Take a Chance Page 10

  “Master Mark and Master Derek are in the front lounge,” Joanne said. “And Master Mark said you’d want this.” She pulled a slim box from a shelf under the counter and handed it to him.

  “Thanks.” They stepped away from the reception desk and he slipped the box open. A narrow white leather band studded with small jade stones in one long row down the middle sat on a bed of cotton. He handed the box back to Joanne and showed Dena the collar. “This will tell all the men in the building that you belong to me. Turn around.”

  With wide eyes but no words to the contrary, she followed his directions and he secured the leather collar around her slim throat. “Perfect. You honor me with your trust, Dena.”

  “Thank you,” she said, her bright eyes watching his face. Time for another reminder.

  “While we are here, you won’t look at me or at anyone else without my permission. Keep your eyes on the floor unless I tell you otherwise.”

  “Okay.”

  “Your response should be, ‘yes, master’ or ‘yes, Master Steve’ while we are here.”

  She blinked. Then blinked again. And a third time, her expression thoughtful.

  Leaning in to whisper in her ear, he said, “Remember, Dena. This isn’t a game I play. It’s who I am.”

  “Yes, Master Steve,” she said with a sigh and her eyes dropped accordingly. It would take him some time to show her the positive aspects of the lifestyle and he was looking forward to the tasks ahead. For now, he’d take what little she would give and encourage her submission.

  With his palm on the back of her neck, he guided her into the main salon. The room was huge, an open seating area with couches and chairs scattered across the space. It was still early, so there were only a few people milling around, mainly board members who had been appointed by one of his best friends, Mark Harrison. He kept Dena in tow and stopped next to the seating area his friends inhabited.

  “Dena, I want you to meet my best friends and business partners, and I’d like you to look at them so you’ll recognize them when we see them again.”

  He’d taken care to find her something appropriate to wear to the opening, not too suggestive, but nicely enticing, and she looked beautiful in the short red dress and heels he’d found in her closet. His friends were already drooling.

  “Dena, this is Mark Harrison, the managing partner of Private Delights.”

  His heart lurched in his chest when Mark offered his hand and Dena looked to him before shaking the man’s hand. Perfect submissive behavior and she didn’t even realize it.

  “Nice to meet you Dena,” Mark said. “Steve told us how you met. Interesting story.”

  Her face flushed and her body nudged his, as if she was trying to be absorbed by him. He was falling fast for this little woman. “And this is Derek Lyons, my partner at G&L Security.”

  When Derek offered a handshake, she took his hand and only slightly cut her eyes to her Dom. She was a fast learner, as he’d expected.

  “You’ve found yourself a beautiful woman, Steve,” Derek said, laughter in his eyes for the first time in a long time.

  Mark laughed. “True enough, my friend. I wonder if her brother knows where she is tonight.”

  When she flinched, Mark reached out and put a hand on her arm. “Sorry, Dena. Didn’t mean to upset you. That jibe was meant for Steve.” Then he leaned a little closer and lowered his voice. “Forgive me?”

  Dena’s head popped up and she turned to look at Steve and said, “Is he supposed to flirt with me?” in a hoarse whisper.

  Steve grabbed her up in a tight hug and sighed. “Mark has trouble keeping his eyes off hot women, and I can’t fault him for that, but we’re trying to learn submissive behavior.” He shot Mark a ‘back off’ look even as he grinned.

  “Beautiful Dena,” Mark said, “Dump him and run off with me. I’m a much better Dom.”

  When she turned back to him, Steve laughed. “Go ahead and talk to them. We’ll work on submission in bits and pieces tonight.”

  Derek chimed in. “Dena, what do you think of the place?”

  “It’s lovely, much nicer than it was the last time I was here. You’ve changed so much that it’s like a new building.”

  “Exactly what we wanted to hear,” Derek said.

  Dena watched the three men while they discussed the club they’d created and listened to them move in and out of a business discussion and private matters that had little to do with the building and its purpose. She recognized the intimacy between them and could only imagine the situations they’d encountered together that had formed that closeness.

  Mark, with his flirtation and easy charm was a tall-dark-and-handsome type with his devil-may-care hair and rock star swagger. His body language, like Steve’s, proclaimed him as a womanizer without a care in the world. But she was quietly discovering Steve’s idiosyncrasies one issue at a time, and she wondered about his friends.

  The other man in the cluster, Derek, was different. Soft-spoken and intense where Steve and Mark tended to get loud and pushy. He seemed closed off from the others until they pulled him into the conversation.

  Steve turned back to her as if he’d just remembered he brought a date and grabbed her hand. “We’re going to take a little tour before dinner.” He directed the comment to his two friends and put his hand back on her neck. She wasn’t sure why he chose that spot instead of her waist or shoulder, but it must be some dominance issue she hadn’t learned about yet.

  Head spinning, she let him lead her around the room and then up the stairs. The drab swoop of steps from last year’s party was still in place but it definitely wasn’t drab anymore. With the wood rails refurbished and new carpet, the wide stairs reminded her of the stairs in a grand hotel or an old southern plantation.

  The upstairs was as tastefully decorated as the lower level, with thick carpet and warm colors on the wall.

  “This is my private room,” he said, swiping his card to open the door. He flipped on the light and took her inside, wrapping his arms around her body as the door swung shut.

  She recognized several items that mirrored the toys he had in his playroom. She’d always heard about ‘boys and their toys’ but her brothers never had playthings like Steve’s. His were for a different type of sport, one she doubted her brothers would acknowledge. Hell, she wasn’t altogether sure she was ready to experience it, either.

  “We have a few minutes before the dinner guests arrive. Come here.”

  How could she disobey?

  Chapter 14

  Moving to him was easy.

  Breathing while he crushed her to him was tough but the gesture was welcome, his body heat infusing her with a sense of rightness, a sense of calm. Whatever he asked of her would be his.

  “I’d hoped to give you more time before bringing you here, more training about what I expect in this environment. And what I expect from you in general. But I can’t leave you alone with the threat looming. And more than anything, I want you to share this with me.”

  Her heart melted at the words flowing into her ear while his hand roamed her body. That hot hand of his paused at the small of her back and then cupped her rear and pressed her to him. Oh, hell, he was hard. Long and thick against her belly, the heat and intention swamped conscious thought. Now, of all times, she needed her wits about her.

  “Fuck,” he groaned. “Not the time for this.” His hands moved to her waist and he set her back on her feet. “We need to talk. But we will be in this room later, and you will submit to me fully.”

  A shiver went through her, hitting all her erogenous zones with the promise of a new experience. He pointed to a chair and she sat without asking while he settled on the side of the bed.

  “We’re having dinner with the Board of Directors of the club, and you’ll be there as my sub, which means I’ll feed you from my plate.”

  The anticipation of what was to come fled with all speed as his explanation filled her head. This wouldn’t be a typical dinner out with her boy
friend. An odd thought suggested she take serious notes about what she could and couldn’t do in this place. God forbid she embarrassed herself in front of his friends and business associates. Or worse yet, embarrassed him.

  “You won’t speak without my permission. You’ll stay next to me at all times and you’ll keep your eyes down.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  He smiled and she let out the breath she’d been holding.

  “You might be asked to sit on the floor at some point.” The timbre of his voice shifted into that lower register she loved, the dominance flowing from him like the scent of wood smoke from a bonfire.

  “On your knees, sub.”

  She slid from the chair to the floor, her skirt skimming the top of her knees, and she settled her butt on her heels.

  “Good girl,” he said, “but your hands should be on your thighs with palms up.”

  She adjusted to his request. Or was it a demand? Did it matter, if it made him happy and didn’t hurt her in the least?

  “Your knees should be farther apart.”

  Her head popped up at the new demand. It went against everything her mother taught her about ladylike behavior, but the expression on his face stopped her refusal before she could voice it. Eyes at half mast and jaw tight, he could easily be in the throes of near orgasm, heat and lust coming off him in waves. Her chest tightened with a need to touch him any way she could or any way he needed her to.

  If this was submission, she’d take it and do whatever he wanted. Her body was already on track and her brain would catch up eventually. Until then, it would just need to stay quiet and let her libido play.

  She lifted her rear off her feet and spread her thighs, then settled again. His hum of pleasure was all she needed to feel a jolt of her own lust.

  With a growl, he came to his feet and she was face to face with the bulge in his pants. The urge to touch and taste and consume rolled over every inch of her body, but she held back, waiting for permission.

  His hand went to his belt buckle. “You have five minutes. Finish me.”

  Dena lifted her torso off her heels and her hands went straight to his zipper, working it down until his hard cock sprang free. Her mouth watering and ready, she wrapped her hand around the shaft and leaned forward for the first rich taste of him. A bead of pre-cum perched in the slit, waiting for her tongue. Licking around the head and working her way into the middle, her tongue moved closer and closer to the waiting moisture.

  A hard hand landed on her crown. “Stop teasing, sub, or I’ll have to discipline you.”

  Her belly quivered and moisture slipped from her sex, wetting the insides of her thighs at the suggestion, and she took the head of his cock into her mouth. A rumble of appreciation spurred her on and she used her hand to simulate intercourse while she sucked.

  “Open your throat and take me deep.”

  She tried and gagged but kept going, the need to please him pushing her limits.

  “Swallow.”

  Managing to do as told, she reveled in his groan and the fist in her hair.

  “Two minutes left. Work harder.”

  She increased her pace and snaked her left hand between her body and his to cup his balls. He jerked and she rolled them in her palm while she increased the suction. He swelled inside her mouth, pulsed, and filled her mouth with his release.

  When she’d swallowed it all, he handed her a washcloth and helped her to her feet. “Good job, Dena. Thank you. Now go clean up quickly so we can be on time for dinner.”

  Her legs didn’t want to work, but she managed to get into the small private bathroom. Turning on the sink, she washed her hands and used the cloth to wipe a little white residue from her face. Her lips were red and puffy from the blowjob and her eyes were glazed over with her own need and the satisfaction of taking care of her man.

  The crowd downstairs had grown while they were gone, but Mark and Derek were still where they’d left them. Her face flamed when Mark turned in her direction and raised a wicked brow. He knew what she’d just done and there was nothing she could say or do about it. Dropping her eyes to the floor, she ignored the noise of conversations around her and focused solely on her Dom.

  After a few minutes, Steve put his hand on her nape and led her to the club’s restaurant at the far end of the main level. The space had been purposed as a restaurant during the club’s prior life as a country club, but the only feature left from that era was the long wall of windows across the back, where shrubs and trees could be seen with the assistance of landscape lighting. Contemporary booths and scattered tables filled the room, but the space down the middle of the room had been opened up and a long rectangular table had been set for twenty.

  A surreptitious glance told her she wasn’t the only woman with lowered eyes and a short skirt.

  Steve took her to the far side of the table and pulled out a chair for her, then took the adjacent one, putting her between her Dom and Mark. A stray hum in her ear from his side worried her to distraction, likely his plan. The man was a tease. Somewhere behind that handsome face was a strong Dom. She’d seen glimpses of his true personality in his interactions with Steve and Derek. When he leaned into the table and looked across her to Steve, she closed her eyes and tried to hide.

  “Did you still want to discuss sharing?” he asked Steve, and the resounding chuckle sent a shot of adrenaline into her bloodstream. Unsure of how that might work, she surmised enough to know it wasn’t something she wanted to do tonight. Or even this year. A hand dropped onto her thigh. Steve’s. He squeezed and whispered, “Relax. He’s teasing. For now.”

  Not reassuring in the least.

  Mark stood and gave a short speech she didn’t listen to and then the meal was served.

  A large plate was placed in front of Steve and he opened a linen napkin and set it in front of her. Opening his silverware, he cut a thin slice of chicken and brought it to her mouth with a fork. His murmured ‘good girl’ followed as he cut a bite for himself. Derek was on the other side of him, and he managed a conversation with both men and some of the guests across the table, all the while feeding her a bite at a time while he ate.

  The entire situation was so far out of what she’d consider normal that she sat back and let it wash over her without thought. To dwell would make her crazy. By the time dessert arrived, she was fine, enjoying the attention he lavished on her when giving her a bite and letting her mind wander while he visited with friends. There were no social niceties to manage, nor any responsibilities. In all, the experience was somewhat relaxing.

  * * * *

  Ethan scanned his membership card and followed his uncle into the main room, looking for a likely woman to punish. He didn’t have any particular type of woman in mind, just someone easy to manipulate and fuck. Uncle Alan had taught him the rudiments of dominance and submission a few years ago, giving him a front row seat to a scene. Best way to lose his virginity, according to his uncle.

  He’d been screwing his way through women ever since.

  The place was nice, fancy details all around and plenty of women lingering to watch the men. Sluts, but weren’t all women eager to spread their legs?

  “Mind the rules here, Ethan,” his uncle said. “No sex in the main rooms. If you want to fuck, take her to a room upstairs or into one of the open areas on the west side of the second floor.”

  Alan Connor was pissed. Ethan had listened to the tirade all the way across town. Despite his sizeable bank account and his position in the state legislature, his uncle hadn’t been able to buy his way onto the board of directors in this place. And it chapped the man’s ass.

  Ethan didn’t much care, as long as he got to play on his uncle’s nickel. But he’d yet to find a way to wiggle cash out of Alan’s tight wallet. “Too bad Dale couldn’t be here tonight. He and I could double team some girl. He likes to play hard.”

  Alan’s muffled curse made him smile. His jackass cousin had been shipped out of town a few months ago. Dear Uncle Alan g
ot rid of a potential rape charge and sent his son to a private college in New England to get him out of sight. Throwing money around was what Alan Connor did best, and it irked Ethan to no end that he wasn’t a recipient of the Connor open wallet approach.

  “Don’t mention that incident at all, Ethan. I don’t want to hear it.”

  People started moving around and Alan left him standing alone, just outside the crowd. The club’s board was heading to the long ribbon for the official opening of the club. Ethan stepped around to see the goings on, but jerked his head back. Fucking hell, how did she end up here? That goddamn Gladston had her collared. And after her wreck, he couldn’t take a chance that she’d recognize him as the friendly helper.

  He stepped around a potted tree and tried to blend into the scenery. One of the women he’d been eying came over to talk and gave him a reason to turn away from the main party, even while keeping track of the Lindsay girl’s location. Her Dom grabbed her nape and pushed her through the crowd, headed no doubt for a private room. Maybe a public space. Gladston was a hard-ass with a tight reputation in the community. Ethan thought about watching, from a distance, of course. But when she turned in his direction and their eyes met, he knew he’d waited too late.

  Time to leave.

  With a curt word to the girl, he turned toward the front door. Moving into the foyer and out of sight, he sent his uncle a quick text with an excuse and told Uncle Alan’s driver to take him home. He didn’t mind risks, but this one was too close and he had no intention of ending up in a Huntsville prison.

  He’d find the password he needed or find a different way to pay off his bookie. Hell, maybe he should try his uncle’s home safe.

  Chapter 15

  Dena almost tripped, managing to stay upright only because of Steve’s hand on her nape. Still, she struggled to turn her head toward the front door. “Wait, Steve. Just a minute.” Trying to face him, she tugged at his arm and finally got his attention.