Breaking Free

was something between them, at least on her part, something more than just a master/sub relationship. She could easily grow…fond…of him.

She shook her head and stomped on that thought. She wasn’t free to become fond of anyone and never would be. Filing for a divorce would immediately paint a bull’s-eye on her. Kyler had told her in graphic detail what would happen to her. She needed to remember that.

And she needed to remember how Nolan felt about a woman cheating on her husband. A little quiver of worry ran through her at the memory of his harsh face when he talked about his wife.

So absolutely no…fondness, Beth.

Right. Really, she just liked him because of what he’d done for her. Because of him, she felt more like herself than she had in years. She felt like a woman again, pretty, competent. How odd that being submissive could let her feel more competent. It was because of Sir. Although he assumed she’d naturally submit to him, he obviously believed she was still her own person. A strong person.

Since she’d been with him, her body seemed less cold. So she wasn’t going to be a scaredy-cat and stop now. She trusted him…mostly… More than anyone else in forever. She’d let him take her further.

And, despite her internal pep-talk, the thought closed her throat. God, she was such a coward.

With an exasperated sigh, she moved away from the truck and finally took a good look at her surroundings. All she could do was stare. Newly built, the two-story Spanish-style house was a pale gold stucco with arched windows everywhere. A white flagstone patio extended out in a semicircle around a splashing fountain.

She hadn’t nearly managed to finish gaping when Nolan walked out between the pillars of the covered portico. Her heart gave a painful thump. Dressed in blue jeans and a white, short-sleeved shirt that set off his dark skin, the Dom was as gorgeous as his house. Look at him… He could have any woman he wanted. What in the world was she doing here?

She felt like a terrified puppy wanting to crawl back into its kennel and could almost feel a tail curling under her belly, so she straightened and raised her chin. “Hi,” she said casually.

“Hi, yourself.” Not stopping at a polite distance, he walked right up to her and effortlessly lifted her high enough to kiss her, his mouth warm and demanding.

A nice blaze burned inside her body by the time he released her.

“Well.” She sucked in a breath, realized she was holding his waist, and pulled her hands back. “You have a beautiful home.”

“Thank you.” He ran a finger down her cheek. “I’m glad you like it.”

Two more trucks came up the long, winding drive. The first pulled up behind Beth’s. Kari bounced out, long brown hair blowing in the slight breeze. “Nolan, Dan says you built this. It’s gorgeous.”

He built it? “Well”-Beth set her hands on her hips and waggled her head at him, trying to remember his exact tone-“next time, I will hear about these projects from you, not Kari.”

God, she loved the sound of his deep laugh.

As he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her against his solid body, Beth smiled at the other two couples. Although the subs were in shorts, all the Doms were in jeans. Dan wore a tight black T-shirt. Cullen’s brown and gold tropical shirt hung open, displaying his broad chest.

“Come on in.” Nolan waved everyone into his house.

The inside was as lovely as the outside, with high ceilings and gleaming hardwood floors. Recessed niches in the creamy stucco walls held dark red vases with flowers. They went through the foyer, past a wide staircase with wrought iron railings, and into the great room. Colorful hand painted tiles framed the arched windows and wide doorways. More tiles accented a big stone fireplace on the far wall.

A hand-loomed rug defined the sitting area, and everyone took seats on the tan leather sofa and chairs. Nolan rested a hip on a bright tapestry draped over the arm of Beth’s chair.

“Everyone, this is Deborah,” Cullen said, his hand on the shoulder of a tall, muscular brunette. Beth remembered seeing her at the Shadowlands. She also was new to the club and not especially friendly. Cullen pointed to the others. “Deb, this is Daniel, Kari, Nolan, and Beth.” Turning back to Nolan, he said, “Okay, Nolan, give them the bad news.”

Bad news? What…

“Relax, little rabbit,” Nolan murmured, tugging her hair lightly. He said to everyone, “None of you subs have participated here before, but your Doms have, although it’s been over a year since I held a party.”

“And it’s about time you started again,” Cullen said. He propped his long legs up on the coffee table.

“Subs, here are the rules: you do not need to keep your eyes lowered, but you may not speak unless asked a question. You may kneel to get permission to speak. Any Dom here may touch you or punish you with a spanking, but nothing more intense without your master’s permission. No penetration without permission of your master. Your safe word is red, and that means everything stops. You may use yellow if you’re having a problem, and that word may or may not be honored.”

Beth glanced around the room. The Doms were leaning back, legs outstretched, totally at ease. Deborah knelt at Cullen’s feet, looking bored. Kari sat beside Dan on the couch, her hands clenched in her lap, the knuckles white.

Sir had said Kari hadn’t been in the scene very long. Well, that made two of them. Beth shivered. She’d only had real Doms for a short period, and apparently there was an awful lot she didn’t know about this stuff.

Nolan tugged on Beth’s hair again and pointed to the left. “There’s a powder room over there where you can change. Go now.”

“Big,” Beth murmured as they entered. The soft pink room was the size of her studio apartment. Wrought iron scrollwork decorated the mirror over the long counters. There were even showers.

“Dan said Nolan comes from a large family and wants one of his own. I guess he designed this place for that”- Kari played with the buttons on her shirt-“and for stuff like this.”

Without speaking even once, Deborah stripped casually and left the changing room.

“Why does this feel scarier than the club?” Kari asked, unbuttoning her blouse slowly.

“Because the guys are all friends and are used to playing together”-Beth bit her lip-“and we’re the toys about to be played with.”

Kari giggled. “What a way to put it. But, oh, so true.” She folded her blouse neatly, setting it on a shelf against the dark blue wall.

Beth screwed up her courage and pulled her top off. “I hate naked,” she muttered.

Kari put the rest of her clothes away before frowning at Beth. “Finish up, girl, or I’ll leave you in here. And Master Nolan doesn’t look like a patient Dom.”

“Now that was mean,” Beth grumbled. But just the thought of annoying Sir was enough to make her strip quickly. Stuffing her clothes onto a shelf, she followed the lushly curved woman toward the door. “I feel like a stick,” she grumbled.

Kari turned and whispered, “And I always feel fat. Ever notice how women never like their bodies?” Their eyes met in a moment of perfect understanding, and Beth realized she was going to have another friend.

The warm feeling only lasted long enough to leave the powder room. Between the air-conditioning and the gazes of the three men, Beth felt chilled to the bone. Resisting the urge to cover her private areas, she followed Kari across the room. Yeah, this naked stuff really sucked.

Master Nolan was lounging in the chair she’d vacated. He looked her over slowly, making her feel beautiful and sexy without saying a word. His lips curved up in a way that said he liked seeing her, naked and in his home-her insides turned liquid. She halted in front of him, expecting another command. Instead, he grasped her hips and pulled her between his legs, trapping her, while his hands ran over her bare skin. Cupping her bottom, he nuzzled her stomach. “You smell good, little sub. Like lemonade and strawberries.”

He nipped her hip hard enough to make her yelp, then rose to his feet. “Cullen, you two make yourselves at home. The dungeon room’s down there.” Nolan pointed to a hallway running past the stairs. “Dan, our set-up is outside.” Taking Beth’s hand, he strolled to the back of the great room, through French doors, and onto a covered lanai. The outdoor room opened to a wide, screened patio. On the right was a dining area with built-in barbecue, table and chairs, and a hacienda-style fountain.

To the left, an Olympic-sized pool sparkled in the sun. Maroon lounge chairs lent color to the area, but Beth