His Jersey Girl

Chapter 2

Gabriel

Pain shot from my lower back up to my left shoulder like a bolt of lightning as I stepped out of my SUV. I straightened and the groan I made probably sounded like it came from a much older man. Breathing deeply, I waited out the muscle spasm. I was getting too old to keep up with the intense training my career required. For the last five years I’d enjoyed both the money and the fame that came with being among the top ranked MMA fighters in the country.

I’d been smart with my income and opened a national chain of gyms with Rocco, my best friend and manager. Because I knew that in any sport or physically demanding career, a person’s time at the top had an expiration date. There was only so much abuse a body could take and my thirty-seven-year-old muscles didn’t recover as fast as the twenty-somethings I’d been competing against.

The match in a few weeks would be my last. It was a crossover between fight organizations with each putting up their best fighters by weight class. I’d actually announced my retirement last year after defending my heavyweight championship for the third time. Six months later, they’d lured me back in with a guaranteed multimillion dollar purse and a higher percentage of the Pay- Per-View profits. At the time I’d thought it was a smart move that would add extra cushion to my already more than healthy retirement fund.

That was before I found out who my opponent was going to be. Collin “Bain” Thompson played into every bad stereotype of the industry, using dirty tactics whenever he thought the referee couldn’t see. Rumor had it he was as unpleasant out of the ring as he was inside of it. He’d permanently injured two promising athletes during what should have been training matches. Unfortunately, by the time I found out, I’d already signed on the dotted line.

For the last few months, I’d been training twice a day, six days a week. Even two years ago I wouldn’t have been this nervous, but as the pulled muscle in my back showed, I was on the downslide of my prime. As part of the contract, I’d agreed to move into one of the casino’s rooms for the last month of training so I could be under the watchful eye of the league officials. They wanted to be sure I showed up every day and put out full effort. Luckily, they didn’t monitor what I did with my free time.

I should be at the hotel in a tub full of ice cubes, resting my back, not heading out for a night at a club. But Rocco had managed to set us up for an interview for membership to the Dragon’s Tail, and there was no way I was risking losing the opportunity. Ever since I’d learned about the exclusive BDSM club I’d been trying to join.

When I first got a taste of fame, it had shocked me just how many underground clubs there were in the world. No matter what your tastes or vice, there were people willing to take your money and provide it. If you didn’t have morals, money really could buy anything.

This place was different. The owner was a man named Angel. At his club, it didn’t matter how big your bank account was or how famous you were, if you failed to meet his standards you would never make it in the door. The rumors about what happened to anyone who broke his rules once inside were enough to give even me nightmares.

So far, this place wasn’t what I expected. The parking garage was like any other; the elevator was nothing special except it contained a slot into which I slipped the card Rocco had given me. The doors closed and the elevator sped upward without any indication of what floor it was taking me to. It was all very mysterious.

We’d been required to show up separately and park on different levels. The instructions said to leave our phones and any electronics in the car. My anticipation was killing me, but I wasn’t going to screw this up by not following directions.

“Finally!” Rocco’s voice was like a bullhorn as the doors to the elevator opened.

I shook my head and walked out into the room that was revealed. High-end leather furniture and tasteful and expensive decoration made the area look as classy as any country club lounge I’d ever visited. My friend was scowling at me as he leaned against the closest wall like he’d been waiting for me for hours instead of barely five minutes. A few years older than me, Rocco had fought in the circuit briefly before switching over to manage fighters. But the man still kept in shape.

“You act as if I’m late.” I wasn’t. Hell, we were both early, but I could understand his enthusiasm. One of the many things we had in common was our desire to find a Little girl of our own to cherish.

Rocco laughed and pushed off the wall. “Do you have any idea what I had to do to get this interview, Gabriel? If you were this slow in the ring?—”

“Neither of us would have vacation homes in Hawaii?” I looked around the room, finally noticing we were the only people present except an amused young man who sat at a small podium near a closed door. Not sure what I’d been expecting, but it wasn’t this. “Is the club closed tonight?”

Rocco had told me this was only going to be the final interview, but I’d hoped to possibly at least get a feel for the place if we were accepted.

“I’m not sure this is even the club.”

“It is.” I turned to see Angel walking toward us with a friendly smile. Where had he come from?

The man was lean and well-built. With the balanced and predatory way he moved, if it wasn’t for the almost pretty quality of his features, I could picture him as one of the more deadly lightweight fighters in the league. He wasn’t as tall as either Rocco or I, but I wouldn’t discount him in a fight. No one knew this man’s last name, but he was famous in the kink world for not only his clubs, but also the many causes he supported.

“This floor holds my office as well as the private rooms. Dragon’s Tail is spread among several of this building’s floors. Each has its own membership, but there is a lounge that any Dominant and their guests may visit on the top floor if you wish to socialize.”

“Good to see you again, Angel.” Rocco’s smile was bright but his eyes were tight, showing me my usually confident friend was nervous.

“And good to see you.” Angel turned his gaze my way and it was like his blue eyes were assessing me right down to my bones. “I’d like to apologize to you, Mr. Lanzo, for not looking at your application sooner. I let your public persona color my opinion of you.”

As a professional MMA fighter, media and public relations were a tricky game. While the results of the fights were about who was better in the ring, what fights you were offered was based more on marketability and the league’s ability to make money. Early in my career because of my name I’d been dubbed ‘The Destroyer’. They played off the reputation of the archangel and presented me as a cold, heartless judge of the unworthy. I didn’t think anyone would be shocked if they found out I frequented BDSM clubs. Honestly, I think many people would expect it. What they wouldn’t expect was that I had no interest in the harsher side of the lifestyle. I was what people called a Daddy Dom.

Despite my ruthless reputation, what I dreamed of finding was a sweet Little girl of my own. Someone who would help me forget the darker side of life and share their joy of life’s simple pleasures with me. I wanted a sub who needed to hand over control and let me take on their burdens for them. A person I could cherish, spoil, and guide into their best life. A woman who wouldn’t expect extravagant gifts, but would still cherish anything I gave her.

I couldn’t blame him for judging me. It was well known Angel saw his clubs as places for submissives to build a safe community and live out their dreams. The exorbitant fees Dominants paid to join went to further the community and support the memberships of the submissives he and his team found and tempted into joining. Because of this, he had a diverse membership of submissives that included a number of Littles, Kittens, Pups and Ponies.

“Please call me Gabriel.” We shook hands and I appreciated that his grip was strong, but not hard. He wasn’t trying to prove anything.

“Of course, Gabriel. When I first got your application, I was hesitant to even consider you for the Masters membership. That you were applying as a Daddy…” He shrugged and the gesture expressed both an apology and an explanation. “I discounted you completely. I am very protective of those subs in the more vulnerable roles.”

“I understand why you might have hesitated. I pay my media team well to make people think a certain way about me. I hope you understand now ‘The Destroyer’ is not who I am in my private life.”

“Rocco was very persuasive on your behalf when we talked. I was pleasantly surprised by what my investigators found. It is not often I am surprised.”

“Surprised enough to let us join?” Rocco asked. He hated my reputation more than I did, though we both agreed it was important. No longer having to deal with judgmental glares and being hassled by wannabe tough guys was one of the things I looked forward to most in retirement.

“For a probationary trial, yes. You both normally live closer to my New York location.”

Rocco and I nodded our agreement.

“I understand you will be here for a month. During that time, you will be given access to the Littles’ Playground and Penthouse Lounge, but not the private rooms or any of the other sections. Once your probationary period is up, we’ll talk again.”

Since the Littles’ playground was the only part of the club that interested me, I didn’t have a problem with those conditions. “Thank you.”

“Let me take you down there now and show you around while security creates your membership cards.”

My body hummed with anticipation as we stepped out of the elevator and into The Playground. I’d heard stories, but none of them did justice to the reality. A massive room that was sectioned off only by different colors of matts on the floor. The ceiling was so high I was pretty sure it had to take up two stories and far off in the corner I saw a giant playset with several Little boys playing on it. There was everything a Big or Little could want from a changing station area to rows of old-fashioned video games. Tables and seating were scattered throughout, breaking up the large space into more intimate settings.

“This is much larger than I expected.” Rocco looked around and seemed to be as impressed as I was.

“I know, I spoil them.” The tender tone in Angel’s voice relaxed something inside me. “Officially we have over fifty Littles and at least the same number of Middles as members. At this location, I only have about half that number of Bigs who are members, so keeping the Little ones happy and out of trouble is a full-time job for many of my staff.”

The idea of so many people in the ageplay lifestyle being in one location was both unbelievable and exciting. In the years since I’d discovered I was a Daddy, I’d considered myself lucky to find one or two unattached Littles at a club, and unfortunately had never connected with any of them for more than a short period of time. I could already tell this experience would be different. There were only a few people around, but it was a weeknight.

Angel walked us through the room, pointing out the different activities that were available. A group of six Little girls were playing together and giggling while doing some strange dance that had them walking backward. At their center, seated at a table, was a delicate, fairy-like woman who stole my breath. She had porcelain skin flushed with an adorable blush and eyes that even at this distance, I could tell sparkled with joy. Her dark hair was up in a severe ponytail that contrasted with her delicate looks.

Did she ever wear it down?

The urge to get closer to her was almost overwhelming, but I didn’t want to interrupt their fun. As Angel walked us nearer to the girls my curiosity grew.

Her laugh was so carefree and musical it seemed to carry across the room. Would her voice be the same? Would she be scared of me since I was so much bigger than her, or would she be sassy and unafraid?

“Do the matching black tutus mean anything?” I asked, the thought blurting out of my mouth. All five girls were wearing it like a uniform over their clothes. Was it a costume or something else, like an indication they were already taken? It would be just my luck to find myself attracted so strongly to someone unavailable.

Angel chuckled. “The tutus are the official uniform of the LJGs. That group of women get up to more mischief than the other Littles combined.”

Rocco’s smile was indulgent as he looked over the group of women. “LJGs?”

“Little Jersey Girls. They?—”

“FIGHT!”

At the screamed word my adrenaline raced through me, and I scanned the room for danger. I saw nothing chasing them, but all six were sprinting in different directions. Rocco”s laugh and Angel’s groan slowed my pulse. The girls had apparently reached their destinations of different couches and ripped the cushions off the seats without hesitation.

They charged at each other, giving out loud cries like warriors racing to do battle. They giggled and laughed all while smashing each other with their fluffy impromptu weapons. The beautiful dark pixie of a woman wasn’t as brash as some of her friends. She ducked and weaved, only occasionally managing to land a sneaky blow.

Without thinking I moved closer, wanting to be part of the fun. The girls would need a scolding for the chaos later, but until then I wanted to soak in their joy, even if for only a few minutes. There was a wild no-holds-barred style to the skirmish, which knocked over the table and chairs and one of the girls must have managed to split the cushion she was using because bits of fluff were starting to scatter around them.

The girl who had captured my attention ducked under a swipe from her friends. As she came up from her crouch our gazes met. This close, I could see the bright emerald of her eyes. Time froze for a second as I lost myself in their depths. The intensity of the connection between us was so strong that even in the middle of chaos I felt a moment of rightness and peace.

A large cushion smacking her in the face burst the tranquil bubble. I watched in horror as she stumbled backward over a fallen chair. The sound of her head hitting the ground was too loud and I sprinted toward her, ignoring the shock of pain from my back as I moved.

“Enough!” Angel’s voice froze everyone but me in place as I reached her limp form.