Shane

by Linzi Basset

  For Alexa, this would be the ultimate test. To prove to herself she was a much stronger masochist than she’d admitted to date, and secondly, to prove to him that she was the only woman he needed to feed the desires of the sadist in him.

  She’d be damned if she shared him with others because she couldn’t satisfy the beast.

  “I won’t move, Master Fox.”

  The kiss was unexpected but filled her with such warmth as she noticed the flash of pleasure in his eyes before he straightened.

  “That’s my girl.” He took position behind her. “Stay with me, Lady S,” he said loudly.

  She didn’t respond, wishing he’d continue. She had never needed pain as much as she wanted it from him. She yearned to do anything and be anything he desired. Her mind zinged with the need that spilled over from her body, and then from nowhere, pain sliced her skin, dispersing like shattered glass across her butt cheek.

  “Owww! Fucking hell,” she moaned as a feeling of ice seemed to burst from inside her in response, dissipating when it met the heat from the fire of the sting.

  He chuckled but reduced the pressure immediately, tapping again, in a way which rocked her gently while she anticipated the next flash. When it came, fire burst to life with such searing sparks she couldn’t breathe.

  This time he offered no respite and continued to place strokes horizontally across her bottom, resulting in a series of evenly spaced raised welts from the middle to the tops of her thighs. Each lash produced maximum pain with seemingly minimum effort on his part.

  “God, oh god,” she gasped as he repeated the set but a little lower than the first, thrashing the cane between the existing lines crisscrossing her behind. The pain intensified, as it was added to the existing torment playing havoc with her mind, pushing her higher with every strike.

  The devil clearly enjoyed watching her body strain to keep her form, listening to every painful gasp and cry as he took his time, spreading out the lashes evenly, without rushing to the end.

  It continued, as he ruthlessly pushed her higher and deeper into his world of pleasure and pain with lashes that felt as if it cut through skin and bone. She lost all sense of time, even how far he carried her with him, but to Alexa, it didn’t matter. All she cared about was being there in that moment as the pain morphed into a pleasure so intense that it left her drifting in this new home she had found. She felt the orgasm galloping closer, faster, and faster, the harder and more painful the cane struck … only to be reduced to gentle tapping just as she was about to topple over.

  She screamed, shouted, begged, and eventually pleaded when the pain became the only focus of her entire being … her release denied, it pulled her deeper into a pleasure so profoundly debased, she had no way of dealing with it.

  Disorientated and foggy, Alexa found herself wrapped in a blanket folded in a tight embrace on Shane’s lap. The muted screams and cries in the background were testimony of the trainees partaking in a practical caning session.

  “You did very well, Alexa. I am so proud of you, little one.”

  His voice soothed her fragile mind as it wrapped around her soul with the warmth of a sip of single malt whisky on a cold winter’s night.

  “Please, Master Fox … I need to come.” She stared at him with pleading eyes. “Surely I’ve been punished enough for my actions in the Dungeon the other night? Please let me come.”

  “Hmm, you’re right. Essentially this wasn’t punishment, therefore I’m not surprised that you’re aroused. Very well, my pet, you may come.” He rearranged her so that she leaned back against his chest with her legs falling over on the outside of his. He spread his thighs wide apart, forcing hers open simultaneously. “There you go, Lady S. Go for it.”

  She blinked in confusion as she glanced up at him. “Go for it? Are you saying—you want me to … to masturbate?”

  He smirked at the disbelief in her voice. The beast inside him purred in anticipation as a whiff of her arousal teased his nostrils.

  “I’m giving you what you asked for, Lady S. Your spicy aroma is begging for it. This is the only way I’ll allow you to come and no … it’s too late to change your mind. You’re not going anywhere until you’ve climaxed at least twice.”

  “I’ve never made myself come twice in a row,” she protested in a raw voice.

  “Then it’s the perfect time to start, wouldn’t you agree? Especially with your cute little ass so beautifully prepped to awaken your lust.” He reached beneath her to scrape a nail over the bruised surface of her buttocks.

  “Gaawwd,” she hissed as her hips surged high to escape the painful caress. “Please stop!”

  “Then give me what you begged for.”

  “You’re a fucking devil,” she hissed.

  “I believe you received adequate warning of that fact.” He sounded amused as he added another scrape to torture her further.

  “Your office. Can we please do this in your office? I can’t …” she glanced over her shoulder at the group of trainees who were just finishing their practical lesson, “with everyone watching.”

  Alexa was no prude and had no problem with voyeurism … as long as it was in the dungeon and didn’t involve the act of self-pleasure. It made her too vulnerable.

  “Ah … you want an audience. You should have said something earlier, my pet.”

  “No!”

  Shane ignored her protests and instructed Dom Michael to bring the group over to be seated.

  “Oh lord,” Alexa whimpered as he spread his legs further apart, opening her pussy wide and left her on display to the eager group watching. She buried her face in his throat, growling as she felt the vibrations of his chuckle against her lips.

  “Lady S has graciously offered a free demonstration in masturbation.”

  “I did no such thing,” she dared to snap, then moaned as the next scrape dug deeper into her already abused ass.

  “Careful, Lady S, or I might just believe you’re enjoying this more than you should.”

  “Let it be known, Master Fox, I don’t particularly like you at this present time.”

  “Ah, my pet, I’d be disappointed if you did.”

  She simmered at the amusement in his voice. The damn man knew he was hurting the living shit out of her but he was obviously aware how the pain spiked the lust coiling tighter and tighter inside her with each scorching sting.

  “Begin.”

  Alexa wasn’t left with a choice, not only because she knew he’d spur her on with painful prodding, but because the pressure inside her loins was now unbearable. She had to climax and quickly!

  She kept her face buried in his throat as she brushed her finger over her clit. Her hips jerked at the contact. She sighed in relief. This was going to be over in record time.

  “Do it properly, Lady S. Remember, the trainees are expecting to learn something from you.”

  “I fucking hate you,” she sneered as she concentrated on circling her clit, dipping her finger inside her wet pussy, and spreading her juices over the throbbing nub.

  “That’s better. Now, I want to see you using both hands. Two fingers inside you, teasing your g-spot while you pinch and slap your clit.”

  “Please, I just need to come. I don’t want to turn masturbation into a fucking art form to do that,” she protested but dutifully followed his instructions.

  “Beautiful, my pet. I can see your essence glistening all over your thighs. Faster, fuck that cunt harder.”

  She blindly followed his voice, whimpering as her veins flooded with heat, starting at the back of her knees and the top of her head, to rush in the same direction, meeting at her core. The climax caught her unaware; she was still preparing for the sharp pleasure pricks when her back arched in a bow as the orgasm rolled over her. She gasped for breath which ended in a screeching wail as Shane caught her tender ass in his hands and squeezed.

  “Keep going, Lady S. I want another one.” His deep voice found resonance deep inside her, curling around her loins and tr
iggered the beginning of yet another climax. She twitched on his lap, her fingers working her pussy and clit with frantic lust swarming through her. “Come. Now.”

  This time, he dug his nails into her still sensitive behind, growling as she emitted a torturous scream as her body turned into a fiery mass of pleasure-pain. A torrent of clear liquid spurted from her pussy as she squirted … and with the painful assistance of Shane’s nails raking the red welts on her ass cheeks, she couldn’t stop.

  “God! Oh god, oh god, oh god!” Her cries echoed through the dungeon as she finally managed to catch her breath and slumped against him, amidst applause from the trainees and the deep voice from her sadistic Master.

  “You did well, little one. I’m proud of you.”

  Chapter Eight

  Sachem Pond on Block Island, Washington County, Rhode Island ...

  Evans Carter used to think he’d landed with his ass in proverbial butter when he received a full ride baseball scholarship to Vanderbilt College. Not that it had come easy. He studied hard to keep his grades up while practicing to be the best player the school had to offer. Being child number five with four older and two younger siblings didn’t make for a life of luxuries growing up. Quite the contrary. He still fasted for a week once a month to keep reminding himself of leaner times and how he’d survived days without food so that his four sisters could eat every night—and came out a better man for it.

  Not that the Sinclairs would agree. He snorted as he guided the luxury SUV around the curve heading toward Logwood Cove on the northern side of Block Island National Wildlife Reserve.

  “What was that?”

  Evans started at the gruff voice next to him. He’d forgotten about the passenger beside him, which wasn’t difficult, since the morose man hadn’t said a word since he’d picked him up from the private airport on the East side of the island.

  “Nothing. My mind just wandered.”

  He cast a sideways glance at the distinguished figure sitting as straight as a pin in the seat. He was the kind of man who demanded respect as much as he elicited fear in those who opposed him. Evans used to respect him. Hell, he had been in awe of the man. All of that had changed over the past couple of years. Now he felt nothing but disgust.

  At least he’d learned a valuable lesson. It was one thing to be respectful of a position a powerful man held, but quite another to extend it to the man himself—especially one who was corrupt to the bone.

  Deceit had many forms. To his own regret, Evans had followed a winding path of it himself lately, but not like this man. He didn’t only deceive his peers and his country; he’d gotten the better of those he deceived as well.

  At some point, it had to come to an end. No one could uphold the life this bastard lived without making mistakes. The time for him to be made redundant was near. He had served his purpose. The saying was true. There was no honor among thieves, or in this case, corrupt men. Evans had to make sure he didn’t slip up. He was one of only two with enough knowledge of the decrepit man to keep himself and his sponsor alive.

  His sponsor. The words echoed in his mind, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.

  Not boss, not mentor, and definitely not friend. He’d been told that from day one. He was a comrade and deemed an asset to the cause—a valuable one—but as expendable as everyone else who had died in the pursuit of power.

  It was as simple and as frightening as that.

  “How many of the leaders managed to escape?”

  Evans was surprised at the question. As one of the top leaders of SPEONUS—albeit a ghost whose identity only a select few were party to—surely he would’ve taken the time to find out such important information? Warning bells ratcheted wildly in his mind but his expression remained stoic.

  “A couple.”

  “You’re not very talkative. Need I remind you that I am your superior and expect to be kept in the loop at all times.”

  “With due respect, sir, as part of SPEONUS, we are comrades. I report to only one leader.” Evans shot a belittling look sideways. “We both know that is the only person who I need to ... keep in the loop, as you said.”

  He turned into the driveway leading up to an impressive Southern style mansion with Sachem Pond as its backdrop. The private equestrian estate was a picture of the owner’s love for nature and all things expensive. No cost was spared and luxury and money were depicted from the massive front iron gates to the private jetty at the back of the house.

  Evans suppressed a smile as his passenger got out of the SUV as soon as he brought it to a stop. The door slamming closed with force was proof of his irritation and anger at the younger man.

  His gait was relaxed and deliberately slow as he followed the older man inside.

  “Well, where is she?” he exploded when Evans walked in minutes after him. It was obvious he was struggling to contain his anger at being shunned by someone he deemed a subordinate.

  “This way.” Evans reveled in pushing the older man’s buttons as he deliberately kept his gait slow. Evans grinned, knowing he was on his heels and literally breathing down his neck, but that his intimidation tactics having no effect on Evans exponentially increased his anger. It thrilled him to realize that after all these years, he had finally managed to get under his skin.

  “What the fuck are they doing here?”

  Evans suppressed the smile at the bellowing voice behind him. His eyes met those of the woman who turned from where she stood gazing out over the lake. The smile broke loose in light of the amused expression on her face.

  “The same as you, my dear man. Surely you didn’t think you’re the key element in reviving SPEONUS after the setback we’ve had?”

  “I didn’t come here to be insulted,” he snapped as he glared at the two men seated on the sofa. His face turned red in the face of the mirth he detected there—all at his expense. He simmered visibly.

  “Then I suggest you take a seat so we can begin. There is much to discuss.”

  Evans elected to remain standing as he watched the lithe woman slide into a plush wingback chair. She was all grace and femininity—a complete contradiction to the manly form she used to portray as the masked leader during SPEONUS meetings, or for that matter, as the formidable Speaker of the House.

  “It must grate on your nerves that you staged your own death,” the latest arrival scoffed.

  “And why is that?” Rebecca Lomas watched him unflinchingly. The decision to have her name entered to the list of attendees for the secret meeting with the premier delegation from the UK had been a last-minute decision forced on her by David Yale. It hadn’t been her intention to be present but he had convinced her to have foresight and play her cards cleverly. That Sergei Ivanon ignored Yale’s instruction and blew up the entire boat instead of a small blast was unfortunate. It had forced her into hiding and thereby quickly blew her desire out of the water to have the power SPEONUS was after. None of her thoughts were portrayed on her face though. As far as the men watching her were concerned, she appeared unaffected by her forced incarceration.

  The big man smirked with glee. “You were next in line as Grayson’s successor and instead you lost out on the opportunity.” He shifted in the seat and stretched out his legs. A halo of self-importance lightened his face. “Now, I’m the best candidate for the job.”

  “Are you?” Rebecca tapped her finger against her teeth. “Hmm, from reports I received nothing has changed from our initial plans.” Her eyes glimmered. “I’m surprised you haven’t heard, especially since you believe you’re the best candidate.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about?”

  “Your boss, Eckard Duke, the Attorney General of the United States, has been appointed interim president as voted by Congress and approved by the House of Representatives. Correct me if I’m wrong but weren’t you elected as a congressman during the emergency election after the explosion as part of the contingency plan? If so, how is it that you weren’t present for the voting process?”

&nbs
p; “You’re fucking lying. I wasn’t informed of any voting taking place. I know for a fact I was in the running for president, which is why I declined the elected appointment.” He jumped up and started to pace. “For that matter, I also know not all congressional members were around to vote the past two weeks. It’s a sham! They can’t fucking do this!”

  Frank Moore had never been this angry or deflated. He had worked his fingers to the bone to get where he was today. The day he was appointed as the Director of the FBI to serve his ten year tenure had been the highlight of his career. At the time it had been enough, but that had changed the closer the end of his reign loomed. He wanted more, wanted recognition for his hard work. Eckard Duke wasn’t going anywhere and the Attorney General position remained a dream. His involvement with SPEONUS offered him the kind of power he was after … and nothing would stand in his way! Not even Rebecca Lomas who was the brainchild in forming the Order.

  With all the immediate successors being killed in that bomb explosion, Frank Moore had been one of three candidates to take the interim presidency. It would have ensured his election for a full term during the upcoming elections. He had believed he stood the best chance, since he knew how opposed Duke was to the position. There was no way in hell he would’ve changed his mind and accepted the presidency.

  “Wrong again. As long as there is a majority vote, a decision stands and since four votes wouldn’t have swayed the result …”

  “Like hell! I’m a much better candidate than he is. My military background is impeccable. I have better knowledge to protect and guide the country on all fronts. Duke isn’t even interested in being fucking president! Mark my words, Rebecca, before the sun sets today, his appointment will be turned.”

  “I hardly think so, since he’s being inaugurated as we speak.”

  Frank sputtered with fury, but no words left his mouth. He couldn’t believe that no one had informed him of what was happening.

  “I suppose you regret taking a Caribbean vacation about now.” Rebecca openly laughed at him, but her expression sobered in a heartbeat. “As part of SPEONUS, you are expected to fight for the greater cause and not for personal enrichment. If your loyalty has changed, you better tell us now. We don’t need traitors in our midst. Our operation has taken a huge knock. Now is the time for us to stand together and rebuild to regain our strength. We don’t have years to recover, Frank. We have to keep moving forward. If we don’t bring the government and the presidency to its knees now, we might as well throw in the towel.” Her gaze sharpened. “Well? Are you in or do I instruct Evans to remove you from my house?”