The Longest Night

By Z. Allora

The holiday season is lonely for construction worker Benjamin Morgan, a big muscular guy who just wants to submit, obey, and serve. But the men he’s attracted to usually don’t have a dominant bone in their bodies. He’s done seeking his BDSM dreams with someone who isn’t interested in putting him in his rightful place—on his knees at their feet.

When a friend sets up a meeting with Foster Ridgeway at the BDSM club, Entwined, Benjamin has his doubts. Of course he is attracted to bookish Foster, who works for the same construction company, but how will someone so small and delicate-looking master Benjamin? But when Foster--the tiny temple of dominance wielding a crop—heads toward Benjamin, he might get what he’s always wanted, just in time for Solstice.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
• Release date: Dec 20, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644056882

Book preview

Table of Contents

Blurb

Dedication

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Epilogue

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About the Author

By Z. Allora

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Copyright

The Longest Night

By Z. Allora

The holiday season is lonely for construction worker Benjamin Morgan, a big muscular guy who just wants to submit, obey, and serve. But the men he’s attracted to usually don’t have a dominant bone in their bodies. He’s done seeking his BDSM dreams with someone who isn’t interested in putting him in his rightful place—on his knees at their feet.

When a friend sets up a meeting with Foster Ridgeway at the BDSM club, Entwined, Benjamin has his doubts. Of course he is attracted to bookish Foster, who works for the same construction company, but how will someone so small and delicate-looking master Benjamin? But when Foster—the tiny temple of dominance wielding a crop—heads toward Benjamin, he might get what he’s always wanted, just in time for Solstice.

To everyone who enjoys breaking stereotypes

(and educating as you do so)

Acknowledgments

MANY HUGS and much love to my readers. Thank you for allowing me to share the stories and characters that live in my head. I respect the trust you’ve placed in me and appreciate your willingness to go on this journey with me. I believe with every page we turn, hearts and minds are opened.

Thank you to Angela Stiver, Gail Staggs, Danny Bruggeman, Andrew Marks, and Eden Winters for untangling my words and helping me to clarify the Solstice celebrations and the deliciousness that can come from this type of BDSM play.

A huge thanks to everyone at Dreamspinner Press, especially my amazing editors and proofers who protect the readers from Z. speak. I never take for granted the risk, work, and investment Dreamspinner puts in every book they publish.

I appreciate the lovelies at YaoiCon 2016 who shared their personal BDSM journeys with me. Our differences give us joy.

And as always to my love, without whom I’d never have the confidence to publish. You are the Master of my everything.

Chapter 1

DECEMBER’S PROMISE of rain turning to sleet propelled Benjamin Morgan through the doors of Entwined.

The BDSM club might be overly fancy for Benjamin’s tastes, but everyone accepted his submissive nature. In his early twenties, he discovered Albany’s leather bars and adored their clear definitions of top and bottom, but he never quite fit in. People too often attributed his height and muscles to being dominant—something he certainly wasn’t.

At Entwined, the founders made respect the foundation the club was built on. Disrespecting someone’s beliefs, gender identity, orientation, or fetishes wasn’t tolerated. He was grateful for a safe space to be his most submissive self.

One side of the lush, chandeliered, all-wood entryway was taken up by lockers for members to stash their belongings. The other side housed the club’s administration—a huge mahogany desk, laptop, landline, standing files of blank forms, a cup of purple pens, and a locked filing cabinet.

Happy holidays, Benjamin! Audrey shouted from her gatekeeping perch. She was decked out in her usual purple lace and satin.

Benjamin restrained a sigh. He hated the holidays. This year he had hoped that throwing himself into the club’s decorating committee would help soothe the jagged edges that kept him ripped open. He’d have to settle for some mindless sex tinted with a little subspace to survive the holiday season.

Same to you, Audrey. He handed her his driver’s license and took the locker key. He tossed his cell phone, wallet, keys, coat, and shirt into the locker box. Damn, if only there were a place to lock away the mistake of reading his brother’s yearly holiday text message.

Please leave your devil worship and gay lifestyle. Save yourself. Repent! Turn away from sin! You have a place at our table when you do.

Any plans for Solstice? Audrey played with the white furry ball at the end of her purple Santa hat like a kitten. Sweet of her to remember he was Pagan.

There were only a few other Pagans who belonged to Entwined, but the club owners always encouraged members to celebrate everyone’s traditions, so no one felt left out.

Nah, just a quiet evening at home. He might not even cut a Yule tree. Last year he couldn’t, and this year….

You should celebrate somehow. If I was going to be in town, I’d have you over. Her frown was out of place on her pretty face.

Audrey, have fun in the sun with your Master and make sure you post a lot of pictures. I’m counting on you to help me figure out which island I want to go to next year. He widened his pasted-on smile, hoping to convince her that he’d be fine.

She jumped off her stool and launched herself at him in full-on hug mode. I know it’s not for several weeks, but just in case I don’t see you, have a very happy Yule and an even better New Year. Then she whispered, And most of all, I hope you find a Master.

He allowed himself to absorb her warmth and affection for a moment, then swallowed around the lump in his throat and thumped her back, maybe a bit too hard. Though knowing her, she probably liked it.

A couple of years ago, he and Audrey bonded at one of Entwined’s bimonthly sub meetings. Their friendship was cemented by their warm feelings on humiliation, collars, and leashes.

Stepping back, he nodded and cleared his throat. A Master…. Ha, not counting on that fantasy becoming reality anytime soon. Tonight I’m here to meet Sophia.

Hey, you never know. Have a great night, she said as other members entered.

He escaped into the club. Hell, he was done inviting love into his life. He’d be content to find someone who could top him and didn’t expect him to be versatile.

He glanced out over the pine boughs, twinkling lights, and rainbow ribbons that turned Entwined’s main space into a holiday forest. As he trudged down the stone stairway littered with Hanukkah and Kwanzaa symbols, he stopped to reattach the two paper decorations that had slipped off the wall.

At the bottom of the stairs, a huge tree decorated with whips, handcuffs, rope, blindfolds, garland made of twisted bondage tape, and twinkle lights greeted the members. Tables on either side flanked the tree. One was covered in a blue-and-white tablecloth and held a menorah, chocolate coins, and dreidels scattered over it. The other had a red-green-and-black cloth draped over the sides. It held seven handmade candles in a kinara, a unity cup, mat, fruits, nuts, and corn.