RangeMan Reading Club: Selection One
Hal’s POV
We sensed a problem when we realized Sis was reading The Art of War.
She’s already sneaky enough. If she’s really trying to hone her skills, we’d have another Les here. That’s nerve racking.
Vince pointed out the obvious. The Art of War is thin. Barely 100 pages. Certainly not novel sized. Still, it is an amazing book. Maybe she’d picked up a critical review edition, with a bunch of academics parsing every phrase. It would make sense. It’s one of Ranger’s favorites.
Sis is devoted to the book. She reads it all the time, during meetings, during dinner, during lunch. You could be in the middle of a serious discussion with her and see her eyes slide toward the book with a barely concealed eagerness.
We’re getting lots of things approved lately because she’s in a great mood.
We decided to encourage this behavior. Each man brought in his favorite book on military tactics, philosophy, and leadership. We thought about starting a RangeMan book club. OK, yeah, it’s girly but think of the discussions (and bragging) we could have if each man in RangeMan started discussing his favorite books!
Steph look surprised by the idea but she approved it. The liaisons will head it up and get a schedule going.
Manny thinks we’re idiots. He suggested we check the book and make absolutely sure she’s reading The Art of War. “I’m not saying Wifey isn’t reading it,” he said. “I just don’t think it’s likely. I’m betting she’s got a dust jacket over what she’s really reading.”
We considered it. Ram’s been tasked to find out. He’s the sneakiest one of us all.
Meanwhile, every man in Trenton is refreshing his memory on The Art of War. The ones who haven’t read it bought a copy. We can’t wait to discuss it with her.
Hector’s POV
After Ranger’s words at the beach, I’ve tried to stay out of Angelita and Ranger’s relationship. Ranger was right. I’d overstepped. I took my anger at the Burg and the bookie out on Ranger. He was aware his behavior with Angelita had made her life more difficult.
He did not need me to add to the pain and embarrassment of that.
I know Angelita loves Ranger. Ranger knew Angelita loved him but they’d both been too chicken to admit it. Now, things are different. Something has changed. Angelita‘s making changes to the apartment upstairs. Ranger is curious and asking me what she’s doing, but I don’t know and if I did I wouldn’t tell him.
Ranger is sighing. Loudly. He’s nervous about what she’s up to.
He’s making some changes too. Quiet, seismic changes.
Ranger’s talking.
That surprises me, but I’m chalking it up to the distance of the op. If Tank were running this op with him, they could have the usual ten word conversation, but I’m a passionate Latin man. I do everything with gusto. Ranger has to use words with me.
This behavior is translating to Angelita. Hal, Ram, and I always know when Angelita has just gotten off the phone with Ranger. The tenseness of her shoulders disappears and she smiles easier.
Still, the op needs to end soon. Angelita does not do well with restrictions.
“Sir?”
Johannes, my network admin in Boston. Johannes was an MIT grad who served in the military. He’s still stunned and embarrassed at how easily I wormed my way through his network safeguards when he applied to RangeMan, which is why he does his best to impress me constantly. I let him know I’m proud. He does a good job. I overheard him tell Mark, “Hector is a fucking genius. I did stuff that I did in the military and he slid through it as if I had left it undefended.”
I hired him because he had done a damn good job. I exploited a brand new vulnerability, one that had just been exposed before he had his interview. I wanted to see how good he was, but I also want to make sure my men stay up to date with all the latest threats and vulnerabilities. After all, that’s how I ended up with Silvio’s job.
“Johannes?”
“I’m seeing odd traffic on the network, sir. Odd searches, something that I think might be outside our Acceptable Use Policy. I was wondering if there’s something special going on in Trenton.”
“Why?”
“Well, sir, I see searches for ‘BSDM club’, munch, kink, dom, dominant, sub, riding crop +dom—”
“It’s not Halloween, Johannes.” I’m not amused by this. Johannes does have an odd sense of humor.
My email pings. Johannes zipped the traffic he was seeing and emailed it. I look at the search terms again, think for a moment, and nearly laugh my ass off.
“Can you isolate that traffic to a single computer?”
“No, sir. It’s coming from the Trenton branch. That’s all I know.”
Good. “Fine. I’ll investigate.”
“Yes, sir.” Click.
BDSM? I wonder who passed Angelita a copy of ‘50 Shades of Grey‘. Had to be Connie or ML. Probably ML. I know about this book only because Nikki was addicted to it at one point. I picked it up, read a passage and put it down thinking women read weird shit. Regency novels, Harlequins, now this? Nikki needed new reading material.
I bought another Discworld novel for her.
Mystery solved. I wonder who had the bright idea to cover it in ‘The Art of War‘. Still, this presents all kinds of opportunities to tease Angelita.
I lock my computer and head to Angelita‘s office. I pop my head in. “Yo.”
She’s reading, wide-eyed. My greeting causes her to lose her balance in the chair. All four legs of the chair land hard on the floor. I hide a smile. “I’m headed to Pino’s. Want some?”
I’m tempted to read this book. Pino’s is a sure-fire bribe but Angelita looks conflicted. “OK . . . ” She locks her computer, grabs her keys and gun, and follows me to the stairwell. We climb into the SUV. Angelita‘s driving, our new compromise. We take turns.
“So, I see you’re reading The Art of War. That’s one of my favorites.”
Angelita swallows hard and looks over. “Really?”
I nod. “Yes. I think Sun Tzu’s discussion on the use of spies to be a seminal piece on the value of soft tactics. I use it constantly. It’s also one of Les’s favorite parts.”
“Oh,” Angelita says, embarrassed. “I don’t think I’ve made it to that part yet.”
I nod. “It’s the last chapter. I won’t ruin it for you, though. I’ll allow you to enjoy it.” I smile. “So, what’s your favorite part of chapter one?”
Angelita looks like a deer caught in headlights. I’m fighting to not laugh out loud at her. “Um . . . well, that first sentence is really . . . thought provoking.” She nods as if willing me to take over. I shake my head and motion for her to continue. “It, uh, really drew me into the book.”
I nod. “Yes. That first sentence is classic. Really, the first two sentences. Every soldier knows them. It’s a part of the ethos here to know them.”
“Really?” I nod. “Every soldier?”
I smile. “Well, since I’m not military, maybe not,”—she exhales—”but certainly every man at RangeMan leadership knows them. It’s impossible to be in leadership and not know them.”
Steph purses her lips. “So in other words, there’s another unwritten expectation at RangeMan that I knew nothing about?”
I shrug. I see what’s she’s about to do. “It’s not an expectation. I’m simply stating a fact. This is a company largely run by military men. I’m the only man in top leadership that’s not military and you aren’t military. They were all officers. This would have been a part of their education.”
“So how did you end up reading it?”
“Les. They didn’t know what I might need to know to defend my life, but Les thinks life is only half lived if you don’t know how to get into the minds of your enemies.” I smile. “I learned. Fast. I had enemies. I have enemies. I needed to know how to outwit them.” I grin at her. She looks thoughtful. “I was a computer geek. Nearly no experience with a gun. If I intended to stay alive, I had to learn how to expect a strike.”
“No experience with a gun?” Angelita looks mystified.
I nod. “Computer geek. I had less experience than you.” Her mouth drops. “Tank kept me in the lanes until it was second nature to me. Anyway, enough about me. What’s your favorite part of the book so far?”
I’m watching her. She clearly wants to change subjects. “Umm . . . well, the title is odd. The Art of War? Is war art? I always thought war was deadly.” She looks relieved to have come up with such a good way to spin this off.
This will be a fun lunch.
Meanwhile, back at RangeMan
Ella’s POV
I normally clean Stephanie’s office around lunch. I try not to move her piles. That’s her organization method, not mine. I just try to dust around it.
I remove her shoes from the middle of the floor, dust the bookshelves, add water to her flowers, and straighten her piles. I notice the book laying face down and I pick it up. I hate seeing books laying face down. I hate seeing broken book spines.
“Anastasia, these objects.” He holds up the butt plug. “This is a size too big. As an anal virgin, you don’t want to start with this. We want to start with this.” He holds up his pinkie finger, and I gasp, shocked. Fingers … there? He smirks at me, and the unpleasant thought of the anal fisting mentioned in the contract comes to mind.
“Just finger—singular,” he says softly with that uncanny ability he has to read my mind. My eyes dart to his. How does he do that?
“These clamps are vicious.” He prods the nipple clamps. “We’ll use these.” He places a different pair of clamps on the chest. They look like giant black hairpins but with little jet jewels hanging down. “They’re adjustable,” Christian murmurs, his voice laced with gentle concern.
I blink up at him, wide-eyed. Christian, my sexual mentor. He knows so much more about all of this than I do. I’ll never catch up. I frown. He knows more than me about most things … except cooking.
I turn the book back over, heat warming my cheeks. Good lord, what on earth is Stephanie reading? I look at the top of the page.
50 Shades Darker.
I’ve never heard of this book. I poke my head out of Stephanie’s office and look for a RangeMan. Ram’s walking down the hall. Perfect.
“Ram?”
He turns. “Yes, Ella?”
“Will you knock and let me know when Stephanie returns? Before she gets to this floor, please.”
Ram smiles. “Yes, Ella.”
I smile and close the door. I use a sticky note to mark Stephanie’s place then begin reading chapter one. By the time Ram sticks his head back through the door, an hour has gone by and I’m at chapter three. I’m mesmerized by this. It’s weird and kinky at the same time. This girl has no backbone or self-respect but I bet there’s more to her. I hope so. I’m ready to smack her.
“Ella?” I look up, barely willing to drag my eyes from the page. Ram looks very happy. “Are you interested in joining our reading club?”
“Reading club?”
“Yeah.” He nods at the book. “That’s our first book. You look like you’re enjoying it.”
I stare at him for a moment before checking the book jacket. The Art of War. Of course. The boys would find this appropriate. “Well . . . I suppose so.”
Ram beams. “Great! Hey, do you think all the housekeepers might want to join? You ladies are ninjas and you’ll have a unique perspective.”
I nod, silently, and Ram smiles and walks out. I roll my eyes up to the ceiling.
Dear lord. What have I signed the ladies up for?
Ram’s POV
USMC Scout Sniper Qualified! I don’t miss details.
Ella and Steph are reading 50 Shades Darker. I look the title up while walking to Hal’s office. Candy is there. So is Junior.
“50 Shades Darker.”
Candy laughs, clapping. “I thought so. I loved that book.” She stops and stares upward. “I wonder if she has any plans for that riding crop from Miami.”
Hal, Junior and I look at each other. “Why?” Hal asks. I stop my search. I guess Candy’s read this.
Candy smiled wickedly. “Wait here.” She leaves and returns with her Kindle. She reads us a passage and looks up.
Hal’s red and clearly afraid.
Junior’s red and clearly afraid.
Me? I have no idea what color I am, but my balls are putting up an official protest. No whips, no floggers, no being chained up. No butt plugs! No fucking way I’m getting fucked like that.
“What kind of shit are you ladies reading?” I breathe, unwilling to believe what I just heard.
“Yeah, that’s 50 shades of dirty, kinky fuckery,” Junior says, eyes wide. I agree. My ass tingles.
Candy stares at us, fierce. “No, it’s a bad description of a consensual sexual activity that’s much more common than people believe. What happens in this book is a description of a molested individual using sex as a weapon against others meeting a woman who won’t allow him to use her like that. His desire for her leads him to improve but until he truly lets go of his past, there’s lots of kinky sex.” She grins. “And kinky sex happily ever after.”
“Give me porno,” Junior says, shaking his head. Hal grins at him.
Candy rolls her eyes. “Ever watch anal in porno?” Junior turns red instantly. “Uh huh. Hypocrite. You’ll watch it, but the idea of you wearing a butt plug—”
“OK OK, I get it.” Junior is clearly uncomfortable with this conversation. So am I. Watching a DP scene is one thing. Reading about it is another.
“Oh come on,” Candy says. “You mean to tell me you men have never thought about the pleasure of handing out a good spanking to your sexual partner?” Candy’s voice was sultry saying that and my pants tighten. Yeah, I’ve fantasized about it but that’s not what she just read. “Tying her down? Having her complete compliance to your will? You’ve never once thought about what it would be like to sleep with a woman who obediently does your every wish? Whatever you want? However you want?”
OK, Candy’s gotta stop. Just the thought has me horny and ready to go. I open my eyes and look at her. She’s red-faced and hiding her laughter. I look at Junior and Hal. They both look as dazed as I feel and each of us immediately turns red all over again.
“Men are turned on by visuals. I just painted a visual picture for you and all three of you got into it. Women? Stimulate our minds. That’s why men watch porno and women read romantic novels.”
“You watch,” Hal whispers and Junior and I grin.
Candy laughs. “I like to keep up with theory. Makes application much more fun.” She gives Hal a sultry look that makes me hate Hal for half a second. His woman is hot, educated, and she likes porno?
There’s just no justice in the world. The most innocent one of us got the freak!
“You watch porno?” Junior says, amazed.
“Yes,” Candy replies. I’m shocked. “Plenty of women watch porno. Why? Are you guys surprised? You didn’t think women watched?”
“Well . . . no,” I mutter.
She laughs. “Go to Google, type in ‘It’s not porn, it’s HBO’, and watch that.” Hal searches, we watch the YouTube video and crack up. “Exactly. On HBO, the same stuff is considered ‘drama’, not porn. It’s a thin line.”
“Semantics,” I reply. “There is a story to go along with that.”
“Exactly,” Candy says, amused. “A woman reading erotica gets to construct the movie in her mind, with her preferred actors and she’s the star of the show. Literary vs. visual.” She raises the Kindle and I concede temporary defeat. “Now, should I switch to The Story of O?”
“NO!” we all yell. I have no idea what’s in it, but Candy’s smile leads me to think it’s dirtier.
Have I become a prude? Or are women bigger freaks than men?
Junior and I shake our heads and leave. As I’m closing the door, I hear Hal say, “Please tell me you don’t want to tie me up. And no butt plugs. I need to hear you say it.”
Amen, brother.
Steph’s POV
Hec and I spent lunch at Pino’s discussing The Art of War.
I have no idea what it’s about. I’m in the middle of 50 Shades Darker.
ML passed me the first book, 50 Shades of Grey, with a look of excited eagerness that I haven’t seen since she found a condom in Lenny’s wallet in high school.
“Steph, you’ll never believe it! You have to read this.”
I looked at the book and sighed. “ML, I have enough stuff to read—”
“Not like this you don’t,” she interrupted. She grinned big. “Make that a priority. I promise you, you won’t regret it.”
I finally started reading it a few nights ago before bed and I didn’t go to sleep for hours. Even knowing I had to hit the gym in the morning didn’t stop me. I was hooked. Caught. Enthralled. I kept wondering what would happen next.
Christian Grey had taken lessons from Ranger, only Ranger isn’t that fucked up and I’m no Ana.
I found it hard to like her at first. Christian kept demanding that she accept cars, tracking devices, jobs, and electronics from him and she took most of it. She barely put up a protest. He wanted to dictate her meals and exercise. He wanted to dictate how much sleep she got.
I was definitely feeling some Shades of Ranger from him.
Occasionally, she’d put up a protest and I kept waiting for her to say, “No Ranger—” I mean, “No Christian, I’ll eat what I want, I sleep when I want, and if you don’t like it, screw you.” I mean, that’s my standard response. But nope . . . she barely fought and she never listened!
I know Ranger says ‘No price’ but there is a price. I keep waiting (and reading) to figure out when she’ll figure that out.
I’m halfway through the second book and I’ve realized that Ana and I have very little in common. Aside from the fact that I’m at least a decade older than her, she lacks common sense. I might not be the smartest woman all the time but I’m a Jersey girl. I grew up around Mob bosses, schizophrenics, and gossips. My internal radar for bullshit is well established. She fell for basic tricks then didn’t want anyone to get mad at her. She’d whine about how she could make her own decisions and I’d snort and think, “Then make a smart one, for Christ’s sake!”
Irony, meet Stephanie Plum.
Christian was serious about controlling her day, her movements, her life. He bought her employers so he could control her job. He was a freakin’ control freak! I put the book down and ate a cookie, thinking that I’d gotten lucky.
Ranger never put those kinds of restrictions on me, never even attempted to. He might ask that I accept a bodyguard when the threat level was high but otherwise, I was free to do my own thing. I didn’t have to work for him and while he might tease me about my food choices, he never dictated what I could eat. He never dictated exercise and he never pushed our sexual boundaries beyond what I was comfortable with.
Ranger and Christian Grey have nothing in common and I’m glad I have Ranger.
In the meantime, the sex is . . .
I wonder if Ranger will ever let me tie him down?
After lunch, Hector motions for the keys and we hop into the truck. We stop outside Pleasure Treasures. I raise an eyebrow and Hector chuckles. Sigh. Someday.
“Stay here, please.”
“OK . . . ” This is rare. Usually Hector wants me with him. Things happen to me but I guess he’s feeling confident. He returns in less than five minutes. We return to RangeMan and I return to my office.
Ella’s been in to clean and left everything nice and tidy. I notice the book is closed with a Post It marking the page and I wonder if Ella read any. I shake my head and sit, ready to attack the day’s mounting paperwork.
“Angelita?” I look up. Hector’s grinning. “Movie night tonight. Me and you. OK?”
“OK.”
Hector has that look on his face. I wonder what’s about to happen.
Tank’s POV
Lula’s got a new book. Something she won’t let me look at, but she giggles constantly and looks at me with an odd look on her face.
I’m on my guard. Last time she had that look on her face, I went to sleep single and woke up engaged.
I’m watching her carefully.
Something’s wrong.
I hear the whistle of the wind and a sharp ‘smack’. “Wake up, Tankie.”
I open my eyes and close them again. I don’t know if I want to laugh, cry, or stare.
Lula’s wearing a camo corset (where does she find this stuff?), see through panties, and high-heeled, camo boots. Lots of Lula spilling everywhere out of this outfit. Now, honestly, I can get into that.
That damn riding crop is keeping the Sgt. in the brig. He ain’t interested. Sir, no, sir!
“Lula Bear, the riding crop is a hard limit.” My eyes are still closed. I’m still trying to make a decision on laugh, cry, or stare.
“How you know about hard limits?”
I open my eyes, blank face in place. I’m going with stare.
“Lula Bear.”
“Tankie.”
The corners of my mouth tip up of their own accord. “I command soldiers. There’s not much kinky shit I haven’t heard of.”
“Really?” She smiles. “What if I let you spank me?”
The Sgt. wakes up and wonders if it’s safe to take a peek. “Is this something you’re interested in?”
Lula stares at me, a ‘Duh!’ look on her face. “I’ve done damn near everything. A little bondage and spanking won’t hurt me.”
I smile. The Sgt. is stretching, happy to take her up on her promise of morning exercise. “OK.” I sit up, motion her forward, and kiss her. I wrestle her back into the bed and keep her busy with my kisses while searching for my handcuffs. I finally find a pair, but Lula breaks the kiss.
“What are you doing with the cuffs?”
I smile. “Tying you up.” I look around. “Or down as the case may be.”
Lula looks a bit more nervous. “OK.”
I look at my fiancée and smile. “Safe word?”
“Cluck in a Bucket.”
I laugh. Fuck a word. Lula’s gonna make sure I know she’s reached her limit.
Lula’s POV
“OK, so for homework, you’ll need to read pages 111-151 and be prepared to discuss. Everyone hand in your papers and have a great day.”
I put my homework on the teacher’s desk and leave the building. I climb into the Escalade and make my way to my next stop.
Adult Video Megaplexx. I heard about it. Should make Pleasure Treasures seem tame.
The place lives up to its hype. I got some of everything in there. Massage oils, videos, dirty games and toys, everything we need to have some fun.
My ass still stings.
I know Tankie was pretty gentle with that riding crop, but that shit still hurts. Best orgasm I’ve had in years, though.
“Now, don’t get me wrong,” Tank said, rubbing his hand over my ass. He’d just smacked me and it was stinging fierce. “I’m usually not into this. But if you like it, I’ll play along.” He smacked me again, closer to my cooch and I was turned on and hurt at the same time.
“Any chance you’ll let me return the favor?”
It was quiet. I turned to look at Tank. He was looking at the riding crop.
“Tonight. But no tying me down.”
I was stunned. “Really?”
Tank nodded and smacked me gently with the riding crop. It stung and I rode out the wave of pleasure and pain. “BDSM is about trust. I trust you.”
“But not to tie you down.”
“That’s a safety issue. If you want me to stay still and not move, I can do that.”
“Oh. OK.”
By the time Tankie put that riding crop down, I’d already orgasmed without him. He laughed, playfully, and ‘punished’ me for having fun without him.
I look over at my bag of goodies. I hope that flogger is as much fun as the salesgirl said it might be.
Bobby’s POV
Tank came down this morning smiling.
Every man at RangeMan SA is wondering what that’s about. I mean, Lula handles hers and I know when they’ve had an extra good morning, but smiling?
I’m waiting for the shoe to drop.
He sent Maria on an errand this morning and he’s been working through the paperwork. I’m checking the men. At noon, there’s a knock on the door.
“Sir?”
I look up. “Maria,” I reply, smiling. “Need something?”
She giggles. “No. Tank asked me to purchase this and give it to you. The first selection in the RangeMan reading club.”
I smile. “Maria, I have The Art of War nearly memorized.”
She can barely contain her amusement. “I’m sure, but this is a different book.”
I take the package and she leaves. I look at this book.
50 Shades of Grey?
Sigh. Is this Lula’s idea of a joke?
“Sir?”
I’m barely able to tear my eyes away from this. The writing is terrible, the heroine is pathetic and the hero needs a swift kick in the ass. Why is everyone into this book? Besides the kinky sex that isn’t even that kinky? Clearly, the author has never been to a real BDSM club.
“Gonzo?”
He grins. “Rule one. If you’re going to read women’s erotica, please put a manly dust cover on it so we can continue to worship you. Rule two. The really kinky shit in that series doesn’t happen until book two.”
I sigh mentally. I’ve nicknamed Gonzo ‘the man most likely to die by his own mouth’ but I like him. There’s no filter between his mouth and his brain. “At ease, Gonzo. Nope, hold on, already there.” I stare at him and he blushes and comes to attention. I nod and he relaxes. “Thanks for the info. I’ll find a dust cover. You need something?”
“No, sir. The men have been wondering what you were reading all morning, so I volunteered to come look.”
Other reason I like Gonzo: he will volunteer for the suicide mission. More balls than brains in this one.
“How do you know the kinky stuff is in book two?”
“It was all my sisters could talk about at Thanksgiving last year. ‘Mommy porn’, it’s called.”
I put the book down and kick back. “Give me the synopsis of that book.”
Gonzo explains what happens and tells me that the last chapter, or the last two chapters, is all I really need to read in order to move on to book two. I nod, he leaves, and I skip to the end. By the time I’m done, I’m disgusted.
This was a best seller? If any man had treated my sisters like that, I might have killed them. An “exit interview” would be the least I would do. My phone rings. Les.
“Yo!”
“Yo! Whatcha doin?”
“Trying to decide the best time to convene a peace summit.”
“Peace summit?” What is Les up to now?
“Ranger’s determined to be done by Christmas. I have an idea that I think will be ripe for execution right after the new year but if he’s serious, I may need to push it up.”
Ah. I get it. “New topic. 50 Shades of Grey.”
“Mommy porn.”
“You’ve heard of it?”
“It sold faster than the Harry Potter books at one point.”
I look at the craptastic piece of shit I was reading. Harry Potter was fucking brilliant. This? Eh. Women do buy far more books than men.
We’re visual. Make it jiggle, baby.
“It’s the first selection in the RangeMan book club.”
“No it’s not,” Les says, clearly amused. “Steph had a The Art of War dust jacket on it, which got all the Trenton men excited. They decided to start a book club, so they could talk about it with her, but Ram realized she wasn’t reading that. Call Hec and Ram. They’ll fill you in.” Click.
I lean back and laugh. Mystery solved.
“Yo!”
“Sir!”
“How do you intend to proceed with the book club, Sinclair? Knowing the CO is not reading the assumed selection?”
“No idea, sir. Candy has suggested using 50 Shades of Grey as the first selection in the book club.”
I like our HR woman but I’m not sure about that idea. “Why?”
“Well, she had a list of reasons. One moment, sir.” I hear paper rustling and I motion for Tank. He walks in and shuts the door. “OK, so Candy said that we could start by using this to open a discussion on the difference between literary erotica and visual porn. It’s been suggested that both are harmful to both men and women and detrimental to healthy sexual relationships.”
Tank and I look at each other.
“I’m paraphrasing what she said here, but literary porn, erotica, and romance novels encourage women to create a stylized view of men that feeds into benevolent sexism. Her words, not mine. The idea of the ‘strong, silent’ type, the ‘brooding’ type, the ‘playboy who needs a good woman’ type, the ‘barely-consensual sex that leads to a baby and then we fall in love’ type. She had an entire list and the idea is that it reinforces the idea that women need to be saved from whatever.
She thought it was an interesting concept to discuss at RangeMan, especially if we’re still considering hiring women. Anyway, she thinks that having all the RangeMen read the first book would show them what kind of mental man they’re up against when they are meeting women. Meanwhile, we can discuss our interest in porno, which ties into hostile sexism.”
“I like our HR director,” Tank mutters. “Fucking brilliant idea.”
I agree, but is she trying to make us feel guilty for watching porn? If that’s the ultimate goal, I’m afraid she’s gonna fail there. If it’s a consciousness raising exercise, I foresee lots of success. Mostly because I see the men getting together to watch porno, spending five minutes discussing how shameful it is, then talking about titties.
Hmm … I see her point. That might be a good discussion to have. Besides, I thought women read romance novels for escapism. Is there something deeper there I hadn’t considered? I look at the book in my hand and realize she might have a point there too. If I’m being compared to Christian Grey, I don’t mind losing that battle. He’s an asshole and I’d kick his ass in real life.
“Agreed, sir.”
“Sinclair, what are the other reasons?”
“Well, she thought it also leveled the playing field. Every man in leadership has read The Art of War. No shame in that in this company and it leads to another question, in her words. Why should the CO have to hide her reading material?”
Tank and I look at each other and shrug. Good question. Gonzo just suggested I put a dust jacket on my copy and I agreed without really thinking about it.
Candy was a really good hire.
“Anyway, none of the men, presumably, have read it. Candy read me, Hal and Junior a selection from the second book. It’s nasty,” Ram says emphatically. Tank and I chuckle. “Hal begged her never to chain him up.”
Tank throws his head back in silent laughter. He slides his hand forward and I slap it. We’ll toast the boy again.
Steph’s POV
“Oh my . . . ” I’m stunned. Enthralled. Aghast. Confused.
And completely turned on for some reason.
Hector’s grinning and eating popcorn by the handfuls. “I know.” Hector doesn’t care that I see the obvious tent in his pants. The guy’s ass is getting major screen time and he’s happy. I don’t blame him. It’s a great ass but that anal plug is detracting from the view.
RINGGGG.
“Yo.”
“Babe.” His voice sounds tired.
“Hey, Batman. Are you OK?”
“Fine, Babe. What are you watching?”
I swallow hard. “BDSM movie.”
It’s quiet before I hear Ranger chuckle. “Do I want to know?”
“If I explain, it won’t sound any better.”
“The guy’s screams of pain and pleasure sound better on your TV,” Hector yells at the phone. He snickers. “This is what Dolby was made for.”
The line is quiet for a minute. “Babe.”
“Ranger.”
“Now I need the explanation.”
“OK, well, ML gave me a copy of 50 Shades of Grey—”
“This can only go downhill.”
“Shut up. Anyway . . . wait, have you read the book?”
“Nope, but if ML is passing you a book, it’s because it’s something that good Burg housewives shouldn’t read.”
I grin at that. “Yeah, OK. So, ML passed me the book and I read the first few pages and realized that if I started trying to read it at RangeMan, the guys would razz me. So I wrapped it in The Art of War,”—I hear Ranger snort—”and started reading. Anyway, they got all excited and decided to start a RangeMan reading club.”
“Babe.” I can almost imagine Ranger shaking his head. “How does this lead to Hector in our apartment?”
“Is he welcome?”
“Yes, but you’re watching porno with him. I need answers.”
“Well, the network guy in Boston caught me looking up stuff I didn’t understand. Well, he didn’t catch me but he saw the traffic so he called Hector, which is how Hec found out.”
“Starting to make more sense. Hec figured out your book deception?”
“Yup.”
“So let me be sure I have this right. You started reading erotica, the men think you’re reading a military classic, they started a reading group to encourage you, and Hec has you watching BDSM porno so you understand what you’re reading?”
“Right.”
The line is quiet before I hear Ranger chuckle, then laugh then laugh loud. It’s worth the temporary embarrassment to hear him laugh like that. I’m watching this guy’s ass turn red on screen and he shoots a load across the room. Hec’s thrilled. “Nice range,” he says, cramming another handful of popcorn into his mouth. My mouth is hanging.
“Babe.” He sounds amused.
“Ranger.”
“I don’t even know what to say except thank you. I needed that.”
“Everything OK?” He does sounds tired and I’m concerned.
“Yeah. Everything’s fine, Babe. One question.”
“Yeah?”
“What’s the first selection of the reading club?”
“Candy is pushing 50 Shades of Grey. She thinks it will be useful in our company discussion of sexism.”
“I’ll pick up a copy.”
I smile and watch the man on screen get flogged. He has Ranger-like recovery time.
“Question.”
“Yes?”
I walk into the bathroom. “Would you be willing to be restrained?”
Ranger is quiet for a long time. “Yes, within limits.”
I’m surprised. Ranger is the epitome of ‘in-control’. “Really?”
“Yes. We would have to use cuffs with safety releases. My guns and knives have to remain within view. And we have to be in a place I consider safe before I allow you to tie me up.”
“Wow . . .” I’m surprised Ranger’s willing. “Any hard limits?”
“No anal plugs.”
“Same here.” I saw the woman stuff that massive anal plug up the guy’s ass. I have no problem agreeing.
A week later
Mark’s POV
I’ve read 50 Shades of Grey and I highly resent being the only single XO.
Well, besides Diego. Diego’s single and in Miami. He’s definitely not having problems.
The other XOs are getting laid. They can’t help but brag. Their wives are making demands in the bedroom. Hal won’t talk but he does chuckle when Mando, Danny, and Javi ‘complain’ about having to handle the new and frequent demands.
So does Tank. Chuckle, I mean. Tank doesn’t talk.
That’s also the consensus in my office. Any man with a wife or girlfriend who picked up his new assigned reading material has demands of her own. Manny, Mike and Pat are the happiest looking men in my office. They’re eager to discuss this book. Apparently, their wives just love that they’ve been reading it.
Me?
Aside from the fact that I can’t stand the ‘hero’ (what an ass!), women in Boston don’t have that ‘let it all hang out’ attitude, especially in Boston in late fall. The only thing that’s changed in my life is that I’m trying to get some balance again. Mando told me I had to. I’ve been so devoted to RangeMan I’d allowed it to completely take over my life.
I razzed him about allowing his therapy sessions to turn him into a true believer but he just laughed and told me to get a grip. Get a life outside the office. Find something else to do. So I signed up for some flight time. Getting back in the air has really calmed me. I didn’t realize how much I missed it.
I’m also getting back out there and trying to find someone, but it’s hard to find an interesting woman that doesn’t set off my ‘weirdo’ buttons. I took advice from Jennifer (Pat’s wife): I’m staying out of bars. I’m going to different places.
I’m in a yoga class. The men are confused but I recognized I’d lost some flexibility, so I signed up.
So far, I’ve chatted up a few of the women, but I’m not trying to ruin my yoga class like that. I like the ladies, but I’m here for a purpose and it’s not to serial date.
Too bad no one told my ‘fan club’. They’ve pretty much all joined my class.
“Mark, right?” I look up. Cecily. In my yoga class and definitely a member of my ‘fan club’, as Pat terms it. I’m sitting in the juice bar outside my yoga class. I smile and she returns the smile and takes a seat. “I didn’t think you were the kind of man to read erotica.”
I chuckle. “I’m not. My company just started a reading club. The first selection is this book, the entire trilogy, actually.” I have 50 Shades Darker today and I’m trying to get through at least 15 pages.
“Oh.” She looks confused. She bites her lip and smiles, but I watch as her gaze slides past me. I turn and look behind me. A table full of women, at least eight, who all pretend not to look at me. I sigh.
“You were elected to come find out if I’m gay, huh?”
Her cheeks redden but she nods. Am I giving off a ‘gay’ vibe to women? Is that it?
“Straight. Very straight. Like I said, book club.”
“I thought you worked for a security company.”
“I do, but my boss and the head of HR are both women. We have a company-wide push going on to identify and reduce sexism in the company.” I smile wryly. “Our choice was The Art of War, but we were outvoted 8-550.” She laughs. “They pointed out that most of the men in the company had read that. Meanwhile, none of us had read this.” I raise the book.
“Oh.” She looks impressed. “Well, that changes things.” She smiles. “I’ve read it.” Her voice is encouraging me to start a conversation.
I consider this for a moment and thank Candy and Steph mentally. “Well, I’d love to discuss it with someone. Are you free for dinner?”
“Very free.” She passes me her number and rejoins the women behind me. I hear giggles and whispers of “Wicked! You’re seeing Mr. Sexy! What are you going to wear?”
I grin, gather my trash, and wave goodbye.
“I’m not wearing pahnties, I know that!“
Ranger’s POV
I’m reading 50 Shades of Grey at night. No fucking idea why, but if it’s giving Babe ideas, I need to keep up. So far I’m feeling a little sick.
Christian Grey and I are a bit too much alike. Out of bed, anyway. I wonder if Babe’s noticed that.
I text Les. Only fucker I know who’s probably done more of the shit in this book than I have.
“Yo!”
“I’ve read the reading club selection.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“Very.”
Les sighs. “You had different purposes. He was emotionally unstable and had a fear of abandonment. That led him to dictate terms in order to keep the women he was involved with close, but eliminated any chance of becoming emotionally attached. Steph was a safety issue. You wanted her safety. Everything you did was about encouraging her safety with an eye to her eventually taking her life more seriously, right?”
I’m thinking this through. “Right. But I kept Steph from . . . ” I can’t say it. Not even to Les.
Thankfully, mi primo knows me well. “Wrong. Everything you did tightened your emotional attachment to her and her to you. You wanted her close even if you didn’t know how to handle it.”
The knot loosens. “Right.”
“So, your methods were the same but your purpose was completely different. Besides, Steph’s no Ana. She has a backbone. Now, is she into anal? Being a sub? Being a dom?” Les sounds intrigued by the idea of Steph dominating me.
“Being nosy.”
He laughs. “Curious.”
“Where are you?”
“Munch party.”
“Surprise.” Click.
All Les needs is the idea. I shake my head and dial Steph.
“Yo!”
“Babe.” I lean back against the headboard. Just talking to her lately is alleviating tension and worry.
“Are you OK?”
“I’m fine. Te amo.”
“I love you too, Ranger,” she replies softly. For some reason, it’s easier for us to say it on the phone. “Is everything OK?”
“Yeah.” I have absolutely no fucking purpose to this call except to hear her voice. “What’s going on?”
“Movie night with Hec tonight.”
“Another video?”
“Yeah. This one features a woman being tied down.”
“Interested?”
“I don’t know.” I can imagine her worrying her lip and I smile. “I’m not into pain.”
“Thin line.”
“I know.”
“I won’t do anything you’re not interested in, but if you want to try it, we can start off with little things.”
“Like what?”
“I could always tie you to the headboard. That’s basic.”
“Oh.” She sounds relieved. “I didn’t think of that.”
“Yeah. Those videos will show you the extremes but there are other, simple things that also qualify.”
“OK. I’ll think about it.”
I look down. My dick is on full salute at the very idea of tying her down. I might not need handcuffs but they do make things fun.
This op has to end soon. I need my Babe.
And now your author must admit she owns all of these books (blushes in embarrassment).
