Chapter 8 #6
The dimple beside her mouth appeared.
“Drake.” Clad in his usual battered leathers, Steel strode over. “I’ll teach the class at the convention.”
“Très bien.” Keeping one hand on Ray’s shoulder, Drake shook hands with the big trucker who looked as if he’d lost more than a few bar fights.
Steel nodded to Alex and smiled at MacKensie. “Girl, good to see you.”
“Which class?” Alex asked.
“The consent-nonconsent one.”
Drake tilted his head at Steel. “What made you change your mind?”
“Ran into a fucking noob who thought CNC meant rape, pure ‘n’ simple. Made me want to pound on him, but he was just clueless, not a total asshole.”
Under Drake’s hand, Ray’s muscles had tightened. Drake bent to murmur in her ear. “He is a hardass, oui, but he has a solid core of kindness.”
Gaze still on Steel, she gave a single nod.
Alex was smiling slightly. “Did the way you and MacKensie met have anything to do with it?”
“That I almost whipped an innocent because I hadn’t taken enough precautions? Yeah, it did.” Steel’s gaze was hard, but then he burst out with a big, booming laugh. “Gotta say, I was working out the legalities and ended up with a sideline business.”
MacKensie leaned forward, frowning suspiciously. “What kind of business?”
Drake grinned. He’d helped Steel set up the guidelines.
“Kidnappers for hire.”
MacKensie choked.
And Ray was gripping Drake’s hand—something he found surprisingly nice.
“No, no, don’t give me those big eyes, girl. I learned from the mistake with you, we only kidnap the person who hires us, and that’s after they provide a shitload of ID and sign even more paperwork.” Looking satisfied, Steel scratched his chest. “It’s risky business, and we charge accordingly.”
Hope shook her head. “Kidnapping or raping women doesn’t sound exactly…”
“Not politically correct? Except it’s not only women.
” Steel shrugged. “Started off with one or more guys getting hired by a woman. The business got a good rep, and then I’m getting requests for gays to grab gays, and then hiring dominant women.
Did ya know submissive men fantasize about being kidnapped and beat up by a woman or a gang of women? ”
Ray released Drake’s hand and leaned forward. “Really?”
“Yep.” Steel laughed. “Now, a woman denting my balls with her stiletto heels doesn’t rev my engine, but everyone to their own, right?”
Alex narrowed his eyes. “I’d be worried either law enforcement or your client would say they were pushed into signing the papers and all that.”
“Nah, we record everything and do it outside their place of business—not their home—making it real clear there’s no coercion. And if a woman is hiring us, I send a woman employee to do the interview.” He jerked his chin toward Drake. “He and Peter gave me advice.”
“Now that I believe.” MacKensie smiled at Steel. “You’re looking really…oh, happy these days. Contented.”
Steel shot a look at Alex. “You have a good one here.” Then he told MacKensie, “I’m in a…
eh, like a leather family, looser than poly.
A chosen family. Makes me a contented man.
Some are planning to help me out with the CNC class.
We all want to make sure whoever attends understands the first letter in CNC stands for consent. Period.”
And this was why Drake wanted Steel to teach the class.
After thumping Drake’s shoulder, Steel headed toward a table full of people. His family.
“You’re not sitting?” Alex asked Drake. “No time to join us?”
“I regret not.” Managing the club included checking on cleanliness, supervising the dungeon monitors, instructing newer Tops, confirming rules about consent were followed, and ensuring the club was welcoming and happy. “Will you escort Ray to her car when she’s ready to leave?
“Of course. It will be my pleasure.” Alex smiled at Ray.
Drake lifted her chin for a quick kiss, enjoying the way her mouth softened under his.
She had reservations about starting something new, of course she did.
But he wasn’t in a rush. They’d get to know each other and would go as slowly as she needed.
As long as she melted at his touch, he would listen to both her body and her words. “I will call you.”
“But…” She frowned. “I told you—”
“For fun, I do remember. I will call you for fun.” Before she could respond, he kissed her again and left.
Ray watched him walk away. Men. Or should that be Doms. Either way, the Chains cop was a rascal.
A reprobate. Huh. How come historical romances had lots of publicly acceptable terms for a scoundrel while the current century was lacking?
Dickhead and asshole didn’t convey the same mischievously decadent description.
“So, did you get a ticket for the convention?” MacKensie asked.
“I…no. But I plan to get one tomorrow.” Although that CNC class wouldn’t be one she’d take.
“Remember, when you order, members of the sponsoring clubs get a big discount.” Hope looked over Ray’s shoulder. “Oh, there’s Peter. Finally.” She waved.
Mac wrinkled her nose and said in a low voice, “This might be awkward. Want to go over to the bar?”
“I don’t understand. What’s awkward?” Then Ray saw Peter with Theodore beside him. “Oh, freak my life.”
Before she could tell Mac yes, the men sat down at the table.
“Ray.” Theodore stared at her in shock. “What are… You shouldn’t be here. This is no place for a respectable person.”
“And yet, here you are. Or did you mean respectable women?” From his blink, it was exactly what he’d meant. “Double standards much?”
When his expression soured, she shook her head. What a great way to end the night. “Yes, let’s go,” she said to Mac and rose.
“Wait, no, don’t leave, doll.” Theodore grabbed her wrist. “Is this why you broke up with me? You wanted me to—be more commanding? To be your Master?”
It was true, his bossiness had attracted her. But she’d cut him loose because he didn’t like who she was. “No, Theodore. If you’d listened, I told you why I called it quits.”
She tried to pull away—and his grip tightened.
“Stop.” Alex set a hand on Theodore’s forearm, and his voice went dark. “You don’t touch—anyone—without permission. If you continue, I’ll throw you out of the club myself.”
Theodore jerked his hand back, releasing her.
On the other side of the table, Peter was frowning.
Blaming her for hurting a man’s ego, she bet. She clamped her mouth shut to keep from being rude. And walked away.
Before she got two steps, Mac joined her. “I’m in the mood for a gin and tonic—if you like gin, I’ll share.” She put an arm around Ray’s waist. “Let’s go talk about volunteering.”
Ray pulled in a breath and released her irritation with stupid men. “You’re on.”
A second later, Hope was on Ray’s other side. “I heard that. We should sign up to do the convention reception table at the same time.”
Friends could brighten a person’s life like stars in a dark night.