The Dom Tests Her Serenity [Unchained Love 6] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (6 page)

* * * *

By the time Serena had talked her way past the security guard and made her way up to the first-aid room, had a shower, and dressed in clean underwear, a T-shirt, and sleep shorts, it was after two in the morning. So she’d texted her sister and said
I’ll explain at work
then fallen into the bed to sleep. But her sleep was marred by endless crazy dreams which she couldn’t explain and couldn’t remember when she woke up. She had the strangest idea someone had been watching her walk into the office. But how could that be? There was no one around except her and the security guard, and he’d instantly matched her photo ID with the pictures of her on his computer. The holdup had been because she was bringing her suitcase with her. Finally she’d told him she had a plane to catch straight from a meeting and then he’d let her in. She hated lying to him, but saying she was hiding from her two boyfriends because they hadn’t said they loved her when they fucked sounded too hard to believe even to her own ears.

She was almost glad when the sounds of people moving around and coffee cups clinking and printers and other machines beeping woke her up properly.

She got dressed, tidied the room, then wheeled her luggage out and up another level to her own office.

“What time’s your plane leave?” called one of her colleagues.

“Afternoon, why?” He just shook his head, so she didn’t know if he was serious or teasing her, but she was glad she’d answered as she did. How sad was it to have to say, “I want them to say they love me”? All her credibility would disappear in a puff of smoke as soon as she opened her mouth.

Much better to lie.

Well, except to her boss. If she wanted to stay in the guest apartment for a week she’d need to tell him the truth. But Donald Thomas was a man she trusted. Really trusted. He was fair and honest and she wouldn’t mind telling him the truth. Well, part of the truth. Maybe not that there were two boyfriends instead of the more standard one.

She pushed her suitcase into the corner of her office and forced both her purses into the bottom drawer of her filing cabinet. Her laptop and the file of work papers she placed on her desk out of her way. Then she booted up her computer, went and got a cup of ice water from the cooler, and wished she’d thought to buy some food. She’d only had a few snacks instead of a meal last night at the BDSM club, and now she’d missed breakfast as well. Oh well, too bad.

She had two things she needed to get sorted in her head straightaway. The first one was how to ask her boss to borrow the apartment upstairs for a week or so. The second was exactly what to tell her sister. Verity had likely had an exciting night similar to hers only with Noah and Ezra. But she bet the two human men had told Verity they loved her. Hell, her sister might even now be out shopping for a wedding dress.

No, she wouldn’t be. Verity would want her to accompany her shopping, to help her choose. But all the rest of her thoughts may be true. They were twins and had grown up close together, understanding each other, mostly liking the same things, and happy to share their activities with each other. But now she was in love with two panthers and her sister was in love with two humans. Even so, Serena thought Verity may still opt for a mating rather than a marriage. Unless the men wanted to go the human way. Anyway, whatever, she truly wanted her sister to be happy. As for herself…She shook her head.
I don’t know what the fuck to do with them. Bang their heads against the wall perhaps?

She’d left her office door open as she always did, but her door shut with a snap just then and she looked up into her sister’s stormy eyes and…“Ramona? I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Why not? Didn’t you think I’d want to hear the story of why you snuck out of a hotel room, taking the men’s socks and car keys, then coming here to hide instead of going home and asking your Alpha to sort out whatever problem had arisen? Carnal Connections is well equipped with dungeons if there are people needing to be incarcerated, you know.”

Serena stared at Ramona. She didn’t seem to be joking, but she wasn’t angry either. Everyone knew the story of how Ramona had escaped from some rogue panthers who’d tried to kidnap her. So she wasn’t just a meek and mild little mate for the Alpha. But still, Serena really wished she knew exactly what to say here.

“How about the truth?” suggested Ramona.
Shit! Now she’s reading my mind!

“And why steal their socks?” added Verity.

Serena nodded. Ramona seemed to understand what she was thinking. “Because my feet were cold. Verity told you about the BDSM club?”

Ramona nodded.

“And how we separated and she went home with Noah and Ezra and I went with Pete and Josh?”

Ramona nodded again and rested her shoulder against the door as if to say she’d be standing there listening as long as the story took.

“First we went to an adult store and Pete bought some things and it was fun and we were happy. Then we went to the hotel and the sex was really great. But not once did either of them say they loved me or wanted to mate with me. We’d been together like that, so intimately, and I thought they loved me because I love them. Or used to love them.”

“They certainly have acted as if they care for you,” said Ramona slowly.

“Men have been doing that from time immemorial, and once they get in your pants they’re gone,” said Verity.

“Yes, but Josh and Pete never seemed to me to be that kind of man. However, if they are, I agree you’re better off without them.” Ramona took out her cell phone and started tapping the keys.

“When we had that…um…trouble…um…earlier, it was because they said they always fucked without a condom. Later they explained they only ever slept with women who knew it was just for fun. I can’t help thinking they were trying to tell me it was just fun for them when I really thought they loved me.” Serena heard her voice catch, then Verity was holding her while Ramona kept tapping away on her phone.

The pain inside her was so sharp, she thought it might be her heart cracking in two. She loved them both so much and she’d thought her love was returned. But now they were right back to where they were after the night when she’d thrown them out of her room, except now that she’d slept with them she knew how wonderful fucking them could be.

“Omar will speak to Pete and Josh. Consider the matter dealt with. Now what about you? What do you want?”

Serena hugged her sister than gestured to her suitcase. “There are a couple guest apartments on the top floor. I was going to ask my boss if I could stay there for a week or so until I’m ready to come home.”

“Your boss? That’s Donald Thomas, isn’t it? Be sure to tell me what he says.”

“Do you want me to stay with you? I’d like to,” Verity said.

Serena nodded. She needed to cry. The future that had looked so pretty last night had receded out of her reach. She and her sister had always been there for each other. Today she’d put on her business persona and do her work. Tonight she and her sister would have a girls’ night and then she could cry for her lost love.

Ramona tapped some more on her phone then said, “Right. Verity, tell me what you want me to bring for you for the next few days and I’ll pack your luggage. Someone will bring it in for you later today. Serena, will you be all right here today?”

Serena nodded. Then her strange dreams came back to her. “Ramona, be careful when you leave. I had the craziest idea I was being watched as I entered the building.”

“Maybe it’s just as well you’re both staying here after all. I’ll get one of the security guards to walk me to my car. I’ll be alert, you can be sure of that. I’ll check the tires and have him wait until the engine starts.”

“It may just be my imagination. Likely I’m just upset,” warned Serena.

“It doesn’t hurt to be careful. Now, Verity, what do you need?”

* * * *

Serena and Verity began their workday and Ramona stopped off in the ladies’ room to text Omar again. Serena may just be a nervous mess after the second breakup in forty-eight hours with her men, but Ramona wasn’t going to take any chances. Only after she’d sent her text messages did she get in the elevator and return to the foyer.

Still holding her phone in her hand she walked over to the security counter and asked, “Could one of you accompany me to my car, please? My friend is worried there’s something wrong with it.”

“My pleasure, ma’am,” said a huge black man.

Ramona smiled at him. No criminal on earth would attack her with this man mountain nearby. Omar was tall and muscled, but this security guard was every bit as big as her mate.

He walked her to her car, checked all her tires, kicked each one, kneeled and looked under the car, then courteously held the door open as she slid inside and started the engine.

“Everything’s working just fine. I’m so sorry to have wasted your time,” she said.

“Not a problem, ma’am. It’s been my pleasure,” said the man, standing back as she pulled the car out of her parking space.

When she straightened the car up, ready to leave, she turned to wave at her security guard. Out of the corner of her eye she caught a flash of movement.
There!
A man half-hidden behind a delivery van.

Her phone had been set to camera as she’d left the building and she’d placed it on the seat beside her. It took her only a second to pick it up and point it at the van and click. She didn’t know whether she’d caught him or not, but now she knew Serena really did have cause for concern. And Verity as well. It seemed the rogue panthers were back in town and stalking the cougar sisters.

Omar, and Oliver, his right-hand man, and Larry were all staring at Pete and Josh. Josh had hardly slept at all, and Pete looked as tired as he felt. They’d told their story all over again, and Oliver and Larry remained silent. Since Omar had heard it already last night—well, very early this morning actually—Josh wondered whether he’d said anything to Ramona. Maybe it’d take another woman to unravel whatever it was they were doing wrong. Or maybe Serena was some strange Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde character. No, no she wasn’t. She was the most beautiful and loving woman he’d ever met. It’s just that he didn’t understand what was annoying her, or frightening her, or causing her to leave them.

“My decision is this. You are both appointed to Nicholas and Curtis to help them prepare the movie studio to move it onto their new land adjacent to Carnal Connections. Under no circumstances will you approach Serena or Verity or Autumn either. You may only speak to them if they come to you. Even if you need to speak to Autumn about the movie business, you will find a man or a human woman and talk to them first. Do you completely understand me?” Omar asked.

“Yes, Alpha,” said Josh, bowing his head.

“Yes, Alpha,” repeated Pete.

“Go. Nicholas is expecting you this morning.”

Silently they left the building and walked to Pete’s truck. Larry had handed them their socks, Josh’s coat, and Pete’s car keys. Josh put the socks up to his nose. They smelled of dampness and earth, but he thought there was also just the faintest scent of Serena as well. Once they were in the truck he opened the coat that she’d hugged so tightly around her cold body. Again he sniffed deeply. Yes, there was a fragrance there, a remembrance of her. He breathed her deep into his lungs, wanting to be with her, wanting to understand her and let her know how much he missed her, how much he wanted her to be happy, to be with them again.

“Josh, how are we going to get her to tell us what the problem is if we’re banned from talking to her?”

“Fuck if I know.”

They glanced at each other, then Pete said, “I’m thinking we give her a week to recover, then we do it the old-fashioned way. Send her a letter asking her to meet us somewhere neutral just to talk.”

“And if that doesn’t work?”

“Kidnap her, chain her to the bed, and fuck her senseless until she agrees to stay with us anyway.”

Josh laughed. “I like the way you think.”

To Josh’s surprise the day passed quickly. Seeing all Nicholas and Curtis’s plans for their small boutique movie studio come to life was exciting. They had a small permanent staff, which included Gaynor, a human woman mated to Tor and Cameron, who all lived at Carnal Connections. There was also Ramona, Raegan, who was their chief scenery painter and set designer and a wolf who’d recently learned he was Tor’s father, Zara, the wardrobe mistress, and Peyton, the chief makeup artist. Curtis, Zara, and Peyton were humans. Nicholas was a wolf and he and Curtis were mated to Autumn, who was half-human and half-panther. They lived at Carnal Connections, too.

The more Josh thought about it, the more he understood just how intricately the lives of the shape-shifters and the BDSM community were becoming interwoven. Not to mention that although there was a small amount of rivalry, the wolves and panthers, pumas and cougars all got along well together. He grinned. Even delineating between the various big cats was interesting. Scientifically they were all panthers, but to the pack, each was distinct, with different fur, colorings, and habits. Ramona was a puma, the twins were cougars, and the others panthers. As a panther, it all made perfect sense to him.

Nicholas and Curtis had just finished filming a series of advertisements about recycling. Now they were in the process of packing their entire studio and everything in it for the move to the land they’d just purchased, land that adjoined Carnal Connections. All their equipment had to be dismantled, packed up, and moved inside one of the two main buildings which housed the offices and indoor sets. Then the sheds and the second building would be dismantled and moved to the site. There they’d be reassembled, except that there would be one big shed instead of three smaller ones.