“Let’s see what this does.” He clicked the power button, then turned the remote around so that Taren could see the red light.
She gripped the fence like she needed to ground herself.
“Tell me what this controls.” Now he felt hot for a different reason.
Taren swallowed hard. “It controls—” She hesitated. “Me.”
Wearing the new mask that left the bottom half of his face uncovered gave him some relief from the heat, but not a complete reprieve. Taren had given him control of her pleasure. Right now he wanted nothing more than to rub his bare skin over her face and body. He looked back up at the main house. Damn TV show.
Jace pressed the speed button. Although he couldn’t hear anything, he caught the immediate reaction. Taren’s body jerked. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly.
“Where is this on you? What is it doing? Talk to me.” He didn’t increase the speed until he heard from her.
“Panties.” She licked her lips. “Ball inside of me.” She pointed to her vaginal area. “Feels so good.”
“Are you getting wet?”
She nodded.
Jace increased the speed. “Does Mistress Night know you got this?”
She shook her head.
“Talk to me.” He knew it would be difficult, but he wanted to hear from her anyway, hear the shakiness in her voice.
“N-n-no, no. She went to the, um, bathroom. I got it. Then I went to the bathroom and put it on.” She slid her hand down to touch herself.
“No. Don’t do that.” Jace patted the fence. “Keep a hold on the fence.”
Taren gripped the fence again.
“That’s it.” Then he turned up the tempo.
She buckled.
“Tell me how it feels.”
She nodded.
“Fucking talk to me.” He shouldn’t have tortured her like this. He caused himself more anguish while watching her.
His heart thudded so hard, he thought he would need to grab the fence himself to keep upright. His cock throbbed in his shorts. He wanted to take her right there.
“Vibrating inside.” She squeezed her eyes closed. “Good.”
He turned it up more. Apparently he had reached the peak of its speed, which may have been a good thing. Taren could no longer stand up straight. She bent her knees and looked like she had adopting a squatting position. The fact that Jace loomed over her made the scene appear surreal.
“May I?” She didn’t complete her query. She glanced up at Jace and nodded. “Please?”
He leaned over. He felt more heat coming from her body than from the July sun. Before he gave her permission, he had to educate her just like he had to with Sweetheart.
“Love the feeling, not who it’s coming from.” From his close proximity, he heard her breath catch in intervals. He watched her limbs trembling. He would have loved to see her completely naked, reclining in his bed and overcome like this.
“Never. Felt. Anything. Like. This. Before.” Taren braced her hands on the grass.
It didn’t take her long to curl on her side on the ground into a fetal position. She moved her legs back and forth while she hugged her body.
“Yellow,” Taren said in a whisper. “Come to the office. Please.”
“I can’t.” As much as he wanted to visit her, he knew he couldn’t with everyone congregating in the backyard right now. “Too many witnesses.” He brushed her hair from her face. “Come.”
Taren’s growl built into a loud moan that shook the ground near Jace. He quickly turned off the remote to stop her torment. In order for him not to strip out of his clothes and join her on the grass, he turned his back on her so that she could settle down.
“Taren? Are you okay?” Macabre asked from the front door of the house.
Jace looked back at Macabre, then down to Taren, who had managed to hoist herself up to a sitting position. “I’m fine. Just enjoying nature.”
“Okay. They’re wanting you to come in to film some comments in the confessional booth.” Macabre disappeared into the house before Taren could answer.
Taren looked up at Jace. “I knew I would like that toy.”
He held out his hand to help her to her feet. “It’s nice, but very difficult for me to watch you. I wanted to touch you.” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t be doing this. We shouldn’t be doing this. I’m keeping you from other Dominants.”
Taren took his hand and stood. As soon as she looked stable, Jace handed the remote back to her. “Thank you.” She slipped the item in her pocket. “You’re not doing anything I don’t want.”
Jace moved away from her. “What you need is to actually play with someone. You’ve gotten to know a little about us, but you have no idea about our playing styles.”
“That part makes me nervous, but I’m ready. It’s what I came here for, right?”
Jace searched her eyes for truth. She still looked like she held back some information.
He started to head back to the house. “I switched rooms so that I’m now with Mistress Night.”
Taren beamed.
“Why does that make you happy? What really happened at Club 4400?” Jace wanted to be in on the joke.
“While we shopped, she asked me to do something for her.”
With Mistress Night, Jace could only imagine the request. “What was that?”
Taren faced him. “She wants me to eliminate her next.”
“You can’t. She has immunity.”
“I’ll have to figure something out there. But she definitely needs to go.”
Jace blinked. “I thought you were getting rid of Fear?”
“I’ll have to do him afterward. I promised Mistress Night I would honor her request.” Taren took short, careful steps toward the house.
“Be careful with this decision.” Jace had to fight the urge to put his arm around her. “You’ve gotten a reputation for being full of integrity. If any of the remaining Doms suspect you’re bending the rules, they’ll turn on you.”
She smiled wider. “I won’t do anything that would jeopardize the show or the rules. I promise.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Thank you for your concern…and the kiss.” She put her fingers to her lips. “I haven’t stopped thinking about that all day.”
Jace wanted another chance to give her an even bigger kiss, but they had gotten to close to the house. “I should have done it sooner.”
She lowered her voice. “Will you do something for me?” She looked at the house. “Switch your slave with Lord No’s.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
When Taren had made the request to Jace to switch Sweetheart with Bubbles, she didn’t expect to see him refuse. His face went cold and serious.
“I can’t switch with Lord No.” He glared at Taren.
“Why not?” Last time she checked, the show still revolved around her.
“If you remember No’s contract, he stated that he wouldn’t play with anyone else and that she couldn’t play with another Dominant. That applies to this situation.” Jace folded his arms across his chest. “Whose game are you playing?”
“Excuse me?” Now Taren wanted to rip off the vibrating panties that had given her so much pleasure only moments before and throw them at Jace’s feet.
“Two of your three eliminations have been done for you. Now you’re having contestants make requests. Are you doing this show for yourself or for everyone else in the house? Who will be next?” He jutted his thumb over his shoulder.
“Mistress Night recognized in me that I would want a Dom instead of a Domme.”
“Because you’ve presented yourself that you’re looking for love and not simply to serve. Night is a damn good disciplinarian. You would be a fool to let her walk out the door because you’re too afraid to submit to a woman.”
“Maybe I’m a fool because I think I could be happy with someone else.” Flames engulfed Taren’s body as she stormed up to Jace. “You think because you’ve made me come a few times that you know
me?” Now she pointed to the house. “That woman only spent an afternoon with me and knew me better than you. She knows what she wants. I know what I want.” She glared at Jace. “At least I thought I did.” She started to storm past him when he grabbed her arm.
“Don’t look to fall in—”
This time she stopped him. “I know. Falling in love is not an option. You’ve mentioned that to me several times. I get your stance.” She shrugged out of his grip. “For as many times as you’ve told me, I’m starting to wonder if you’re trying to convince me or are you trying to convince yourself.” She shook her head. “If you spent more time trying to be a good Dom for the show, for me, than trying to scare me, you might discover some things about yourself.” She marched away.
“So now you’re an expert on me?” Jace called after her.
She turned to him but never stopped walking. “No. Just the whole reality-show dynamic. And I know how I feel. Stop fighting it.” She climbed the stairs to the front door and went into the house.
The production staff flitted around with their camera equipment.
“There you are.” Kitty ran up to Taren as she headed up the stairs. “We want to do a couple of confessional booth videos.” She brushed grass clippings off Taren’s dress. “We need your take on what’s happened so far and today’s events. Are you ready now?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
The front door slammed closed. Taren and Kitty watched Jace storming to his new room.
“Whoa. He’ll be fun to interview later.” Kitty returned to her crew.
Taren wouldn’t have used the word fun to describe his demeanor now. Then again, maybe she truly didn’t know him. A few weeks of terse meals and hot sex didn’t make a relationship. Now she doubted he could be a good Dom for her. Maybe she needed to rethink her strategy about who to eliminate.
Kitty went to the dungeon space where the interview area had been staged. Taren assumed her spot on a high-back barstool in front of the camera.
“You know how this goes.” Kitty crouched under the camera. “I’ll ask you questions. Answer them in complete sentences.”
“Got it.” Taren crossed her legs and got an immediate reminder about the vibrating ball nestled in her pussy. She needed to get through this quickly to remove her panties and her thoughts that she could want anything more from Jace.
“Okay, we’re starting. Action.” Kitty cleared her throat. “Taren, what did you think about when you went to the Club 4400 today?”
Taren looked directly into the camera, took a breath before she answered. “When I went to Club 4400 with Mistress Night, I didn’t know what to expect. I had been to the club only one time before to observe everything.” She paused as she thought about that instance, the one that drove her crazy with need that she had to have Jace. She steeled her nerves to keep going. “I didn’t go to the shop side.” She peered around the dungeon. “It’s a lot like this but with way, way more stuff. It was hard to choose. With Mistress Night, I found the right item.”
“What was that?” Kitty pressed.
“I ended up with a paddle.” Taren started to reveal about the panties. She would keep that part to herself. “It has a smiley face on it. Very whimsical.”
“Is that how you see BDSM? Fun?”
“I see BDSM as being whatever you want it to be for you. Keep in mind that the majority of play is about sensations.” She’d learned that from her book…and Jace. Damn Jace. “With the right Dom or Domme, it can be fun.”
“What are you looking forward to with this next elimination?” Kitty sat on the floor and started doing something else on her tablet.
“I’m looking forward to be blown away by some heavy-duty play session. I want to be wowed. After all, I am looking for my Dominant.” Taren hated to admit that Jace had been right about that aspect of this whole process. To make a serious decision, she needed to watch them play, especially since Jace seemed to have taken himself out of the running.
****
Days in between her confrontation with Jace did nothing to lessen her anger toward him. It still pissed her off that he thought so little of her decision-making skills. Yes, two contestants got eliminated for her. She couldn’t be blamed for that. One got too handsy and the other physically assaulted another contestant. She’d been prepared to make a decision. She would show Jace and everyone else her capabilities.
After a cool shower that eased her anger and aggravation, she padded into the bedroom where a team of three people waited for her. It took her a while, but now Taren had gotten used to this glam squad showing up prior to taping.
Tonight they would do the taping in the dungeon. Taren couldn’t wait for that. She liked watching play, probably more than she should.
She saw the stylist holding up yet another virginal white dress.
Taren shook her head. “Black. I want to wear black.”
The stylist who liked to be called Ms. Pittman grimaced. “Black doesn’t read well on screen.”
“Worked for Simon Cowell and Steve Jobs.” She plopped down in a chair. “I’m tired of wearing white and looking like a good girl. I’m not. It doesn’t have to be black. But there are other colors in the spectrum. Find me something else.”
The stylist glanced at the other two in the room before she exited.
“Good. Now. I want a great smoky eye look.” Taren noticed the same confused expression on the makeup artist’s face. Taren had more demands. “No more curls. I want a blowout. Make my hair stick straight. It’s time the viewers see someone in control and not some scared little girl.”
“I think we need to talk to Kitty or Vern about these changes.” Priscilla, the hair stylist, started walking backward to the door. “There’s a specific look they want for you.”
“And then there’s what I want. I know myself better than anyone else. It’s time for a change.” She glared at the remaining two in the room. “Do it or I don’t do the show.”
Jace had wanted to know whose game Taren played. Her own. Thanks to him, she woke up to her reality. She wanted this show. Wanted this life. She needed to start showing them.
After a fight with Kitty, Vern, the stylists and even Macabre, they all folded and allowed Taren to be styled as she’d requested. Her hair had been pressed to straighten the texture. Not content with a simple part in the middle and the straight hair framing her face, she made the hair stylist give her a deep side part and pull her hair back into a low ponytail.
Her makeup gave her a dark and mysterious appearance. Besides the smoky eye, the makeup artist gave her matted red lips. Taren had even refused a glossy lip, fearing it would give her a dewy appearance.
To complement the whole look, wardrobe put her in a knee-length red wrap dress that showed off her modest cleavage, and high, strappy nude heels. Taren felt powerful.
She emerged from the bedroom feeling like she could conquer the world. When she stood at the top of the stairs, she peered down to see the remaining contestants and the house slaves in the living room about to shoot the opening scene. Right now Taren fed off their shocked expressions.
She strolled down the steps, making sure to add an extra sway in her hips. When she did that, she noticed Jace staring at her. He’d only glanced at her when she stood at the top of the stairs. Now he wouldn’t break his notice.
“You look different,” Kitty said as she stared at Taren.
“That’s a good thing.” Taren stood at her assigned spot next to Macabre and didn’t acknowledge the group who continued to watch her.
“Something’s changed,” she heard Bruiser say.
He had been right about that. Taren had finally taken off the blinders. That didn’t mean she doubted a BDSM relationship could turn to love. She didn’t think she could get that from anyone in the house.
“This will be interesting.” Kitty faced the group. “We’re going to the dungeon again today. This time it’s all about caning.”
Taren noticed everyone nodding except for Jace,
who lowered his head.
“Mackie, we’ll start when you’re ready.” Kitty took her same spot and propped her foot up on the seat of her chair. “Action!”
“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen.” Macabre wore a long black pleather dress that formed so close to her body that Taren saw her navel piercing outline through it. “Tonight will be an elimination challenge. Competitors will be asked to display their best caning technique.” She turned to Taren. “How do you feel about that?”
Taren nodded. “Excited. I can’t wait to see what everyone will do.”
“Good. Follow me to the dungeon.” Macabre started to walk toward the dungeon at the back of the house.
“And cut! Okay, folks, let’s get the cameras set up in the next room. You all relax until we get in there.” Kitty rustled her crew to the other room while the contestants all strolled around the living room area.
Taren knew someone would be approaching her. She thought it would be Jace. Instead Mistress Night stood next to her.
Night leaned in next to Taren. “You look nice tonight.”
Taren smiled. “Thank you.” Although she wished she could have heard that compliment coming from Jace, who now ignored her.
“You remember our deal from a few days ago.” Night kept her voice low and even put her hand over her mouth so that the cameras wouldn’t catch her.
Instead of verbally answering, Taren nodded. She had already been hooked up with a microphone attached to her dress.
“Good. I got to spend some time with her.” Night nodded toward Beauty, who wore a silk, cream-colored nightgown. “I see this going somewhere. Even if you back out on our deal and I win, she will be a part of my life.”
Great. Seemed like all of the Dominants connected with their house slaves, no one wanted her. Not really. She looked at Jace again. He still has his back to her. Damn him.
“Let’s get to the dungeon.” Taren strolled to the place where she would see another form of play.
She and Macabre sat in chairs off the side where the action would be taking place.
Slave To Love Page 30