by Helena Stone
He looked at her as she made a few notes on her pad. God, she was so beautiful. So perfect. And if he wasn’t careful, he would end up alienating her just because he wasn’t sure of himself. He had to avoid transferring his insecurities to her. She’d given him a reason to be optimistic just when he’d been sure he’d never feel good about himself again. She boosted his confidence. She’d wanted him. He wanted more of her.
“So, those demonstrations are delivered by you and…”
“No. I won’t be doing one.” He saw the shock in her eyes.
“You won’t be performing? Why ever not?”
It was on the tip of his tongue. He almost wanted to tell her. Again the need to share his burden nearly overwhelmed him and he still couldn’t bring himself to do it. “Because there’re others who do it better than me.”
He knew he sounded short and gruff again and could see confusion returning to her eyes. And, fuck it all, he didn’t know how to avoid worrying her without sharing feelings he didn’t want to admit to.
“Hector and Amber will do two. I’ve got a Domme performing with two subs and one all-male session. That will have to do.”
She shook her head while scribbling on her pad. “That’s not good enough, Jason. Those Doms will be expecting to see you in action. They’ll want to get your measure. Not showing your skills will leave them doubting you. They’ll assume you’re weak, a wannabe.”
And didn’t he know it? He just didn’t see an easy solution. Performing while he wasn’t in the zone would show him up as a fake, just as much as not performing would. It was the worst sort of lose-lose situation and he’d no idea how to fix it. He sighed.
“I know, Heather. Can we just leave it? I’m not going to do it, no matter what impression that’s going to leave. No matter what you, or anybody else, say. My mind is made up about this.”
“I don’t know, Jason.”
He saw the uncertainty in her eyes.
“If you’re dead set against it, I can’t make you. But I don’t think it’s a good idea. You’re creating a problem where there’s no need for one.” She paused. “With all those egos gathering here, you shouldn’t hand them a reason to look down on you. They’ll be looking for reasons to do that anyway.” She looked into his eyes and swallowed. “And if you’re really not open to the idea, I’ll stop talking about it now. I’m not promising I won’t bring it up again though.” She tried to smile but didn’t quite succeed. “I like the variety in your exhibitions though. I can’t see anybody complaining their particular taste wasn’t catered to.”
Jason knew his attempt at a smile had to be as unconvincing as hers had been. “Roger and Leo, my all-male duo, will be trying out their scene tonight. I promised I’d go and watch. Wanna join me?”
For the first time since they’d started this meeting, she relaxed. “I would love that. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen that dynamic.”
He loved seeing her at ease and was relieved she’d agreed to accompany him so readily. An all-male performance should be safe enough as well. The risk of Roger and Leo triggering memories of Darren were small as far as he could see.
“Oh, Heather, about your stay here…”
His ringtone cut him off at the worst possible time. Blast. He could have thrown the phone out of the window. While he listened to the voice talking about things he didn’t want to deal with right now but couldn’t avoid, he watched Heather gather her stuff and blow him a kiss. He managed to blow one back before he allowed the daily pressures of running a sex club to swallow him again.
Chapter Fourteen
“And then, when Rick fell, face first, into the cowpat”—his face broke into a wide smile—“I thought I’d never stop laughing. Of course, being blind drunk didn’t help.”
As soon as Jason mentioned the incident, the memories were back. Heather could see the scene in her mind. The short cut back from the pub to their cottages had seemed like a great idea right until the moment Rick had lost his footing and fallen into that mess. Moira, Jason and she had been torn between laughing until they’d cried and trying to help him up. Poor Rick had not been happy.
“Oh, but we did have fun, didn’t we?”
She picked up her coffee and looked at the handsome man across the table. There was no sign of his earlier anger and insecurity now. She was still worried about his strange behavior, but decided to let it go for now. The evening was too nice to allow her anxieties to spoil it.
She’d been nervous before she met him for dinner, afraid the evening would be tense, but he’d been relaxed and affectionate. His kiss, when they met, had awoken every nerve ending in her body. She had loved his arm around her, his hand in the small of her back, when they walked to the restaurant. The food had been as delicious as she’d come to expect and she’d enjoyed stealing bites off his plate while he did the same with hers. She’d been reminded of their younger selves, the same playfulness, the same easy banter. All the memories rushing back once they’d started talking about Wexford had taken her by surprise.
“The demonstration doesn’t start for another hour or so.”
Jason picked up her hand and stroked it while looking straight into her eyes. The urge to lower hers almost overwhelmed Heather, but she resisted. She wasn’t his sub. There had been none of that dynamic involved last night. They hadn’t talked about it.
“You’re sure you want to watch them tonight?” For the first time that evening, worry clouded his expression.
“I’m sure, Jason. I’m looking forward to it.” She smiled.
Two men together could never hurt her. She knew the scene would be beautiful, just as past experience told her watching it wouldn’t affect her personally.
“Seeing two men together could never hurt me. The dynamic is exactly the same yet completely different. I’m not sure I can explain it.”
The frown on his face told Heather her words hadn’t convinced him.
“Don’t worry. I don’t think there’s any risk of me having another breakdown.” She thought for a moment. “I think I could watch Hector and Amber again and not fall apart this time. The shock of recognition set me off two nights ago. I’ve dealt with it now. I’m okay, really.”
He looked more relaxed but she knew she still hadn’t convinced him.
“Do you promise to safe-word earlier if it gets too much tonight?”
“I do. I won’t need to, but if I do, I’ll let you know.” The light mood was gone and she wanted it back. “I saw there’s a band playing in the ballroom tonight?”
“Yes, and they’re quite good.”
“Would you take me dancing, Jason? I haven’t danced in ages.”
When his smile returned it was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
“I love that idea. Come.”
Jason took her hand as he helped her up, and kissed her on her lips. “I can’t think of anything I would rather do right now than keep you in my arms for the next hour or so.”
The ballroom wasn’t quite as grand as the name made it sound. It was impressive though. Dim lighting gave the long, wide space an intimate atmosphere, in stark contrast to the bright and airy impression it made during the day when natural light streamed in through the many, large windows. Now, the only bright lights were aimed at the stage and the four-piece band. Heather took a moment to watch the musicians. She liked the double bass, not something you usually saw accompanying a keyboard, drums and guitar. It worked better than she would have expected. The bass gave the music a richer, fuller sound. When the band broke into Fly Me to the Moon, shivers ran down her spine. Boy, the man could sing.
“This is wonderful, Jason. You’re right. They are good.”
She leaned closer into him, loving the feeling of his arms around her. She felt safe and wanted. When he pushed her to the dance floor and turned her so she faced him, she smiled and was delighted to see her happiness returned.
“They’re a local band. They play here once a week and are always a success.”<
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He clearly wasn’t exaggerating. The dance floor was busy, despite the relatively early hour. His arm came around her and pulled her close. She reached up and put one hand on his neck, just below his hair, enjoying the feel of it tickling her skin. She placed her other hand on his chest, and cherished his steady heartbeat underneath her palm.
He was a good dancer. She could have been floating across the floor. She got lost in the music, Jason’s presence and the pressure of his hand on her lower back. Her body responded when he pressed her tighter into him. Just being close, even without any intimate touches, was enough. She smiled as she realized it was quite possible he could feel her nipples harden against his chest. Just as she could feel his cock growing against her belly.
“This is just what I needed.”
Heather smiled up at his face. His brown eyes were focused on her and filled with more emotions than she could possibly name. The lust she detected didn’t surprise her since she could feel his body’s response to her hardening. But there was more. The worry still wasn’t completely gone although it did appear to be battling with—she wasn’t quite sure what to call it—satisfaction, maybe?
“You feel good in my arms, beautiful.”
His smile, at least, was relaxed. And his mouth was oh so hot and soft when it pressed down on hers. She pressed back, wanting more, needing to be closer, and welcomed his tongue when it slipped between her lips.
The music played and they moved around with their lips glued together. She couldn’t get enough of the taste of him, his smell or his strong body swallowing her smaller one. One song turned into another, creating a medley for their coming together, a soundtrack to her reawakening.
The realization that she could stay here forever came as a shock. In his arms, floating through a room surrounded by people who were little more than a vaguely outlined background, she felt safe. She wanted to press closer still, except there was no space left between them. She’d crawl into him if she could. The feeling scared as much as it delighted and she refused to investigate those reactions. She would enjoy this evening, this feeling, this sense of coming back alive. Everything else could wait.
“It’s time to move on, Heather.”
Jason’s voice brought her back to the present.
“Move on?”
“The demonstration will be starting in a few minutes. If we’re going to watch, we need to go now.”
Heather shook her head, unable to believe his words. “We’ve been dancing for an hour?”
“We have. And I’ve loved every single minute of it.”
Jason couldn’t believe how much he’d enjoyed this simple pleasure. Just holding her in his arms—no games, no talk, no sex. Just her body close to his, their endless kisses and her hand stroking his neck. If he could, he’d take her straight to his room, undress her and dance all over again, this time naked. But he’d promised he’d watch tonight and he would.
He kept one arm wrapped around her as he led her out of the ballroom and down the corridor toward the exhibition area.
“I don’t want to keep going on about this, but I need to know you’ll tell me when it gets too much.”
He hated the tiredness creeping into her smile, but he needed the reassurance.
“I will.” Her sigh sounded heavy. “Trust me, Jason. I don’t want to repeat that experience any more than you do.”
“Thank you.”
He nodded and started walking again. He’d have to stop this. He couldn’t continue to treat her like a child, as if she might break if he didn’t keep her together. He knew he wasn’t being reasonable but didn’t think he’d be able to live with himself if she fell apart again. He shook his head. It was time to let the worries go and concentrate on what was sure to be a spectacular performance. Roger and Leo had a fascinating dynamic between them and never failed to deliver.
Running into Karl surprised him. His manager usually avoided demonstrations unless he expected trouble.
“Everything okay, Karl?”
“Yes.”
The man looked flustered, which was as rare as his presence here.
“I thought I’d better acquaint myself with everything connected to the party. I don’t like surprises.”
Jason shrugged. It didn’t make sense. He had people to monitor the dungeon. But his manager was conscientious. He had neither the time nor the inclination to explore this puzzle right now.
The room filled with spectators, Roger and Leo’s reputation always guaranteed a good audience. When he found a spot where both of them would have an uninterrupted view of the show, he placed Heather in front of him and pulled her close. The last time he’d only been able to keep his hands on her hips. This time he wrapped his arms around her and placed his chin on her head.
“He’s beautiful, Jason.”
He looked at the young man who’d caught Heather’s attention. Blond curls surrounded his face. The twenty-four year old exuded sex with his lithe but well-defined body.
“His name is Leo. He and Amber are the youngsters here.”
He smiled. Despite their youth, they were among the most popular of his employees.
He returned his attention to the center area. Leo had been blindfolded and tied up. Chains attached to the cuffs around his wrists stretched his arms above his head. With his feet secured to the floor, the young sub was the personification of helplessness, and yet nothing in his stance betrayed insecurity or fear while his semi-erect cock indicated his anticipation.
When the crowd turned silent Leo’s body tensed.
“That’s Roger.”
Jason whispered in Heather’s ear, trying not to break the total quiet surrounding them. He felt the slight tensing in Heather’s body as she watched the black-clad Dom who soundlessly made his way toward the sub waiting for him. For a moment Jason worried. Heather’s heavier breathing reassured him. Her tension wasn’t the result of fear but a reaction to the sexual atmosphere around her.
“God, he’s gorgeous too.”
Heather’s voice was breathless. He couldn’t disagree with her. Dominance radiated from Roger as he approached his sub. Not much taller than Leo, Roger’s body betrayed his fondness for exercise and bodybuilding. Well-defined muscles rippled beneath his clothes, leaving a powerful impression. Jason’s gaze shifted from Leo, who appeared to be listening for sounds that would betray the Dom’s location, to Roger, who’d stopped walking a short distance behind the sub while caressing the paddle in his hand.
As Roger lifted his arm, the crowd collectively held its breath. Leo, sensing the change in atmosphere tensed his body. In the resulting dead quiet, the sound of the paddle connecting with naked flesh filled the room. He heard Heather’s soft moan, felt her body press back into his, at that first contact. Jason’s reaction was instant. Heat rushed his body, his cock twitched and hardened, his balls felt heavier.
Every single stroke of Roger’s paddle elicited a reaction in Heather, as it did in Leo. While the sub in the middle of the room allowed his reaction to be loud and Heather’s groans were soft, the similarities between their reactions were undeniable. Both of them thrived on the pain, even if Leo experienced it and Heather had to content herself with watching and maybe imagining.
“You like that?”
“Yes.” Her answer was soft and breathless.
“To watch or to experience?” He didn’t know why he asked the question. Taking a paddle or any other implement to Heather was out of the question.
“Both.”
Even in the dim light he could see the blush creeping up her cheeks. He brought one hand down and squeezed her arse.
“You like having your backside reddened, do you? You enjoy having somebody’s marks on you?”
“I do.” Her inability to string together longer answers, as if she needed all her concentration to observe the scene in front of her, increased his own excitement.
Leo’s cock had long since evolved from semi to full on. Hard, pointing up and straining, with pre-cum gl
istening in the stage lighting, it betrayed Leo’s need to its fullest extent. The man’s moans and the pleading sound in his voice underlined Leo’s ecstasy. The young sub twisted his body away from and straight into the paddle as it continued to assault his bright red arse.
“You like this, sub?”
Roger’s hand was in Leo’s curls, pulling his head back, lengthening his beautiful throat. The Dom moved his head toward the elongated neck and he bared his teeth before biting. Leo’s scream was filled with pain and heat. Heather’s groan in response shot straight to Jason’s crotch.
As if they had a mind of their own, Jason’s hands pulled up the skirt of Heather’s dress. How he loved these tiny knickers. He stroked his hand over the soft skin of her arse and pinched. She tensed and immediately relaxed, pushing her backside into his hand. “Yes.”
He had to force himself to keep his attention on Roger and Leo. Heather’s arse in his hand, the way she responded to his squeezing and stroking mesmerized him. Roger stroking Leo’s cock with his hand while ordering the sub not to come only added fuel to the fire raging inside Jason. Heather’s movements against him seemed to suggest the scene affected her the same way it did him. He smiled, and brought his mouth to her neck, nipping her skin with his teeth in a softer imitation of Roger’s earlier action.
When Roger picked up a lubricated butt-plug and started pushing it into Leo’s arse, Heather groaned loud enough to attract the attention of the people standing closest to them. Jason’s body relaxed as it let go of the last remnants of tension he hadn’t been aware of holding. She really enjoyed this. There were no signs of distress, only heat and need.
God, the heat. It rushed through his body. He loved this display and couldn’t wait for it to be over. He needed to get her to his room, naked. To explore her body, to find out what she wanted, needed, how she would react to everything he could do to her. His mind overflowed with images of Heather tied to his bed, raising her arse to welcome his flogger, moaning as he slipped a finger into her arse.
