Vaughn's Awakening [The Black Dahlia Hotel 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Read online

  The Black Dahlia Hotel 2

  Vaughn’s Awakening

  Vaughn Rawlston, Savannah Preparatory science teacher, catches the daughters of Dom Jeremiah Wade cheating and turns them in. Trouble ensues and follows her from Savannah to the new, discreet, luxurious BDSM Black Dahlia Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach for Christmas vacation.

  Vaughn signs up for sub classes and meets handsome, wealthy Savannah restaurateur and Master Dom, Paul Proffit, who has had his eye on the newbie sub for a while. He is captivated by her curvy body, sharp mind, and sense of humor, and is determined to introduce her to the pleasures to be found in the dungeon. Paul isn’t the only Dom with his eye on Vaughn. Jeremiah Wade is determined to force Vaughn to drop the cheating charges against his daughters in one way or another and develops a dangerous obsession with her. Can Paul save Vaughn and convince her she doesn’t want to run away from him as well as the ugly, dangerous results of Wade’s obsession?

  Genre: BDSM, Contemporary

  Length: 40,467 words

  VAUGHN’S AWAKENING

  The Black Dahlia Hotel 2

  Skye Michaels

  EVERLASTING CLASSIC

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic

  VAUGHN’S AWAKENING

  Copyright © 2014 by Skye Michaels

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-354-3

  First E-book Publication: September 2014

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2014 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  Letter to Readers

  Dear Readers,

  If you have purchased this copy of Vaughn’s Awakening by Skye Michaels from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

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  Amanda Hilton, Publisher

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  DEDICATION

  For all of my family, friends, and readers.

  I hope you enjoy this new series set in my own backyard, beautiful South Florida. Sometimes we who live here take it for granted.

  Life happens. Enjoy the journey.

  With many thanks to my beta readers, Patricia Walker, Jennifer Torlone, Donnette Hawley, and Eileen Dix for all their help.

  The Black Dahlia Hotel Series:

  Mikaela and Dillon’s story in Mikaela’s Debut, Book 1

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  VAUGHN’S AWAKENING

  The Black Dahlia Hotel 2

  SKYE MICHAELS

  Copyright © 2014

  Prologue

  The Headmaster’s Office of the Savannah Preparatory Academy, Savannah, Georgia, Tuesday afternoon, December 22, 2015

  Ella and Emma Wade sat confidently in chairs across the desk from Mr. Bishop, the headmaster of the prestigious Savannah Prep. The three sheets of crib notes for the chemistry exam sat spread out on his desk. Ella glanced at Emma. This was not how it was supposed to go.

  The twins had been caught cheating in Ms. Rawlston’s chemistry class, and the bitch had reported them. Ella couldn’t believe it. She had been sure they could talk her out of it, but she had been adamant. Their father was not going to like this at all, but Ella was sure Daddy would take care of it.

  “Girls, I am very disappointed in you. It is hoped that members of the cheerleading squad will set a good example for the other students. What do you have to say?” Mr. Bishop did look upset—probably because their father was going to rip him a new one if he suspended them.

  “Mr. Bishop, we didn’t do anything. Ms. Rawlston is mistaken.” Ella was the more aggressive of the two and never hesitated to speak up.

  “Ms. Wade, we have your handwritten crib notes right here. I don’t see what Ms. Rawlston could have been mistaken about—do you?” Now the headmaster was starting to look angry. Apparently he was going to side with Ms. Rawlston, henceforth to be known as “the fat bitch.”

  “Well…”

  “I think you girls need some time to think about this. A cheating incident of this magnitude cannot be overlooked. If not for your excellent grades and exemplary extracurricular activities, you would be expelled on the spot. I am willing to give you one more chance, but you will both be suspended for two weeks after the Christmas break and this will be on your permanent records. We will have to see how this will affect your eligibility for the cheerleading squad after that. We pride ourselves on fostering strong morals and personal accountability as well as excellent academics here at Savannah Prep. I will contact your father and let him know what has happened. You are dismissed.”

  The girls stood up and both gave Vaughn Rawlston a dirty look before leaving the office. She had been their favorite teacher until she had ratted them out for cheating. She would be sorry, that was for sure. She and Emma would make sure of it.

  * * * *

  After the girls had left the office,
Vaughn Rawlston sank down in the chair vacated by Ella Wade. “Well, sir, that was certainly pleasant. If looks could kill…”

  “Yes, Ms. Rawlston, it was unpleasant but unavoidable. You really could not have overlooked such a blatant instance of cheating. It was more than just glancing at another student’s paper. They had three pages of crib notes for heaven’s sake.”

  “I can’t believe they didn’t think I would see them passing the pages back and forth between their desks. It was really kind of funny—if it wasn’t so annoying. They are both really good students. If they had studied they wouldn’t have needed to cheat.”

  “That is almost always the case. Since our students are the cream of the crop, cheating usually results more from laziness than necessity. Oh, well. I’m sure my conversation with their father will be even more unpleasant. He can be extremely demanding and aggressive. Since he and the girls’ mother divorced and he got custody, he’s been a real pain in the—well, never mind. That’s why I get paid the big bucks. He’s my problem, not yours.”

  “You have no idea how much I appreciate that, Mr. Bishop. I had a teacher’s conference with him at the beginning of the year, and it was an ordeal.” And it had been, too. Jeremiah Wade was an alpha male in the extreme and an attorney, her least favorite profession. He had made his expectation that his girls would receive top grades in her class very clear.

  To top it off, she had seen him at Le Club Waterfront-Savannah when she had been sitting in the unclaimed subs’ sitting area of the dungeon with Alexa and Cyndy a few weeks ago. She was sure he had not seen her, and when she noticed him walk into the dungeon, she had turned her back to the door and tried to be inconspicuous. Since he had a sub following him a step behind, he had not glanced in her direction. She certainly didn’t need the parent of two of her students seeing her at Le Club. That made her very uncomfortable despite the confidentiality agreements that were signed by all members and guests.

  Vaughn had been to the club a few times as Alexa’s and Cyndy’s guest, but she hadn’t yet joined. She wasn’t sure the BDSM scene was for her. She found it interesting and exciting, but she was still a little nervous about the whole thing. She wasn’t sure she could get naked in front of strangers. She was quite a bit plumper than her friends, who were both perfect size fours. The idea of displaying her very curvaceous figure in public just sent a shiver up her spine. She had to admit that a good many of the men at the club had given her looks of extreme interest, but she had not yet played with any of them. Maybe buxom ladies with big booties were popular in BDSM circles. In a weak moment she had succumbed to Alexa’s and Cyndy’s nagging that she join them on the week-long trip to a BDSM Hotel in Florida. It was reported to be very discreet and luxurious. She would have a good time whether she participated in the BDSM activities or not. Florida. Winter. What’s not to like?

  Chapter One

  The Starbucks on East Broughton Street, Savannah, Georgia, Wednesday afternoon, December 23, 2015

  Vaughn Rawlston, Alexa Baker, and Cynthia Adams were enjoying coffees at the Starbucks a few blocks from Le Club Waterfront. The club was located in an old, restored cotton warehouse on the Savannah River. The girls were enjoying double-shot grandes and cookies while she was having a small, no-fat, decaf latte. Sometimes life just was not fair. They were making plans for their trip to Fort Lauderdale beginning the day after Christmas.

  “I don’t know about this, guys. I don’t think I’m really ready to jump into this BDSM thing whole hog.” Vaughn had enjoyed several physical relationships in her life, but she had never made a soul-deep connection. She was hoping that the BDSM aspects of sex at the club might provide that something—that connection—that had been missing.

  “Come on, Vaughn. You’ve been to the club several times, signed all the paperwork, and made your reservations. Don’t wimp out on us now.” Alexa looked concerned. Vaughn knew she really wanted her to join the club because it was such an important part of her and Cyndy’s social lives, and they were determined to drag her along, kicking and screaming if necessary. The three had been friends since elementary school and had gotten into plenty of trouble together over the ensuing years. Vaughn had lived with Alexa’s family after her mother died until she finished high school and went off to college. Her father had been killed in military service when she was eight, and her mother had died of cancer when she was fourteen. The two might as well have been her sisters.

  Alexa and Cyndy were both subs and loved it, although neither had been collared yet. She wasn’t sure either of them really wanted to be. They were having too much fun playing the Dom field. And she had to admit that it was a really fertile field. The men at the club were, for the most part, extremely good looking and sexy as hell. Even the men who were not particularly handsome had a sexual edge that was appealing.

  “I know. But something happened at school yesterday, and I’m concerned about it.”

  “What does school have to do with the club?” Vaughn knew Cyndy would back Alexa up no matter what.

  “Well…I caught the Wade twins cheating and turned them in. Mr. Bishop suspended them for two weeks after vacation. The thing is I’ve seen their father, Jeremiah Wade, at Le Club, and I really can’t afford to have any problems at school. Having my interest in BDSM come out could cost me my job.”

  “But even if he saw you, he’s signed the confidentiality agreements as well as you have. He can’t out you any more than you can out him.” Cyndy looked confused.

  “I know. It just makes me nervous.”

  Alexa jumped in. “Jeremiah Wade? He’s different. Vaughn, stay away from him—he’s a little scary, and not in a good way. I’ve heard some of the other subs talking about him. Apparently, his tastes are a little extreme.”

  Cyndy said, “Well, we don’t even know if he’s planning on going to The Black Dahlia Hotel. Come on, Vaughn. Fort Lauderdale. Christmas break. You can’t pass that up. You don’t have to participate in the dungeon activities if you don’t want to. I’ve seen pictures and the hotel is gorgeous. Maybe you should take a couple of the sub classes that will be offered to get in and get your feet wet.”

  “I can see I’m going to have no peace unless I agree.”

  “Exactly correct.” Alexa was smiling and Cyndy was nodding. Peas in a pod.

  Chapter Two

  On the dining terrace at The Black Dahlia Hotel, Fort Lauderdale Beach, Florida, Saturday morning, December 26, 2015

  Vaughn, Alexa, and Cyndy were on the terrace overlooking the beach having a second breakfast of coffee and pastries after their early morning flight from Savannah.

  “Well, the hype seems to be deserved so far. This is a very nice hotel considering it’s not one of the big chains,” Vaughn said.

  “You can’t expect to have BDSM facilities in a Hilton or Hyatt, that’s for sure.” Alexa continued, “I can just see the brave soul proposing to the board of directors that they convert the top floor to a BDSM dungeon and theme rooms.”

  Cyndy said, “This rubber bracelet system is very interesting. I like it. There is no question about what anyone is or is not into. You just look at their bracelets.”

  The concierge had explained the rubber bracelet system when they checked in and reminded them to read the explanatory booklet in the suite. Briefly, the wide, white bracelet embossed with “The Black Dahlia Hotel” in gold letters contained personal identification and permitted entry to the top floor where the BDSM club was located as well as a GPS chip. For security purposes, guests could be located at a moment’s notice. The Dominants—Doms or Dommes—wore one black band. The brightly colored rubber bracelets worn on the right wrist indicated whether staff or guests participated in the sexual activities at the hotel and to what extent.

  The staff was not required to participate but were free to do so if they wished. All staff and guests signed confidentiality agreements before coming to work at the hotel or registering as guests. Since all the public BDSM sexual activities took place on the top floor, which
was heavily secured, anyone accidently walking into the hotel would have no idea of what went on there. The occasional walk-ins would be told the hotel was fully booked. All in all, it looked like everything was very well controlled.

  “Well, what are we going to do first?” Vaughn could see that Alexa was excited and raring to go.

  Alexa looked up from the itinerary in her hand. “The agenda said there is a mixer tonight in the lounge. There are some seminars and classes that are starting this afternoon after lunch. Vaughn, you might want to sign up for Introduction to BDSM for subs. That would be a good place to start.”

  “I can’t wait to get out by that pool in my bikini. The booklet said they have a secluded area for nude sunbathing also.” Cyndy was laughing. “I don’t want to get any of my delicate parts sunburned before we even get started. I’ll leave turning my butt pink for my Dom.”

  “You two are crazy. What would I do without you? I think you’re right. I’m going to sign up for a class or two. It’s a safe way to dip my toes in the water, so to speak.”

  Alexa said, “I think I’ll wander around and see what’s what.”

  * * * *

  Vaughn went to the front desk and signed up for “Introduction to BDSM for subs” and “Bondage for Beginners.” She felt a little weird, but that was okay. Everyone has to start somewhere, and as they say, knowledge is power. She had a couple of hours to kill before classes started so she went back to the suite, changed into a bikini, threw on a cover-up, and joined Cyndy on a chaise lounge by the pool. The sun was sparkling off the waves and beautiful blue water in the background, and the pool area was beautifully landscaped and laid out.