“Yes.” The fact she answered him so quickly didn’t surprise him. “I do.”
“This is the most important question of them all.” He was certain he knew the answer. He’d known her long enough. “Do you trust me?”
She didn’t even hesitate. “You have my complete trust, Nick. I have never doubted you for a moment from the moment we met. I will always believe in you.”
He knocked on the door. “Then we’re ready.”
Chessie had been so intent on Nick’s words and her own responses she’d forgotten her half-nakedness. And now the door was opening.
A man of about twenty-five stepped back as the door swung inward. He bowed his head in respect before straightening. “Hi, Master Nick.”
He nodded to the young man. “Good evening, Stephen.” Nick continued moving into the room.
Even though she wore the black lingerie, Chessie had to struggle to stop herself from covering her breasts or hiding behind Nick.
Of course, he wouldn’t let her if she tried. But she would be following him into the room, since she had to stay behind him…
No, that didn’t make a bit of difference. She was still partially nude and entering a room with strangers.
Nick didn’t tell her to lower her head, so she kept her chin up.
They walked into the room, which was much like an elegant suite. Men and women of all states of dress and undress lounged around the room.
When Chessie saw most of the women were wearing less than she did, she relaxed. Some.
A man strode toward them. Blond, muscular, wearing black leather pants and naked from the waist up. Nick, on the other hand, wore dress slacks and a deep maroon shirt.
“Nick.” The other man didn’t spare Chessie a glance. She wondered if it was a thing they did since she was Nick’s sub, at least for tonight.
Dom. Nick is my Dom.
It made her feel both proud and like she wanted to run away at the same time. Run far, far away.
She drew herself back to the present and caught the rest of the men’s conversation.
The newcomer shook his head. “I don’t know what to do about it, Nick.”
“I’ll address the situation.” Nick glanced at Chessie. “Chessie, this is Master Josh.” He turned to Josh. “This is Chessie, my special guest for the evening.”
‘For the evening’ rang in her mind and some of the comfortable vibes in her chest drifted away. She had to keep in mind this was all for tonight, and no doubt only tonight.
“A pleasure, Chessie,” Master Josh said.
Nick didn’t tell her she was allowed to speak, so she just nodded at Josh, afraid to say anything that might get her in trouble.
What punishment or punishments did Nick have in mind? If it was anything like last night, it might be erotic torture, but she was all for it.
“I need to deal with something, Chessie,” Nick said. “Master Josh will take care of you. You are to do as he says and treat him as if he is your Master.”
Panic rose in Chessie’s throat like a flock of birds. ‘No!’ rested on the tip of her tongue. She sat on the couch and clamped her jaws tight to avoid looking like a weak idiot.
He bent and cupped the side of her face, and, as if knowing what she was thinking, he said, “You will be fine. You do understand you are to do whatever Master Josh tells you to do?”
“Yes, Master,” she said, trying to keep the tremble in her body out of her voice. She didn’t want to sound pathetic.
“Good.” Nick gave Josh a quick nod. “I will return as soon as I deal with this.”
Nick strode away.
Josh was studying Chessie when she turned her gaze on him.
“Nick must think you’re special.” Josh folded his arms and looked down at her. He was a big man, a tall man, and she wished he would sit the hell down. “He’s never brought someone like you to Club Surrender.”
A prickling sensation rolled over Chessie. What exactly does Josh mean by that statement? Anyone like me?
“He told me to take care of you.” Master Josh considered her as he spoke. “I know exactly what to do.”
Chessie’s stomach swooped. “I’d like to wait for Nick.”
Josh frowned. “Chessie, if you don’t want a punishment, you’ll do as I say. Master Nick turned your care over to me and told you to follow my instructions. I will not tolerate less.”
Chessie’s stomach dropped as if she was in a rollercoaster that had started from skyscraper heights and swooped down to ground level.
I’m not weak. I’m not weak.
She raised her chin. “Okay.”
He made a motion with his hand. “First, refer to me as Master Josh. It’s my title, so don’t forget that. Second, lower your gaze, put your hands behind your back and follow me.”
Her heart hammered. What if he made her do something she didn’t want to do? But Nick wouldn’t have told her to listen to Josh if he didn’t trust him.
She lowered her head and put her hands behind her back. “Yes, Master Josh.”
“What is your safe word?” He spoke in a hard tone.
For a moment, she went blank.
“Master Nick did have you choose a safe word, didn’t he?”
“Oh. Yes.” She nodded. “Giraffe.”
“Use it if you need to.” Josh turned away and said over her shoulder. “But if you do, you’ll go home.”
Fire snapped inside and a battle raged within her. She wanted to tell Master Josh to shove it—even better, to fuck off—and stomp away. But Nick had asked her if she trusted him and she did. With all her heart, she did.
She sucked in her breath and tried to calm herself. Damn it, she could do this and not say her safe word. Being sent home now was the last thing she wanted.
Please don’t take long, Nick.
Master Josh led her through the room. Ten or so men and women reclined on elegant couches and chairs, or stood and chatted as if it was no different from being in a hotel lounge. Only everyone here wore either little clothing or leather. The Doms must have been those in leather, the subs in scant outfits. But she didn’t know a whole hell of a lot about any of this, so who knew?
She followed him from the room and down a long hall with doors along the way. Each door had a large window beside it. The first two they passed had blinds drawn shut.
The third window’s blinds were all the way open.
Chessie gasped and came to a sudden stop.
On the other side of the window, a woman was strapped to a big wooden X. A man in a hood was flogging her. Another man stood to the side, watching.
“Do you know what that is, Chessie?” Master Josh asked.
She shook her head. “No, Master.”
“It’s a St. Andrew’s cross, used often in play,” Josh said. “I take it you’ve never seen someone flogged before?”
She shook her head again. “Does it hurt?”
“Would you like to try it?”
Her eyes widened. “No.” She stammered as he studied her. “Not now. Please.”
He continued to watch her every movement and expression. “And if I told you to do it.”
She couldn’t believe Nick had left her with this man. “I—no.”
Master Josh raised his brows. “So, you would use your safe word?”
Giraffe? “I don’t want to go home, Master Josh.” Please don’t make me say it.
She thought she saw a look of amusement in his expression, but it was gone so fast she wasn’t sure it had been there at all.
“We’ll discuss it later.” He turned and headed down the hallway again. “I have something special I want to show you before Master Nick joins us again.”
Josh inclined his head in the direction of the curve in the luxurious hallway. Chessie had never seen a more beautiful passageway, and it paled in comparison to the rest of the property she’d had the opportunity to visit.
Without another word, Josh strode down the hallway and Chessie had to keep up. Her bare breasts
bounced, and her tiny panties felt as if they might slide down and reveal her ass.
Three doors, each with a window beside it, were on the right. No room monitor stood outside any of them.
Josh knocked on the first door—no response. He turned the knob and checked the interior.
“All ours.” He walked into the room with Chessie close behind.
The room was filled with cabinets, and a variety of implements along one wall.
The sight of floggers, canes, whips, and more hanging from the wall made Chessie’s stomach churn. Is Master Josh going to use any of those?
He left the blinds and door open, and she was grateful for that.
Josh pointed to a spot near the wall lined with implements.
She hesitated. ‘Giraffe’ kept rolling through her mind. Giraffe.
Immediately, she told herself no. She didn’t want to use her safe word unless he did something or wanted to do something she refused to participate in.
Like being whipped or caned.
She inhaled a deep breath and slowly let it out as she walked to the spot, which was near a small table. Josh opened a cabinet and brought out a silver briefcase.
He opened the case. She couldn’t see what was in it. “Are you familiar with a violet wand?”
She scrunched her brow. “No, Master Josh.”
He gave her a wicked smile. “Then I’ll enjoy using it on you.”
Her eyes widened. She couldn’t get a word out.
She stood still and it felt like her heart was pounding all the way down in her belly.
He shifted the briefcase so she could see its contents. Several things she didn’t recognize were in the case. A black object and several clear things, like glass, but in different shapes. One was a bulb, another looked like a comb, a different one curved like a hook, and one was slender and straight, like a wand.
He pulled the black object out of the case. It was about six inches long and two inches in diameter.
Josh selected one of the glass objects, the orb, and screwed it onto the end of the black object.
A handle—it reminded her of the grip of a drill. A drill? That thought didn’t help the flipping sensation in her belly.
Josh plugged in the long handle’s cord to a nearby outlet. He turned on the device, and the orb gave off a purple glow.
He flicked it off and set it aside before opening a drawer and pulling out a black satin sash. He shut the drawer then approached her with the sash in one hand and the violet wand in the other.
Her heart thudded and her muscles tensed, and she nearly bolted for the door. “What are you going to do with that, Master Josh?”
“Blindfold you.” His wicked smile sent chills through her. “Careful, or I’ll get out a gag, too. Just try me and say another word.”
Her eyes widened and she bit down on her tongue. I can handle a blindfold, right?
She wondered if he could hear the pounding of her heart as he tied the satin around her eyes. He smelled of sandalwood and testosterone, not an unpleasant scent at all. His body warmed her from behind and he let his fingers slide over her skin in a far too intimate touch.
Josh moved his lips close to her ear and his breath feathered her skin. “Now, for the violet wand.”
She held her breath. In the next moment, she felt the smooth bulb against her palm and a light shock went through her. It felt odd, and tingled inside. It didn’t hurt, but she wasn’t sure she liked it.
Again, he pressed it to her, this time on her fingertips, and she shuddered.
Then to her elbow, which felt like he’d hit her funny bone.
She bit down to avoid making a sound.
“And now…” he said as his voice trailed off.
He left her shivering, wondering what he had in mind next.
Chapter Thirteen
Nick folded his arms across his chest as he stood in the doorway and watched Josh touch Chessie with the violet wand.
A predatory growl rose in Nick’s throat as he itched to slam his fist into Josh’s face for touching his woman.
The fact that he had the urge had come out of nowhere. Nick had arranged for Josh to test Chessie, to see how far she would go without saying her safe word, and without Josh taking it too far. Nick trusted his friend and fellow Dom, but that didn’t make him like it any better.
Nick wanted to be the man touching her right now. His cock ached, his pants far too tight, constraining his growing erection.
Her beauty nearly blinded him from every other thing happening. He wanted to glide his fingers over her bared skin, to kiss a trail from her nape to the base of her spine, to turn her, bury his mouth against her clit, and devour her until she screamed his name over and over again.
Josh set the violet wand aside, on the small table beside them. He gripped Chessie’s shoulders, leaned forward, and whispered something in her ear, and she shuddered.
A rush of heat shot through Nick’s body and he unfolded his arms. He almost shouted for Josh to get his hands off Chessie now.
Josh glanced in Nick’s direction and flashed a grin.
Nick tugged off his shoes and socks and set them aside just inside the door, before he strode to where Josh stood. He kept his footsteps quiet as he moved around Chessie and Josh.
He glanced at the pair and fought off another wave of desire to drive Josh into the ground.
What the hell is wrong with me? He and Josh had played similar scenarios over the past years, and he’d never had a reaction like this.
None of those women had been Chessie.
Josh grinned at Nick again, as if he knew what Nick was thinking. The bastard could probably read him.
Nick blew out his breath and started to count to ten, before he rushed through the rest.
He went to the wall of implements and chose a flogger with soft leather strips. From his private drawer, he grabbed a pair of fur-lined leather cuffs, a clip for the D rings, and a black satin gag.
When Nick had his supplies, he set all but the cuffs on the small table near Josh and Chessie. He moved closer to her. She parted her lips, as if she sensed his presence and intended to say something.
Josh moved his mouth to Chessie’s ear. “If you’re thinking about saying anything, you’d better consider the fact I have a gag ready and waiting for you.”
Chessie clamped her jaws shut and raised her chin.
Josh moved his mouth from the vicinity of her ear. “Hold your wrists in front of you.”
Chessie looked confused and hesitated.
“I think you’re due a punishment, Chessie.” Josh shook his head even though she couldn’t see him. “I don’t see how Master Nick could tolerate all of your insubordinate behavior.”
Chessie bit her lower lip, as if to keep a word from leaving her, but hurried to obey him.
“Don’t move.” Josh put a little distance between himself and Chessie. “I’ll be right back.”
Josh moved away and walked toward Nick. “All yours,” he mouthed.
Nick barely kept from narrowing his eyes at the bastard and gave a single nod.
Josh grinned again and silently left the room.
Nate moved so close to Chessie that her body heat radiated to him. Her warmth called to him and he wanted to wrap his arms around her and draw her close.
He couldn’t resist lowering his head to her hair and breathing in her scent. She stilled. Even if she couldn’t see him, she could sense him.
Nick filled his lungs with everything about her, from the perfume she wore to her sweetness, her innocence, her very soul.
The desire to possess her in every way grew ever stronger.
He raised his head and stepped back as he clenched the cuffs in one hand.
His hand trembled ever so slightly from the force of holding himself back from taking Chessie now. He set one cuff on the table beside him.
He grasped her wrist. She caught her breath, the sound audible in the quiet room. He skimmed his thumb over her pulse point, feeling th
e softness of her skin. She shivered as he took the wrist and forced her to unlink her fingers.
His hand dwarfed hers. He wrapped the cuff around it, the thick leather sturdy, but the inside lined with soft fur. He grasped her other wrist and selected the second cuff. She trembled in his hold, and he grew certain it was from a combination of fear and excitement.
Good.
Nick scooped up the metal clip and used it to connect the D rings on each cuff. He would use a lock next time.
He gripped her upper arms, lowered his head, and brushed his lips over the curve of her ear. She shivered. She wouldn’t know what would happen next, or be positive who was touching her so intimately.
Soon he would be far more intimate with her. He would please her, make her writhe beneath him.
For now, he would bring alive every fantasy she had and those she’d never known lived inside her.
He moved to the table where he’d left the satin gag. He could take everything from her—sight and sounds, as well as the ability to speak.
Her body was exquisite, every part of her enticing. The moment he slid the gag into her mouth, she gasped and he felt her panic as he tied it behind her head.
She made sounds of protest, but he ignored her. If she’d expressed any terror, he would stop immediately. But she showed no signs of such great fear.
He left her standing for a moment, and moved back to his private drawer. He brought out wireless headphones and took them back to where she stood. He nuzzled her hair and his groin ached, his cock so hard he wanted her on her knees, sucking him, his erection gagging her better than the satin could.
Nick clenched his fist in her hair and jerked her head back. She let out a sound of surprise. He exposed the column of her throat and he moved his mouth over her sweet flesh.
“I’m taking everything from you,” he finally whispered as he rose.
Chessie relaxed as if relieved it was him. Then she tensed again.
He drew a red silk handkerchief from his pocket and placed it in her hand. “Since you have no way of telling me your safe word, hold this cloth in your hand. If for any reason you want our play to stop, drop it. I will be watching closely, Chessie. Understand?”
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