Building Trust Read online

  Building Trust

  Blossom Ridge, Book Three

  Becca Jameson

  Copyright © 2022 by Becca Jameson

  Cover Artist: Scott Carpenter

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

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Created with Vellum

  Contents

  Newsletter

  About the Book

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Author’s Note

  Also by Becca Jameson

  About the Author

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  About the Book

  Stella

  For the first time in my life, I’m dating a man who rocks my world.

  He gives me exactly what I need at the club.

  And he’s amazing in bed.

  The only problem is this can’t last. We’re too different.

  He’s a Daddy. I’m not a Little.

  I haven’t even told my friends who he is.

  No one knows about us.

  I like it that way so when it ends, it won’t be as hard.

  * * *

  Walker

  For three months I’ve been dating the perfect woman.

  I know she thinks we’re not compatible, but she’s wrong.

  I give her what she needs when we’re at Surrender.

  She gives me what I need when we’re at home.

  It’s just that she hasn’t realized it.

  At some point I’m going to have to tell her.

  I know she’ll panic, but she’s got a Little side.

  She can’t see it yet, but she’s mine. Forev

  Chapter 1

  Stella

  * * *

  “You’ve been awfully mysterious lately.” Amy giggles. “And oddly busy. Methinks there’s a man behind the silence.”

  Holding my cell phone to my ear, I flop onto my bed and stare up at the ceiling. Grinning. My best friend is right, but I’m not willing to talk about it yet.

  “Stella… Spill.”

  “I’m only going to say that you’re right. Don’t ask me for more. I don’t want to jinx it.” That’s kind of true. There are a lot of reasons why I haven’t told Amy or anyone else who I’m dating.

  “I knew it.” Amy’s voice elevates. “And I’m offended. Why the secrecy?”

  I roll my eyes, still grinning. Amy isn’t offended. Her voice gives her away. She’s using her pouty voice. “I bet you don’t talk to Foster in that tone.”

  “Not unless I want my butt spanked, no. But you’re avoiding the subject.”

  I roll onto my side and set my cell phone on the mattress next to me. It’s ten in the morning on a Monday. My café isn’t open on Mondays. “What are you doing calling me at this hour anyway?” I ask. “Aren’t you working?”

  Amy is the chef at Blossom Ridge, the resort that stole my best baker. Not that I can blame her. Amy’s an amazing chef. One of the best, and it was time for her to take a bigger job than what I can offer at the café.

  “Yep. I just finished cleaning up from the breakfast rush. I’m prepping for lunch. Figured now was a good time to call since you’re off on Mondays. But you’re still avoiding my question.”

  “Does Foster know you’re calling me?” I tease, deflecting. Foster is Amy’s Daddy Dom. Amy doesn’t do much of anything without his permission, including making phone calls.

  “Stella,” Amy shouts. “Stop changing the subject.”

  I chuckle. “I’m just sayin’… What if you get caught? I bet he doesn’t let you make phone calls while you’re using a knife. It wouldn’t be safe.” Even though I’ve never met him, I can picture Foster’s stern expression if he finds Amy—though he calls her by her full name, Amelia—swinging a knife around while talking on the phone.

  Amy sighs. “Yes, Daddy knows I’m talking to you. And, no, I’m not using a knife. He made me promise if I was going to multitask that I not touch anything dangerous.”

  I laugh. “Knew it.” If I’m perfectly honest—which I have no intention of being—I’m probably jealous of the relationship Amy has with Foster. They’re an amazing couple. Perfect for each other. He makes her so happy. Every time I see her, she’s smiling. That’s all that matters at the end of the day.

  Amy had known Blossom Ridge was a resort for age play guests when she took the job, but she hadn’t considered herself Little. It had taken her about ten minutes to get snatched up by the firm Daddy Dom, and now she’s living her best life.

  It’s not the age play I’m jealous of. It’s the fact that Amy has found her perfect someone, and I’m… What am I doing? Grinning incessantly over a man I’m probably not suited for in the long run.

  Walker Kline. I don’t want to tell Amy about him because she knows him from the club we both belong to—Surrender. Although Amy doesn’t go there anymore. She’s moved an hour out of Seattle to work at Blossom Ridge, and she’s in a committed relationship. She and Foster don’t venture into the city to visit a fetish club. They don’t need to. They live in a full-time age-play relationship at the resort.

  “Seriously, Stella. Why won’t you tell me about your mystery man?” Her voice sounds a bit more hurt this time.

  Maybe it’s wrong to keep this from her. I chew on my thumbnail as I debate my options. Finally, I decide to continue deflecting. “Because it’s no big deal. I’m just having fun. We enjoy each other’s company is all. It’s not something sustainable.”

  “Why not? You sound giddy. If you like him so much that you’re spending a lot of time with him, why can’t it become something more permanent?”

  Because he’s a Daddy and I’m not a Little. Because he scrambles my head every time I’m with him and it scares me.

  “Please tell me he’s not married.”

  “He’s not married. Promise.”

  “Then…I have to assume he’s vanilla and you haven’t told him how kinky you are. How long have you been dating this guy?”

  I draw in a deep breath. “A few months. And, yes, he’s kinky.”

  “Months? And you’re still keeping him a secret?” Amy’s voice switches to full-on offended.

  I cringe. “Look, it’s not like I’ve told ten other people and not you. I haven’t told anyone. I don’t even see him every night. Once or twice a week usually. We don’t…” I hate sharing this with her. I don’t want her to lecture me.

  “You don’t what, Stella?” No noises are coming from Amy’s end of the line anymore. I figure she’s stopped working and is focused solely on me. Her horrible best friend who is keeping secrets from her. If I were in her shoes, I’d be pissed.

  “We don’t share the same kink,” I admit. If I don’t get off the phone soon, she’s going to guess everything.

  “Is he submissive?” br />
  “No. God, no. That wouldn’t work at all.”

  “So, he’s a Dom, which you need. A firm Dom, I assume, or you wouldn’t be interested in him in the first place. Is he not enough of a sadist for you?” She gasps. “Wait. Is he a member of Surrender? Is that where you met him? Is that why you won’t tell me who he is? Do I know him?”

  Well fuck.

  “I’m right, aren’t I?” Amy continues when I don’t respond fast enough. “Okay. Okay. I get it. I do. You’re dating a man from a club I used to visit, and you don’t want me to know because…” There is a pause, and then Amy continues, “Nope. I don’t get it.” She spits the last part out and goes silent.

  I rub my forehead. I’ve known for a while this day was coming. It was only a matter of time before my best friend realized I was not only dating someone but consumed enough that I was always in a better mood than I used to be. And why am I so worried about telling her?

  Amy’s voice is softer when she speaks again. “What’s going on, Stella? Now I’m worried and hurt and confused.”

  I feel horrible. “I’m sorry. I’m being a bitch. I guess I keep thinking if I don’t tell anyone, I can drag out the inevitable. If I tell you about him and answer all your questions, you’ll make me realize he’s not right for me and my balloon will burst and I’ll be alone again. I’ve been having fun pretending I’m in a normal relationship with a nice man who respects me and understands me and treats me well. I’m not ready to break up with him yet. Maybe I’m being selfish. Maybe I’m kidding myself. Maybe I’m wasting my time and his, but I just don’t care. I want to have some fun. Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve had a boyfriend? Years. And sex? Jesus. I hadn’t had sex in so long that I nearly forgot how.”

  “Are you having sex now?” she whispers.

  “Yes. Fucking hot sex.” My voice rises as I try to defend myself. “The best sex ever. And I want to continue having hot sex with a hot man who isn’t an asshole for a while before I have to face reality and break things off with him.”

  “Okay. I hate that you think I’m the kind of friend who would judge you or tell you to break up with him. If he’s so wonderful and he treats you right and you’re having great sex, why on earth would I be opposed to him?”

  “Because he’s a Daddy,” I blurt out. There. I said it.

  “Oh. Ohhhh.”

  I let her think about that for a minute. “I’m not Little, Amy. I’m just not that kind of submissive. He and I aren’t going to be able to make this work in the long run. We both know it.”

  “As long as he knows it too. Are you sure he does?”

  I lick my lips. We don’t talk about it. It’s just a fact between us. “Yes.”

  Amy sighs. “I’m not going to judge you, Stella. Why would I do that? I’m not a saint. I make mistakes.”

  “See? That’s what I’m talking about. Why does he have to be a mistake? Why can’t he just be someone I’m fucking for fun?” I blurt out.

  “Ouch. You’re right. I didn’t mean it that way. I just meant that I’m not perfect. You don’t have to be either. There’s no reason why you can’t have a fun friends-with-benefits relationship if it’s making both of you happy. Do it.”

  “Thank you.” There’s an awkward silence. I hate it. I hate that I’ve hurt her feelings. I’m not even sure why. Normally I would share everything with Amy. Every detail. But this time…

  I know exactly what the problem is. I don’t need her to judge me. I’m judging myself. I’m ignoring the obvious that’s staring me right in the face because the sex is good and Walker is so fucking sexy and kind and smart and Dominant. He’s not the right kind of Dominant for me in the long run, but I’ve chosen to ignore the long run for a while.

  “You know I’m going to sit around making a mental list of every man I’ve ever met at Surrender who could be a Daddy and try to figure out which one is your mystery man, right?” Amy asks.

  “Yeah.” Shit.

  “Or you could just tell me and get it over with. Save me the mental gymnastics. What if I cut myself with a knife because I’m so distracted I can’t focus on my work?” she jokes.

  I laugh. “You do realize you aren’t actually five, right? You’re a grown adult who runs an entire kitchen for a resort. I don’t think you’ll cut your arm off worrying about who I’m fucking.”

  “Hmmm. You’re sort of right. But also not. I’m living in a twenty-four-seven age-play dynamic. I don’t really step out of the role much.”

  “You’re out of the role right now,” I point out.

  “Sort of. Not entirely. I can compartmentalize when I need to, but I also know in the back of my mind that even this time with you isn’t fully my own.”

  “Are you saying he’ll expect you to tell him everything we said?” The idea makes me kind of nervous. Though it shouldn’t. Not really. Amy is as good as married to Foster. I wouldn’t expect her to keep secrets from him. He’s her top priority. Not me.

  “No. He’s not going to ask me to break your confidence. He would never do that. I’m saying that…I’m happy. I like submitting to him. I like letting him take the reins. It’s refreshing. I still have adult responsibilities, but my life is structured in a way that Foster controls even that part of my life. It’s hard to explain.”

  She’s right. It’s impossible for me to wrap my head around what she’s saying. I understand the Daddy/Little dynamic to a certain degree. I know several people who are Littles, not just Amy.

  Brea for example. She used to work for me too before I realized she would benefit from working at Blossom Ridge. And then she met Niko and eventually moved to Seattle to live with him. Brea also lives in a twenty-four-seven age-play relationship.

  She’s not a good example, I realize. Lucy is an excellent example. She’s Roman’s wife. They own Surrender and Blossom Ridge. Lucy works outside the home as a grown adult and then submits to Roman when she returns to the house.

  Right? Or maybe she also submits to Roman on some level even when she’s at work. I shudder. I don’t get it. It’s so intense. I’m not judgmental. To each his own. But I prefer my kink to be tidier.

  I like to submit for a few hours once a week. I like that submission to be extreme. Maybe I get the same benefits as Amy, Brea, and Lucy. But I pack all my submission into a few hours and then I walk away and go back to my real life.

  I prefer to be restrained and subjected to serious impact play. It relieves my stress and leaves me refreshed and ready to face the world. I don’t need more than that. I certainly don’t need full-time. I’m not the sort to kneel at a man’s feet every evening, suck him off, and cook him dinner.

  I know that’s not how Amy lives. I’m exaggerating in my head. But she submits to Foster full-time. That seems exhausting.

  I also don’t mix sex with my kink. I choose my kink partners carefully. I schedule a session with them. I plan everything, including what implements they will use.

  Some people say I top from the bottom. Maybe I do. I don’t care. It works for me. I’ve even submitted to Walker. Ever since we started dating, he’s the only Dom I submit to at Surrender. Though I don’t think he likes it very much. He’s not a sadist. He doesn’t like to hurt me. He’d much prefer I climb up onto his lap and snuggle.

  I shiver. That’s just not me.

  “Stella?” Amy’s voice jerks me back to the present. How long have I been in my head?

  “Sorry. I was thinking about what you said.”

  “Why don’t you come visit?”

  “Blossom Ridge? I don’t think so.”

  “Why not? Maybe come with your mystery man.”

  “Definitely not.”

  “Well, it’s a standing offer. I’d love to spend some time with you. It’s been a while since we saw each other. Maybe you could come on a night when no guests are booked. It would be less stressful.”

  “I’ll think about it.” I chew on my bottom lip. Could I do that? I don’t think so. I’d be uncomfortable watching Amy
and Foster together. Not to mention Leah and Craig—the managers of the resort. I know them too.

  Right? Or would I simply be jealous? Probably the latter. Though I don’t have any idea why.

  Plus, I wouldn’t go away for a few days without Walker. And there’s no way I would go to an age-play resort with him. He’d get the wrong idea and think I was considering submitting to him in that fashion. I’m not.

  “I need to go,” Amy says. “Lunch isn’t making itself. I’ll call you again soon.”

  “Okay. Love you, Amy.”

  “Love you too, Stella.”

  I’m exhausted as I end the call. I feel drained. She’s made me think too hard, and I don’t like to do that. Thinking makes me question myself, and questioning myself leads to scary places.

  Chapter 2

  Walker

  * * *

  “You’re awfully quiet tonight,” I say as I lean forward, setting my elbows on the table. We’re at a nice Italian restaurant. I didn’t have time to go home after I got out of court today, so I’m still in a suit and tie. I know Stella likes it when I’m in a suit, so I didn’t bother to rush home and make us late.

  Stella looks stunning as usual. She’s wearing what she calls her little black dress. She has several of them though. And they are sexy as fuck. It’s totally worth it to pick her up in a suit because she rewards me by wearing stilettos and tight dresses that show off her cleavage. I really love this particular dress because it’s backless, which means she’s not wearing a bra.