Bound and Freed Boxed Set (15 page)

John walked to the car park, unlocked his
silver
Mercedes
sports car, and got into it at
exactly noon. He settled himself comfortably and then hit speed dial on the
blue-tooth for his mentor, André Chevalier.

"
Bonjour! Oui?
"
came the pleasant melodious sound of his mentor’s voice.

"André? It's me,
John."

"John,
mon ami
,
comment
allez-vous?
"

"You have time to talk,
André?"

"But of course."

"Well then,” John said,
“I wanted you to be the first to know. I love someone, André. I love her so
much that it hurts."

"
Vraiment?
Bravo, John! And she loves you?"

There was a long silence.
"She is confused right now, but I know that she loves me." John
explained about the elevator breaking down, Kelly’s panic, and how he had handled
it. Then he told him how he had brought her home and had amazing sex all night
long. "Sex is more wonderful than I could ever have imagined, André. I
could never have conceived of such pleasure."

"This is a cause for
much celebration my friend,
n'est pas?
You have made me - a happy man -
much happier.
Mon Dieu,
more than I can say."

"Thank you,” John said,
feeling an unexpected ache in his chest. “Me too. I wanted to tell you
first."

"And second?"

"My counselor. In time
I'll explain it all to Kelly. I don't want secrets between us."

"
Ce qui est
excellent. It is best to begin a relationship in the manner in which you intend
to go on. But your secrets, John?
Très difficile
. It is good that you do
not mean to alarm her, by telling her too much, too fast. Do you still visit
with your counselor, Maria Lopez?"

"Twice a month, André.
On my honor, I have always followed your every instruction to the exact detail.
You told me that this day would come. It seemed, how shall I say it? Well,
unlikely. But I decided to have faith and trust that you knew what you were
talking about. You did. I have so much to thank you for."

"You are most welcome,”
André replied warmly. “And does your Kelly enjoy pain,
mon ami?
"

“I don’t care. If I need to,
I'll teach her, but it doesn't matter, André. It honestly doesn't."

The sound of André’s soft joyous
chuckle filled John’s car. "This very much sounds like true love, my
friend."

"Yeah, well, she isn’t
really talking to me at the moment." John explained then about how Kelly
had found a file with her name on it and all her personal details in his room.
Also how she had used her safe word and left in a panic.

"
Merde!
Why did
you choose not to account for your actions, John? Of a certainty, it seems to
me that this would have been a simple task."

"Kelly didn't want to
hear it,” John said. “There is a saying André, that it is a waste of breath to
argue with someone who is angry. When people are angry they are simply not
ready or even willing to hear the truth."

"
Eh bien,
this
sounds most sensible. And so, you are calling perhaps to ask my advice?"

"No. Only to share my
happiness with you."

"
Merci beaucoup
.
And Kelly? How do you intend to settle this issue with her?"

"I know how to deal
with a disrespectful sub, André. Trust me on this. You trained me, after all,
and I'm a good student. I’ll take care of this problem with Kelly."

When John hung up he was
grinning.

Even as he hit 'end call' on
his steering wheel he could still hear the deep, musical sound of André's
laughter echoing throughout his car. John's mentor had been laughing at full
volume in that playful, carefree French manner that was uniquely his.

Tuesday night, Colin Wilkins, the Basement's
manager, had left word with Security at the entry to the club, to text him the
moment Kelly Flynn arrived. Colin had called Kelly on Monday, and found that
she intended to renew her club membership. They had made an appointment to meet
up together tonight, as she was working Monday, Wednesday and Friday this week,
and would come to the Basement on the alternate nights.

Christ almighty,
Colin thought, nervously pacing outside the ladies' change area.
I
so don’t want to screw this up.

This was the first instance in the entire
time that Colin had known John Taylor, that he had seen his boss display actual
interest in anyone – male or female. For all he knew John was gay, or bi,
because he certainly never showed an obvious preference. John seemed to be the
curiously peculiar kind of guy that could reach down someone's pants and be
satisfied with whatever he found there.

Colin had gone over the plan of how to deal
with Kelly Flynn in his mind, considering many different possibilities,
discussing how to handle things with his wife, Donna. Donna had been a rock,
and she had given him the female sub perspective on the best plan of action.
After much discussion, they had decided to go ahead with her concept.

It is a simple arrangement,
Colin thought.
So why am I so nervous
?

But he knew the answer. John Taylor was
important to him, and not just because he was his boss and gave him a generous
salary. Colin had grown to admire and respect him. The young man was twisted,
bent out of shape by something probably from his childhood. Anyone with a drop
of humanity could see that. While every sub of both sexes wanted him, the young
man remained totally self-contained and completely alone. Colin just knew that
John was lonely.

He and Donna had had John over to their house
for dinner, but just the once. It had been an excruciating and agonizing
experience for all concerned. John was like a Redneck attending a Gay Support
meeting, he sooo didn’t fit in. Not that there was anything Redneck about John.
Colin's boss just didn't seem to know how to interact with people outside the
confines of the BDSM environment. It was as if he had no experience with such
normal, social, human activity.

Colin smiled. Donna of course immediately set
about thinking of people that she could set John up with, the little
matchmaker. "The right woman will iron out those peculiar little character
flaws of his," she had pronounced. "Someone social, with a bit of
life and zest, will brighten that dour personality and make him laugh. The
right woman would teach John exactly how to behave." Colin's dick twitched
as he recalled the erotic spankings he had given her as a result of
that
fixation.
"Leave him alone," Colin had demanded. "He'll figure it out on
his own."

Donna simply wanted John Taylor to find the
happiness that she and Colin had found together, which was completely
understandable.

When Kelly exited the ladies' change room
Colin was pacing nearby, waiting for her as he had been forewarned by text. Of
course he tried to appear as if their meeting was casual and unexpected.
"Kelly," he said, noticing the young woman looked a little drawn and
pale. She was dressed in an olive and rust colored bustier, something new, and
it really set off her hair and pale freckled skin. "Are you alright?"

Kelly gave him a wan smile. "Oh, I'm a
little off my game at the moment, Sir. But I'm getting there."

"Love the new bustier," he said.
"Yowza. You're looking pretty damn fine, girl."

"Why thank you, Sir," Kelly said,
brightening. "See? I feel better already."

Colin placed his hand at her lower back to
escort her. "I'm glad I caught you. Come into my office and we can go over
the membership thing, alright?" he said.

"Sure thing, Sir," she said.

Colin was glad to find Kelly happy to attend
to this business without demur. Naturally submissive, she had a powerful need
to please, which Colin as a Dom had instantly picked up on. Was that what John
was attracted to? The woman was no beauty. Even as young as she was, compared
to Donna, Kelly didn’t match up to his own wife's good looks.

Meh,
he thought indifferently.
Orange hair, plain round face,
medium breasts, a zillion freckles.
The girl had some meat on her, and that
was good. Kelly was probably a size twelve to fourteen. Colin didn’t like
skinny women because he liked nice, soft curves. Unfortunately Kelly had more
of a straight, boyish figure rather than the classic hourglass shape. One thing
she did have going for her was that damn fine ass. Kelly Flynn would totally
ace an international 'Most Perfect Butt' competition.

"How is the evening going so far,
Sir?" Kelly asked, looking less pale and more herself. "All
good?"

Colin laughed. "I have the best job in
the entire world, Kelly. Who wouldn't want to be me? I love this place. I'd
come to the Basement all the time, even if I didn't work here." Colin
opened the door to his office for her, politely guiding her in. Gesturing to
the nearest chair across from his desk, he motioned for Kelly to sit down. She
did.

"Can I get you a drink? You look like
you need one."

Kelly's pink lips curved and her pale blue
eyes twinkled. "That depends," she said with a tilt to her head and a
mischievous expression. "What's on offer?"

Colin suddenly could see John's attraction to
the woman. Kelly Flynn had something going for her alright. She was striking
when she smiled with that ridiculously large mouth of hers. The girl did have
personality, and when it showed, she could be extremely attractive.

Speed dialing his cell, Colin spoke to one of
the Basement's regular bartenders, "Hey, Daniel, do me a favor and bring
me a Rum and Coke and a…" He looked over at Kelly.

"Tequila Sunrise."

Colin gave a low chuckle, "..and a
Tequila Sunrise. Thanks my man." He hit 'end' and said, "Well, that
should take the edge off, Kelly." He went to one of his filing cabinets
and made a show of rummaging around. "I wanted to talk to you because we
always survey new members after their first month. I like to do the survey
myself; just to see if anything can be done to improve your experience here at
the Basement."

Colin looked over to her as he brought out
two files - one of another recent new member and Kelly's own file, placing them
casually on his desk. "I'm glad you're going to stay on with us," he
said.

Kelly blinked and then recoiled slightly. In
a very short moment the color drained from her face, making her naturally pale
complexion whiter than ever.
Good,
Colin thought with approval.
She's
recognized her own file from John's house. I can tick another step off the
plan.

Colin sat down in his own chair. Appearing
not to notice Kelly's astonished reaction to viewing her file, he continued
speaking in a chatty manner. "It's nice to attract young members to our
club. In fact, we have a special at the moment, a thirty per cent discount.
You'll be able to take advantage of that."

"I'm sorry, Sir," Kelly
interjected. "Do you mind if I ask, what is that file with my name on
it?"

"What, this?" Colin said casually,
picking up her manila folder. "Oh. Well you know how you signed a waiver
allowing our security firm to perform a full security check on you? Including
police records? This is simply what they give us back as a result."

"May I see it?" she said with a
tremor in her voice.

Colin shoved it toward her, and across the
desk with a shrug. "I don’t see why not. This is all about you after all.
You should know what's in it already."

Kelly opened the file with unsteady fingers,
Colin observed, well aware of the stunned distress that was running through
her. For a few moments she trailed through it, flipping pages and seeming more
and more faint.

"What's wrong?" Colin asked.
"Are you okay, Kelly?"
WTF?
Where did I go wrong?
Because
this wasn't the response Colin had been planning on.

Right now Kelly Flynn looked as if she was
going to pass out.

A knock sounded on the door bringing a
welcome relief from the tension of the atmosphere. "Come in," Colin
bellowed.

Daniel, a young, slim man and one of the
bartenders slipped in with two drinks on a tray. He placed the rum and Coke in
front of Colin and the orangey-red Tequila Sunrise, with a cute little pink
umbrella in it, in front of Kelly.

"Thanks, Daniel," Colin said.
"Put it on my tab, I'll fix you up later."

"You got it, Chief," Daniel said
with a grin and a cocky three fingered half salute.

"Drink up, Kelly," Colin said,
coming around to her side of the desk to sit in the chair next to her.
"You don't look so good."

Tossing out the umbrella, Kelly took a large
gulp, knocking back half of the liquid in the tall slender glass. Colin,
sitting next to her, patted her knee comfortingly. "Hey, what's going on,
girl? You seem weirded out."

When she didn't respond Colin scooped her
into his lap and pressed her head against his chest. Then he began to rub her
hands. "Jesus, little girl, what the fuck? You look like you're going to
faint. Never mind, you sit up here on me for a bit, Donna says I throw off heat
like a furnace. I'll warm you up." Colin gave her a hug, wrapping her in
the warmth of his thick body. Kelly's skin felt so cold against his heat.
"I've seen shock before. Something has upset you. Just sit here until you
get it together, honey."

Colin couldn't help but feel a familiar,
instinctive pull when Kelly curled trustingly into him just like a little
kitten. The woman was a soft ball of female flesh that had unconsciously sought
his security and support. Colin's protective Dom nature sparked from Kelly's
helpless vulnerability, and he continued to rub and pat her back in a soothing
circular motion.

Hummm,
he thought.
Here are some more extremely attractive character
traits, trust, need, dependence.
This little sub might do very well for
John after all,
he decided. But then he frowned.
Except that she most
definitely isn't a pain slut. That could be a serious drawback for a man like
John.

When Kelly began to snap out of it, she sat
up and winced with chagrin. "I'm so sorry, Sir," she said.
"Donna would scratch my eyes out if she saw me sitting here on your
lap."

"No she wouldn't," Colin said
calmly. "Donna is a caring sort of person; she would be angry with me if I
hadn't picked you up. That woman has no earthly reason to be jealous of
anyone." He snickered. "Donna has me by the balls and she knows
it."

Kelly gave a faint smile at that. "That
seems rather doubtful, Sir," she said.

"Okay, well she has my heart by the
balls then - that is if my heart had balls. Donna knows she's the only woman
for me." To Colin's surprise after that comment Kelly burst into tears.

Man,
he thought.
Women. Who could figure them out? If John comes into
the Manager's Office right now the normally icily composed SOB would probably
lose his shit. I'd probably get my ass fired, after a severe thrashing with
that bullwhip of his.

Well, there was nothing Colin could do for
the present except relax and enjoy the ride. Consequently he simply continued
to pat Kelly's back and said nothing. Luckily he had a box of tissues on his
desk, and Kelly used quite a few of them while he patiently waited for her to
calm down.

When Kelly finally got it together she said
with her breath hitching, "I'm okay now, thank you." Sliding off his
lap she returned to the seat beside him. "I'm sorry, Sir."

"No big," he said. "So are you
going to tell me what's up? Is someone here bothering you or something? Is
there anything I can do?" Colin knew that wasn't the case, but he threw it
out there anyway. Kelly's dilemma was his boss, and he figured that problem was
going to get bigger before it was resolved. In fact Colin was certain more
tears were on the way sometime soon, no doubt caused by John. He just hoped he
wasn't around when the dam broke. Cross fingers that John contained the whole
thing with a spanking in a private scene.

"I saw this exact file," Kelly
said, "this one with my name on. It was at John Taylor's house. Does he
work for that security firm or something? Do you know?"

"Huh," Colin said with raised
eyebrows. "I've never known John to take anyone home with him Kelly,"
he said, twisting the knife a little. Poor woman already feels bad, but it
wouldn't hurt to make her feel worse for running out on the man. That's what he
and Donna had decided anyway. "He must really like you, Kelly. Why don't
you ask him?"

"I don’t think he'll talk to me right
now," she said in a small voice. When Kelly began to explain, Colin cut
her off. "Look, Kelly – no offence, but I don’t want to get in the middle
of this. I don't think I am the right person. You should talk to him. I promise
you that John has had a very through security check, he's not a stalker or
anything. And yes, there was a legitimate reason for him to have your
file."

Colin felt like a heel, but he continued
playing his hand, right to the end where he trumped everything. Kelly needed to
beg to be told the secret that Colin already intended her to have: That John
owned the Basement. It was a little painful, this complete duplicity, but Colin
assured himself that it was for the best. It was the plan he and Donna had
worked out between them.

"I don't understand. Why would John have
my file?"

Colin shrugged.

"Can't you tell me?" she asked.

"Not really," Colin said drinking
over half his Rum and Coke down, and swirling the ice in the glass. "It is
a secret that's not mine to tell."

Kelly just gave him a long, pitiful, lost
puppy look.

Colin stood and began to pace, as if tense
with indecision. Finally making a big show of giving in, he faced her with his
best 'Stern Dom' gaze. "Look Kelly," he began with a raised index
finger. "No one knows this.
No one
. So if rumors get around I'll
know who said something and I'll cancel your membership, bang!" he snapped
his fingers loudly. "Just like that. I'll end it under violation of the
confidentiality clause, understand?"

"I swear I won’t say anything to
anyone," Kelly assured him, eagerly sitting forward.

"Fine," Colin said. "John
Taylor owns the Basement. In fact, he owns this whole damn building. He's a
fantastic boss, and I don’t want to lose my job. Now I'll have to make it clear
to him why I told you, and he'll probably be okay with that. But the
explanation is simple, Kelly. You are a new member, and John personally checks
every new member out. That's it."

"Oh," Kelly said, and then she
downed the rest of her drink. Colin felt the expression on the young woman's'
face was priceless. Kelly looked as if she had lost ten bucks, but found a
hundred. So now she knew.

The question to Colin's mind was what was she
going to do about it now?