Independence: #4 Hayley by Karen Nichols Read Free Book Online

there,” Dane assured her. “Neither of us is into piercing, or hooks or beating to the extent that blood is drawn. For others, it’s a part of what they need in their lives.”
    They both felt her relief as it filled her, the breath she had been holding slowly released.
    “I don’t know how to assure you that nothing will happen to you here that you don’t want.” Jack leaned close to her, inhaling the scents surrounding her very slowly. Heavy perfumes were discouraged, but there was nothing heavy about the scents on her skin and in her hair. “You’ll have a safe word. You see the people with the dark blue bands on their arms? Those are the DM’s…dungeon monitors. They watch out and listen. They’re trained to stop scenes the instant a safe word is uttered, if the Dom doesn’t stop on their own. Most of the people who frequent here, are very mindful of the rules governing play in the club.”
    “That’s not to say that the occasional asshole doesn’t make it through the vetting process,” Dane said quietly, his body pressed close to her other side as she peered out over the railing at the huge chamber filled with activity. “Questions, little sub?”
    “I might not be, you know,” Hayley said very softly. “This might be a big mistake on my part, and I’m going to apologize in advance.”
    “We’re willing to take that chance,” Jack told her. “Where did you leave your street clothes?”
    “In the entryway with my backpack. I…I was in a hurry so I just left everything in the cloak room.”
    “We’ll escort you to your car after you dress,” Dane told her, taking her hand and leading her to the wide, curved staircase.

Chapter Five
    Hayley chanced a look from one side to the other. The staircase was wide enough that they could descend as a trio and neither of the men were leaving her side. It was more than a little disconcerting. It wasn’t what she’d expected from herself. But then having them both attentive and aware was also something her brain was working to figure out.
    She hadn’t expected to get warm. She definitely hadn’t expected to get wet and tingly. From two of them. A little groan rumbled inside her. Her relatives would definitely not understand that one. She’d hoped she could find a Dom who was intuitive and appealing to the girl in her. She was tired of fumbling men who didn’t know how to read her, let alone listen to the words she spoke. You’d think if you put a need into words, they would listen.
    “We’ve lost the focus of our sub, Jack,” Dane commented as they moved around the large club.
    “So maybe a lesson on focus is needed,” Jack responded with a nod.
    Hayley jerked herself back and gulped the spit in her mouth that seemed to suddenly dry up into a lump in her throat.
    “Oh…I was…” her gaze whipped from one to the other and then she realized where they were. How’d they get in the middle of the play stations?
    “Where were you, Hayley?” Dane stopped moving forward and turned her to face the St. Andrew’s cross against one corner of the very large, very busy room.
    “Trying to understand me,” she answered after a few quiet seconds watching the tall blond swinging a heavy red flogger through the air. It landed with various sounds depending on which part of the body she struck and how she flicked her wrist or arm. It wasn’t until someone beside the woman looked at her that her hands flew to her face. “My mask!” She whispered frantically.
    She spun from the exhibition, her head shaking.
    “Hayley…” Jack gripped her shoulders when she tried turning just enough to squeeze between them.
    “No! No, you don’t understand! You don’t know them! I had to fight all my life for what I wanted to do because I’m a girl! I’m tired of fighting them and I’m tired of doing everything their way!” She struggled but realized how useless it was. The hands on her shoulders weren’t bruising, but they weren’t budging, either.