by Lily White
But this year, Aiden had accepted eight jobs, his numbers creeping back up, making me wonder if he’d grown bored with the courtesan he kept at home. It didn’t please me to think he’d have a girl as adorable as Molly all to himself for several weeks. The only thing that made me feel partially better was the clear and obvious fact that Molly was gay, at least, as a phase. Perhaps it was an exploration of her sexuality that changed as time moved on, but regardless, it was women that drew her attention tonight. The entire time I’d watched her, she didn’t flirt once with any man, but practically threw herself at women.
“Rebecca, you remember Collin, don’t you? He came to see the dinner and art exhibit we held in your honor a few weeks after we met.”
Wanting to roll my eyes at the small reminder of Aiden’s cruelty, I plastered a smile on my face and nodded in Collin’s direction. For the purposes of outward appearance, I had to acknowledge his presence. But I also had to be careful to avert my eyes because Collin was a Master.
I didn’t have to avert my eyes from his courtesan and my eyes were immediately drawn to the collar she wore. Designed to look like simple jewelry, the necklace was a ruby encrusted choker, the details so fine and intricate that, unless one was looking, they wouldn’t notice the design of a lock within the flash of expensive gemstones.
After exchanging pleasantries, the men eventually worked their way back to boring topics of conversation and my eyes settled on Molly. She was stumbling drunk, but not so inebriated she wouldn’t be able to follow, and also remember, a conversation.
Standing from the table, I saw her wave off her friends and bodyguards, her voice carrying through the room so that I could barely hear her make the demand to go to the bathroom alone. I waited for her to turn the corner down the hall and excused myself from the group. Aiden arched a brow at me when he released my arm, his gaze flicking between the table where Molly had been sitting and me. A grin pulled at the corners of his lips.
“Have fun,” he teased as I walked away.
Heading straight for the bathroom, I quickly knocked on the door before letting myself inside behind Molly. Thankfully there were two small stalls in the space and I had an excuse for not allowing her complete privacy.
“Hello,” I said in greeting, her eyes catching mine from the reflection in the mirror. Turning around, she leaned against the black granite vanity and smiled.
“Hi,” she answered back. She had the voice of an angel on helium. I almost laughed to think of how Aiden would react when he first fought with her in the dark room where his new courtesans woke.
Reaching up to lightly touch my shoulder, I played the part of a timid admirer. My coy smile reflected back at me in the mirror behind Molly. “I know this is very forward, but I couldn’t help but notice I might have the chance to get you alone.”
My fingertip ran the deep V of my neckline, Molly’s gaze trailing the movement as her eyes widened in appreciation of what she saw.
“I saw you from across the room tonight, and I couldn’t help but stare. You’re a very beautiful woman.”
Her throat worked to swallow and I took that as a positive sign. Reaching behind myself with my other hand, I let my fingers hover above the doorknob. “Would you like to spend some time alone with me?”
She nodded and I flipped the switch to lock the door.
“Good,” I purred.
Stepping closer, I dragged my fingertip back up the neckline and slipped the strap of my dress from my shoulder. My right breast was exposed and Molly couldn’t help her stare. By the hazy look in her eye, it was obvious that the poor thing had a few too many drinks, but there was still time for her to sober up enough to sneak out.
“Is this okay? I haven’t even introduced myself properly and I’m already showing you everything I want to give you. My name is Angela, by the way.”
Her gaze tracing the curves of my body, she answered, “I’m Molly.”
Forced laughter bubbled over my lips. “Oh, you don’t need to introduce yourself. I’ve read all about you in the gossip magazines. It’s how I knew you might be interested in spending some time with me.”
“I saw you across the room, too,” she admitted on a breathless voice. I had to wonder if she’d ever been propositioned so openly before. “You were with that tall man, so I watched you, but didn’t think a woman like you would be interested.”
Stopping when I was just in front of her, I leaned over to whisper, “Rich men are so boring, both in and out of bed. Don’t you agree? I mean, it’s only been a recent thing for you to date women. At least that’s what the magazines said. You had several boyfriends before, right?”
Her brown hair bobbed over her shoulders when she nodded again.
Slipping my other hand down my thigh, I bunched the fabric of my dress in my palm and pulled it up to just below the apex of my thighs. My voice a dangerous whisper, I asked, “Would you like to touch me, Molly? The man I’m with doesn’t have to know.”
With the hand I’d used to slip the strap from my shoulder, I reached over to gently take her hand and direct it to my body. Her finger flicked out hesitantly to run a light path between my thighs. A moan escaped the back of my throat, my exposed nipple pebbling in response. Her touch was so delicate compared to Aiden’s, but it wasn’t enough to drive me wild. I much preferred his sensual violence, the way he could own me using nothing more than a fingertip.
Leaning in even more, I widened my stance to give her more access, at the same time finding her lips with mine. It was a gentle brush of my mouth against hers before the tip of my tongue peeked out to flick over the crease of her pouty lips. She took that as a sign to deepen the kiss, her finger working over me more forcefully, her other hand trailing up to cup my breast.
I pulled away from the kiss to tease her, my mouth brushing across her cheek to touch her ear. “That feels so good, Molly. I knew you would drive me crazy.”
Squeezing her palm over my breast, she trembled against me. I wasn’t nearly as turned on, but I had a job to do. My Master had demanded it.
Rotating my hips over her touch, I whispered for her to push that finger inside. She slipped it slowly up into my body and I forced myself to shiver against her. Taking my reaction as a symptom of need, she thrust her finger in and out, becoming more brazen with each solitary stroke.
My lips still brushing the shell of her ear, I made my voice breathless when I said, “Oh, beautiful, you’re going to make me come.”
She thrust her hand harder, her own breath huffing over her lips as her body pressed tighter against mine.
I faked an orgasm to hurry things along. Aiden would have known instantly that my body hadn’t actually come apart at his touch, but Molly didn’t seem to notice.
“You’re so hot, Angela. You’re turning me the fuck on.”
Giggling at her comment, I said, “I hope so. I would just be getting even for what you’ve been doing to me from across the room all night.” I kissed her cheek and asked, “Can I taste you, Molly?”
Not much for words, she nodded her head again, completely captivated by the things we were doing. My hands wrapped over her shoulders and I pushed her back until she was sitting on the counter. Her skirt inched up and I slowly lowered myself to my knees to plant light kisses up her legs, starting with the ankle. By the time those kisses were above her knees, she was trembling.
My lips pressed against the flesh of her thigh just below her red silk panties and a loud knock pounded against the door.
“Angela, are you in there?”
I grinned to hear Aiden’s voice. Feigning a panicked look, I shot to my feet and glanced between Molly and the door. Holding a finger to my lips, I indicated for her to be quiet.
“Yes, Mark, I’m just finishing up. I’ll be out in a second.” Molly looked like she would cry. The poor thing had been so excited for my mouth between her legs.
Quickly pulling my clothes into place, I leaned against her to whisper, “Can you meet me later tonight? But it has
to be secret so my husband doesn’t know.”
Her hand wrapped around my neck and she answered, “Of course. I can be anywhere at any time.”
I smiled. It was almost too easy.
CHAPTER SIX
AIDEN
Rebecca opened the door a few minutes after I knocked. Her expression was mysterious, a sly grin pulling at her lips and eyes that were narrowed, but without anger. Peeking in the open door, I saw Molly by the sink. Her expression was what gave their secret tryst away. Hazy eyes, cheeks stained pink with wanton lust, and her dress somewhat out of place, she resembled a person who’d just been caught with their hand someplace it didn’t belong.
The door quietly clicked shut behind us and I leaned into Rebecca to take her mouth with mine. She shivered against me, her lithe body becoming putty in my skilled hands. Pulling away only far enough that I could speak with my lips still brushing against hers, I asked, “Did you come?”
Our eyes locked and she shook her head. “Only with you, Aiden.”
A small growl escaped the back of my throat at her blatant use of my name regardless of the fact that we were alone and nobody would hear us. She was enjoying this date a bit too much.
I wanted nothing more at that moment than to punish that little flare of rebellion and satisfaction right out of her.
With my hand at the small of her back, I escorted her down the hall towards the party. “Did she agree to meet you later tonight?”
Rebecca smiled. “Of course she did. My mouth was only an inch away from her pussy when you knocked.”
“Ah,” I answered, “perfect timing, then.” There were no doubts that Rebecca would charm Molly. She had a body that drew every eye in the room and a spirit that enthralled any person who came within her vicinity. It was only a matter of timing, which my pet pulled off perfectly. As much as I hated the side of her I could never eradicate fully, I enjoyed watching it grow and develop into the Master I knew she could one day become.
“We should say our goodbyes and call it an early night. This particular job is one that needs to be completed with absolutely no notice or suspicion. As long as we’re considered far away by the time Molly goes missing, her father or bodyguards won’t come sniffing at our door.”
Standing off to the side of the large room, Rebecca gazed across the expanse of people, her voice at a conspiratorial whisper. “Does her father know?” She turned her head towards me to speak even lower. “About the society?”
“No,” I answered. “Not many attendees at this party do.”
Nodding her head, she sighed. “We should say our goodbyes.”
Walking another circuit of the room, Rebecca and I completed all of our tasks and were eventually settled into the leather seats of my car within a half hour of her interlude with Molly. As we drove down the main highway, she turned to me. “Did you happen to see the collar Master Collin’s courtesan was wearing? The ruby number that looked like it cost a fortune.”
My lips pulled into a thin line for several reasons. First and foremost: that this date was over.
“Perhaps it should be you I lock up in the dark room tonight.” My eyes flicked to her astonished face before looking back out onto the road. With a voice dripping with disdain, I asked, “Have you forgotten your manners so quickly?”
“No, Master,” was her quick reply. A line of panic ran between her downcast eyes, a sweep of pink across her cheeks barely perceptible beneath the streetlights that we passed.
Satisfied with the instantaneous response and change in her behavior, I moved the conversation on to my next annoyance with her statement. “Why did you feel the need to point out his courtesan’s collar? Were you envious of it, Pet?”
The question was a trap and she knew it. Unfortunately for her, she had no choice but to continue discussing a subject that would ultimately lead to my disapproval.
“I thought it was beautiful, and yes, I was envious.” Her eyes snapped to my face. Pretending not to notice the way she stared, I made a quick left on Hanson Avenue and refused to give her a reaction. She was, according to my GPS, approximately thirteen minutes away from having her ass turned red.
“It showed he owned her,” she added.
Surprise wasn’t exactly what I was feeling at her behavior. It was perfectly natural for a person to overstep their bounds when given an inch of freedom. By using her to get Molly alone, I’d planted the idea that she’d somehow been raised in station. And it was my job to rip that idea right out of her.
Losing the ability to keep a neutral expression, I smiled at that thought.
CHAPTER SEVEN
REBECCA
I’d barely stepped a foot into the foyer before he ordered me to the playroom. There were times when that instruction sent a shiver of need through my body, but this wasn’t one of them. Aiden’s voice had been too cold, too calculating.
Stumbling over my own feet, I’d walked down the hall and waited by the playroom. Panic was a pounding drum in my chest and the air felt scarce of oxygen. It was stupid of me for having toyed with him on the ride home from the party, but I couldn’t help myself. Over the years, we’d slipped into a place where I didn’t have to worry about being playful. Normally, Aiden enjoyed the power play, but there were occasions where I went too far.
Undoubtedly, my having brought up the collar worn by Master Collin’s courtesan upset him, and I knew that risk when I first voiced my question. But Christmas was coming and I hoped that, this year, he would give me something in celebration of the holiday I loved so much.
It appeared he was going to give me something, just not the something I wanted.
The warmth of his body pressed against mine when he reached around to open the door. Stepping through with my gaze directed towards the floor, I felt the soft carpet beneath my feet before lowering myself down to my knees.
“Not so fast,” he said, his hand wrapping my bicep to pull me back to my feet. “We have a date with Molly in a few hours and don’t have time for formalities tonight. Take off your dress.”
Obediently, I slipped the straps of my dress from my shoulders, the white silk flowing down my body to puddle at my feet. I was completely naked in front of him, by body trembling in response to the angry heat I saw in his eyes.
Any other person would have mistaken the lazy expression he wore as a sign of boredom or contentment, but not me. I knew Aiden better than that, and I knew I wouldn’t like the plans he had for me.
“Lay over the padded beam, Pet. Belly down. Ass up.”
Barely able to walk on my shaking legs, I did as I was instructed, a chill running along my body at the cool temperature of the padding.
“Grip the handles,” he instructed. “You’ll need them.”
A tear slipped from my eye, my arms extending above my head to grip the handles at the sides of the bench. The surface of the bench ended at my hips so that my ass was directed at Aiden, my legs hanging down to the floor where he quickly spread them and locked my ankles into the cuffs welded to the feet of the bench. I was bound in place, my forehead pressed against the padding as I waited for whatever punishment he chose to give.
“Why did you bring up the collar, Pet? Beyond the envy you felt for another Master’s courtesan - beyond the insult your envy was against me - why was it so important you felt the need to voice it to me?”
Tears welled in my eyes, the truth of my actions burning on my tongue. I didn’t want to tell him, but I couldn’t lie. He would know…and the punishment would be harder.
“I want a collar from you, Master.” My voice was a bare whisper, my body shaking and my tears breaking apart every bit of confidence I’d once had. “I hoped you could get me a collar like that one for Christmas.”
The silence in the room was unbearable. With my forehead pressed to the padded bench, I couldn’t see Aiden’s expression. He stood behind me perfectly quiet and perfectly still. My breathing became shallow, my heartbeat more frantic and quick.
“That’s an unfortunate
answer, Pet. It shows me you don’t appreciate the life I’ve given you. Would you rather be owned by Master Collin? Is there something he can provide you better than me?”
Panic was a spark along my spine, the tears falling faster now that I understood how my request had looked to him. “No, Master. Please. You give me everything I need.”
The slow click of his dress shoes pacing behind me was a beat that sent anxious waves through my body. Every solitary click a warning of what was to come. I regretted having brought up the damn collar, regretted ever thinking that, maybe, Aiden would give me something that proved I was his.
A closet opened to the right of me, but I didn’t dare turn my face to see what Aiden was doing. The door shut quietly a moment later, a gentle whistle sounding in the room just before a rush of air whipped across the side of my face. I recognized that sound instantly, my entire body clenching in response.
“Please, Master, no,” I begged, my voice quivering with the fear I felt. “Please, I won’t ask again, I won’t…”
“I’ll tell you what you won’t do,” he purred, his mouth an inch from my ear. “You won’t sit down easily for the next several days, my beautiful pet.” Quiet laughter was a breeze against my skin. “You wanted something festive, didn’t you? You and your love of this stupid holiday. I can’t give you green, Rebecca, but I can give you red.”
The wooden paddle against the bare skin of my ass was a shock of pain that ran in burning rivulets of fire across my cheeks, the sound so loud it snapped at my ears with a vicious and undeniable violence. He didn’t announce the amount of strikes I would receive, and the only thing I could do was brace for the inevitable.
By the time I’d counted five strikes, I could barely think straight to continue keeping track. Every moment bled into the next, every strike stoking the flames of fiery pain.