Saving Master Rafael [Prometheus in Chains 11] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Read online

  Prometheus in Chains 11

  Saving Master Rafael

  You often find love when you are least prepared for it. Devastated by the tragedy for which he blames himself, Master Rafael Flores is a changed man, allowing no one to get close to him. A reluctant participant in the sub auction arranged by Mistress Catriona, Jess Morgan and Heather Saxton steal his heart. After a night of passion, very reluctantly he leaves them, believing that to be in their best interests.

  Heather is heartbroken and takes a long time to pull herself together. Jess blames himself, seeking release from his guilt in pain, administered by an understanding Dom.

  Enter Mistress Catriona with some good advice. Will Rafael see the sense in what she says, and will he act upon it in time to save Jess from a new and sadistic Dom? Heather begins to see how selfish she has been and decides to cook up a scheme to move events along. Will she succeed? Or will Master Rafael hold out against her and his own heart?

  Genre: BDSM, Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre

  Length: 25,073 words

  SAVING MASTER RAFAEL

  Prometheus in Chains 11

  Clair de Lune

  MENAGE AMOUR

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

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  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  IMPRINT: Ménage Amour

  SAVING MASTER RAFAEL

  Copyright © 2013 by Clair de Lune

  E-book ISBN: 978-1-62740-672-7

  First E-book Publication: October 2013

  Cover design by Christine Kirchoff

  All art and logo copyright © 2013 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,

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  www.SirenPublishing.com

  www.BookStrand.com

  DEDICATION

  For my family, with love.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  About the Author

  SAVING MASTER RAFAEL

  Prometheus in Chains 11

  CLAIR DE LUNE

  Copyright © 2013

  Chapter One

  Thyme’s last thought before she lost consciousness was “Where is Master Rafael? Why didn’t he come when I called him?”

  The police and paramedics did their jobs quickly and efficiently. The man and the woman were removed from the crushed car with the help of the Fire Brigade, and an ambulance rushed them to the local hospital, while the paramedics struggled to keep them alive. The man died in the ambulance, but the woman clung stubbornly to life. She had a handbag with sufficient identification to confirm her name and address. The man’s wallet had the same address, so a car with two constables was dispatched to break the news. It was one of the most disliked duties the police were called upon to perform, and no-one liked or wanted it, but it had to be done.

  * * * *

  Rafael Flores saw the police car parked outside the block of flats where he lived. He thought nothing of it until, stepping out of the lift on the third floor, he saw two constables waiting outside the door of his flat. He paled and hurried toward them.

  “Can we come inside for a moment, sir?” one of the constables asked.

  Rafael’s heart lurched, and he leaned on the wall for support.

  “Mama?” he asked.

  “It will be better if we speak inside,” the constable said. He held out his hand, and Rafael gave him the keys to the flat. The constable opened the door and handed the keys back, then Rafael preceded them into his home. He took them to the living room, and they all sat down. Rafael noticed the two men were very young and seemed not to be at ease with what they were doing.

  “Do you know Thyme Appleyard and Johann Roth?”

  “Yes, they live here with me. What is it?”

  “I am sorry to tell you that they were involved in a car accident earlier today.”

  “How are they? Can I go and see them? Where are they?”

  “I regret to say that Johann Roth died of his injuries in the ambulance on the way to the hospital. Miss Thyme Appleyard is in intensive care. Are you related to them, sir?”

  “We all live together here. I want to see her now please.”

  “We will take you, and I’m afraid I must ask you to identify the body, unless Johann has family in this country?”

  “No, he doesn’t. He is estranged from his family. Thyme and I are all the family he has. Can we go now?”

  Rafael felt sick. He had been one pissed-off Dom because he’d been obliged to work this afternoon. That new batch of waiters he was training for one of Sheffield’s top hotels was not up to scratch yet, and he had a lot of work to do to ensure they were ready in time. It was so hard to find suitable material these days. He had been worried about his sub Johann and he couldn’t understand what the pair of them were doing out driving. Where did they have to go? He’d told them to stay in and he’d be back as soon as ever he could, and then they’d go out for a meal before they
went to Prometheus in Chains, the BDSM club where he worked. Why hadn’t they called him on his mobile? He took it out of his pocket only to find it was dead so it didn’t work. All in all it was a right royal mess. Now he had to find out what had happened and when Thyme would be coming home.

  The policemen took him to intensive care and said they’d wait as they needed him to identify Johann. He walked into the ward and was shocked to see the small figure lying in the bed like a broken doll. Her face was cut, but worse was the array of machines to which she was connected. They beeped and lights flashed at intervals. Rafael thought he’d never seen a more pathetic figure in his life. The nurse brought a chair for him.

  “She’s conscious and can talk a bit, but please try not to tire her.”

  “I won’t,” Rafael said. He badly wanted to ask what was wrong and how long it would take to put right, but that would have to wait now. He sat down and put his large tanned hand over Thyme’s small pale one. She opened her eyes. He was struck as always by their size and deep-purple colour. Today she had a sad and troubled look in them.

  “What is it, my Thyme? What is the matter? Are you in pain?”

  “Is anyone else here, Master?”

  “No, pet, there is no-one but me.”

  “Master, I need to tell you what happened.”

  “Very well, pet. Don’t distress yourself. I can wait.”

  “No, Master. I fear I can’t wait. I don’t have much time.”

  “I’m here, and I’m listening, my pet.” Rafael squeezed her fingers then bent his head to kiss her hand.

  “Johann got a letter this morning. It had been delayed in the post.”

  “Why was that, pet?”

  “Whoever wrote the address left off part of the post code and wrote street instead of Avenue.”

  “Well, yes that would delay it. What was in this letter?”

  “The letter was from his mother, asking him to ring as Ingrid was gravely ill. He called her as soon as he got the letter, but it was too late. She had died, and he couldn’t even say goodbye to her. She was his favourite little sister. He was very upset.”

  “Poor Johann, he was very close to Ingrid. I remember he was so upset when they refused to allow her to visit him. They just couldn’t forgive him for being gay, or rather bisexual. Why didn’t you ring and tell me? I would have come home at once.”

  “Master, I did call three times and you didn’t answer. It went straight to voicemail.”

  “But I always have my phone on.” Rafael took out his mobile. “Pet, my phone is dead, but I did put it on charge last night.”

  “Yes, Master, I saw you do it. Maybe something is wrong with the charger.”

  “I’m sorry, love. I didn’t get your messages.”

  “Master, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t stop Johann drinking. He was doing so well with your help. He hadn’t touched a drop in months. He went out and bought whisky, and he drank the whole bottle. He said he didn’t care now and maybe it would hurt less if he was drunk. He suddenly decided he was going to drive to the funeral. I begged him not to drive or to let me drive, but he wouldn’t. I had to go with him. I knew he’d have to stop to sleep somewhere and maybe I could call you and reach you and you’d come and get us. I’m so sorry.”

  “You did right, pet. You couldn’t have done anything else. It was best to go with him.”

  Rafael bent and kissed her hand again and caressed her cheek tenderly. For a while she lay there, silent.

  “He’s dead, isn’t he?” Copious tears flowed down her face and dripped unheeded onto her plain blue hospital night-gown, leaving darker patches as they soaked into the fabric. Rafael wondered why he noticed such details at a time like this. He took a clean tissue out of his pocket and tenderly he wiped them away.

  “I’m afraid he is, pet. We can do nothing more for him. You on the other hand must get well soon and come home to me.”

  “Master, I know I’m not going home to you. I don’t have much time left. Please listen to what I say.”

  Rafael didn’t argue with her. She must be coming home with me. I can’t lose them both like this. His brain hammered out the thought time after time. He managed to control himself and not let her see how upset he was. It was a supreme effort of will.

  “My laptop has all my personal information on it, as does Johann’s. Our passwords are very similar. Mine is Rafa3l75 and his is Rafa3l77. Will you see that my family knows what has happened? Johann and I both made wills, and the solicitor’s name is on there, too.”

  Rafael could only nod. He didn’t trust himself to speak. No, no, no! This can’t be happening. I can’t lose her, too. What shall I do without them? They are my life, my reason for living. He had to force himself to be calm and sit and reassure her. He promised he would do as she asked. All the while his brain was screaming at him that it wasn’t happening. She would survive. She had to survive. I’ve lost Johann. I can’t lose her, too.

  The machines began to make different noises. A nurse rushed in then another and two more. He was asked to wait in the corridor. He leaned on the wall, closed his eyes, and prayed as he hadn’t done in years. Please let her live. He didn’t know how long he stood there repeating the phrase like a mantra. He felt a touch on his arm, and the nurse who had taken him in to see Thyme was standing by his side.

  “I am so sorry, sir. We couldn’t save her.”

  Rafael’s legs gave way, and he sat down on the corridor floor with a bump. The nurse bent over him.

  “Are you all right? Let me help you up. Sit in this chair, and I’ll get you some water.”

  As she was talking, she helped him to his feet and into a chair. He sat passively waiting as she fetched water and bade him drink. She chatted to him and gradually he gained a measure of control over his emotions. When she saw he was looking better, she asked if he’d like something to eat. He refused then noticed the two constables hovering in the background. He stood up, took a deep, calming breath, and gathered his dignity about him.

  “I’m ready to identify Johann now.”

  Rafael was taken down to the basement mortuary where the formal identification of poor Johann was carried out. He was told that the next of kin had the right to claim the body, and he should pass their information on to the police who would contact the German police. Rafael promised to pass on all relevant information when he’d collected it. He took his leave of them and took a taxi home, refusing to accept their offer of transport. He needed to get home as soon as he could and didn’t want the bother of making small-talk on the way. Once there he entered the quiet and empty house. Now he had to face the future alone.

  * * * *

  Rafael could never remember much about that first night alone. He had a couple of stiff whiskies, and then he must have slept, but the next day when he awoke, he was fine until he remembered he was alone in bed. Then realisation dawned. He would be alone in bed from now on. Listlessly he dragged himself out of bed and had some breakfast. No more would his lovely Thyme make breakfast for them all in the kitchen after a night of passionate love-making. He straightened his shoulders and his back. This won’t do. I have things to do for them, and I ought to get on and do them. The least I can do now is to see to their affairs and make sure their wishes are carried out. Wallowing in my grief will get me nowhere.

  He picked up both laptops and carried them into the kitchen. He plugged both of them in and left them to boot up while he made himself a pot of coffee. He ate cereal and drank a cup of coffee and felt a bit better. He seated himself at the table, and choosing Johann’s laptop, he entered the password and soon found the information he needed. He sent a copy to the wireless printer, checked the print-out, and then he left a message on Johann’s Facebook page telling his friends what had happened. He asked them to leave a private message if they needed him to contact them, before he shut down Johann’s laptop. He picked up Thyme’s laptop, expecting that it would be just the same simple task. He was mistaken. She had a dozen private messages, and the
last one started off with the words “I am desperate…” He thought about it and decided to read them. It was a decision he lived to regret.

  The message was from a man calling himself Jim Jackson. He was asking why his little love had not been in touch for a couple of days. Rafael felt as if he’d been kicked in the stomach. All the air left his lungs, and he shook in every limb with the shock. Then he decided it must be a mistake. My pet wouldn’t do this. This man has sent his message to the wrong person. That must be it. I’ll read another couple of messages, and that will clear it up. There will be only the one from him.

  Rafael was wrong again. For the past three weeks Jim and Thyme had been messaging one another several times a day. The first messages were just playful chats, but gradually the playful turned serious and soon they were having cyber-sex. It was all Rafael could do not to hurl the laptop out of the window. He was hurt and nauseated by the crude and graphic language. She was being unfaithful, and I had no idea. Though they had never met and had not had real sex, since this Jim lived in America, it didn’t help one little bit. So far as Rafael was concerned, she’d deceived him and was having a clandestine affair with Jim. Why? Why did she feel the need? What did Jim give her that the ménage with Johann and him hadn’t given her? They made love often, she seemed altogether satisfied, so what the hell was it that she longed for but she hadn’t got? He had no clue, and now he would never find out.

  He sat for hours thinking and going over their lives together and analysing their actions. He remembered her words and her love-making. She was passionate toward them both, and above all she enjoyed nothing more than to be taken by both of them at the same time. He would never have found out from looking at her or from her reactions to him and Johann that she was being unfaithful. Rafael was devastated. He just wanted to rip and tear and destroy something. He controlled himself with difficulty and tried to maintain an icy calm. He would get the necessary information, and then he’d delete her account and make sure that no-one discovered what had been going on. He had to protect her reputation.