Orion Gordon, one of Secured and Free’s
main characters had a secondary part in Lock and Key. One of my critique
partners (Danny Brüggemann) hadn’t even finished reading the beta read for Lock
and Key and she private messaged me on Facebook.
Danny: “So
Orion’s story is next.”
Z: (my head screamed YES,
but that wasn’t the original order of the story) Um, no. Why?
Danny: His
story is next.
Z: … No, actually
Xander’s—
Danny: Orion
gets a happy ending, so who is it? Marcus? Although what about Hunter? (she
completely ignored my attempts at denials) Marcus? It’s Marcus, right? But
Hunter…
Z: … (the plot bunny threw
a lightning bolt at my head) Damn you!
Danny: Why not—
Z: Don’t say it. I
know…
Danny: (LOL) Orion
does need a village just ask Xander.
Z: (growled &
pouted)
And that’s how my story priority order changed,
and how Orion got his happily ever after in book two of Entwined Dreams.
This first snippet is when meet Orion in Chapter
2 of Lock and Key (Entwined Dreams #1). Since the main character,
Zack Davis is 18 years old I show him dipping his toes into the BDSM pond.
Chapter 2 is a BDSM 101 class and basic demonstration.
Once the chuckles and laughter died down, Jason
continued. “As you can see, we are pretty relaxed here. Still, Orion and I have
talked about what we’ll do tonight. We both worked out the expectations of this
scene. He’s shared with me his limits, and I’ve shared mine.”
A murmur raced through the crowd.
Jason grinned. “Ah, I see. You don’t think
someone in the Dominant role has limits or should explain those to the sub?”
No one said anything.
“Orion?”
Orion shrugged and said, “I wanted more
intensity with the impact play than Master Jason was willing to give me. He
told me his limits, and I need to respect them or find a new play partner.”
Zack understood that kind of raw had-to-have-it
need.
Jason nodded. “Neither partner should be forced
into a place they’re not comfortable in. I’m not saying limits shouldn’t be
pushed and boundaries can’t be adjusted, but there’s a process… a negotiation
for that.”
Orion frowned but didn’t say more.
Later on, in Book #1 we find out Orion’s need
for rougher play had gotten out of hand.
There was a brief silence, which Tony broke. “I
want to continue discussing abuse versus discipline.” Everyone glanced around
them until all gazes fell on Orion Gordon.
Zack had never played much with the researcher
because he couldn’t meet Orion’s need for pain. Though they’d had plenty of
discussions about the progress being made in cancer research.
Fuck, no. Zack did recall he’d noticed Orion with
more than one blackened eye; the guy had said it was a work-related injury. Shit! Today the guy sported two black
eyes, a swollen cheek, and a split lip. How had he missed the way Orion
flinched when someone made quick movements around him?
Orion shrugged but wouldn’t meet anyone’s
stare. “I don’t see the big deal. They’re mostly the same thing.”
What? He couldn’t be serious. Zack had to say
something.
“Discipline is what a submissive submits to in
order to learn, grow, make atonement, or find subspace. Abuse is nonconsensual
and serves no purpose other than to vent anger or torment another in a
non-agreed-upon way.”
When Orion didn’t look at Zack, he continued,
“Even if you agreed to discipline, you didn’t agree to the willful disregard of
your personal welfare.”
There was silence until someone across the room
said, “Safe, sane, and consensual, right?”
“Or RACK.” Zack threw the term out there.
Someone new asked, “What’s RACK?”
Joey Junior cleared his throat and got
everyone’s attention. “Risk-Awareness and Consensual Kink. Nothing is
completely safe. Driving a car isn’t completely safe, but we have seat belts
and airbags. It’s about being aware of the risks and trying to minimize the
potential issues.”
Tony asked, “I never understood why consensual
kink instead of sane?”
“Well, think about it. Do you want someone not
in the lifestyle telling you what sane is? Because I’d bet their definition is
different than ours. If I give consent to explore breath play, I don’t want
someone telling me that I’m insane. That’s between me and my Master.” Joey
Junior glanced around the group.
Many gazes drifted back to the man who had
everyone’s worry.
Orion peered up with a glint of defiance. “What
if the play was consensual?”
“Was it?” Zack doubted Orion had given consent.
Orion folded his arms and pressed his lips
together, which reopened his lip.
Xander, Orion’s best friend, pulled a tissue
from his pocket and dabbed at the blood.
Orion grabbed the tissue and snarled, “Don’t.
I’ve got this.”
Zack shook his head. “I find it difficult to
imagine a contract or a discussion between a Master and sub, or even a slave,
requesting consent to beat someone in the face.”
Tears sprang to Orion’s eyes, and he glanced
away from the group.
Zack surveyed the other subs. Shit. Entwined was meant as a safe
haven, but it happened even here. He’d never wanted anyone to experience the
betrayal and violation he had. “Is this something that happens frequently?”
No one would answer until Sam said, “On
occasion. Even with all the members being vetted, a couple Doms who don’t
understand power exchange make it through.”
“What happens?” Jesus! Zack dug his fingernails into the chair, but he kept his
voice even.
“Usually word gets out, and no one will scene
with them, so they vanish.”
“Who did this to you, Orion?” Zack demanded,
but the guy stubbornly refused to speak. Well, fuck no. Not happening again.
“Do you want that to happen to someone else? Do
you want this guy to hook up with Xander? Or anyone else?” Zack wanted to wring
the guy’s neck for protecting someone who needed his ass kicked.
“You know I like it rough.” Orion’s admission
dared those around him to say something about it.
“There’s a difference between rough and out of
control. A Dom should never be out of control. No one should be abused under
the guise of BDSM play.”
Xander said, “Orion, don’t make me. You should
say who, or I will.” He stroked his friend’s hair.
Orion pressed his lips together into a frown,
but ultimately, he coughed up the name. “Dom Henry.”
“That fucking bastard,” one of the subs three
seats away from Zack yelled out. “I’d like to explain the difference between
discipline and abuse to him.”
Which brings us to the first chapter of Secured
and Free. A few months have passed. Orion’s trust has so shaken
he can’t even do a light scene.
“Cancer!” Orion couldn’t breathe.
Stop! Stop! Can’t be tied!
Everything needed to cease. Squeezing his eyes
shut, he called out, “Cancer!”
The ropes vanished from around his wrists as if
they had never been there.
It was no good. What kind of submissive was he
if surrender was beyond him?
No! Trust. Can’t. No!
Zack spoke to him, but Orion couldn’t piece
together the meaning of his words.
Andrew’s deep dominant voice cut through the
building terror.
“Orion, I’m wrapping a blanket around you, and
then I’m moving us to the platform.”
Blanket. Yes. Hide. No more.
Flat on his back, Orion burrowed into the
warmth, hoping it might protect him.
Stupid. Idiot. I’m good for nothing. I
can’t even—
Wanting it all to stop, he pressed closer to
the body generating heat. The scene ended like it had too often in the recent
past. There was a time Orion would have cut out his tongue rather than use a
safeword. But now he used the word to make everything end before anything could
even start.
“You’re with us. I’m lying next to you.” Zack’s
words comforted him. Orion held on as Zack wrapped his arm lightly around
Orion’s middle. Andrew stroked his hair. “You’re safe, Orion. Just breathe.
Draw air in through your nose and out through your mouth. Inhale and exhale
nice and slow.”
Orion gasped.
“Easy. In through your nose and out through
your mouth,” Andrew instructed again.
Failed. Again. Don’t deserve to be held
and petted. Can’t even breathe right.
The weight of disappointment threatened to bury
him further in the abyss. Everything he believed about himself was... a lie. He
focused all his energy on catching some air. Following these simple directions
was the least he could do.
Inhale. Exhale. Even breaths. There. He had his respiration under control. His heart would slow
eventually.
How many times had he been in one of these back
rooms of Entwined? Probably countless times since he’d joined the BDSM club
right after college. This room was like all the other nonthemed rooms. It was
white with a padded platform for various activities. A supply cabinet stood in
the corner to assist a Dom who needed to purchase something. Eyehooks decorated
the walls at various heights, and it also contained a sofa, a chair, a bench,
towels, blankets, and a fridge with water and juice. It had just about
everything a Dom or a submissive required to live out their BDSM dreams.
Blinking to clear his vision, Orion muttered,
“I thought I’d be able to handle straightforward bondage.”
Damn it. How things had changed. In the past, he’d never sought to play with
either of these two men because they weren’t willing to give him the harsh
treatment he needed.
Now, look at him. Had they even gotten a chance
to secure the first knot on the rope before he called an end to the scene?
Was he that damaged?
Entwined Dreams: Secured and Free Blurb
An abusive Dom robbed Orion Gordon of his love
of BDSM, destroying his confidence and leaving him unsure he’ll ever find peace
through submission to another. Still, deep inside, his longing continues.
Marcus Sadir loves Hunter Dixon, yet can’t be
the one thing Hunter truly desires: a sub to control. And Hunter can’t find
satisfaction in the sadistic aspects of the BDSM lifestyle, while Marcus
thrives on inflicting and sharing pain. When Marcus convinces Hunter they
should find a third on a permanent basis, they discover Orion might be the key
to bridging their differences and joining them on a deeper level.
But they must help Orion move past his trauma
enough for him to enjoy new facets of BDSM and kink again. Their journey toward
becoming whole—together—won’t be without challenges. Can Orion trust enough to
try again?
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