Becca had a hard time keeping her eyes open as she puttered around the kitchen in the cabin she shared with Cassidy and two other girls. Her body ached and the welts stung. If it had been a real scene and a good one, those would be the kind of discomforts that would make her smile. As it was, she just felt like crap. Sleeping had been almost impossible the night before. She hadn’t been able to toss and turn due to her back so she finally poured herself out of bed just after four. It was five o’clock now and she was on her fourth cup of coffee.
She needed to go into the shower and get the bandages off, wash off the areas, get antibacterial cream on them, and get them rebandaged. But she wasn’t that limber. My arms don’t bend that way. There was no way to be able to reach it all. Especially if she didn’t want to rip open the welts. So she was waiting until Cassidy got up. Her friend would help her. In the meantime, she popped several Ibuprofen and gulped coffee.
Needing to get her mind off her aches and pains, she thought of Kendrick Finleigh. Not only was he a delicious piece of eye candy, but dominant as well. He radiated it. Whether he was a good or bad Dom was yet to be seen, but his actions so far fit him. Heroic, hot, dominant. Yum.
And of course, he had to see her at her worst. He’s gay, idiot. She grimaced. Why were all the good ones gay? Then again, there was the doctor. He was attractive and in control and she could imagine that if she saw him when she wasn’t humiliated and in pain that he was probably exceptionally good looking.
So why was her mind stuck on Kendrick?
“Morning,” Cassidy said with a yawn. “You went to sleep earl—” Her word cut off and Becca turned to see her staring with wide eyes and a slack mouth. “What the hell happened to you?”
With a wince, Becca explained about the whipping post.
“Holy shit, Becca. This place is a disaster. I heard there was a problem, but not what it was.” Cassidy grimaced. “This totally sucks.”
“It does,” Becca agreed. “And while it sinks in, can you help? I need to get the bandages off and cleaned.”
The gauze was caked on and they had to wet it down to get it off, which reopened the welts. “Well,” Cassidy said as she used a soft washcloth to dab at them, “the good news is they aren’t infected. The doc did a good job. The bad news is they look like hell, Becca. A couple of them look like they might leave scars.”
It took a good half hour to get her back cleaned and rebandaged. Cassidy helped her get dressed in a loose pair of sweats and a baggy t-shirt and after Cassidy took a shower and got dressed, they sat in the kitchen and sipped coffee.
“I’m wondering if we should just go back to Seattle,” Cassidy mused. “I mean what happened to you would have made Master Rob go ballistic.” Reminded of the kind sadistic Dom who had been her second master, Becca nodded. “And if that’s how they’re going to treat us, it will just get worse once the Faire officially opens.”
A knock on the front door made them both look that way. Cassidy hopped off a stool and walked over to it. The voices were so low that Becca couldn’t hear what they said, so she was surprised by the intrigued look on her friend’s face as she walked toward her. “There’s an emergency meeting at eight,” she said. “Down in the Faire. Cavent said the Faire is closed for the day. Think the accident made them realize how dangerous things were?”
Well, that was one possibility. But Becca wondered if Kendrick had done something. He didn’t seem the type to stand around when danger was apparent. “Maybe,” she murmured and took another sip of coffee. “And I should start out. It’s seven now and I won’t be able to walk as fast as I normally do.”
“Let’s go. If they’ve shut down, we can get packed, on the ferry, and back to Seattle by nightfall.” Cassidy smirked. “And I think I might drop a word in Master Rob’s ear.”
“If they aren’t already shut down, that’ll do it,” Becca said wryly. The owners of the Faire would be lucky if they didn’t pay through the nose once he got through with them.
The air was crisp and cool and she inhaled the pine scent as they walked through the trees. She’d miss it. Seattle had trees surrounding it, but it was a big city with buildings, sidewalks, and steel. One of her favorite things about Elan Isle was the peace. If the kink had been real, it would have been her version of heaven.
They reached the Faire just before eight and spotted the gaggle of other actors they’d worked with. Cavent and a few other people were around as well.
“It’s going to be that they’ve shut down,” Cassidy said with a sure nod. “Serves them right.”
As Becca couldn’t spot Kendrick or any of his friends, she had the feeling Cassidy might be right. Which meant she would have to find a silly job to take her through July. As of August first, she would be preparing her room for the new school year. As much as she enjoyed teaching, the amount of hours involved wore her down.
Cassidy took a seat in the outside benches next to the Java Pike and Becca stood next to her. She couldn’t get comfortable. It hurt when she stood or when she sat so she tried to not move at all. At eight on the dot, a man she hadn’t seen before walked past them. He wore an ill-fitting suit and had an almost completely bald head. He reminded her of a used-car salesman.
“Good morning,” he said loudly, capturing everyone’s attention. “I’m R. C. Cowen, the owner of Elan Isle and Ye Olde Kinke Faire. Well,” he said with a deep chuckle, “for about twenty-four more hours. You may or may not know that I’ve been actively seeking investors. Ever since my partner folded and left the area, it’s been just me trying to run this as well as my other ventures. As luck would have it, a company not only offered to invest, they bought me out.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Becca saw movement and she looked toward it. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched Kendrick striding purposefully toward the group. He looked so wonderfully strong. Gay, damn it. He’s gay! She wondered if there was such a thing as homoflexible.
“And here’s the CEO of the company,” Cowen said in a good-natured tone. “Let me introduce Kendrick Finleigh of Finleigh and Associates.”
Kendrick shook Cowen’s hand and then turned toward them. Cowen ceased to exist as all Becca saw was Kendrick.
“Good morning,” he said. “I’m sure this will come as a bit of a shock, but as of today, the Faire is closed.” Murmurs rippled through the actors. “My associates and I have been heavily involved in BDSM for years. We know what it takes to make a successful club and what will kill it. Currently, the Faire is not a success in the making. At least not by our standards,” he added with a slight smirk.
“He’s hot,” Cassidy whispered and Becca nodded.
“We saw what went on yesterday,” Kendrick went on, and the smirk was gone. “There was a lot of unacceptable behavior which included a sub being whipped by someone who did not know what they were doing. I won’t put up with that. From here on out, there will be stringent rules in place, including that you must be trained and proficient in any acts you do while a part of Ye Olde Kinke Faire. Each of you will be interviewed and tested. And no, you do not work for us. Your contracts end today. If you wish to be hired on with us through the summer, you’ll have to prove you know what you’re doing or are at least willing to learn.
“We don’t plan on opening the doors to visitors until July. By then there will be a lot of changes. I was on the phone this morning with Chandler Roe, who was the original architect for the cabins and the Faire, and have asked him to come finish the project my way. This summer will be a soft opening to show our community what kind of vacation spot this will be next year. By next year, there will be at least ten more shops, several more eateries, controlled stages for demos, and dungeons. This year we won’t use the current dungeon for anything except soft play. The building and equipment aren’t secure enough for anything else.”
Kendrick paused and his eyes looked over the crowd. By the way some of the people looked away, Becca figured he’d looked them in the eyes. When his eyes met hers, they went from firm to pleased and she couldn’t stop her smile.
“We’ll be hiring,” he went on, “more dungeon monitors and skilled lifestylers and fewer actors. For those of you that wish to continue to work at the Faire and we deem acceptable but not trained enough, you will create and build a persona to interact with our visitors. One thing I’ll state clearly is that any employee of Ye Olde Kinke Faire will never have sex with a visitor while on shift. Off shift, your sex life is your business, but on the clock? You don’t get laid unless you’re doing a stage scene.”
“Shit,” grumbled a guy a few feet away from Becca. “Why do this shit if we don’t get sex?”
Cassidy shook her head in disgust but Becca was watching Kendrick. The way his eyes fastened on the speaker, he’d heard him. “If you can’t get sex on your own, I’m not paying you to get some,” Kendrick said sharply. “This isn’t Nevada and we aren’t a pleasure house. This is a kink club. Visitors can have as much sex as they want, wherever they want, on Faire grounds. You cannot. And if you don’t like that, you’re welcome to pack your bags and go to the docks. There will be two ferries to Sequim today. And it would be best if nobody wastes our time if they aren’t in it for the money, the contacts, and the knowledge they’ll gain.”
Several of the actors and a few of Cowen’s employees stood up and headed toward the cabins. In fact, about seventy percent of the people left in one rush. Kendrick appeared relieved and amused at the fact. “All right. For those of you who are left, you’ll meet with three members of my team today. You must pass muster with all three of them to gain a position here. This is nothing against any of you personally, but we’re putting a lot of money into this venture and it will work our way. Bottom line.”
Becca glanced toward where Cowen had stood but he was missing. She looked around and spotted him making his way quickly back to the docks. Running with his tail between his legs.
“Neil, Alice, Craig, and Joseph will each take one of the benches across from me where Becca is standing.” Kendrick waved toward her and she felt inordinately please he remembered her name. “Meet with three of them. At five tonight, we’ll let all of you know if you have a position with us or not. We want you all packed and ready as those that are staying will be rehoused in different cabins. Those that aren’t will be taken to Sequim immediately. Once that’s accomplished, we can work at making this one hell of a kinky adventure.”
As Kendrick’s friends moved in her direction, Becca and Cassidy stepped away from the benches. “Well?” Cassidy asked her, a sparkle in her eyes. “Stay or go?”
Before Becca could respond, a strong presence walked up behind her and she swiveled around and came face to face with Kendrick.
He reached out and placed a palm against her cheek. “How are you feeling, Becca?” His eyes softened and she could swear he was only aware of her in that moment.
Why did he have to be so nice? “I’m fine.” He cleared his throat and raised an eyebrow and she felt all of ten years old for her automatic answer. Masters Dennis or Rob would have spanked her ass so hard she couldn’t sit down for such a lie. “Sorry, Sir. I’m achy, but okay. Cass helped me clean my back this morning.”
“How does it look?” he asked, turning slightly toward Cassidy but keeping his eyes on her.
“Good. The doc did a good job,” Cassidy said, her eyes going back and forth between Kendrick and Becca.
“Good.” Kendrick drifted a thumb along her cheek and pushed a stray lock of her hair behind her left ear before he dropped his hand. Her face felt naked without it there. “Will you be staying, Becca?” His blue eyes were so intent on her it was like being under a spotlight.
“We hadn’t decided yet,” she said honestly. “But I’d love to.”
A long slow smile crossed his lips. “That’s good to hear. The rest need some experienced subs to help them along and the new crew we’ll have coming in will need someone who already knows the ropes. So to speak,” he added with a wink. “Now I suggest you go back to your cabin and rest. Your body’s still getting over yesterday’s trauma.”
“But… don’t I need to meet with them?” Becca asked, waving toward Kendrick’s friends.
“No. I’ve already okayed you. You’re in.” His bright blue eyes looked her over from head to toe and he nodded. “You’re most definitely in.” And without another word, he turned and walked away.
“Whoa,” Cassidy said and Becca managed to tear her eyes away from Kendrick’s departing figure to look at her. Her friend looked utterly delighted about something.
“What?”
“He’s into you.”
“No, he’s not,” Becca said, ignoring the hope that rose in her chest. “He’s gay.”
“No fucking way,” Cassidy said as she shook her head. “His eyes were on you and the boner he was sporting was definitely for you. Why do you think he’s gay?”
Becca blinked and tried to remember. “He said something about CBT toys.”
Cassidy snorted. “Honey, Masters Dennis and Rob have them too. Doesn’t mean they’re gay. They work with male subs, plus some Doms are toy magnets, always wanting to get the newest one. There’s the possibility he’s bi or pan, but I’m telling you right now, that Dom wants to do wonderfully nasty things to you.”
It was virtually impossible for her to stomp on the hope that exploded in her chest. Was Kendrick attracted?