Bells and Chains (Operation Reindeer Retrieval Book 7) Read online

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Bells and Chains

  Author’s Note

  About the Author

  Donder is a holiday designer asked to spruce up a pleasure club, and the Master is interested in more than her designs.

  Doni is having fun during the weeks before the holidays. She has never enjoyed herself more. After a variety of successful jobs, her boss sheepishly asks her to take on one more client before the holidays strike.

  The private club caters to those with an adventurous bent and the money to ensure their privacy. Doni needs to bring a little joy and sparkle to their themed rooms, and she dives into the project with enthusiasm.

  Bern has been watching for the reindeer to cross his path, but he never expected it to come in such an amazing form. Christmas has never looked more perfect.

  The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Bells and Chains

  Copyright © 2015 by Viola Grace

  ISBN: 978-1-987969-09-2

  ©Cover art by Carmen Waters

  All rights reserved. With the exception of review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the express permission of the publisher.

  Published by Viola Grace

  Look for me online at violagrace.com, Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, Smashwords, Kobo, B&N and other eBook sellers.

  Bells and Chains

  Operation Reindeer Retrieval Book 7

  By

  Viola Grace

  Prologue

  Donder finished her sprint around the archive, and she took one final look at her room. It was perfect and precise. Just what she always strived for.

  Ru sauntered up, wearing her customary uniform of dark-brown leather tunic and trousers. It was definitely a look.

  “Are you ready, Doni?”

  Donder nodded. “I am. Are you? After Blitz leaves, you are going to have to deal with the fallout.”

  “I will be fine. There isn’t anything that can be done to me. He needs at least one of us for the sleigh. Are you ready to hand over your collar?”

  “I am.” Donder quickly unbuckled it, and Ru strapped it to her arm. Ru winced and fastened the buckle.

  Donder asked, “Are you all right?”

  “I am. The weight of it is getting heavy. That much power focused on me is a little hard to bear. At least I only have Blitz to send off. I can manage that.”

  Ru fished the box out of her pocket. “This will hide you from casual searching. Stick to the name you selected and keep it in your mind. Do you know what you want to do?”

  Donder grinned. “I want to plan parties and decorate for the holidays. Doniyka Derger will be enjoying herself this holiday season.”

  Ru chuckled and hugged her. “Have fun, watch the humans and find out what makes the holiday special for them.”

  “Why?”

  “Because you know what makes it special to you. You have to find things that remind you of why folk still believe in magic.”

  Doni put the snowflake above her navel and took a deep breath. “Take care, Ru. Here I go.”

  A blur of snow and magic swept her across the world and dropped her squarely into Doniyka Derger.

  Bells and Chains

  “Doni, can you come in here, please?”

  Doni looked up at her co-worker and winced. “Uh-oh, he said please.”

  Lisa nodded. “It bodes ill.”

  “Very ill.”

  Doni got up and took her notepad and files with her. “Yes, Jake?”

  Jake Lerot had a blush on his cheeks. “I have a tremendous favour to ask of you.”

  Doni took a seat and smiled brightly. “What do you need and what kind of bonus is in it for me?”

  He wrinkled his nose. “Won’t you just help me because it is the holidays?”

  “Nope.”

  He grinned. “That is what I thought you would say. This job pays double, has a non-disclosure agreement and successful completion has a thousand-dollar bonus. You have to start this afternoon.”

  “Non-disclosure?”

  “Yup. All I know about them is that this is extremely sensitive and there is some urgency. They are planning a Christmas party and can’t find a decorator to come in and work with them. We are their last resort.” Jake looked a little miffed at that.

  Doni snorted. “Give me the address, oh, and slide over the contract.”

  Jake slumped with relief. “Thanks for agreeing to this. As far as I know, it is a private club and no cameras are allowed. You will have to leave your phone in your car.”

  “I will ask them to check it in when I get there. I am not going anywhere without it.”

  “I am sure if they have an issue, they will let you know.”

  She read the contract for the High Bern Social Club and signed the bottom. The budget was huge, the bonus would make a local charity very happy and so, Doni was content to do her utmost for the sake of the company.

  “Can I get a contact number?”

  Jake slid the card over and that is when Doni knew something was up.

  “Jake, you said that you didn’t know these folks.”

  “That’s right.”

  “And yet, you not only had the non-disclosure contract on thick vellum, but you have the business card of Bern McVee, proprietor of the social club?”

  Jake blushed again. “I might have been there once or twice.”

  “Well, whatever I see is going to be under client privilege. I will call this guy and be on my way. I will bring a notepad and my measuring tape. My laptop will remain here.”

  “I knew I could count on you.”

  Doni grinned. “And I knew I could make you pay. See you later.”

  She got up and went to her desk, dialling the number and waiting for the response.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello, is this Bern McVee?”

  “It is.” The voice was a dark, slow rumble.

  “This is Doni Derger at Cross Decorating. I have been assigned to your contract and would like to meet with you so that we can go from planning to execution with all possible speed.”

  “It sounds like a plan. When can you be here?”

  “I can be on my way as soon as I get an address.”

  He laughed. “I suppose that would help. Sixty-four Artemis Drive. You can’t miss it. The gate will be notified of your arrival.”

  “Thank you; see you soon.”

  Jake gave her the original contract after assuring her that he had a copy, and she took it with her to the client’s business.

  She assumed it was a business, but after driving for half an hour, humming along with Christmas carols on the radio, she pulled into the drive of a gated property.

  The guard at the gate raised his brows as she lowered her window. “Miss Derger?”

  She smiled. “Doni, please.”

  He gave her an amused smile. “Miss Derger, you are expected. Take the main drive and continue to the rotunda near the main entrance. Mr. McVee will meet you there.”

  The gate opened, and she drove through. Her window hummed as it closed, but she needn’t have rushed it. The drive to the main house took five minutes.

  She followed the directions and parked near the large doors of the long manor house. It was an impressive structure. Stables, a pool and other amenities had been visible during her drive, so
this was a fairly extensive home.

  As she emerged from her car and approached the house, a man came out wearing black from head to toe. His blood-red hair was tied neatly into a long ponytail that cascaded down his right shoulder and reached his hip. His eyes were icy grey. It was definitely a startling combination.

  “Miss Derger? Welcome.” He smiled and extended his hand. “I am Bern.”

  “Call me Doni, please.” She gripped his hand and released it with a businesslike movement.

  “Doni. Did Jake tell you about what we need?”

  She shook her head. “No, I am afraid that he simply turned red and tried to look anywhere else. Oh, here is the non-disclosure agreement.”

  She got the folded parchment out of her bag, and he took it with a smile.

  “Excellent. Please, come inside, and I will tell you what we are looking for.”

  “You do realize that it is very close to the holidays? This might not be practical.”

  “Those who frequent this club felt that a little holiday cheer was required. I listen to my clients, and so, I would like you to work your magic. Jake speaks very highly of you.”

  Inside the door of the manor were a young woman and a young man wearing masks, collars and skin-tight latex.

  The young man helped Doni off with her coat, and she barely managed to grab her notebook and pencil before he whisked everything away.

  The young woman knelt and dried her shoes with a towel.

  Doni was getting the idea of why the manor needed the gag order. It was a sex club.

  Bern looked at her with his brows arched as if surprised by her lack of reaction.

  “Please, come this way, and I will explain what we are looking for.” He offered her his arm, and she took it, not wanting to stumble into the wrong room at the wrong time.

  “Around the holidays, many folks experience an increase in stress, so they come here to work it off. We want you to inject a little holiday cheer into a few of the rooms.”

  “If the holidays are causing the stress, are you sure you want to bring the decorations in?”

  “I am certain. We have a few voyeuristic areas where the exhibitionists enjoy themselves. There are also some conversation areas where I believe a little judicious decorating could be a boon.”

  They walked through the halls, and he led her to a room that had elaborate lettering proclaiming it the Spanking Room.

  “This is one of the rooms we want decked out for Christmas.” His smile was more of a smirk.

  The reason he was so amused was that the room was in use. There was a young woman whipping an older man, and she was wearing a few strategic straps in lieu of clothing.

  Doni shrugged, unclipped her tape measure from her belt and went to work.

  She looked at the racks that held the whip assortments, the floggers that were lined on one wall and the stand of paddles. She needed to find ways to make them festive while remaining useful.

  Doni finished her notes on the size of the room and the necessary supplies. She nodded at Bern, and he grinned, leading her out.

  The man getting the carefully administrated beating was getting closer to whatever goal he was focused on achieving, so she left him to his focus and followed Bern out the door.

  She exhaled in relief and took Bern’s arm once again. “You are testing me.”

  He grinned. “I am. I confess to thinking that you would be slightly more prudish. You are proving me wrong.”

  She shrugged. “I am considering this a challenge to make everything festive and yet functional. It is going to be a rush, and I am going to have to get in touch with some very alternative vendors, but I think I can get into the swing of this.”

  “Ah, swings. That leads us to one of our exhibitionist rooms. We have a set of swings and some ribbons.”

  “Lead on.” Her mind was cycling, and she was frantically making mental lists that she couldn’t confirm until measurements were taken.

  The swing room was going to present a challenge, so she was going to have to make do with some non-flammable accessories and pillows.

  “I am assuming that you want to have us remove the holiday effects at your request?”

  “No, once we have them, I can have the subs take them and put them away. We have plenty of storage.”

  She nodded, and they continued on the tour. There was a chamber filled with shelves that had a countless number of sex toys. She was going to have to set up a special holiday section. She was pretty sure she could manage a few glitter vibrators.

  Doni was constantly amazed at the memories that swam up when she needed them. The sheer variety of sexually related information surprised her. There was a reason that she wasn’t freaked out by this; part of her mind considered it completely natural.

  They went through the house, room by room.

  Bern turned to her. “Now, we are heading out to the stables.”

  She flipped to a fresh page; half of her notebook was already gone to ideas and small lists.

  “Excellent. Lead on.”

  One of the latex-clad subs brought them wraps. To her surprise, Bern settled her wrap around her before putting on his own. He offered his arm once again, and they headed out into the brisk wind and walked on the immaculately cleaned stone path.

  “So, how long do the subs volunteer as subs?”

  Bern smiled. “They are on holiday break from their studies. Everyone here is a consenting adult, vetted by our membership council, and they are all bound by behavioural and non-disclosure agreements. The subs will be on house-servant duty until the new year.”

  “So, everyone here simply agrees to indulge in the fantasy?”

  “Precisely. The rules indicate that they can only play with others who want to indulge in the same fantasy. We have monitors who make sure that everyone in a scene is willing to participate.”

  “You are speaking as if you are often called upon to defend this club.”

  He chuckled. “Is it that obvious?”

  “Only slightly. You are on private property, everyone here is consenting and you have panic buttons in all the rooms. What is not to understand?”

  Bern paused and stared at her. “How did you know what those were?”

  “It made sense to me. You just confirmed it.” Her grin caught him off guard.

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “The safety of our members is our biggest concern.”

  She held up a hand. “This is an alternative sex club. Please avoid the use of the term members.”

  His snort was loud enough to make the horses in the nearby paddock lift their heads.

  “Fair enough. Well, consultant, are you willing to check out our stables and consider something more suitable for the upcoming season?”

  “Lead the way. I am here to do a job.”

  He sighed. “Too bad. I would love to find out what lurks beneath that prim exterior.”

  She laughed. “Few, if any, would call me prim. I prefer controlled.”

  “Why?”

  “Because sloppy emotions lead to bad decisions. If you keep everything controlled and planned, you can focus on what you want the outcome to be.”

  Bern smiled. “How long do your relationships last?”

  “Just as long as I want them to.” She wrinkled her nose. “So, longer than tinder, but I am not looking for anything long term.”

  “Have you played games before?” He opened the door to the stable, and several long horseboxes were obviously set up for human use.

  “Not really. I am not into games.” She looked around and made more notes, stroking the soft nose of one of the horses that was still inside. The tag on his stall door indicated that his name was Titan, and he was in for a sprain.

  She looked into his soft brown eye, and her beast spoke to his. He lifted his head and rubbed his cheek against hers.

  “That is amazing. Titan hates everyone.”

  “He’s a sweetie. He is ju
st cranky because the folks that are usually on his back are trying to show off for their sex partners.”

  “Are you a horse whisperer as well as a decorator?”

  She looked at Bern. “I prefer holiday designer, and no, I just listen.”

  Titan reached out and accepted a petting from Bern. His dark gaze focused on her as he smiled. “You listen very well.”

  “I have to. I have to know what a client wants, regardless of what they say. Sometimes the two things are in conflict, and I have to figure out what will make them happy, despite what they are asking me for.”

  Bern chuckled. “So, we are in the same business.”

  “In the abstract, yes.” She smirked. She stepped away from Titan and made a few notes. “Now, a specific question. Is there an arbour or a forest where I can have something a little special set up?”

  He blinked. “I think we have something like that. It is off the cleared pathway.”

  “I am good for a hike through the snow if you are.”

  He grinned. “Let’s get one of the horses and go for a ride.”

  She stood with Titan as Bern strode away. The horse nudged her, asking why she wouldn’t ride him.

  “You are sore, Titan. If you get better, I promise to spend some time with you if I am allowed to.” Doni chuckled as he nudged her shoulder. “Don’t be jealous. I am just here to visit and do a job.”

  She heard his thoughts and emotions. He was delighted to have one of her kind next to him. So much better than boring humans.

  “The humans have their part in the world. We get to be extraordinary. It makes them a background against which we shine.”

  She stroked Titan’s nose and neck, scratching his jaw with her fingers. Finally, Bern returned with a large chestnut female. He settled her in her stall and nodded to Doni. “Just a minute while I head to the tack room.”

  She spent time with Titan while her new buddy chatted with the lady who had returned to the stable.