Challenge Me (Club Masque Book 2)

by Riley James

  Ariel isn’t too deep—it doesn’t take her too long to come back to the surface. I see it when the light hits her eyes again. “Back, little one?”

  She looks at me and registers how and where we’re sitting. “I think so.”

  “Good.” I place the water bottle in her hands, “Drink some of that.” She does, and I watch her, making sure she’s back to full speed. “How do you feel?”

  Her cheeks flush red, and she drops her gaze. “Embarrassed.”

  “Why?” That wasn’t what I was expecting.

  “Because I thought I could do it.”

  I smile, “You’re embarrassed because you came?”

  “A little, yeah.”

  “You shouldn’t be,” I say, tilting her chin up to mine and kissing her, “Seeing you come was fucking hot.”

  “But—” she looks like she’s going to argue, and changes her mind. “What happens now?”

  “That’s a good question,” I say, thinking about all the ways I can tease her now that she’s mine for the night. My cock hardens just imagining the possibilities. Ariel feels that and squirms on my lap, which only makes me harder. I laugh, “The short answer is: ‘whatever I want.’”

  “What’s the long answer?”

  I raise an eyebrow at her. “You’ll find out soon enough. And now that you’re back, I think it’s time you remembered your manners.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  I tug the blanket off us and stand, lifting her with me. Her arms come up to hold onto my neck, and I smile. I like the little gestures subs use to show you that they trust, even if they’re anxious. I sit her on the bar. “Lie down.”

  Ariel’s eyes go wide. “When you said you would strap me to the bar…”

  “Yes?”

  “I never bluff, Ariel.”

  She meets my eyes, and I don’t back down. I see her throat move as she swallows. She’s nervous. More now than for the challenge. Maybe because of what she tried to negotiate. She thinks I’m going to let anyone who likes touch her, even though I said I wouldn’t. I need to be careful with that—I don’t want to push her too far.

  Slowly, she lays back. I help her, arrange her the way I want. Lengthwise on the bar, wrists and ankle cuffs clipped to anchor points on either side. It’s been awhile since I’ve had anyone at my disposal on the bar, and I can’t help the grin that’s on my face. I duck under the bar, nodding to Rhett to let him know he can stop tending. He nods back, and I see him smirk at how I’ve restrained Ariel.

  “What are your safe words?” I ask her, not making any attempt to hide how much I’m enjoying this.

  “Mermaid and Red.”

  “Mermaid?” I ask.

  She rolls her eyes, “My name is Ariel, it’s easy to remember.”

  I run a hand down her body, starting at her neck and ending at her clit. She gasps as I circle it with my thumb. “I’m a pretty easy-going Dom, little one. But you’ll be sorry if you roll your eyes at me again. I think tonight is already going to be hard enough.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “All right, then.”

  She tries to lift her hand, and I see the moment she realizes just how immobile she is—how until now it just felt like she was lying down. I see her realize just how real this bargain she made is.

  ARIEL

  I’m trapped. I can’t move my arms, can’t move my legs. I know I was just strapped to a chair, but this feels different. More vulnerable. Here on top of a bar where the whole club can come close and touch. My heart rate speeds up, and I try to swallow my rising panic. It doesn’t work. I pull against the cuffs, arms and legs moving no more than a few inches and I feel like I can’t breathe.

  There’s a hand on my chest right between my breasts. Oh god, it’s already started. The touching.

  “Ariel,” the deep voice cuts through my thoughts like a knife, “Look at me.”

  I focus on the face above me. Master Connor. His eyes are a rich brown, and they’re focused on me with concern. “Breathe.” His tone is laced with that dark, intangible sound of command, and I find myself heaving a breath in. “Again.” I do.

  I can hear the music in the club again, hear the sounds of people moving around, nowhere near me. The hand that’s touching me is Connor’s and not a stranger. “Breathe through it.” He says, his hand moving slowly down my body. It’s a motion that’s both soothing and arousing. “Do you trust me, Ariel?”

  I can’t answer. My tongue is still tied with barely bound panic. All the things that my brain thinks I should have thought about before I said yes to this. He’s a new partner. You don’t know him very well. He tied you to the bar.

  “You are safe with me,” he says. “When I said you were mine for the night, I meant it. And while I’m going to enjoy teasing you, I protect what’s mine. No one comes near me without my permission. And if they do, it’s because I trust them.” His hand makes another stroke down my body, pausing to caress my breasts and then drag his fingers down my stomach. His words sink in, and I feel my body relax. He doesn’t bluff. I’ve never seen him do anything that would make me not trust him.

  I let out a shaky breath, and he smiles. “There you are. Do you want to use your safe word?”

  “A minute ago I might have said yes, Sir.”

  He nods, “And now?” I hesitate, and he leans down, taking a kiss from me. His lips are unyielding, and I open for him, body arching off the bar to meet his, and held down by my restraints.

  “Can I ask?”

  “Sure.” He’s got a smirk on his face and a sparkle in his eye as his hand strokes lower, fingers drawing patterns on my hipbones.

  My heart is still beating too quickly, and I’m nervous what he’ll say, that he won’t like that I’m asking again. “What happens now? I know I already asked, and I’m sorry.”

  Connor shakes his head. “Don’t apologize, little one. I should have noticed how anxious you were. We’re going to play,” he says. “I’ll keep you close for the rest of the night, and I might tease you, I might take you, I might display you. My choice. If you trust me enough to let me keep you for the rest of the night.” Leaning down so that his mouth is right by my ear, his voice sends goosebumps across my skin. “And even though you’re not allowed to come, I don’t think you’ll find it entirely unenjoyable.”

  There’s a lingering promise in those words that makes me shudder. “Okay.”

  He grins, “Thank you for the trust, little one. I think you deserve a little bit of a reward for that.”

  His fingers drift from my hips right to the center of me, dragging through my pussy, which is still swollen and sensitive. Given his plans, I don’t think that’s going to change anytime soon. The way he’s touching me is slow and languorous, causing my muscles to tighten and legs to shift. I try to open then wider, to invite him in further, but my legs stay where they are. Dammit.

  Slipping a finger inside me, Connor caresses that rough spot inside my pussy that makes me jump while he grinds the base of his palm down onto my clit. It’s nothing but sweet, deep pleasure. I know that I might as well enjoy this since he’s not going to let it going to go any further, but I can’t help wanting more. His hand speeds up, steadily working my body into a frenzy, spears of pleasure exploding from where he’s touching. I move as much as I can, grinding into him, and he chuckles at my effort. The way he’s thrusting against my G-spot has my breath going short, and I feel so good, so close. I moan, and I think he might let me come again. Just once.

  I’m wrong.

  His hands disappear, and I cry out at the loss, my body trying to fight towards that orgasm and failing. I wilt against the bar as I feel it fade into nothing. Connor is smiling over me again, “I said that you wouldn’t find it entirely unenjoyable, but I think you’ll find it more than a little frustrating.”

  “You’re evil.” I say, and correcting myself when I see his sharp look, “Sir.”

  “Just a Dom, sweetheart.” I bite my lip to keep from spilling out some snide remark that�
��s only going to get me in more trouble. “I’m going to serve drinks for a bit. Don’t speak to anyone. I’m never more than a few steps away. I’ll be back to play more in a little bit. Can’t let your body get too excited, not can I?” He winks and walks away.

  I swear under my breath, arousal cascading through me at his words. I really am his for the night. I let that same sinking sensation roll over me. Acceptance. Submission. I never thought it would be like this, but it’s not my job to choose what happens. I breathe out a long and steady breath, letting my body settle. I can feel the remnants of pleasure pulsing in my lower body—a sweet ache.

  “Ariel.” A voice hisses, and I look to see Kara a few steps away from the bar. Her eyes are wide, “Are you okay?”

  Connor told me not to speak to anyone, so I don’t. I just nod. She looks like she’s going to say something else when Master Rhett appears behind her. “Interrupting a scene?”

  Her eyes drop. “No, Sir.”

  Rhett turns her towards him and grins, while he roams a hand over her ass. “I’d hate to have to spank you. I still might.”

  Kara throws a look over her shoulder at me, still concerned, but not about to contradict her Dom. I didn’t tell any of my friends that I was going over to the bar to challenge Connor. They must think I’m crazy.

  Looking back towards Connor, he’s chatting with someone at the other end of the bar. A tattoo climbs up his back, spinning up along his spine and out across his shoulder blades. I want to touch it—to see what it is up close. If I ever get him to take me alone, I’ll ask for permission to explore him. Another burst of heat flows through me. I want him in a way I’ve never wanted anyone, and even the way he took me earlier isn’t enough. I feel all lingering anxiety fall away. If this is all I get of him, I’ll take it.

  A few minutes later he appears over me again, looking me over, and I feel his fingers touching my cuffs lightly, checking my circulation. “You look hot, little one. Maybe you need something to cool you down.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  He drops his lips to cover my breast, and I cry out because there’s ice in his mouth. My nipple hardens under the cold, both my breasts tightening. Connor pushes the ice cube with his tongue, guiding it in circles around the sensitive peak. “Ohh.”

  Connor’s mouth moves to my other nipple, the ice growing smaller but still managing to raise goosebumps on my skin. The contrast between the heat of his mouth and the cold makes me shiver. Dragging what’s left of the ice cube across what’s left of my skin, he moves across my collarbones and up my neck just below my ear. And then the ice is gone, and it’s just his lips teasing my skin. “Ariel, if you think you’re going to come, I want you to ask permission.”

  Permission? Why do I need to ask permission if I’m not allowed to come?

  He must see the confusion on my face because he keeps going. “You told me that you’ve wanted to scene with me but didn’t know how to ask. Consider this a lesson in how to ask for what you want, even when you know that answer will be no.”

  Bastard. I open my mouth to call him so many names, but the only thing that comes out of my mouth is a small scream. Connor’s fingers are in my pussy again, an ice cube lazily circling my clit. “Oh god oh god oh god.” It’s a chant that comes from my lips, and I can’t stop. The ice is so cold it almost hurts, but the way he’s moving against me has me squirming, trying to feel more. I’m suddenly wetter than I’ve been all night, dripping all over his hand. Heat and cold heat and cold. Chills and pleasure run up my spine in alternating waves, and I’m fighting against the restraints, my body unsure if it wants to be closer or run away.

  Pressure builds in my stomach, and as the ice melts it gives way to that relentless heat and pleasure. Connor places his other hand on my stomach, pressing low while he continues the movement of his fingers, and my world explodes. Pleasure, pleasure, pleasure. I’m drowning in it. Swimming in a sea that’s about to go over a waterfall. “Please,” I beg him, “Please, Sir, can I come.”

  “No.”

  He doesn’t stop, pushing me further towards the edge, towards that point of no return. “Please please please.” I think I might be shouting it, fighting to get just a fraction closer to him, anything to send me over that cliff into endless bliss.

  “No, Ariel.” His hands slow, and my body sags, tension draining, body shuddering and spasming, furious that it’s been brought to the edge again without release. I groan, though it’s closer to a sob. “Though,” he adds mildly, “You look sexy as fuck when you beg.”

  I glare at him, not trusting my mouth to get me into more trouble, and he laughs. “I’ll be back soon.”

  Fuck fuck fuck. I don’t know how I’m going to last the whole night.

  It feels like forever until he comes back to me, gives me some water from a bottle. “Still mad at me?” He asks, smirking.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Thought so.” He doesn’t seem bothered by it though. In fact, in all the time I’ve been watching him, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Connor smile this much.

  A female voice cuts across the bar, “Evening, Connor.”

  I turn my head and see a tall woman dressed in latex, leading a young man on a leash. “Sam,” Connor says. Mistress Samantha. She looks at me with a smile, “I’ve always enjoyed watching what happens after your games. Never quite know what they’re getting in for, do they?”

  “No,” he says, and I swear I can hear him trying to stifle a laugh.

  “I thought I’d come and see if she was available?”

  My whole body goes rigid, and I feel Connor look down at me. “What did you have in mind?”

  The Domme tugs on the leash, and the young man steps forward. “This is Andrew. My newest.”

  “Congrats.”

  She runs a finger down Andrew’s arm, and he shudders, leaning closer to her. “I’m very much enjoying his training,” she says almost to herself. Then she looks at Connor and lifts a suggestive eyebrow. “He’s very good at teasing.”

  Connor grins, running a hand down me in that same soothing stroke he used earlier. “Fine. Mouth only.” He leans down murmurs to me, “Remember you need to ask.”

  Andrew climbs up onto the bar and has his head between my legs before I can even blink. My body flares to life like a bonfire. It hasn’t been nearly long enough for it to forget just how close it was. Andrew’s tongue explores me, swirling up and around my clit and down, darting into my pussy before coming back and repeating the circuit. Connor looks on with an amused smile, and I don’t know how to feel. Don’t know why it’s so fucking hot that he’s watching someone else taste me.

  Andrew sucks deeply on my clit, and I moan. No wonder Mistress Samantha likes him. He’s very good at this. I can already feel the pleasure sizzling behind my clit, ready to explode. He seals his mouth over me, sucking deep, and my hips arch off the table as far as I can. He nips my clit with his teeth, and I know it’s coming. Coming too fast. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop it. What happens if I can’t stop it? “Please, Sir.” My voice is ragged.

  “What?” He asks too sweetly.

  “Please, can I come?”

  “No.”

  Andrew’s mouth keeps moving, every lap of his tongue taking me closer to that peak. I’m blind with the pleasure, barely finding my words. “Sir. Please, I can’t—”

  “That’s enough, Andrew.” A woman’s voice.

  He doesn’t stop, tongue circling my clit in frantic strokes. Close. I’m so close. Yes yes yes. No. Andrew’s head disappears suddenly and my scream is one of frustration as my pleasure coils inward and down, retreating deep inside instead of exploding outward. So close. I feel the restraints on my arms and legs loosen, feel myself set upright on the inside of the bar, pressed from behind by Connor.

  I blink my eyes open, dazed, and see Mistress Samantha has Andrew by the hair. Not hard, but enough to keep him from moving. “You disobeyed. Why?” Her voice is flat.

  “I thought she deserved to come, mi
stress.”

  “That’s not your choice, is it?” She says, smiling in a way that makes me shiver. “Apologies, Connor. I have to go punish my sub.” Samantha leads him away, and I’m left, panting, pinned in place by the hardness that is Connor’s body.

  “And how about you?” He asks softly, “You were going to come?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  CONNOR

  “Yes, Sir,” she says in a breathy voice. “I couldn’t—I couldn’t stop it.”

  Ariel is still catching her breath, and the way she’s moving, her ass pushing into me, is doing nothing for the state of my cock. Its been rock hard since she accepted being on the bar. Watching her fight her own release because I’ve told her she can’t come is the best thing I’ve seen in months, and I’m not finished.

  “I’m very glad you didn’t,” I say, pulling back and looking down at her naked ass. Working a hand into her hair, I pull her back against me. I bring my hand down on her ass and she yelps, squirming but still caught in my grip. I spank her again, and again. Five times. “That’s a little reminder,” I say softly.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “What’s my name?” I ask her.

  “Connor, Sir.”

  I snake my arm around her waist, below her breasts, holding us together. I want her to be overwhelmed, reminded that I’m in control. “What’s my name to you, little one? What’s my title?”

  She stills in my arms, her breath finally slowing. “Master Connor.” She says it hesitantly.

  Earlier I didn’t lie to her when I said that not many people call me Master. But I like the way she says it. “Good girl,” I say, “And since you had such a good time with Andrew’s mouth, I’m going to see what we can do with yours.” I spin her around to face me. “Kneel.”