His Sub by Ellis O. Day

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 4:  Maggie

 

 

 

Maggie should get up and sit on her own chair, but her body melted against Terry’s warmth and strength. She needed this closeness for just a moment. The terror from earlier still rolled through her in shockwaves and it’d been so long since she’d been able to count on a man for anything. Not that she could count on him for more than this small comfort.

“Relax.”

She let him take the glass from her hand again. He put it on the table and pulled her head to his chest. His heart beat strong and steady. She missed this closeness. She’d been divorced for over a year but even before that David had barely touched her, except when he’d wanted sex. This was different. Terry didn’t seem to want anything from her.

“You’re cold. Probably, shock.” His hand ran up and down her arm.

“I’m fine.” She wasn’t but she could be if only time would stop for a while. She’d been so worried lately, so alone, and she still was. She took a deep breath. “I should move.”

“Why?” He seemed genuinely confused.

“I don’t know you.” She sat up and blushed when she felt a bulge against her thigh. Apparently, more than her comfort was on his mind. “I’m not in the habit of being held by strange men.”

“Why did you come to a sex club?” His hand was on her hip now, holding her in place and he was growing beneath her leg. “Unless you know someone here, besides that friend you’re looking for, I assume you came for sex with a strange man...or woman.”

“What? No. I’m not…I’m not into women.” She shoved at his hand and he dropped his arms, not even trying to keep her on his lap. She wasn’t disappointed. Truly, she wasn’t. She stood. A guy like him wouldn’t actually be attracted to her.

He was older, maybe early to mid-forties, distinguished, in great physical shape and handsome but not in a pretty-boy way. He had dark hair that was graying at the temples and a man’s face with a five o’clock shadow and heavy brow and jaw, but his lips were sensual and his eyes a warm, dark brown.

“Then a strange man was your goal.” He smiled, his gaze roaming over her face and down across her breasts like a caress. “I’d be more than happy to help, whenever you’re ready.”

“I didn’t come here for that.” She started pacing. “I didn’t know this was a sex club.”

There was a knock on the door. “Terry, it’s Ethan.”

Terry walked to the door, moving with a fluid grace that bespoke confidence and strength. He was a large man—broad shoulders and tall. Her heart skipped a beat. He’d probably be big down there too. She closed her eyes counting to five. She would not think about that. It’d been a long time since she’d had sex but she wasn’t going to do it with a stranger, even one who looked like him. She did not have one-night stands, no matter how tempting. “I’m not like that.”

Terry opened the door and turned toward her. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Nothing.” Her face heated. “I was talking to myself.”

Another man walked into the room and her mouth dropped open. She had to consciously command her jaw to close. Terry was attractive but this man was drop-dead gorgeous. Ethan had sandy blonde hair and blue eyes like the ocean, but he was more than handsome. There was a sophisticated elegance about him mixed with danger and temptation.

“Hi, I’m Ethan.” He walked over to her and held out his hand. “I’m so sorry for what happened.”

“Thank you.” The words came out breathless and flirty. Good lord, what was wrong with her?

Ethan’s eyes sparkled and she almost missed the quick trip they took to her bosom.

“Did you take care of them?” Terry’s voice was clipped.

“Of course.” Ethan glanced at the other man his brow wrinkled with confusion. “They’ve been evicted from the Club and will never be allowed back.”

Terry moved to her side, taking her arm. “Maggie, why don’t you sit and tell Ethan what happened.” He led her to a chair and stood next to her.

Ethan’s eyes gleamed with amusement.

“This is funny to you?” She couldn’t help it. He was either laughing at the situation she’d been in or he was laughing at her. She was a mess—hair, makeup and dress.

“No.” Ethan immediately sobered. “Not at all. I’m sorry.”

She almost asked why he was amused but decided that she didn’t want to hear him flounder for an excuse. To be honest, she’d been a partial mess before she’d left her house. The babysitter had been late and Isabella, her oldest, had wanted to help with her hair. She’d had to wear an old dress because she couldn’t afford a new one and it was too tight. She hadn’t quite lost the baby weight even though it’d been almost two years since she’d had little Davy. The final touch was when Peter had hugged her, smearing a bit of vanilla ice cream on her hem. She hadn’t changed because she didn’t have anything else. She was nothing but a frumpy fool to men like these. 

“I take the safety of everyone at the Club very seriously.” Ethan sat on the chair across from her. “Tell me what happened.”

“You said you took care of it. Kicked them out.” Panic clawed at her throat. She didn’t want to relive it by talking about it.

“Yes, but I need to know. Why did you go in there? Into that part of the Club?”

“So, this is my fault?” Unbelievable. She’d almost been gang raped and she was to blame because she’d wandered into the wrong room.

“Of course not, don’t be a fool,” said Terry

“Now, I’m a fool?” She stood. “I’ve had enough insults for one night.”

“Sit down.” Terry’s voice was firm.

She had no idea why, but her legs bent and she sat.

“Good girl.” Terry’s lips curled in smug satisfaction.

“I’m not a girl.” She wanted to slap that smirk from his handsome face.

“No doubt about that.” His eyes roamed over her body, making her skin tingle, before he turned and grabbed another chair. He placed it on the other side of hers and sat.

“I didn’t mean to imply you were at fault.” Ethan’s voice was smooth and as calming as a warm breeze. “I just like to have all the facts.”

“Oh. Okay. I understand that.” She took a deep, shaky breath. “I…I…” She really didn’t want to talk about those men and what almost happened in that room.

Ethan reached for her hand but Terry grabbed it first, causing Ethan’s eyes to almost explode with humor. Something was going on between the two men. They were probably playing some sick game with her, like in the movies when the handsome guy dates the plain girl on a bet.

“Why don’t you start with why you came here tonight?” Terry shot Ethan a dirty look.

“I didn’t know what kind of club this was until I got inside. My sister-in-law invited—”

“You’re married?” asked Terry.

“Divorced. She’s my ex-sister-in-law but we’re still friends. Vicky invited me to go out with her tonight.” Her hand tightened around his. “You have to find her. I was looking for her when I stumbled into that room. She might be…” Vicky might be getting hurt or raped and she’d been sitting here snuggling in Terry’s arms. She was a horrible person.

“Don’t worry. We’ll find her,” said Ethan. “Terry mentioned something about your friend in his text. I have security checking all the rooms to ensure no one is there unless they want to be.”

“Thank you.” She wanted to melt against the seat but instead squeezed Terry’s hand.

“Now, what does your friend look like?” Ethan pulled out his phone.

“She’s about my age, slender, blonde hair.”

“Straight or curly? Long or short?” Ethan was typing the information as she spoke.

“Straight hair and it’s about shoulder length.”

“What was she was wearing?”

“I’ll bet it was red,” muttered Terry.

“I don’t know. We were meeting here.” She glanced at Terry. Did he not like red? Her gaze dropped to her old, tight, red dress.

“Okay.” Ethan stood and walked across the room. “We’ll start searching for her. You wait here.” He paused. “Terry can keep you company.” He opened the door. “What’s her last name?”

“Givens.”

“Vicky Givens?” asked Ethan.

“Yes.”

“Thanks. I’ll be back soon.” Ethan smiled and left.