Authors: Avery Gale
“Baby, calm down. Dinner is taken care of, it’s in the oven and will be ready by the time we finish talking to our guest. We have already set out wine and made the salad. You can thank Selita for the wonderful meals when we return to ShadowDance. She always keeps our freezer well stocked.” Mitch smiled as he saw her relax. He immediately heard her mentally planning to go upstairs and get dressed and smiled to himself.
Not so fast, sweet cheeks. You are already overdressed for what we have planned for you.
Even without Mitch’s gift Bryant knew instantly what their beautiful little sub was planning. “No, love, you are not changing a single thing about what you are wearing, except to unbutton that last button and let the shirt fall open. Remember, that beautiful body belongs to us, and we’re planning to show it off a bit this evening after our chat and dinner.” He had to bite the insides of his mouth as her mouth dropped open in surprise. “We also want you to get used to kneeling when our guests are present. Now, come over here and let me show you exactly what we’ll expect of you.” While Bryant helped get Rissa into the position they preferred for their subs—kneeling down with ass cheeks resting on heels, knees spread wide apart with hands loosely held together behind the back so the breasts were nicely lifted and presented to view and touch. He also explained that she should keep her eyes down unless told to raise them by a Dom who was directly addressing her. With a quick kiss to the top of her head, he stood back and sucked in a breath at the beautiful view.
Holy fuck she is so gorgeous like this, she takes my breath away.
Just then Mitch returned from answering the door with Trace Bartell in tow and looked at Bryant and said, “I couldn’t agree more, my friend, our little sub is breathtaking.” Turning to Trace, he asked, “What do you think, Master Trace?” He watched Trace smile when Rissa tensed, her mind might be fighting it, but her body was definitely on board, judging by the glistening juices coating her sweet pussy lips.
“Well, I can’t think of any better greeting. She is stunning. Her posture is exactly right, and her body is as close to perfection as I’ve ever seen.” Mitch had filled him in briefly on the challenges they’d been facing with her, so it seemed Trace was determined to hit the high points right away and put her a bit more at ease. He moved to circle her slowly before kneeling in front of her and placing his fingers under her chin. “Look at me, little one.”
Rissa raised her eyes to him slowly but at his warm expression, she finally let out the breath she’d been holding. Trace just smiled at her for several long seconds before continuing. “You are truly a vision, and these two had better thank God above each and every single day for the gift of your submission. You make sure you keep them in line, okay?”
It took a few seconds for Rissa to realize he’d actually asked her a direct question. “Y–yes, Sir,” she answered softly.
“Now, if it’s okay with your Masters, I’d like you to sit on the sofa while we talk.” At their nods, Trace placed his hands on her slim shoulders and lifted her as he stood up. “I have some information that is going to be very valuable for you. Even though I’m afraid some of it may come as a bit of a shock also.” He watched her expression closely for any fear and was pleased when he didn’t see anything but warm affection and relief. “Now, let’s get something to drink and then we’ll sit down and get comfortable so I can give you the dirt on Rachel Sutton.”
Chapter Fourteen
As they sat relaxing after a wonderful dinner, compliments of Selita, Trace leaned forward with his arms resting on his knees. “I have to tell you…that was a damned fine dinner. I’ve tried to lure Selita away from the Lamonts so many times, it’s a wonder they haven’t banned me from ShadowDance.” His words were softened by his light expression and low, rumbling chuckle. “Damn, maybe I should just marry her?” He asked the question more in jest, but Rissa was touched by the note of melancholy she heard in his tone.
Before she even realized what she was doing, she’d reached over and squeezed his hand. “You’ll find a woman who will bring joy into your life again, you just wait and see. And when you do, she’s going to be one lucky lady.” She smiled at him, and then realizing that she’d touched a Dom without permission, she froze, worrying she had overstepped her boundaries.
Mitch reached over, laying his hand gently on her shoulder. “Baby, no one is ever going to complain about you being kind to someone, please don’t get so caught up in the rules of Ds relationships that you let that change who you are. We love you just the way you are. Don’t change that kind heart of yours, ever.” His words were like pure sunlight shining in to her soul, and she could practically feel their healing effect seeping through her. “We have no desire to change you or control you. Dominance and submission are for sex and play—none of us are in to a 24/7 slave lifestyle.”
Glancing at all three of the men, Rissa felt like they had lifted a huge weight off her shoulders, and she didn’t really understand why, because this was not any different than what they’d said before, but something about it just seemed to sink in to her soul this time.
Trace chuckled. “You know, Rissa, sometimes we have to hear things several times before they really sink in. I know I’m like that. I appreciate your kind words more than I can say.” He took a couple seconds to compose himself before speaking again. “Grief is a strange thing, you think you have worked through it, and then it blindsides you again. I’ve been blessed beyond measure by good friends who have been there for me every step of the way. In some ways, I understand what you are going through—you think you’re ahead of this thing, and then something sends you reeling, doesn’t it, darlin’?”
“Oh yes, that’s exactly it. And I don’t ever see it coming, it’s so hard to explain to someone on the outside of it.” She squeezed his hand again. “Thank you for understanding. And I meant what I said, too, the woman you choose is going to be very blessed to have you in her life.” Rissa leaned back in her chair, and wanting to lighten the moment and change the subject, she said, “Now, tell us what you know about Hagatha.” Her broad grin brought laughter from all three men, and Trace looked particularly relieved with the change of topic.
“Well, first of all I want to tell you the funny thing, just because I can and I’ve kept her nasty little secret far too long.” The expression on Trace’s face was one of pure mischievous boy. “When Rachel was in college on the west coast, she was the girlfriend and then submissive of a rather famous porn star, anybody remember the name Johnny Dong?” His grin spread from ear to ear at the men’s chuckle. Rissa didn’t seem to recognize the name and that didn’t surprise any of the men; it was likely her exposure to extreme BDSM media was pretty limited. “Well, they were quite an item for a couple of years, her old man was fit to be tied let me tell you.” They all shared a laugh thinking about old man Sutton’s reaction to his daughter running in those circles.
Bryant had grown up locally as well, but he was a couple of years younger than Trace. “Were you two classmates?” he asked their guest.
“Yes, but the big deal was that our parents were very close friends. Her old man was a terror, shit, the old fart is still hell on wheels, literally…those nurses out at the Good Samaritan Center draw straws to see who is going to have to deal with him.” When they all laughed, he added, “I remember him showing up at our house one night after midnight. I’d been up half the night with heifers that were calving, and I was completely exhausted. But anyway, he shows up with a damned plane ticket and instructions on what hospital Rachel was in. He wanted me to go get her and drive her home. Damn I had too much on my plate, but he wouldn’t take no for an answer. My old man stepped in and said if Sutton would pay for two men to replace me then he would go along with it. Well, long story short, I flew out to California, rented a car, picked up a badly battered Rachel Sutton, and drove her back here.”
“Why you?” Rissa remembered Rachel moving back to Climax when she herself had been in high school, but she hadn’t known all the drama surrounding her return.
Rubbing his face obviously remembering a less-than-pleasant memory, Trace continued. “Old man Sutton had always wanted Rachel and me to end up together.” He shuddered, honest to God shuddered, Rissa couldn’t help but laugh at his reaction. “Oh go ahead and laugh at my predicament, little one, but remember, we haven’t had playtime yet.” Flashing her a warm smile that told her he was enjoying the lighthearted teasing, he went on. “Oh he’d been pushing that particular agenda for years. It wasn’t ever going to happen, and she and I had both told him that very thing many times. We were barely even friends, let alone interested in becoming lovers. But I have to tell you, after she moved home, she was different. She would never have been called a sweet girl to begin with, but she returned here a harsh woman. And believe me, her old man made her pay dearly for her transgressions. Anyway, that is only part of her story, but it lays the groundwork for the rest.”
Trace had paused for a long moment, then leaned back and gave Rissa a considering moment before speaking directly to her. “Rissa, what do you know about your maternal grandfather?”
The question caught Rissa totally off guard, and she was sure her expression showed her surprise at the turn the discussion had taken. “Well, not much really, I know Granny always said he left right after she found out she was pregnant with my mom and that she never married again. Why? What does this have to do with Rachel Sutton?” Rissa had always questioned her Granny’s story, but had never mentioned it to anyone else.
“Well, let me ask you this…Was Doc Woods around a lot when you were a kid?” Again Rissa was surprised by his question, and she knew her small gasp had likely given her away.
“Yes, all the time. Why?” This time her question lacked the force of her earlier defensiveness and confusion.
“Well, I would never have told you this until Doc was gone under ordinary circumstances, but I am worried about you. Rachel targeting you has very little to do with the incident at The Club, that is just her excuse, her real motive is money—a whole lot of money.” He was looking right at Rissa as if he was searching her expression for any hint of deceit, finding nothing but confusion he continued. “Darlin’, your granny was a wonderful woman, everyone in town loved her dearly, I want you to know that.” Trace saw the trepidation beginning to cloud her eyes, God he hated being the one to tell her this, but it couldn’t be helped, so he’d just as well get it over with. Leaning forward and grasping her small hands in his large, calloused ones, he continued, “Your granny and old Doc Woods had a long-term love affair. He was married at the time, but he and his wife had been living apart for several years when your granny became pregnant with your mama. Doc tried to get his wife to agree to a divorce, but she wouldn’t hear of it. His wife was old man Sutton’s sister, Elizabeth.”
Rissa sprang to her feet, breaking free of his hands so suddenly he hadn’t had time to react. She started pacing furiously back and forth in front of the fireplace again. They could hear bits and pieces of her self-talk, but not enough to be able to figure out anything she was saying. She finally stopped in front of Trace. “But how does this involve money? I don’t understand this at all.”
Trace had moved to the sofa and grabbed Rissa’s wrist and sat her on the coffee table in front of him. Looking straight in to her beautiful green eyes, he explained, “Elizabeth Sutton-Woods died of a drug overdose when you were a tiny baby. Up until that time, Doc had to keep his relationship with your grandmother and the fact that he was the father of her child quiet, or at least as quiet as you can keep anything in a small town.” He chuckled and then continued. “It was common knowledge that he loved your grandmother deeply, and that he financially supported her so she could devote as much time to raising your mama and later you as she needed to. Now, that all being said, with your mom being in the wind, you are legally his only heir.” When her eyes widened and she started to shake her head, he said, “Yes, it’s true. But if you weren’t around to claim it, it would fall to her. It’s my understanding his will is written that the money can only be inherited by an heir who has lived continually within a fifty-mile radius of Climax for two years prior to Doc’s death.” Personally, Trace thought the restriction was insane. Trace always felt you simply left your estate to the person you wanted to have it and left all the provisions out of the mix.
Rissa was glad she was sitting down, she was sure her knees wouldn’t have held her. Her mind was reeling with all the information she’d been given. “You see, little one, if she can get you to move by shaming you publically—and don’t bother to deny it, I can tell by your expression it’s crossed your mind—then she stands to inherit millions in not only cash assets, but it also seems our local doctor is hell of an investment wizard as well, so his stock portfolio is huge. And the old fart also owns real estate all over the damned country.” Laughing to himself, Trace thought about all the times he’d tried to get the old coot to sell him some of the land he owned that bordered the Bartell Ranch, but the old goat wouldn’t even talk about it. Instead, he insisted on continuing to rent it to Trace at the same price Trace’s dad had paid five decades ago. Doc didn’t need the money, and that was the end of it as far as he was concerned.