Maxwell, Mardi - Zane's Choice [The Doms of Club Mystique 4] (Siren Publishing Allure)

by Mardi Maxwell

  Logan reached down and pinched Cassie’s chin between two fingers then raised her face to his. “Sugar, I’m going to do the talking, because Luc is so angry he can’t right now. You broke your promise to never leave us.”

  Cassie kept her eyes lowered. “I’m sorry, Sirs.”

  A rumble came from Logan. “Did we ask you a question?”

  “No, Sirs.”

  “Do you have a bedroom by yourself?” Logan asked.

  “Yes, Sirs”

  Logan lifted her to her feet. “Lead the way.” He swept his hand out in front of her, indicating she should get moving.

  Cade stopped him. “Wait a minute. I want all five of them to line up first.”

  “Why?” Jackson asked.

  “I want a picture of this. Five subs dressed in the same outfit. What are the odds?”

  “I’m not a sub,” Ravyn said.

  The men laughed, then Cade gave her a fierce frown. “Do you want me to call Zane and tell him to get his ass over here to prove you wrong?”

  Deciding to play it smart, Ravyn shook her head. “No, Sir.”

  “Right answer,” Cade said before he told Addison to stand in front of the television.

  On the screen, a lady in tears was driving in the rain in an effort to get to her critically ill best friend. Ravyn watched the scene for a moment, then thought about her friends. From the frowns on the men’s faces, she knew her friends would be in tears before the night ended. “I would just like to say that this is all my fault. I insisted on leaving the ranch, and they didn’t want me to go alone.”

  “They know the rules.” Jackson led Jenna over to stand next to Addison.

  Logan clicked his fingers, then pointed to the space next to Jenna. Cassie took her place in line.

  Thor stood over Marisol. “You’re no nun, damn you. Not dressed like that. Now get in line before I take my belt off.”

  Marisol leaned back on the couch, then examined her newly painted nails. “You’re not my Dom or my lover, so you can’t make me.”

  “You stole my vehicle,” Thor said. “How long do you think it would take the feds to pick you up if I pressed charges and you went to jail?”

  “You wouldn’t dare,” Marisol said.

  “What have you given me besides trouble, skjebne?” Thor asked.

  Marisol frowned. “What does that mean—shebna? It better not be something mean.”

  Thor laughed. “Maybe someday I’ll tell you, but in the meantime, get in line.”

  Marisol’s sigh echoed around the room, then she stood up as if she was only humoring him and took her place next to Cassie.

  “Ravyn, get in line next to Marisol,” Cade said.

  Ravyn jumped to her feet and nearly ran to comply, all the while asking herself why she was cooperating.

  “See, told you. Sub,” Cade said, and the other men grunted their agreement, then pulled out their cell phones and began snapping pictures.

  “Where did you find the clothes?” Jackson examined the red velvet corset with black embroidery the women wore, along with sheer red thongs and four-inch, red-and-black stilettos.

  “At a store Addison knows,” Jenna said.

  Cade snapped a picture. “Okay, turn around, spread those legs, and grab your ankles. Addison, hands on knees. If you barf, you’re cleaning it up.”

  The women hesitated until the men reached for their belt buckles, then, in unison, they twirled around, looked at each other, and then bent over and grabbed their ankles. Behind them, the soft whirring sound of pictures being taken filled the room.

  “You know, there’s something wrong with this picture,” Logan said.

  “Yup, you’re right about that,” Jackson said. “Those pale ass cheeks need some color.”

  Ravyn held her breath as she heard the men talking. When Logan asked about her punishment, she strained to hear what was said. She heard Logan say, “Zane wouldn’t want her to go unpunished,” then she heard Luc talking, but couldn’t hear what he said until he said, “Zane said he was on his way to the ranch and he’s just about at Thor’s turnoff. He’ll be here in about five minutes.” She only had a moment to wonder why he was coming to Thor’s house before Thor called for their attention.

  “Okay, ladies, I want you to move to the rug in front of the fireplace and pile up like a bunch of sweet little puppies.”

  Ravyn breathed a sigh of relief as they moved to the rug. This punishment business wasn’t so bad after all, she thought, as Jenna and Cassie sat down then leaned back against each other with their bodies in profile to Thor. Marisol knelt behind them, then surrounded their waists with her arms and looked at the men. Addison arranged herself over Jenna’s legs while she positioned herself over Cassie’s legs.

  Luc frowned. “No. Jenna and Cassie, spread your legs. Addison and Ravyn, lie down on your sides between their legs and rest your heads on their laps.”

  Ravyn and Addison hesitated, then quickly moved into position when Luc took a threatening step toward them.

  Several pictures later, the front door slammed and Ravyn’s head came up. Zane appeared in the archway. He was dressed in a leather vest, old jeans, and a pair of expensive boots, but it was the belt in his hand that really caught her attention.

  “Ah, oh,” Addison said. “You were right, Jenna. Everybody’s getting a spanking.”

  Chapter Two

  Ravyn perched on the edge of the chair with her hands crossed on her lap. Zane paced from one side of the room to the other. The belt in his hand swung by his side as he moved by her. Luc slouched on a couch across from her, his body relaxed as he read text messages on his phone. Finally, Zane stopped in front of her. She looked at him, then lowered her eyes. The expression in his eyes didn’t bode well for her.

  “By leaving the ranch without a security team, you endangered not only your own life but the lives of Addison, Jenna, Cassie, and Marisol.” Zane doubled the belt, then snapped it against his leg. “And, Cade and Addison’s baby. Are you aware of that?”

  “Yes, and I’m sorry, Sir.” Ravyn kept her eyes on the belt in his hand. She’d enjoyed the spanking Zane had given her at the ranch. She wasn’t sure she would ever want to be spanked with a leather belt, though. She peered up at him.

  A dark brow flicked up over narrowed eyes before he said, “They’ve been sharing things with you—BDSM things.”

  Ravyn nodded but didn’t speak. She was a quick study and he hadn’t asked her a question.

  “Do you know what is happening to them right now?”

  “I think they’re probably being spanked, Sir.”

  Zane nodded. “Do you think it’s fair that they’re being punished but you’re not?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “Do you know why I’m here?”

  “To punish me, Sir.”

  Zane crossed his arms over his chest. He released one end of the belt and it hung down his side. “In what way do you think you should be punished?”

  “I think I should be spanked, too, Sir.”

  Zane moved to the fireplace and leaned against the mantel. “What’s your safe word, princess?”

  Ravyn knew she didn’t dare choose guilty again. She thought quickly, then said, “Spades, Sir.”

  Zane’s left brow went up then his lips tightened. “I’m giving Luc permission to spank you. Do you understand?”

  Ravyn shook her head. “I want you to do it. Please, Sir.”

  “You know that isn’t possible. Now, you have a choice. You can use your safe word or you can get yourself over Luc’s lap.”

  Ravyn felt the heat of a blush cover her face as she stood, then awkwardly lowered herself over Luc’s lap. He chuckled, then adjusted her until the upper half of her body was lying half on the couch. Her toes were barely touching the floor and she had to grab the edge of the couch to keep from falling. Luc slid his hand beneath her belly and lifted her until her ass was sticking up, then his hands slid over her butt cheeks.

  From his place at the fireplace,
Zane said, “Luc, that’s enough touching. Just get on with it.”

  Ravyn raised her head and twisted her neck as far as she could to see Zane. He glared at her, then nodded at Luc. “Twenty swats, Luc. Make them memorable.”

  As the last word left Zane’s lips, Luc swatted her, hard.

  “Ow, dam—dang.” Before she could catch her breath, another swat landed, then Luc began giving her two slaps on each butt cheek while he worked his way down her butt to the backs of her thighs. Each swat was followed by a howled litany of ows and eventually sobs, as tears covered her cheeks. Luc stopped for a moment and rubbed her ass, and the heat on her butt increased, but not in a good way.

  “I can’t stand anymore.” Ravyn sobbed, then wiggled and tried to get away.

  “You have a safe word,” Zane said. “Use it.”

  Ravyn sealed her lips, determined that if her new friends were being punished like this, then she would be, too.

  Zane crouched down by her head and turned her to face him. “Be still, or I’ll have Luc double your punishment.”

  She froze, her eyes zeroed in on Zane’s, and Luc began swatting her again. His hand moved back and forth across the back of her thighs before moving back up to her bottom where he landed the last one right across the crack of her ass. She bit her lip to keep from screaming, but couldn’t prevent the tears from running down her cheeks. Zane lifted her and set her on the couch next to Luc.

  “Hurts,” she sobbed as her hot, stinging bottom came into contact with the cool leather of the couch.

  “It’s supposed to hurt,” Zane said, his voice stern.

  Ravyn rubbed her eyes, then sniffled.

  Zane stood up, then pinched her chin between his fingers and raised her face to his. “You’re a beautiful mess.”

  Ravyn wanted to scream curses at him. How did the brute expect her to look after he let Luc beat her ass raw?

  He pulled her up, then patted her bottom, and chuckled when she squealed with pain and jumped away from him. “There’s a half bath at the end of the hall. You have one minute to wash your face and get back here.”

  Ravyn hurried away. As soon as she found the bathroom, she closed the door, then turned the faucet on and twisted around so she could see her bottom in the mirror. She gently ran her hands over her ass and grimaced with pain. Her ass was red and on fire, but surprisingly she wasn’t aroused the way she’d been when Zane had spanked her. Puzzled, she wet a washcloth and scrubbed her face, then patted it dry. She opened the door and found Zane waiting in the hallway. Before she could step around him, he slid his hand behind her neck and held her still. A second later, his fingers slid beneath the dry crotch of her thong. He raised them, smiled, and then kept his hand curved around the back of her neck while he urged her toward the family room. “Let’s go. They’re waiting for us.”

  Addison, Jenna, Cassie, and Marisol were lined up facing the large TV again. Three bottoms were as red as hers but Addison’s was only slightly pink. All of their faces were covered with tear tracks.

  “Take your place with them.” Zane gave her a little shove toward the line of sniffling women.

  Ravyn stepped up next to a really pissed-off Marisol.

  “Good,” Cade said. “Now, spread those legs and grab those ankles.”

  Ravyn was the first one to obey him. To her left, she heard Marisol sigh, then mumble something under her breath in Spanish before she bent and circled her ankles with slender fingers. She glanced at Ravyn, winked, and then looked down.

  “Now that’s a beautiful sight,” Jackson said.

  “It sure is, and it deserves a better camera than this one.” Thor left the room then returned a minute later and began snapping pictures. He took several close-up photos of Marisol’s ass before he handed the camera to Cade who also began snapping pictures of Addison’s butt.

  Cade chuckled, then handed the camera to Logan. Logan snapped pictures of Cassie then handed the camera to Zane.

  Ravyn started to protest, then bit her lip and let him photograph her.

  Zane caught her eyes and smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m only taking close-ups of your beautiful, red ass.” He placed his hand on a blazing red cheek, then snapped a couple more photos. He held out the camera so she could see the screen, then chuckled and turned it upside down so the image would be right.

  Ravyn knew her face was red from being upside down for so long, but when she looked at the picture on the screen, she gasped, then felt her face blaze with heat.

  Zane slid his fingers beneath the crotch of her thong and she felt a rush of cream gush from her pussy onto his fingers. “Zane.”

  His eyes met hers for a moment, then returned to his fingers. “One touch,” he said, his voice soft. “That’s all it takes. I touch you and you’re ready for me. Aren’t you?”

  “Yes,” Ravyn answered. “Always.”

  Zane slid another finger between her labial lips, then spread the cream he found there over her clit. “That’s it. Your clit’s come out to play now,” he said, his words increasing her arousal. “If I had spanked you”—he slid a finger into her and moved it around—“you’d have cream running down your thighs. Wouldn’t you?”

  “Yes, Sir.” Ravyn wiggled her hips a little, silently asking him to slide another finger into her. He smiled, then granted her unspoken request. He pushed into her, then twisted his fingers and she moaned.

  “Oh, god, Zane, please.” Ravyn pushed back against him, forgetting where they were and that other people were not only watching but listening.

  Zane swatted her ass. “Okay, stand up, princess.” He helped her stand then held onto her until she was steady on her feet.

  Addison, Jenna, Cassie, and Marisol were standing, too. Ravyn could hear their heavy breathing and knew it was because of what had just happened between her and Zane.

  “I’m done here,” Zane said. “Thor, get that security detail on Ravyn and get her back in her own home where she belongs. Tonight.”

  “I don’t have the men to cover her,” Thor said.

  “Bullshit. Ben and Mac have been trailing them since they left the ranch,” Zane said.

  Ravyn heard Cade growl with anger before Luc said, “I’m going to kick your ass.”

  “Take your women home.” Zane strung his belt through the loops on his jeans. As he pulled the buckle tight, he turned to Thor. “Send Ravyn home with Ben and Mac to watch over her.”

  Before he could walk through the archway, Ravyn ran after him, grabbed his arm, and pulled him around to face her. “Is that it? You show up, watch Luc punish me, get me all hot and bothered, and then you just walk away?”

  “Yes.” Zane pulled his arm away, then cruelly added, “Did you really think they’d let you leave the ranch with their women without having you trailed? You’re an unknown element, and I’m not the only one who thinks you can’t be trusted.”

  “You bastard.” Logan fisted his hands and stepped toward Zane, but Luc pulled him back and let Cade and Thor take control.

  “That’s enough, Zane,” Cade said.

  Zane laughed, the sound cynical and weary. “She deserves to know that you’re using her to find out what she knows about the situation in Rendezvous.” He looked at them, his lips thin with anger. “How are you going to keep her out of prison when so many people, including federal agents, have died? Tell me that, big brother?” When neither Cade nor Thor answered him, he looked at Ravyn. “You need to know these guys like to bug things—things like cars.” He put special emphasis on the last word. “And purses, clothes, houses. You name it, they bug it. Be careful what you say. I’d hate to see you get the death penalty.”

  Ravyn moved closer to him. He was angry. Was he angry because she’d put herself in danger? Had he been on his way to the ranch to see her? “Zane.” She held out her hand to him, hoping he would take it. Needing him to care about her. “Would you protect me if you found out things I could explain but someone else might not believe?”

  Zane stepped back, putting
himself out of her reach. “Careful. If I find out you were involved with Mendez, I’ll prosecute you and I won’t care when you go to prison.”

  Ravyn dropped her hand, then stood still, her eyes focused on the floor as she listened to his footsteps fade away. Someone walked up behind her. For a moment, she let her shoulders drop with despair, then she imagined a rod of steel sliding down her spine and she straightened her posture, then smiled and turned around. “Well, that was interesting.” She licked her lips, then swallowed. “In fact, the entire evening has been interesting, but it really is time I went home.” Marisol reached out to her, but she shook her head and apparently, Marisol understood that she was barely holding it together. Ravyn breathed a silent sigh as Marisol dropped her hand and then sent her a small, encouraging smile in return.

  Ravyn kept the smile on her face as she flicked a glance around the room, but avoided making eye contact until Thor stepped forward and trapped her focus.

  “It isn’t what Zane said,” Thor said.

  “It never is.” Ravyn hugged her arms around herself as the air conditioning kicked on. She told herself it was for warmth, but knew she was trying to protect herself. She stood in a stranger’s home, surrounded by people she didn’t really know, and dressed in the scantiest outfit she’d ever worn. Funny, but she hadn’t felt vulnerable until now. She swallowed, then looked at Thor. “So, is your car bugged, Mr. Larkin?” she asked, then paled as she remembered how much she’d told Marisol in Thor’s car. That thought led her to wonder whose idea it had been to take his car. She looked at the dark-haired beauty and wondered if she’d been set up. Again. Past experience told her the answer was probably yes. Thank god, she’d kept her most important secret. “I’m going to get dressed and call a cab to take me home. Unless the police are on their way to arrest me?” She glanced at Cade and saw him shake his head.

  “Dammit, Ravyn, you can’t go home,” Thor said. “You won’t be safe there. Any of your ex-husband’s friends could show up.”

  Ravyn felt a wave of sadness roll over her. “You’re the ones who are in danger. They need me alive, at least for now.” A cynical smiled curved her lips before she left the room. Once upstairs, she removed her phone from its hiding place. She called for a cab, then dressed and repacked her suitcase. After thinking about it, she knew that Marisol hadn’t betrayed her, but it was better for the royals if she stayed away from them.