She blurted, “Sir, please. I’m not ready. What if it gets out?”
His mouth tightened. “What did I say about questions? If you don’t want this to continue, you can say your safe word. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir,” she said, casting her eyes on the floor. Her body shook slightly. He stepped forward to stroke her chilled arms.
“What will it be?” he asked calmly. His fingers curled around a nipple and pinched.
Her mouth opened, eyes fluttered, but no response.
He needed her to be on board. If she spoke the safe word, it would be over, and his plan would be derailed.
He continued to assault the other nipple. It hardened and flushed a deep red. She gasped.
“Let me help you. The video remains with me; nothing will happen to it. I understand this is new, but given your experience, you’re ready. In addition, I own the club. Your privacy is of the utmost importance to me.”
A flash of relief passed through her eyes. She was getting it. The club owner who wrote the rules of anonymity would give a certain level of assurance to a member he played with.
“Yes, Sir. Continue.”
“Good girl. You please me.” He kissed her, and she softened into his touch. Comfort released his own anxiety. “Lie flat on your back on the bed.”
She walked over as he selected a few items from the wall.
“Arms above your head.” As she moved, he placed her palms together. He slipped a soft rope between her wrists and wrapped it around each one several times. A tight knot secured the ends through metal eyelets countersunk into the center of the headboard.
“Too tight?” He checked the restraints.
“No, Sir.”
Moving to the foot of the bed, he spread her legs. A sheen of wetness seeped from her pussy. She enjoyed the anticipation, as did he. Preparing a sub for the scene set his focus in line, allowed any unnecessary tensions to dissipate. His muscles loosened. Nothing else existed. Not even his guilt.
Locking her legs to a spreader, he spun on his heel to the monitor by the door. The screen brightened at his touch. A few taps and music filled the room. The low bass set the mood with a sensual sound.
He dimmed the lights, and a flash of illumination appeared on the wall behind her. She fidgeted in discomfort, gasping as her breathing heightened, everything captured on the displayed image. The red record function burned like a stop sign on the monitor. Before he changed his mind, he set it in motion. She was his now.
“Do you see what you do to me?” She turned her face as he stroked the tip of his cock through his underwear. “You, tied up in my rope”—he was fixated on the video—“your naked body projected on the wall behind you and mine to do with want I want.”
He drank in her creamy skin as she writhed. She wiggled in her position on the bed through the projected image. He changed the view with the remote to a split screen showing all the camera angles mounted in various locations of the room. Jesus, it was better than I imagined it to be. His mind sank into his role, tapping into the zone of dominance he chased.
He held two items. “Do you know what these are?”
“Yes, Sir.” She licked her lips.
Holding a butterfly vibrator and a flogger, he knelt on the bed, and put two fingers in her mouth.
“Suck.” She rolled her tongue in sensual movements around his fingers. Damn it, she will ruin me.
He withdrew and inserted them into her cunt. She jumped as he moved in and out of her vagina to get her prepared. Her muscles contracted. The ascendance into Top space moved from head to fingertips to toes. He missed this arena of power and control. His sight alternated between the monitors and back to Shane as she writhed, moaning in pleasure.
“You’re wet for me, aren’t you?” Her juice coated his fingers, and he lifted them to his mouth and sucked. Her flavor, like tangy peaches, rolled through his rumbling body.
“Y-yes.”
He wrapped the straps of the toy around her thighs and pushed it flush against her. He spread her folds open, and her hips rose from the satin covered bed. Acceptance. Uninhibited. He admired his boss splayed out and adorned with his toys. Confident of her trust in a man unworthy to hold it.
“You will feel a low vibration. If you make a sound, the level of vibration will increase. Don’t come until I say.”
He switched the toy on, and the feeling jolted her. She closed her lids tightly and bit her lip, holding back any noise threatening to slip. She tried to close her legs, but the bar made it impossible. Making a spectacle of her while in his control satisfied his ego and warmed his soul.
“Lie still,” he instructed moving to the footboard.
He rubbed her feet, working his way to her calves and thighs. Noticeable goosebumps formed even though her body was scorching hot. His hands covered her belly, and he swirled his thumbs as they moved to her breasts. He pinched each nipple to test her will. A loud moan escaped, and he increased the pulsing toy.
He massaged her flesh, her body sinking into the bed. Her muscles relaxed, becoming pliable under his hands. Her breathing steadied. She was ready.
He stood and grabbed the flogger from the nightstand. Her eyes followed his movements as her body shook from the vibration against her clit.
“You’re doing well.”
The leather tails trailed over her naked form. A light flick of his wrist slapped her heavy breasts. Her pink nipples tightened as she bloomed right before him. It was a sight to behold. Her hips rose as he hit her again. Moans trickled from her lips, awakening the dark depths of his mind.
“Failing quicker than I thought.” The vibration buzzed louder. Her body shook from all of the sensations, he warranted. She took long, deep breaths, probably to center her mind, as he waited. He snapped the flogger along her abdomen.
“Aaaaagh!” she yelled. One more notch on the vibrator.
“Keep it up and you won’t be permitted to orgasm,” he warned, his voice laced with amusement and demand.
Her focus snapped to attention, and she attempted to steady her breathing. She opened her eyes, and he could have sworn she dared him to hit harder. She had something to prove. A woman always in control, tackling this challenge like it was her job. Too bad, this time she wouldn’t prevail under his hand.
Game on, Shane.
He swung the flogger with brutal force, making contact with her tits. No sound. Her face contorted at the sting then melted at the exact moment it turned to pleasure. She was there. Flying into subspace. His chest heaved, and his skin tingled as her scent filled the air, a pheromonal invitation to join her in the high.
As if the implement had become an extension of his hand, it struck her, never hitting the same place twice. He moved with precision up and down her body, leather slapping skin, as Shane remained focused.
Red slashes, his marks, came to the surface of her skin. The restraints went taut, and she was biting her lip. Still no sounds escaped. Determined, beautiful, and fucking amazing. Dedicated to her role and stubborn as hell, he was sure she would not fail. His heart had met its match.
She will not fail you…
He breathed past the thought in his head. “Are you with me?”
Her raspy voice begged, “Yes. More. Please!”
Fuck. His resolve slipped as the flogger struck her again and again. The request hit him like a freight train. They understood each other, and she was ceding him the power to push into new territory. Giving him permission to take her to ultimate ecstasy.
The sound of the leather falls hitting the floor made him aware he was on her. He needed to be inside her. No coherent thoughts of conquering a superior remained, only an urgency to fulfill their desires and his heart.
His hands shook as he unstrapped her feet and the vibrator. Stripping his boxers, he brushed along the throbbing crown of his hard on, pre-ejaculate spilling from the crevice. Sheathing himself with a condom, he settled between her thighs as his cock rubbed along her folds, only intensifying his need to claim
her. She was soaked.
The sweetness of her kiss submerged his soul into hers. Thoughts of takeover diminished with each sweep of his tongue. Her thighs squeezed around his hips, urging him inside as she whimpered a plea.
He broke away, gasping for air, and her ocean blue eyes opened. Mask-to-mask she saw him behind the one he wore. An unfamiliar pang in his chest stung with warmth.
“Who are you?” he whispered. He stroked her face, knowing he was questioning himself. Why did he feel he could be with her?
“I’m Shane,” she answered. The room shifted to an augmented space of reality. Her name sounded different. Alluring, sweet, and powerful.
“Shane,” he repeated.
“Take it off. The mask,” she whispered as the haze cleared from her eyes. “Please, Sir.”
He slowly removed her disguise, revealing all of her, who she was to her core, stripping her of her daily façade. This was Shane, not the woman in the boardroom. She was more.
She sank into the mattress. The arm restraints went slack. “Please. Take me.”
He wouldn’t deny her any longer. He aimed his cock and pushed forward, inch-by-inch. Soft, wet tissues fluttered around him.
“Fuck,” he moaned through clenched teeth. “You’re so tight.” A shock rippled down his spine. Mine.
He withdrew and pushed in again, soft moans filling the room. He rose and spread her thighs wider, gripping the skin. He couldn’t hold back. He needed to possess her. Let her take him to the brink of orgasm. He pounded into her as he squeezed her thighs, surely bruising her white skin. Marking her.
His eyes darted to the monitors. Was this real? His erection swelled at the erotic sight of her losing her mind. As her head fell back with her mouth agape and eyes closed in ecstasy, they climaxed together.
Shane snuggled against the man in silence. Nothing was needed to fill the space as they came down together. He was warm against her back. One arm was wrapped around her chest, while the other petted her arm in lazy strokes. So right.
The only thought in her head was her identity being revealed and caught on video. But she didn’t care. She’d shed her old skin and became her new self for the first time since Jacob. It felt right. It felt free.
She turned toward him. Dim light softly illuminated the room as she blinked to take in the man who’d made her fly. He was still dressed in a t-shirt and his mask. His blue eyes, almost lost or confused, searched hers. His touch continued in circles on her shoulder. A sigh came from his parted lips.
“Hello,” she said, her voice strangely small.
He said nothing. He swiped the damp hair from her face. Then the moment slipped away. He swung his feet to the floor.
“There’s a bathroom over there whenever you’re ready.” Reaching for his boxer briefs, he dressed.
She understood her role as a submissive even though she craved more.
“Yes, Sir.”
He dressed near the door without a word or a glance in her direction. Sadness filled her chest. Was she the only one who’d felt the magnitude of what had occurred?
She rolled to her back and gazed at the ceiling. Sub-drop was a bitch; this was a temporary situation. And before she knew it, the door clicked, and he was gone.
13
The scent of fried rice invaded Shane’s nose as she entered the small and dingy restaurant. This is where Jacob wanted to meet? Slight mumbles from diners filled the room as she scanned the area. Metal chairs with torn leather and unbalanced tables lined the wall. This place was a dump but held so much appeal in her heart.
She stopped at the sight of Jacob, standing with his hands in his suit pockets while rocking on his heels. His boyish grin nearly crumbled her to the floor. She waved and clutched her shoulder bag as her heels clicked on the linoleum. The table had been dressed in linen, candles, and a bottle of wine. Extremely out of place for a fifteen-dollar meal.
“What’s all this?” Her grip tightened in unease.
“Dinner.” He scooted the chair out. She sat.
“This appears to be more than dinner. How…why did you do this?”
He smoothed his suit jacket as he sat. “This place always needed a tune up. But it was your favorite.”
Her hand smoothed along the decorative ceramic chopsticks wrapped in linen, perched on a stark white charger. “Still is…” she remarked.
Jacob poured two glasses of wine, and the waiter appeared with their food. He set down their plates, a huge difference from the normal origami cardboard boxes and packets of soy sauce.
Jacob spoke in Chinese to the waiter, and he responded with a laugh and a pat on the shoulder.
“Learning a new language?”
He fluffed the linen napkin and placed it on his lap. “Occupational hazard. Global talent reach and all.”
He never ceased to amaze her. “How long have you been speaking Chinese?”
“Not long. Barely enough to get by.”
“What did he say?” She pointed to the server.
“I think he said: Your date is beautiful.”
She blushed. “This isn’t a date.”
“That’s what I told him, but you can’t deny the obvious.” The heat in his eyes unraveled her. This was a mistake. She shouldn’t be threading hope along the wounds in their hearts.
“You said just dinner.”
The crisp white wine went down smooth. Jacob reached for the plate of fortune cookies resting between them. Three to be exact. He gave her one and kept the rest for himself. The cellophane wrapper crinkled as he opened one. Apparently, his tradition of “fortune first, eat later” still stood. He used to say it gave him something to contemplate over dinner.
“And I am holding that promise, Shane.”
The cookie crunched in his hand, and the slip of paper slid out easily. He read it carefully. Too long. Her hackles went up.
“What does it say?”
“Nothing.” He crumbled it and snagged a second one.
“Come on!” She went for his hand.
“Nope, you know the rules.” He tucked it away.
She slouched in her chair, amused. How could she forget? If he didn’t care for a particular fate he tossed it out; hence, the second cookie. His superstition revolved around sharing it out loud. He thought once it hit the universe it could never be taken back. “You’re ridiculous.”
He shrugged, and she snatched the second fortune from his hand as he released it from the cookie. “Every exit is an entrance to a new experience.”
He chuckled, rubbing his beard, staring at her.
“Yes, I think that’s accurate.”
“What? I think…Oh, wait. Exit…new experience.” She blushed. His laughter lifted her uneasiness.
“This reminds me of when we first moved to New York,” she said.
“That apartment was so shitty. And we were making money then.”
She shrugged, pinching an egg roll with chopsticks.
“It had its charm.”
After years of living in Austin, they’d settled in the city to pursue new careers. He made love to her on the kitchen floor their first night and in every room thereafter. Shanghai Express was a step away from their old place and the first meal in their new apartment.
“And this.” He rolled a chunk of spicy pork in soy sauce and popped it in his mouth.
And us…
“Right.” She moved the lemon chicken around her plate. “How’s your family?”
“Good. Dad is still representing the elite celebs in Los Angeles, and Mom…well, she’s Mom.”
She smiled. “I always liked your parents. Can’t believe your dad still represents all those crazy people. And he loves your mother so much.”
“He does. Always makes time for her.” He swallowed back the vino. “One lesson I never learned.”
Her heart lurched into her throat. “What do you mean?”
“All his business lessons; I took them to heart and made them into something. I became the youngest CEO of a reco
rd label and helped polish your acumen into what you are today.” He winked.
“Can’t say I hated it. Has served me well.”
“Glad you see it that way.” His lip twitched into an appreciative smile, then fell to a frown. “But I seem to have lost his personal lessons along the way. What made my father successful wasn’t his business. It was his connection to family through whatever rise to power he achieved.”
“What are you saying?”
“I took advantage of you, Shane. I always assumed you would follow me in my career because we loved each other.” He sighed. “You always put me first.”
“Stop. Let’s not talk about this.” Her chopsticks clipped her plate.
“Let me finish. The way I saw it, we were on our way to being king and queen of the music industry. And I never questioned your loyalty…still don’t. We would’ve been unstoppable.” He smiled, and it shot a dagger into her heart. “But when your dad died…”
Her hand cupped her mouth. “Please…”
“When your dad died, I was the selfish one. Somewhere inside, I had to keep moving forward or miss my chance at business success when my personal relationships were failing.”
She blinked. A tear tickled her cheek as it fell. “Why are you telling me this?”
“Because you need to know how much I realized I fucked up. And I’m sorry.”
She breathed. She wanted to believe him. Her heart tugged between anger and forgiveness. Conflicted by his newfound approach to their separation, she didn’t know if she was coming or going anymore. The evening spent with her Dom set her in motion on a new path, but now…
“Jacob, can I ask you something?”
“Yes, of course.”
“What’s up with you? Why this need to…to…I don’t know. Become friends?”
He wiped his mouth. “I don’t want to be friends, Shane.”
That was news. “Then what was our last meeting…at lunch? I thought we agreed to going our own ways.”
“Look, I asked you here because I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and—”
Beyond the Masks (Beyond Love Series Book 1) Page 13