The Keyholder Read Online Free Page A

six feet tall, with broad shoulders and long, lean lines. His features were angular, with high cheekbones, a straight nose and a firm jawline. If Nora weren’t head-over-heels crazy in love with her own Dom, not to mention married to the guy, she would definitely give Jack more than passing consideration. How, she found herself wondering, had this thirty-something guy stayed single?
    As she lifted her hand to the large front door, key at the ready, it was pulled open by an imposing man in his sixties with a full head of salt-and-pepper hair and a perennial golf tan. “Nora,” he boomed, “wonderful to see you, dear. And this must be Jack McQuade.” He extended a beefy hand in Jack’s direction as they stepped inside. “I’ve heard a lot about you, most of it good.” He guffawed, and Jack grinned good-naturedly.
    Jessica Dade, a petite woman with a sweet smile who wielded a wicked single tail, was just taking off her coat. Apparently overhearing the introductions, she approached, thrusting out her small hand. “Hello, Jack. I’m Jessica Dade. Ben belongs to me.”
    “A pleasure,” Jack said as he shook Jessica’s hand.
    The last of the selection committee, Harry Fuentes, arrived a moment later, and introductions were made. Harry was famous in BDSM circles for his Shibari workshops, which he regularly conducted at functions all over the country. Though he’d recently passed his fortieth birthday, Harry gave no indication of settling down anytime soon. He loved to play the field, and rarely brought the same submissive to the dungeons more than once or twice.
    “Greetings. I’m glad you could all make it.”All heads turned at the sound. Phillip stood at the top of the stairs, smiling down at them. He wore black leather pants that molded perfectly to muscular legs, a white silk pirate shirt unbuttoned to show his smooth, tan chest. “The applicants are waiting in the main dungeon.”
    “That boy is too gorgeous for his own good,” Jessica murmured to Nora. “I’d like to get his ass up on the cross and whip some of that arrogance out of him. He seems to forget submission is a gift, not something to which he, or any Dom, is entitled.”
    Nora flashed a grateful look at Jessica, pleased the older woman had picked up on Phillip’s negative vibe. Maybe she should enlist Jessica’s support and talk to Charles again about her reservations. But did she have any hard evidence, beyond her own gut feelings, to get the guy fired?
    Phillip’s eyes flickered over Jack and settled on Nora. “I’m sorry, were arrangements made of which I wasn’t aware?” The smile remained fixed on his face, but his tone was strained, even disapproving. “I thought we’d agreed on a closed selection committee?”
    “Charles couldn’t make it. It was a last minute thing,” Nora began, her face heating as it often did when she talked directly to Phillip.
    “I really appreciate this opportunity for an inside look, Phillip,” Jack interjected gracefully. “Thank you for hosting this demonstration. I’m sure we’re all looking forward to it.”
    “You got that right,” Harry enthused. “Show us what you got, Phil.”
    Phillip winced a little at the nickname, and Nora barely managed to suppress her smile. “Of course, of course,” Phillip said smoothly, apparently content to let the matter lie. Addressing the group as they headed up the stairs, he added, “I’ve met with nine candidates this week, and I’ve weeded them down to three potential subs. They would be available on an on-call basis, with a fee structure based on the level of service provided.”
    They walked in a group down the hall toward the main dungeon. Phillip had rearranged the space so the recovery sofa that was normally placed against a side wall was facing the two St. Andrew’s crosses at the front of the room. Three young women were kneeling up on a large yoga mat in front of the crosses, arms behind their backs, eyes properly downcast. Each wore a