Caged Songbird Read online

  It had been months since she’d been able to sit down and let the music flow through her. The frustration of finally carving out a few minutes to write only to be met by silence had threatened to send her into orbit more than once. When she’d talked to Coral about it late one night, her friend had suggested the strain of constant touring might have sent the suddenly elusive muse into hiding. Josie hadn’t been convinced, but she was finally hopeful Coral might have been right.

  Josie couldn’t hold back her grin when Coral came bustling through the door. So far her busy friend remained steadfast in her refusal to stop working fulltime. But her morning sickness kept her home most mornings, and even Josie could see the schedule Coral was trying to maintain was taking a toll. Josie wasn’t sure what was responsible for the spark of fire in Coral’s eyes, but she was practically vibrating with excitement.

  “We’ve got company coming. Tobi West has been helping Master Nate set up a new section of venders at the club, so she’s practically in the neighborhood. She’s driving up to see me since Sage couldn’t get away to drive me down to meet her…and God knows being pregnant has apparently rendered me incapable of driving further than ten miles alone.”

  Josie knew her friend was losing patience with her husband’s restrictions and silently hoped she’d be gone before their showdown. She loved Coral like a sister, but she also knew her pride would keep her from admitting she needed to cut back until she’d painted herself into a corner. “I didn’t want to disrupt you if you were in the middle of something, but I’d really love to introduce you to Tobi. I wish I could explain, but honestly, you really need to meet her to understand.” The grin on Coral’s face was the only reason Josie needed. If Coral liked Tobi, Josie was sure she would too.

  “I’d love to meet her. Do I need to change?” Before Coral could answer the door of the pool area banged open, and a petite blonde stormed into the room like a whirling dervish. Her long hair fell in soft waves ending between below her voluptuous breasts and her sparkling green eyes glittered with mischief.

  Coral squealed, dancing in place and clapping her hands, like a delighted toddler. The woman Josie assumed was Tobi West grinned. “Damn, girlfriend, when you get knocked up you don’t mess around.” Josie almost laughed out loud. Tobi had just said the same thing Josie had told Coral—yes, they were definitely going to be friends.

  “Hell, our twins kick my ass, I shudder to think what it’ll be like to keep three kids out of trouble. Of course, your husband has more brothers, and you have Ryan, too…but watch them scatter when there are diapers to change. Don’t let that ‘SEALs can do anything’ bullshit fool you. They scatter like chickens when a poopy diaper is involved.” Josie blinked several times completely and utterly impressed with the petite blonde’s ability to say so much without ever appearing to have taken a breath. If she can carry a tune, I’m hiring her.

  “Hi, I’m Tobi West, Coral’s friend from Texas. No need to introduce yourself, I don’t think there are many people around who wouldn’t know you. I’ll bet that is a mixed blessing, huh? Damn it to daffodils, I’m chattering like a magpie. It happens when I’m wound up or nervous.”

  “Or awake.” A deep voice sounded from behind them causing Josie to spin around from where she’d stood to greet Tobi. She wasn’t sure which of the men had spoken and for a second Josie wondered if she was seeing double because they looked so much alike.

  By the time she remembered Tobi was married to twins, one of the men was grinning at her. “Don’t worry, Ms. Alta, it happens all the time. At first, people think we look a lot alike, but before long they realize I’m much better looking than my sourpuss brother.” Kent West walked forward to shake her hand introducing himself and his brother, Kyle.

  It didn’t take Josie long to see how effectively the West brothers worked together to manage their livewire wife. She suspected they’d gotten a lot of practice because Tobi was a bundle of energy and mischief. As a celebrity, Josie had learned to keep a certain level of professional distance when meeting new people, but there was something so genuine and infectious about Tobi she was impossible to resist.

  “I can’t believe you’re going to meet with those people alone. What if they do something stupid?” Rolling her eyes, Tobi reached forward to pat Josie’s arm. “I’m sorry, they’ve already done stupid shit. Tearing up your house is just beyond the pale.”

  “Tobi.” The man Josie recognized as Kyle West looked at his wife disapprovingly and the vivacious blonde cringed. “Sorry, but it’s true.” When he returned his attention to the other men gathered around the bar at the far end of the room, Tobi looked back to Josie and Coral and grinned like a cat who’d just spotted a canary. “Kyle gets his shorts in a wad about my cursing, which unfortunately for him is a habit I haven’t been able to break, and he ends up pissy a lot.” Shrugging, then giggling she added, “Honestly, I’m not terribly motivated to change when I enjoy the spankings so much.”

  Josie knew she was blushing, but her face almost went up in flames when she looked up to see Colt watching her closely. There wasn’t a chance in hell he hadn’t heard Tobi, for someone so small her voice packed a hell of a punch.

  “I swear, if you can sing I’m taking you on tour. Your voice carries like no other, you can string more words together without taking a breath than anyone else I know, and that blonde bombshell thing you’ve got going is perfect.” Josie was only half kidding, but the look of horror on both Kent and Kyle West’s faces was epic. When the men gathered around them burst out laughing, Tobi frowned.

  “Thanks, Josie, despite the look of horror on my loving husbands’ faces, I’m not that much of a management problem. Well, okay…it’s true I’m a bit of a trouble magnet, but it’s not as bad as they’d have you believe.”

  This time, it was Josie’s turn to laugh. “You know I’m a pop singer, right? Trouble on the road is not unusual, nor is it considered a negative. And, we both know the press would love you. Hell, my biggest worry should be how quickly you’d eclipse me. I’d appear downright dull standing beside you.”

  Tobi’s smile lit up the room, her eyes were glassy with unshed tears she quickly blinked away. “Thanks, Josie. That’s so sweet, and coming from a woman who sets the stage on fire every time she steps out in front of her fans it’s a hell of a compliment. And I can sing, but nothing that compares to you my lovely new friend.”

  Coral leaned forward and spoke quietly, “Do you want Tobi to go with you to meet your manager? I’ll bet she could play the ditsy, inquisitive friend perfectly. You’d have someone close, but she wouldn’t seem like a threat. I’d be willing to bet she is underestimated more often than not.”

  “Preach it, sister. If I had a dollar for every time somebody assumed I was an airhead based solely on my appearance, I’d give that Zuckerman guy a run for his money. Where are you meeting these yo-yos anyway?”

  “At the only restaurant in town. It’s on the main street, and since we’ll be in a public place, I’m hoping Todd and his girlfriend behave. You could just happen to stop in and join us. That way I’m not completely alone with them, something about that makes me pretty nervous.” Josie had felt Colt’s presence before she felt his hand settle on her shoulder.

  “You hadn’t mentioned being nervous about being alone with them, songbird. You know that we’ll be close, right? Just across the street in Brandt’s office. We should have planned this meeting for the library, we’d have had time to set up better surveillance.”

  Josie could hear the strain in his voice, and she hated it, but the truth was she was nervous about meeting with Todd. The man was a pushy bastard on his best day—and while that was usually a good trait in a manager, the hair was standing up on the back of her neck every time she thought about this meeting.

  “Yes, I wish we could have done that also, but absent that, I’d really like to have Tobi close if that’s possible. They’d clam up if you or your brothers were nearby, and they have both seen Coral’s picture in my house so the
y’d know it was a set up if my best friend just happened to stop in.”

  It surprised Josie when Kyle West stepped forward and gave her a reassuring smile before turning to Colt. “Actually, I think it’s a good idea. Our sweet wife plays the ditzy blonde role to perfection, but I can assure you she is anything but. We’ll be able to wire her because Josie will be the only one who will hug her. If they decided to divide and conquer, we’ll hear both conversations.” He was right, they’d decided against wiring Josie because both Todd and Marie would hug her, if for no other reason than to be sure she wasn’t recording their conversation. They’d opted for a smaller unit in her the bag she’d keep on her lap.

  Within minutes, they were in Phoenix’s office watching him set up the wire Tobi would wear under her sweater. Josie had been surprised when Kyle West ordered his wife to remove her sweater with everyone in the room. Tobi hadn’t hesitated, quickly tossing the colorful cashmere sweater aside without a second thought…and that shocked Josie even more.

  Kent West was standing nearby and must have read the surprise in her expression. “Tobi isn’t just our wife, Josie, she is also our submissive. She obeyed Kyle’s order because she trusts him. She knows neither of us would ever ask her to do anything that would endanger or embarrass her. Every man in this room is a Dom, we know it, and she can sense it so the baseline of trust was already there before Kyle uttered a word.”

  Josie realized this was a whole new aspect of Colt’s lifestyle she’d never considered. She wasn’t naïve…she knew he was introducing her to the various elements slowly to avoid spooking her. But what he’d failed to take into account was her avid interest. Apparently Kent was far more perceptive or perhaps she hadn’t hidden her reaction from him because it wasn’t personal. And over the past few days, it had become clear to Josie she was falling in love with Colt Morgan.

  Kent typically avoided celebrities when he had the chance, their public profiles made him uncomfortable. As a SEAL his life had depended on flying under the radar, and the need for confidentiality continued when he and Kyle built The Prairie Winds Club.

  So far Tobi had been able to balance a few public appearances at local charitable events with a polyamorous marriage to owners of a BDSM club, but he knew the real test would come when their twins started school. He couldn’t see the local PTA being thrilled with her belonging to their exclusive group of self-absorbed mommy monsters. Their lifestyle didn’t appeal to him on any level, but he did admire their ability to shine the spotlight on social issues and raise money for various causes.

  There was something refreshing about Josephine Alta. Kent had yet to see so much as a spark of the diva persona he’d expected. She was dressed in faded jeans, a plain Oxford shirt, and her feet were bare. The only indication she was anything other than the girl next door was the fading blue streak in her pale blonde hair. It was fun to watch her expression as he explained why Tobi had stripped off her shirt without hesitation. If he was going to guess, Kent would put his money on the fact the little songstress was more interested in the lifestyle than Colt realized. And while he understood the fear of pushing too quickly, Kent also knew dragging one’s feet could be just as detrimental.

  “I admire her ability to trust so easily.”

  “Josie, I assure you Tobi’s trust wasn’t handed over on a silver platter. It was earned. I’ll let her tell you her story, but her life hadn’t been easy. The sweet, open women you met today was buried beneath a shell of vulnerability and insecurity—although you’d be hard pressed to know it now.” He was relieved to see her relax because he wanted to use this as a teachable moment for both Josie and Colt. She hadn’t seen Colt move closer, and Kent was glad because his words were for both of them.

  “I know you haven’t been fully introduced to our lifestyle yet, but I want to encourage you to ask questions, read, and think about what makes you feel fulfilled and safe in a relationship. It’s easy to see why Colt is crazy about you, but don’t let him go so slow you lose interest because I’ve seen it happen.” He paused for a few seconds letting her mind catch up with everything he was throwing at her.

  “And don’t get caught in the I wish I had taken a chance trap. I know it’s cliché, but there is a lot of truth in the old saying about having more regrets about not taking chances than the risks you took that didn’t work out.” Kent could see realization dawn in Colt’s expression from where he stood behind Josie.

  Colt’s slow nod let Kent know the message had been received—his part was done, now it was up to Colt and Josie to figure it out. From what he’d heard from Brandt, their attraction had been immediate, but she’d run after their first night together. In Kent’s view, it said a lot that she’d come back to Pine Creek when she needed a safe refuge. Whether she knew it or not, there was a part of her that already trusted Colt and he hoped her head caught up with her heart soon. Christ, I’m turning into such a fucking sap. Hallmark is going to be recruiting me if I’m not careful.

  Chapter Ten

  Colt saw Josie’s eyes widen in surprise when Tobi threw off her shirt without even a hint of hesitation. He may not know the Wests well, they’d been friends of Brandt’s and merely acquaintances of his until recently. But, he knew submissives and Tobi West was submissive to the tips of her toes. Personally, he thought the little trouble magnet was only submissive to her husbands or those in their inner circle, but she was definitely a sub.

  She was also a bit of an exhibitionist. He’d seen the way her body responded when she’d noted the other men’s appreciation of her lush breasts. Colt hadn’t wanted her the way he wanted Josie, but that didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate the female form when it was displayed so beautifully in front of him. Tobi’s cotton candy pink nipples were one of the things he loved about blondes. Josie’s were the same shade, and he was starting to think pink might be his new favorite color. God, I hope Coral doesn’t paint the nursery that color—that would just be weird.

  His mind strayed to Coral and the babies she carried—what would it be like to have a little girl around? Hopefully, Coral would give them at least one little girl to love—his parents would be over the moon if they were blessed with a granddaughter. He couldn’t believe he was finally going to be an uncle.

  Learning Coral was pregnant sparked something deep in his soul, and suddenly he’d realized how anxious he was to have a family of his own. Shaking his head and wondering how he’d let his mind wander so far off-track, he refocused his attention on the woman standing across the room from him.

  Sage had just given him an opening as large as the barn door to walk through, and he wasn’t going to pass up the opportunity. Catching Kip’s attention, he motioned him toward their private playroom. Kip’s brows rose in surprise before a grin spread across his face. The youngest Morgan brother was the perfect choice because he was all about the fun but wouldn’t stake any personal claim—Kip was all about the chase. Colt wasn’t sure he’d ever met anyone else who could live in the moment like his youngest sibling.

  It was time to see just how interested his little songbird was in the kinkier side of sex. Having seen videos of Josephine Alta’s shows, Colt would bet there was an exhibitionist lurking in her, and he was looking forward to exploring that and so much more. He knew Phoenix was exploring ways for Josie to experience the club without exposing herself to any security risks or publicity snafus, but it was going to be a logistical nightmare to pull off.

  Even an unsubstantiated report of her being spotted at a kink club would damage her reputation. He wasn’t sure what she had planned career wise, but he doubted having her name dredged through the mud was on the list of options.

  He’d listened to Kent’s conversation with Josie and was grateful for the other man’s insight. That collaboration between Doms was one of the reasons Colt liked playing in a club setting. Often another Dom could spot an issue you’d missed because you were just too close to see it.

  They only had a couple of hours before she needed to be in town, but
that would be plenty of time for a small introduction to the playroom. Placing his hands on her shoulders, Colt pulled Josie’s back against his chest and then wrapped his arms around her. “Come with me, songbird, I’ve got a surprise for you. We’ve got a little time before we need to leave, and I want to play with you before you go all Mata Hari on your manager.”

  “Hey, wasn’t she executed by a firing squad? That’s a picture I didn’t need in my head.” He laughed when she shuddered in mock horror. Damn she was full of piss and vinegar as his granny would have said. As he led her down the short hall to the playroom, he could almost hear the questions whirling around in her mind. “Where are we going?”

  “Right here,” he said when he stopped in front of the playroom door. “This is our playroom. Once you cross the threshold of this room, there are certain rules that must be followed. Failure to follow the rules will result in punishment.” Her pupils dilated, and he heard her quick inhalation.

  She shocked him by blushing and then dropping her gaze. Oh no my sweet sub, there’ll be no hiding from me. “What was that thought, Josie? And I know I’ve mentioned this before, but let me remind you, lying by omission is the same as telling a lie, so think carefully about your answer.”

  Josie hadn’t heard Kip open the door behind her and jumped when he spoke just over her shoulder. “Here’s a piece of advice for you darlin’, don’t think—just answer. If you think about how to phrase your answer, it means you’re editing, and that’ll just get your pretty bare ass draped over Colt’s lap. And while that visual definitely holds some appeal for me, I think you’ll enjoy what Colt has planned more.”

  Colt wanted to laugh at his brother’s comments. Damned if this wasn’t a big part of why he’d wanted Kip’s help—the man was a wizard when it came to putting women at ease and explaining BDSM in ways that didn’t make it seem intimidating. The other Morgan brothers always found it ironic the one of them who had the most cavalier attitude about being a Dom was the best at explaining the lifestyle.