Page 1 of Shrouded Desires
Chapter One
Straining against the leather cuffs securing him to the St. Andrews cross, Raine Donovan arched up to meet the downward stroke of the flogger. He hissed in pleasure as the dull thud of the impact toy sent another wave of burning through his system. His blond hair, damp with sweat, fell into his eyes as he sagged back against the cross. Every part of him felt alive - tingled with awareness as he waited for the next blow to fall. Back, ass, thighs, at this point it didn’t matter. He needed the heavy kiss of domination. He needed to be reminded why no amount of social anxiety could squash his inner submissive. He did this to prove he was stronger than the demons in his head.As if your cock isn’t hard as hell right now.
He ignored the voice as the leather bit into him again, this time across his hip. He groaned deep in his throat as the strands wrapped around his side and stung the tender flesh where his groin met his thigh. The unexpected sting brought tears to his eyes.
“Shit.” The red-headed dominant, who had negotiated with his master for this scene, appeared next to him.
What is his name again? Angus, Andrew...damnit something that started with A...
“I didn’t mean for that to happen. I’m just really new when it comes to flogging.” Angus or whatever his name was, seemed really contrite if the worry in his gaze was anything to go by. “What level are you at, sub?”
“Green, Sir.” He reassured the dominant. It hadn’t been the first time a dominant had misjudged one of his movements and ended up striking a spot they hadn’t been aiming for. “I shouldn’t have moved, Sir. It’s a fault of mine. I’m sorry.”
The man narrowed his gaze, taking in Raine’s words. “Perhaps. Are you okay to continue? I won’t hold it against if you decide to call a halt to our scene.” He seemed to almost be reluctant to continue.
Christ, where does Master find these guys?Even as he thought the words, Raine felt ashamed. Master Max did his best by him. Raine just needed to get the dominant back on track. He needed this flogging in the worst way. “I’m fine, Sir. I would truly love it if you would continue. I’ll endeavor to stay still this time.”
“If you’re sure?” The redhead drew back.
“Absolutely, Sir.” He laid his head back down and waited for the next blow to fall. Seconds later it did, the familiar thud welcome in its embrace. Relaxing against the cool wood supporting him, Raine focused on remaining motionless, making his body an easy target for the inexperienced dominant. It wasn’t the first, nor would it be the last time Raine would allow Master Max to use him as a practice subject for one of the graduates of his flogging class. Even though he couldn’t remember Master ever letting such a greenhorn use his backside as target practice.Once we’re done here, I’ll mention tonight’s slip with him. Maybe that way he’ll stay next time to watch, instead of allowing one of the DM’s to monitor the scene for him.
His breath caught in pained pleasure. His left shoulder warmed with the heat that only a good flogging could bring. Concentrating on the fading burn, he tried to free his mind, to slip into the welcoming embrace of subspace. Each blow pushed him close, then even closer, until he hovered right at the edge of awareness - a point of almost hyper-awareness as he waited for the next fall of tails against his skin. He needed just one more touch, one more slow burn to slide into the welcome abyss of nothing. A place where he could float along without a care in the world, secure in the knowledge that his restraints would keep him safe.
And he waited. Then waited some more.
But as each second ran into another, he found himself slipping back from the edge, drifting back from the ledge that he would’ve used to launch himself into subspace. He wanted to howl in frustration, berate the dominant for not giving him what he needed.
“Raine.” The jarring baritone of Lucas’s voice, one of the dominants on dungeon monitoring duty tonight, had Raine opening his eyes. He tried to focus on his friend’s words, but lost between reality and the edge of subspace, it took the other man several tries before Raine to comprehend what Lucas needed.
“Run that by me again, Master Lucas?” He had to force the words past his lips, as he tried to push his brain back into analytical mode.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your scene, but…” Lucas leaned in close, evidently checking his eyes.
As if that is anyway to check if I’m in subspace.
“…are you with me?” Lucas snapped his fingers in front of Raine’s face. “I really need you coherent and focused on me, Raine.”
“I’m here, jeez.” He wet his lower lip, frustrated with the man. “What is it that’s so damned important?”
The DM seemed mollified by Raine’s show of spunk. “Good.” He motioned to Master A. to release Raine from the cross. “Less than two minutes ago, Master Daniel found your master slumped over his desk. We’re thinking he had a heart attack. We need you to...”
“Get me off here.” Adrenaline hit his system hard, warring with panic. He tugged hard against the cuffs. He needed down. He needed to go to Max. He needed to contact Master’s wife. He needed to call the ambulance, he needed to ride with Master to the hospital. Oh, hell he couldn’t leave the club. Too many people, too much…
“Calm down.” Lucas snapped. “We’ve already called the ambulance, and they should be here shortly. We need you to call his wife. She’ll flip if one of us calls. I need another sub to break the news to her.”
Raine nodded as he stumbled free of the cross, rubbing his wrists. The submissive bound to the cross was gone, and in his place was Raine Donovan, capable accountant and best friend of Elizabeth Rodkin. His personal demons could wait. Lizzie needed him.
* * *
“Please, Storm.” Dressed in an immaculate suit, with his tie askew, Tony DeLuca seemed beyond desperate. With his dark hair and almond-colored eyes, the younger man had attracted Storm’s attention the very first time he’d stopped by the clubhouse to discuss catering the team’s home games. Sleek and elegant, at the time he’d reminded Storm of a sleek Italian sportster, complete with leather seats. And if his gay-dar wasn’t broken, the man was definitely swinging for the same team as Storm. A short conversation had led to a heated encounter in one of the team’s private rooms, where Tony had ended up on his knees, sucking Storm’s dick as if it were his last salivation.
For the last six months, he and Tony had hit the sheets, the walls, and every surface in between.Until last week. Storm’s only rule had been that no one knew about them. That what they had remained private. And at the time, he’d thought Tony agreed. After all he came from a very Italian Catholic family. One that wouldn’t hesitate to disown him, if they found out about them.
“Well, just don’t stand there like an immovable object.” Tony raked a hand through his hair. “We’re good together, man. You can’t mean to throw it away, just because I asked you to go to dinner with me.”
Leaning back against the counter in his kitchen, Storm Parkers stared at his former lover/submissive. “I warned you going in that what we had stayed between us. My private life is just that - private.”
Tony glared at him. “I’m not asking you to shout from the rooftops, Storm. I know what would happen to your career if it came out that you were gay. I just wanted to introduce you to a few of my lifestyle friends.”
