Where They Both Belong (Corbin's Bend)

  Where They Both Belong

  A Corbin’s Bend Novel

  By

  Thianna D.

  www.lazydaypub.com

  Where They Both Belong

  ISBN-978-1-62750-4867

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Copyright © 2014 Thianna D.

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, any events or locales is purely coincidental. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission from the publisher LazyDay, with the exception of quotes used in reviews and critical articles.

  Table of contents:

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Eau de Guilt: A Corbin’s Bend short story

  More books in the Corbin’s Bend Series

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  Chapter 1

  The trees passed by quickly as the car covered the miles up the mountain. “They kind of look like they’re encroaching, don’t they?” Julie Renton murmured, looking at them.

  “What, Baby?” Matt gave her a brief look before turning his attention back to the road.

  “The trees. They look like they’re coming in on us.”

  “We’re in the Rockies, Jules,” he said, with a quick grin and a wink. “Might as well get used to it.”

  Even after five years, his grin made her stomach tremble. Matthew Renton was a fox and he didn’t even know it. Dark brown hair that tended to get in his eyes when the wind blew, framed a long angular face with thick eyebrows over bright green eyes. All of her friends had been so jealous when he asked her out. When he proposed, all the girls who had still been after him while they dated had been livid.

  Laughing softly at his words, she shook her head. Trees, Rockies, and a possible move. And that wasn’t the least of her worries. Her main worry was in what lay ahead. Was it right for them? Would it live up to its promise? And the dreaded question: if they applied, would they be accepted as residents in the unique community? Reaching over, she drifted her index finger across his right temple, smoothing out the twitch that had taken residence far too often lately. At only twenty-seven, Matt was too young to have a nervous tick. She crossed the fingers of the hand he couldn’t see, hoping that this worked out.

  The mountain highway just continued to climb and she found herself fidgeting. Julie grew up in the splendor of Mesa, Arizona. Wide open spaces with a gorgeous blue sky. She wasn’t used to feeling penned in. Unfortunately, living in Mesa was no longer an option for her and her husband. Julie just hoped this new community was everything they were promised.

  A construction sign made her groan as she hoped they wouldn’t be stopped long. With the mountains all around them, the sun had already made its way beyond sight and just the loss of that heat made her cold. If they moved here, she would probably be cold all the time. The car slowed down, but instead of coming across a workman and a set of equipment, they saw the sign. It wasn’t permanent, but off to the side of the road it read Home to the Future Corbin’s Bend.

  “When is it opening?” she asked, sitting up straight as excitement that had simmered when they started the trip reemerged.

  “It’s set to open in about six weeks. Mr. Carmichael said the first fifty homes were almost complete and he already had applications for three hundred.”

  Stunned, she turned and stared. “Matt, three hundred applications for fifty homes? We’ll never get in.”

  “Jules,” he said soothingly as he took her hand and slowed their car to a crawl to switch from paved highway to gravel road. “He told me that the majority of applicants had applied without thinking things through. They leapt without thinking. They’re being choosy about who moves in here. It’s where we belong,” he said, the longing in his voice.

  She knew exactly what he was feeling. Both of their families were straight-laced religious people and when her younger brother found out about her and Matt’s domestic discipline lifestyle, he had blabbed to everyone. So while her parents tried to get her to leave her ‘abusive husband’ and he was fired from his job, all she wanted to do was find safety. Corbin’s Bend sounded like the perfect place. If only they could get in.

  The road they were on curved to the right and even if they hadn’t known what to look for, their eyes instantly landed on the Corbin’s Bend Community Center.

  “Is that a dome?” Matt asked in surprise.

  “Yep. It’s huge.”

  Several trucks, all dusty from the work being done, sat near the dome and Matt pulled in next to one of them. Turning to her, he squeezed her hand again. “Ready, Jules?”

  Gulping, she nodded. He let go of her hand and got out of the car, walking quickly around to open the passenger door and hold out a hand to help her out. “It looks even bigger now,” she whispered as they walked toward it. There was a distinct sense of awe as she looked up at the rounded building. As strange as it should look against the rocky peeks of the mountains, it seemed to fit. Windows peeked out from every direction that she could see and the wood finish on the outside made the large, imposing edifice look welcoming.

  A large set of wooden doors stood before them. Matt took a deep breath before opening one and placing his hand on her lower back, ushering her through. The inside was welcoming. Stark, but welcoming. There was nothing on the walls yet, but several doors and a couple hallways flowed directly off the foyer. There was a large staircase off to the left that followed the curve of the dome upwards.

  “So, one-nineteen’s done?” asked a deep male voice.

  “Yep. One-nineteen through one-forty-four. The only thing they’ll need is the back fencing. That’ll go up in two weeks.”

  The first voice let out a sound that sounded pleased. “Hank, you’ve done what everyone else said was impossible. Are you sure you and Betty don’t want to move here? We’d be happy to have you.”

  “Thanks, Brent. But Bets and I are happy in Denver. Our friends are there and I have to admit. In our twilight years, I look forward to being around friends. But…” he added, “my daughter Carla would be perfect for this place. She wants and needs a strong head of house.”

  “Consider it done. Fill out an app and we’ll get her in.”

  The voices came from their right and Matt and Julie hesitantly walked over to an open doorway. Inside was a large wooden desk. Two men stood in front of it. One looked in his early sixties with a pleasant smile and salt and pepper hair. But it was the other man who drew both her and Matt’s attention. Well over six feet tall with sandy blond hair and a stern expression, the man had alpha male written all over him. Julie gulped.

  As if knowing they were watching, he turned light gray eyes on them. “Hello,” he said, his voice pleasant.

  “Hi.” Matt stepped forward, his hand holding hers tightly. “I am Matthew Renton. This is my wife, Julie. We’re here for the tour.”

  His calm face formed a nice smile and the man stepped forward, extending his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. My name’s Brent Carmichael.” After shaking their hands, he turned to the other man. “If you don’t need me, Hank…”

  “Not at all.” Hank smiled at them. “I think you’re going to love it here. Brent’s building one amazing community.” Turning to a set of plans on the desk, he pulled out a walkie-talkie.

  “Let me show you around. Are you both okay with walking? It’s a bit dusty at the moment. The streets won�
��t be paved for another month.”

  “That’s fine,” Matt assured him. “I hope we aren’t putting you out. I know the community isn’t settled yet, but Julie and I are so excited we had to come check it out.”

  “Music to my ears,” Brent assured them. They walked out in the lowering light of the late spring day. “Hank’s done an amazing job of getting our plans into real, workable homes and a community,” he said, as he led them around the dome. There was a large fence with a Hard Hat Area sign and he stopped in front of it. “Behind here will be our pool. It will be open from May through September. Behind it, we’ll have a rec center and a theater. We want our residents to have many of the options they would have in a larger city. Being a small community, they won’t be as varied, but as you have found out, I’m sure, Denver and Boulder aren’t that far away. Where are you from?”

  Julie wasn’t sure if he naturally spoke to the man in a couple or if he could sense her nervousness, but Brent directed his comments to Matt.

  “Mesa. The mountains are an amazing change. That is, if we move here.” The insecurity in his voice was obvious, at least to her, and Julie squeezed his hand again. This was so hard on him. He loved being the head of their home and earning the majority of the money. But both of their families turning on him and making him out to be abusive had worn on her wonderful man.

  Brent turned a calm expression toward them, but something in his eyes made Julie wonder if he understood. “We, all of us, find it hard to be accepted on the outside. It’s one of the reasons my friends and I created Corbin’s Bend. We should be able to be who we are in a community of people who accept us and our particular lifestyle.” He clapped Matt on the shoulder. “Spanking isn’t something to be ashamed of, Matt. As long as it’s consensual, it’s a great thing.”

  A little bit of tension slid out of her husband. “We agree. Julie and I have been practicing domestic discipline since we started dating five years ago. We didn’t even know it had a name,” he admitted, “just that it fit us.” As Brent turned and they followed him around the other side of the dome, Matt continued. “So, I’m assuming you and your wife practice domestic discipline?”

  A sad smile crossed the man’s face. “My late fiancée Liza and I did for many years before she died of cancer. That was a couple years ago. It’s a relationship like no other.”

  “I'm so sorry for your loss,” Julie managed to say, angry for how tongue-tied she always got around alpha males.

  His eyes softened as they turned toward her. “Thanks, Julie. So tell me, will you both be looking for jobs? Or are you the kind who can work from wherever?”

  “I’ll be looking for work,” Matt admitted. “We’re hoping Julie doesn’t have to.”

  “What kind of work do you do?” Brent asked conversationally as he led them off the dome grounds and across a very dusty unpaved road to where a group of houses sat.

  “I was the head chef at a restaurant in Mesa. Before I lost my job.” The admittance was torn from him and Julie could feel his shame.

  Brent just raised an eyebrow. “Economy?”

  “Spanko.”

  “Fuck.” Brent grunted, shaking his head. “Well, you won’t find that kind of small-mindedness here. And we are opening several fine restaurants. So far, we have three that have signed on and we are actively looking for four more. If things work out and you move here, I’d be happy to give your name to our restaurant owners. From there, you’re on your own.”

  “Thanks.” Matt’s eyes lit up and Julie looked down to hide her smile. Being fired from that job had hurt him badly, especially as people went to that restaurant just for his food. Seeing people look down at him and call him names just because the two of them lived a different lifestyle had sent him into depression, one he had tried to hide from her, but was there nonetheless.

  “Let me show you our seven layouts. Since this is an equity co-op, you would be buying into the non-profit, not the home itself. Once we know how many shares you want to purchase and if you are accepted, then I can tell you which of the houses will be available for you.”

  They walked over what looked to be the future backyards of the homes in front of them and around to the front door of one. “This is the first layout. It’s a one-bedroom plus an office.”

  Opening the door, Brent walked in and they followed. The floors were covered in plastic, but as Julie looked at the hardwood flooring and the gorgeous carpeting in the living area, she could tell why – to keep it pristine looking for the new owners.

  “The appliances won’t be ordered until we have specific residents for a home. This way you can pick out from one of four different styles of appliances we have contracted for,” Brent explained.

  * * * * *

  Matt's mind raced, so many thoughts and emotions overwhelming him as they walked through the different homes. A couple of the houses were too big for their current needs, although he hoped one day to have enough children to fill all the superfluous bedrooms. As Julie dodged into the rooms and bathrooms, “ooh”ing and “ahh”ing over the little touches she thought made a home, he talked with Brent. There had never been anyone he felt safe talking to about domestic discipline and he and Julie had kind of winged it. But as they spoke, Matt had the feeling he would love to just have time to talk to this man, sure that he had a wealth of information for the two of them.

  “How did you learn it all?” Matt asked during a lull while Julie was drooling over a large master closet.

  “Discipline?” Brent asked and he nodded. “I was lucky. Rented a room in New York with a wonderful couple and they introduced me to Liza. They were practitioners and as it turned out, so was she. When she asked me to spank her, I thought it was purely in a sexual context. I quickly learned there was so much more and the two of us were just made this way, if a person can be made a certain way.” Brent shrugged. “After she died, I had a pretty bad accident on the job and went through early retirement. It was then that I had the idea for this place. Because it isn’t just a place where spankos and people in discipline relationships can feel safe. It’s also a place where we can learn from one another.”

  “Learn?” Matt latched onto the word.

  “I have plans for a mentoring system. Where people who have been in it awhile can mentor those who come into the community later on. It gives everyone someone to know they can turn to.”

  “For the top side of the spectrum?” Matt guessed.

  “Both,” Brent assured him. “I want heads of house to mentor other heads of house. And taken in hands to mentor other taken in hands. It just makes sense.”

  The tour went on until it began to get dark. “Where are you two staying for the night?” Brent asked as they ended the tour back at the dome.

  “We’ll head back to Denver and get a hotel room,” Matt said, knowing the cost would put a heavy toll on their resources, but also knowing there was nothing else to do.

  “Well, you’re welcome to come back tomorrow if you have any more questions. And take this…” Brent reached into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet, quickly removing a business card. “Call me with any questions.”

  “Thanks.” After shaking their hands, Brent headed into the dome and Matt and Julie got back into their car heading back down the mountain. At first there was silence and then they both spoke at once.

  “I want in!” Julie gasped.

  “I like it, Jules.”

  She giggled and the tension around them dissipated. “What did you like most?” he asked, feeling free to talk in a hopeful voice.

  “I’m thinking, what is there not to like? The homes are beautiful and the whole area is gorgeous. I was standing in one of the bedrooms of the two story homes looking out at the mountains.” She sighed. “Oh, Matt. I want this. You could get a job that won’t fire you for who we are. And… Brent seems like a good guy. Scary as hell. But a good guy.”

  Bursting out laughing, Matt cast her an amused glance. “Scary as hell? Why?”

  “Are you
kidding? He has alpha written all over him. And don’t tell me you don’t have a man crush on him already. I saw the look on your face. You already see him as a big brother.”

  Snorting, he nodded. “All right, you caught me, but damn, Jules, we’ve never had anyone we could talk to about this and now here is the most amazing opportunity in the world. We could live the life we love and believe in, knowing everyone else around us felt the same. It kind of feels like a dream.” Reaching over, he grasped her hand and she squeezed. “I know we should think about this, but I don’t want to.”

  “Let’s apply,” Julie suggested. “We could always change our mind before money changed hands, right?”

  “We’ll have to go through the paperwork Brent gave us,” Matt said, considering. “I don’t know anything about equity co-ops, but I would assume there’s a sizable application fee.”

  They discussed their options all the way back to Denver and he turned off at a Motel 6, knowing it wouldn't be too hard on the budget. The money they had as a down payment for the Corbin’s Bend home he did not want to touch.

  After ordering in some pizza, they got settled in their room. Julie changed into one of his old t-shirts while he surfed through the few channels on the television before turning it off. Once the pizza was delivered, the two of them cuddled on top of the plastic-feeling bed cover and ate. As she cuddled up against him, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Even as excited as they were, they were also exhausted. They started out their drive the night before and had driven straight through, switching off driving every few hours. This would be the only night they could afford to stay in a motel. Tomorrow they would need to head back to Mesa.

  “Are we going back up there to look again tomorrow?” Julie asked quietly, her murmur proving she was only barely awake.

  “I want to.”

  With a soft sigh, his wife gave into sleep and even though they were still on top of the blanket and the light was on, he closed his eyes and quickly followed her into slumber.