There was movement at the flower-draped entrance to the giant, white-cloth-covered pavilion, easily as big as a circus tent, where dinner would be served. Three little brunette flower girls appeared, my nieces, dressed in their fancy gowns, chucking the pink and peach flower petals from their white satin baskets like baseballs. From the moment they met Swan at a family dinner my sister had hosted for us after I'd healed up a bit, they'd fallen in love with her, constantly wanting to brush her hair and do her makeup. They kind of treated Swan like a big doll, but she didn't seem to mind. When I had my nieces over to spend the night, Swan spent the entire evening with them painting their nails, watching cartoons, and eating their body weight in brownies. Seeing her so at ease with them had been a punch to the gut in the best way, knowing that someday she'd have the same patience and love with our kids.

Next came the ring bearer, one of Swan's young cousins from Mimi's side of the family, a dark-haired kid who stared at my nieces. I narrowed my eyes at the way he gawked at them, not sure if he was scared or fascinated. Either way, I needed to keep an eye on him.

Julia followed them in a slinky pink silk gown that showed more of her curves than I was comfortable seeing. My brother-in-law, Tricks, was home and it looked like he was on his way to a medical discharge. His back was screwed up, and after the loss of Veronica, he didn't have the heart to leave my sister and nieces. At the thought of Veronica, I closed my eyes for a moment and said a silent prayer that wherever she was, she was happy and I asked my parents to take care of her.

Once the girls were done flinging flower petals and settled into their seats, Lyric came out of the pavilion tent, her head held high and her long, wavy, brown hair flowing down her back. She looked cool and composed, but her flowers trembled visibly, and she kept nervously licking her lips. I fiddled with the edge of my jacket and watched as Lyric, Swan's best friend, walked down the aisle in a silver sparkly gown that hugged her voluptuous hourglass figure usually hidden by dowdy clothing.

She'd shown up without an escort from the cult, but appeared worn down and exhausted at the party. Right now she seemed fine with a bright blush staining her cheeks and her light brown eyes sparkled. I made a mental note to get my guys to keep an eye on her tonight. With her innocence, she was like a sheep among wolves, and I wasn't going to deal with Swan being pissed because Lyric got her heart broken by one of my friends. She glanced at my groomsmen and blushed harder, but I had no idea if she was looking at Hustler or Tom.

The last bridesmaid was Indigo, Swan's hippy friend who could easily pass for an Asian Bettie Page with an elaborate floral tattoo sleeve taking up her entire left arm from wrist to shoulder. She sashayed down the aisle, leaving a trail of gaping mouths in the wake of her well rounded, rolling hips working her tight dress. The look she gave one of my groomsman wasn't timid in the least, rather a bold sexual challenge along with a heavy dose of disdain. When I glanced over to see who it was, both Tom and Hustler were looking straight ahead with identical frowns while Beach was grinning.

Sarah came in last and strutted her way down the carpet looking good in her form fitting silver dress. Her body had bounced back nicely from her pregnancy due to her hard work, and she knew it. Her smile was radiant, lighting her up from within, but it wasn't for me. Nope, she was beaming at my best man, her husband, Beach. They'd gotten married in Vegas a month after I got out of the hospital, and we were sharing our reception together. The girls were really keen on the idea, and whatever Sarah and Swan wanted, we gave them.

All thoughts about anything or anyone other than Swan fled my mind as she appeared on her father's arm, wearing a long, draped white gown that clung to her figure and made my pants tighten uncomfortably. Her dress had to be silk because nothing else shimmered and flowed like that as she slowly walked toward me. What I liked best of all was that beneath that clinging silk, on her right hip, a tattoo of my dragon curved over her pubic bone, guarding my treasure.

Her beautiful, blonde hair hung long, but she'd put waves in it that reached her waist, and her elaborate veil shimmered with crystals. At the time, I couldn't figure out how the fuck a veil could cost a couple grand, but now that I saw it on Swan, I would've paid five times what I spent on it. The top of the dress was nice and tight, giving her some rockin' cleavage, and when I finally looked up to her face I felt like I'd been punched in the gut.

Beautiful. Amazing. Mine.

This woman had killed for me, fought for me, and saved my life in more ways than one.

The audience laughed as I broke tradition to walk toward her, and she giggled, the flash of her smile doing heady things to me. They took it slow, because technically, Swan should have been using a cane to help her walk. She had threatened to shoot me if I mentioned it one more time, so Mike and I had agreed to support her up and down the aisle. Mike handed her off with a grumble and some warnings about death and dismemberment, but I ignored him, too caught up in my woman's beauty. We just stood there and stared at each other for a long moment, her eyes shining for me like I was the most amazing thing she'd ever seen.

The new scar on my jaw from my time spent in Chief's gentle care, pulled a little when I smiled, but I didn't give a shit. Every ache, every pain was proof that I was alive and whole. And goddamn was I thankful for that right about now. My baby girl's smile was so bright it was like looking into the sun, and I grinned as I caught sight of the gleaming, turquoise wrist cuffs I'd given her the night she met my sister. I fuckin' loved that. She wore my cuffs, she was marked by my bite on the side of her neck, she wore my patch, and soon she'd have my name and my ring. I was so goddamned blessed. Gratitude overwhelmed me that at the end of all the bullshit in my life I had this beautiful young woman waiting for me with open arms.

She placed her hand over mine and leaned into me as I led her to the flower-covered archway, trusting me to take care of her, because she knew she was the most important thing in the world to me.

Now and forever.

The End Coming up next in the Iron Horse MC series, Beach and Sarah's book. In their story we get to see into the past including how they met, fell in love and what happened from Sarah's point of view when she was chasing after her mom and how she pulled a miracle out of her ass in order to save the lives of everyone she loves.

A Thank You from Fated Desires

Thank you so much for reading Exquisite Danger! The Iron Horse MC series is just starting and we're glad you had a chance to read it. We do hope if you liked this, that you would please leave a review from where you purchased this or on another platform. Not only does a review spread the word to other readers, they let us know if you'd like to see more stories like this from us. Ann loves to hear from readers and talks to them when she can. You can reach her through her website and through her Facebook and Twitter accounts. You guys are the reason we get to do what we do and we thank you.

If you are looking for more stories like these, you don't have to wait much longer! Ann is cooking up new works in this series and a few others. Also, we have a few new authors coming that will be sure to whet your appetite.

If you'd like to know more about Fated Desires, check out our website or email us at admin@FatedDesires.com.

You can always find out more about the upcoming titles from Fated Desires by signing up for our MAILING LIST.

About the Author.

With over thirty published books, Ann is Queen of the Castle to her wonderful husband and three sons in the mountains of West Virginia. In her past lives she's been an Import Broker, a Communications Specialist, a US Navy Civilian Contractor, a Bartender/Waitress, and an actor at the Michigan Renaissance Festival. She also spent a summer touring with the Grateful Dead-though she will deny to her children that it ever happened.

From a young age she's been fascinated by myths and fairytales, and the romance that was often the center of the story. As Ann grew older and her hormones kicked in, she discovered trashy romance novels. Great at first, but she soon grew tired of the endless stories with a big wonderful emotional buildup to really short and crappy sex. Never a big fan of purple prose, throbbing spears of fleshy pleasure and wet honey pots make her giggle, she sought out books that gave the sex scenes in the story just as much detail and plot as everything else-without using cringe worthy euphemisms. This led her to the wonderful world of Erotic Romance, and she's never looked back.

Now Ann spends her days trying to tune out cartoons playing in the background to get into her 'sexy space' and has accepted that her Muse has a severe case of ADD.

Ann loves to talk with her fans, as long as they realize she's weird and that sarcasm doesn't translate well via text.

Also From This Author Now Available Submissive's Wish Ivan's Captive Submissive Dimitri's Forbidden Submissive The Chosen Cursed Blessed Dreamer Iron Horse MC Exquisite Trouble Exquisite Danger Bondmates Casey's Warriors Coming Soon Other Titles The Dark Fates Anthology Iron Horse MC TBA.

Submissive's Wish Excerpt: Ivan's Captive Submissive Did you enjoy this selection? Why not try another romance from Fated Desires?

Ivan's Captive Submissive by Ann Mayburn

Chapter One.

Gia Lopez stood in a staging area for the submissive auction with a line of women covered in sheer black robes. Her long, light brown hair was twisted back into an intricate braid that was a work of art, but she desperately wished she'd gotten plastic surgery to take care of her big nose before agreeing to this. The other women scheduled to be sold off with her were beautiful, each perfect and lovely in their own way.

She felt like a sparrow surrounded by peacocks.

While Gia possessed enough self-worth to admit she was cute with her dimples and big brown eyes, she'd never be breathtaking like the auburn haired sex-bomb submissive next to her. Gia had a slender figure from her daily jogging, but with her small breasts she felt like a boy when compared with the curvy submissive.

Why couldn't Gia have gone after someone who wasn't a pinup girl?

Mistress Alice, a tall, blonde Domme, walked down the line of submissives. They were gathered in what looked like parlor with all the furniture moved out. Elegant watercolors still graced the walls and a tasteful chandelier bathed the room in a low, golden light. The door to the room where the auction would take place was currently closed, but from her orientation earlier, Gia knew that on the other side there was a curtained area to hide them from the audience. Then, the scariest of all, a stage where she would be sold to the highest bidder.

Mistress Alice paused now and again to point out something she wanted changed with a submissive's hair or makeup and took a moment to speak with each woman. Up at the front of the line, a few men in brown leather loincloths presented a nice visual treat as they were oiled up by a trio of giggling submissives.

Mistress Alice stopped before Gia and slowly inspected her from head to toe. When she spotted the gold barbells piercing Gia's nipples through the sheer cloth of the gown, she smiled. "Lovely touch against your nicely tanned skin. The gold works much better than silver."

"Thank you, Mistress Alice." Gia curtsied as she'd been trained and Mistress Alice's gaze warmed.

The Domme tilted her head and studied Gia's face. "You're Mistress Viola and Master Mark's girl from South Carolina, Gia."

"Yes, Ma'am. Mistress Viola and Master Mark were my trainers."

"Lovely couple. I met them once at a Domme convention in Las Vegas. They told me to keep an eye on you, that you have quite a temper and are very high spirited."

Gia flushed and dropped her gaze. "I'm working on that, Mistress Alice."

"Well don't work on it too hard." She leaned closer and whispered, "Some of us like a subs with fire in their veins. We like the challenge and the constant battle for your submission."

Gia started as the other woman gently bit her earlobe before leaning back. "Am I understood?"

A soft rush of desire went through Gia and she licked her lower lip. "Yes, Mistress."

The desire unfurled gently in her belly as she relived her training and how she owed her trainers a debt she could never repay. It had been a unique experience to work with Mistress Viola and Master Mark. Together they'd helped her start her transformation into the kind of submissive she yearned to be. They'd also given her glorious orgasms that swept the world away and left her existing as a being of pure pleasure. Not only did they train her physically, they helped her learn how to love herself just the way she was.

Mistress Viola was a plump, curvy, delicious armful of woman. By today's standards she was considered overweight, but back in the 1950's she would have been the ultimate in female beauty. Gia had yet to see a man who didn't gravitate to Mistress Viola in a room, no matter how many other women were there. The fact that her husband, the more traditionally handsome Master Mark, loved her beyond reason helped more than anything else to make Gia believe that maybe there was a man out there that could love her just as she was and give her the confidence to become the woman she wanted to be.

Beautiful, elegant, and loved.

Well, she wasn't loved yet, but she would be. She had faith her Master was out there, looking for her. The thought of him being here tonight, maybe waiting for her in the audience, sent an ache of longing through her. The practical part of her mind scoffed at the idea of soul mates and fate, but the romantic side of her nature insisted anything was possible.

A petite mahogany-skinned woman who reminded Gia of a pixie came up to Mistress Alice and knelt at her feet. "Mistress, Master Martin wishes me to inform you we have fifteen minutes until we begin."

Mistress Alice nodded. "Thank you, Tilly." She smiled at Gia, "Have fun, sweet girl. Whoever gets you is going to have their hands full."

"Thank you, Mistress." Gia bent into a graceful curtsey.

The pair went farther down the line and Gia tried to slow her breathing. The redhead in front of Gia turned around and gave her a warm and dazzling smile. "First time?"

"Yes. Is it painfully obvious?"

"Yep. First timers are pretty easy to spot. You're the only ones who aren't excited. My name is Iris."

"Gia. Nice to meet you." Gia smiled and smoothed her hands against the sheer robe. "I take it by your lack of panic attacks you've done this before?"

"Oh, yes. This is my third time." Iris gave a dreamy smile. "After the first auction, I was bought by a lovely Dominant couple. At the second auction, I met my husband, who is also my Master."

Gia tilted her head in confusion. As far as she knew, this auction was for single, uncollared submissives. "If you have a Master, why are you doing this again?"

The woman laughed and fingered her collar. "Because he wants to win me all over again."

Gia couldn't help a small stab of envy. "That's very romantic."

A chime sounded three times, silencing all conversation. All of the submissives turned towards the sound, and the redhead leaned over to whisper into Gia's ear, "Don't freak out. Whoever you end up with is going to be one of the best Masters in the world. If you click, great. If you don't, then you will, at the very least, come away from the experience as a better submissive. Besides, all of the Masters have your fantasies available to them, and only a Master or Mistress interested in fulfilling your fantasies will bid on you."

Gia laced her fingers together, trying to keep her anxiety at bay. She didn't want to start shaking like a scared puppy. "That's what worries me." She lowered her voice and leaned closer to Iris. "I shared a bottle of wine, or two, with my girlfriend before I filled my form out, and I'm afraid the fantasies I submitted are a little more...frank. Let's just say I was super honest about what my deepest, darkest desires are. Like, embarrassingly honest. When I read what I had already submitted the next morning, I couldn't look myself in the mirror for the rest of the day without feeling like a pervert."

Iris giggled. "Oh, that does sound interesting. Care to share what one of those fantasies were?"

A stern man's voice range out over the crowd. "Ladies, eyes on me."

They turned and Gia recognized Master Martin, the man who ran the Submissive's Wish Charity Auction and owner of this elegant mansion. Tonight, the distinguished man wore a dashing black tux with an expertly tied red and black bowtie that nicely set off his greying hair. His presence filled the room and all conversation stopped.

Raising his arms, he smiled. "Welcome to the twenty eighth annual Submissive's Wish Charity Auction. Some of your faces are well known to me as members, and others are delightful new additions to our evening. Whether new or old, I encourage all of you to make the most of the opportunities presented to you tonight. Allow yourselves to embrace your submission and give yourselves the freedom to enjoy the fantasies your Masters or Mistresses create for you without useless shame or misplaced guilt. For the next week, you will be at your Masters' or Mistresses' beck and call. You will find yourself challenged, pushed beyond what you thought you could endure but, in the end, it will all be worth it."

A nervous giggle came from a few of the submissives and Master Martin smiled, then his expression turned serious again. "Let me take this opportunity to emphasize once again that your happiness is the most important part of this auction. If you are purchased by someone that you do not wish to have sexual relations with you are by no means obligated to do so. The only thing the Master or Mistress that win's you gets is your company. It is up to them to try to seduce you and make you fall under their wicked spell."

Barely stifling a wistful sigh, Gia wondered if she was really ready for this. Yes, she'd submitted to Mistress Viola and Master Mark while training, but she'd never managed to achieve subspace. After listening enviously to the way the other submissives talked about it, she really wanted to experience it but, truthfully, didn't know if she could. She'd tried with a couple of local Doms that she was friendly with back home in Myrtle Beach. While the sex had been great, she'd never even gotten close to achieving that floaty, orgasmic feeling the other submissives described. It made her feel like a failure as a submissive that she couldn't get into the right headspace for her Dominants.

Hell, if whoever won her here couldn't top her, maybe she should consider becoming a Domme.

Master Martin's deep voice interrupted her dark thoughts. "You will soon be blindfolded and ear buds will be put into your ears so you cannot hear. We want you to focus on yourself, on your goals, on what you hope to gain from this experience. Not on what is happening around you."

Gia shifted nervously and the air around her became charged and crackled with tense energy.

"Don't worry about how you'll walk or move around while blindfolded. You will each be escorted onto stage by an experienced submissive." He looked up and down the line. "Any questions? No? Such a quiet and trusting group of submissives we have here tonight."

Everyone chuckled, then a curvaceous dark skinned Dominatrix towards the back of the line raised her hand. "Master Martin?"

Master Martin smiled. "Our lovely Mistress Vivienne. What is your question?"

Mistress Vivienne smiled. "This girl," she pointed to the petite woman with a riot cute dark curls in front of her, "is worried she may end up with some serial killer."

The submissive flushed beet red and seemed to sink in on herself. Gia felt sorry for her, but she'd been wondering about that as well. Of course, this auction had been running for twenty-eight years without incident, and everyone had been highly screened, but all it took was one bad apple to end her life. Great. Now she was nervous and scared. It seemed like her brain would never turn all the way off and let her relax.

She liked being in control of her life, leaving nothing to chance or fate, but being constantly on her guard was mentally and emotionally draining. She hated not having control over what was happening to her, which was probably why she had such a hard time submitting. It took trust in the unknown to let someone truly inside your mind and heart during a scene and to totally let go. So far, no one had managed to breech the walls around her soul. That was fine, she was in no hurry to get serious...though it would be nice to have someone to cuddle with at night and wake up to in the morning. Someone to share holidays with and someone who would not only satisfy her physically, but also intellectually. She thought about being in some faceless man's arms as they watched the sunrise over the Atlantic ocean together and let out a sigh.

Master Martin cleared his throat and her attention returned to him. "As we have a larger than usual number of visiting submissives for this auction, I will reiterate what our members already know. There is not a single Master or Mistress out in the audience tonight I wouldn't trust my own submissive with....though I doubt any of them could actually handle Mrs. Martin." He waited for the polite laughter to die down before continuing. "Every single one of our bidders has gone through extensive background checks and have been members in high standing of their local clubs for a minimum of five years. While nothing in life is ever guaranteed, I take the safety of every man and woman here very seriously. Does that answer your question, darling girl?"

The blushing woman dipped into an elegant curtsey and said in a lightly accented voice, "Yes, Sir. Thank you, Master Martin."

"You are most welcome. Anymore questions?"

"Sir?" A willowy woman with short blonde hair held her hand up.

"Yes."

"Will I have access to my luggage at all times? I'm a diabetic and will need to be able to get to my medication."

"Of course. The suitcase we asked you to bring has all of your important identification, including your passports, and medication inside along with a change of clothes. We've also included two thousand dollars, cash. If you feel uncomfortable and you'd like to leave you can do so without having to rely on anyone to help you." An uneasy murmur went through the submissives and he gave them a bemused smile. "We haven't had a single submissive leave before their time was up, but we like to make sure that you feel as comfortable as possible."

"Any other last minute questions?"

Silence blanketed the room and Gia laced her fingers together again. Her background check had taken six months. By the time it was done, they knew everything about her-from who her best friend had been in elementary school to her preferences in food. She hoped the Dominants had to go through background checks as thorough. This whole experience was so outside her comfort zone that it was quickly turning into something surreal, like a confusing dream where the scenes changed too quickly to really get a grasp on what was happening.

If it wasn't for the fact the money raised from her auction would go directly to her charity of choice, she'd be tempted to pretend to be sick and run as far and as fast as she could. Then she'd probably spend the rest of her life kicking herself in the ass for missing the opportunity to serve a true Master, however temporarily. No, she wasn't going to chicken out. She wasn't quitter and she certainly wasn't going to let her fear rule her now. Though the thought of hiding in a bathroom with a fifth of tequila to gain some liquid courage seemed like a great idea.

She was such a basket case.

When no one spoke up, Mr. Martin gestured toward the back of the room. "Let me introduce you to the men and women who will help you navigate the stage."