Crack the Whip (6 page)

Okay?”

“Fair enough.”

But Reece had an itch on the back of his neck telling him he might be giving notice sooner rather than later.

“You sure have a burr up your ass today.” Mark Halliday reined his horse up next to Reece’s, lifted his hat and wiped the sweat from his forehead with his forearm.

All three brothers, along with some of the ranch hands, had been riding fence since early in the morning. Forty thousand acres was a lot of land to patrol and moving the cattle from pasture to pasture to rotate grazing meant fences needed to be maintained. Reece had been in a foul mood since he rolled out of bed, and the heat and dust hadn’t improved it one bit.

“Sorry.” But he knew there wasn’t any note of apology in his voice. He lifted his canteen, unscrewed the cap, and took a long drink.

“Yeah, well, care to let us in on what’s eating at you?’

Vince, the third Halliday brother pulled up to join them.

“Nothing.” Reece shoved the canteen back in place. “Can’t a person have a bad day?”

Mark grinned. “Seems to me, big brother, you’ve had a lot of those lately. Maybe you need to get laid.”

Vince laughed. “Always works for me.”

“Maybe he’s just jealous we’re getting steady sex,” Mark pointed out with a grin.

“Will you both just shut up?” Reece snapped. “My sex life is just fine.”

“Couldn’t prove it by us,” Vince said. “We never see you in female company. You’re about to win the award for Hermit of the Year.”

Reece ground his teeth. “If you bothered to check, you’d know I’m seldom home at night. I just don’t do my prowling where you and all the other gossips like your wives can chew it over.”

“Hey.” Mark punched his arm lightly. “Leave our wives out of it.”

“Are we gonna sit around here all day and jaw about my sex life? We have work to do.”

He clicked his tongue and urged his horse forward, first into a walk then a trot, and moved down the next line of fence.

His brothers were right, but not in the way they thought.

He was getting plenty of sex. It just happened to be with the wrong woman. And he had no idea what to do about it.

Going to the club was a double edged sword these days.

On the one hand, he was working off his frustration on his favorite subs. On the other, seeing Katie move gracefully through the crowds, doing her job, drove him nuts. For ten years he’d regretted what happened, how he’d approached her about his desires. Now he was caught in a trap where he had no idea how to rectify that or even if she was interested.

Last night he’d been in agony. One of the Doms with the best reputation, Logan Meranda, was training a new sub and the couple had agreed to do it in the viewing room. Word had spread, so the club was packed. Reece knew he should have stayed away or at the very least hung out in the background.

Instead, when he saw Katie watching with the Dungeon Master, he’d moved up to stand on the other side of her.

Big mistake.

Watching the Dom shackle his sub to a spanking bench and describe and demonstrate the proper technique for using a flogger, a paddle and a cane, with Katie just a breath away, made Reece’s cock so hard and his balls so tight he was in actual physical pain. But when Logan had the sub kneel on a padded table, wrists shackled to the side, vibrators in both her ass and cunt while she sucked his dick, Reece nearly lost it. Closing his eyes, imagining Katie in that position sent him running to his private room to once again jack off as frustration, both physical and emotional, racked him.

So today he’d been doing his damndest to work it out of his system, pushing himself, his brothers, and the hands. But hard work apparently wasn’t the answer, and he’d been taking everyone’s head off since early that morning. He’d have to face this situation sooner rather than later. The problem was he had no idea if Katie would cut him any slack.

Rawhide was jammed. Reece was glad he had a designated parking space or he’d probably be leaving his vehicle blocks away. The moment he let himself in through the back door, the sounds and scents of the club washed over him. The low hum of conversation was overlaid with groans and screams of pleasure, the air carrying the scent of arousal, reminding him there was another demonstration going on tonight.

Katie had been with them for three weeks now and doing an outstanding job. Her warm personality, low key approach to situations, and sharp business mind drew raves both from the members and from Clint. On the one hand, he was proud of her, but on the other, the more she excelled at her job, the harder it was going to be to approach her. Oh well, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Standing at edge of the crowd he scanned the room, spotting her near the glass enclosure, monitoring the activity.

When he didn’t see Clint, he assumed his partner was in his office. Good. That gave him a chance to have a talk he hoped wouldn’t put a crimp in either their friendship or partnership.

She’d certainly been Miss Prim the night they had coffee, despite the signs his sub radar picked up. He’d been curious to see if there were traces left of what they’d had between them. For him, the answer came in an instant. Yes. No doubt.

The heat blazed even hotter and higher. Did she still burn for him? Had her attitude just been her safeguard in case he no longer cared? They had unfinished business, for damn sure.

But how to proceed? She’d be worried about anything affecting her job, and Clint would be spastic he’d screw up the club. For three weeks, he’d been telling himself it was over and done, but it was nothing more than words. The pressure of his cock in his slacks and the heat surging through him whenever he laid eyes on her told him differently.

Well, first things first. That meant a down and dirty discussion with Clint. He found his partner in the office they shared, studying something on his computer screen.

Sometimes Reece felt guilty leaving the bulk of the corporate work to the other man, but Clint had been adamant when they signed the partnership agreement.

“You’ve put up most of the money,” he’d pointed out. “Plus you have a ranch to run. With a good manager I barely break a sweat here.”

Reece knew it was a lot more but he was also aware the man wouldn’t budge.

Clint looked, at him as he dropped into a chair in front of the desk.

“Should I assume from the expression on your face we’re about to have the discussion we talked about?”

Reece dragged his fingers through his hair. “I guess. Shit, I don’t know what the hell to do.”

Clint’s mouth curved in a half-smile. “The old heat’s still there, isn’t it?”

“Is it that obvious?”

“Pretty much, although you keep it under control. But I know you well enough to be able to sense it.” He leaned forward, elbows on the desk, fingers tented in a steeple. “So let’s look at this from all sides. What if you approach her and she turns you down flat?”

Reece snorted. “Do you have to be such a pessimist?”

The other man laughed. “It’s certainly a possibility. Can you handle it?”

“Do I have a choice? I’ll just manage to avoid her whenever I’m here and let you handle all contact with her.

Sooner or later, I’ll get over it.”

“What if she’s receptive, Reece? How do we all handle that?”

Reece blew out a breath. “Whatever happens, she needs to know her job is safe. If we get together and something comes of it, well, then we can look at all our options.” He looked over at his partner. “I just know if I don’t find out, I won’t have a decent night’s sleep.”

“You two must have had some relationship is all I can say.”

“You have no idea.” All these years he’d carried the image of Katie, naked in his bed, spread wide for him, pussy glistening, and nipples hardened as she writhed in the throes of an orgasm. Damn. Just remembering it now made him shift in his chair to ease the discomfort in his slacks.

“All right.” Clint leaned back. “We’ve been friends for a long time and in business almost as long. I’m going to trust you to handle this appropriately.”

“Good enough.” He pushed himself out of the chair. “Is India here tonight? And is she busy?”

India had gained great popularity as a sub who liked different Masters, liked the variety they offered, and had very few restrictions, which made her high on everyone’s list.

Clint punched some keys on his computer and brought up the evening’s schedule. “Actually, she’s free. Grant Mullens had asked for her but he had to go out of town unexpectedly.”

“Find her and send her to my room. If I’m going to talk to Katie, I need to take the edge off first.”

“Done.” Clint rose also. “I just hope to hell you know what you’re doing.”

“That makes two of us.”

Reece was having a heated conversation with himself.

I shouldn’t be doing this. I don’t want India. I want Katie.

She doesn’t want you. Haven’t you gotten the message?

Then why do I feel like I’m cheating on her?

You can’t cheat on someone you don’t have a relationship
with. That’s dead and buried.

Even if he didn’t want it to be. And there was the sticking point.

He sighed, knowing once again he should tell India he’d find her another Dom for the night and knowing again it wasn’t what he was going to do.

She’s moved on. Do the same.

He avoided Katie as he made his way to his private room.

He hadn’t lied to Clint when he told him he needed to satisfy the lust raging through him before he could hold a decent conversation. Start slow, he told himself. Don’t even bring up sex this time.

And that was his excuse for playing with India tonight. To take the edge off so he could have a decent conversation with Katie and not shred her clothes when he laid eyes on her again. He hoped India was up for a good session, because working with her was the only way he was going to be able to handle himself.

A light pressure of his toe and the table rose from the floor again. He stripped off everything but his boxer briefs and laid out the toys and instruments he would use during the evening. He’d developed a fascination for wax play, always being careful to control how much wax dripped onto his sub’s skin. But he loved the tension, the anticipation each drop created in his subs. He seldom fucked them when he used wax play, but he always finished by having them suck his cock, on their knees, hands bound behind their backs. Already he anticipated India’s very educated mouth wrapped around his dick, her tongue expertly swirling his shaft and licking the head.

Reece clenched his jaw and drew in a deep breath. He was already so hot just from thinking about Katie, and it was important he not reach his limit too soon. He’d never needed control this badly. The soft tap at the door drew his attention and helped him to focus on the evening’s play.

“Good evening, Sir.” India stood in the doorway, naked as ordered, awaiting his bidding.

“Come in.” He stared at her for a long moment.

I can’t do this.

But as he was searching for words to send India away, he happened to glance at the peephole in the wall. He and Clint had installed one in every private room so they could monitor activities for safety’s sake. Even though all the clients were thoroughly vetted, once in a while a situation required a little extra supervision. Then, of course, there were the voyeurs, who paid a hefty fee to observe. Always with the permission of the players, of course, those with an exhibitionist fetish. It was open now, so someone was watching him.

Just for an instant irritation gripped him. No one observed the owners. Clint would never spy on him and no one else had the balls. Besides, watching either of the owners was strictly forbidden. Then he realized it had to be Katie.

It’s still there. The incredible chemistry. She feels it, too.

The surge of lust racing through Reece was stronger than ever. She wanted to watch? To see what he was all about? All right, damn it. He’d give her a show she’d never forget. And maybe, just maybe, make the connection he was fumbling for so badly.

Knowing her eyes were on him, he licked his lips and nodded to India. “Climb up onto the table and lay face down, arms at your sides.”

“Yes, sir.” She almost, but not quite, hid her smile.

He knew she was anticipating anal play, something that always strengthened her climax. Tonight she’d definitely get her wish. He’d show Katie exactly what he wanted to do to her.
With
her. Oh god, definitely with her.

Watch, Katie. See how good I am at this.

When India was properly arranged, he placed a small pillow beneath her head, then began attaching the sets of leather cuffs to her—a set for her thighs he could fasten to the special hooks at the edge of the table, smaller ones for her arms and wrists. Finally, he threaded slim strands of leather through the buckles of the cuffs and anchored them so her arms were effectively bound to her thighs, immobilizing her.

“Tonight I am giving you my cock,” he told her, raising his voice enough to make sure Katie could hear him. And if he worked hard enough at it, he could actually pretend she was the one in the room with him.

Is that what you want, Katie? Do you know how horny it
makes me knowing you’re watching?

“I want to make sure your mouth is ready,” he said to India.

Taking the lifelike penis from the toys he’d set to the side, he slid it into her mouth, pressing her jaw open and inserting it as far as possible.

“Breathe,” he ordered. “And concentrate on not biting it.”

This also effectively gagged her, which meant the only sounds she could make were the tiny little whimpers that always made his balls tighten. Trailing his fingers down the length of her spine, he traced them into the crevice of her ass then smoothed his palm over the globes so temptingly presented.

“Tonight, I think we’ll heat this sweet little ass with the single tail whip.” He watched her muscles tighten with satisfaction. She knew it was his favorite, the instrument he loved most to flog her with. Every time he used it, he got so hard he was almost in pain. Maybe it reminded him of roundup at the ranch, when he cracked his long tail whip at the cattle to help herd them. Only now he was using it to tame his sub.