The Wrangler (The Yacht Club #2)

Chapter 17

Seventeen

ALEX

Cade and Stone follow us on to the elevator. It’s nothing like the Box. Mirrors and polished wood. Soft lighting, no thumping music, at least not yet. The night has barely begun. We’re the first couple to move downstairs, but I couldn’t wait. After exiting the elevator, we pass the unoccupied front desk.

“Hold up.” I let go of SJ’s hand and duck into the men’s locker room. My bag is in one of the lockers, stowed away in anticipation. I leave my shirt and boots and return to the group dressed, or actually undressed, for play.

When we get to the door of the room, my palms are sweaty and I have to rub my hand on my dark jeans before I can turn the nob. “Ready?”

SJ nods.

I wait.

“Yes.”

I turn the handle and swing it wide. The lights turn on, to show off the square room with leather straps and chains limp against polished plaster walls a color between midnight and espresso. Bars and rings float down from the ceiling crisscrossed with black painted beams that disappear in the black painted background. There are points of attachment scattered around the room to give maximum flexibility for scenes. The stained concrete floor is swirled in a similar dark cloud with shots of acid green and eggplant purple, according to the guys who did the staining. When they told me what they were doing, I wasn’t too sure about it. But it’s perfect to show off SJ’s blue dress and red hair. She’s the beautiful bird and I’m about to put her in my cage.

Cade is in the hall handing Stone the earbuds, he places them and looks at me.

“Test, Stone can you hear this,” I say at a normal tone. He give me a thumbs up and closes the door.

SJ jumps. I drop my bag and go to her. I run my hands down her shoulders and gaze into her wary eyes. “Okay?”

“Yeah. Didn’t expect chains.” I guide her toward the padded mats in the middle of the room.

“We’re not using those. I’ll use a ring, maybe two. But first, we’re gonna get you relaxed, beautiful.” I keep rubbing her shoulders down her arms until she settles into a soft, relaxed posture and breathing pattern. “There we go.” I kneel and help her remove her matching blue heels. The suede is soft in my hands. I stand and place them under a padded bench in the corner. She doesn’t move, eyes following me. A single pull at the end of the bow that hold her dress together and it slips apart. “Can I take off your dress?”

“Yes.”

I part the sides of the fabric revealing the body I’ve spent hours worshiping and nights dreaming of. She’s wearing a smooth black bra and matching panties, nothing fancy but silky smooth. No wonder there were no lines under her dress. I’d half expected her to be naked underneath. She shivers as I slip her arms free. I could tell her to fold it and place it on the bench, but I want to care for her, cherish her. After carefully laying it out so it won’t be wrinkled later, I return and hold her shoulders the same way I did when we started. Slowly I move my hands up and down her arms, lifting each or her hands and kissing her knuckles. I check her for any bruises or scratches. Anything that could cause her pain if I placed a rope in that spot. Her skin is creamy smooth with the faintest splash of freckles, barely visible in the warm lighting. If we were somewhere else, I could spend hours tracing a path between them with my tongue. “I’m going to tie your hair.”

She nods.

“Words.”

“Please tie my hair, Alex.”

I grab one of my shorter ropes, loop it around my fingers and stroke the fiery red strands into a ponytail. I tighten the loop and she tips her head. One more wrap and I use the strands to guide her to me. Her skin is soft and warm against mine. Her heart flutters, my little rabbit is nervous. Using the rope, I expose her neck. Her breath comes in pants and her eyes are wide. I slip my free hand between her arm and her chest, up until I can clutch the front of her neck, not choking, holding. She’s wrapped in my arms, under my control, and I wait until she calms into my care. Finally her breath slows, and she relaxes. “There you go, little rabbit. I got you.”

The kisses I place on her taut skin reinforce my praise and she softens even more. The scent of her peachy skin is as soft and seductive as she is. It fogs my brain. With a deep breath, I unwrap my fingers from her neck, trailing them down her chest, over the clasp of her bra between her breasts. I pause, teasing her a little.

A few steps forward and we’re on the pads, centered under the rings that dangle from the ceiling. Rings I personally secured to a cross beam during construction. One of them could hold three times her weight easily. No limits to what I can do. As long as she agrees.

“Can I take off your bra?”

“Yes, please.” Her blues eyes are filled with burning need. She looks like a goddess that I get to undress and then reclothe in my ropes, my ownership, my embrace.

I flick the front clasp open and peel back the sides. Her nipples are cool when I draw each one into my mouth, kissing and flicking the hardening buds with my tongue. She moans and arches into me. I tug the rope in her hair gently, adding to her pleasure based on the sounds she makes. Yeah, she’s my little rabbit.

I could feast on her chest, but I promised to tie her. I want to tie her. So I place her bra with her dress and pull several more lengths of rope from my bag. I drop all but one bundle in arms’ reach and snap one loose, drawing the length through my hands, fitting the ends together evenly, running back to the bite. The friction of the jute centers me, like a meditation.

Guiding the bite down her neck in a caress, she shivers. First, I’ll create a harness around her chest. Her arms fold easily behind her back, so flexible. The ropes extend and enhance the embrace of my arms, offering a continuous comforting squeeze, the beautiful caress of her body in the layers of lines I lay down flat against her skin. Each line presses into her skin the way I want to press myself deep into her body. Each knot adds stability. I control the tension, taking her to the edge of discomfort, but not crossing the line for her first time. Exploring the boundaries of her submission and pleasure. Finding the perfect balance.

She lets me turn her and move her limbs, lax and trusting. With the central knot in my hand, I hold her, matching our breaths, drawing the moment out so we both can feel the connection. Her shoulders are soft and relaxed as I draw my hands down her arms. “So beautiful, my sweet, sexy rabbit.”

I clip the first carabiner to her harness, letting the weight rest on her breast bone. She freezes. “Breathe,” I whisper in her ear. Tethered to me by the grip I have on the rope in her hair, I pick up another bundle of rope.

The new line draws easily through the ring. I’m not ready to suspend her, but soon.

On my knees, I take another bundle and pull it free, presenting it to her like the queen she is before I wrap her hips snuggly. I could lift her just from the chest harness, but not for her first time. This time, I’ll have her completely cocooned. Completely at ease. Completely mine. I press a kiss to her stomach, just below her belly button before tightening my line against her pussy, parting her still covered lips, applying pressure exactly where she needs to associate my ropes with unlimited pleasure. A few more wraps, knots, and double checks of the tension and lead line and I’m ready. I clip a second carabiner to her, the minimal weight pressing the rope to her clit enough for her to notice based on her breathing.

I run my hands up her body, over my ropes, checking and touching. Evaluating the color of her skin, the pressure of the ropes, the pace of her breaths, the beat of her pulse. I connect her to my lead line. She’s my entire world at this moment. Time has no meaning. There is only her, us, now. “Ready, little rabbit.”

“Yes, Alex.”

With an easy draw of my line, she rises, floating in the air, wrapped in layers of my ropes. Every limb exactly where I placed it. Her face is completely relaxed, eyes half closed, safe under my control. “Good girl.”

She lifts her heavy gaze. “More.”

I grip the line in her hair and her eyes widen for me. “More what, little rabbit?”

“More you. I need you Alex. I need you in me. Please, let have you in my pussy. In my mouth. Somewhere.”

Ah hell. My semi-hard cock goes fully erect behind my zipper. The ropes make her a horny bunny. And her needy begging has me in knots. She’s perfect for me. “Left your panties on for a reason.”

“But, Alex,” she whines.

I press a finger to her needy little button over the rope I tied there. Her body tenses but she can’t move. She’s mine.

“I want your dick in me. I need it. Please give it to me.”

I pop the button on my jeans to give myself some room. SJ licks her lips. Her eyes track my moves as I lower the zipper. I got a private room for a reason, even if I didn’t intend to fuck her, not this first time. But how many more opportunities will I have before she goes home?

“Don’t leave me floating here by myself. I want you. Please let me taste.” She lets her mouth fall open in invitation.

Does she know what she’s asking? Is she serious? “Yellow.”

“What?” Her eyes are fully open now.

“Let’s slow down a second here, rabbit. Oral’s a hard limit. What are you doing?” What am I doing? Taking a step back and pausing the scene of my dreams. But she’s asking for something that doesn’t make sense.

“I feel safe, beautiful, wanted—for me. It feels right to try to let go of the past, with you.” Her words grip my heart and tug it out of my chest.

“SJ.” There’s a story I don’t know, but I don’t need to know right now. I go to my bag and grab my red safe ball. A safe word for when my bunnies can’t speak. “Hold this.” I wrap her fingers tight around the squishy rubber. “You drop it. We stop. You’re still in control, little rabbit.” I brush my fingers agains her temple and fall into her gaze. She’s got me bound up in her more tightly than I have her tied in my ropes.

“I trust you, Alex.”

Her words move me. “Okay, little rabbit. We’ll try this.” I free myself enough to place the head of my cock to her lips. Her tongue peeks out, the tip making the barest contact with my head. A shiver runs up my spine. It’s too good.

She opens her mouth. I tilt my hips and?—

The door to the room slams open. Stone. A man in a brown uniform rushes in behind him, yelling, chaos.

What the fuck? I step back, tuck my dick away.

“Alexander Craig. You’re under arrest.”

I freeze. I know that voice, heard it say the exact same words years ago in another place. My guts go watery and my legs threaten to give out. The sheriff. Alyss’s dad. What the hell is he doing here?

SJ is sobbing and incoherent. I need to care for her.

Stone steps in between SJ and another man dressed in blue.

“I’m sorry, Alex. I’m so sorry.” SJ is weeping.

“No bunny, this has nothing to do with you. You’re okay.” I reach for her.

“Don’t touch her, you animal.” The sheriff lurches for me, but Stone holds an arm out to block him.

“Stop, Uncle,” SJ wails.

Uncle ? Ice freezes my lungs, threading out to my heart, into my throat. I shake my head and take another step back. I’ve fallen down the rabbit hole.

Stone is talking to the guy in blue, showing him the consent form. I back against the far wall. I don’t understand what is going on but the echoes of the past, the memories of my life being ruined, are in full color, being played out again.

Cade comes in the room and bypasses everyone to grab my arms. “Breathe, Alex. We’ll get his figured out.”

“Sarah Jane. Are you okay? I’ll get you free of this monster.” The sheriff picks up my safety scissors I always place within easy reach.

Wait. He said Sarah Jane. Alyss had a cousin— Bile rises in my throat.

She set this up?

The sheriff is tugging on the rope threaded through her braid. He’s going to hurt her. I move to stop him, but Cade forces me back. The sheriff slides the scissors against the back of her head and cuts. Her braid falls free along with my rope. I gag. “Get her down first.” My hands are shaking when I push Cade toward SJ. “Don’t let him cut the ropes and break her.”

But the man in uniform cradles her and my ropes fall away in tatters. The red ball bounces to the floor.

Safe word.

I move to my sub to offer comfort, working on autopilot. Cade grabs me. “Stop, Alex. You can’t do anything.”

This is so wrong. I’ve failed her. Never should have tied her up. She lied to me. Why did I think I could make this work? Everything she said was a lie. I turn away, walk to the corner, and tuck myself as tightly as I can into the space. I’m dead inside. This is a million times worse than what happened with Alyss.

Someone rubs my back. Cade? I don’t deserve to be comforted.

Sarah Jane is crying and calling to me.

“Here’s a blanket,” Stone’s voice barely reaches my consciousness. It’s good someone is taking care of her.

Someone worthy to see to her care.

Someone who isn’t me.

SJ

I can’t stop crying and I did this to myself. The only reason I sent my uncle the invite was to prove that I wasn’t lying and that I would— I would save myself by ruining Alex. And I did. If only I could die right now.

“There’s a back way out.” Stone is with us, still trying to help me. I don’t deserve it.

“No. We’re going out the way we came in so all those perverts can see what you did to my innocent niece.”

Innocent. Right. And he doesn’t care one wit about me. This is all a show designed to humiliate me, same as with the pictures he took. Jokes on him. I couldn’t be anymore ashamed of myself than I am right now. Alex’s face the moment he realized who I am and what I’ve done will be etched in my memories forever like a scar. The moment when he turned away and hid in the corner tore my soul in two. Each rope they cut severed any connection I had to one of the nicest, hard-working, most attractive man I’ve ever known. He cares about people, his friends—he even cared about me. I can’t fix this any more than I can weave his ropes back together.

We come out of the hallway to a room full of people. They’re silent. Even the DJ has turned off the music. I imagine the police showing up ruined the party vibe. I shiver and pull the blanket tighter around me. I’m sure I look crazy with my shorn hair and puffy crying eyes.

Two servers come out of the kitchen carrying big silver coffee pots, probably ordered to try to distract from the spectacle I’ve made. Blake scowls at me, flanking his chair is a man I didn’t meet and the woman in red, the architect who designed all this. She may be the licensed professional, but I’m the architect of this disaster.

There is no limit to what I’m capable of fucking up.

“Here’s my card.” The man who was standing next to Blake, has come over to speak to Stone. “Have Alex call me, I’ve got a friend who’s a defense lawyer.” There’s no doubt he’s speaking to me too. He confirms what I already know, Alex has people who will care for him. I have my uncle who will use me again and again. Because his decision to perp walk me through the crowd shows no concern for my feelings. Like his decision to blackmail me with pictures of the men who promised me a modeling career and turned me into a prostitute. Although, since I never saw a dime of the money in the three months I was held there, maybe I’m just a whore.

It’s painfully clear the monster in this situation isn’t Alex. It never was. The monster is the man who used a family connection, the seduction of my writing dream, and a story my cousin didn’t corroborate to convince me to be the villain.

Tears blur my vision. I search out Amy in the crowd desperate for her kindness and caring. She’s clutching Tyler’s crossed arms. His wide stance and cold gaze confirm that he understands what I did. I betrayed them all and they hate me for good reason. They may not have all the details yet, but nothing will redeem me.

My legs go weak and I stumble. My uncle releases his hold on my shoulder and I drop to my knees. Amy takes a single step toward me, but Tyler holds her back.

That single step cracks the ice that formed over my heart. It’s a tiny fissure in the impenetrable wall protecting their club and their friends. A minuscule action that means maybe there is a sliver of friendship I haven’t destroyed. No matter what it takes, I’ll fix this. I owe these people that. Doesn’t matter if I have to expose myself and my past, somehow I will make amends. Not because I believe there will ever be a place for me here again, but because I owe them for the friendship and kindness they showed to me. The love that Alex showed me.

Sharp, icy shards shoot through my chest. I gasp for air.

Oh fuck.

I love him.