Kendrick stretched his shoulders and straightened up. The Faire looked fucking amazing. In just over five weeks they changed it from a pitiful excuse for any kind of fair let alone a kink one, to one hell of a spot. They ended up with six shops, three eateries that brought their own gas-powered machinery, all of their stages up and ready, and even their dungeon in much better nick than when they found it. Their composting porta potties were working well and in a little over a week, they would officially open. And he hoped it went well. He had quickly fallen in love with the place. Not to mention Becca.
With a sigh, he glanced around until he saw the little sprite walking with Ryan down the fairway. He needed to tell her he loved her, but he just hadn’t found the time to do it yet. Those words were so powerful that he wanted to do it right. Because he had to make sure she knew he wasn’t offering her a wedding ring. But he did want to offer her a place at his side and in his bed on the island. Would that be worth giving up her job over? And was it right of him to make such an offer?
The worst part was that time was running out. He needed to do it before the Faire opened because once it did, time would most assuredly get away from him and he wanted to give her time to think about it.
“What are you looking at?” Craig stepped up beside him. “Ah. Becca.” He shook his head. “Why haven’t you put a more permanent collar around that pretty neck?”
“Working on it.”
Craig snorted. “In Kendrick speak that means you’ve been overthinking it. Let’s simplify things. This is how you do it. Tonight at dinner, put a thick leather collar next to her plate. When she asks what it is, tell her it’s hers if she agrees to let you pound her pussy and flog her ass for the foreseeable future. Simple. Done. No more overthinking.”
“Fuck off.” There was amusement in Kendrick’s tone. He was used to Craig. His friend always called it like he saw it. “I’ll get it done.”
“Kendrick!”
He turned and saw Cassidy, Becca’s friend, running toward him with the hugest grin on her face… and wearing the most bizarre outfit.
“Are those condoms?” Craig asked.
It was difficult to tell. She was dressed in a form fitting, short dress in yellow and there were circular discs attached to it that did resemble condoms. “Is this her version of safe sex?” he asked with a chuckle.
She came to a stop in front of them and beamed. Then she turned around in a circle, holding her arms out. “What do you think?”
Kendrick blinked at her. “About your outfit?” he said. “It’s interesting.”
Amusement crinkled the corners of her eyes. “You mentioned at the last meeting that a cleaning crew would be on hand and I got to thinking about the fact that when you go to someplace like oh… Disneyland, you never see the cleaning crew, because they’re dressed to match the scene. Well, ta-da!” She waved at her outfit. “They can call themselves the Kinky Kleaners and wear tight, form-fitting outfits with condoms and other safe-sex or kinky paraphernalia hanging on them. Nobody’s going to notice they’re carrying a dustbin because they’ll be looking at the crazy clothes.” Cassidy did a pirouette. “They could even hand out condoms if we got some condom companies to offer samples.”
Her excitement for the idea was slightly contagious. And Kendrick hadn’t really thought much about the cleaning crew except for the fact they would clean all day long. “I think it’s a fantastic idea,” he told her. “And I would appreciate if you would work with them when they arrive to help them get into the swing of things. All of them know what the Faire is about and most of them have been involved in kink to some extent. But it will be nice if they have you to show them the ropes as it were.”
If he’d thought she was smiling before it was nothing next to how much she beamed at him. “I’ll be there,” she said quickly. “I can’t believe the Faire opens in eight days.” She squealed, gave Craig a saucy wink, and darted over toward Becca.
He and Craig discussed some of the last things that needed to be ironed out, answering questions as they came up and by noon he was hungry. Kendrick looked around, hoping to spot his sub coming with lunch.
“Oh boy.”
Kendrick turned to see what Craig was looking at. Since he was looking toward the docks he assumed there were new arrivals. “Our last two shopkeepers are supposed to be here. They were able to come a week early.”
“That’s not the problem,” Craig said in an annoyed tone. “Is it just me or is the girl in front…?”
Kendrick narrowed his eyes and spotted exactly what Craig saw. In the front of the group walking up from the dock was a short round blonde he would have recognized anywhere. “Ah, fuck no. Who told her about the Faire?”
“Don’t know. But your time just ran out, buddy. You won’t get any time with Becca after this.”
Groaning, Kendrick felt like stomping his foot and walking away. But it was too late. The blonde looked up and saw him. “Master,” she squealed in that high-pitched tone that could send a guy to drink, right before she ran and launched herself forward. It was either catch her or topple over backwards. He took what he figured was the least of two evils and held onto her ass as she wrapped her arms and legs around him. When her lips met his, though, he almost dropped her.
Once he stopped the force of the impact, he peeled her from around him and stood her on her feet a little more firmly than he would normally do. “Denise, what the hell?” he said, trying to rein in his fury.
She giggled and placed a hand on his chest. “Surprised to see me?” The little sub blinked her eyelashes at him.
This was getting beyond old. They played together once several years ago and he made her soar in a way no other Dom had. Since then she’d developed a rather unhealthy obsession with him. He had tried to let her down easy many times, but this was too much.
“Shocked would be the word I’d use,” he said, barely modulating his voice. “What are you doing here?”
For a long moment, she stared at him, a myriad of emotions in her eyes before they cleared. She gave a very unlady-like snort, and stepped back. “Don’t get your panties in a twist,” she said. “I’m here to help a friend with his shop. I was just teasing you.”
Relief flooded through him. “Shit. I’m sorry. But considering the past…”
“I know.” She gave him a cheeky grin. “I couldn’t resist teasing you, though.”
“So,” Craig said, leaning in, his eyes narrowed and his posture proclaiming he wasn’t buying it. “Who’s this friend who invited you to our island?”
“Back off, Fido,” she said, tensing a little. “My friend Garrett has a chastity belt shop. He needs a cute sub to run the place when he can’t be there. So he asked me.” She gave a strange little pose and Kendrick got a bad feeling. Garrett, the asshole dom who insulted Becca, asked her? That seemed a bit coincidental.
“Garrett was a bit of a problem when he arrived,” Craig said with a cold smile. “I want to make sure you know the rules, and more importantly the punishments, that will be brought down on your little head should you break them.” He wrapped his hand around her upper arm. “Come. Let’s talk.”
Denise startled and looked toward Kendrick as if expecting him to interfere. He turned toward the others walking their way and let Craig deal with her. More and more, he thought Alice was right. Craig should become their official Discipline Master. He made subs quake in their boots just by looking at them.
“Welcome to Elan Isle,” he said to their last shop keepers. “And Ye Olde Kinke Faire.”