Page 34 of Master Heimdall

Recently, Thor had proposed to Raia here in front of us and our community, offering her a ring and a collar to symbolize their union both in and out of the lifestyle. One day I hoped to follow their lead and collar my submissive here, and if the timing was right, maybe more.

Asgard came into view, perched majestically atop a grassy knoll. Stone and wood fused and showcased a classic Norwegian-style frame. It was the epitome of luxury and relaxation, a true getaway for the gods. At least that was how we phrased it when we discussed it with others.

Of our three clubs, Midgard was the only one set up with the public in mind. We allowed people off the street and had a low enough membership rate that the place had been a booming success since it opened its doors.

Valhalla didn’t bother with hiding what it was. The place felt like a sensual palace of iniquity with velvet and silk draping the walls interspersed with large, framed erotic works of art. The only way to enter was to be a member or a guest of a member. The exclusive club had hefty yearly dues, but that hadn’t stopped those dedicated to the lifestyle who filled the place nightly. Valhalla also offered private parties and was known as the best BDSM club on the eastern seaboard.

Once inside, I dropped my bag off in my room, threw on a pair of shorts and headed to the blue lagoon pool. I poured myself a Lagavulin on ice and kicked my feet up on a lounger.

The melting ice in my crystal tumbler mesmerized me while my thoughts strayed to Rose. She was, after all, the entire reason I’d sought sanctuary. I turned on my private app and rewatched the moment she woke up and realized I was gone. She didn’t hide the disappointment when her hand reached out to touch the sheets and found them cold. She’d read my note and winced. Yeah, I think I would have as well if the roles were reversed.

I watched her getting ready for work, and not from the cams that came with the suite, but the privacy ones I installed just for me that night she’d stayed out late with Mari. The new cams had sound, allowing me to hear her conversation with Mari as she’d had it on speaker while she got ready for work.

I replayed her reading the email from work several times and her anger at what she read, but who could blame her? I’d given her a piece of myself for the evening, called her my sub, and then disappeared. It was not honorable of me, and it certainly didn’t shed a positive light on me as a Dom, either. Fuck me, I was an asshole, but she’d wanted a deep conversation I wasn’t ready for.

* * *

Now, a few days later, I was as lost as I’d been when I arrived and hadn’t moved far from my perch by the pool. I found it very relaxing and realized that was most likely the reason Erik had a water habitat for a floor in his suite. Resignation moved through me as I rehashed my actions from my one glorious date with Rose, to running away.

It wasn’t fair to her to stay away like this and she had the app to tell her my whereabouts, but she wouldn’t know what was here if she googled. The results would show her farmland and pastures for miles. The app kept Asgard a secret from those who were not members.

Mari had left me messages, as had Rose and Jared, but I wasn’t ready to talk just yet. I needed space to think and with Asgard empty, I had the privacy I needed, except it wasn’t helping me. I craved Rose and wondered what she’d think of this place. Would she fall in love with it as much as I had?

Of course she would. Rose appreciated unique architecture, and Asgard had that in spades.

A few days later, with nothing to keep me company but the turmoil roiling inside of me, I shut down and went on a bit of a bender. I woke up hours later, half sprawled on the lounger to the sound of a helicopter.

What the hell? I checked security but saw nothing. Now I was concerned and wobbled to my feet to go and see what was going on and saw Jared entering the lagoon area.

“Fancy meeting you here,” he said in his uptight English accent. Yeah, he was American, but he never lost that British posh attitude he had when he moved here for college. He’d wanted to get away from his family, but that was another story.

“Welcome home, Loki.” I huffed with amusement. Master Loki was Jared’s club name, and him appearing out of nowhere was a very Loki thing to do. “What are you doing here?”

“What do you think? Aren’t you a little too old to run away from home?” He took the tumbler from my hand and downed its contents.

His comment pissed me off. “Are you accusing me of shirking my duties? I came to work out the glitch in the security.”

He snorted in amusement. “You are full of shit.”

“Why are you here?” I glared up at him.

“Mari called. She said you were acting like an ass and to come and talk some sense into you.”

Well played, Mari. If she’d sent Noah or Erik, this would be a more friendly discussion, but sending our resident sadist proved she meant business and so did he. Jared was highly intelligent and had balls of steel. There was no way he’d indulge my bullshit.

He surprised me when he pulled over another lounger and dropped onto it, placing his feet up and looking surprisingly relaxed for a man on a mission. He speared me with a look that made me feel like he could see my soul.

“What is going on with you?”

There was no sense in trying to get out of this. “What’s going on is I came here for some privacy and to work out my growing feelings for Rose, my new employee.”

He nodded his head sagely. “How do you feel about her?”

That was a great question. “I’m here aren’t I? Clearly I have deep feelings. But..”

“But what?”

I scrubbed my hands down my face in frustration. “You know me, Jared, I’m obsessive when it comes to security. Being with someone like Rose, well, she’s oblivious to trouble and doesn't consider personal safety at all. How does that work with someone like me who’s clearly OCD?”

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