Submit to Me

by Sappharia Mayer

  Jessica looked up at Kade.

  "Press one," he whispered against her ear.

  "This makes little sense."

  "It makes perfect sense when you let go of what you think you see. Everything about it is art. An expression of the human condition portrayed in the most bawdy way. Press a button."

  Nervously she pressed the Torture Me button. In the cage, the man writhed. His body pulsed in time with an unseen hand, as he groaned in pleasure. Then it all stopped as quickly as it had started.

  "Nice job, Ma'am. You just electrocuted his cock and balls," Kade whispered.

  Horror filled her at his words.

  Above them, the man in the cage bowed in deference and looked pleased. It was then she noticed the almost invisible pads on his skin and the trail of thin wires going down his legs.

  Incongruent emotions flowed through her in a raging torrent. Kade's steady hand once again applied pressure on her back, and they moved toward one of the large installations in the middle of the room. As they approached, she realized there was a woman's body sticking out of what appeared to be a wall. Beside her was a bowl of condoms and dental dams. Jessica watched in fascination as a woman stepped up onto the small platform and grabbed a dental dam. In short order, her skirt was around her waist and she sat down in a slightly reclined position on an odd chair in front of the front half the woman in the wall. When everything was settled, she pressed on the woman in the wall's head until her tongue worked on her pussy. Occasionally the woman in the wall paused or grimaced. The only hint of what she was experiencing came with the occasional sound of a thwack which reverberated around the room. Once she processed whatever was happening to her, she returned to her eager focus on the woman in front of her.

  "I'm missing something here," Jessica whispered to Kade as she watched the erotic scene in front of her.

  Kade nodded and then guided her around to the other side of the wall. There, she saw the other half of the woman's body. Beside it lay a large array of dildos and plugs on one side and on the other, there were canes, floggers, and paddles. On the wall above her was a glove and lube dispenser, along with another bowl of condoms sitting on a shelf hung on the faux wall.

  Jessica watched in fascination as a man approached the back half of the body. He picked up a cane and rubbed it against the presented ass. With care, he tapped against the skin in a quick syncopation until it turned pink. Occasionally, he sent the cane through the air with a solid stroke, leaving a bright welt across the skin. She watched the butt cheeks pull together, but the constriction of the wall refused to let the body move more than a breath in any direction.

  "What's this one called?" she asked Kade without taking her eyes off the scene playing in front of her.

  "Incongruence," he replied.

  Part of her wanted to look away in horror while it turned another part on in a way she couldn't explain. What would it be like to watch Kade in such a position? To know the pleasure and pain he experienced at the hands of others because of her command? She shook her head at the invading thought. While she enjoyed the art show, there was no way she would allow anyone else to touch Kade that way.

  The foreign thought hit her hard and fast. The possessiveness she imagined he’d felt earlier in the evening now washed over her. It wasn't like her, but there was something about it she liked.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Kade led Jessica to several more art installations throughout the main hall. His eyes were more on her and less on the art. He wanted the overwhelming experience to be enjoyable and constantly watched for any distress or displeasure.

  Emotions played across her face as they approached each new piece. He watched in fascination as they rolled through both positive and negative ones only to return to a stone neutral. Jessica might not have a perfect stoic poker face, but the rapid-fire mix of emotional processing left him confused.

  They approached the last art piece, and Kade saw Parker watching intently off to the side. He maneuvered them over and turned to see the setup. In front of them, a woman was suspended between two horizontal pipes. Her arms were strapped with thick leather straps to each pipe. The same straps held her legs to vertical pipes holding up the entire structure, placing her body at an L. Sleeves of tattoos wound around her body from her shoulder to the top of the light pink ballet boots encasing her feet at a painful angle. Another pipe rose from the floor, covered in a thick rubber sleeve which was forcing her mouth to open wide in an effective gag while a thick blindfold covered her eyes. On a small frame in front of them was a button and dial.

  Bound Pleasure in Pain

  A woman walked up to the small set of controls and tapped the button. The hum of a fucking machine greeted the guest. As she turned the dial, the woman in the contraption writhed against the onslaught of the dildo being pushed and pulled into her pussy controlled by the dial.

  "I'm not sure if you are an artist or an evil genius," Kade quipped to Parker.

  Parker nodded without taking his eyes off the woman struggling in front of him.

  "I'm an artist who is also an evil bastard. The two are not mutually exclusive, Mr. Kinkaid," he said as a wry grin pulled on the edges of his mouth.

  "Once again, your art show was much anticipated and delivered. Thank you for your patience this week."

  Parker turned toward them. "How did you like the show, Jessica?"

  Kade watched an unusual blush flush across her cheeks.

  "It was beautiful and,” she hesitated, "intriguing."

  Parker nodded and turned back to watch the bound woman in front of him.

  "Interesting descriptions. Both of enjoyment and... disgust is the incorrect word more challenging to your personal preferences."

  "Indeed," Jessica acknowledged. "I look forward to the next one."

  Parker bowed slightly. "I consider that high praise. I can't wait to hear the new descriptions."

  "Mistr... Ma'am," Kade caught himself mid-word and corrected, hoping it went unnoticed.

  When Jessica turned and lifted one eyebrow his way, he knew the slip wasn't lost.

  "Ma'am," he said then cleared his voice when the sound came out weaker than he intended. "Would you like to adjourn to the bar?"

  She remained silent for a long moment. Kade worked to hold his body steady and not fidget as he silently berated himself.

  Jessica's eyes didn't move from the watching the woman pull against the bonds in front of them, as the other woman worked the controls to increase and decrease the speed of the machine.

  He watched her face for any sign of her thoughts and grew more frustrated with each passing second she refused to reply to the question. Kade took several deep breaths to steady himself. He wasn't some new trainee. He'd served and learned in several difficult environments, but time had a way of softening his skills.

  "Yes, Mr. Kinkaid, I would like to adjourn to the bar," she said without looking at him.

  Then she turned to Parker and smiled. "Thank you for sharing your art." When the last syllable of the word left her mouth, she took a step toward the door.

  Kade drew in a deep breath, placed his hands by his side, and followed her two steps behind her on the left.

  The combination of her aloof behavior, the art show, and their earlier encounter had his entire body throbbing with a pulsating arousal. He was glad the team had found Cassandra. She was in Interrogation Room One but refused to talk. Kade had given orders to go lightly on her and let her stew in the room while observing her. It was an effective technique which often softened a person to talk once their own mind got the better of them.

  As they rounded the corner to the bar, Ben Matthews rose from his barstool.

  "Well, well, well. Detective Lawson, did you find yourself a cute little submissive male to protect you rather than making the force do it while pretending you are decent at your job?"

  Everything in Kade rose in protective anger. The fact someone on her own force believed she was weak and needed constant protection
went against everything he'd seen of her over the last week.

  "Does no one read the rules to this place?" she huffed and tried to push past the large man.

  He watched her arm come up reflexively to cover her ribs and scowled at the unconscious action. There was something he was missing here.

  "This is a fucking BDSM club. Who needs rules? You come in here to beat people up or get beat up then get your rocks off and leave," he scoffed.

  Kade balled up his hands in anger, but a glance from Jessica and a hand signal to back off left him seething in place.

  In front of him, Jessica turned to Ben.

  "Detective Matthews, I realize reading is below your comprehension, but it is respectful and basic protocol to know the place you’re walking into for work. Next time they provide the materials, it would do you good to read them."

  She moved to step around him, but he reached out a hand and grabbed her arm.

  "Let go of me."

  "Or you'll what?" he sneered.

  "Last time we sparred, you ended up losing consciousness if I remember correctly," she said without facing him.

  "It was a lucky shot, you little bitch. But if I remember correctly, you came out worse for the wear."

  Without another word, he punched her in the ribs. Jessica fell to her knees with a cry of agony. In the time it took him to inhale, Kade knelt beside her. She shook her head and nodded toward Ben Matthews.

  When Kade stood he felt a rage of fury that anyone could treat another human being with such disrespect, and it doubled because of his growing feelings for the woman now in agony at his feet.

  "Who the fuck on you?" Matthews spat at Kade. "See, boys, she can't even take care of herself in a sex club. Even here a man has her kneeling at his feet."

  "You've made a grave mistake, Detective Matthews," Kade replied. His hands clenched and unclenched in anger at his sides.

  "And how do you figure that one?"

  "First, I'm the head of security here at the club, thus you are my guest. Second, she doesn't need me to fight her fights for her because it sounds like she's already kicked your ass, but I am glad to soften you up for her."

  In front of him, Ben Matthews turned pale but refused to move.

  Kade pressed the mic on his radio.

  "Sec team two, we have a problem in zone 5. I need a guest escort and revocation," he said into the radio without taking his glare off of the man in front of him.

  He let go of the button, and a small smile crept across Kade's face. "In case you're wondering, Detective, your captain and I go way back."

  Ben glared at him until he was surrounded by three other men with black security T-shirts.

  "You can't do this. I'm here on official business."

  "No, you were here at the pleasure of the club under a special contract, and now you are not."

  When the security team rounded him up and started moving to the front door, Kade relaxed and turned to Jessica. He helped her up from the floor, noticing each wince of pain.

  "Jack, I need tonic water with lime," he said as he helped her onto a nearby barstool.

  The noise rose with an unexpected suddenness. It was then he realized how big of a scene he'd just made and groaned. Reaching over the bar, he pulled out a small first aid kit and handed Jessica a packet of Ibuprofen.

  "You don't need to defend me," she said, her voice barely audible.

  "Yes, Ma'am, I do. It is my job here, and for as long as we are in a dynamic relationship, it will be my job. You may tell me not to interfere, as you did tonight, but I reserve the right to override your assessment when it is necessary."

  "You're incorrigible," Jessica replied, then tossed back two pain pills with a large sip of tonic water.

  "Only to match yours, Ma'am," he said, giving her a mischievous smile.

  "Ha. You're always going to be a challenge," she said and shook her head.

  The radio popped in Kade's ear, and he prepared for the onslaught of communication about another area in the club. It was a quiet night, and he appreciated the fact everything had gone off without a hitch. There was only one more issue to address, then he could wind this evening down and spend time with Jessica. The thought sent everything in him into overdrive.

  "Break. Break. Sec one, Sec one this is Command, over." The voice over the radio pulled his attention at his call sign.

  He knew Tanner was running Command and would likely razz him based on the camera feed from the bar, but the forced break in traffic pulled at him.

  "Go for Sec one," he said into his mic.

  "Sec one, we've got a situation with CO. I need you in command, now. How do you read?"

  A scowl marred Kade's face. "Lima Charlie. Wilco. Two mikes out."

  "Roger."

  Kade turned to Jessica and frowned. "I've got a situation which needs my attention. Can you take over the situation in Interrogation One?"

  A smile pulled at the edge of her mouth, and he wanted to laugh.

  "With pleasure. Go take care of your problem," she said and picked up her tonic water.

  Kade gave her a slight bow and then turned to walk to Command. Everything in his world was lighter than it had been in a long time. Once they got Atlas back home safe and figured out how to stop Edmund, his world would be on the perfect trajectory.

  He pushed the door open and his face fell. Chaos erupted across five screens, and three security personnel were on the phone while Tanner issued orders.

  "Sit rep," Kade called over the noise. "What the hell is going on?"

  Tanner looked over at him, a phone glued to his ear. Without taking away his gaze, he hit the speaker phone button.

  "We've got a mayday from the yacht. The crew is reporting all crew down and an unknown personnel onboard. Current location of Houdini and Princeton are unknown."

  "What do you mean, unknown?" Kade growled.

  "Sir, we've gotten a mayday call from the crew. That's all we know."

  "What the hell is happening down there?"

  "We'll have eyes on in five mikes."

  Kade wanted to punch something. He never was never helpless when protection was his detail, but in the span of a handful of months all he’d ever felt was helpless, it seemed.

  Ian walked through the door in mid-conversation.

  "Send the footage to Empyrean Command. We'll have a replacement as soon as possible."

  Kade glared at him, waiting for an explanation of the chaos and the lack of information.

  Beside him, Ian inhaled deeply.

  "We've got drone footage of the boat. The team is less than four mikes out from the boat."

  Before he finished his sentence, the drone footage appeared on the large screen on the wall of the command center. A woman huddled over a male form and a large pool of blood spread out from them. Around them the boat was eerily quiet. There were no signs of the crew or anyone else.

  "Are they..." Kade refused to finish the sentence.

  The woman on the screen moved and then fell forward, covering the man's body with her own.

  "We know Houdini is still alive, but we are unsure of anyone else," Ian said quietly.

  Kade stared at the scene as the tender approached. Bodies swarmed the deck. In the distance they could see the search light of a helicopter at the edge of the scene. Then it all went black.

  "Command, we've got an injured male at the bow of the boat. Immediate evac. All crew is down, eval in progress." The communication cut.

  Kade paced the small aisle at the front of the Command Center to bleed off nervous energy.

  "What about Alexandra? Is she okay?"

  "They'll report when they know. But we both know that no report is good news, most of the time."

  It was easier being on the ground in the thick of it. He hated waiting for the word from the ground teams. Each second that ticked by felt like an eternity.

  "Command, Houdini is banged up but only minor injuries. Princeton inflight for evac."

  "Copy that, ground," Tan
ner replied to the radio call.

  The atmosphere was smothering, but Kade needed to do something.

  "Kade," Ian said, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Go get us reinforcements. We need a new crew and Alexandra needs protection."

  Finally, he wanted to scream, but he only nodded to Ian and walked out the door.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Jessica stepped into the observation room and looked through the two-way mirror to watch Cassandra pace the room.

  "Impressive set-up," she quipped to Jason Dean.

  He turned to her and smiled.

  "Sometimes authenticity makes things better," he said with a shrug. "Or so I've been told."

  "You don't partake in these... reindeer games?"

  He shook his head. "I've not found anything interesting, but there's no hurry. I like the job, it pays well, it can entertain. Besides, I'll either find my path in this lifestyle or will forever be a vanilla."

  She nodded, understanding how he felt. "Tell me what we're looking at here," she said, nodding toward the glass.

  "We picked her up in the foyer. I'm told she made a comment about St. Kitts and it sent the team into a frenzy. She's been in the box for a little over ninety minutes, and she's getting really unhappy. No one's been in to see her, although a Detective Matthews tried to bully his way in a bit ago. I told him I was under strict orders to only let you interrogate her."

  Jessica sighed. The altercation at the bar made more sense, not that Detective Matthews needed a reason to go after her. He wasn't quiet about his thoughts on women in the police force or their ability to do the job. She thought about filing a complaint to HR, but her previous experience with harassment complaints in the military had left a sour taste and one she'd avoid at most costs. Misogyny was part of the job. She wished it was different, but it was part of working in a male-dominated situation.

  "Do you have a file folder with some papers?"

  He searched through the cabinets in the room. A few minutes later, he returned with a file folder stuffed with blank paper and two pages which looked like data analysis on top. A pen was clipped neatly on the right edge of the folder, and she smiled at the detail.