by Sophie Stern
Zack seems like he doesn’t want to leave me, but after a couple of minutes, he nods.
“Stay at the bar,” he says. “And we’ll come back for you when we’re done. We don’t want you getting lost.”
“Yes, Sir,” I say, letting the honorific slip out. Zack just smiles and nods.
“Oh yes, you’re going to be just fine here.” He kisses me on the cheek and Christina gives me a quick hug, and then they disappear toward the voyeur rooms and I make a beeline for the bar.
Chapter 4
Thorn
I notice the woman in black long before she reaches the bar. She looks completely out of place here. She’s much too innocent for the likes of Anchored, and I wonder what the hell Zack was thinking when he decided to bring her here.
Oh, I don’t know him all that well. I’m more familiar with his fiancé, Christina. The Damsel of the Dungeon, as we used to call her, has been playing a long time. When Zack started coming to Anchored, he swept her off her feet, and no one was more surprised than me.
I was certain Christina was going to run out of people to play with long before she started accepting aftercare, but I was wrong. Zack was able to show her, somehow, that she needed all of D/s: not just the parts she liked. It’s not about cherry-picking what you do and don’t want, after all.
It’s about the relationship.
Now, the dark-haired woman the couple brought with them tonight is making her way directly to the bar. She doesn’t seem to notice anyone else at the bar as she sits two stools down from me and waits patiently for June to notice her. When the bartendress turns around, she smiles at the woman.
“What’s your pleasure, sweetie?”
“Could I get a whiskey neat, please?”
“Absolutely. Do you have a membership number?”
“I, um, no. This is my first time. I came with my friend.”
“No worries, doll. I just need to know how to charge you. Usually, we put everything on your account and just bill you at the end of the month. Since you’re new, you’ll just pay when you leave at the end of the night, okay? Just check in with the receptionist before you leave. What’s your friend’s name?”
Before she can answer, I catch June’s eye. She turns to me and raises an eyebrow.
“You can put her drinks on my tab,” I tell June.
“Woah,” the woman says, noticing me. Her bright eyes seem to grow even bigger as she looks me up and down. “That’s super nice of you. Thank you. I really appreciate it, but I can pay for my drinks. It’s really no problem. It’s just that I left my purse with my wallet in the locker room,” her eyes roam from me to the locker rooms, but I shake my head.
“It’s no trouble. Welcome to Anchored.”
June seems satisfied, so she turns around and begins making the woman’s drink.
The woman is quiet for a minute, and then she seems to pluck up her courage and look at me.
“I’m Lily,” she says. She scoots one stool over so she’s sitting next to me. She’s already checked me out, and now I allow my eyes to roam over her body. She’s got an incredible one: soft and curvy.
“Master Thorn,” I tell her.
“Master,” she whispers. “What does that mean?”
I chuckle as June turns around.
“It mean he’s full of himself, darling.”
“It means no such thing. Is this your first time at a club?”
“Yes. I know,” she lowers her voice. “It must be painfully obvious.”
“Not at all,” I tell her. She seems to be holding her own just fine. “The term ‘Master’ can mean different things at different clubs. Here it means that I’ve been through a training course and hold several certifications that enable me to teach. I actually teach demo and beginner classes at several clubs in the city.”
“Really? Wow. That’s amazing. You must be super good in bed.” Lily slaps a hand over her mouth and closes her eyes, shaking her head. “I’m sorry,” she says. “Holy dragons. I can’t believe I just said that. I can’t believe it. I’m so embarrassed. I’m totally sorry.”
“Actually,” I lean in close, ignoring her embarrassment, and whisper in her ear. “I am very, very good in bed, Lily. I know exactly how to please a woman, how to make her beg for more. I know exactly what it takes to make a woman come over and over and over again. Whether I’m using my mouth to lick her soft pussy or I’m driving my cock deep inside of her, I always satisfy my partner. Always.”
Lily’s eyes meet mine and she swallows hard. My words affected her in a deep way and I know that if I slide my hand between her thighs, she’ll be soaking wet for me.
“Here you go,” June says, cutting into the moment. She places the whiskey in front of Lily and looks at me. “Another?”
“Please,” I push my empty glass toward June and she starts making me another drink.
“You…you aren’t playing tonight,” Lily says, looking at my wrist. I hold it up, showing off the bright pink band I’m wearing.
“Not tonight, no.”
“Why not?”
“Curious, are you?”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Hey,” I lift her chin with my finger. “You’re fine, sweetie. I’m just making conversation. I wasn’t insulting you.”
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m still a little nervous.” Her hand clasps her drink, but she doesn’t bring it to her lips, nor does she move away from my touch.
“What are you nervous about?” I stroke her cheek gently. She doesn’t move away.
“I…I’m trying to be brave,” she admits quietly, like it’s a secret. “I’m trying to, you know, get out of my comfort zone, I guess. I’m 26 now. I guess I’m worried about turning into a crazy cat lady.”
“So, is it safe to say you don’t have a boyfriend?” My hand moves to her hair and I begin running my fingers through it.
“I do not have a boyfriend.” Her voice is a whisper. She’s still a little nervous, but she’s trying so hard to be bold. Lily is interesting, and it’s not often a sub interests me anymore. I still enjoy coming to Anchored and watching the scenes, but I don’t often play with anyone. I haven’t taken a submissive in a very, very long time.
“What made you decide to come to Anchored tonight?”
“It was a bad week. My friend invited me to come with her and her fiancé. I mean, her and her Dom.”
“Are you going to have a threeway with them tonight when you go home?”
“What? No!” Lily blurts out. Then, again, she covers her mouth. My hand is still in her hair, and she drops her hand from her mouth and leans into my touch. She’s nervous, and she’s silently letting me comfort her. She has no idea how happy this makes me.
I drop my hand to her thigh, and Lily goes still, but doesn’t push my hand away.
“It’s not a bad thing,” I tell her. “It’s certainly nothing to be ashamed about.” I lower my voice and lean into her ear. “Now it’s my turn to be curious about you, kitten. I just wanted to know if I needed to be jealous of my friend Zack tonight. I wanted to know if he was going to be playing with your sweet little pussy because I’m not going to lie: I’m very, very curious about that.”
“You are?” She whispers, and I press my lips to her ear, and then to her neck. I’m moving too soon, too fast, but I want to know what she’ll do, and I want to taste her. Lily’s here out of curiosity? I’ll satisfy that anyway she likes. No, we can’t play at the club because we’re both drinking, but there’s no rule about kissing.
There’s no rule about a little petting.
“Master Thorn,” she whispers, and the way she says my name makes me so fucking hard. I was already hard, but now my cock is straining against my leathers, threatening to break through the damn pants if I don’t stop or get a release soon.
“Yes, kitten?”
“Is it bad…is it too forward if I say you’re really sexy?” Her eyes flutter up to mine, and I realize this is the moment. It’s now o
r never. She’s being brave, just as she said she wanted to. I realize Lily isn’t the type of woman who just picks up a guy. Hell, if she’s had sex with anyone recently – or in the last few years – I’ll be shocked. Still, she’s being bold, and sexy, and seductive.
Good behavior should be rewarded.
“Is it too forward if I say I want to kiss you?” I whisper back.
The music in the club has faded to an afterthought. I barely even notice it as I look at Lily, as I stroke her thigh with my fingers. Her skin is soft and perfect, and I want to slide my fingers even higher. I want to push aside the fabric of her shorts and see if she’s wearing panties. I want to see if she’s shaved. I want to see how she feels.
“No, I don’t think that’s too forward.”
“You’re very beautiful,” I press my lips to her cheek, and then I move to her lips. I press mine to hers and instantly, she parts her lips for me and our tongues collide. I didn’t mean for this to be a deep or serious kiss, yet somehow, it makes sense that it would be.
With one hand, I fist her hair and pull her closer to me, and the other hand inches up her thigh. Lily groans as she kisses me, giving me her all, showing me exactly how bold and beautiful she really is. She kisses me like she means it, like she wants it, like she’ll die without it, and for a second, I imagine having her as a sub, and the thought doesn’t scare me the way it should.
And then she pulls away and just looks at me.
If June is still around, I don’t notice.
If the music is still playing, I don’t care.
If there’s still a crowd, I have no idea.
The only thing I see is Lily, and she is perfect.
“That was quite the kiss, Master Thorn,” she finally says.
“You’re a very talented kisser, Miss Lily,” I respond. My hand is still on her thigh, and I move it up. She closes her eyes, and I whisper to her again. “Tell me something, Lily: exactly how brave do you want to be tonight?”
“What are you asking me?”
“I’m asking if you want me to keep moving my hand up your thigh, kitten.”
“And what if I do?”
I slide it up a little more, and she whimpers just a little. It’s so quiet that no one else will notice, but I notice, and my cock wants more.
“What’s the dirtiest thing you’ve ever done, Lily?” I trace my finger along the edge of her shorts.
“I…I don’t know. Maybe…maybe in college, at a party once.”
“What did you do at the party?”
“I took my top off. I danced on a table. Everyone looked at me.”
“Did you take off you bra, pretty girl? Did everyone get to see your sweet little nipples?” I slide my hand a little higher up her thigh. Now my fingers are touching her panties.
Yeah, she’s soaked.
“Yes,” she whispers.
“And did anyone touch you?” I stroke her soft panties. She lets out a soft purr, but shakes her head.
“Nobody touched me. I think…I think I was too shy for that.”
“And what about now?”
“What?”
“Are you shy now, sweetie?”
She spreads her legs a little wider and looks up at me. Those bright eyes blink at me and she smiles.
“I don’t think I’m feeling very shy tonight, Master Thorn.”
Chapter 5
Lily
I shouldn’t be letting the stranger touch me.
That’s not what good girls do.
Good girls don’t let men they don’t know touch their panties. Good girls don’t let those men slip a finger underneath. I thought I was a good girl, but that was then. Now I’m sitting at a bar with my legs spread and there’s a man kissing me and touching me, and I’m loving it.
I don’t know if Thorn is this guy’s real name. If it is, it’s kind of weird. Maybe it’s a last name. I don’t know. I don’t really care, either, though. I’m just enjoying the way he’s making me feel because ever since that night in college, I haven’t felt this way.
It’s funny because I’d forgotten all about that moment. I’d forgotten how I let the music get to me, how I let the alcohol warm my body and excite my soul. I felt brave climbing on that table. I felt sexy stripping my shirt off, throwing it to the floor. I felt like a star when I took off my bra.
I felt wanted.
Desired.
Gorgeous.
Something happened after college, though. Something changed. I wasn’t wild after that. I settled into the routine of being a good adult and somehow, that meant focusing on responsibility and good behavior. In the grown-up world, there has never seemed like a good time or place to cut loose.
Until now.
And while part of my brain argues that I should be sweet, that I should be self-controlled, there’s another part of me says fuck it.
That part of me is winning tonight.
Master Thorn strokes my panties. His fingers run over the center and hovers over my clit. Every part of my body feels alive. My heart threatens to explode as he touches me, and I close my eyes and just breathe.
Everything around me disappears.
I’m not noticing the music.
I don’t hear the voices.
I’ve forgotten about my friends.
The only thing that matters right now is Master Thorn. His voice grounds me as he touches me. He’s going to make me fly. I can already tell. It’s just a matter of when he decides I’m ready.
And somehow, I understand that, suddenly. This entire thing isn’t just a game people play for fun. It’s about surrender. It’s about trust. It’s about vulnerability. Master Thorn can give me pleasure beyond anything I’ve ever imagined, but I don’t get to beg or rush him.
I have to wait.
I have to be patient
I have to submit.
“I’m not submissive,” I whisper, breaking the silence.
“No?” He keeps touching me. “You seem pretty submissive to me right now.”
“This isn’t how I normally am.”
“Maybe that’s because you don’t have a chance to let your true self out. Maybe you’re absolutely submissive, but you’ve never had the opportunity to explore this before.”
“I don’t know,” I whisper, suddenly struck by the strangeness of the situation.
“Trust me,” he whispers. His lips are by my ear. The way we’re sitting at the bar, no one can see what he’s doing to me. Then again, this is a sex club, so maybe everyone can see. Maybe everyone notices how close we are to one another, how my legs are spread wide. I’m facing the bar, so no one can see my panties.
No one can see my blush but Thorn.
And something tells me he loves it.
Something tells me he’s enjoying every bit of the way I’m flushing as he touches me, as he brings me closer and closer to orgasm.
“Tell me something, pretty girl.”
“Anything.”
“Have you ever come in a public place?”
“Never.”
“Would you like to?”
“Right now?”
“Right here.”
I should tell him no.
It’s not proper. It’s not right. What we’re doing is totally wrong, totally dirty, but I want it. I crave it. I need it. Suddenly, what I want most in the entire world right now is to come against his hand.
The word “yes” crosses my lips before I realize what’s happening, and Thorn slips his fingers under my panties and inside of me. He fills me, and I start to groan, but he silences me with a kiss and starts slipping his fingers in and out of me.
Closer.
Closer.
Closer.
And then I come.
He kisses me as I shudder, keeps pumping his fingers in and out of me until he’s pulled every ounce of pleasure from my body, and then he slowly takes his hand away, straightens my skirt, and places his hand demurely on my thigh.
“How was that, beautiful girl?”
“Wow.”
“Wow indeed,” a voice from behind the bar catches my attention and I turn to see June standing there with a smirk on her face.
Apparently, we had an audience.
“June,” Master Thorn says, running a hand through his hair. “I…”
She holds up a hand. “I didn’t see anything,” she says. “And it’s a good thing, too, because you know the owner takes a personal interest in making sure people follow the rules.”
“I’m well aware of the owner’s stance on following protocol,” Thorn says, and that seems to satisfy June because she winks and turns around to make another drink.
I grab my whiskey and sip it. The liquor burns, but it’s a good pain.
I sip a little more.
“This is the part where we usually talk.”
I look sideways at Thorn. He’s watching me intently. His eyes are dark and he has a nice jaw line. He’s the kind of guy girls go crazy for, the kind of guy women lose their mind over.
He’s tall, and he’s fit. Even with the suit he’s wearing, I can tell he fills it out. This is a guy who works out, a guy who is used to getting what he wants. This is a guy who knows how to get what he wants.
And now he wants to talk.
With me.
Despite the fact that he just had his fingers inside my vagina, words somehow escape me. Somehow, talking seems more personal than what we just did. When he was touching me, I could close my eyes and just feel. I could just enjoy what he was doing to me and I didn’t have to over-think it, but now he’s asking me to talk.
What kind of guy is this?
Most guys are just so fast to run away after you’ve been intimate. I’ve never been with someone who wanted to talk, who wanted to discuss what we did. Thorn is already so different from every person in my past.
“What do you want to talk about?”
June chuckles, and I realizing she’s listening as she cleans the counters.
“Don’t mind me, sweetie,” she says when I look at her. “Just take a deep breath and give the Dom what he wants. It’s easier that way. Trust me.”
“You want me to tell you what I’m feeling,” I say, looking at Thorn, and he nods.