Page 100 of At Her Will

Neil was an active SEAL and Lawrence a former one, and the two men were closely bonded from having served together. Tiger owned a successful local garage and liked to customizemotorcycles as a side business. His former life as a member of the Fallen Angels, an outlaw MC notorious in the New Orleans area, still rested behind his eyes, though, a lightly sleeping lion. Mick was a former cop and undercover agent from the human trafficking world.

Even if Vera hadn’t told him, Rev could tell which man and woman were together. Those puzzle pieces hooked directly together, while the rest formed the full picture, a unique family of Dominants and submissives.

Lawrence made sure Ros was never low on her wine or in need of anything. She watched him banter with Neil, a light smile on her lips, a warmth in her eyes that said she had her hand on the thread to whatever was going on in Lawrence’s head and heart.

Tiger used sign language with Skye. She almost never used her recorded voices with him. Rev could pick up the tone of their conversation from gestures and facial expressions. When Tiger sat down on the bench by the grill, Skye climbed into his lap, her knees bent, his tattooed arm going around her to hold her secure as she obviously teased him with quickly moving hands and a dancing light in her eyes. Though his own dark blue gaze rested upon her with devotion, a moment later he groaned and dropped his head back at whatever she’d said, making Mick and Cyn laugh.

Cyn’s razor-sharp edges didn’t come out to cut her man, except maybe in the ways Mick wanted. When Cyn’s hand rested on Mick’s arm, Rev noted her nails bit into his skin, a promise of the pain she could inflict. When she did that, Mick adjusted his hand on her shoulder, his thumb sliding along the side of her throat to caress her. Their bodies were so close, it was as if they wanted to be one person. Or already felt like they were.

Then there was Neil and Abby. Vera had told him that before Skye and Tiger got together, Tiger had been a regular sessionpartner for Abby. Every woman here had “played” with him, and it showed in Tiger’s easy intimacy with them. However, now that he was fully claimed by one Mistress, Rev could also tell—with relief—that bond had priority.

Vera said that when Abby came to the club with Neil, sometimes they would choose a male sub for her to enjoy as a Mistress, but always with Neil present and participating in some way that made it clear who she was going home with.

When Neil had the burgers and shrimp ready, they sat down on the screened porch, gathering around the yellow pine table a friend of Neil’s had built for him. There was cucumber and tomato salad, fresh corn on the cob, bread baked by Cyn, and green beans from Vera’s canned garden stores.

Rev intended to bow his head for a brief silent prayer, but Vera spoke. “Would anyone mind if I have Rev say a prayer over the food?”

“Since Neil cooked the shrimp, it might be needed,” Lawrence said.

“I spit on yours, Munch,” Neil told him. “It’s all good.”

Rev noticed Cyn’s expression wasn’t encouraging, but not against it. Just neutral, her gaze on Vera.

“I’m fine doing it quiet,” Rev told Vera.

“I know. I’d like you to say a prayer for us, Rev. I wouldn’t presume to command you on your faith, but I’m asking.”

“If you asking, Mistress, it no different than a command to me.”

His response brought everyone’s attention to him, but he saw no reason to say less than the truth to her. As he bowed his head, Vera’s hand curled around his. He’d left his other hand out and Skye took it, her clasp certain. He didn’t have to look to see what the others did. He felt it when the circle closed. It infused him with warmth. The tightening of Vera’s hand confirmed what he could feel.

“Thank you, Lord, for the food before us and the blessings you give us, but most especially for Love, the greatest blessing of all. You taught me early that Love comes to us the strongest when we surrender to it. I see that in those around this table tonight, and I’m grateful they and You let me be here to witness it.”

He paused, Craig’s face in his mind, Mrs. Cuddy’s, those kids who’d been hurt. He didn’t turn the reaction away. Grief like that should be felt and honored. “And I know that whatever happens to us, You there to help get us through. I can feel it, that every person around this table know that Love is there, as close and ready as the hand they clasping. Amen.”

“Blessed be,” Vera murmured.

The conversation bounced around as they ate, comments about the food and work. Sessions at Progeny were also brought up.

“What did you think of that portable stock you can suspend from ropes or chains?” Cyn asked the other women. “Mistress Lace M. Tight tried it out last weekend.”

“I think it would choke someone with a neck as thick as Tiger’s.” James Earl Jones voiced Skye’s opinion through her recorder.

“The pads on the inside can be removed for someone with a bigger neck,” Cyn told her.

Seeing Rev’s puzzled look, Vera explained. “You remember the big stock you saw at Progeny, anchored to the floor? With holes for a person’s neck and wrists?”

“Yeah. I remember.”

“This one is more portable. It’s a square, formed by two pieces of hinged wood. It’s about eighteen inches long. It’s fitted around the submissive’s neck, holding him in place, whether standing or sitting. The weight of the wood is taken off the collarbones by attaching suspended chains or ropes to the two hooks screwed into the wood.”

“It requires careful attention,” Ros told him. “If you bliss out your sub and his knees buckle, or he slumps over and that board’s in the wrong position, it could press on the throat in a dangerous way. But for early stages in the session, it’s nice. Gives the sub a different experience. Whistler got pretty wound up over it with Laci.”

“He gets bored quickly,” Vera observed. “So that was a good option. It keeps him guessing and on his toes.”

“Literally, if she takes up the slack on the chains.” Cyn pointed at Ros with cornbread for emphasis.

“Speaking of which, the club has switched out a few of the restraint systems with Tetruss cuffs,” Abby noted. “You can keep subs up on their toes with less abrasion to the wrists.”

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