Slave To Love (50 page)

Jace stood. “I think I’m done here.” He looked at Connie. “Very nice to meet you. Dinner was wonderful.” Then turned to Del. “Great meeting you.”

“Master, you don’t have to leave.” Taren stood and tried pulling Jace back.

Jace put his arm around Taren’s waist and pulled her out of the room.

“Wait. I want them to know the real you.” Taren struggled to get out of Jace’s grasp as he got her out the door to the front yard.

Once he had her outside he let her go.

“What was that about? Why didn’t you want them knowing who you really are?” Taren stared at him even though her parents stood on the porch watching the action.

Jace had to think of a great excuse to tell her other than she would be able to figure out the identity of his brother, and know he’d been holding back from her the entire time.

“They’re filming. I don’t need my identity revealed earlier than it has to be.” Jace had told the truth. Plus he wanted to control when he told Taren about himself.

“I understand. We don’t have to leave.” She looked up at her parents. “I haven’t seen my parents in a while. It would be nice to be with them…with you.” She held his hand. “Please?”

He shook his head. “Not this time. Maybe once I remove the mask.”

She smiled. “You’re assuming you’re going to win?”

He chuckled. “I’m assuming that, win or lose, you’ll still have me in your life.”

Taren’s smile melted as she held him. “God, what am I going to do?”

Jace hugged her back. “You’ll do the right thing.” He hoped. “Ready to go?”

“Let me give my parents a proper good-bye.”

“Meet you in the car.”

Jace would only have a couple of days to come clean. If he waited any longer, he would risk losing her trust…again.

****

Taren’s knee bounced in the car that drove her and Master Rock to her parents’ house the next night. After such a tense dinner with Jace, she could only imagine what this dinner would be like. Unlike Jace, she didn’t know a lot about Master Rock other than he really dug a certain era, evident by her wardrobe tonight.

Master Rock had them put her in another tea-length black dress with white buttons down the front and a white lapel.

“You look beautiful.” He stared at her, studied her.

“This feels strange. Last night I went to my parents as me. Tonight I feel like I’m going as someone else.” She tugged on the bodice portion, trying to get at her restrictive bra.

“You are someone else. Several weeks ago, you weren’t into BDSM. Now you are. You need to show that.”

The car pulled up in front of her parents’ house.

“You ready?” Master Rock brushed off his suit.

“Ready as I’ll ever be.” Taren tucked her hair behind her ear.

The driver opened the door. Rock got out first and helped Taren out of the car. With his hand at the small of her back, he walked her up to the door. As usual, Taren reached for the door to walk right inside. Rock stopped her.

He rang the doorbell and made them wait. “Civilized people don’t walk into strangers’ homes.”

“But they’re my parents. I always do it.” She reached for the knob again.

Rock arrested her hand. “Alone. You do that when you’re by yourself. Not with me.”

Connie answered the door. “Hello.” She split her attention between Taren and Master Rock. “Come on in. The camera crew has been here for a few minutes.”

Rock allowed Taren to walk in first.

“Mom, Dad, this is Master Rock.” Taren pointed to her parents.

Rock stepped forward and took Connie’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you.” He approached Del. “Nice meeting you.” He pointed to his face. “Sorry about this. I think it’s ridiculous for this show, but they require it.”

“Unfortunately, we’re starting to get used to it around here.” Del led the group to the dining room. “We’re having roasted chicken tonight. Hope that works for you.”

“I’m all about home cooking.” Rock smiled. “Meatloaf is my favorite.”

Connie’s face lit up. “That’s one of my specialties.”

“Ah, so that’s where Taren learned it. She made me meatloaf. It was wonderful.” Rock tapped Taren on her cheek.

“Yep, he asked for that for dinner just like he asked me to wear this tonight.” Taren smoothed her hands over the garment.

“I actually think you look pretty nice tonight. You look like a lady.” Connie beamed. “I’ll go get dinner.”

“Taren, why don’t you help your mother?” Rock nodded his head back toward the kitchen.

“Fine.” She stood and went into the kitchen after her mother. She picked up a basket of rolls and the rice.

“I kind of like this one.” Connie smiled as she picked up the chicken. “He’s polite. He’s gentlemanly. He treats you like a lady. It’s nice to see a man want to see his woman covered up and not showing all of her goodies.”

“Even though this is not like me?” Taren could hardly believe her mother liked this guy when they gave Jace such a hard time.

“This is you. I used to put you in dresses like this all the time.”

“When I was three. I’m grown up now.” Taren went back out to the dining room with her food. She nearly dropped the dishes she held when she heard her father laughing along with Master Rock.

“Care to let me in on the joke?” Taren sat down. Her dress pulled to the side so she had to adjust it under her body.

“Rock and I were talking about this funeral home thing of yours.” Del chuckled.

“You mean my dream?” Taren balled her hands into fists.

“Your whim. In a few weeks, you’ll be on to something else.” Del gave her a dismissive wave. “Besides, Rock here had a great idea.”

“Rock? So now you’re on a first name basis or something?” Taren should have been happy that her parents liked someone who could be her Dom. Something felt off.

“I’m not going to call him Master like that other dude.” Del shook his head. “Anyway, Rock here owns a trash collection company. He said that you can work for him in the accounting department.”

Taren blinked, then looked at her father and Master Rock. “That’s nice, but that’s not what I want to do.”

“What you want to do doesn’t make sense for you.” Rock scooped out food for himself then served Taren. He passed the bowl by her to hand it to her father. “Come work for me. I’ll take care of you.” He held her hand, the first human touch he’d given her all night. He held her arm up in the air. “Doesn’t she look great tonight? Classy.”

Taren pulled her arm down. “I think I look a little crazy.”

“It’s just for the show. Just like he has to wear a mask.” Del pointed to Rock with his fork. “When all of this is over, you can get back to a normal life.”

“Wearing dresses and heels to cook and clean.” Taren felt her face getting hot.

“What did you and that guy say last night? Safe, sane, and consensual. You’re okay with this, right?”

Okay with a Dom dressing her up like a doll and refusing to help her with her dreams. She glanced at him.

“Eat up. The food is delicious.” Rock smiled as he took another bite.

Taren had to show her parents what she would be doing. She got out of her chair and kneeled on the floor next to Master Rock.

“What in the world are you doing?” Connie put her hand to her chest.

“For one of the meals we had, Master Rock wanted me like this.” She looked at him, but he did not look amused.

“Get up and get back in your chair. What we do is meant for home. This is a vanilla environment. We don’t do that here.” Rock shook his head.

Taren crawled back into her seat.

“I apologize for her.” Rock wiped his mouth. “I did not ask her to do that here. I know this lifestyle and the idea of it, especially with your daughter, must be hard to fathom. I do things that you would probably question. But I do it because it’s something we both like. Just because we like it doesn’t mean you will.” He glared at Taren like he’d planned on punishing her later. “Your parents made us a nice meal. Let’s enjoy it and the conversation.”

Del raised his glass to Rock. “I may not like what you do, but I like the way you think.”

Taren started to question if she did. Getting him around her parents allowed the real side of him to come out. Now she had to decide if she wanted someone who hid everything from her or a man who wanted her to change.

After dinner, Taren and Master Rock went back to the house. The car ride started off silent. Taren didn’t need to hear anything else Rock had to say. That didn’t stop him from lecturing her.

“I don’t know what you were trying to pul back there, but I didn’t appreciate it.” He adjusted his tie.

Taren kept her gaze directed out the window.

“I like you because you’re so fresh and new to all this.” He reached out and held her hand.

The touch shocked her. Taren gasped and attempted to pull her hand back. Rock kept a tight hold.

“I could be what you need in your life to give you direction.”

Taren blinked at his statement. The one thing she’d told Ananda at their first meeting that she’d lacked in her life, this man now offered. Taren never imagined that freedom would look so stifling.

When they got to the house, Taren jumped out of the car on her side. She didn’t wait for Rock.

She went upstairs to her room. Tomorrow she would have to announce a winner. When she opened the door to her bedroom, she almost screamed.

“Ananda? What are you doing here?” Taren went closer to her like the woman had to be a mirage.

“Taren, have a seat. We need to talk.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

Jace dressed in a tuxedo that the show picked out for him. He’d been on pins and needles about this day. He’d gone from being a man who didn’t want this show to exist at all and didn’t see it working, to one where he saw himself with the ultimate prize.

“Time to line up.” Soneni waved at Jace to come out to the living room area.

Jace sauntered out. Everything looked bright and clean. It all sparkled. Or maybe he saw it that way because of his excitement. Master Rock stood next to him.

“Good luck, man.” Rock shook Jace’s hand. “I know I wasn’t here for most of this but it’s been a hell of a journey.”

Rock had that right. Jace wanted one more night with Taren. When he went to the backyard last night, guards protected the stairs going to his office.

Decked in an all red leather dress with matching hat, Madame Macabre sauntered out to the living room. “We all ready?”

“Just need the sub.” Kitty looked around. “Where is Taren?”

The hair, makeup, and wardrobe people came out of the bedroom. “She’s ready,” one of them said.

“Great. We’ll film her coming down the stairs.” Kitty had the camera aimed at the bedroom door.

After a pause, Taren appeared in the doorway. She wore a gold sequined dress that hugged her curves. She came down the stairs but seemed to be stomping down them instead of her normal glide. She stood next to Macabre but kept her head down.

Jace didn’t like this. He didn’t like seeing Taren look upset. Had she been that torn about her decision?

“Good evening. Tonight is the finale for
Slave to Love
. Taren, you’ve really have been through it.” Macabre put her hand on Taren’s shoulder. “You had to whittle your contestants down from sixteen to eight. You were put through some pretty harsh challenges. I think you uttered a safe word or two. Anything you want to say before you announce your big decision tonight?”

Taren raised her head. Her eyes looked red, but not from tears. She appeared angry. Jace tilted his head and wondered what bothered her.

“Yes, I want to say something. Five years ago, I watched this amazing show that was absolutely groundbreaking. No one had ever seen a show where a Dominant looked for his submissive through a reality TV show. It’s unheard of.”

Macabre smiled and nodded.

Taren continued. “Back then when they were casting the show, I wanted to be on it. At the time, though, I was too young. Imagine my surprise when five years later, the winner of that show decides to do another show where this time a submissive finds her Dom or Domme.” She put her hand to her chest. “I’m not in the lifestyle, but I was open. I wanted to be that woman who gets her happily ever after.” She chuckled. “Remember that Dom on
Love My Way
?”

“Eagan Morton, the movie producer,” Macabre said.

“That’s him. Mmm, so good looking. That Begonia is a lucky woman.” Taren nodded. “I wanted her life. I probably could have it, couldn’t I, Master?”

Jace heard his heart beat pumping in his head.

“What are you talking about, Taren?” Macabre looked at Kitty, who only shrugged.

“Take off your mask.” Taren glared at Jace.

“Are you declaring me the winner?” Jace would fight this until the end.

Taren laughed. “Are you kidding me? Can you imagine if I picked Eagan Morton’s brother to win this show?”

“What?” Rock stared at Jace. “You’re Eagan’s brother?”

Jace ignored him and moved closer to Taren. “Let me explain.”

She shook her head. “All the times we shared together, you had plenty of time to tell me that you are Ananda’s brother-in-law and Eagan’s brother. Why would you keep that from me after everything I shared with you?”

“You don’t understand. I wanted to tell you.”

Taren stormed up to him and pulled off his mask. “Tell it to the goddamn world now. Christian Jace Morton is a fucking liar and cannot be trusted. You tried to set me up. You asked Vern to get the hardest Doms and Dommes out there.”

“Jesus.” Kitty bowed her head.

“For what? Your problems with your brother? What does that have to do with me?” Taren put her hands to her hips.

“Nothing. You’re right.” Jace tried to touch her, but she swatted his hand away and moved back.

“I don’t want to be right. I want to be made whole. I want my man.” She looked at both Jace and Rock. “I don’t want either of you.” She turned to the crew behind her. “I’m sorry, Ananda.”

Jace moved closer to the group and saw Ananda sauntering forward. He had no idea she would be home, which meant that Eagan would be home as well.