1. Chapter 1
Chapter one
GIDEON
I brushed an imaginary speck off my tailored Brioni pants and accepted a small glass of Macallan single malt from the cute sub that brought it. It wasn’t as if I was going to be playing tonight, and one wouldn’t hurt anyway.
“Gideon.” I looked up as Maddox Rourke folded his huge frame into the leather couch next to me and sighed. Maddox—Max—had been playing and had just sent home a very blissed-out sub. I eyed Max carefully and acknowledged silently that despite finishing what should have been a good scene, an air of dissatisfaction lingered around my friend and business partner.
There were four of us. Max, Walker, Dion, and myself. We’d met and served together twenty years ago, and for the last ten had taken the inheritance Dion’s godparents had left him, worked upwards of eighty hours a week, and now owned a huge chunk of Tampa Bay. But Salvation—the club—was our baby.
Except, now that all of us were ready to settle down and enjoy our hard work, it seemed to be impossible to achieve. We all had particular but very similar tastes. And while I was trained and fully capable of tying a sub to a St. Andrew’s Cross and making them fly, I had been the first of them to acknowledge that wasn’t what I wanted. In a desert hellhole too many years ago when I thought I was going to die anyway, I’d confessed to the other three exactly what I did want, and our shared passion was born.
We were sitting tucked away out of sight of the main door where we could keep an eye on everything, but stay discreet. “Why don’t you go home early?”
Max shot me a grateful look. “You don’t need to stay either. We have well-paid, competent managers.”
I was aware. “Yeah, I’m just taking a minute.” And trying to muster some enthusiasm. Max nodded, stood, and after arranging to meet me about a remodel we were doing on one of the nightclubs we owned, he left.
I stared after him for a long time. He hadn’t been happy since the op. We’d delivered the girl into an ambulance and then her brother’s care, and apart from an update saying she would recover but it would take a long time, we’d heard nothing since. Not that we expected there to be news, but Maddox hadn’t seemed the same since, and he was worrying me.
Five minutes later, I was just staring at my scotch and questioning my life choices when the club door opened, and I heard the low, hissed whispers of some guy. “Don’t forget Abigail. I want you to keep silent and be polite, and for fuck’s sake don’t start sniveling like some baby.”
There was a small silence and then a woman’s voice whispered back. “But I don’t want to see anyone getting hurt.”
“They come here to get hurt. How many times do I have to explain that to you?”
I scowled instantly. That was no way to talk to someone who was obviously a newbie. I immediately wasn’t a fan of the bully that had brought her. He sounded like a complete jerk and his chances of being accepted as a member were now less than zero.
The voice came again, softer and full of nerves I suddenly ached to soothe. “But what if someone doesn’t want to be hurt and the man gets mean?”
“Mean?” he hissed again. “ Mean? Abigail you’re a grown woman, stop acting like you’re five. And what the hell did I tell you about your clothes? You look like you just came out of kindergarten.”
My ears pricked up.
“The kids like it when—”
“Why the hell couldn’t you have taken clothes to get changed into? We talked about how important meeting Mr. Ford is. I need to make a good impression and you’re ruining it.”
I’d had enough and stood. Apart from the fact that Mike Ford was a Dominant of thirty years’ experience who didn’t suffer fools, gladly or otherwise, I knew for a fact he would be demonstrating his talent tonight using a bullwhip with his masochistic sub, Jamey. That was definitely not an experience for a first-time visitor.
“I didn’t have time, Ricky. I needed to speak to Josie’s mom; they’re both really upset over the divorce. ”
“Which isn’t your problem. You work as a daycare assistant, not a fucking social worker, and how many times do I have to tell you to call me Richard?”
I stepped around the corner and came face to face with a twenty-something with slicked hair, dressed in leather pants and a black shirt. I reined in my amusement at his idea of a standard Dom outfit, but then I glanced at Abigail and just about every brain cell I had fell on its back in surrender.
She was tiny. Maybe five feet tall on a good day. She wore a bright pink pair of pants that hugged a gorgeous curvy ass, white sneakers with pink and silver laces, a white shirt that I was pretty sure had some glitter glue on one shoulder, and had more freckles on her face than should be allowed. Her curly red hair was in two pigtails, and she was easily the most adorable thing I’d ever seen.
Her beautiful green eyes were wide as she stared at me, but then I noticed the faint shadows under them. This baby girl wasn’t getting enough beauty sleep, and if numb-nuts had dragged her here after a full day looking after little kids, the black shadows didn’t surprise me.
I forced my gaze back to Ricky very reluctantly and put out my hand. “Gideon Sinclair.”
His expression changed as he obviously recognized my name. “Mr. Sinclair,” he all but stammered and grabbed my hand. “Richard Martin. So pleased to meet you.”
I dropped his hand and turned to the pixie standing next to him, trying to stand still. She was shuffling,twisting and untwisting her hands in front of her. I couldn’t help myself from reaching out and taking one, bending and brushing a kiss on the back .
It startled her into stillness but then a faint flush pinked both her cheeks. “Lovely to meet you,” I said, genuinely this time.
“Abigail Barkley,” Richard introduced her. “She’s umm, my sub. But new. Very green.” Like he wasn’t.
Abigail’s plump lips parted in surprise. I imagined being dickhead’s sub was news to her. And I was ready to drag the idiot out of my club by the scruff of his neck for being so ignorant.
“Is this your first time here?” I asked Abigail pointedly because I’d already decided what I was going to do.
She smiled shyly and nodded.
“We have an invitation,” Richard said hurriedly. “Through my company. Master Ford is doing a demonstration I’m very much interested in.”
I plastered on a regretful face. “Hmm, the problem is Ford’s demonstrations are not for beginners I’m afraid.”
He looked absolutely gutted. “Well, of course, I’m not a member here , but I was hoping to join.”
Over my dead body. I also would bet my last million that Richard wasn’t a member anywhere, despite what he was trying to imply. “Well, perhaps…” I let the word hang as if I was debating with myself. “Of course it would be acceptable for you to attend, but not Abigail I’m afraid.” I noted Abigail seemed to brighten a little. “Perhaps you would allow me to keep Abigail company while you go meet Master Ford?” He looked reluctant. “Actually, I believe there are one or two new guests here already to meet him,” I lied. And that tipped the balance. With an admonition for Abigail not to move or be a nuisance, he hurried away. Abigail sighed.
“I don’t suppose I could borrow a phone, could I? I was in such a rush I left mine in my locker at work. ”
“Of course,” I soothed. “You came straight here from work?” She nodded, not seeming to notice when I guided her to the comfy leather couch Max and I had been sitting on a moment ago.
“I’ll call for a cab,” she said, yawning suddenly, her hand flying up to cover her mouth.
“We can arrange that. Have you eaten at all if you came from work?”
She shook her head despondently. “No, Ricky— Richard , said I shouldn’t. That we could eat afterwards, but I get cranky when my blood sugar drops.”
She was perfect. Her lower lip even stuck out a little to accompany her last statement. “Well, we can’t have that.” I caught the eye of one of the subs that was serving for the next hour. He was clearly hovering and waiting to see if I needed anything.
“Christopher, can I get a plate of assorted—sorry, are you allergic to anything?” She pinked again and shook her head.
“No, I just don’t do well with heavy food coloring.”
I glanced back at Christopher. “Please ask Margaret for a sample arrangement of finger food, and pass on Miss Abigail’s request. And we’ll have two bottles of water, a coffee, and one of Margaret’s special hot chocolates.”
“Yes, sir,” Christopher said and rushed away.
“Special hot chocolate?” Abigail asked.
“With whipped cream and chocolate flakes on top.”
Abigail groaned, leaning back, and put her hand on her belly. “That sounds wonderful.”
I checked off another plus on my list.
“You don’t need to babysit me,” she said suddenly, jerking forward, realizing her eyes were in danger of closing .
“It would be my pleasure to keep you company. You mentioned kids?” I deflected. “Tough job.”
She smiled softly. “Daycare. It can be, but it’s so worth it.”
I reached out and tugged gently on her pigtail. “It suits you.”
She flushed again and I was fascinated. A moment later my coffee and her hot chocolate arrived. I wanted nothing more than to drag her onto my knee and let her drink it out of a sippy cup, or better yet a bottle. “Have you known Richard long?”
She sighed. “As neighbors when we were kids. But not recently. I met him in the grocery store a few times, and we’ve gone out for a drink, but nothing too serious. He said he needed someone to come with him to meet some friends from work.” She rubbed her eyes with one hand and stifled another yawn. I would get some food into her and take her home myself. There was no way I trusted either a cab or numb-nuts. And good, he wasn’t her boyfriend. As far as I was concerned, he wouldn’t ever be.
Margaret came herself with the food, and a soft, fluffy blanket draped over her arm. She smiled and handed it to me. “In case your young lady gets chilly.” I thanked her. Margaret knew my preferences.
“Wow, that’s service,” Abigail said watching Margaret leave, then seemed bemused as I got a plate and napkin, then forked some chicken bites, a bit of pasta salad, some egg rolls, and a few chips onto a plate, then passed it to her after I’d wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. I really wanted to feed her myself but managed to restrain the impulse.
She looked up, “Thank you, that’s really kind.” My ears picked up on the surprise, almost as if she wasn’t used to much kindness, and it made every protective instinct I’d honed in my forty-five years sit up and take notice. I watched as she ate the chicken bites and salad but left the egg roll and most of the chips. I unscrewed the bottle of water before passing it over and again she shot me a startled look. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome, Abby.”
She beamed when I used a shortened version of her name so I must have called it. While she sipped the hot chocolate we shared some other tidbits about the club, her work, but when she yawned again and blinked her eyes, I knew I needed to call it a night. I sent a quick text to my manager asking him to inform Mr. Richard Martin that I had taken Miss Barkley home, as she was tired, and would make sure she got inside safely.
Abby looked like in another minute she would be asleep on the couch, and I ached to take proper care of her. Since it seemed she’d been forced to leave her coat in Richard’s car, I wrapped the blanket around her, adding another negative to the idiot’s tally. For many reasons, we had to keep the club reasonably cool. I got her address from the manager, as they had to sign in, but wasn’t thrilled to discover it was on Errin Road. There were a lot of apartments there, and I didn’t know how some of them got away with the appalling standards their tenants lived in.
Sure enough she was fast asleep when I pulled up, turned off the engine, and got out. Hers wasn’t one of the worst ones, but I definitely wouldn’t simply drop her off. In fact, when I opened the car door and she didn’t stir, I fished her keys out of her purse and simply gathered her up in my arms. I’d humped packs in basic training that weighed more than she did, even as deliciously curvy as she was. I had to juggle the keys a little, but two teens came out at the same time I wanted to go in and they never spared me so much as a second glance. I even managed to unlock her apartment with one hand as the lock was shit, and I shouldered my way in and clicked on a light.
I took in the tiny apartment. It was sparse but scrupulously clean from what I could see. A small kitchenette stood behind a breakfast bar, again clean but bare, so I carried on to the closed door on the other side assuming it was the bedroom and managed to push it open with one hand.
It was pink.
Well, not just pink, but glitter pink with soft fluffy cushions and pink pillows. Nearly every wall was covered in hand-drawn pictures with labels like from Sammi, from Micah, from Neil, from Janey and so on. Her kids clearly loved her, and I stared in awe at everything. Then I started seeing other touches. The soft pink onesie that was folded neatly on the bed, the huge white teddy bear given pride of place on the bed, and the other different stuffies around the room.
I almost crossed my fingers in the hope she might be the type of woman I craved. She seemed happy, but in dire need of spoiling, and I set her down gently. I didn’t know how much she got paid but if this was where she lived, I would guess not much.
“Abby?” I murmured, reluctantly untangling my arms.
“Mmm,” she mumbled and tried to burrow back into me. My heart melted. The guys would all be laughing hysterically if they could see me now.
Or maybe not. I knew they were all hoping for their own Little.
“Sorry baby girl, but I need you to go to the bathroom and get your jammies on.” She blinked open her eyes, looking confused. “You were asleep. Let me go get you a glass of water while you get ready for bed.” I should have been appalled at her trust. She didn’t know me and yet she was allowing me to be in her apartment while she got ready for bed.
She should be spanked for that.
Or not allowing exactly. Pretty difficult when she was asleep. I closed the bedroom door behind me and went into the tiny kitchen and opened a couple of cupboards before I saw the glasses. I reached in but then stopped, my breath catching in my lungs. At the back was a sippy cup. It even had pink unicorns on it, and I eyed it like it would bite me. She could have it for a variety of reasons. She might have a relative or friend with a little girl, but somehow, I didn’t think so. Carefully, I pulled it out and unscrewed a bottle of water from the fridge and poured it in. Hearing the toilet flush, I gave her another minute before knocking on her bedroom door and going in. She was just pulling the covers up and smiled sleepily.
“I thought I was dreaming.” She giggled and closed her eyes. “I am dreaming.”
I put the sippy cup down and because I couldn’t not respond, I bent down and brushed a kiss in her hair. “Sweet dreams, baby girl,” then I straightened and left the room.
I didn’t leave the apartment until I got a locksmith to secure the door better. I left her the new key in an obvious place with the business card from the locksmith, then used the second key to lock it securely behind me as I left.
I immediately texted our computer whiz Eric to find out what I could about Abby. In particular, where she worked and what time she finished tomorrow.
Because I was determined to be there waiting for her.