Submission Under the Mistletoe Read online

  Jennifer shook her head. “How you stayed with him for all those months is beyond me. Especially since it wasn’t physical.”

  Rolling her eyes, Gabriella ignored her friend’s words. Jennifer had been in the lifestyle for as long as she had and it was always about the sexual gratification at the end of a scene for the Hispanic woman. Gabriella had never had a sexual relationship with any of her Dom’s. She’d kept those two things very separate.

  “He wasn’t always an overbearing ass. Once his wife died he changed. I think watching his wife passed away from cancer and feeling helpless did something to him…made him more controlling.”

  Jennifer placed the espresso filled cupcakes onto a tray and began working on the strawberry ones. “Whatever it was, I’m just glad if it really is over.”

  “Trust me, he got the message.” Pulling off strips of cellophane, Gabriella began wrapping the first set of sandwiches.

  “How do you know he’ll stay away this time?”

  “He thinks I found a Dom that was bigger and younger.”

  Jennifer turned so quickly that she forgot to stop squeezing the pink icing from the tube and had a long stream of it covering the floor.

  “Shit. Master Genuine’s slave Kenmore will be pissed if I waste all this icing.” Jennifer whispered, rushed to the closet and grabbed a handful of cleaning wipes.

  “You know how she is about her baking goods.” Gabriella spoke in the same low tones, trying to keep the woman in question from coming out of the office where she was working on the receipts from the day before and get the tills together for today’s shifts. Master Genuine owned the coffee shop and dungeon below, but left the running of the shop to Kenmore, his slave of fifteen years. Kenmore may bow to her Master, but she was a tough business woman in the coffee house.

  After all the evidence of the icing mishap was cleared, Jennifer exhaled a hard breath as she washed her hands before returning to the deserts. “That was close.”

  Gabriella grinned and pulled out the whole grain artisan bread to start on the vegan stuffs.

  “Don’t think I’ve forgotten that you have not filled me in on Mr. Bigger and Better Dom.”

  Of course, Jennifer would not let this go. Gabriella, stated quiet for a few moments longer as her mind recalled the man she’d met last night. Tall with broad shoulders, a muscular body, built like a football player and kind brown eyes and a goatee. She’d never been into bald-headed guys before, but she just wanted to caress every smooth inch of his. She shivered.

  “Uh, huh…spill it.”

  When she looked over at her friend, she saw Jennifer with her arms crossed beneath her large breasts eyeing her.

  “What? I said there is nothing to tell. This man…who’s name I don’t even know, wasn’t even in the lifestyle.”

  “Not in it?” Jennifer frowned. “Then how is he supposed to scare off Dom Reel Jerk?”

  “Don’t call Reel that. Like I said, losing his wife was hard.”

  Jennifer made a talking hand sign as she rolled her eyes. “Back to the mystery man.”

  Shrugging, Gabriella said, “Long story short. He was downstairs last night for some reason. Not sure why or who he was with. I needed someone unattached to submit to so I did.”

  “Did what?”

  “Dropped to my knees in front of this mystery man before the club while Dom Reel was spiting fire; completely embarrassed.”

  “Oh, shit. Gabriella, are you serious?”

  “It worked and now Reel is out of my life. Case closed.” Picking up the narrow scoop, she carved a hole out of the side of the roll and then scrapped out the inside, careful not to break the sides.

  “I swear you must have a death wish to piss off a Dom like that.” Jennifer shook her head as she started swirling the icing in the center of the cakes.

  “I told you that Reel is harmless, Jennifer. Just overly controlling.” Setting bread and spoon down on the stainless steel table, Gabriella asked her friend, “What was I supposed to do?”

  “I don’t know.” Jennifer glanced at her with soulful green eyes, then back to her cupcakes. “Hell, I’d probably have done the same thing. Not with Dom Meyo mind you, but if it were…someone else.”

  Gabriella envied her friend. Jennifer had been with her Dom for three years, collared for two and now they were talking about a wedding and a family. In the six years she had been in the lifestyle, Gabriella had never had a relationship with one of her Doms that was that committed.

  She knew it was because she always chose those who were married and just wanted a full time sub to scene with privately and publicly. Their spouses were either in the lifestyle with them or didn’t mind them being part-time in the community with someone else. Gabriella stayed clear of analyzing herself.

  “So, do you plan to try and find out who this not really a Dom is?” Jennifer asked.

  “Nope. He was useful for the moment, but that was all. I have no need to see him again.”

  Maybe to return his shirt you walked away with. Her conscious reminded her. Gabriella had felt so at peace with his scent around her, a combination of the sea, fruit, herbs and as beguiling as cashmere. In one word the man smelled like freedom. When she was younger her father would take them on the lake in the fall. There was something sweet and earth about that time of year and being on the water. The oldest of nine brothers and sisters she felt like she didn’t have a single care out there.

  Last night, she had kept his shirt on while she slept just wanted to breathe that scent in. She’d ached inside this morning when she had to remove it to shower and get dressed for work.

  He smelled good, but he tasted better. Her heart beat hard and her mouth watered just thinking about him. The man tasted like cola and cherries—sweet with a bite. His mouth had been slightly cool when she’d first slipped her tongue inside, but when he’d taken over the kiss it had been hot and demanding. The man may not have been a Dom but he knew how to command a kiss.

  Inhaling, she sighed. I need to let all that go.

  Glancing at Jennifer, she was happy her friend was busy finishing off her cupcakes because; Gabriella didn’t want her to even get a whiff that something was going on. Jennifer would never let it go. She’d ask everyone in the club until she discovered anyone that knew anything about the man.

  Some things were better left alone. The fact that she’d been so taken in by the man, his smell and his kiss was plenty to have her running in another direction.

  Not to mention the fact he was willing to stand against Reel and DM Lotus to protect her.

  Not a Dom, Gabriella. Not a Dom.

  Going to the cooler again, she returned the other items and grabbed the chickpea mix for the rolls. At the table she got back to the business of stuffing the gonzo beans, chickpeas, celery, dill, diced tomatoes and other herbs into the hole of each artisan roll. Work was what she needed to stay focused on and maybe step away from the scene for a few weeks that should be enough time for Reel to seriously get the message and for her to begin looking in the BDSM loops for another Dom.

  Life would be back to normal once again.

  ~YH~

  Brad awakened in the king-size hotel bed with sweat rolling off him, his heart pounding, his head fuzzy and his cock stiff as a poll. It was the second night he’d awaken in such a state and he knew the reason why. Shoving the remainder of the sheet off his body, that he hadn’t already kicked away in his sleep, he stood up and walked to the balcony. Pushing the long drapes to the side, he unlocked the door and opened it halfway. He needed to cool himself down as quickly as possible. Standing in the darkened shadows he allowed the chill of the December air to blow over him. Inhaling several breaths, he tried to clear his minds of the last thread of the dream.

  Erotic dream.

  It shocked and amazed him that a woman he had only met for thirty minutes could haunt his mind so intensely. After he’d gotten back two nights ago from the BDSM event he’d gone to his hotel room and straight to bed. That night he’d
dreamed of not only kissing her lips but tasting her breasts, those two full, pert peaks that had bounced before his eyes as she’d strutted toward him.

  He could still smell her intoxicating scent, a mixture of something manufactured and her. He knew it. The sweetness came from a bottle, but that spicy decadence was the woman they called China Doll.

  He shook his head as he backed away from the open door. He wasn’t trying to get sick for the holiday, just calm himself.

  What kind of name was China Doll? What did it stand for? He knew that the lifestyle was all about anonymity from Alesha, Mike and Josh. They had explained that much, instructed him on the way to the ‘dungeon’ not to use their real names once there. They said it wasn’t from shame of what the practiced or believed, more because a person’s scene name represented something about them, their personality and what they wanted to be known for.

  He pondered that some today, what he thought about himself if he were in such a lifestyle. He’d always been known as one of The Twins. When people saw him, they normally knew Brian was before him or behind him somewhere. Even though he and Brian had totally different personality, they usually were a match set.

  China Doll.

  Her style of dress wasn’t representative of anything Chinese or Asian, so he was at a lost. He could probably ask his sister and her men, but that would just have them asking more questions. Today when he and Brian were at their house putting up the tree and inside decorations, Alesha asked him again about his shirt. Brian over heard and questioned him about what he saw. Blowing his twin off, Brad simply ignored Alesha and told Brian he’d go into it later.

  Thank God later had never came.

  He and Brian had gone down to the hotel club for a few drinks and a dance or two with some ladies they met, but soon they had both ended up back up to their own rooms alone. For two virile, single men, used to spending the holiday on a singles cruise getting laid, it was very out of the ordinary both their beds were empty.

  Brad didn’t know what Brian’s issue was, but for him all the women at the club had seemed to dull in comparison to the memory of one woman.

  China Doll.

  Now, he stared around his hotel room, the darkness barely gave way to the shadows caused by the slim amount of light through the parted curtains. His body finally starting to relax, he returned to the bed and lay down.

  Nude, he left the cover off his body and placed both hands behind his head and stared up at the dark ceiling. He allowed his mind to wander, knowing exactly what path it would take. Back to her.

  He played her walked across the crowded room toward him, except this time her face was smooth without tension around her eyes. Her red painted full lips were smiling and her warm, amber gaze was locked on him. The woman was petite in size but stacked well in all the right places. Her breast were would fit in a man’s hands perfectly. In his hands just right.

  Her waist was narrow, but her hips were flared wide in those classic red panties that matched her lips and high heels. Her thighs were thick and toned. His mouth became dry just thinking of following her legs from ankles to the top of her thigh with his tongue. He’d trace her softness, absorb her scent.

  His heart beat hard as he felt the blood pump furiously and return with a vengeance to his cock. Damn.

  He thought about her on her knees again, but her head wouldn’t be bowed for long, she’d slowly glance up to him, open his pants and take him in hand…in mouth. How would those pretty thick lips feel around his dick. How dark would her eyes become as she felt him glide across her tongue? Fuck.

  It was that atmosphere. So much dominance. So much sexuality. So much submission. Too much. It could make a sane man lose his sanity.

  But, his heart corrected his mind; it all had to do with the kiss. Not the quick peck she’d playfully given him before she walked away. No, the deep one she bestowed on him.

  She had tasted of mint and cinnamon. He frowned in the dark; his forehead tightening. How could a woman taste both refreshing and spicy at the same time? But, she had. He knew that the sweet mint flavor had come from candy, a spray or mouth wash. However, the spicy had been all her. The brief taste had driven him to distraction. Driving him mad. He’d wanted more of it and had driven into her mouth roughly, without finesse and hell bent on claiming more.

  Hell, in that moment he wanted to claim her. Mark her as his. Just as much as he’d wanted to adorn her with something around her neck just for a second while he stared down at her kneeling form.

  That right there was the lunacy of it all. Shit, I can’t even tell my twin about this. About these thoughts and feelings. Brian still hadn’t come to terms fully with how Alesha was choosing to live her life. Even though they both could see their baby sister was completely happy with her two men. Their best friends.

  He didn’t even want to guess how Brian would take his thoughts about China Doll.

  Shutting his brother out of his mind, Brad refocused on the woman. Letting his imagination shift and move into whatever path it wanted to travel. As his thoughts moved from one erotic twist to another, Brad lowered one of his hands to his cock.

  As the images—real and imagined—unfolded he squeezed and stroked his hard length in a languid motion. Until the fantasy tightened his form with a tension of need; a desire to bring himself to ecstasy with her name on his lips.

  As his body cooled once again and the fires of lust began to abate, he knew he’d have to find her, somehow. He needed to see her again. See if the connection was real or a figment of his imagination like the erotic dreams that haunted him.

  chapter three

  “Let me get a large coffee, no cream extra sugar.” Brad looked around the large glass case dived between various sandwiches, soups, salads and sweets. “One Turkey on wheat.”

  “Anything else, sir?” The guy behind the counter asked as he rang in each item.

  “Whatever my brother is getting.” Brad stepped to the side while Brian scanned the board and made his selection.

  “One of your light roast coffee’s black, please. A chicken salad on artisan.” Brain shifted so Brad could pay the tab.

  Handing Brad back his credit card and a plastic number, the cashier said, “Jennifer will bring your order to you in a few moments, take a seat where ever you’re comfortable.”

  Picking a table close to the window, Brad chose the side where he could see the people that passed along the street. Then he stuck the number into a short stand mounted into the edge of the table so the server could see it.

  “You plan to tell me why we came all the way down to the end of town, almost twenty minutes away from our hotel room for coffee when we could have had that at the hotel or any other damn place between here and there?”

  Brad had been on a mission since he woke the second time this morning, with the sun up, to see if he could find the woman with the moniker China Doll. The last place he had seen her was downstairs of this place Strong Blends. He hoped that maybe she frequented this area downtown where more artsy and eclectic shops were away from the more traditional foot traffic.

  It was almost lunch time and chances were that if she came here, she probably stopped in for coffee or tea before work or something. However, he didn’t know where else to start.

  You could ask Alesha, his mind taunted. He still wasn’t willing to involve anyone else in this search. He glanced across the table at his twin, ignorant of what plagued him. Brad did feel a little guilt lying to him, but no need to start a conversation on something that most likely would amount to nothing.

  The server gave him a little more time as she came with a large tray and deposited their orders before them, correctly.

  Brad offered her a tip.

  Holding up her hand, the tall woman with the spike short hair held up her hand. “No, thanks, Sir, we get paid very well. If you all need anything else let us know.” With a small nod and odd pause, she turned and went back to the counter.

  Brian frowned at the woman’s behavior.


  Brad understood the woman’s mannerisms were probably connected to what went on downstairs, he choose not to inform Brian. If Brian knew there was a dungeon below them, and that place was where their sister and her Dom’s “played” together he would be out the door in a flash.

  “No reason. I just wanted to see more of the city. Heard the coffee was pretty good here.” For effect, he lifted the mug and took a cautious sip. “Wow, its damn good.”

  Questions still marring his features, but Brian did try his. His twin’s face relaxed some. “They were right.”

  They drank their coffee and eat their sandwiches for a moment in silence. Brian was the first to speak.

  “You never did tell me about the weird night you had with Mike and Josh and our baby sister.”

  Brad leaned forward. “Will you keep your voice down.” Glancing over his shoulder, he made sure no one was in ear shout of their conversation.

  “What’s your problem, Brad? These people don’t know what or who I’m talking about.”

  The hell if they didn’t. Speaking in low tones, Brad warned. “Regardless, you know the world is a small place. We’re not from this area and we don’t know who may know who.”

  Brian set down the half of sandwich he had left. “Really, Brad? From what I recall Alesha and the guys go by some nicknames. You know like some secrecy club. Hell, if they were so proud and open there wouldn’t be so much subterfuge.”

  “Damn it, Brian. Just because you don’t approve of how Alesha is living with Mike and Josh you don’t have to be rude about it.”

  The slow lifting of one single eyebrow let Brad know that he’d probably spoken to supportively. Fuck.

  “So, now you don’t? When we decided to come here a few weeks to spend for the holiday with them, you and I were both on the same page. We wouldn’t judge Alesha and our friends, but neither did we approve. Now, you sound as if you’ve had a change of heart.”

  Brad not only heard the disappointed tone of his twin, he felt the sense of betrayal coming off Brian. When they grew up, Brian usually led and he followed. Not like a blind puppy dog, but Brad had always just allowed his more dominate twin to have his way. Most of the time he didn’t care what they did, however, that wasn’t always the case in the last few years.