Piper took a few steps toward the stage, and her jaw clenched.
He was touching the woman’s body. Touching her breasts. Speaking to her in a low voice in-between talking to the crowd. When he tied a knot between her breasts, the woman leaned into him.
Knife-edged jealousy ripped right through Piper’s chest with a searing pain.
Still on the path, Lindsey looked from the stage and back to Piper before saying something to Dixon. They moved forward and formed up on each side of Piper.
“You know, my mouth is as parched as if I’d been blowing Bigfoot’s giant hairy dick.” Dixon linked his arm in hers and pulled her back toward the path. “C’mon, I totally need something to drink.”
Piper looked over her shoulder. Rigging complete, Sir Ethan had the woman suspended in the air. He gave her a slight push to make her spin slowly. Her eyes were closed, her features slack. She was in subspace.
When the scene was over, Sir Ethan would give the bottom aftercare. He was a most conscientious Dom. But would he give the beautiful woman…more? Piper swallowed.
Dammit, she shouldn’t be jealous. She had no claims on Sir Ethan—he was just trying to help her out with her problems.
No, she was wrong. They’d gone past that. Sex. Sleeping at his place. Sharing things, from the ugly stuff like his wife’s betrayal to silly personal facts like how she hated figurines and collections that just gathered dust and how he needed balance in his home and life.
Last night, Jerry’s lies had hurt Sir Ethan—because she mattered to him.
She needed to stop being insecure and not be jealous. He was merely doing a scene with a rope bunny, a model, who was undoubtedly a nice person.
Who rubbed against him. Again.
Piper glared at the stage. She should slap that woman’s face off.
“Now, now, Pips.” Dix pried her fist open. “Let’s not go off and get all no-touchy-my-man on Tanya’s ass. You know she doesn’t mean anything to your…” His voice faded as he stared at something over her shoulder. Hurt shadowed his brown eyes.
Piper and Lindsey turned.
In the audience, Stan stood beside the guy named Darrell who’d been outside Dix and Stan’s apartment. The one who’d flirted with Stan.
Lindsey’s eyes narrowed. “Who’s Stan with?”
“Special Agent Darrell Legrand,” Dix said. All the animation had died from his face. “I told you about him.”
“His name is Legrand? Seriously? I wonder if his package is grand as well.” Lindsey’s gaze was still on the two men.
“Probably.” Dix sounded so unhappy that Piper put her arm around him. He leaned against her.
Lindsey took his hand. “Dix, no. Stan wouldn’t mess around on you.”
“He might. That guy—he’s everything I’m not, and he wants Stan. I don’t think anything’s going to stop him.”
Piper set her jaw. “Stan doesn’t want him; he wants you.” If that wasn’t true, she was going to kick Stan’s butt.
Piper added, “However, if you want, we can join them and mess up the guy’s plans.” Being in the crowd and trying not to watch Sir Ethan with that woman would be tough, but she’d do it. She’d do anything Dixon needed right now.
Dixon turned away. “Uh-uh. I still need something to drink. And we both need to get out of here.”
Piper gave a sigh of relief.
After his demonstration, Ethan found his pretty submissive with several Dark Haven people, all watching the Disney Beat-a-thon—impact play set to Disney tunes. The song, “I’ll Make a Man Out of You,” had filled the area with male bottoms getting whacked by female and male Tops. Canes, flogger, paddles. The slapping of flesh in time with the beat of the music was almost mesmerizing.
“Piper.” He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms.
To his surprise, she was stiff, almost resistant, before melting against him. Had she seen something that upset her?
He tipped his head down and kissed her, again feeling her hesitation before her mouth opened, and she sank into the kiss. By the time he finished, she was giving as enthusiastically as she received.
When he lifted his head, he studied her face. The sun had given her skin a pink radiance that a flush of arousal had heightened. He ran his thumb over her wet lower lip.
But there had been that slight hesitation… “Tell me what you’ve been up to this afternoon.”
“There was this place—a cuddle pile.” Her face lit as she described it to him.
Excellent. She was learning that touch didn’t have to be sexual. Before he could get to the root of the bit of distance he’d felt—
“People. There’s a game starting over in the meadow we should join.” Xavier rose and pulled Abby up with him.
“I know the one you mean.” DeVries stood. “They’ll give us weapons. I’m in and so is this little prey.”
Lindsey let out a startled squawk as he hefted her to her feet.
Ethan started to smile. This would be a fine game for Piper to experience. “Let’s go, poppet.”
As Piper walked beside him, she fanned herself with one hand. “I’d forgotten what it’s like away from the water.” In San Francisco, the ever-present breeze of the cold Bay kept the city in the seventies. Inland, even the evening sun beat down with a vengeance.
“You’ll be cooler very soon,” Ethan promised. Her wary look made him chuckle.
At the edge of the grassy open space, volunteers were unloading the game’s weaponry from a golf-cart trailer.
“Water guns?” She narrowed her eyes at Ethan.
Ethan grinned. “You’ll find them quite refreshing.”
“But…” She looked down at her clothes.
Before he could tell her that her clothing wouldn’t be an issue, one of the organizers—Master Khan—stepped onto the trailer and smoothed the sides of his waxed handlebar mustache.
“Hear ye, hear ye.” The booming voice that had served Khan on a battlefield was just as effective in the campground. “This will be an erotic power-exchange game. The ones with the power—they get the guns. The ones without—they get naked. Except for shoes. Tender little subbie soles need to be protected.”
Grinning at the ribald comments, Ethan chose a pistol from the stack. A streamlined Super Soaker.
“I like games with weaponry.” DeVries picked out a heavier firearm. “Why are there never any games with whips?”
Stan gave the Enforcer an are-you-serious stare. “Considering some of the whip wielders you’ve seen, would you want to let them loose in a field?”
Xavier shook his head. “There’s a terrifying thought.”
Chuckling, Ethan led the way to the brimming kiddie pool to submerge and fill his water gun. Once the weapons were loaded, the Doms rejoined the submissives.
Piper gave his water gun a frown. “This game seems rigged.”
“What are the rules?” someone called.
Master Khan rocked on his heels. “No running. Bottoms must keep their fingers laced behind their back. Once in the meadow, each naked person must visit a number booth in order of one through five and must show all five marks to exit the game. A naked person who moves their hands or has an orgasm will be punished with five switches on the ass from a monitor, remain in place to the count of a hundred with hands over the genitals, and then it’s game on again. When finished, a naked person can get rewarded nicely by the weapon wielder of their choice.”
He wagged his finger. “Of course, the weapon wielder must be agreeable.”
“Awww, that’s a shame,” Lindsey called.
“I’m agreeable, sweet cheeks.” A man standing near Lindsey grinned at her.
Ethan heard deVries growl under his breath. “My little brat is going to get her ass warmed.”
“That’s not exactly a deterrent for her.” Xavier was digging something out of his pack. He held up several packets of warming lube. “Anyone?”
Ethan studied Piper. The lubricant might keep a little submissive f
ocused on her senses rather than her worries. “That would be welcome, thank you.”
Xavier tossed packets to everyone.
This was going to be fun.
Dixon and Lindsey were naked already. Abby was slowly stripping, and Piper was still dressed.
Ethan gave her a brief kiss. “Remove your clothing, poppet.”
“This isn’t my sort of thing. Really.” Yet the excitement had flushed her cheeks.
“That’s all right. It’s my sort of thing.” When her eyes rounded at his lack of sympathy, he barely smothered a laugh. “Piper, you may say no, of course. Then we’ll have a long discussion about why you didn’t want to play a fun game.”
Her lower lip inched out into a tiny—adorable—pout. “I didn’t come here to have long discussions.”
“Exactly. Strip, pet.”
Her gaze dropped, and she pulled off her clothes and set them in a pile on the ground. Covering her breasts, she frowned at him—at his clothes—and opened her mouth to say something that would probably get her in trouble.
Meeting his level gaze, she turned red. “I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t mean to be disobedient.”
A strong, caring woman…who surrendered so beautifully. To him. How could he resist her? He pulled her against him. “I know you don’t. I’m pleased you’re willing to give this a try.”
The kiss he gave her heated rapidly. Because that was what this game was all about—erotic stimulation and entertainment. She needed to learn that BDSM could be, quite simply, fun.
He stroked his hands over her silken skin, squeezed her curvy ass, cupped her breasts—and got a gasp of embarrassed delight. “Now spread your legs for me.”
Her eyes widened.
A few feet away, Stan stroked an entire palmful of cold lube over his submissive’s dick. Dixon squealed a protest. He’d probably squeal louder as the lube turned very warm.
Ethan covered his fingertips in lube and stepped behind Piper. Reaching around, with one hand, he opened her labia. With the other hand…
* * *
Piper shivered as Sir Ethan’s fingers touched her clit. She jerked, but his body was rock-solid behind her, his chest against her back. She wasn’t getting away from whatever he was putting on her.
The liquid on his fingers was cool against her over-heated flesh. As he rubbed the stuff in thoroughly, making her squirm, arousal lit inside.
When he stepped back, she turned. “What did you put on me?”
“Your paperwork said you’re not allergic to anything. This is just a mild lubricant that’ll keep you warm while you’re out there. Did you understand the rules?”
Her face turned hot with her embarrassment. “Hands behind my back. Go to each station in order, one through five.”
“No running and no orgasms.” He smiled, ran his finger up her pussy again, and excitement streaked through her. As he helped her put her flip-flops back on, she saw an answering desire in his gaze.
The announcer clapped his hands for attention. “Shooters, take a position anywhere you want. Your only rules are no running, no touching, and shoot only for the genitals. All naked genitals are fair game.” The announcer’s big laugh boomed out. “It’s like the opposite of fighting.”
A ripple of laughter went through the crowd, and people headed into the meadow.
Piper hadn’t moved. Shoot for the genitals? Oh, this was going to be really strange.
“Come along, poppet.” Holding his gun, Sir Ethan set a hand low on her bare back, firmly steering her toward the center of the grassy area.
Her friends were being herded out, too. Already erect, Dixon was hopping with excitement. Suddenly, he stopped, touched his shaft, and glared at Stan. “What the jumping genitals, Master? That lube you put on me is burning my dick.”
Stan’s grin was wicked. “I know.”
Piper put her hands over her mouth to stifle the giggles threatening to escape. Because, OMG, this was insane.
As the setting sun warmed her shoulders and back, Piper walked beside Sir Ethan. Her embarrassment was fading since all the submissives were naked.
In fact, the jiggling of her bare breasts was erotic as all get out, and her skin itself seemed more sensitive. Every part of her was…
She stumbled and halted. Oh, wow. Whatever Stan put on Dixon was what Sir Ethan had rubbed on her. Because her clit felt hot and cold and tingly, all at the same time. Her weight shifted as she rubbed her legs together.
Sir Ethan swept her with a molten blue gaze, and his masculine grin of comprehension put quivers into her belly. The sight of the thick bulge in his jeans sent hunger sweeping through her.
She’d been worried about that rope-bunny at the demo, but he hadn’t gone with her. He’d come here. To play with Piper. All his attention was on her. The sweeping sense of being wanted and watched-over was amazing.
He was amazing. She stared at him, feeling as if she wanted to go to her knees. Feeling as if she wanted to be held, be kissed.
Expression tender, he touched her cheek lightly.
“Five, four, three,” Master Khan shouted. “No touching, people. Weapon-wielders, if you see someone orgasm, hold up a hand so the monitor can punish them. Naked people—get your hands behind your back.”
Hauling in a breath, Piper laced her fingers together behind her.
Sir Ethan backed away, pumping the water gun.
Oh, no. Oh, God.
Master Khan’s voice grew to a roar. “Two, one, and GO!”
A shockingly hard stream of cold water hit Piper’s mound—and below. On her clit. She shrieked.
Yells and screams sounded throughout the meadow, and then everyone was moving as fast as possible without breaking into a run.
Piper bounced off Lindsey, turned in a circle—and two more jets of water zapped her pussy. It wasn’t just Sir Ethan shooting at her.
In outrage, she saw that every person with a gun was shooting at any target.
Not fair. In her flip-flops, she speed-walked away from Sir Ethan toward Booth One. Someone had already messed up; the high whistle of a switch was accompanied by a yelp.
She turned to look—and more water hit her.
Her clit tingled and burned from the lube, making the cold water even more of a shock. A water blast hit her, followed by several caressing splashes. Her pussy swelled, already throbbing. Her nipples were tightly peaked.
Another devastating stream struck her clit, and she heard Sir Ethan’s resonant chuckle.
The damn Dom was far too accurate with a gun.
With a gasp of relief, she reached the safety of the roped-off Booth One enclosure.
Helping out there, the Dark Haven Aussie, Mitchell, marked a “1” on her upper arm. “I haven’t seen Ethan join in the games before. You’re good for him, subbie.”
“Really?”
“Really.” He grinned and turned to the next person, leaving Piper blinking. She was good for Sir Ethan? She’d never thought of him as needing anything she could give. Mitchell’s compliment made her feel as if she was glowing inside.
As the jostling in the pen increased, she remembered there was a game going on. Pulling in a breath, she hurried toward Booth Two.
A long burst of water, directly on her clit, made her stagger to a stop, almost paralyzed with need.
“Keep moving, poppet.”
He was evil. Evil.
Sucking in a breath, she dodged two other Tops and zigzagged across the grass. A sneaky Domme nailed her good as she approached the station.
She got “2” marked on her arm.
She safely reached Booth Three and collected her number.
By the time she headed for Booth Four, her engorged clit ached and tingled. The intermittent thrumming blasts of water had built her arousal to an excruciating edge. She whimpered with desperation. Don’t come, don’t come.
“Piper.” A few feet away, Sir Ethan smiled slowly. “Show me a Standing Present, please.” His accent hit on the second syllable. PreSENT.
/> It was an order—a Dominant’s command prior to inspection of his submissive. Oh, God. Flushing, she put her hands behind her head with fingers laced together, then widened her stance.
Sir Ethan’s water gun was pointed toward the ground. He glanced to one side and nodded.
At Xavier. He aimed and the powerful stream hit her clit. Before the water stopped, another ruthless torrent came from the right. DeVries.
The devastating sensations brought her right to the explosion point. With her legs so far apart, her labia were pulled open, exposing her very, very vulnerable clit. Her body shook as the pressure in her center grew, as her muscles went taut, as she hovered right on the razor’s edge. Noooo.
“Sorry pet.” With a wicked grin, Sir Ethan aimed and fired. As did someone else—Stan. Mercilessly they shot her. The forceful streams of water, angled from different directions, struck on either side of her clit. Everything inside her seized, pulled together into one all-consuming knot, then her world exploded in a brilliant fireball of pleasure.
She shook as she came, sobbing, “Oh, oh, oh.” Her knees wobbled as she gasped for air.
“Now, that’s a damned shame. What a disobedient subbie,” deVries said in a rough, pseudo-concerned voice. Through blurred eyes, she saw him grin and lift his hand.
Lift his hand. The bastard was summoning a monitor.
A man in an orange shirt stalked over, switch in one hand.
Stan, another complete bastard, pointed to her. “Bad subbie.”
“Oh and did a naughty little someone come without permission?” Clicking his tongue against his teeth in a tsking sound, the monitor motioned to her with his switch. “Bend over and grip your ankles, pretty girl. Breathe through your punishment.”
She stared at him in disbelief and saw Sir Ethan watching.
When he gave her a tiny wink, her mouth dropped open. He’d known she was close to coming. He’d deliberately made her come.
When she glared, the monitor’s brows drew together. “Should I make it ten for insolence to your Dom?”
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