“Of course, seriously! I wouldn’t tease you about that. I just hope he’s not in a hurry to tie you up. I’ve got twenty minutes left before I can close up the shop and get down to the pit to watch.”
Walking backward toward the door, Cass pointed at Sasha. “I’ll try to slow things down a bit, but not so much it pisses him off. I’m not in the mood for a punishment. But I’ll do what I can for you.”
Sasha grinned. “Awesome, girlfriend. You’re the best. Have fun!”
If she was going to be tied up in a Shibari Master’s ropes, she would be having fun, and, hopefully, a few orgasms to go with it.
Striding quickly toward the club’s elegant grand staircase, Cass wondered if she had time to head to the ladies’ locker room first to fix her hair and makeup. She glanced at the watch she always wore while waitressing and decided she couldn’t make the detour—Master Ian would be waiting for her, knowing full well her shift had ended a few minutes ago.
As she descended the staircase, she removed her gold and red bowtie, which would let the members know she was now off duty, so they wouldn’t be asking her to fetch their drinks. Cass scanned the crowd. Roped-off scene areas filled the outer perimeter of the cavernous room under the second-floor balcony. Meanwhile, the middle contained numerous seating areas, some of which were set up like living rooms with couches, wingback chairs, coffee and end tables, with elegant lamps providing soft light, while pub tables and stools were scattered among them. On the floor, throw pillows were available for subs to kneel or sit on next to their Masters. Half across the width and three-quarters across the length of the room was a stage which was usually reserved for demonstrations and collaring ceremonies only. A St. Andrew’s cross had been pushed to the back of the platform, out of the way, and a heavy chain had been lowered from the ceiling. At the end of it, a suspension ring had been securely attached with a large carabiner hook. It appeared Master Stefan’s scene was going to be the highlight of the evening, with his sub dangling in midair. Cass hoped that sub was her—she loved being enveloped in Shibari ropes.
Over the heads of the other members, Cass spotted Masters Ian, Mitch, and Stefan in front of the stage, talking. When she reached the bottom of the staircase, she weaved through the crowd and made her way toward them. As she approached, she forced herself not to ogle Master Stefan. While the two co-owners of the club were just as handsome, she’d known them for the past few years, so she was used to seeing them. Master Stefan, however, was the new McHottie, and her eyes hadn’t gotten their fill of him yet.
When Cass was certain there was nothing or no one between the trio and her that she might trip on or bump into, she lowered her gaze to the floor. Stopping next to Master Ian, she went down on her knees, bowed her head, and placed her hands, palms up on her thighs, then waited to be acknowledged. On his other side, Angie was in the same position, but her knees were cushioned by a pillow.
After a few moments, Master Ian’s voice rumbled as he set a hand on her head. “Hello, Cassandra. Please stand—eyes on me.”
“Yes, Sir.” She got to her feet again, then lifted her chin until her gaze met his startling blue one. “You sent for me, Sir?”
“I did. I’d like to introduce you to someone. Master Stefan, this is Cassandra.” Master Ian nodded his head in the other man’s direction, giving her permission to greet him.
Cass’s mouth watered as she got her very first closeup view of Master Stefan. God, he was gorgeous. He was wearing black leather pants and a heather gray T-shirt. Both were molded to his body in sheer perfection, and she had to swallow hard before she could speak. “Good evening, Sir. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Taking her hand, Stefan brought it to his lips and lightly kissed the back of her knuckles. “The pleasure is all mine, little pixie.”
She practically melted into a puddle at the combination of his striking mahogany eyes, gorgeous face, broad shoulders and chest, deep voice, sweet gesture, and words. Her girly parts were on full alert, and she prayed Sasha hadn’t misheard Master Ian earlier, because she really, really wanted to scene with this stunning example of masculinity.
Somehow, when he released her hand, she managed to remember to greet the third man in the group, even though she’d already done so at the start of her shift. Turning to face Master Mitch, she said, “And good evening to you, again, Sir.”
The club’s co-owner/manager smiled at her before his cousin’s voice demanded her focus again. “Cassandra, Master Stefan has offered to demonstrate a Shibari design on the center stage tonight. He’s in need of a submissive for it. Would you be interested?”
Keeping her eyes on Master Ian, she nodded politely, but, inside, her body was doing an elaborate happy dance. “Yes, Sir, I would.”
“I’ve given him a copy of your limit list. Has anything on it changed recently?” Every submissive’s limit list was kept in files at the reception desk in the lobby of the club’s entrance. Doms were able to research a sub’s hard and soft limits prior to negotiating a scene with them. It made things easier on the Doms who were looking for a sub with comparable likes and dislikes when it came to the many different types of BDSM play.
“No, Sir. It’s up-to-date.”
“Suspension play?”
“That’s still a green limit for me, Sir.” He knew that, but he would verbally cover everything, so there would be no misunderstandings between her and Master Stefan after the scene started.
“Public nudity and orgasm?”
A few years ago, Cass would’ve blushed and stuttered after being asked that question, but she’d had many orgasms out here in the pit, ever since Master Ian had broken through her barriers and given Cass her very first one. “Those are also green limits for me, Sir.
“Any questions or concerns?”
“No, Sir.”
“Then tell Master Stefan your safeword, please.”
She swiveled her head to face the Dom she’d be scening with tonight. “I use the club’s safeword, Sir. Red.”
“Very good,” he responded. “Red it is.”
Master Ian put his hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently, drawing her attention back to him. “We’re all looking forward to the scene, little one.” He winked. “Enjoy it.”
Cass couldn’t suppress her giggle. Of course, the man knew her well after all this time. “I’m sure I will, Sir. Thank you.”
“That goes for you too, Master Stefan.”
The other Dom gave him a smile and a single nod in response.
As Master Ian stepped away, Master Mitch held out his hand to Cass. “I’ll hold onto your watch and tie for you.”
“Thank you, Sir. If you’d like, you can give them to Sasha when she comes down after closing the shop.” She passed over the tie she was still holding, then removed her watch and gave that to him as well.
When it was only the two of them left standing there, Master Stefan lifted his open hand toward her in a silent request, and she placed her smaller one in it. Cass tried to ignore the tingling traveling up her arm, and the anticipation of what was to come, but it was hard to. He had a working man’s hands, calloused but not dry. She couldn’t wait to feel them touching her all over.
“I have a few more things I’d like to discuss before we start,” he said. “Does everyone call you Cassandra or do some shorten it?”
“Most people call me Cassandra or Cass, Sir, but I’ll also respond to Cassie. Just, please, don’t call me Sandra, Sir. I don’t care for that name.”
His eyebrows went up a smidgeon. “Is there a reason why?”
She knew it was going to sound petty coming out of her mouth, but she’d learned to be honest at all times with a Dom. “There was a girl name Sandra in my high school, and we didn’t get along, Sir. In fact, we despised each other, so when I hear that name, all I think about is her. I know it’s kind of silly, especially since I haven’t seen her since we graduated, but . . .”
He grinned at her, and her heart almost stopped when his dimples a
ppeared. “Well, then, it’s a good thing I can’t see you as a Sandra. If you don’t mind, I prefer Cassie. It’s pretty and it suits you.”
Yeah, that melting feeling was back. “Cassie is fine, Sir.”
“Cassie it is, then. Next, do you have any current or past physical injuries or conditions that might affect your flexibility or cause you pain while restrained and suspended?”
“No, Sir.”
“Claustrophobia?”
“No, Sir.”
“Good. Let me see your hands.” When she held them out, he inspected their color and temperature, so he would notice any changes later that might be the result of her circulation being cut off. Letting go of her hands, he squatted down and did the same to her feet, then stood again. “Now, one more thing. While I’m more than happy to give you some orgasms after I have you all tied up, there will be no sex between us tonight—that’s not something I care to perform on the center stage, and I also plan on putting you deep into subspace. However, maybe some other night, we’ll be able to scene in one of the public stations or private playrooms.”
“I’d like that very much, Sir.”
“So would I. But let me make myself perfectly clear, Cassie. Since I’m new to the club and the Tampa area, I have no intention of signing a contract or collaring a sub at this time. I will be playing with other subs after tonight. Occasionally, I may ask you to play again, but do not expect anything more than that from me. Understood?”
His intense gaze said he’d meant every word. While she was a little disappointed he wasn’t interested in getting to know her better, she was fine with it. Non-relationship sex was common in the lifestyle, and she’d experienced it many times before. Besides, it wasn’t like she knew anything about him, other than what she’d heard through the rumor mill—he could be a jackass for all she knew—but for some reason Cass felt drawn to him. Maybe, over time, things would change, but, for now, she said, “Yes, Sir. I understand completely.”
“Do you have any questions for me?”
She couldn’t think of any—Master Ian had been thorough. “No, Sir.”
“Good. Then let’s begin.”
15
With the little pixie’s hand in his, Stefan led her up the few steps onto the stage. It’d been about two months since he’d done a rope scene with a submissive, between packing, moving to Tampa, and unpacking, but he could do one blindfolded. He’d apprenticed under several Shibari Masters over the years, since first discovering the bondage art. Stefan had never known the true meaning of passion before he’d fallen in love with seeing a submissive swathed in his ropes, then running his fingertips over the temporary impressions they left on the skin after being removed. To him, it was the most sensual feeling in the world.
He guided Cassie to the center of the stage where he’d already placed a large, square throw pillow on top of a gym mat. Directing her so her back was to the growing audience, he said, “Strip completely, little pixie, then kneel and fold your clothes neatly, placing them on the floor in front of you. When you’re done, present for me exactly as you did for Master Ian. From this point on, you will only speak when I ask you a question or to say your safeword. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir. I do have one question I just thought of though, Sir.”
He stepped around the pillow to face her. “Eyes on me, Cassie.” When she complied, he said, “I’m listening.”
“Will you be using a blindfold, earplugs or earphones, or a ball gag on me, Sir?”
Stefan studied her face for a moment. Damn, she was gorgeous. How had he not yet noticed her in the club the few times he’d been there? Surely, she would’ve garnered his attention if he’d seen her. “Are any of those a hard limit for you?” They hadn’t been on her list, but he wanted to make sure they weren’t suddenly an issue.
“No, Sir, although, I’m not fond of gags. I was just curious, Sir.”
The corners of his mouth ticked upward. “Curious is good, Cassie, however, I won’t be telling you my plans for the scene beforehand, other than you’ll be suspended at some point. Safety is my number one priority for the subs I scene with, so I’m asking you to place your full trust in me that you won’t be harmed. Aside from that, expect the unexpected.”
She smiled at him, and his dick twitched. “If you’ve earned Master Ian’s trust, then you also have mine, Sir.”
Reaching out, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. When she licked her lips, his gaze followed her tongue. It was a shame he’d already told her there would be no sex involved in their scene tonight, because he would love to have those lips and tongue on his cock which was now semi-hard. To ward off a full erection, he tore his gaze from her mouth and refocused on her hazel eyes. There was a combination of lust, anticipation, and faith—just what he’d wanted to see.
“Thank you for that, Cassie. Do you have any more questions?”
She shook her head. “No, Sir.”
Taking a step back, he pointed at the pillow between them. “Then begin.”
Leaving her to follow his orders, Stefan stepped over to a small table where he’d already laid out his equipment and ropes. Earlier, when the chain with the suspension ring had been lowered from the ceiling, he’d scaled and hung from it, with his full weight, to ensure his submissive wouldn’t be in danger of falling. He was sure the Sawyers took the welfare of their club members seriously, but Stefan was not one who just assumed equipment was safe because someone told him it was.
Picking up a small microphone Mitch had given him, Stefan clipped it to the collar of his T-shirt. As if on cue, someone lowered the club’s music until it was barely background noise. He tapped the mic and was satisfied when the sound came through loud and clear over the speakers. Strolling and pacing back and forth along the front of the stage, he greeted the crowd that’d gathered to watch. “Good evening, everyone. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Master Stefan, and although I’m new to The Covenant, I’ve been a Shibari Master for many years. The club’s owners have asked me to give a demonstration tonight, and I thank them for the opportunity to show off what has become my passion. As with all BDSM play, please don’t try anything you see tonight without proper training. It’s taken me years of working with other Shibari Masters to get to the skill level I’m at now. Remember, Shibari is edge play because it entails the risk of very serious injury or death, especially if it’s not done properly. While I take considerable care in making sure my submissive is safe, there’s always a chance something can go wrong.
“Tonight will be an exhibition demonstration, which means you’ll hear me talking to my submissive and an assistant only. I won’t be speaking to you, the audience, as I would be during a training demo. However, if you have questions for me later, I’ll be more than happy to answer them once I’ve given my submissive the proper aftercare. I expect she’ll be deep into subspace before I’m through with the scene. I don’t mind if the scenes around us continue, but please do not approach the stage and distract me or my sub, especially while I have her suspended. Thank you.”
With his spiel over, he left the microphone on, so they could hear him talk to Cassie, and returned to his equipment. Grabbing a flat-edged scissor, he tucked it in his back pocket in case he had to quickly cut down the sub in an emergency. He then picked up a hair tie and rolled it onto his wrist, before selecting a hair clip and attaching it to the front pocket of his leathers. When he spun around to face Cassie, he was pleased to see she’d followed his instructions to the letter. She was on her knees, palms up on her thighs, her pale ass cheeks resting on her heels. Her head was bowed in submission, and her long hair draped downward, partially covering her face. Completely nude, she looked stunning—like an ancient goddess or a forest nymph.
Stefan strode over and turned his back to the audience as he stood behind her and straddled her hips. “Just putting this gorgeous hair up, little pixie, so it’s out of my way.”
He liked how she hadn’t given him a response since he hadn�
�t asked a question. Ian had told him Cassie’s past training, obedience, and willingness to please would make her the perfect submissive for tonight’s demonstration. Stefan was starting to see how true that was. The Dom-in-residence had chosen well for him.
Gently running his hands through the silky strands, he drew them all up and back behind her head, making sure he hadn’t missed any, then used the tie to create a ponytail. He wrapped the tail around its base, forming a bun which he then clipped into place. Circling around to her front, Stefan held out his hand. “Stand, subbie. Present position with your arms behind your back. Grab your forearms near your elbows.”
Placing her hand in his, Cassie gracefully rose to her feet, then spread them shoulder width apart. She clasped her arms behind her back and kept her head bowed. Bending, Stefan placed her neatly folded skirt and bra on the pillow, then picked up the pile. He set them far off to the side, where he wouldn’t trip over them. A smaller chain hung from the rafters where it was connected to the heavier one through a series of pulleys. He adjusted them so the suspension ring was even with Cassie’s hip, about three feet away from her, then secured the smaller chain to a hardpoint—an eyebolt—mounted on the floor at the edge of the stage.
Ignoring the audience, and the sounds of play still taking place along the outer perimeter of the room, he returned to the table and selected several lengths of the soft jute rope he used. Each one had been handmade in Japan, specifically for the art of Shibari. Stefan laid the ropes out on the stage near Cassie, where they’d be within his reach. Someone once asked him why he just didn’t keep the table holding the ropes close by. His response had been that moving it out of the way later, so he could suspend his sub, tended to interrupt his momentum and bring him out of his Dom space.
Knot a Chance: Doms of The Covenant Book 3 Page 11