Dare to Submit [Safeword LLC 2] (Siren Publishing Sensations) Read online

  “That explains it, then. Did James interview the personnel over there?”

  “Of course,” Kennedy replied, her indignation evident. “But according to every source available, Elena never set foot inside the club. She had filled out an application shortly after graduating law school, received approval, and never attended any function held by the club. It wasn’t until eight months ago that she was approved for Crown Point.”

  “Did you ask her?” Grant started shifting through the other papers, but apparently was satisfied he wasn’t going to find out anything more, for he closed the folder. “And if that’s true, what has she been doing this entire time? It’s obvious she has experience when it comes to scenes, but from what I’ve seen, Elena doesn’t allow it to be sexual in nature. She’s never gone home with a Dom.”

  “According to Elena, she was warned of the posers that frequent the Chamber and chose not to go to any events. As for why it took her so long to join another club, she gave a flippant answer saying that life got in the way. And before you ask, yes, everything she stated checked out—thus far.”

  Harrison stared at Grant, who was now watching the doorway in which Elena had departed. He knew that look, the one where the right side of his lip curled up and indicated his interest. Son of a bitch. Grant wanted Elena and it finally dawned on him why his best friend wanted to come tonight. He was secretly keeping an eye out for her, making sure that she didn’t get in over her head. Grant always did have a protective instinct when it came to women like Elena.

  “Grant, she’s not what we’re looking for—not in terms of long-term.”

  “And what if she is?” Grant met his gaze head on. “Kennedy’s right. You couldn’t have noticed all those things about her if you weren’t attracted to her on some level. I admit that I am. And have you ever seen Kennedy wrong before?”

  If it had been anyone else trying to force him into something that was sure to be a disaster, Harrison would have stood his ground. But it was Grant. His business partner. His best friend. Loyalty came above all else. If Grant wanted to pursue this and thought for a second that Elena might be the woman they’d been looking for, then Harrison would give it his best shot. But that little blossom better not safeword out if he was going to invest his time to design an effective scene, or else she would find out quickly the difference between discipline and punishment.

  “Set up the appointment for Monday. We’ll meet at your office at one o’clock.”

  “Make it two,” Kennedy replied, her smile just as arrogant as before. Harrison couldn’t help but laugh. Now that he thought about it, what had she meant by saying he shouldn’t make assumptions about her? Was she involved in the lifestyle? He knew he wouldn’t be getting an answer to that question as she stood up, motioning for Grant to keep Elena’s file. “By the way, Grant, you owe me a hundred dollars. She used her safe word closer to six minutes than five. I’ll expect it tomorrow.”

  Chapter Two

  “Good afternoon, Jenny,” Elena said, walking up to the reception area of Safeword LLC. She tried not to stare at Ms. Van Camp’s assistant, but it was hard not to with the electric streaks of blue throughout her blonde hair. Elena was relatively sure the girl’s color had been a vibrant red, or maybe it had been jet black, at her last appointment. Dying her hair that often had to be hell on her hair. She was surprised that Ms. Van Camp permitted such eccentricity from her employees. “I have a two o’clock with Ms. Van Camp.”

  “It’s good to see you, Elena,” Jenny replied, stroking the gold choker around her neck. Elena felt a twinge of jealousy that someone so young had already found a place where she belonged. Here she was at the ripe old age of thirty-one and still looking for that missing piece of her life. Hopefully, that would all change today. “May I get you something to drink?”

  “No, thank you.” Elena had been too edgy to eat or drink anything today, and she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold anything down right before her appointment. She’d had numerous discussions with Ms. Van Camp regarding the type of men she would respond to, physically as well as emotionally, over the last three months. Had Ms. Van Camp finally chosen whom to place her with? “I’d really just like to get this over with.”

  “Jenny, I’ll be gone for the rest of the afternoon. Call my cell if anything comes up.” Elena looked to her left and saw James Calihan walking down the hallway. He was an intimidating man, although not overly tall. His wide shoulders, gruff appearance and fierce expression said it all. It didn’t help that he shaved his head, wore a five-o’clock shadow, and carried scars on the back of his hands. He was also looking directly at her. “Ms. Conti, always a pleasure.”

  Elena attempted a smile and then turned to watch him walk out of the office. She had a feeling he didn’t like her all that much and understood the reason. Mr. Calihan wasn’t pleased with his investigation of her background check. Elena had been as honest as she could on the application, but in her mind, there were certain things that didn’t need to be revealed. Omitting the truth wasn’t lying, at least, in her opinion. Everyone had his or her skeletons. Mr. Calihan would just have to live without knowing what hers was, because there wasn’t a soul alive who would tell her secret.

  A gentle gust of wind moved around the room caressing her skin. The only sound that was now registering was the beat of her heart and the oxygen being dragged into her lungs. Her wrists were bound to the chain over her head. He’d pulled her arms far enough up so that she was barely standing on her tiptoes. She knew he’d done it on purpose, as it would be too difficult for her move away from the sting of the crop. At this moment, she didn’t want to shift away from it—she was drawn to it, she needed more. He’d warmed her up with a nice, soft leather flogger, before having switched to the crop, gradually increasing the heat. She enjoyed the different sensations, loving the penetrating levels of stinging sensations they brought with them. She gradually felt herself begin to lift up and float. It was a unique disposition that was impossible to describe. She could feel what he was doing to her body, yet it didn’t feel like it was being done to her anymore. She begged him not to stop.

  “I’ll take you to Ms. Van Camp’s office now.” Jenny’s voice jolted her back to the present. The young woman walked around her desk, which was a beautiful cherrywood with some type of engraved pattern on the outer edge. Elena saw that Jenny was wearing a short corduroy cream skirt with a blue low-cut sweater to reveal her ample cleavage. Her legs were covered in cream tights and her feet and calves were encased in matching boots that came up above her knees. She wasn’t overweight by any means, yet the only words to describe her were pleasingly plump. Jenny appeared very proud of her body. “The gentlemen that will be joining you are running a few minutes behind.”

  Elena’s heart skipped a beat and then took off running. So Ms. Van Camp had chosen the men she was going to be placed with. Who were they? Did they belong to the Order or were they independent clients? Elena was well aware of the rumor that Ms. Van Camp had a relationship with the Order. The Order remained a mystery to outsiders, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t speculation. She’d heard whispers here and there, although she knew if she asked Ms. Van Camp directly, the woman would say she’d never heard of such an organization.

  Maybe Elena should have requested that she be placed with nonmembers, considering that she’d heard they were prominent men. The last thing she needed was for her father to find out that she’d joined another club. That was the main reason she had chosen to come to Safeword LLC—they were known for their discretion.

  If she were placed with two men who were compatible with her preferences, there was a better possibility she could overcome her fear. The bonus, she knew, was that for the men who were effectual…she’d never want to leave them, thus giving Ms. Van Camp another successful match to add to her flawless reputation. This agreement would be to both of their advantages.

  She had no choice but to follow Jenny down the hallway. Stopping directly in front of Ms. Van Camp’s office,
Jenny knocked on her door. Once Ms. Van Camp responded from beyond, Jenny opened the door and ushered Elena inside. Even though she’d been in her office before, Elena was still mesmerized by the artwork on the walls. They were black-and-white photos of sensual body parts with a splash of color in each. The one that captivated her was a picture of a man’s hands holding a crop. The blue shade of his cufflinks seemed to enhance the black color of the implement. Even though he held it loosely in his grip, the man’s strength still shone through.

  “A beautiful picture, isn’t it?” Ms. Van Camp said from behind her desk. “Please, have a seat.”

  “May I ask where you purchase your art? The eroticism projects itself in such a modest manner, yet seems to encompass the entirety of it,” Elena said, as she took one of the two chairs situated in front of Ms. Van Camp’s desk. She gave a genuine smile. “I love art. I used to dabble in it myself when I was in high school, but then college came and we all know that Judge Collins’s daughter had to obtain a degree in law. I think the only thing that saved my sanity back then was having taken my mother’s maiden name.”

  “I’ve met your father at some social gatherings. He seems like a nice man, although I can imagine living in his shadow is rather hard considering you work for the opposite side. I’m sure it’s uncomfortable when drawing him for a judge.” Ms. Van Camp sat back in her chair as she put the lone button in the middle of her jacket through its hole. “Chad Westworth, a friend of mine, owns an art gallery near The Navy Pier. I’ll make sure to give you his card before you leave.”

  “Thank you.” Elena tore her gaze away from the artwork and looked across the desk. Ms. Van Camp was studying her and she knew right away what she was going to ask and it had nothing to do with her father. It was the same question every time she stepped foot into her office. “My answer is still the same. Everything on my application is true.”

  “I never suggested otherwise. But I do think you’re omitting something that would assist me in making sure your placement goes well.” Ms. Van Camp stood up and pushed back her chair, taking her time in walking around her desk. She didn’t speak until she was leaning on the wooden surface of her desk, directly in front of Elena. Her attire was as immaculate as her reputation, with the added delicate scent of Clive Christian No 1. “Regardless, I have chosen two men who will be your Dominants for the next two months. I do believe that if you open yourself up fully to them, this could go beyond your contract. Let’s just say I have an instinct about these things. It is my hope that whatever seems to be holding you back from responding, you share yourself wholly with these men.”

  Elena had to bite her lip to keep herself from arguing with her. She was taking this seriously, as she knew it was her one and only hope of banishing her past. She was the one who came to Safeword LLC in the first place. It was well known that Ms. Van Camp had success in her placements, and if Elena could just be given to two men who wouldn’t tolerate her to safeword out, then she would be forced to get beyond her issues. The focus on her past brought back another unpleasant memory.

  She awoke to pain. At first, the light stinging across her back was a simple annoyance. It was when she moved that it felt as if her back were on fire. It all came flying back to her—the flogger, the crop, the whip…the blood.

  “You’re awake.”

  “But as I said when you first came to me,” Ms. Van Camp said, jarring Elena from the memory, “this placement is not to be taken lightly. The ultimate objective is to finally find that long-term relationship that the three of you have been seeking.”

  Elena had definitely been pursuing something along those lines for years, but then again, Ms. Van Camp already knew that. She was well aware of the fact that she used her safe word like she was throwing out beads at Mardi Gras, but she couldn’t help herself. Elena had been up front with her about that, although she kept the why to herself. She needed to make sure a scene didn’t go too far, but at the same time, a part of her craved to trust a man to take her to subspace again. She’d only been there once and while it was everything she could imagine she desired, it was also the one thing she feared. Elena had learned the hard way about the fine line between pleasure and pain, domination and abuse. But there was something inside of her that told her she would never be truly happy until she found the man, or men, to be able to give that back to her.

  “I know we’ve gone over the rules numerous times, but before your Masters arrive, you’ll need to choose your own safe word. This word will stop a scene within your newfound relationship, nothing more. If you utilize the one that we’ve assigned to you—Monarch—everything ends and your contract will be null and void. As for your personal details, you will be given the rest of the day to tie up loose ends, as you will be staying with your placements for the period of your two-month contract. All of your individual responsibilities will be handled for you during this time. Like with all of my submissives after they’ve signed a contract, you have a four o’clock spa appointment to be properly groomed for your first evening with your Masters.”

  Elena barely heard what Ms. Van Camp said after her speech regarding safe words. She didn’t want to have a safe word all her own. It gave her the opportunity to cut a scene short before reaching that place.

  “I don’t want a safe word,” Elena blurted out. “We’ll just stick with Monarch.”

  Elena shifted underneath Ms. Van Camp’s piercing blue stare. Damn, that woman had a way of making her feel as if she were a child being disciplined. The only other person who could make her feel that way was her father, and they had a tempestuous relationship to begin with.

  “Elena, you knew the rules coming in. Is there a reason you don’t want a safe word to halt a scene?”

  “There’s no need.”

  Elena looked over Ms. Van Camp’s shoulder to see her favorite piece of artwork. The man in that picture holding the crop would never allow her to use her safe word. He would push past her barriers and make her face her fears. She needed someone like him.

  “There is always a need, contrasting with the fashion in which you use them. Safety is a Dominant’s first concern. And no offense, but you are the prime example of crying wolf. You said so yourself, that you use your safe word before it’s really needed…before you commit to a scene.”

  “But that’s why I’m desiring to stop. That’s why I came to you.”

  “No Dominant, at least one that I would represent, would force a woman to do something she didn’t enjoy, unless it was for punishment and only then within her hard limits.” Ms. Van Camp paused, as if she were trying to formulate her next sentence. “Being a submissive takes a strong woman. She is choosing to hand over her trust into someone else’s hands. She decides to hand over her body, mind, and control to another. Allowing someone else to make decisions for you is a choice you make, and one that shouldn’t be made lightly. No one is faultless, Elena, which is why there must be a line of communication open during play. Trust is a two-way street and these men that I am placing you with need to trust that you will tell them when something is too much for you to handle. Likewise, these men need to know that you want to submit to them absolutely.”

  Elena wanted to argue, but knew it would be fruitless. Ms. Van Camp would not place her unless she had two safe words, which left her no choice but to agree. Fine, she thought. She just needed to figure out a way not to say it. Elena wasn’t sure how she’d do it, since she hadn’t been able to up to this point, but somehow she knew this was her last chance. If this didn’t work out, no club was going to keep letting a submissive start a scene only to stop it short for no apparent reason.

  “I know all about trust,” Elena said, trying her damnedest to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “There’s no need to lecture me. Calliope. That’s my safe word.”

  Ms. Van Camp nodded her head, although Elena could see the wariness in her eyes. She did her best to maintain a neutral expression, not wanting Ms. Van Camp to change her mind about her placement. A knock on the door had
her turning in her chair. This was it. She was about to meet the men that were chosen for her.

  When the door opened and revealed Harrison James and Grant Delport, Elena shot straight to her feet. They were both dressed in hand-tailored business suits, the shades and textures of fine black gabardine similar, yet different. Grant was his usual charming self, already flashing his smile. His brown hair held a natural wave that made a woman want to run her hands through it, holding tight as he stared down at her with his hazel eyes. She should know, considering she’d had numerous dreams about him. Harrison was the taller of the two, with blond hair and blue eyes. It was obvious by the width of his shoulders and the slimness of his waist that he maintained his health. She’d also seen him at the club in a more casual state, having viewed his biceps as he wielded a whip. Which is why she wanted nothing to do with him. Her dreams of Grant always ended when Harrison picked up his whip. She grabbed her purse. If Ms. Van Camp thought she was going to be placed into the hands of these two diametrically opposed men, she had lost her ever-loving mind!

  Chapter Three

  “I apologize that we’re late. A business meeting ran over and it was impossible to cut it short,” Grant said, never taking his eyes off of Elena. He took in her beige business suit and immediately knew that it would have to go. After having reviewed her file further, Grant was well aware that Elena had opted to take a two-month leave from her law firm to ensure the time spent on her contract was not wasted. She was a feminine woman and would dress accordingly. If things went as planned, they would talk about her work wardrobe at a later date. He closed the distance between them, softly taking ahold of her chin and tilting her head up to his. “Elena. We’re looking forward to spending the next two months training you.”