Jenna's Consent (18 page)

He glanced at his shoulder and nodded. “I definitely get
that.”

She walked around him, checking it out from different
angles. She was about to ask about the significance of his choices—

“What the fuck are you doing? It’s like you’re toilet
papering your own living room.” He ran his palm over the strands. “Wait. This
is rope. Are you making rope? As in, really
really
making it?”

“Yep.”

“You’ve been holding out on me. And you are a badass.”

Jenna smiled. Leave it to Oscar to make her feel good and
that there wasn’t anything to hide. Not anymore.

Now or never…

“So, you know how I suspend myself?”

He looked at her, being serious for a moment. “Yes.”

“I was wondering if you’d consider bottoming for me.”

“As in, you’d suspend me?”

“Exactly. The ties for a guy are a bit different since you
don’t have—”

“Tits.”

“Not one to beat around the bush, are you?”

“Ha! You should know by now I don’t ever beat around the
bushes. Pretty sure I’m allergic.”

They laughed and Jenna got back to running strands back and
forth across the room. Oscar grabbed a soft drink from the fridge and sat down
to watch her.

“Have you suspended guys before?”

“Yes, when I was in Japan I learned how to suspend both. I
like both. Physiologically the sexes are different, but flexibility and how the
bodies move are different as well.”

He watched her spin the rope, twisting it into shape with
the power drill. “Who knows you do rope?”

“Tie or actually make it?”

“Both.”

“Skye knows everything. We’ve been best friends for years.
The girls know most of it. Chris and Jared know a little bit. Nick knows quite
a bit now. I suspended at the club last night.”

“I heard.”

“Bunch of damn gossips down there.” She barked at him but
bit her lip.

“Everyone was talking about it today. They want to see it.”

She knotted the ends of the rope and coiled it. “I think I’m
ready to share it with everyone. I’ve hidden it for so long and I think I’m done.
Hiding that is. So if you’re willing to work with me, I’d really like to have
your help.”

She’d kept everything about rope under wraps. Not wanting to
share it. Not wanting to remember what interrupted her rope journey. But it was
as much a part of her as breathing.

He stood and walked over to her, hugging her with his good
arm.

“Whatever you need from me, I’m there.”

“Excellent and if the scene involves CBT you’re cool with
that too?”

“You just sounded like the guy in the white van telling me
you have candy and puppies inside. What’s CBT? As if I really want to know.”

“Cock and ball torture.”

He cringed and she smiled against his chest, not able to
keep from laughing.

“What? Not into that fetish? What are friends for?”

“Red!”

“Ha.” She laughed, hugging him close.

The time to fully take her life back dawned on the horizon
and for the first time in a long time, excitement raced through her veins,
drowning out the fear.

Jenna’s arms were sore as she prepared one of the playrooms
for Jillian. Being Kyle’s sister could have made things weird but it seemed
they afforded each other enough personal space to make it work.

The siblings had been estranged for a while, but when they
finally reconnected he learned her proclivities paralleled his in many ways. He
actually nominated her for membership at The Library.

It had come through several weeks prior and she’d become a
full member.

But she wasn’t some shrinking violet. In fact, she was the furthest
thing from a submissive Jenna had ever seen.

She was a wicked top and preferred female subs. Her gender
preference may have worked in her and Kyle’s favor. Both of them liking
same-sex partners seemed to give them some even ground to bond over. Jenna
stretched her shoulders, alternately plumping her breasts toward the middle in
her light pink corset. She had a short white skirt on to go with it, and spiky
pink heels.

She bent over again, trying to concentrate on checking the
locks on the spanking bench they’d moved to the center of the open space. Cyn
glancing her way every two seconds made it pretty fucking hard to concentrate.

“Spit it out, Cyn. You’re about to explode if you keep it in
any longer.”

“Thank God.” She dropped whatever she was doing on the far
wall, walked over and straddled the spanking bench so her crotch was right at
Jenna’s eye level. “I heard a rumor.”

Jenna smirked, wondering how bad it was going to be. She
even looked behind her once to see how far away the door was. “And that would
be?” Maybe she could make a run for it.

“That Nick planned a ménage for you and it happened last
night in a room right down the hallway here.”

“And if that were true…”

“Woo hoo,” she whooped and fist-pumped the air. “Damn that’s
sexy. How was it?”

“It felt like Ian.” The words tripped out of her mouth. She
couldn’t get them out fast enough.

“What did?”

“Whoever the second guy was.” She stood up, giving up on
checking the locks because she couldn’t get her hands to stop shaking.

“But it wasn’t him, was it?”

“Well, no. I mean I never saw him. I was blindfolded. I
caught a glimpse of his cock for a few seconds, but that was it. Damn it was
like it really was him. It made the experience…amazing.”

“But the ménage part, Jenna? I know it’s your first time.
Pretty hot, huh?” Cyn’s naughty grin caught her off guard.

“You should know. You get double-dicked to your heart’s
content every night.”

“Yes, I do, but you’re in a bit of a different mental space
than I was.”

“What you went through is so much harder than what I went
through. I’m not going to whine about it.” Talking about what she felt just
seemed ridiculous when she tried to think about it rationally.

“What I experienced was different from you. That’s it.” Cyn
fingered her collar and then grabbed the lock on Jenna’s collar, making sure
she couldn’t turn around. “You’ve been there for me. Thick and thin. I want to
return the favor.”

Her eyes were so sincere and Jenna thanked her lucky stars
for like the millionth time that Jared and Chris had such great taste in women.

“It confused me.”

“What did?”

“Last night. Before, when I was with Ian, the reason he left
is because I wanted a ménage. Nothing permanent though.” She shook off that
thought, unwilling to even entertain the notion as a possibility. “Just
something fun and sexy.”

“Oh, Jenna.” She took her hand, making it easier for her to
continue.

“I’m anxious about all of it. How much I liked it. And I
didn’t have anal sex last night. No double penetration. But it was seriously
some of the hottest sex I’ve ever had. I was a mess afterward.”

Cyn was deep in thought for a second. “Is Nick here? I
expected him to be around, growling at everyone who got close to you but I
haven’t seen him tonight.”

Jenna pointed toward the corner of the room where a couple
wires dangled. “The camera in here needed to be changed to some kind of
new-fangled something or other and he was missing some integral piece of doobie
or other to upgrade it. He’ll be back tomorrow, actually. Had to drive
somewhere into Missouri to get what they needed instead of having it shipped.
He asked if I wanted to go.” She rolled her eyes. “Pretty sure laughing
hysterically in his face wasn’t the answer he was looking for.”

“You just needed a bit of space. He’s not going anywhere and
maybe this was his way of giving you a bit of space. You know. Like a reboot
period after what happened last night.”

“Maybe.” When Cyn put it like that it made Jenna feel
better. Good friends were worth their weight in spanking benches.

Unwilling to talk about her messed-up head anymore, she
changed subjects. “The new head of security is supposed to come down with your
guys in a little bit to talk about something to do with the thumb print
readers.”

“Have you met him yet?”

Jenna shook her head. “Nope. I‘m surprised actually, since I
think everyone else has.”

“He’s making his rounds, I’m sure. He always seems busy.”

“What’s he like? I don’t even think I’ve asked, which isn’t
like me.”

“You’ve been a bit occupied, I believe. Umm… He’s tall,
handsome, broody. Dominant, like most of the other guys around here. Pretty
eyes. He’s done a lot of great things around the club that needed to be done.
He sure came highly recommended. Hopefully he’ll work out.”

Cyn put her hand back down on the bench and her engagement
ring sparkled. Jenna touched the stone, wondering what it would be like to be
loved so much by two men.

How two highly dominant men could love her so completely and
still share her and give her what she needed. Jenna had a hard time wrapping
her head around it.

Instead of asking her anything about that, Jenna switched
topics again.

“Have you given any thought to the idea I talked to you guys
about the other night?”

“Have I ever. I’m running numbers now. I’ve even started
three spreadsheets.”

“You must be happy then.”

“Sooooo. Happy.”

“Have you talked to the guys about it?”

“Of course.”

Jenna loved that she kept nothing from the guys anymore.
They were a unit, a team, a family. She hoped she could have that too someday.

“They’re fully behind the idea. They’ve even offered to be
my financial backers for my part of the startup.”

“That’s awesome.”

“Fuck that. I mean yes it’s nice but I have my own money
saved up. I want to do this part on my own. Having their support is amazing and
I know they’re there if I need anything, but…”

“But what?” Jenna ran fingers through Cyn’s blonde hair,
making her sigh.

“It’s like my whole life was on hold until I gave myself to
C and J. I existed, got through all of my day-to-day life stuff, but it was
just empty. With their love, The Library, you girls and this new Nice and
Knotty Boutique we’re thinking about opening, it’s as if my life has finally
started.”

“I understand that, probably more than you know. I found a
strip center for lease I’d like to show you guys. Maybe tomorrow. It’s actually
not far from here. Has a couple tenants already in it but four spaces open for
us. If the price is right it may work.”

“Is it ridiculous to be extremely excited about it?”

Jenna tugged her hair, bringing Cyn’s face to hers. “Not
silly at all.” She said the words against her lips, feeling the hitch in her
breathing as she pulled her hair and captured her soft lips with hers. “I’m
glad you’re as excited as I am. Nothing can stop us as long as we find a place
that works for us and we can get through all the red tape. You’re one of my
best friends. I really wanted to do this with you.”

“Me, too, Jenna. I’m so glad you’re my Fairy Godslut.”

Jenna smiled, kissing her one more time. “At your service.”

“Well, if you’re offering, I’d like—”

“I’m switching most of the cameras to the new megapixel
variety and a few will have electronic pan, tilt and zoom control as well—for
full access, on site and remotely.”

Chris and Jared walked into the room behind her, talking to
another man.

Jenna froze.

Cyn looked at her and did a double-take. “Jenna?” she
whispered.

That voice.

She didn’t have to turn around to see him. To verify what
she’d already started to suspect. Not a single limb on her body would move
anyway so it didn’t matter.

Chris called out to her, “Jenna, I’d like to introduce you
to our new head of security. He’s the one responsible for all the new access
control and cameras. His name is—“

“Ian. His name is Ian.”

Cyn’s sharp inhale cut the silence like a knife and she
covered her mouth in shock.

Jenna stood there, petrified, helpless.

Then Jared piped up. “No, honey, it’s Bryan.”

“He’s a junior and he never liked the name, so he goes by
Ian. At least he used to.” So calm. Her voice was steady. Even.

But she was dying inside.

She didn’t remember turning around. Her memory failed her as
it seemed the room actually spun around her, taking away her choice about
whether or not to stay hidden. Or to run, to hide, to disappear so she didn’t
have to face him.

His chest was right in front of her and she looked up into
his piercing eyes as he towered over her, making her feel tiny even in her
five-inch heels.

When he’d been younger, she’d looked to him as if he were a
fallen angel, utter perfection radiated from him.

But he’d left her, letting her fall, not being there to
catch her. He’d promised to hold her, to tell her everything would be okay.

“Jenna, it’s been a very long time.”

She’d had years to think about what she’d say to him if he
ever stood in front of her again. Scenarios sped through her head in
fast-forward as she tried to remember anything she’d wanted to say.

“Not nearly long enough,” came out of her mouth a second
before her fist cracked him right across the jaw. She kicked him in the shin
for good measure before she could stop herself.

“What the fuck?” came from one of the twins standing behind
him.

Catching Ian by surprise was well worth any retribution she
would have to deal with. Her knuckles screamed in pain but she kept it balled
in a fist in case the opportunity arose to punch him again. She glared him
down, refusing to be the one to back away first.

“I see you remember me.”

“Don’t flatter yourself, asshole.” Yep, definitely not
something she thought she’d get to say to him—ever. She expected it to make her
feel better but she just wanted to crawl in a hole.

Instead she put her shoulders back a bit farther and shook
out her hand. “I’ve got work to do.”

She sidestepped him with her nose in the air, determined to
leave before she fell to pieces and cried like a girl.

Chris and Jared stared at her, both of them wearing almost
identical expressions of
holy shit
. Each had an eyebrow raised in her
direction as she made it past them.

All she wanted to do was run back to Ian. To yell and scream
in his face how badly he’d hurt her. That gave her the impetus to keep putting
one foot in front of the other.

It felt as if she were a dinosaur walking in quicksand. As
if Ian were the center of her universe and his magnetic pull wouldn’t let her
leave.

She almost made it to the door before he was on her like
white on rice.

Jared barked out. “What the—”

He grabbed her biceps, shoving her face first into the
corner of the room by the door. He wrenched her hands up behind her back into a
reverse prayer, making her arms hurt in his oh-so-sexy way.

Rope.

He must have had it in his back pocket.

He tied her wrists together with a double column tie.

Her brain followed his movements, while her body momentarily
calmed.

His rope. He was faster than he had been before.

Rope was like a dance, a waltz, when the partners tied
together. The actual tying fell into some kind of hypnotic rhythm made to
funnel every sensation in the universe down to the people communicating through
jute. Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow. The repetitive movement of the
fibers against her skin sang to her.

The rope brushed across the skin of her throat as he wrapped
it around her neck, finishing the tie to her wrists. Predicaments could be
complicated or oh-so-simple.

A whimper tried to move past her vocal cords, giving him way
too much power over her. She swallowed the automatic impulse to submit to him,
trying desperately to keep some part of herself safe from what he always made
her feel.

After waiting years to have him against her, waiting night
after night to feel the hard length of his body next to hers, she had to focus
not to fold.

Hugo Boss cologne permeated her brain and she sighed.

Sighed.

Her eyes snapped open as she remembered
everything
else.

The phrase “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” echoed
inside her skull, shoving the rest of what she needed from him aside.

He wedged his hip into the small of her back as she fought
to push away from the wall. His muscular frame and some of his weight made her
attempts all but useless.

“Get off me.”

“No.”

She struggled, thrashing as much as she could but he knew
just how to pin her. How to tease her with his scent, his rope, his voice. His
hand rested on her hip and she clenched her jaw to keep from moaning.

“I want to talk to you.”

“Do you get the impression I give a rat’s ass what you
want?”

He brushed his erection against her ass, trapping an extra
length of rope between their bodies. She panted for all she was worth fighting
to get away, fighting to get closer. Several layers of clothing still separated
him from her but she could feel the burn of his skin against hers.