Bells and Chains (Operation Reindeer Retrieval Book 7) (3 page)

“We probably already do, but I can have it ready for you to work with. I just need an email and you can send me a list of what you need and where you want to work.” He reached into a shirt pocket and provided her with a crisp and heavy business card. It had his name embossed, his email address and his direct line.

“Here is everything you need to get in touch with me. You already know where to find me.”

She tucked the card into her notebook. “Are you interested in my plans so far?”

He nodded his head. “You have the budget and you know the timeline. The sooner that we get this started, the better. I can tell by the gleam in your eyes that there is something special planned, so I am giving you free rein to do so.”

She picked a sandwich and nibbled at it. “I just have one additional request.”

“Name it.”

“When the subs work with me, can they wear something a bit more practical? If we put down any pine boughs, they will get all scratched up and rashy.”

There was a slight exhalation from the corner where Alec was still kneeling.

“We can’t have that. Yes, they will be in jeans and t-shirts while they are assisting you.”

“Excellent. Well, in that case, I guess I have seen everything I need to see.”

“Good. Sit back, relax and have something to eat. You are looking a little pale.”

She grinned. “I always look pale. My team and I rarely get to hang out and tan.”

She finished her sandwich and waited for her host to take a few of them.

He stared at her, she stared at him and finally he asked, “Aren’t you going to have any more?”

“Not until you do. Eating the entire tower is a possibility, and I don’t want to insult my host.”

He smiled and took his plate, loading on a selection of sandwiches and pastries. “There. Have at it.”

She grinned and took three small sandwiches and set them on her plate. Her bites became less delicate and more aggressive as she worked at filling her belly.

The tower was taken down as he asked her polite questions, and she answered every time her mouth was empty.

All too soon, the tray was empty and the last fleck of cream had been licked from her lips. She sipped at her third cup of tea and sighed happily. “Well, thank you very much for the food, Bern. I will be in touch in the morning with a tentative schedule.”

He grinned. “You are going to eat and run?”

“Well, I will drive at a safe and moderate pace. Safety is key, after all.” She winked.

Bern snorted and set down his cup. “That is our motto.”

They got to their feet together and he led the way through the halls once again and she was soon being eased into her coat with her bag being held by the young sub who had first met her at the door.

“Your car is waiting. It was a pleasure meeting you, Doni. I look forward to seeing you soon and hearing your plans for this place.”

She reached for his hand, and they gave the time-honoured contact for hello and goodbye. “It was nice meeting you as well. I will be in touch.”

He nodded, and the sub handed her her bag. She slipped it over her shoulder and headed outside where cars were being discretely parked by valets in leather and one of them was standing next to her car.

Doni smiled as she came up next to her vehicle, and she said, “Thank you. I guess this beats the servants’ exit.”

The man opening her door grinned. “That requires a shift in wardrobe.”

She still had a smile on her lips as she drove away from the manor. This was going to be a very fun client.

* * * *

Bern looked at Artemis, and he shook his head. “You certainly were chatty today, weren’t you?”

She lowered her head in apology.

“She can talk to you? Directly speak with you?”

Artemis lifted her head and nodded with excitement.

“Well, I can’t fault you for that. Just remember, I am only here on Santa’s sufferance. He has given me this place and time with the humans in exchange for watching them. I like it here.”

Artemis shook her head again.

“Yes, I know I am supposed to seduce her into returning to the workshop, but now that I have met her, seen her, I am not sure that I want that for her.”

Titan whinnied from the other stall.

“No, I can’t just mount her and convince her that way. It doesn’t work that way in the human world. You need agreement first and hormones second.”

Titan blew and shook his head.

“Yes, I know it is foolish, but that isn’t the way things are done. If she is playing human, she needs to be courted in the human way.” He chuckled. “Fortunately, we are surrounded by humans with alternative mating dances. This is going to be fun.”

The rest of the horses bobbed their heads in agreement. Bern’s excitement was contagious; it was what made him an excellent host for the club.

* * * *

Doni worked on her plans into the night. She drew up the schematic and started calls for the supplies she needed. Everything was given a rush order.

She kept Bern apprised of her progress, and three days after their first meeting, she was ready to return to the club in order to start the setup.

She called Bern, and he answered with a smile in his voice. “Doni, I have been waiting for your call.”

“You have no idea how relieved I am. I have enough supplies here to complete eighty percent of the job, and the rest comes in tonight.”

“If you wanted to get started, I can have the subs here in an hour.”

“It can wait until morning, but if you can arrange to have them there at nine, we can get started and have you set up in less than forty-eight hours.”

He sighed. “As you like. I will have eight of them ready to serve you with all of the ladders that you requested.”

“Excellent. I will be there just before nine. See you tomorrow.”

“See you tomorrow, Doni.”

She hung up and smiled. She was looking forward to this assignment with as much enthusiasm as she had for the gingerbread village she had installed in a mall.

Doni wandered into Jake’s office. “Have the bills started coming in?”

Jake had a high blush as was normal when they discussed the club. “Yeah. That was quick work.”

“Yeah, I am a master of the google search. I will be out of the office tomorrow. I am going to be on site at the club for the next two days.”

“Okay. I will make sure you still get paid.” He winked and waved farewell.

“You do that. I am pretty sure that I could arrange something special and none too pleasant with the club, if anything goes wrong with my pay day. What I am planning is going to definitely bring the joy of the winter holidays to the club.”

“I have to say, the folks at the club are excited. Nothing like this has ever been done before.”

“Well, I hope to do the anticipation justice. With that in mind, I am heading out early to verify the supplies I am loading into the trailer as well as my car.”

She gave him a wave and headed out, grabbing her bag and leaving the building, climbing into her car to drive to the climate-controlled storage unit that the company used for just this sort of thing.

Doni took out her clipboard and ran through her supplies, hoping that her bravado was earned. She took a lot of pride in her work, but these arrangements had to be suitable for a wide variety of clientele, all in the same facility. She had her work cut out for her.

It was a warm day for the depths of December. The eight subs were waiting for her. They finished lining up as she pulled in front of the manor house, and she was laughing as she parked her car.

Doni got out of her vehicle and inclined her head. “Thanks for coming out, number One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Eight.”

They bobbed their heads in turn. Each had a huge number on the front of their shirts, and their open coats provided them with the protection that they needed in the balmy weather.

“In the back of my vehicle are the boxes that we need for the interior of the club. Please begin unpacking and moving the boxes inside into the staging area that Bern arranged.”

They nodded, and moments later, the hatch of her SUV was open and a train of numbered subs were walking into the manor with one of the leather-bound subs manning the door.

What followed was a riot of giggles and her shouting numbers as they got into a rhythm. The subs were excited by what they were doing, and after five hours, the house was set up, and it was time to head into the snowy grotto.

Six and Eight ran to get the horses and sleigh to transport the supplies while the others packed the empty boxes into a stack and giggled wildly.

“Mistress?” Three asked shyly.

“Yes, Three?”

“Where did you find those glowing, glittery dildos?”

“I can get you the web address. I will have to check the invoice for that precise supplier.” Doni smiled and made a note on her clipboard. “I will get it to you as soon as I am back to my computer. Would you like to give me the email address, or should I send the message through Bern?”

“Through Master Bern, please. It is a rule of the club.” Three smiled.

“Not a problem. I am not here to get anyone in trouble.”

“Thank you, Mistress. I think that I have someone who might appreciate one of those for Christmas.”

“Not a problem. For the record, you guys are so efficient; I wish I could hire you for every job.”

The gathering smiled and looked pleased with themselves.

She knew from their quiet conversations that they were all off university for the holidays. One was an accountant, another a med student, a sociology major and a psychology major. The other four were not as chatty.

Their group gathered outside and waited next to her car as the sleigh appeared, pulled by Artemis and another mare nearly as large as she was.

The sleigh pulled up next to the trailer, and the subs sprang into action. Ten minutes of stamping horses later, they clicked into action, and Doni guided them through the woods and into the grotto.

She shared her vision for the trees and the surrounding area, and as the sleigh returned to the manor for the ladders, she arranged the boxes under the trees where they would come to life.

The energy of the subs was amazing. They were excited by the work done in the manor, but now, they were going to make magic.

The dinner that was laid on for them at the manor was amazing.

They sat together in the kitchen and shared tales of near-death experiences on ladders and what they had created in the grotto. The subs were nearly out of their minds, wanting to share it with their masters and hating to have to wait for the reveal.

Bern came into the kitchen at long last, and the subs slipped from their chairs to their knees.

Doni was sipping a glass of lemonade, and she raised her brows. “Dressed for work?” He was wearing skin-tight leather that suited him very well.

Bern came to her and lifted her hand to his lips. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

The leather should have made him look smaller, but the snug black covering the width of his chest made her feel tiny.

“Well, I am ready.”

It was his turn to raise his brows and her turn to blush.

“I mean that the numbers and I got everything set up. The grotto is ready and the solar panels are set up. By sunset tonight, there should be enough of a glow to make the whole thing magical.”

Doni had also caused a small snow flurry as they had ridden away on the sleigh. Their footprints and handprints would be obliterated by now. Even the marks of their snowball fight would be gone.

“I have a few things to attend to, but the rooms in the manor are gaining tremendous popularity. Where did you find those glittering dildos?”

She cleared her throat. “When I find the invoice, I will let you know. Three wanted that information as well, and I told her I would forward it to you.”

“Excellent.”

She smiled. “Now that my meal is done, I think I will be on my way.”

“Please, wait here for half an hour. I will attend to the guests and return so that we can head to the wonderland you have crafted in the woods.”

The subs grinned and kept their gazes on the floor.

“Bern, can you tell them to get up? They are missing dessert.”

“Subs, rise and resume your meals.”

The numbers got back up to their chairs and settled around the table again.

Doni smiled at Bern. “The clock is ticking. You have half an hour.”

He leaned down and kissed her, slowly moving his mouth over hers in front of their very attentive audience. He pulled back and smiled. “Thirty minutes.”

Doni blinked in surprise with her lips throbbing.

The subs grinned, and Five looked impressed. “He rarely makes time for anyone, and I have never seen him kiss someone before. You must have made an impression.”

“I don’t think so. I think he is just a little affectionate.”

Eight shook his head. “Master Bern does not show affection in public. He is the host here; he does not show favouritism. If you have gained his attention, he has some emotional attachment to you.”

Doni looked around at the earnest faces. “You all agree?”

Eight heads nodded.

“Wow. That was the only thing you have completely agreed on today.”

Laughter rippled around the table.

Doni had really enjoyed her time with the subs. Two and Four had only tried to manipulate her once before they realized it would just end up with them up a ladder or hanging from a ceiling to wind ribbon around the suspension harnesses.

When the half hour was up, she yawned and got to her feet. “Well, I am assuming that he was distracted elsewhere and I have to get to bed.”

She grabbed her bag and clipboard and headed for the door. She was just about to open it when it swung toward her and Bern was standing there.

He blinked. “You were leaving?”

“Time is up and I don’t wait.”

“Good to know. Now, please, lead me to the stables.”

His aura of command was unmistakable, but his putting her in the role of servant was odd. She scowled, but turned and headed for the back door.

There was no courtly moment here, and something in her rankled at the shift in him from knight to dom.