouldn’t have to explain that to anyone. “I can use that to stop any touch, conversation, or interaction that I choose. You have to understand that in order to be a member of the club. It’s written very clearly in the rules that you sign to become a member.”
Mitch gave him another look, like he knew the sub was just pushing back because he thought he had to. “Baby—”
“I am not your baby.” The sub scoffed. “And I am not required to appear half-naked just to appease your sense of entitlement. I am in control of who sees me in any state of undress just as I am in control of who I submit to.”
Mitch still thought he was slick enough to talk the spitfire down, but he was very wrong.
“The fact that I have to explain that to you says you are not someone I will ever be willing to submit to.” Then he shook his head, mumbling something about his mother finally being very wrong and not being as easily distracted as everyone thought.
That was curious, but I had more important things to worry about.
Like the fact that Mitch hadn’t left.
The sub could clearly hold his own, but since he wasn’t going to call over Ben or Conner, I decided to help just a bit. Catching the eye of one of the servers at the bar, I mouthed Ben’s name and pointedly nodded toward Mitch.
In seconds he’d figured out there was a problem and hurried toward the back of the club. I wasn’t sure who would be around on a Sunday evening but after a few moments and one more slimy come-on from Mitch, Ben came around the corner heading straight for them.
Perfect.
Sitting back, I kept an eye on things but pretended to stay out of it as Ben walked over, focusing on the sub. “Hey, I didn’t realize you were here. How’s everything going?”
He didn’t use the sub’s name, but that could’ve been because of Mitch or any number of reasons. The sub huffed and shifted to focus on Ben. “Originally it was fine, but this man won’t leave me alone. I’ve explained I didn’t want to get to know him and I’ve used my safeword very clearly.”
Then he leaned forward and pointed toward me. “That gentleman there who made sure you were called overheard me as well.”
Caught.
Ben looked over, and I nodded. “Yes, he’s right. He used his safeword and Mitch refused to walk away. Mitch made it clear that he firmly believed that since he hadn’t touched the sub, his safeword didn’t mean anything.”
“I was just talking to him.” Mitch stood, doing a terrible impression of someone innocent as he looked at Ben. “Everyone agrees I never touched him and never even asked him to do anything sexual.”
Technically he was right, but he hadn’t read the rules as closely as the spitfire had.
Ben snorted. “His safeword or the club’s is all that’s needed to stop anything. You should already know that because it’s in the fucking rules. It’s posted on the goddamned door in the locker rooms. It’s also a conversation we’ve had at least once. You’re done.”
Looking over his shoulder, Ben nodded toward one of the room monitors who was built like a fucking tank and doubled as security on the off chance it was necessary.
Mitch seemed to be unwilling to force a scene in the middle of the lounge, but as the three men walked away, I could see he was trying to talk his way out of it. Thankfully, his frustration was focused on Ben and me, not the sub.
When they’d walked away toward the offices at the far side of the building and everyone around us had gone back to their conversations, I looked over at the sub. He was giving me a little smirk, so I played innocent. “Hi. I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.”
He shook his head, still giving me the same look.
“Please don’t play innocent.” He shifted so he could see me better and rested one arm against the back of the couch. “I saw you gesturing to the server. I had it handled, but thank you for your assistance. He was…persistent.”
Oh yeah.
“Yes, I was watching out for you, but honestly, Ben’s been waiting for him to step over the line for a while. Mitch hadn’t done anything technically against the rules, but he’s pushy and there’s been some drama. So I was doing everyone a favor since you seemed to be new enough that you didn’t know about the dickhead Dom over there.”
My response had the sub’s lips widening into a genuine smile and he relaxed a bit.
“I would never have gone anywhere with him and I was getting ready to go find someone to handle the situation more forcefully, but thank you.” He looked around the room and I could see his smile fading. “I think that probably qualifies as meeting another Dom, so I’m going to make an executive decision and say I’ve fulfilled the terms of our agreement.”
He seemed to think that made sense, but I wasn’t so sure I followed.
“You were supposed to talk to someone?” Since it seemed like something Asa would’ve said, it didn’t sound as odd as it once might have.
He nodded, still looking a bit frustrated. “My mother is a Dominant in the lifestyle and we had an agreement that I would get to know several Doms before I became seriously involved with one. This was supposed to be my night to fulfill the terms of our agreement so I could focus on the Dom I met the last time I was here, but it has not been a relaxing evening.”
“Someone nice, I hope?” Who had he met?
He nodded, smiling tenderly. “Yes, Ben introduced us and he was a perfect Dom.”
Did the Dom know what was going on?
Was that even my business?
Probably not.
“Well, I would be glad to count as a Dom you got to know so that you can fulfill the terms of your agreement.” God, he would fit right in with Asa and the guys. “No pressure and no expectations.”
It was just my luck that the cutest sub I’d met in a long time was already focused on someone else. “This is your second night at the club?”
He watched me closely for several long moments before nodding. “Yes.”
He sat up straighter again, probably giving himself an internal pep talk, and nodded toward the chair across from me. “May I come sit down?”
I couldn’t decide if he was just trying to be polite or trying to please his mother, but either way, I needed a distraction and he seemed interesting, so I wasn’t going to complain.
“Please. I could use the company.” Kind of.
I’d been hoping to find someone to at least take my mind off my own troubles, but since that didn’t seem like it was going to work, this would have to do.
He nodded and rose, coming over to sit down across from me. “Thank you.”
Extending my hand, I smiled. “You’re welcome. Niall. Pleased to meet you.”
Shaking my hand, he relaxed a bit. “Keegan.”
I couldn’t help but notice the strength in his hand as he pulled away, and for a moment, I found myself wanting to hold on to him. But since being the next Mitch wasn’t my goal, I behaved myself.
Not sure where to start since I wasn’t going to try to come on to him, I just jumped in randomly. “I’m glad that asshole wasn’t your first impression of the club.”
Keegan chuckled. “Me too. I can’t imagine that being a new sub’s first impression of the club or BDSM in general.”
Did that mean he’d been in the lifestyle a while?
“Are you new to the area or just new to the club?” I’d never felt quite so awkward as I’d tried to get to know a sub, but I did my best to push past it. Without flirting or trying to tease his submissive side to the surface, I was worried that I’d sound like I was at a business meeting.
Keegan’s pleasant expression said he didn’t mind the question or my tone. “I’ve been in the lifestyle for several years, but this is my second night in the club. I’ve been mostly involved with work, so dating took a backseat for a long time.”
Considering how young he looked I wasn’t sure how that could be possible, but he seemed so sincere I took him at his word. “Work can be more distracting than people realize.”
Would it be too personal to ask what had him so focused?
“Would you mind my asking what you do for a living?” Before he could answer, I continued. “You won’t offend me if you don’t want to talk about your personal life.”
He waved a hand, shaking his head. “No, I’m not under any illusions that I’ll be able to maintain my privacy. I’m an artist. My work can be…” He cocked his head for a moment and seemed to consider how to finish the statement. “I think all-encompassing would be the best way to describe it.”
“That sounds interesting.” Part of me was nosy enough that I wanted to ask what his daytime job was, but that seemed rude even to me. “The artists I’ve met can be very single-minded, so I can understand how you get absorbed into your work.”
They were also curious, sensual creatures who didn’t always live in the real world, which brought up a host of worries. Was there a good way to ask if someone was making sure he ate and that his bills got paid?
I’d met very few people whose family was in the lifestyle, but picturing them, I decided if Keegan’s mother was any flavor of dominant then at least she would be watching over him to make sure he was safe and eating.
“It’s not a career you can leave at the door when work ends at five, but it’s what I’ve always wanted to do.” He smiled, but his focus turned back to me before I could ask another question. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m an architect.” I chuckled to myself. “So not quite an artist, but I see myself as creative.”
There was just a lot more logic and planning involved, which was why it appealed to me.
Keegan nodded, studying me as he mulled over something. “A very restrained creativity…chains, maybe…”
Chains?
Hoping he meant them metaphorically or artistically in some way, I waited until his mind was present again. He didn’t seem to realize he’d zoned out, so as he spoke, I kept my questions to myself.
It was one of the reasons that while artists intrigued me, I didn’t always understand them.
As he tuned back into the present, Keegan went back to watching me closely. “I assume from the way you were watching me earlier that you’re single and looking for a submissive?”
It was an unexpected shift, but I refused to look startled and just went with it. “I was mostly here to relax, but yes, I’m single and I was interested in you.”
He was very…direct.
“I’m not interested in having sex tonight or even a scene.” He paused like he was trying to decide how I would react. When I just nodded, he kept going. “I’ve made promises and there is someone else I’m interested in, but if you would like to continue to chat and possibly kiss, then I would be curious to see how we react to one another. Normally I would just flirt and see what happened but I’m still stressed and you seem like you would appreciate someone very straightforward.”
Keegan was the most fascinating man I’d met in a long time.
“I don’t want to interfere with your relationship, but yes, I appreciate someone who is straightforward.” However, competing with another Dom wasn’t my idea of fun. “But I would love the company if you would like to chat and walk around a bit?”
What was I doing?
He was technically single.
He wasn’t even trying to send out mixed signals.
“That would be lovely.” He leaned back in the seat and it was like he was visually cataloging everything about me like I was a design he’d never seen before. “But I am going to be seeing the other Dom later this week and I plan on submitting to him. I also have every intention of explaining our meeting and my reactions to you.”
This was the most interesting evening I’d experienced in a long time.
He had reactions to me?
“Open communication is always important.” But what did his words mean?
Keegan’s grin peeked out as he leaned forward, glancing around the club. “Would you like to show me around more? I saw some of the club on my previous visit, but we got distracted talking and didn’t see all of it.”
If I were the jealous type, the images that flashed through my mind would’ve made me frustrated, but luckily for the spitfire, I didn’t mind a bit of sharing under the right circumstances. Making sure he could see I was teasing, I narrowed my gaze at him and gave him a look that said I thought he was being naughty. “Are you trying to decide if I’m the jealous type?”
His grin widened, but he did his best to give me an I’m so innocent expression that didn’t quite work. “Me? No, I was just making sure I was honest with you.”
And if he got to tease the new Dom, that was a bonus.
“Well, if you were being completely honest you would explain exactly what the rules are with the Dom you’re interested in.” And probably what his mother had said, as well.
But asking that sounded odd, so I left that part out.
The little spitfire wiggled and his grin turned wicked and bright, changing his whole personality. “Well, I promised not to do anything more than we did on our first night together, which was mostly talking and the most wonderful teasing. I have no intention of walking away from him. But you’re just as interesting in a very different way.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about the whole situation, but he pulled at me, so I couldn’t see myself walking away either. “Interesting can be a good thing.”
His heated gaze and the way his body seemed to have a mind of its own said he liked interesting. I just hoped this didn’t backfire. It was either going to be a glorious mess or something special…it was just impossible to tell which.
Chapter 4
Keegan
I liked interesting…but I also liked Julian.
The small, completely rational part of my brain that usually stayed quiet at the back of my head said I probably should’ve left right after the incident with the idiot Dom. But utterly logical decisions had never been my strong suit.
And honestly, from the sweet, sexy texts Julian had sent me during the day, he seemed curious to see what would happen tonight, not unreasonably jealous.
Or even reasonably so.
It might have helped that I’d been very clear about how excited I’d been about our date this week and that I’d told him I’d already talked to my mother about him. She’d been delighted that I’d decided to get to know Julian better, but it hadn’t stopped her from pushing me to meet other people.
She might have trusted him, but I had a feeling that she wanted me to be completely confident about my own feelings before I got too close to him.
She was usually right, but in this case, since she considered him to be at least a casual friend, she was putting her foot down.
I just couldn’t decide what would happen next.
“I like interesting.” Sitting up, I inched forward on the seat and leaned closer to the sexy Dom.
Niall was so straitlaced that it was cute. He was buttoned up in a sexy suit that I knew he’d probably worn to work earlier, but there was a wicked gleam in his eyes that said he was thinking wonderfully naughty things. I could see the similarities between both men that were drawing me toward each of them, but where Julian seemed to dive right in like me, Niall was much more logical.
It made me want to see what he’d do if I was just a bit of a brat and pushed him.
The boring part in the back of my head pointed out that Julian might not appreciate that, but then the wicked part spoke up and pointed out that as long as I was honest and didn’t disobey, he might like being able to punish me for being naughty.
I was back to not knowing if I owed my mother flowers or if I should be frustrated with her.
Niall’s lips quirked, and he seemed to be trying not to smile. Seeing my way in, I shifted until I was barely on the chair and our knees were touching. There was a warmth that seemed to radiate from him that felt steadier than the fiery sensations Julian gave me, but I was starting to appreciate both.
“Yes, I’d love to walk around with you.” I managed to wait until he’d stood and reached for my hand until I popped up, but I just hoped he appreciated my restraint. “Where should we go?”
I wasn’t sure I really had an opinion, I just wanted to spend more time with him, so I shrugged.
He chuckled. “Have you seen the private rooms?”
As I shook my head, he smiled. “They’re themed for different types of scenes. Let’s go see if they’re taken.”
“Do you think they’ll be free?” Julian had talked about us going to see them, but we’d gotten sidetracked and had ended up curled up in the far corner of the lounge kissing and talking the rest of the night.
Niall nodded. “I think so. It’s not terribly busy tonight.”
Both Ben and Julian had said that Sunday was laid back and fairly quiet, which was one of the main reasons I’d picked it to get my second attempt at meeting a Dom out of the way. But it hadn’t turned out like I’d expected.
Moving to stand beside me, he nodded toward the bar. “They have the schedule.”
Since it didn’t seem like he was going to take my hand, I fixed the situation and threaded my fingers through his.
Much better.
It seemed like being a bit pushy was going to be the only way to figure out if we had chemistry or if he was just fun to talk to. Why those things had to be completely different, I didn’t know, but it was frustrating.
But the fact that there were so many different kinds of chemistry and pulls was a constant source of inspiration, so I probably shouldn’t complain.
As we made our way over to the bar, we got a few odd looks from some of the Doms I remembered seeing before, but I wasn’t sure why. Did they know Niall? Was it about the drama with the idiot? Did they remember me?
