Jace bent over and held her shoulders. He pulled her up to her feet and backed her against a wall. “You make it difficult for me to think straight.”
“You have to do well in the contest for me to keep you around.” Her smile slipped down from her face. “Who’s blackmailing us?”
Jace liked the fact that she didn’t call it his problem or hers. He liked hearing her call them an “us.”
He shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll handle it.”
Then she shook her head harder. “No. That’s not how this is going to work. We’re a team. He or she is threatening you. That means it’s against me, too. I want to know.”
“It’s Lord No.”
Taren blinked. “His slave wants to trade with someone else anyway. Now I understand why. What a jerk.”
“I’ve known him for a long time. I’ve never known him to act like this, to be this underhanded. Don’t do anything strange or out of the way for him. If he does something to warrant him being put in the bottom two or be eliminated, do it. He has no proof. You can’t even prove I was with you this morning.” He winked as he stuffed himself back into his jeans.
“Yes, I can.” She sauntered further into the bedroom and peered into an open door. She must have seen something she needed. She ducked into it.
It didn’t take long for Jace to hear her gargling. “How can you prove it?”
Jace heard her spitting out the mouthwash and rinsing her mouth. She came out of the bathroom nearly skipping. She sidled up next to him. In a lowered voice, she said, “Your smell. I know your scent anywhere now.”
She started to leave when Jace held her arm. He stared at her. So much he wanted to tell her. She had already cracked the surface of his protected layer he kept around his heart to keep himself shielded and safe.
“Good luck today.” He kissed her forehead.
“Good luck to you, too. Can’t wait to see you in the dungeon.”
The dungeon. Damn. He had to brush up on his skills to represent himself well and to keep himself in the competition. He knew he and Taren worked well together sexually. He now needed to impress her with his dungeon skills. God help him.
****
Taren smiled to herself at her brazen actions since midnight. Jace, whether he wanted to admit it or not, brought her out of her shell. She’d never been bold enough to initiate a blow job. To see the look of satisfaction on Jace’s face had her beaming.
“Good. You’re excited about today’s events.” Kitty wrapped her arm around Taren’s shoulders. She walked her into the dungeon area.
“Yeah. Excited.” Taren’s excitement had a bit of fear mixed into it.
She wanted to see everyone’s technique, especially Jace’s. She didn’t think she would be able to watch someone truly getting hurt, even if they wanted the pain.
“We’re going to film in here.” Kitty showed off the dungeon. “Contestants will be lined up around the place. I want you to then name the technique you want to see. Do you know what that is yet?”
Taren nodded. “Yes, it’s—”
Kitty held up her hand. “I like the element of surprise. Say it when we start filming. We’re on a bit of a time crunch. This will be an elimination challenge. Remember, Lord No can’t be eliminated.”
Damn. Taren hated hearing about him trying to put the squeeze on her and Jace. She would now look at him differently. Good or bad. She would have to let him go.
“Places, people. Let’s get started.” Kitty went over to her camerawoman while the contestants and slaves entered the dungeon.
Since the slaves all stood behind the Dominants, they took the opportunity to look at all the toys lined up on the wall. Slinky slid her hand over a sawhorse. Taren couldn’t wait until she could admire these intimidating pieces of furniture the way these women did.
Madame Macabre sauntered into the room wearing a black leather hobble dress, one that went down to her ankles and tapered in so narrowly that it forced her to walk in short, measured steps. “Are you ready?”
Taren exhaled and smiled. “Ready as I’ll ever be.”
Today the wardrobe department put her in a short baby doll dress and gold flats. The makeup department gave Taren a high ponytail, and kept her makeup looking light and dewy with pink glossy lips and a rose-colored blush. She looked like she’d had sex already. She had, but she didn’t want to necessarily look that way.
“Okay, we’re rolling.” Kitty pointed to Macabre.
“Welcome, ladies and gentlemen. The first round of eliminations was rough. Unfortunately, there will be another elimination today. This will be based on a style of play that Taren would like to see.” Macabre turned to Taren. “Care to tell us what that act is?”
“Yes.” She scanned the group. Some of the slaves she couldn’t see because their Dominants blocked them. “I would like to see everyone’s spanking technique.”
Most of the Dominants smiled. Some of the slaves smiled also. Not Bubbles. She really wanted to get away from Lord No. Now Taren understood.
“Okay, since Lord No has immunity, he will go first.” Macabre pointed to a large wooden chair with leather accents on the seat, back, and arms.
Lord No strolled to the chair. As he passed Taren, he glared at her. Taren wouldn’t be intimidated by him. She returned his look with a hate-filled one of her own. She had power in this game, too.
Lord No sat in the chair. Apparently, from his demeanor, he had assumed Bubbled had been following him. He waited for her to appear in front of him. When she didn’t, he stood and turned to the spot where he’d been.
“Doesn’t look like your slave respects you,” Fear said. “That might be a problem for a submissive looking for a masterful Dom.”
Lord No glowered at Fear as he stormed back to Bubbles. He stared at her when he got into her face. He pointed to the center of the room where the chair sat.
She shook her head.
“I guess now would be a good time to go over the dungeon rules.” Macabre made her way to the center of the room next to the chair. “The safe words are all the same. Green means go, that you want more. Yellow means you like it, but it’s getting intense and you need the play to slow down a bit. Red, of course, means stop. All play needs to stop when that word is uttered. If play continues, security will stop the play for you and you will automatically be eliminated.”
“Wait. What if Taren likes something more intense than our slaves?” Mistress Night stepped forward. “We have to show her what she could be looking forward to with us.”
“If you continue play after a safe word is called, all you’re showing her is that you don’t care how she feels.” Macabre tiptoed back to her spot next to Taren. “Keep in mind, folks, that although you have willing slaves—”
Lord No cocked his head at Macabre’s statement about having willing slaves.
“Anyway, although you all have willing slaves, you’re vying to have a submissive. Rules for them are a bit different so keep that in mind. And so that we’re not here all day, make ten the maximum number of spanks administered for this session. Make them good. Make them count.” Macabre gestured to the chair. “Please, Lord No, continue.”
Lord No pointed to the chair area again. Bubbles looked at Taren before bringing her attention back to No. She tugged on the hem of her sweater as she slowly made her way to the center of the room.
Before he sat, Lord No circled Bubbles. He stood behind her for a moment. He lifted his hands and smoothed them down her arms.
Bubbles’s knees buckled before she did something she hadn’t done since the first day. She started laughing. Lord No slipped his hand around her waist then down her thigh to where the sweater ended.
“Red! Red! Please.” Bubbles moved away from him. “I thought today’s demonstration was on spanking, not tickling.”
“You are correct, Bubbles.” Macabre looked directly at Lord No. “Please do the proper demonstration today. There may be other opportunities to do a tickling class later
.”
Lord No sat in the chair. He clapped his hands on his thighs twice to get her attention. Bubbles turned to him. While keeping his stare on her eyes, he touched her bare thighs and slipped his hands underneath her sweater. He pulled her forward.
Taren’s heartbeat accelerated when she watched his hands moving under her top and suddenly seeing her panties falling to the floor. Bubbles stepped out of them.
No patted his lap again. Taren assumed it meant that Bubbles should lie across it. Bubbles took a beat before she positioned herself on his lap, her bare ass in the air.
He smoothed his hand over her flesh. He pressed his other hand against her back to steady her. The quiet moment became volatile quick when he reared his hand back and administered a hard swat on her backside. The smacking sound echoed throughout the room.
No moved his hand to the other cheek and smacked that one. This time Taren heard Bubbles yelp. He gave her three more hard spanks in a row. After each hit, he followed up with a soothing touch, rubbing her now red cheeks.
After two more spanks, the session ended. Bubbles stood and picked up her panties. Although her eyes now looked red and glossy like she’d been crying, her face told a different story. She looked overheated, like she needed more than a hard spanking.
She slipped on her panties. Lord No attempted to take her hand and pull her to him, probably to do some aftercare.
“No, I’m good.” Bubbles went back to her spot.
Even if Lord No didn’t have immunity, Taren liked his style. He did care for Bubbles even though she made it hard to show that.
“Taren, you may now pick the next duo to go,” Macabre said.
“Okay. Mistress Night and Beauty.” Taren could tell the way Beauty paced in her spot that she wanted to do this scene.
Beauty damn near beat Mistress Night to the center of the room.
“I’m not an over-the-knee type of disciplinarian.” Night pulled a sawhorse from a corner of the room. “Take your robe off.”
Beauty had the sash undone before Night completed her command. As Taren had suspected, Beauty had been naked under the robe. She tossed the garment on the chair.
“Put both hands on the top of the horse.”
As Beauty braced for the punishment, Night slipped on a pair of black leather gloves. The look of them made the scene all the more sinister.
“Ordinarily I don’t punish this way.” Night directed her statement to Taren. “If this is something that turns you on, you may be disappointed with me. I like to do other things. But since you like this…”
Mistress Night didn’t finish her statement before she landed two hard hits on Beauty’s ass cheeks. Beauty’s knees buckled before she straightened back up and accepted more of the punishment. At the tenth hit, Night stroked Beauty’s red ass as she whispered something in her ear. Beauty nodded, then kissed the backs of both Night’s gloved hands.
Beauty picked up her robe. She took Night’s hand and allowed her to lead her to a couch where Night sat down and pulled Beauty next to her. She allowed Beauty to lie across Night’s lap while the Domme caressed her.
Wow. No way could Taren put her in the bottom two either. She looked over the group. “Sire Swift and Sandy.”
Swift bowed his head as he took Sandy’s hand and led her to the chair. He sat down in it. “I’m a little like No and a little like Night. I don’t necessarily use spanking as a form of pleasure. However, when I do, I do it old school.” He patted his thighs just like Lord No did. “Over the knee.”
Sandy stretched her body over his lap and rested her hands on the floor. Swift lifted the hem of her dress, then pulled down her panties.
“Sandy, you don’t deserve this punishment. It’s just a part of play, understand?” Sire Swift’s voice lowered when he talked to her.
“Understand, sir. Thank you.”
He gave her one hard swat on her cheek. “Feels like I’m punishing myself for spanking this perfect ass.”
Sandy giggled. “Thank you, sir.”
Swift gave her other cheek a hit, then stopped.
“You can go up to ten, Sire Swift.” Macabre remained in her spot as she talked to him.
Swift helped Sandy get to her feet. “I know. I can’t discipline her without reason.” He stood. He looked pointedly at Taren. “I was kind of hoping you would want to see wax play or mummification or even rope play.”
“Hey, come on.” Jace came to her rescue again. “She wanted to see something she enjoys. Can’t fault her for that.”
Swift stood back in his spot with Sandy right behind him.
“Slave Sandy, are you okay?” Fear leaned toward her and asked.
Sire Swift turned around when Fear addressed Swift’s slave. Sandy said nothing as she split her attention between Swift and Fear.
“Those two hits looked hard, Slave Sandy.” Fear took a step closer to her.
Sandy moved away.
“Don’t talk to her.” Swift eased himself between Sandy and Fear. “And if you have to address her, call her Sandy.”
Fear shook his head. “I believe she called herself Slave Sandy. Do you have a problem calling her what she prefers?” He turned to Sandy. “Slave Sandy, which name do you like?”
“I’m not going to tell you again.” Swift stood directly in front of Fear. “Don’t talk to her. You have a question for her, you ask me.” He glared at Solo. “Talk to your slave.”
Fear glared at Swift for a tense moment before he smiled. “You guys are so fucking easy.” He resumed his position in front of Solo. “Thanks for letting me know what your hot button is.”
Swift returned to his spot. “Thanks for reminding me again what an asshole you are.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Gentlemen,” Macabre began as she hobbled toward them. “Security is here and ready. Do we need them?”
Swift kept his stare straight ahead and didn’t say a word. Fear maintained his smile and shook his head.
“Good. We can continue.”
Taren called Bruiser next. With a name like his, she had expected for him to go all out with his punishment. He did the maximum ten spanks over his knee to Breeze and no more than that. Like Mistress Night, he did some aftercare on another couch in the room.
All throughout the scene, Breeze kept her smile.
Fear barreled his way to the center of the room, dragging Solo behind him. He didn’t sit down. He didn’t have her bending over. He had Solo facing him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders as though to keep her in place. It also put her face close to his, although with his height, she had to look up at him.
“I don’t mind punishing a slave or submissive without reason.” Fear landed a smack so hard that Taren jumped. “Discipline keeps the people you’re in charge of in line.” He smacked the other cheek.
Now Taren understood why he held her. Solo nearly crumpled to the floor with both hits. Fear hit her two more times.
“Oh, yellow.” Solo held onto his waist.
He gave her two more hits that had her screaming.
“Red! Red! I can’t.” Solo shook her head.
Fear, with his hand still in the air, smiled. “The woman called her safe word.” He let her go and took a step back. “See. I know how to listen.” He stomped back to his spot while his slave remained crouched down.
Jace watched the slave on the floor, breathing heavily and resting on her knees. The sadist side of him reminded him that she’d signed up for this. She knew how hard discipline would be and should have wanted to endure it. Watching her look so broken affected him in a way he didn’t imagine. He thought about his experience with aftercare. A slave should feel needed and protected. He knew Solo didn’t feel that now.
“Son-of-a-bitch.” Jace walked over to Solo and picked her up in his arms.
“You’re making them soft, Master.” Fear shook his head. “I want tough subs. I need soldiers.”
Jace placed the woman on a couch. “We’re not at war.” He went back to his p
osition in front of Sweetheart.
“Yes, we are. It’s us against them.” He pointed to the slaves and included Taren in his assessment.
“Master,” Taren began. When Jace looked at her, she continued. “You can go now.”
Jace held Sweetheart’s hand as he led her to the same chair. “Pull up your dress.”
Sweetheart complied as Jace sat in the chair. She didn’t have on any panties. Instead of having her lie across his lap, Jace made her straddle his legs and face him as she sat on his lap.
“Put your hands on my shoulder or on the back of the chair.” Jace put one hand on her waist.
Sweetheart nodded. Taren licked her lips as she imagined herself in that position, only Jace wouldn’t just be spanking her. She would be riding him. Taren had to cross her legs as she watched the display.
He gave her a few spanks, then smoothed his hand over her backside. He looked into her face like he wanted to see if she wanted more or have him stop. Since she said nothing, he continued.
At the tenth hit, Sweetheart said, “Green.”
Jace laughed. “Sorry, Sweetheart. Ten is all I can give you.” He helped her to her feet and took her to an unoccupied couch where he comforted her.
“Last but not least, Sire Ball and Slinky.” Taren pointed to the duo.
Sire Ball went to the chair and sat in it. Since Slinky had been nude, she did nothing to get ready other than position herself on his lap.
He started spanking her like the others had with their slaves. At the tenth hit, Ball smoothed his hand over her ass cheeks. Then he did something none of the other Doms had done. He slipped his middle finger inside of her vagina and moved it back and forth.
“Sire Ball?” Macabre moved toward him.
Taren knew when security went to the two, that he’d done something wrong.
“What the hell are you doing?” Slinky wiggled off his lap and stood. “Not cool, man. No insertions. I didn’t agree to that.” She wrapped her arms around her body.
Security grabbed both of Ball’s arms and lifted him.
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