Blindfold: The Complete Series Box Set

by M. S. Parker

  But I couldn't leave.

  “I can call a car for you if you're ready to go.”

  Ash's voice caught me off-guard and I spun around, staring at him. He'd showered and changed. And whoa...what a change.

  He wore a silvery gray shirt, silk clearly, and it rippled against his muscular frame like it had been designed for him. Hell, I had no doubt it'd been designed for him. There probably wasn't a single piece of clothing in his wardrobe that wasn't tailor-made for that magnificent body. He'd paired the shirt with a pair of black trousers that fit like a dream and made me recall just how good those thighs had felt as he'd moved against me.

  “You're going out.” The words popped out of my mouth without me thinking about how they sounded.

  He cocked his eyebrow at me. “Yes. I...” He blew out a breath and then shrugged, sending that silvery silk rippling again.

  I wanted to drag my hands down his chest and mentally scolded myself. One night had been bad enough, but I could excuse one slip up, especially when taking into consideration the emotions that had been running high. Now, I needed to listen to common sense. Still, I had to ask, “You what?”

  “I need to get out of here,” he admitted. “Everywhere I look, I see my sister and I need to stop thinking.”

  “I understand,” I said softly.

  “Okay, then.” He paused, clearly waiting for something.

  “Yes?”

  “Should I have a car brought for you or would you prefer a taxi?”

  I managed a smile. He had the right idea. “You know what? I think I'll just walk to the subway. Going out doesn't sound like a bad idea.”

  I didn't let myself look at him as I moved past him to grab my purse. Next to it was a bag. I peeked inside and had to smile. Doug, on top of his game. He'd already had the clothes I'd been wearing yesterday laundered and folded. As I headed to the door, I gave Ash a vague smile.

  “I'm going to a club.”

  His words made me pause.

  “Okay.” I glanced over at him, unsure of why he'd said it. After a moment, I added, “I'm thinking of doing the very same thing.”

  “Going to a club?” His gaze slid over me again and the air began to superheat, charged with the same kind of tension that had flooded the gym not long ago.

  “Yes.”

  He put me on edge like nothing I’d ever known before. Put me on edge and pissed me off. Getting me worked up and then turning away like he did. I reached for the glib humor that had pulled me through whenever my brothers were riding me or when teachers were being asses.

  “Shocking as this may sound, I actually go to clubs quite a bit.”

  “Not like mine.” He took a step toward me.

  The intensity of his voice might have had me backing up a bit. If I'd been the kind of person who ever backed down. I chuckled, but there wasn't really anything funny about what came out of my mouth.

  “Wait, let me guess. You're one of those guys who go blow off steam at the kink palace, aren't you? What is it called? Olympus?”

  The memory of seeing him with some woman popped into my head. Her bound, moaning and begging as he fucked her ass. The way he hadn't even flinched when I'd caught him.

  I didn't need to hear him say it, but he did anyway.

  “Yes.”

  Chapter 5

  Ash

  I should have kept my mouth shut.

  I'd been almost rock hard ever since she'd come out of the changing room, wearing some of the extra workout gear Isadora insisted we keep on hand in case any of the staff or her friends wanted to use the gym. I didn't know of any of my sister's friends who were as tiny as Toni, but she'd managed to find a pair of yoga pants and a tank top that both fit her perfectly.

  Too perfectly.

  I'd been so distracted by her lithe body that she'd almost knocked me on my ass the first time out. She’d moved like a deadly dancer as we'd sparred, her eyes glowing, a grim sort of smile on her face. She’d gotten in more blows than I’d expected before I'd stopped thinking about what I wanted to do with her body and started paying attention. And it worked...until we stopped and all of those thoughts came rushing back.

  I wanted to haul her to the floor and strip her naked, have an altogether different sort of battle with her, the kind she couldn’t hope to win.

  Now, as she stared at me, her eyes wide, I said something else I knew I'd regret. “Want to come with me?”

  I watched her carefully, waiting for the freak out since she'd obviously heard rumors about Olympus. Except it didn't come. She’d been surprised at first, but now she was...interested. Fuck. I wanted her to say yes. Wanted her to come to the club so I could show her a hundred, a thousand, things she’d probably never even dreamed of. I wanted to show her my world so I could make her a part of it. I'd never wanted anyone as much as I wanted her.

  “It’s...” She paused, touching her tongue to her lower lip.

  I had visions of her on her knees, doing that very thing right before I guided her mouth to my cock.

  Her voice was soft, as if she was trying to ask her question without sounding insulting. “It's really a sex club?”

  “Technically, it’s a private club for those with an interest in alternative lifestyles,” I said blandly, quoting the public lines before I explained further. “It gets dicey if you use a phrase like 'sex club.' But basically, yes, it is. There're any number of things that happen there, and it all depends to what you want to do. Have a drink, look around, enjoy the atmosphere...or take in other...options. As long as it's consensual, pretty much anything's allowed.”

  I forced myself to quit talking, aware I was bordering on babbling. I just wanted her to say yes.

  She blew out a slow breath, and then looked down at the clothes she'd changed into after our sparring session. “I’m not sure if I’m dressed right.” There was a strange undercurrent of vulnerability to her words; as if she was afraid she wouldn't fit in.

  The black silk shirt she wore paired with slim-fitting pants would be sedate compared to what most of the women at Olympus wore, but she’d still stand out. She was simply that kind of woman.

  “The club doesn't have a dress code.” I smiled slowly, hardly daring to hope that she'd agree. “You can wear as much, or as little, as you like.”

  Her eyes met mine.

  ***

  Heads turned as Toni walked along with me.

  While I realized new faces always caught attention here, I also knew the interest wasn't solely because she was new.

  Several of the Subs I knew checked her out, male and female alike, their expressions puzzled. Some of the Dominants did the same thing, wearing similar expressions, although for different reasons. Everyone knew who I was, knew what I was, and they were all trying to figure out what the two of us were doing together.

  Nothing about Toni Gallagher spoke of submissive. As a matter of fact, it was the opposite. The way she held herself, the look in her eyes, everything about her screamed that she wouldn't submit to anyone.

  More than one of the Subs had speculative looks in their eyes and I knew what they were thinking. They wanted her, wanted her to dominate them, to take control. They wanted to be hers.

  It shouldn’t have bothered me. She wasn’t mine in any way.

  That shouldn’t have bothered me either.

  But it did.

  I resisted the urge to snap at everyone who was staring, to lay claim to her right then and there. I didn't, however, resist the urge to touch her. Using direction as an excuse, I put my hand lightly on her lower back and steered her towards the VIP section.

  Once there, I took her to the seats closest to the railing. She settled on the plush love seat and I sat next to her. I told myself it was only because I didn't want someone else to sit there and make her feel uncomfortable. It had nothing to do with the fact that I simply wanted to be near her.

  Before I could say or do something I'd regret, I gestured toward the stage in the middle of the lower area. The VIP secti
on was on the highest level, which meant we had a prime view of any of the live shows going on below us. It was almost time for one of them to start, which was ideal. I needed a distraction. Coming here was supposed to be the distraction. It wasn’t working as I’d planned.

  Because I'd been dumb enough to ask Toni to come with me.

  “What’s going on?” Toni asked, leaning in close enough that her breasts brushed my arm.

  “There’s a show.” The words came out more abruptly than I'd intended.

  “What?”

  Damn music. Turning my head, I pressed my mouth to her ear and tried not to think about how good she smelled.

  The dance music abruptly cut off as I spoke, “There–” Toni jerked back with a laugh, rubbing at her ear as I finished in a normal voice. “A show.”

  Heat rose to my face and I silently cursed myself. That had been real smooth. I felt like an idiot and that wasn't something I was accustomed to. I didn't like it, especially not around her.

  “What kind of show?” Her eyes widened as she braced her arms on the railing.

  The fascination on her face pulled at me, helping me to push aside my embarrassment. I wanted to tell her to forget the show. Wanted to ask her to come with me to one of the rooms, tell her that I'd teach her anything she wanted to know.

  Blurred memories of the night we'd had together haunted me. I’d been drunk enough that things weren’t as clear as I wished, but there were a few fragments that stood out with crystal clarity. Her moving against me. Her on her hands and knees, my fist in her hair. The tight, wet heat of her gripping my cock.

  I forced myself to answer her question instead. “It’s always different. You’ll just have to wait and see,” I said, tearing my gaze away from her. If I kept staring at her, I was going to put my hands on her.

  And if I did that, I’d lose what little control I still had.

  Chapter 6

  Toni

  The way he kept staring at me was driving me nuts. My body ached for him to put his hands on me. At the same time, I thought I might hit him if he did. Really hit him.

  This hot and cold thing with him was going to send me over the edge, and not in a good way.

  I might have said something, but before I could, the air was once more charged with music. It all but bled sexuality and promise, and I found my gaze shifting over to the stage, my curiosity overcoming my other thoughts.

  “It’s starting,” Ash said.

  “I can tell,” I replied absently. Licking my lips, I lowered my head and rested my chin on my hands, my eyes on the woman who was walking onto the stage.

  She wore a black dress that pooled around her thighs as she knelt in the center of the spot lit stage, facing towards us. She had pale blonde hair drawn up into a knot, revealing an elegant neck, and as the music slowed, her head lifted long enough for everyone to see the fine features of her face.

  A man walked onto the stage and she immediately lowered her head again. He walked toward her and lifted her chin, one finger under it. She gazed up at him, dark eyes filled with something I couldn't quite recognize.

  “This is something new,” Ash said softly.

  “Hush.” Already, I was caught up in the artistry. I felt like I'd somehow ended up at some sort of Broadway show. Even Ash sitting right next to me couldn't tear my attention away.

  As I watched, the man helped the woman to her feet. It was a slow, easy sort of dance, and the movements evoked the sense that he was guiding her every movement before pulling her up against him. After a minute or so, the rhythm of the music picked up and he spun her out and away. She went.

  The black dress didn’t.

  She stood wearing what looked like a corset or a bustier and panties, staring down at herself. Her body language and expression communicated dismay and when the man started to approach her, she looked up, her hands moving to cover herself.

  “Shibari.”

  I heard Ash say it next to me and filed it away for future reference. I saw the rope descending from the ceiling then. It wasn't like the kind of rope someone would buy at a hardware store and I wondered what the texture would be like, how it would feel against my skin. Despite how foreign everything around me was, I was mesmerized by the display of rope and rhythm unfolding in front of me. The pair never stopped moving, every pass of his hands over her, every time he twisted her away, there was a new twist of the rope. I couldn't even tell when it was happening, when the dance had changed into restraint.

  By the time the music rose to a swelling crescendo, the rope had created a complicated cage of sorts and she was kneeling again in the very same position she’d been in when the dance had started. As she bowed her head once more, the man came up to kneel behind her, their height difference enough to allow the audience to see both of their faces. He slid his hands down her torso, along her still-covered breasts. When he cupped them, my nipples began to pulse.

  One of his hands slid lower and I realized I was clenching my legs.

  When he eased his weight back, shifting just slightly, I bit my lip.

  Then he slid his hand down to the curve of her butt.

  My chest started to ache, and I suddenly realized that I was holding my breath in anticipation. What was he going to do next?

  The spotlight suddenly went out, bathing the entire place in darkness as the crowd erupted in applause.

  I jolted at the unexpected ending and sat upright, swinging my head around to Ash, intending to ask about what I'd just seen.

  He wasn’t looking at the stage. He was staring at me. And I had a feeling he’d been watching me for a long, long while.

  “Ash...”

  His gaze slid to my mouth.

  If he didn't kiss me soon...

  Screw that. You kiss him, my libido screamed. Common sense argued back, and while those two were battling it out, we were interrupted.

  “Ash, how are you?”

  The strange voice caught my attention, and I took a few seconds to compose myself while Ash shook hands with the man who’d stopped by our seats. Ash told me his name, but my brain was barely functioning enough for me to smile and shake his hand. It didn't seem important that I remember his name since, less than two minutes after he'd come over, he excused himself, winking at Ash and saying that his sub was waiting.

  “His sub?” I was fairly certain I knew what that meant, but I wanted to hear Ash's explanation rather than assuming anything.

  He turned his gaze back to me. Eyes glittering with something that looked a lot like desire, he gestured to the stage. “The woman who was being bound, she’s a sub. The man who was tying her, he’s a Dominant. Probably permanent partners. They move too well together and that required too much practice for this to have been a one-time thing.”

  Permanent partners. I'd never even considered that before. When I thought of a sex club, I immediately thought of people who were looking to have casual sex, probably with a bit of kink, and never any strings attached. It had been both naïve and judgmental of me, I realized. I made a mental promise to be more open-minded.

  “For first-timers, it's sometimes difficult to know who's a Dominant and who's Submissive, but after a while, you know what to look for and it's almost automatic.”

  His eyes were intent on mine, as if he was trying to communicate something. I was pretty sure I knew what that something was. “I’ve already figured out that you’re sexually dominant, Ash,” I said, looking away to hide the rush of warmth adding to my already overheated cheeks. “You're too controlling to be anything but in charge.”

  His response was simple. “Yes.”

  Even though the couple was gone, I looked back to the stage. My entire body ached. I'd never felt like this before. It was the kind of empty ache that wouldn’t be satisfied with good old-fashioned self-service or even the best vibrator money could buy. I wasn't even sure that regular sex would satisfy it.

  A sound halfway between a sob and a moan caught my attention and I suddenly realized that the stage
wasn't empty anymore. A woman was on the stage. A naked woman. And there was a man standing behind her, clad only in black leather pants. His torso was bulky, just a bit too soft to be considered muscular, and he exuded the sort of persona I associated with men in positions of power.

  As I watched, he braced a hand on her neck, holding her face down on a strange, bench-like contraption. It was wide enough for her knees to be several inches apart, and with her ass up in the air, there wasn't much hidden. It was a vulnerable, open position and just looking at her made me want to squirm in embarrassment.

  Then he brought his hand down on her exposed ass, the crack audible despite the music.

  Desire exploded through me as she moaned, and I had to bite my lip to keep from doing the same. That shouldn't have been so hot.

  “Would you care for a drink, Sir?”

  The woman’s voice was an intrusion and I had to grit my teeth to keep from scowling. From the corner of my eye, I saw a tall, slender woman speaking to Ash. I glanced over when he said my name, suddenly realizing my throat was terribly dry. “Vodka cranberry, please.”

  She gave us both a quick nod and I went back to watching the stage.

  Down on the platform, another man had joined the original pair.

  I didn’t consider myself sheltered or naive, but watching the two men running their hands over her was pushing me far past my comfort zone. But I still couldn’t look away. They were tying her up, the ropes forming a complicated twist between her spine, ankles and thighs. When they were done, it left her with her ankles pulled up until they were almost touching her ass while her wrists were bound at the small of her back.

  It looked uncomfortable. And erotic as hell.

  One of the men – the second one – bent over and kissed her. It was a rough and wild kiss, nothing gentle or kind about it. I bit my bottom lip. Some part of me wanted to be down there. But I wouldn’t be a passive recipient, though.