Passion's Trust: Pleasure Brigade, #3

By Devyn Douglas

Katey Meadows has a dream job—working at The Brigade, an exclusive BDSM resort catering to curious, inexperienced vanillas like her. Studiously taking notes and formulating her strategy for plunging desire-first into her submission fantasies becomes an exercise in futility and sexual frustration when the Master she wants more than anything is the one man who rescued her from the brink of financial ruin. Overcoming her past was easy. Kneeling before her heart’s desire could prove impossible.

Lorenzo Garofali has adhered to a hands-off policy with Katey—until now. Determined to strip away her armor of distrust and insecurity, he soon discovers that baring her submissive desires means setting aside his baser instinct to claim her as his. Sharing her passion with his fellow Brigade Masters is tolerable. Losing her is not.

Author's Note: This is a reedited, previously published work

• Language: English
• Publisher: Heartscape Publishing, LLC
• Release date: May 9, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386274056

Book preview

Author’s Note

This is a republished work which was originally published under my alter ego, Cara Carnes with the same title.

This is a work of fiction. If practicing the BDSM lifestyle in real life, please remember— Safe. Sane. Consensual. Communication and negotiation are critical components of the lifestyle.

Book three in The Pleasure Brigade series.

Katey Meadows has a dream job—working at The Brigade, an exclusive BDSM resort catering to curious, inexperienced vanillas like her. Studiously taking notes and formulating her strategy for plunging desire-first into her submission fantasies becomes an exercise in futility and sexual frustration when the Master she wants more than anything is the one man who rescued her from the brink of financial ruin. Overcoming her past was easy. Kneeling before her heart’s desire could prove impossible.

Lorenzo Garofali has adhered to a hands-off policy with Katey—until now. Determined to strip away her armor of distrust and insecurity, he soon discovers that baring her submissive desires means setting aside his baser instinct to claim her as his. Sharing her passion with his fellow Brigade Masters is tolerable. Losing her is not.

Chapter One

Katey Meadows took a deep breath and willed her legs to move, even though her brain had braked moments before. Gabe Santiago worked the door at The Brig as if he owned it. But she’d expect any Dom from The Brigade to do exactly that—control.

Adrenaline thrummed through her blood like jet fuel. The man was almost more tempting than Lorenzo Garofali. That was a mighty big hill for others to climb.

No notebook? Gabe’s mocha gaze roamed her body with a slow, sensuous gait.

She always grew nervous around this man. First off, she never knew what to call him. Half the men used his last name. The others called him Gabe. At The Brig he was Master Santiago. Three options, none of which settled the raging butterflies in her belly. Silence was best.

His eyebrows lifted in a warning his patience was being tested. Right, he’d asked a question.

The notebook.

That’d been her first mistake. Hindsight left her regretting her penchant for lists, organization and research. She never forayed into uncharted areas without at least two strategies and three alternative courses of action. The planner in her wouldn’t allow it, even though the submissive within her wanted nothing more than complete surrender to a man like this one.

Or Lorenzo.

Don’t go there. He can’t be yours. Not now, not ever.

Katey expended a regretful sigh at the thought. Her job was too important.

Don’t play where you work.

Lorenzo had already done more for her than anyone else. He’d taken firm control over her situation once he’d realized she’d lost her house and was essentially homeless in an effort to pay off the massive medical bills and other debts her aunt had accumulated during her battle with cancer.

She’d resorted to sleeping within Brigade Financial—in Lorenzo’s office—until security footage had captured her. Until he had captured her. He’d promoted her to a new position and moved her out to The Brigade.

Of course, she hadn’t figured out he knew her situation until a few weeks after she’d accepted the position. He’d expected her to be angry at his highhanded intrusion. Truth be told, she’d been humbled and hopeful. Having someone care enough to fight her battles empowered her.

She mattered.

She missed Lorenzo. His visits to The Brigade were sporadic, hectic. Truth be told, she was lonely.

Dating proved difficult when no man could measure up to the Brigade Masters. They’d raised the bar so incredibly high Katey doubted any man she’d be worthy of could ever reach it.

Katey.

Heat rose in her face when she realized she’d zoned out.

He scraped his five-o’clock shadow with his palm. I see you’ve foregone the grunge muffin look. Such a shame, I liked the challenge of stripping the excess garb from you.

A knot formed in her throat. Her gaze darted past him into the darkened, hallowed playground for resort patrons. Running from the obvious flirtation would be too simple, the chicken approach to an intoxicating morsel of wickedness she’d longed to savor.

I thought this would be more appealing.

Gabe’s gaze roamed her body again as he locked his hands in front of his body. Heat spread down her like an uncontrolled brushfire with each sensuous stroke of his eyes. He’d miss nothing in his observation, yet he’d say nothing. He was the epitome of control. Steel resolve encased in bronze skin rippling from under a snug black t-shirt and denim jeans. The look reminded her of Lorenzo.

The consequence was a flaring awareness so fierce her nipples hardened under her red leather under-bust corset and matching thong—a gift from Viviana—and a way-too-short black pettiskirt—a gift from Autumn. The women had been beyond insane to think she’d wear the outfit as they’d intended.

Her breasts would’ve been fully exposed. It was bad enough her ass would be exposed if she bent over. She wasn’t about to bare anything else. She’d added a red bikini top for a modicum of coverage, which would no doubt leave the two women amused and horrified.

Arousal flared to life when she imagined wearing the outfit as it had been intended. The nipple pasties with dangling tassels would’ve been adorable.

Absolutely delectable, as I suspected. He grinned. I’ll have to kick Stryker’s ass for putting me on the door tonight. Otherwise I’d drag you over to a St. Andrew’s cross and get your party kicked off in style.

The nervousness grinding her excitement to a halt must’ve shown somehow because his teasing tone took on a more sedate, commanding tenor that slid through her like a shot of warm brandy. Go as slowly as you need to, Katey.

She nodded. Thank you, Sir.

We have quite a few newcomers this evening, all Doms. Choose your playmate wisely—perhaps someone you know.

Newcomers?

How had she not known about this? As Chase’s assistant she planned events. He’d probably kept this more illicit part of the resort in his turf. He wouldn’t trust her to understand the workings of a BDSM club. Rightfully so.

Potential Brigade Masters. He shrugged. We vet interested Doms once a year.

Okay. Time for Plan E—aka run like hell and forget about this foolish idea. She flashed an apprehensive smile laced with self-doubt and took a couple steps back. Showing up during a slow night had seemed like a good idea but the information cast a harsh light on potential outcomes. An overstock of Doms translated to a shortage of submissives.

Definitely not a good scenario.

Moisture pooled between her legs. She was in over her head and she hadn’t even made it to the kiddie pool yet. A list of potentially satisfying yet somewhat bland excuses for not entering cycled through her mind.

It was one thing to enter mentally embracing her submissive nature. It was another one entirely to do so in a room filled with strangers. Dominant strangers.

Shock made her jump when a firm hand settled on her shoulder. Adrenaline gave way to molten desire. Lorenzo. Thick, wavy dark hair and hazel eyes. The combination was potent enough without the olive-toned skin she longed to lick, to feel naked against hers.

Although she’d watched most of the resident Brigade Doms scene with the patron submissives, she’d lacked the guts and the fortitude to watch Lorenzo. Her former boss ignited a need within her she’d suppressed too long.

Katey. Her name flowed from his thick lips like a sensuous caress against her most intimate parts. Second thoughts?

How had he known about her first thoughts?

The question evaporated under his intense scrutiny—surgical precision slicing to her marrow. Her stomach turned and twisted into a chaotic mess.

Warm fingers squeezed her neck gently, a calm but firm reminder she’d been asked a direct question that required an answer. She nodded.

My fault. Gabe shrugged when Lorenzo arrowed a displeased glare his direction. I warned her about the tryouts.

Ah. The simple word shifted the air between them.

Lorenzo stepped closer until she inhaled his cologne, the woodsy, musky scent permanently adhered in her brain as his. Her pulse drummed in her ears so loud she barely heard the husky whisper tickling across her neck. "Santiago was kind enough to take your comfort into consideration, bella donna. What do you say?"

Thank you, Sir.

Gabe grinned. I’ll get my reward later.

Her