Blood Read online

  Dakota fanned herself, “Oh, Master Eli, don’t tease me like that,” she said in a breathy voice.

  Elijah rolled his eyes but struggled to keep a straight face. Neither of them meant what they said but enjoyed the friendly banter they shared.

  Dakota shot him a saucy grin and said, “Let’s get this meeting over with. I’m hungry. Is there a reason we never have food at these meetings?”

  “I’ll take it under advisement,” Elijah said dryly. “Let’s move on to the new memberships, the last item for the day.”

  Garrett Oliver and Lance Moss both opened tablet cases, as they were in charge of initial vetting for new applicants.

  “We’ve had an uptick in membership applications. Most have eliminated themselves by not being able to fucking read or fill out an application properly,” Lance said. “That said, we do have four potential new members to discuss. Two who can pay the full membership fees and two that are applying for scholarships.”

  The club did not believe in excluding people due to lack of finances despite the fact that membership fees were high. At David’s insistence, there were multiple scholarship and financial assistance programs available.

  Just like dues-paying members, the scholarship recipients had to prove that they brought something to the kink community, but many also had to put in hours working during parties.

  The most prestigious scholarships were house Dominants and house submissives. They were the faces of the club and an extension of the board since the board trained them.

  “One wants a partial scholarship in exchange for work and the other wants to be a house submissive. Both seem like excellent candidates for the programs we offer.”

  Garrett spoke next. “I’m actually disinclined to advance one applicant who wants to pay full dues, but Lance disagrees with me. Of course, you’ll all vote as normal and I’ll accept the outcome. I just think it’s a bad idea.”

  Lance just shook his head. “Let’s focus on the scholarships first.”

  Garrett agreed. “My apologies, you’re right.”

  The Dom who wanted to exchange work happened to be a leatherworker from Portland and was offering to supply the club’s gift shop with corsets, restraints, and floggers, among other things.

  “I think he brings a lot to the table,” Lance said. “We don’t have a contract with anyone for that sort of thing so there’s nothing stopping us from stocking his goods. He’s willing to bring samples of his stuff to his interview if he gets that far.”

  The group agreed with Lance’s assessment and voted unanimously to advance him to the in-person interview process.

  “Next is Isabella Alvarado, and she’s applying as a house submissive. She’s a local and has attended community events for years, but the house she used to be part of, stopped doing events. She can’t afford the fees but is looking for a kink family,” Garrett said. “The application seems genuine and I see no reason not to bring her in for an interview. I haven’t taken anyone on to train yet. Her application spoke to me enough that I’m ready to take her on if she passes the next round and we mesh.”

  Elijah smirked as he read the application. Garrett was attracted to someone. That was rare.

  “What does she bring to the table, other than she’s pretty?” he asked.

  Garrett scowled. “She’s an experienced member of the local community and could be a potential outreach person for us. What more do you want?”

  Elijah laughed. “I was just asking what you saw. You’re absolutely right.”

  They voted again and advanced Isabelle to the next round in the application process.

  It took some time to debate the two regular membership applications, because Garrett was adamant that one of them brought nothing to the table that would enhance the kink community. The group overrode him though and agreed to give both applicants an interview.

  They would reach out to all four applicants and work out a schedule. The board members that had matching availability would meet with the potential members and report back with their thoughts before a final vote.

  After the meeting was over, he found Holly in his office, diligently working on her laptop.

  “Hey,” he said quietly, as he leaned against the door frame watching her.

  “Hi,” she said with a small smile. “Sorry if I made things awkward.”

  “Not at all. I’m sorry if I seemed upset. Dakota just likes to meddle sometimes.”

  Holly smiled. “I like her. I’ve seen her in the papers a few times. Never expected to actually meet her.”

  Elijah grinned. “If it makes you feel any better, she likes you too. I’m sure she’ll be calling any day now.”

  “How did the London call go?”

  “You saw the notes. Still some work to do on the numbers, but I think they’ll be a good addition for Patrick and David’s product line. We should get to the hotel and get changed for dinner.”

  Holly nodded and began packing up her tech. “Where are we going? What do I need to wear?”

  “What you have on is fine, or a dress works too. It’s not terribly fancy and the clients are pretty laid back.”

  Two hours later, they were in a nice restaurant talking business. Holly was an excellent conversationalist and kept the discussion moving smoothly even when Elijah tried to get hotheaded with one of the men. Never had he enjoyed having an assistant with him so much. He walked her to her room when dinner was over but didn’t want the night to end.

  “Should we go over the itinerary for tomorrow?” he asked, knowing it was completely unnecessary.

  “I think I’m good,” she said, completely oblivious to the fact that he was hinting for an invitation inside.

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Alright then. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “OK,” she said from just inside her room.

  When he didn’t move, she cocked her head to one side. “Did you need something?”

  Only you, he thought as he shook his head. “I’ll be in my room.”

  Christ, he was like a nervous teenager.

  The flight out was early, and Holly dozed for most of it. In Phoenix, they were too busy for Elijah to be distracted by his desire for her, but that didn’t stop him from dreaming of her at night. By Saturday morning as they landed back in Colorado, Elijah was cranky with need. Holly pulled at him in a way no one else had in a long time. He wanted to kiss her, hold her hand, find out every secret she held close.

  But he was her boss, and Patrick was her brother. He needed to tread lightly. Part of him wanted to tell her the job wasn’t going to work just so he could date her, but he had a feeling she wouldn’t be interested in dating the man who fired her. Not to mention the contract he’d made her sign.

  As they wrapped up their business on Saturday afternoon, he called her into his room and asked if she would be willing to do some work for him from the room while he was otherwise occupied that night.

  Holly rolled her eyes. “This would be the work Dakota said you would invent for me?”

  Elijah scowled. “I swear that woman needs to get a fucking hobby.”

  “Elijah, I’m a big girl. I can explore the town on my own and be just fine. I know where you’re going. You don’t have to make things up to keep me busy. I don’t get bored easily,” she said.

  “OK. Fine. You caught me. Still, take my card and get yourself some dinner, see a movie, whatever you want. My treat. You’ve worked hard this weekend.”

  She smiled as she took the card. “Thank you. Now get out of here. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

  Now he sat in the back of a car on the way to Solitaire. It was a place he usually found solace in, but tonight, he was on edge. Leaving Holly to her own devices was the last thing he wanted. What he really wanted was to bring her with him and show her his world. Patrick would kill him though and he didn’t want to overwhelm her. Not when things were going so well.

  • • •

  Holly paced the floor of her hotel room.
Was she really about to do this? This was stupid. A terrible idea. Patrick might be there. Oh God. What if she saw her brother naked? That would be too much. Why was she even considering going to a BDSM club… especially one her brother was a member of?

  The thoughts raced through her mind over and over again. A knock at the door caused her to jump. A look out the peephole told her it was Dakota.

  With trembling fingers, she pressed the handle down and pulled the door open.

  “You look like you’re going to faint,” Dakota said.

  Holly swallowed hard. “I just might. This is a terrible idea, Dakota.”

  Dakota flipped a wrist as if she were swatting a fly. “Nonsense. We’ve talked all weekend and I think you’re going to enjoy this. I’ve told you nothing happens unless you want it to and you’re just a guest of the club. You’ll be fine. And if Elijah tries to kick you out, I’ll kick him in the teeth.”

  Holly squeezed her eyes shut, shaking her head. “Please no. I don’t want any conflict. I like him a lot, but he’s still my boss.”

  Dakota shrugged. “Suit yourself. But the two of you are sending sex signals like crazy, and you need to just give into them already.”

  Holly sighed. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. I can’t believe I’m doing this. If I get fired, I’m moving to Texas and you’re giving me a place to live.”

  Dakota grinned. “You’re not going to get fired.”

  Holly wasn’t so sure. Elijah had been pretty adamant. But Dakota had convinced her that the club’s paramount rule was to be welcoming to all until they made themselves unwelcome.

  After spending hours poring over the club’s website and membership rules, Holly felt better about attending, but she also didn’t relish the idea of pissing Elijah off.

  “I like your outfit,” Dakota said, sizing her up. “Not too sexy, not too corporate. You’ll fit in nicely.”

  Her outfit had been another source of consternation for her, and she was glad Dakota approved of the black skirt that hit her mid-thigh, paired with the low-cut red blouse.

  “Fine. Let’s go before I chicken out.”

  Before she knew it, she was in the back of a black town car on the now familiar path to the secluded retreat. Dakota went over the protocol for checking in a guest one more time and reminded her that there were plenty of places for her to get away from people if she felt overwhelmed.

  When Holly walked into the lobby of Solitaire, the atmosphere differed vastly from when she was there on Thursday. Music was pumping softly through speakers she hadn’t noticed in the lobby, and a man she was pretty sure she’d seen at the board meeting was standing behind the reception desk. He appeared to be scolding the young woman who was sitting there. Holly overheard her say, “I’m sorry, Master Lance, it won’t happen again.”

  He frowned down at her. “See that it doesn’t, or you’ll find yourself on the wrong end of my whip before the night is done.” His gaze shifted up and met Dakota and Holly. “Looks like you have guests to check in. I’ll be back for you when the next staff member arrives to relieve you.”

  Holly stared after him. What had the girl done to warrant such a threat? When Dakota tugged her closer to the counter, she offered the girl a kind smile.

  “Hey Dakota, Master Lance is in a mood tonight,” the girl said with a grin. I see we have you down for a guest. I just need her ID.”

  Holly slipped her ID across the counter and in exchange the girl handed her a clipboard.

  “This is just our standard waiver saying you won’t hold us liable or sue if you get hurt. And also, you won’t do anything you don’t fully consent to.”

  Dakota frowned at her. “Is that how they trained you to explain this, sweetheart? Because your spiel needs some work.”

  The girl opened and closed her mouth, but Dakota waved her hand. “Never mind. Don’t worry about it. I’ll go over the details with Holly here and talk to Lance about training his reception and security teams a little better.”

  The girl nearly whimpered. “Please don’t tell Lance. I’m already on his shit list.”

  What kind of monster was this Lance? She decided she didn’t want to find out. After signing the forms, Holly followed Dakota beyond the doors into the forbidden zone on shaky legs.

  The mood of the interior of the space was completely different, and she found herself in another lobby type area. This one sported a bar along one wall, and people were dressed a lot more like what she had been expecting for a kink club.

  “Would you like a drink, Holly? We don’t encourage people to drink and play, but since you won’t be playing tonight, it’s fine if you relax a little. Just don’t get sloppy. I’m not playing either, so I’ll join you.”

  Holly nodded. “Yes please. Just a glass of wine is fine.”

  Dakota smirked. “Judging by the stiffness in your walk, you need something a little stronger than wine. I’ll fix you up.”

  Holly let herself be led to the bar as she took in her surroundings. Scantily clad people roamed the space talking to one another, laughing, drinking, and having a generally good time.

  When Dakota handed her a martini glass, she said, “The real fun happens in the dungeon, but people like to meet here to negotiate, and visit with each other.”

  “Negotiate?” Holly asked as she took a tentative sip of her drink. It was strong and bitter, and she made a face, causing Dakota to laugh.

  “Not much of a drinker, are you? Negotiate. It means exactly what it sounds like. Two or more people discussing what they will and won’t do in a scene or during sex or play time.”

  Holly nodded. “OK, makes sense. And no, I don’t drink much. This is a martini? I’ve never had one. I usually stick to wine, or a vodka cranberry.”

  Dakota laughed. “That was my bad. I shouldn’t have forced anything stronger on you. Just sip it. If you don’t like it, I’ll have the bartender add more olive juice and vermouth. Sometimes that helps.”

  Holly nodded and took another sip. This time she noticed the hints of something other than vodka. It was better on the third sip. “I think it will grow on me,” she said.

  The two sat and sipped their drinks for a little while, and Dakota laughed with multiple club members who approached her. She was well liked at the club and Holly wondered why she was unattached. But she didn’t ask, just sat and observed the room as they drank and talked. When their glasses were empty, Dakota offered to give Holly the grand tour. An offer she readily accepted.

  “Through that side door, you’ll find the stairs that lead up to the suites, but you have to have reserved one of them in advance and you have to have a special key card to get access. Technically they belong to the founding board members, but we allow members in good standing to borrow them on occasion.”

  Pointing to another door she said, “through there are changing rooms for people who want to put on outfits that aren’t exactly street legal. And through there,” she pointed to the middle set of doors, “is where all the real fun happens.”

  Tugging at her arm, Dakota pulled her through the double doors. Holly’s mouth fell open at what she saw.

  The main room was filled with a variety of contraptions, the likes of which she had never seen before, and people in various stages of undress were strapped to and hanging from them. A loud crack caused her to jump, and she whirled in the sound’s direction. A woman was strapped to what looked like a sawhorse and a man was striking her with a wooden paddle. Despite her cry of pain, the look on the woman’s face was pure bliss. Dakota squeezed her hand and said, “Come on, let’s look around. Ask all the questions you want.”

  As they made their way through the dungeon, Holly noticed curtained off rooms along either side of the room.

  “What are those?” she asked.

  “Those are alcoves. They have furniture in them and are great for sex and play for shy people who still want to feel like they are playing in public.” Looks like the last one is open, I’ll show you.

  Dakota pulled he
r all the way across the dungeon floor and Holly went wide eyed. One of the x shaped devices she passed had a very naked man strapped to it, and someone was hitting his testicles. It made her want to clamp her legs shut. Why would anyone put themselves through that? But like the woman on the sawhorse, the man seemed to be in a state of ecstasy. Holly shook her head. She was seeing much more than she thought she would tonight.

  In the alcove, Holly took in a deep breath and shivered. The alcove led onto a balcony and she could see the snow filled mountains around them.

  “It’s gorgeous down there,” Holly murmured as she looked out. “Can people see up here?”

  Dakota shook her head. “They would have to get pretty adventurous if they wanted to. We’ve had some of the most adventurous photographers we know try and take pictures and nobody could get a clear shot, so we feel pretty confident that we are safe playing out here. Even had one of them climb some of those trees.”

  Holly nodded.

  “What the fuck are you doing here?” a familiar voice behind them growled.

  Dakota giggled. “Oops. Got caught a little sooner than I thought we would.”

  Holly turned slowly to face a furious looking Elijah.

  Before she could answer him, he stalked fully into the alcove and made a move to grab her arm. Was he going to drag her out of here? Before she could find out, Dakota stepped between them.

  “Before you go getting your britches in a bunch, I dragged her here. She was curious and it’s my right to have a guest.”

  Elijah glared down at her. “You are so on my shit list right now, Dakota. I don’t even have words. I do my best to keep my work and social lives separate and you go and pull a god damned stunt like this because you want to play match maker? It’s fucked up.”

  Holly cringed and moved farther out onto the balcony.

  “And you,” he said, turning to point a long finger at her. “What part of do not go beyond the lobby and my office did you not understand?”

  Holly dropped her head. “I’m sorry. I’ll go. I just wanted to see what all the fuss was about, and Dakota assured me that I would be welcome as an official guest.”