Kara lifted her head, her green eyes glistening as she looked at Moira. When she leaned in hesitantly, Moira’s lips were there to meet her.
When they walked into Adrian’s house holding hands, Adrian smiled and kissed them both. “Kara, ma chère. Mon ange noir. Thank you both for coming. I’ll do my best to make your stay enjoyable.” He turned to Devon, who had come in behind them with their things. “Ah, Devon, merci. Please take their things to…what do you think, Kara?”
Kara bit her lip and glanced at Moira. “Can we have the tower room, Sir?”
Adrian laughed. “Kara, ma petite, I should have guessed. Will you help Devon up with your things? I wanted a moment with L’Ange Noir.”
“Of course.” Kara nodded and then leaned in to whisper in Moira’s ear. “You’ll like the tower room. See you up there.”
Moira grinned and kissed her again, and then watched her walk away with Adrian’s hulking house servant.
Adrian stepped closer and joined her in watching Kara. “Mon ange, when are you gonna collar her and be done with it?”
Moira whipped her head around to stare at him. Adrian looked back with an amused expression. “Collar her? She doesn’t want to be collared. She even told Tamara—”
“Je ne souscris pas. She wants it. More to the point, she wants you. That’s why she told Tamara she wasn’t sure.”
Moira stared at him with shock. “Me? She wants me? To collar her?”
Adrian smiled. “For true.”
“Adrian, I… God. I want it, I do. But are you sure she does?”
Adrian gave her an exasperated look. “Mon ange noir, I do keep telling you to have that vay-yay. Look at it this way. The longer you wait, the more competition you’re gonna have. Maîtresse Tamara wasn’t the first, nor will she be the last. Your Kara has had more supplicants than I can recall to count, including me.” He smiled and reached out to tap Moira’s nose. “Think about it. She’s waiting.”
“Mes filles.” Adrian smiled and kissed Kara’s and Moira’s hands in turn. They sat in the viewing room where she’d first seen Kara and Master Ian together. This time, it would be Josephine and Adrian. He wore a white suit and purple tie, which made his green eyes electric. “I need your honest opinions tonight. If we’re in agreement, I’ll have you take her for her tattoo tomorrow. If we’re not, I’ll keep working with her until we’re agreed. Tout va bien?”
They nodded, and he released them. Moira glanced at Kara before opening the door to Adrian’s observation room. His comments earlier hadn’t left her. Kara had asked more than once what was wrong, but Moira had shaken her head and changed the topic.
“So does he do this with all his new subs?”
Kara laughed and took a seat. “Dominants and subs. He always has another Dominant and a sub vet them.”
Moira stared through the two-way mirror at Josephine, who knelt with her eyes lowered, strawberry-blonde hair cascading down her back. Adrian had ordered her to wait for him without clothes, and Moira could still see the lingering bruises from her night with the new sub. “Who vetted me?”
Kara laughed. “All of us.”
Moira whipped her head around. “Why?”
“You don’t understand what a novelty you are. Adrian hasn’t trained a new Domme in a decade. Since before I knew him. Rumor has it he’d sworn he would never train one again.”
Moira worked her jaw for a moment before words solidified. “Sounds like there’s definitely a story there.”
“I’m sure. But if you can get him to tell, you’re better than the rest of us. Anyway, you can see why we were all a little curious. Hell, even Master Gideon came out of hiding to watch you one night.”
“Really?” The conversation she’d overheard the day before came back to her. “What does he look like?”
“Master Gideon? He’s the epitome of tall, dark and handsome. He’s jaw-droppingly good-looking, all hard lines and brooding sex. And when I say dark, I mean it in every sense of the word. Somber, ominous, foreboding, mysterious, grim. His looks complement his demeanor, jet black hair and these eyes that you’d swear make shadows look light. The English accent even makes it worse. I knew a Domme who was the toughest bitch I’d ever met, and she turned to a puddle every time he came out of hiding.” She looked at Moira. “Why?”
“I think I saw him yesterday, talking to Adrian. It was the weirdest conversation, and I couldn’t hear all of it.” She grinned. “Partly because I kind of lost all cognitive abilities when I saw him.”
Kara sighed. “Yeah, that sounds like him. Gorgeous doesn’t even begin to describe him.” She shivered. “What were they talking about?”
Moira shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t hear specifics. But Adrian wasn’t happy, and Gideon offered to take care of it, which made Adrian even more unhappy, even though he agreed.”
Kara’s eyebrows pulled together. “That is weird.”
The door to the other room opened and Adrian walked in, effectively ending their conversation before Moira could say anything else. But even as they watched him work the new sub over, Moira couldn’t get the conversation between Gideon and Adrian out of her head.
Tony said he’s seen him twice.
It couldn’t be. Moira shook herself almost imperceptibly while Adrian strapped Josephine into a spreader bar and spanked her. I’m being paranoid, that’s all.
Kara’s hand touched hers. “You okay?”
Moira shook off her thoughts and glanced at Kara. “Yeah, I’m fine. Is he always this much of a showman?”
Kara laughed. “Always. God, I envy that lucky bitch.”
Moira smiled softly, her mind turning to Adrian’s words beforehand. “I could help with that.”
Kara eyed her with a predatory grin. “Is that a promise?”
Moira smiled and threaded her fingers through her friend’s.
Josephine screamed as Adrian fucked her, alternating between strings of what Moira could only think were Quebecois curses, and short, sharp outbursts. Moira shook her head, unimpressed. “God, she’s a noisy one.”
Kara eyed her. “Mmm. It’s almost too much.”
“Bit of a turn-off, really.”
They watched together as Adrian brought her to climax and then proceeded to spank her with his belt. The crack of leather pierced the room, and Moira found herself staring not at the scene in the other room, but at Kara. The way she nibbled her bottom lip and fidgeted with the hem of her dress. Little things that Kara had always done, like how she didn’t look straight on when she was enjoying herself, but cocked her head down slightly. Or the nervous way she ran her fingernail over the pad of her thumb.
The noise from the other room stopped, and Kara looked up to meet her gaze. “What is it?”
Moira smiled and turned back to Adrian. “Nothing.”
In the other room, Adrian’s belt lay tossed to the side while he untied her wrists again. “Lie down on your back.”
“S’il vous plaît, Maître, no, please don’t…”
He fisted her hair. “Josephine.”
She whimpered and crawled onto her back. “Ciboire de criss de clef d’ostie de marde pogné dans le jesus criss de char, bâtard!”
Adrian’s hand closed on her neck. “Josephine, that will be enough of that. You will be silent, ça va?”
Josephine nodded.
“Your Maîtresse Tamara might’ve found that amusing, but I do not. You’ll show respect, or I will teach it to you.”
Josephine nodded again, and Adrian released her.
“About time he curbed that.” Kara laughed and shook her head.
“No kidding. After that little outburst, I’d be reaching for my crop.”
By the time Adrian had finished with Josephine, Moira could hardly take it. All she’d been able to see the whole night was the difference between the two subs. Josephine had almost annoyed her, but every move Kara made, however slight, turned her on more.
She jumped to her feet when Kara tugged on her hand.
<
br /> “Come on. He won’t expect us to hang around while he does aftercare.”
Moira practically ran out of the room after her, not even bothering to glance back at Adrian’s room. “Good. Because after that, I’m so horny I can hardly breathe.”
After watching you all night.
Kara laughed then squeaked as Moira shoved her up against the wall and kissed her hard.
Moira pulled back a moment later, her chest heaving. “Come on. I’m ready to fuck you right in this hall, so help me. And I desperately want to taste you.”
Kara’s laugh echoed down the corridor as they ran.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Moira woke to the sharp sting of a hand slapping her naked ass. She jumped, practically landing in Adrian’s lap where he sat on their bed.
“Rise and shine, mes filles. I have work for you today.”
Moira groaned. “God, Adrian, I hate you. What time is it?”
“Almost ten thirty. So roll yourselves out of bed, mes chères.”
Kara rolled over, hugging Moira to her. “Make him go away, please. I’m not done sleeping.”
Moira smiled and stroked her hair. She wasn’t particularly interested in moving, either. Adrian had worked her nonstop since their arrival Monday night, and she had been determined to enjoy a nice Saturday morning sleeping in. “Sorry, hon. He’s being a slave driver this morning.”
Adrian sniffed and looked offended. “I could have woken you both two hours ago. But mon ange has a client at noon, and I have need of our Kara. So up, both of you, before I’m forced to spank you each.”
Kara pried open an eye and gave Adrian a wicked look. “Promise?”
Moira laughed. “Not really a threat, is it? Come on, hon. How about I promise to spank you later?”
“Done.” Kara kissed her quickly and jumped out of bed.
Moira shook her head and followed more slowly. She rifled through her things and glanced back at Adrian. “Enjoying the show?”
He grinned. “Immensely.”
She rolled her eyes. “Slave driver. Who have you got for me today?”
“A bored couple in need of a little adventure, and before that a visiting playboy who needs to be told no.”
Moira raised an eyebrow and looked back at her clothes, before tossing a few things to the bed. “Those do all right?”
Adrian glanced at the midnight blue pinstriped corset and fishnet stockings. “Oui, that should do nicely. Though I do believe you could show up as you are and be quite fine.”
She rolled her eyes. “Not a chance, Adrian. You said no sex with the clients, remember?”
Adrian sighed dramatically. “Oui, I did. Maybe I miss having to fight you for the top.”
Moira grinned at him. “I’m sure you could convince both of us to spend the night in your bed, instead of your tower.”
“Convince? Mon ange, you wound me. Most women beg for my bed.”
Moira laughed. “All you have to do, mon Maître, is ask.”
He eyed her and changed the subject. “I’ve been meaning to ask you about Josephine, but we haven’t had much time for vay-yay. What did you think of her?”
“Yes, because I’ve been busy beating every ass in the parish, thanks.” Moira tossed a few more items to the bed and pulled up her hair in a bun. “I think she’s a little spoiled and isn’t ready.”
“You are as smart as you are beautiful.” His lips grazed the back of her neck as his arms wrapped around her. “You had better go join your Kara before I pin you back in that bed, mon ange.”
Moira winked, leaned in to kiss his cheek, and then headed to the bathroom. A single backward glance showed Adrian grinning madly. She flipped him off with a grin of her own and walked through the bathroom door.
Hours later, Moira collapsed into Adrian’s office chair with a sigh. “That’s the last time I let you book me two back-to-back with no lunch.”
Adrian laughed and a moment later the door opened. Devon stepped through carrying a few bags, followed by a grinning Kara.
“Did I hear someone whining about no lunch?” She whispered thanks to Devon and started pulling takeout plates out of the bags. “Nothing fancy, I didn’t know if we had time, so it’s only burgers from Coop’s.”
Moira popped open the lid of hers and took a deep breath, savoring the smell of grease and meat. “God, it’s perfect. Thank you, hon.”
Adrian took his with a smile. “Merci, ma chère. Did everything go well?”
Kara grinned and sat down with her own food. “We’re all set. Master Toussaint and Marcelle know we’re coming. They’re looking forward to meeting your new Domme,” she added, winking at Moira.
Moira swallowed her bite and looked between the two of them. “Wait, what’s going on?”
Adrian and Kara both laughed before Adrian answered. “La Danse Macabre.”
Kara nudged her. “Remember, I was telling you about it?”
“Right. So what’s the deal?”
“It’s a kinky nightclub. It’s the public face. They get a lot of not-serious players that show up, and it’s a good way to sort them out. Plus it’s fun to have a place that’s kind of borderline, because not everyone does want to go all in with kink. So about once a month, Adrian goes recruiting to see if there’s anyone who really wants to go all in who has found their way there.”
“So how can you tell?”
Adrian laughed. “You’ll see, mon ange. You develop an eye.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “It’s not hard. There’s cosplayers, vampire-goth types, thrill seekers, all kinds. Most of them aren’t interested in anything more than light play, and that’s fine. They’re just all different, and most of them only want to skirt the edge of our world. There are always a few who aren’t sure if it’s for them or not, or want to see what it’s about. There are the weekend BDSMers, and ones who are full-time members of the community, or looking to be. Their attitude and bearing are all different. Anyway, Adrian’s right. You’ll see.”
Moira nodded slowly and turned to Adrian. “So this Master Toussaint, he runs the place for you? Who’s Marcelle?”
Adrian smiled. “Ah, la belle Marcelle. She is his sub. Switch, actually. They run the club together. He’s the public face. She has a simply beautiful mind for the books. They’re a fantastic pairing. One of the best love matches I’ve ever seen.”
“So we what, show up at this club and wander around?”
“Not quite. Toussaint knows we’re coming, so he’ll try to thin the herd a little, as it were. Cull out the ones he thinks we’ll want to see.”
Moira chewed on another bite of her burger and thought. “Okay, so I still don’t see what the big deal is.”
Kara and Adrian exchanged a look. “La Danse Macabre isn’t the big deal, hon. You are.”
“Mais, new Dommes are always a big deal. Toussaint has been waiting to meet you.”
Moira shook her head. “One day, I’m going to tie you down and make you explain why everyone insists I’m such a big deal. I’m not.”
Adrian grinned in reply and Moira gave up. She shrugged and went back to her burger.
Moira adjusted the bowler hat in the mirror with a sigh. The satin jacquard corset she’d picked out had black and blue striping with blue floral brocade under and along the bust. The dark blue sheer skirt had a slightly steampunk flavor that she loved, with a set of chains lifting the front into a gather at mid-thigh, showing off her fishnet thigh-high stockings and platform heels. Her heavy black hair cascaded down her back in a tail of twisted curls.
Kara’s hands snaked around her waist, and Moira moaned softly, letting her head roll back as Kara’s lips traced their way up her neck.
“You look fantastic. Love the hat.”
Moira smiled and wrapped her arms around Kara’s. “Mmm. Adrian’s idea. He seems to have a thing for hats.”
“That’s because they look totally sexy on you.”
Moira turned and kissed her, reluctantly letting her go to give her
a look over. “Speaking of totally sexy, look at you!”
Kara smiled and twirled. She wore a short white brocade bustier that ended right at her belly button, with leather lacing down the side, and a white leather mini skirt that showed off black fishnet thigh-highs with white lace corset tops. White open-toe heels finished off her outfit. She winked at Moira and whispered, “No panties.”
Moira shook her head. “Insanely sexy. Love it.” She hooked her finger in the leather lacing of Kara’s bustier and whispered, “Me neither,” before pulling her in for another kiss. She bit at Kara’s lip as she pulled back, watching her light green eyes darken. “God, I could get used to that.”
Kara breathed out slowly. “What?”
“Kissing you.”
They both turned to the door as Adrian cleared his throat. “Mes filles. Are you ready?”
Moira bit her lip and gave Kara a longing look before replying. “I suppose.”
“Excellent.” He offered an arm to each of them. He wore a black suit with purple pinstriping, a black dress shirt and a fat purple tie. A black and silver pinstriped fedora with a matching purple ribbon and black wing tips gave him a definite 1920s feel. “Shall we, then? Devon has the car ready for us.”
He handed Moira her crop and tucked his cane under one arm, and the three of them waltzed down the stairs arm in arm. Devon, dressed in an elegant chauffeur’s costume, grinned his approval as he held the car door for them.
The car ride was short, even crossing Rampart Street and avoiding the undrivable streets. La Danse Macabre, as Adrian had told her, was situated in what used to be Storyville, New Orleans’ former red light district. He was clearly proud of putting a kink nightclub there. Moira had simply shaken her head.
Devon stopped the car on the back side of the block to let them out. Moira exited the car with a deep breath. Short of the night at Fleur de Nuit, she hadn’t been in public in her Domme persona. If a student, or God forbid a parent, recognized her…
“Breathe, Moira. You’ll be fine.”
Kara’s whispered words calmed her racing heart. She reached up and lowered the lace on her bowler, and took Adrian’s arm with an unsteady grin.
Fleur de Nuit: Bourbon Street Bondage, Book 1 Page 21
