Savannah secrets, p.1
Savannah Secrets, page 1
part #1 of Sweet Submission Series
Savannah Secrets
Cheryl Dragon
Book One, Sweet Submission
Raised to be a proper Southern lady, Dawn Trumbell secretly embraced her submissive side but trusted the wrong Dom. Fearing exposure when the local BDSM club closed, she walked away from the lifestyle and focused on charitable endeavors. But there is one man who might be able to draw her back into submission. She loves and wants to please him—but she won’t share him!
Brent Lockwood has always loved Dawn, but played with others when she was taken by another Dom. Now she’s free to be his and he’ll do everything in his power to possess her body, heart and soul. He’s also determined, with Dawn’s help, to create a new safe place for BDSM lovers to play. Kinky love may clash with traditional Southern manners—but in every lifestyle, a gentleman always sees to the needs of his lady.
A Romantica® BDSM erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave
Savannah Secrets
Cheryl Dragon
Chapter One
The charitable rich of Savannah came out in force when Dawn Trumbell threw an affair. She surveyed the room with satisfaction. It’d been a while since she’d attended an event, even if she’d had a hand in planning it.
“Dawn. Lovely, just lovely.” Mrs. Hoynes, the mayor’s wife, nodded.
“Thank you,” Dawn said.
She knew almost everyone in the room. Growing up in Savannah’s historic end with a father who sat on boards and earned money from all directions meant she’d had the best of everything. So charity was one of her duties to the city.
It also meant scandal and one bad choice could haunt her forever. Dawn smiled brightly through a few sympathetic looks from the grandmothers in the room. Being single and closing in on thirty got various reactions in her circles. If they had any idea what she did in private, they’d faint.
Pushing the memories to the back of her mind, she kept her focus on entertaining. There was no changing the past and no bringing back the young woman…
Dawn had fallen for the wrong Dom. He’d broken the agreement to keep their play exclusive, but he’d never been violent or crossed her physical limits. She had no idea what he was doing with other women. The very fact that he played with other women had made her walk away.
He didn’t have power over her now, except the power of information. She still worried about exposure or retaliation, though time had helped. The ultra-exclusive BDSM club they’d belonged to had closed when a member committed suicide. The owners feared backlash or a failure in their screening process. No one had disclosed the names of members to the public or implicated any member in the death but, Dawn understood the fear.
Going to public events like this made her nervous she’d run into Baxter Riley and he’d make a scene. He knew she was on the board of this charity. Even six months after the tragedy and investigations, she felt like a fool. She did her best to appear calm but constantly looked over her shoulder for surprises from her former Dom.
Scanning the ballroom of the Grand Hotel, she didn’t see Baxter. Honestly, raising money for abused women and children was the sort of effort he’d rather mock, not support. She’d found out after she’d left him. Dom/sub play called to her but some Doms were just great actors who could blend in anywhere if they chose. Baxter liked the power but didn’t care about the subs.
The event hummed along. Waiters circulated champagne and finger food as the patrons studied the silent auction offerings. For a break, Dawn slipped into the kitchen and checked on the food. Plenty was waiting and getting prepped. Overfeeding people was a habit Dawn had inherited from her maternal grandmother, along with a big historical Victorian house and a small fortune.
Dawn nodded at the crew as if she was simply making the rounds and found her way to the ladies’ room. Leaning on the sink, she took a few deep breaths. She was lucky and she knew it. A good family and financial fortune were hers to screw up. She wouldn’t play with her reputation again. It was a choice she’d already made, but she still missed the sexual play.
A stall door opened and Molly emerged. “Hi, Dawn. Is everything okay? You look pale.”
The thin and timid fellow sub had brown hair, brown eyes and dressed like a nun in a conservative skirt suit. Dawn had seen the woman in nothing but a leash. To Dawn’s relief, Molly had started to come out of her shell when Dawn gave her a job in event planning. Molly had been lost when the club closed.
“I’m fine, Mol. It’s just been a while since I’ve attended one of these.” Dawn checked her makeup.
“Master Baxter won’t come to this event. Only really concerned men or very pussy-whipped husbands will,” Molly said as she washed her hands.
“Don’t talk like that!” Dawn checked all the stalls to be sure they were alone.
“Sorry, I still can’t think of Baxter without the title.”
“He didn’t earn it or deserve it. He fooled us both and messed with enough subs’ minds. I wish he’d leave Savannah. The city isn’t big enough.” Dawn wanted to splash cold water on her face but it would ruin her makeup.
“That won’t happen. I’m shocked he hasn’t opened up a dungeon of his own. Be proud, Dawn. You were the strongest and smartest. You left him and that club first.”
Her worlds collided so oddly. Dawn knew that Molly had become one of Baxter’s subs after Dawn had left. “I left because I found out he was seeing other subs. Obviously I didn’t know what he was doing to some of them.”
“Mental games and exclusion as punishment were bad enough, but going too far physically and beating subs was wrong. He claimed they wanted it. You’d never be treated like that. Sir Brent said so. Did you see him?” Molly asked.
Looking away, Dawn knew she wasn’t pale anymore. The blood rushed to her skin. “Brent? Brent Lockwood?”
“Yeah. He’s here with some young woman. No sub I’ve seen.”
“Not Sissy?” Dawn pushed away the stab of jealousy.
“She’s not really charity-event material. Why are you so interested in Sir Brent?” Molly asked.
Dawn shook her head. “Nothing.”
Molly grabbed Dawn’s hand as she was about to leave. “You helped me through a lot after you’d left the lifestyle. Let me help you a little bit. What happened? I can run interference with the other woman so you can talk to Sir Brent.”
Dawn glared at Molly.
“Mr. Lockwood,” Molly corrected.
“Thanks, but it’s nothing.” Dawn turned to leave.
“Someone told me you and he dated in high school,” Molly said.
Dawn walked back. “Fine. Yes, we did. Then he went to Princeton and I went my way. He went on for an MBA and then traveled for his father’s business for a few years. He came back at twenty-six. I came home at twenty-two with a bachelor’s degree to work charities. I’d found sub play and the club and I liked it.”
“So when Mr. Lockwood came back?” Molly asked.
“I was involved with Baxter. I’m not one for open play. I just want one Dom, and preferably for him to be my husband, so there’s less potential trouble and scandal.” Dawn could picture Brent’s short dark-brown hair and his dark eyes staring at her. His muscular body made all the subs at their closed club weak in the knees and begging for attention.
“You were with Baxter when Brent came back so he took up with other subs.” Molly nodded.
“Yes, and good job on dropping the Sirs and Masters. Don’t slip up there. Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Riley are a better manner of addressing them.” Dawn understood how Molly threw herself into the lifestyle but it didn’t fit this event.
“Don’t you want to see Brent? Talk to him? Or have you been talking with him since you left Baxter Riley?” Molly asked.
Dawn shook her head. The shock over learning Brent was a Dom and into the same BDSM lifestyle as her made her want him more when he came back. They’d been relatively innocent in high school. Brent had spanked her a little during sex, which she loved, but they’d never really tried anything specific. But she’d been involved with Baxter and learning. Leaving Baxter would’ve felt like a betrayal. Brent found a sub so quickly, Dawn had to believe he was over her. “He’s got plenty of women at his disposal, I’m sure.”
“You don’t want to talk to him? A man who is so sexy and kept his subs very happy?” Molly folded her arms and gave Dawn a look of disbelief.
Dawn’s stomach turned. “Did you sub for Brent?”
“No, Baxter kept a tight hold on what was his. When I started subbing for him after you left, I lost the possibility of subbing for Brent. He and Brent got into it a few times after you left. I think Brent knew something had to be wrong, if you’d walked away. I never did anything with him. However, guessing from the possessive look in your eyes, I think you and he did stuff in high school.” Molly grinned.
“Normal, vanilla high school stuff. A little spanking during but nothing specific.”
“He was your first? That’s sweet.”
Dawn hated how good Molly was at reading people. The gift was an asset in event planning and subbing, but right now she didn’t need a friend like that. “Yes, he was. I’d never have believed it if you told me he was into dominance.”
“He’s good at it too. He played out in the open at the club and had good skills. Stop hiding in here and go play nice. The guy is rich as the devil and better looking. You run in his circles and you’re his ex. Go and make a claim,” Molly urged.
“That’d be tacky! He brought a woman here. A lady never gets in a fight over a man.” Dawn hushed up immediat
The door opened and it was Cecilia Lockwood. The petite blonde with long straight hair and a slim build always looked like a fashion model. Of all the women in the world, Cel was one Dawn never felt jealous of. Dawn smiled genuinely as the relief hit her. If this was the woman with Brent, Dawn’s hopes were safe. “Cel!”
“There you are!” Cel hugged Dawn tight. “We’ve been looking all over for you.”
“Is something wrong?” Dawn asked.
“No, but Brent’s been trying to hunt you down at these events for weeks. I’m all for charity but I need to be social with someone other than my brother.” Cel laughed.
“What does he want?” Dawn ignored Molly’s nudges behind her.
“Some charity project I think.” Cel looked over Dawn’s shoulder. “Hi, I’m Cecilia Lockwood.”
“Molly Drake. I work for the event planner. Dawn actually got me the job.” Molly shook Cel’s hand.
Cel nodded. “Well, it’s lovely. Dawn only hires the best when she’s in charge of a project.”
Charity! Of course. Dawn refused to get her hopes up either way. Last she’d heard, Brent was still with Sissy and playing with other subs as well. Sissy wasn’t possessive and needed group play. If that was what worked for Brent, then she wasn’t a good match for him. That would make it easier to talk to him—but the memories of him spanking, teasing and fucking gorgeous subs in the common room of the club haunted her dreams both night and day.
She’d had him first, and even without the any BDSM, they were good. Deep down, she still wanted him, vanilla or very dirty. If she could trust any Dom after Baxter, it’d be Brent Lockwood, but she wouldn’t share a man under any circumstances. If she wasn’t enough, he wasn’t the right Dom.
“Are you okay?” Cecilia turned from chatting with Molly and put her hand on Dawn’s shoulder.
The scent of jasmine flooded Dawn’s senses. Cecilia had worn the same perfume back in high school. The memories and feelings swirled until Dawn needed to see Brent. “I’m fine. I was getting a bit of headache, which is why I snuck in here for some quiet. That’s all. I should go find Brent. I’ll see you both later.”
“Sure, we must do lunch. I miss you!” Cel hugged Dawn.
“Me too.” Dawn meant it. They’d been friends in high school but being close with Cel without dating her brother was painful.
Leaving the ladies’ room, Dawn had to find Brent and get the awkward meeting behind them. He wouldn’t talk BDSM in public anyway. It was safe as long as she could control herself. She was already turned on because he wanted to see her.
* * * * *
Brent had been patiently waiting to corner Dawn but she’d disappeared over and over. He spotted her as she headed out of the powder room and headed for her without pretense.
Being in this room with her reminded him of high school. Their prom had been here. Her wild red hair had darkened since to a pretty auburn but it still fell in waves to her shoulders. The curves had been there, even at sixteen, and now she showed them off a bit more. Her mother had been known for demanding ladylike behavior from her only daughter and not allowing crop tops or miniskirts. If she wanted to marry well in Savannah, she couldn’t look like a slut in public.
She looked up and caught his eye. Brent smiled and slowed his walk so they weren’t so obvious. Savannah society would have them married off in a month if they sent the wrong signals. His sister still nagged him about the perfect girl who got away. But first love could be romanticized to death.
“You look great, Dawn.” He took his time looking.
Still a lady, Dawn was in a blue dress showing just a hint of cleavage and enough thigh to make men look without making the old women talk. At twenty-seven, the woman was single and rich.
“Thanks. How are you, Brent?” she asked politely.
“Busy with work. You haven’t been to many events.” Brent led her to a corner and retrieved a glass of champagne for her.
“Thank you.” She blushed. “I didn’t want to be too public in case…”
“Baxter isn’t here.” Brent saw the unease in her. The contrast between public and private had him a bit off as well, but she’d never been submissive with him.
In the world of Southern manners, the gentlemen saw to the ladies’ needs. Getting her champagne and making sure she felt safe was natural to him. In private, however, Brent was used to being obeyed and serviced.
Not by Dawn, but it was his fantasy. The fact that she’d ever kneeled for another man irritated him, but he hadn’t been here to claim her. If he’d only known in high school what he’d discovered about himself in college…he’d probably have scared her away. He’d wanted her so much when he saw her in the club, and she’d already been taken.
Things had changed, and as much as Brent regretted what happened, he didn’t own the club so he couldn’t control anything. Baxter was exposed eventually. Of course, clever Dawn figured out he was bad news, and she’d left.
Just left and never turned to Brent.
She’d stayed quiet too long. “Are you okay? Cecilia was crazy to see you.”
“I’m fine. I ran into her in the ladies’ room. She said you wanted to talk about a charitable project?” She sipped her drink slowly.
“I wouldn’t call it charity exactly, but Cel doesn’t need to know the details. Are you seeing anyone” He looked into her big green eyes.
She instantly got his message. “No, and I’m not interested in anything you can’t tell Cel about. I’m out.”
“You’re never out. It’s part of you. Just like your family, the South or a family business. It’s part of who you are.” He stepped in closer. Baxter had never granted Brent’s requests to play with Dawn. Brent didn’t know if that was her doing or Baxter’s controlling presence. She never played with anyone but him.
“My family is important to me and that’s why I’m focused on charity events and special projects. I’m sorry.” She tried to get away.
“One dinner with me won’t kill you,” Brent said.
“I don’t do that anymore.” Dawn turned and nearly ran into Cel.
“Don’t do what anymore? Eat? Come on, we all have to eat.” Cel shrugged.
Brent jumped on his sister’s help. “You do, Dawn. I won’t have you wasting away to nothing. You haven’t touched a thing today.”
“I’m working. Fine. One dinner to catch up and you have to back my private charity project with a big donation.” She finished her champagne.
“Fine, but I want the full pitch. You have to work for it. We’ll set a meeting to talk business and then dinner. No combining business and pleasure.” Brent moved in closer.
He saw Cel sneak away, glowing with excitement, but he wasn’t after Dawn to please his family. She was the only woman who understood him. They’d clicked young.
She’d wanted him to get away for college and figure himself out instead of going right into business with his dad, uncles and cousins. The grand Lockwood dynasty was in his blood but those years at school helped him figure out the role he wanted for himself. It also taught him to respect what his family had built.
Her being a submissive only strengthened his belief. She was the one. They had a lot of baggage and clutter to sort through but he’d win her. Convince her. Make her beg.
“Fine. I’ll give you the pitch but you can’t say no,” she said.
He studied her pretty face. Not a model, but her freckles had faded and her creamy skin tempted him. He remembered her better than any sub he’d played with. Submissive women got him going, but she still had power over his heart.
“I’ll call you to set it up. Now seriously, are you dating anyone?” He’d be proper in public.
“If I were, you’d know. Cel would know.” She looked down and away.
“Getting crap from the old biddies?” he teased.
“That doesn’t matter. I’m not rushing into anything even if my mother is warning me weekly that turning thirty isn’t too far away. Trusting men isn’t on my list of goals just yet.” She set her glass on a tray and tried to sidestep him.
“I saw Molly here. Is she doing okay?” He could keep her here for the rest of the day with small talk if he wanted. The right tone and posture and she’d give in. He’d missed talking to her.
