Chapter Six
Steel
“O h, I don’t feel comfortable going in there,” Raven says as we guide her to the entrance of Oasis.
“Are you a kink shamer, sweetheart?” Blaze teases.
“Of course not,” Raven says, her eyes wide. “I would never. But I’m as vanilla as it gets. I would literally spontaneously burst from embarrassment after seeing even one kinky thing happen. Besides, I don’t think your boss would appreciate you bringing a random person into their nightclub.”
“The club is closed,” I tell her. “We wish to talk to you.”
“Nothing kinky happening in there except in the Little’s room,” Blaze says, holding open the door. “You’re safe from spontaneous combustion.”
“The Little’s room?” she asks. “As in the BDSM type of age play?”
“You interested, Pet?” I ask.
Blaze and I are versatile Dom’s. If my Pet wanted to regress, then we would happily help her do so.
“Oh, no,” she smiles. “But my best friend is. We once tried to see if I had the tendencies for age play, but I could never fully embrace that side of me. He’s the only reason why I know about this place. He’s a Little. And I would never kink shame him for it.”
“Is your friend a member here?” Blaze asks, still holding the door.
“He tried to join about five years ago, but he wasn’t able to,” she explains. “There’s a rule in place here that all Littles had to be accompanied by their Bigs. Ezzie says that he’s too much of a Brat for any Daddy Dom to want to deal with.”
Images of Knox being beaten and nearly molested pop into my head, and from the look in my brother’s eyes, he’s thinking the same thing.
Because of that damn rule, we nearly lost him. He needed a place to be himself, and we wouldn’t allow him to enter our club because we wanted to protect him.
At the time, the rule seemed logical. Little’s need to be protected at all times. It worked for years, but now I’m wondering how many Little’s got hurt looking for a place to be themselves because we turned them away.
“Come inside, Raven,” Blaze says. “We want to talk to you about something.”
“Alright, but if you get fired, then don’t blame me.”
“We’ll be fine,” Blaze laughs.
Holding the strap of her purse as if it were the only thing grounding her, she hesitantly steps through the door. Blaze gently guides her through the foyer and down the hall toward our office.
“Have a seat on the couch,” I order as we enter the room. “Would you like a water?”
“Oh, uhm. Sure,” she says softly.
“I’m going to put your ice cream and juice away until you leave,” Blaze tells her. “I’ll grab the water.”
“You guys aren’t like…serial killers, are you?” she asks. “Because I’m the perfect target for criminals. I would never be able to identify your faces.”
“Do you say that to many people?” I ask, suddenly very worried for her well-being.
“Not really,” she laughs uncomfortably. “I’m just nervous.”
“You have to be careful who you throw those words to, Pet,” I scold. “Especially to people who know about your face blindness. There are people out there who would take advantage of that.”
“What Steel is trying to say,” Blaze says, his tone much softer than my own. “Is that you have to be careful who you trust.”
Her eyes dart between the two of us before accepting the bottle of water Blaze offers. “You two don’t really seem like the type of guys one like me should trust.”
Removing the lid, she takes a sip of water.
“And yet…” I leave the words hanging as I take a seat at my desk. Blaze has a desk of his own at the other end of the room, but he usually lounges on the furniture in the middle.
“You wanted to talk to me about something?” Raven asks as Blaze flops down on the lounge chair close to her.
“The man following you yesterday evening was Clint Ashworth,” Blaze informs her. “He was going to snatch your purse. He won’t be bothering you anymore. But I’d rather you not walk alone that late in the day.”
“Oh, uhm, thanks? How do you know?”
“We had him followed,” I say truthfully. “Our bodyguard discovered his true intentions, and the man was thoroughly warned to never show his face again.”
“Steel,” Blaze sighs.
“You guys do this a lot, huh?” Raven smiles.
“Do what, sweetheart?” Blaze asks.
“Jasper says something bluntly, and you try to smooth it out so people aren’t afraid of him.”
I smile at the accuracy.
“It’s more like I smooth out the feelings of others before they think Steel was being rude,” Blaze laughs. “We’re surrounded by many precious people in our lives, and we don’t want hurt feelings.”
“Besides, when it comes down to it, I’m not the one people should fear the most,” I admit. “Blaze turns into a monster when his loved ones are threatened,”
“Steel,” Blaze sighs again, but his grin betrays his enjoyment of our little game.
“Next topic,” I say, logging into my database of members. “What is your friend’s name? The one who tried to gain membership.”
“Oh, Ezzie. Well, Ezra Paul Barker is his actual name. But he likes to be called Ezzie.”
“Found him. We will contact him this evening and invite him to join at no cost for one year.”
“He doesn’t have a Daddy,” Raven rushes to say. “And maybe that’s something you should discuss with the owner of the place before giving someone free access.”
“That rule was put into place with the thought of protecting the Little’s,” Blaze explains. “It never occurred to us that it would do more harm than good. It’s no longer an issue. All age players are welcome. There is an Overseer in the room that watches over everyone, along with the additional help of any Daddy or Mommy Doms present.”
“Now, to get another thing straight,” I say, standing from my desk and moving to sit on the arm of Blaze’s chair. “We are not bodyguards of Oasis, Pet. We are the owners.”
Raven’s eyes widen, her fingers tightening around the water bottle in her lap. “Wait... you’re the owners?”
I nod, crossing my arms. “That’s right. This place is more than just a club to us. It’s a sanctuary. A place where people can be themselves without fear or judgment.”
“D…does that make the two of you…”
“Doms,” I finish, letting the word hang in the air as I lean forward slightly, my smile slow and deliberate. I can see the flush rise in Raven’s cheeks, her gray eyes widening just enough to betray her nervous curiosity.
“Does that surprise you, sweetheart?” Blaze asks, his voice light as if we’re discussing the weather instead of the foundation of our lives.
Raven fidgets with the water bottle in her lap, her gaze darting between us. “I mean... not really. It makes sense, I guess. You both... carry yourselves in a way that feels... I don’t know, authoritative?”
I chuckle, the sound low and amused. “Authoritative, huh? I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Blaze grins, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “It’s more than just authority, sweetheart. Being a Dom is about understanding people, their needs, and their limits. It’s about trust.”
“Trust,” she echoes softly, her fingers tracing the label of the water bottle.
“Exactly,” I say, my voice steady. “And trust isn’t something that’s given lightly. It’s earned.”
Raven shifts in her seat, her cheeks still tinged pink. “So... is everyone here a Dom or a Sub? Or does it work differently?”
Blaze chuckles, his grin widening. “It’s not that black and white, sweetheart. There are plenty of dynamics. Switches, Littles, people who just want to explore without labels. The only constant is respect. Everyone here agrees to the rules, and everyone’s boundaries are honored.”
She nods slowly, her curiosity evident despite her nerves. “And... you’re both Doms?”
“Yes,” I say simply.
“But you’re... different. Your personalities are on opposite spectrums,” she says, glancing between us.
Blaze laughs, the sound warm and genuine. “Caught that, did you? Steel’s the enforcer. The one who makes sure the rules are followed and everyone’s safe. Me? I’m more about making people feel welcome, comfortable.”
“It’s good balance,” I add, my tone quieter. “We complement each other.”
Her lips quirk into a small smile, and I can see her curiosity starting to outweigh her hesitation.
Time to turn the tables on our little black-haired beauty.
“What about you, Pet?” I ask, tilting my head as I study her.
Raven blinks, caught off guard. “Me? What about me?”
“Do you see yourself fitting into this world?” I ask, my tone even but probing.
Her cheeks darken, and she looks down at the water bottle again. “I don’t know. It’s... interesting, I guess. But I’ve never really thought about it before.”
“Never?” Blaze asks, raising an eyebrow.
She hesitates, then shrugs. “Well, maybe a little. But I’ve never done anything about it.”
“Why not?” I press, leaning forward slightly.
Her gaze snaps to mine, her eyes wide. “Because... I wouldn’t even know where to start. And honestly? The idea of handing over control to someone else... it’s kind of terrifying. There are already things about my everyday life that are out of my control. I’m not sure I could give more away.”
I nod slowly, my expression softening. “That’s fair. It’s not something that comes naturally to everyone. But trust me, once you find the right person…or people…it’s not terrifying. It’s freeing.”
Her breath catches slightly, and I see the flicker of intrigue in her eyes.
“All of that aside,” Blaze says cheerfully. “That’s not the reason we wanted to talk to you.”
“We wanted to talk to you about your job,” I admit.
“My job?” she asks. “Why?”
“You mentioned yesterday that you’re a bar manager,” Blaze says. “How long have you held that position?”
“About four years,” she says, her cute little brows furrowed in confusion. “But I was working there for six. Why?”
“We’re looking for a bar manager,” I explain. “Someone who can manage the bar staff and serve the drinks.”
“Here?” she asks, eyes impossibly wide as if we’d just offered her a job on the sun.
“Yes, here,” Blaze confirms, his grin widening. “You’ve got experience, and from the way you handled yourself last night, you clearly don’t scare easy. That’s a good start.”
She blinks at us, her fingers tightening around the water bottle again. “But... I don’t even know anything about this world. Wouldn’t that be, I don’t know, a problem?”
“Not necessarily,” I say evenly. “We’re not hiring you to run scenes or engage with the dynamics unless you choose to. Your job would be to manage the bar and ensure our patrons have a good experience. The other stuff? You’ll pick it up as you go.”
Blaze nods, leaning forward. “Besides, you’ve already proven you can adapt. And you’re smart. We wouldn’t offer you this if we didn’t think you could handle it.”
Raven’s lips part, but she doesn’t speak right away. She looks down at the water bottle, her brow furrowed as if she’s trying to piece together a puzzle.
“You’re serious,” she finally says, her voice soft with disbelief.
“Dead serious,” I reply, my tone leaving no room for doubt.
“But I got fired today,” she says, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “Doesn’t that make me... I don’t know, less appealing as an employee?”
“No,” Blaze says immediately. “It just means your former boss was an idiot.”
“You don’t even know why I got fired,” her lips twitch into a hesitant smile, but doubt still lingers in her eyes. “I don’t know. This feels... sudden. And very weird.”
I lean forward slightly, resting my elbows on my knees as I meet her hesitant gaze. “Weird, maybe. But sometimes the right opportunities show up when you least expect them.”
“And we wouldn’t offer you this if we didn’t think you could handle it,” Blaze adds, his tone reassuring. “You’ve got the experience and the composure we’re looking for. And trust me, we’ve seen a lot of people who don’t. We don’t need to know the reason you got fired.”
Raven fidgets with the water bottle in her lap, chewing on her bottom lip as she mulls it over. “I don’t know,” she says again, her voice quieter now. “I mean... I’ve never worked in a place like this before. What if I’m not what you’re looking for?”
“You’re already more than what we’re looking for,” my meaning far deeper than she’s ready to accept. “But you don’t have to decide right now. Take some time to think about it.”
Blaze leans back in his chair, his easy grin returning. “But don’t take too much time, sweetheart. We’d like to have you on board sooner rather than later.”
And not just as our bar manager.
She lets out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “You two are something else.”
“We get that a lot,” Blaze says with a wink.
Raven takes another sip of water, her gaze drifting to the floor as she processes everything. “If I were to say yes,” she begins slowly, “what would that even look like? I mean, would I have to... I don’t know, sign a contract or something?”
“Nothing formal at first,” I reply. “We’d start with a trial period. See how you feel about the job and how you fit in with the team.”
“And if I don’t fit?” she asks, her voice tinged with doubt.
“Then no hard feelings,” Blaze says, his tone light but sincere. “We’re not here to trap you into anything, sweetheart. This is about giving you an opportunity, not pressuring you.”
Raven nods slowly, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. “Okay. I’ll think about it.”
“That’s all we ask,” I say. “And in the meantime, let us know if you need anything. Even if it’s just someone to vent to about your idiot ex-boss.”
She laughs softly, the sound light but genuine. “Thanks. I appreciate it.”
“Now that the formal stuff is out of the way,” I say with a grin, “let’s talk about something more interesting.”
Raven tilts her head slightly, her curiosity piqued despite the nervous glance she casts between us. “More interesting?”
Blaze chuckles, his grin as wide as mine. “You, sweetheart. You’re what’s interesting.”
Her cheeks flush instantly. “Me? I’m not that interesting.”
I let out a soft laugh, shaking my head. “See, that’s where you’re wrong. You’re sitting here in our club, holding your own against two men who make most people squirm. That’s not exactly what I’d call uninteresting.”
Blaze nods in agreement. “And you didn’t run screaming the moment you found out who we are and what this place is about. That says something.”
Raven’s blush deepens, and she looks down at the bottle in her hands. “I just... I don’t know. I guess I’m used to adapting to weird situations.”
“Is that what this is to you?” I ask, my tone light but probing. “A weird situation?”
She hesitates, then shrugs. “Kind of. I mean, I’ve never been in a place like this before. And you two...”
Her words trail off, and Blaze leans forward, his grin turning mischievous. “Go on, sweetheart. What about us?”
Her gaze flicks to him, then to me, her lips pressing together as if she’s debating whether to speak her mind. Finally, she sighs, meeting my eyes. “You’re... intense. Both of you.”
I smile, letting the weight of her words settle between us. “And does that bother you?”
She shakes her head slowly. “No. It’s just... different.”
Blaze laughs softly, the sound warm and inviting. “We’ll take ‘different’ as a compliment.”
“You should,” she says, surprising us both with the hint of sass in her tone.
Blaze winks at her, clearly enjoying the spark she’s showing. “See, Steel? Told you she’s got more fire than she lets on.”
I smirk, crossing my arms as I study her. “I never doubted it. But fire alone doesn’t explain why she’s caught our attention.”
Raven blinks, caught off guard. “I’ve caught your attention?”
“Absolutely,” Blaze says without hesitation. “You’re strong, resilient, and you’ve got this quiet confidence that’s... well, let’s just say it’s hard to ignore.”
“And that’s rare,” I add, my voice steady. “You don’t see that kind of strength in people every day.”
Raven looks between us, her cheeks still pink. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“You don’t have to say anything,” Blaze says with a grin. “Just take it as the truth.”
She fidgets with the water bottle again, her gaze dropping. “I don’t know if I’m as strong as you think I am.”
“You are,” I say firmly, leaving no room for doubt. “You just don’t see it yet.”
Her lips part slightly, as if she’s about to argue, but she stops herself. Instead, she looks at me, her gray eyes searching mine. “Why does that matter to you?”
“Because strength like yours deserves to be recognized,” I say simply.
Blaze nods, his grin softening into something more genuine. “And because we’re drawn to it. To you.”
Raven’s breath hitches, and she stares at us as if she doesn’t quite believe what she’s hearing. “You’re drawn to me?”
I nod, my gaze steady. “Yes, Pet. We are.”
Blaze leans back, his expression relaxed but his eyes sharp. “But we’re not going to push you into anything. This isn’t a game to us, Raven. If you decide to stick around, it’ll be because you want to. Not because we’ve convinced you to.”
“Wait, both of you?”
I can’t help but laugh as she finally realizes what we’ve been talking about. Not just one of us being interested. But both of us.
“Oh, yes, Pet,” I say. “Both of us.”
Raven’s cheeks flush a deep crimson, and she grips the water bottle tighter as if it’s the only thing grounding her in the moment. Her gaze flicks between Blaze and me, her lips parting as though she’s searching for words but coming up empty.
“Both of you,” she finally whispers, her voice tinged with disbelief.
Blaze chuckles, leaning forward with an easy grin. “Is that so hard to believe, sweetheart?”
Her wide eyes snap to him. “Well... yeah! I mean... this isn’t exactly a normal conversation.”
“Normal is overrated,” I say, my tone calm but firm. “We’re not exactly normal men, Raven. And this isn’t a normal place.”
Blaze nods, his grin softening into something more thoughtful. “What Steel means is we don’t do things halfway. Not in business, not in life, and definitely not when it comes to the people we care about.”
“Care about?” she repeats, her voice barely above a whisper.
I lean forward, resting my forearms on my knees as I hold her gaze. “Yes, Pet. Care about. We’re not blind. We see what’s in front of us. And you? You’re something worth paying attention to.”
“Oh. My. Stars.”
“Looky there, brother,” Blaze smiles gleefully. “She wants to see stars. One day, sweetheart, we’ll take you so high that you can touch them.”
“Let’s back off before she truly does spontaneously combust,” I laugh. “Remember that our interest in you romantically and our interest in you professionally are not connected in any way. And no matter how one works out, in the end, it won’t affect the other. Understand?”
“Romantically. Professionally. Yes, sir.”
“Careful, Pet,” I warn lightly. “That three-letter word means far more than you realize inside these walls.”
“Oh. My. Stars.”
“Come on,” Blaze laughs. “Let us walk you home while you tell us the reason you got fired. We’re going to have to run a background check on you if you decide to work for us, but I’d rather hear some things from those pretty lips of yours.”
“You are not going to believe this,” she says, standing from the couch. “I got fired for missing three days of work. In six years. Which reminds me. Where’s my ice cream?”