by Piper Stone
Intoxicating.
“While it’s almost closing time, I think it’s time that you experience another portion of our club.”
“I’m very tired. I was just leaving,” she said, her eyes darting back and forth across mine.
I yanked her even closer until our lips were only centimeters apart, keeping my voice so that only she could hear. “I insist, Valentina. You are coming with me. You see, you really should understand that what we offer has everything to do with pleasures of the flesh. You are currently beautiful eye candy, a tantalizing treat for our customers, but there is much more to discover. I have a feeling you are in desperate need of training.” Cocking my head, I was able to see more than just a hint of her nervous state when she wound her finger around a long lock of hair, quickly correcting her behavior with the jerk of her hand.
“I understand.”
“Do you? Do you realize that often only in the darkness are certain people allowed to experience the joys of intense pain? Do you understand that the act of punishment is truly an art?” I kept my fingers digging in, my heart racing. I was going to teach her a lesson that she wouldn’t soon forget.
She tipped her head, refusing to blink. “Our customers enjoy both.”
“Mmm... Yes. What we offer them is a chance to move into the light, to be freed of the mental chains that keep them from relishing the beautifully blinding joys of sadism and masochism. For many, this is the only location they feel safe. Free. Uninhibited.” Using the backs of my fingers, I stroked the side of her face, marveling in both the electricity as well as the searing heat we shared.
“That sounds... amazing,” she whispered, dragging her tongue across her lips. She was still playing the game. Still thinking she was in charge.
She had another think coming.
Her extreme punishment would be sublime.
Unable to resist, I followed her actions, rubbing my thumb across the seam of her mouth, shifting it back and forth until I was rewarded with a slight whimper. “Only when you experience pleasure in its rawest form can you understand pure ecstasy. And do you?”
“Do I what? Sir?”
I chuckled darkly, noticing the slight flare of venom in her eyes. “Do you enjoy ecstasy, Valentina? Do you have a man to take you to a rapturous state where agony and ecstasy comingle? Do you understand that pain is a very important part of pleasure?”
She finally looked away, half snorting. “There is no one willing to provide that.”
“Willing or capable?” When she didn’t say anything, I took her hand, pulling her knuckles to my lips and pressing a single kiss against each finger before allowing her arm to drop. I took a deep breath, returning to all business. “Then come with me.” I didn’t wait for her answer, merely walking through the crowd toward the public rooms, ushering her inside.
When I moved us toward the back of the club, I eased her in front of me, keeping my hands wrapped around her arms. While it was difficult to gauge her thoughts, if she was bothered by the naked submissive on the ‘X’ cross, she certainly didn’t register any reaction. Even as at least three dozen customers watched from various vantage points, some indulging in fantasies while others conducted business. The dichotomy had always fascinated me. Those in business attire basically ignoring the occurrences around them.
The crack of a flogger.
The cry of pleasure and pain.
The desire that continued to build.
“What do you see?” I finally asked when she made no sounds, didn’t bother flinching as the submissive was punished, the skin on her bottom and upper thighs a beautiful shade of blush.
“Ecstasy.”
“What an excellent answer, Valentina.” I pulled her close to the door, moving toward the set of stairs. “We’re going to have a discussion. Your training starts tonight. And Valentina, you will not fuck with me.”
“I’m sorry?”
While she struggled in my hold, she bit back any noise, further igniting the raging beast inside. Anyone who wasn’t guilty would be begging to be freed, attempting to find out what the hell I was going to do. I’d caught her red-handed. My guess was finding out a list of our clients was just the beginning.
She obviously needed a hard lesson. Whether or not I allowed her to leave was the question. She’d made several mistakes, but I remained curious as to not only her determination but the lengths she was willing to go to in order to catch her prey.
Only she had no idea I was the supreme hunter, prepared to strip away every slice of armor she believed would keep her safe.
When I pulled her into one of the private rooms, closing and locking the door, she managed to jerk out of my hold.
“What are you doing, Mr. Dunmore?”
“I’m teaching you a valuable lesson, Valentina. I told you before that you didn’t want to cross me. I’m not a good man. In fact, I’m the kind of person you don’t want to have as your enemy.”
“Why? What did I do? What could I have possibly done to hurt you?”
My God, the woman was defiant.
She refused to back down. I had to give her credit. She was doing everything she could to maintain her resolve. I couldn’t wait to break her.
I held out my hand, staring directly into her eyes. “The phone.”
She bit her bottom lip, trying to stand tall.
“If I have to ask you again, your punishment is going to be much worse. Give me your phone, Ms. Foster.”
“Excuse me? You have no right.”
“I have every right. Do as I say.” While her hesitation was to be expected, the look of concern in her eyes was all about something else.
“Punishment?” she asked as she tugged the phone from her costume. “I didn’t know having a cell phone was against the rules.”
I shook my head. “I believe you’re lying, Valentina. I already told you that I don’t like liars. And do you know what happens to people who lie to me?”
“What?” she asked defiantly, her tone little more than a snarl.
I moved closer, nodding only once. I wanted her to understand that I was deadly serious. I debated my answer. For the majority of people who dared lie to me, their punishment was something they weren’t able to recover from. However, she was lucky. I wasn’t in the mood for bloodshed. As I took the phone from her hand, reveling in the instant vibrations as our fingers touched, I tried to control my anger.
“What is the code, Valentina?” Another hesitation. I snapped my head in her direction, narrowing my eyes. “The. Code.”
She twisted her mouth, huffing twice. “Two. Two. Two. Two. There’s nothing on there. Just a few ugly pictures.”
I chuckled as I stored it into memory. “That may be the case, but the action itself is still against the rules.”
While I was eager to see the photographs she’d taken, I pocketed the instrument without bothering. I had plenty of time to find out what she was searching for. “As far as the punishment. They receive one long, hard spanking. Remove your clothes.”
“What? You’re crazy.” She backed away, her eyes sweeping the room, an understanding settling in. There was no way she was getting away from me.
“I’m the man who writes your checks for a job that you seem to need desperately. I suggest you do as I say. If not, I’ll simply terminate your employment.”
“No! You can’t do that.”
“Oh, I can and I will. It’s your choice.”
“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she insisted.
“Quite the contrary. Which will it be, Ms. Foster?” While she was testing my patience, I thoroughly enjoyed watching her display of discomfort increasing.
“I need the job,” she half whispered, her breathing scattered.
Whether or not her reactions were honest or just another part of her practiced act was yet to be seen but I was eager to push her boundaries. “Yes, so you’ve said. You have ten seconds to decide and no more. I am not a patient man.”
Swallowing hard, she gave me another harsh glare, shakin
g her head slightly. She fisted her hands before answering. “Fine. I’ll accept whatever discipline you deem necessary.”
“Excellent. Then remove your clothes and I will not tell you again.” When she narrowed her eyes, I added a final piece. “There is also a second part to your punishment.”
Her entire body trembled even as her rebellious nature continued, her eyes lit up from the fire of venom as well as the same burning desire rolling through me. I walked closer, inhaling once again, more electrified than ever before.
“What could that be? Sir?” she managed.
“I will spank you, hard and long, making certain that every inch of that rounded bottom of yours is covered in crimson and you’re sobbing from both the anguish you feel as well as the burning desire pooling between your legs.” I crowded her space even more, until my hot breath cascaded across her face. “Then, Valentina, I’m going to fuck you. And when I do, you’re going to fully understand that I own you. Every. Single. Inch.”
Chapter Five
Autumn
Fucked.
Owned?
Oh, hell, no.
He had to be kidding. There was no chance he’d do something so horrible. Or was there? Everything in the room seemed to shift out of focus. The crimson walls. The soft lighting. The horrible apparatuses meant for causing pain. He’d played a card, one I hadn’t seen coming, and he’d called my bluff. I backed away a few inches, staring him straight in the eyes. The bastard wasn’t going to see me sweat.
Fuck. Him.
“I don’t think so, Mr. Dunmore.” Visions of his naked body rolled into my mind, my entire body ready to shut down. I’d seen the way he’d looked at me standing in front of the stage, the hunger in his eyes. I’d noticed the hardness of his cock pushing against his trousers, and the way he’d rubbed his index finger across his mouth in a blatant attempt to terrify me.
Contemplating what he was going to do to me.
Imagining feasting on me once again.
Shuddering, I went through the various scenarios in my mind, trying to figure a way to turn the tables even as a sick series of sensations thrummed throughout my body. I was electrified by his prowess, my pussy aching to have his fingers thrust inside.
I was thrown by his insistence, my heart hammering hard from the look he was giving me alone. Was he serious? I took a deep breath then another, trying to figure out what to do.
“One thing I see that I need to make clear to you. You’re not in charge, Valentina. When you were hired, you were told there were rules that must be followed. You have broken two in an egregious manner. As you might imagine, that’s not fair for the other employees who do follow the regulations without causing problems.”
“You’re crazy.” As soon as I issued the words, I could tell there was nothing I could do to get out of this. Not unless I wanted to blow my cover. He was overwhelming, his entire demeanor riddled with darkness, the bastard undressing me with his eyes.
“Then you’ve made your choice?” he asked in the kind of casual manner that made me want to strike at him, raking my nails down his perfect face.
“No, I...” A lump formed in my throat, the bile preventing me from answering. If I left, there would be no recourse, the assignment failing. If I went through with this, what then? What else could he possibly do to me?
“Four seconds,” he stated, looking away as if bored. “Three. Two.”
“Fine. Fine. Okay? I’ll accept your damn punishment.”
I wasn’t prepared for his vehemence or his predatory actions as he closed the distance, snapping his hand around my throat and lifting me onto my toes. Every heartbeat sounded into my ears, every pulse skipping.
Gregory lowered his head, tilting it until I was able to see the throbbing pulse in his neck. “I suggest you learn manners, Valentina. You will never curse at me again and you will call me sir. Am I very clear or do I need to explain it further?”
The bastard was trying to break me. I managed a slight smile as I stared directly into his eyes. “No. Sir.”
Exhaling, he kept his firm hold for a few seconds, his fingers digging into my skin. Even though I had difficulty breathing, I did nothing but plant my hands on his chest. As he slowly lowered his gaze, I heard the single low-slung growl erupting from his throat. His weakness was his burning desire to have something he couldn’t seem to control. “Much better.”
As quickly as he’d yanked me into his grasp, he let me go, taking deliberate steps toward one of the two cabinets in the room. There were no further instructions, just an assumption that I was prepared to follow his command.
My entire insides were cramped, my legs quivering as I slowly began to remove my costume. I couldn’t believe he’d seen me with the camera. I’d been fucking stupid to think that I could get away with taking pictures so soon. Damn it. Huffing, I closed my eyes as I pulled the dress over my shoulders, fisting the material and bringing it to my face. What else would the monster do? Would he kill me? Would he make me disappear?
I finally opened my eyes, noticing the small table close by. After depositing the dress on the surface, I removed my panties, my entire body shaking. Nothing had prepared me for this. I twisted the special watch, almost considering pressing the panic button. Nope. I wasn’t going to do that. Not yet. Very slowly I unclasped the buckle, fingering the dial before placing it on top of my attire. This I had to do alone.
“Come to me, Valentina.”
His voice seemed to boom in the room, adding to my skipping heartbeat. Turning slowly, I kept one arm over my breasts, the other covering my shorn pussy, attempting to keep my dignity as I walked closer. While he didn’t admonish me or even react, I could see the increased hunger in his eyes. At this point, I’d become his property.
His possession.
His pet.
I noticed the various implements he’d positioned on a cold steel table, the piece of furniture reminding me of something I’d find in a morgue. The thought only added to the apprehension, the sickness furrowing into every cell and muscle. When I’d closed the distance, trying to keep my wits, he pressed both hands on the side of my face, gently rubbing his thumbs back and forth.
As if we were lovers.
As if I could ever give a damn about him.
“Now, I’m going to show you what it feels like to indulge in your darkest fantasy,” he mused as he dropped his head even lower, his breath skipping across my face.
Even breathing in his musky cologne was enough to allow a shiver to skate down my spine, taking its time as it slithered along the back of my legs. Everything about the man reeked of danger, but I had a feeling that the majority was merely for show.
Attempting to keep his customers on a short chain, convincing them that crossing him wasn’t in their best interest.
I’d photographed at least ten individuals on the top ten list of who’s who within Washington, even capturing the image of one stunning female senator. I was shocked to see the collar surrounding her neck, a pompous male dragging her around on a leash. If that’s what the asshole had in store for me, he could go fuck himself.
When his hand wrapped around the base of my throat, pushing me backwards several feet, I held my breath. The second he gazed toward the ceiling, my curiosity got the better of me. Chains. There were four chains positioned on a contraption made of steel, the large beam overhead connected to the ceiling by a series of pulleys. As they dangled down, somehow moving even though I couldn’t detect any breeze in the room, I bit back a cry.
He was going to shackle me like some prisoner. Like some animal. Like a true submissive.
A smile remained on Gregory’s face as he positioned me under the beam, lifting first one of my arms into the air then the other. His lack of words was far more chilling than if he issued a series of instructions.
I tried not to think about anything as he wrapped a thick band of leather around each wrist, snapping a lock in place. My feet remained on the second beam, my arches digging into the cold steel.
Another round of shivers pulsed through every muscle, goosebumps appearing along every inch of naked skin.
When he’d strapped my ankles into position, he stood in front of me, inspecting his work, a smile curling on his lip.
Such a coldhearted bastard, devoid of any emotions other than lust. I wanted to hate him, to shove him in the category of a true monster, but a part of me ached for him. I couldn’t understand the sensations or the thoughts drifting through my mind. How could I want anyone who treated me this way? How could I remain so wet, my nipples so damn hard when I knew he was going to cause me pain?
There were no answers that made any sense, no revelation that suddenly came out of the blue. There was only a mixture of apprehension and excitement surging through my body.
And it sickened me to the very core.
He finally took three steps away, the echo of his footsteps on the cold tile floor ringing in my ears. I could also hear his heavy breathing as he reached for some kind of a lever, slowly maneuvering it away from him.
The clanging of metal slamming against steel was horrifying enough. When my arms were stretched as the chains were lifted, I almost panicked, stars floating in front of my eyes. No. No. No... Gasping for air, I peered down as my legs were opened, my feet dragging off the metal bar. When the mechanism stopped, his dark and evil chuckle bolstered my resolve.
You won’t break me. You won’t fucking break me.
Even the mantra seemed foreign as I said it over and over again. The words were foreign given I was completely at his mercy. I struggled to keep my head held high, fisting my hands as I glanced around the room. I still had a job to do. I had to detail every aspect of the room and its contents in my mind.
He walked slowly toward the table, taking his time selecting whatever implement of torment he was going to use. When he finally turned, I could see some kind of black strap in his hand. When I narrowed my eyes, I was able to tell it was a crop with a small striking end. I forced myself to look away for fear of crying out.
For fear of giving in to his tyranny.
Not a chance in hell.