by L. DuBois
“My apologies, Sir.” She tried and failed to smile, to pretend everything was all right when inside she was so very angry and upset.
“You’re also being uncommonly obedient.”
The casual comment, said with a smile, cut deep. Mae took a shuddering breath. “Was I… Am I a bad submissive?”
James stroked her arms with his palms. “No, Mae. You’re a lovely sub to play with.”
Her throat was too tight for words, so Mae only nodded in acknowledgement.
James carefully took the clamps off her pussy lips, massaging them gently. Mae’s sex clenched when he brushed her clit, but it was a purely physical reaction.
“What’s wrong, Mae? I thought you’d be happy to be here with me.”
This time she forced a smile and tossed her hair, struggling to put aside what she was feeling and present herself the way she normally did. “Of course I am, Sir.”
Master James raised one brow, clearly not believing her.
She toyed with the top button of Master James’s shirt. “Did you miss me?”
Master James frowned.
Desperation curled in Mae’s belly. She’d disappointed Master Xavier and now it looked like she was disappointing Master James.
“I want to be a good sub.” That much was true. She ran her hands down Master James’s chest, then brushed her palm against his crotch. “May I, Sir, please?” If she could pleasure him in this most basic way, he might not notice the pain she was sure was hiding in her eyes.
“Don’t you want me to play with you first?” Master James ran two fingers over the lips of her sex. “I heard that your scene with Master Xavier was pure BDSM. No sex, no pleasure.”
“Did Master Xavier tell you that?” Mae tried to keep her tone light, to pretend she didn’t care what Xavier had said about her, or thought about her.
But Master James didn’t answer her question. “I saw the marks. Did you like your beating?”
She didn’t have to answer. Her body did it for her, a small moan escaping her before she clamped her lips closed.
“Do you wish he’d fucked you?”
Mae closed her eyes.
“Answer me.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“If you agreed to add sex as part of your session, you’d be completely at his mercy. There would be no restrictions on how he could touch you.”
The idea of being at the mercy of Master Xavier sent arousal shooting through her. James’s fingers dipped into the entrance of her pussy, finding the fresh wetness there.
“You’re wetter now, Mae. Is that because I talked about Master Xavier?”
A tear slid down her cheek. “Please, Sir. Let me suck your cock. I don’t want to talk about Master Xavier.”
“Because you’re scared of him?”
“No, because…because I’m not scared. I should be and I’m not and I hate it that he didn’t want me.” Mae couldn’t hold in her feelings anymore. She covered her face with her hands.
James pulled her against his chest, rubbing her back until she calmed a bit. “You’ve been lying to all of us, haven’t you?”
“What?” Mae sat back, shocked at his words. She shook her head. “I haven’t lied.”
“You have, but you lied to yourself more than anyone. Mae, you need more than this.” Master James gestured around the pretty room.
“No, I love this.” She did. This is who she was.
“You’ve grown as a submissive.” He lowered his voice. “I know who you are outside of these walls, and you can still be that person. Wanting something darker and harder doesn’t have to change that.”
Mae bowed her head. “I’m not what Master Xavier wants. I can’t be what he wants.”
“You shouldn’t want to be anything but true to yourself. I think you’ve been hiding for far too long. Maybe it’s time to move on from being the naughty girl or sassy princess.” Those were only a few of the pet names she’d been called over the years.
“It’s who I am.”
“It’s who you were.”
“Please, Master James. I can’t talk about this.” Mae jumped off his lap, suddenly frantic to get rid of the collar and cuffs. To free herself of any reminder of Xavier and return to the kind of BDSM that she was comfortable with. Master James stood and reached for her but she stumbled back. She ripped the clamps from her nipples and threw them aside, then jerked at the buckle of the collar.
“Mae, enough.” The deep voice cut through the buzzing in her ears. Like a tolled bell it focused her thoughts and calmed her mind. Mae looked slowly to Master James, who indicated with a jerk of his head that she should turn around.
Master Xavier stepped out from behind the dressing screen. He was again wearing all black clothing and the severe mask. He was a menacing, raw presence, out of place in the elegant room, but no less powerful or in command here than he had been in the Iron Court.
She looked from James to Xavier, the pieces clicking together.
“You—” Her voice broke. Mae took a breath that was meant to be calming, but instead all it did was fuel the fire of her rage. “You son of a bitch.”
Mae leaped at Xavier, wanting him to feel some of the pain he’d caused her. She had the satisfaction of seeing his eyes widen before James caught ahold of her, pulling her back toward the bed.
“You complete ass.” Mae struggled against Master James. “Let me go.”
“No, Mae. I won’t. Calm down and think.”
“I am thinking.” Her hair whipped over her face, obscuring her vision. “He tricked me. You tricked me.” Mae tossed her head to the side, managing to knock Master James’s chin. With an oomph he let go of her.
Mae brushed her hair out of her eyes with her hands, ready to let Master Xavier have it.
But he was already there. Mae squeaked in surprise to see him looming over her, but before she could do or say anything he grabbed her arms, forcing her back three steps and then raising her hands above her head, clicking the D-rings on her cuffs onto a chain that dangled from the bedpost. In a matter of seconds he took command of her body, his control precise and absolute.
He pushed her back against the post and he curled one hand around her neck, digging his fingers into the pressure points at the back of her jawbone. “Enough.”
Mae closed her eyes, competing feelings of relief and anger warring within her. Relief from having him in control and anger for this heartless charade he’d put her through.
“Look at me.”
Mae met his gaze, and there was something in his eyes that seemed to echo what she was feeling. He tipped her head back a fraction, gaze hardening until his eyes were as unreadable as his masked face.
“You will submit. You will behave.”
“Yes, Master Xavier,” she murmured.
“Good.” Xavier released her.
James was rubbing his jaw and looking at her in a decidedly unfriendly way. “Mae was always a bit bratty, but this is new.” He looked from Xavier to her. “You two need to talk. I have this room reserved for the weekend. You’re welcome to it until this evening.”
The other Dom clapped Xavier on the shoulder before leaving and closing the door behind him.
Now that she was alone with Master Xavier, Mae didn’t know what to say, what to feel.
Their gazes met once more, and she had this strange feeling that Xavier was just as much at a loss as she was. She’d never even spoken to him until twelve hours ago, and yet the idea that he’d dismissed her by passing her off to another Master had shredded her heart. That he had the power to impact her so heavily was beyond worrying. It was terrifying.
“I didn’t mean to upset you.”
His words were both unexpected and infuriating. “You gave me to another Dom.” Mae tried to keep the emotion out of her voice, to match his level tone. “How did you think that would make me feel?” She wasn’t succeeding—pain leaked into her words.
He shook his head. “I don’t own you. I couldn’t give you away, even if I
wanted to. And I don’t.”
“I thought…” Mae blinked to keep tears from falling.
“James is the kind of Dom you like. I thought you’d be comfortable with him.”
“I didn’t walk away last night when you told me to, so now you’re trying to get rid of me this way? Then you could have a sub who won’t ever talk back or be scared.” Mae spat each word, losing the battle with her feelings. Pain and a sense of betrayal made her long to lash out again.
Xavier grabbed her hips, jerking them against his. For the first time she felt the hard length of his erection. The evidence of his desire took her breath away.
“I thought you’d be comfortable telling him the truth.” Xavier’s face was only inches from hers, his voice a growl.
“Truth about what?” she breathed.
“Whether you really wanted to include sex in our session.”
Chain rattled as Mae reached for him only to be brought up short. “How could you doubt it?”
“A Dom can’t change the terms of a scene while it’s happening. Submissives will agree to things they shouldn’t when they’re in subspace.” Xavier’s hand moved up her side until his thumb was poised at the bottom swell of her breast. “They’ll do things like say yes to everything on the checklist because they’re turned on while they’re filling out the form.” His lips twitched and the corners of his eyes—just barely visible behind the mask—crinkled. Mae blushed.
“I needed to know if you really wanted more than straight BDSM play.” His eyes were new-leaf green, the daylight making them appear lighter than they had last night. “What James said was true—you’ll be completely at my mercy. I told you that I’d push you. I did, and I will, because there’s something inside you begging to be let out. And because it’s what I want, what I need to do to you.”
Mae closed her eyes. The answer to the question of sex was a resounding “yes,” but the rest of it was a bit more complicated. They’d spent only a few hours together and yet he’d had more impact on her than any other Dom in years. If they kept going there was no telling who she’d be when they reached the other side.
“I want you.” It was the simple truth, and Mae hoped it was enough. “I want you to touch me, dominate me. In every way.”
Xavier’s hand closed over her breast as his lips captured hers in a savage kiss. Mae arched into him, wanting every bit of contact he would give her. She moved her hips side to side, rubbing his cock with her lower belly. His free hand closed over her abused ass and she bit his lip in reaction to the sudden stab of pain.
Xavier growled and jerked her head back. “Did you just bite me, Red?”
“It was an accident, Master.” She was half distracted by the nickname, but the intensity of his stare warned her to concentrate, to watch him and obey his commands.
“I’m going to bite you, and it’s not going to be an accident.” He smiled darkly. “Good of you to remind me that we have checklist items yet to complete. I think we should take care of ‘biting’ right now.”
Master Xavier dropped to one knee, his mouth level with her bellybutton.
“Spread your legs, Mae.”
She inched her feet apart, exposing her wet core. Her heart was pounding so loud she thought he’d be able to hear it. It wasn’t fear of him biting her sensitive pussy that had her blood racing, but anticipation of him finally touching her.
Xavier lowered his head, Mae sucked in a breath, and he bit the inside of her right thigh.
The pressure-pain of the bite was so close to her aching pussy that it only made her body throb harder.
“Master Xavier, please. I can’t wait any more.” Couldn’t he see how wet she was? How much she needed him?
“You will wait.” His words brushed her pussy. “I like you this way. Wet. Needy.”
Mae let out a frustrated little scream, banging the cuffs back against the bedpost. In response Xavier placed a second bite next to the first, this one a bit harder, lasting a bit longer. Mae trembled, but didn’t protest or move her leg away. The sweet sting of pain wasn’t the orgasm she craved, but it was satisfying in a way she didn’t fully understand.
“You’ll have a bruise there.” Xavier traced the marks he’d left on her thigh.
“Thank you, Master.” And she was thankful. She wanted him to mark her.
“I have something of yours.” He went to the screen and came back carrying her shoes. Dropping to one knee he carefully helped her slip them on.
Mae looked down at her naked body and her lips twitched. “Master?”
“Yes, Mae.”
“They don’t match the collar either.”
Chapter Six
Xavier laughed so hard he had to sit on the bed. Mae shifted around to look at him, her arms still chained above her head, pulling her body into a pretty, taut line.
He grinned at her, genuinely amused. “Next time I’ll do my best to use bondage equipment that matches your shoes. If it exists.”
“Oh, it exists.” Her tone was wry, as if she knew something he didn’t.
When it came to coordinating accessories and bondage equipment it wasn’t hard for him to believe.
“If you say so.” He pushed off the bed and retrieved his bag from behind the screen where he’d waited to hear her responses to James’s questions.
What he’d heard was more than he could have hoped for, and far more than he had a right to ask. Mae hadn’t just been willing to deepen their play, but she’d obeyed Master James in his stead and most surprising, she’d become upset when she thought he would no longer be the one Dominating her.
He’d given her another chance to escape him, and again she’d refused. Every time he pushed her away, she only pressed closer. It was disconcerting.
Today would not be easy, for either of them. He doubted that she’d look at him with that alluring mixture of trust and desire by the time he was done.
He dumped the duffle bag on the bed then looked around the room, eyeing the possibilities before undoing the carbine clip that attached the cuffs to the chain.
Mae folded her arms across her waist and leaned toward him, brushing his arm with hers. It was a small moment of contact, one that he could pretend was accidental, but knew wasn’t. Mae needed, wanted, to touch him.
“On your knees on that ottoman.”
She obeyed without question or comment, positioning herself perfectly with her knees on the edge, head down, and arms stretched out and grabbing the opposite side of the padded top.
He took a minute to examine her ass. There were a few spots that would bruise, but the rest of it would have faded by tomorrow. Her pussy lips were full and pink, but he doubted that was left over from last night. She was so wet even the insides of her thighs were damp, her body’s moisture coating the bite marks he’d left there.
The plug was firmly ensconced in her pretty bottom. Taking hold of the base, he started to tug it out. Mae moaned as her anus was stretched.
“How many times did you take it out last night?”
“One, Master.”
“And did you put the plug back in?”
“After one hour.”
“Did you touch your pussy?”
“No, Master.”
“Did you want to?”
“Yes, Master…but not as much as I wanted you to.”
“But I’m not going to.” He removed the plug, watched as her ass clenched closed.
“Master? I thought…”
“We’ve agreed that sex can be included in our activities.” He grabbed her under the arms and hauled her up so that she was standing beside the ottoman with her back against his chest. “That doesn’t mean I’m going to fuck you. That doesn’t mean you get to come.”
Mae’s whole body stiffened and he could feel her need to protest, to pout and beg until she got what she wanted.
Xavier reached for the collar. Slipping the tail out of the buckle, he pulled, tightening it just enough so she felt the pressure around her throat. With his other
hand he cupped her breast, squeezing hard.
Mae relaxed against him, her head dropping forward. “Yes, Master.”
Xavier inhaled slowly, savoring the moment. She’d gotten used to topping from the bottom, but she was submissive in her core. He was so accustomed to hyper-obedient subs that he’d forgotten the thrill of winning these small battles for control.
He took the collar off her, then removed the cuffs from her ankles and wrists. Despite the fact that he’d just put them on her, Xavier had her slip out of the froufrou shoes. He tucked everything into the bag, leaving her wholly naked, her creamy skin now marked by his touch.
He laid out the things he’d brought with him. There were two wide black leather belts, a heavy molded blindfold and a ball gag.
Mae took a half step back when she saw the tools. He put a hand on her back, both stopping any further retreat and reassuring her.
“What are you thinking, Mae?”
“I don’t like gags, Master Xavier.”
“Of course you don’t. It’s hard to top from the bottom if you can’t say anything.”
She stiffened. “I wasn’t doing it on purpose.”
“I understand that. And I even understand the allure of giving in and letting a sub like you be sassy.”
“You do?”
“I do. But, when you’re mine,” he lowered his voice so she’d know how serious his next words were, “you submit, and you behave.” Xavier picked up the wider and longer of the two belts. “Raise your arms, wrists on top of your head.”
He placed the belt around her upper back, then buckled it in place over her breasts. It compressed her tits, binding them so that they swelled prettily above and below the leather.
“Take a deep breath. How does that feel?”
“Tight.”
“Are you having trouble breathing?”
“No, Master.”
“Good.” He paused, waiting to see if she’d say whatever comment or question was clearly on the tip of her tongue.
She met his gaze, then pressed her lips together. He smiled.
“This is a form of breast binding.” He put two fingers between the belt and her ribs, double checking the tightness. “I’ve chosen to bind you this way because I have other plans for your breasts later.”