by Cara Carnes
Participating in a scene could very well get his attention faster than anything. She admonished herself for the wicked thought but nodded in acceptance. This wasn’t the time to chicken out. Her knees knocked together as she followed him across the lawn and toward a tented area on the other side.
His hand wrapped around her waist as he guided her through the small crowd gathered. Nervousness flitted across her. “I’m not sure I can do this.”
“Of course you can. You came here to explore, right?”
“Yes.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Sorry, Sir.” She took the two steps up to the stage area and looked around. “You’ve done this before, right?”
“Many times.” He grinned and crossed his arms. “Say the word, Viviana, and I’ll find another volunteer.”
She glanced at the crowd and saw the scores of women surrounding them. “No, I’ll do it.”
“You remember the safe word?”
She’d found the safe word too amusing too forget. Who would’ve imagined cobra? Suddenly, seeing this man—and thinking of Stryker—she couldn’t help but remember her siblings’ obsession with G.I. Joe growing up. She’d just found her own commander general, and she was about to see exactly how good he was in action.
Suppressing the meandering path her mind was taking, she responded before he could note her pause, or humor. “Cobra.”
“Right.” He pulled out the handheld device and tapped the screen a few times. “For someone not experienced you were quite brave with your choices here.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready for all that. Not like this.”
“Of course not.” He motioned toward the bench. “Remove the boots and the skirt and settle in.”
Mortification filled her as she looked at him.
“Is there a problem?”
“I didn’t exactly dress for my parts to be exposed.”
“Well, then, I guess you’ll learn how to be more prepared next time.” He assessed her with a gaze somewhere between infrared and X-ray vision. “I assure you that no one has ever died of embarrassment, and in a couple of minutes you won’t even be thinking of the crowd.”
“I won’t?”
“If you are, then I’ve lost my touch.”
Cocky. Viviana almost stated the obvious fact, but she suspected she was better off keeping her mouth shut. At least he’d let her stay clothed for the most part. She already felt more exposed than ever before.
She ignored the trembling in her hands as she removed the leather skirt and hoped the sliver of fabric between her legs hid more than she suspected.
The bench was intimidating. She wasn’t sure where to begin getting on it. Four leather pads were separated by a higher one in the middle of the device. A set of steel restraint cuffs was on each side. Viviana gulped as he poised her in front of the waist-high bar and bent her over. She leaned forward until each of her forearms settled on the leather pads.
A hush fell over the crowd as she finished settling her knees into the pads. Her pulse raced as she settled her wrists into the steel cuffs and took a deep breath. She could do this.
Ignore the crowd.
She’d understood from her limited knowledge that voyeurism played a large part in the BDSM scene for some, but she was pretty sure that it wouldn’t for her. That didn’t mean she was about to scream “cobra” and go running for the hills. Everything was worth trying once.
She could feel him behind her. She shivered in sensual awareness as moisture pooled between her splayed legs. Fingers ran across her thighs and she jumped. He chuckled and made his way to her side.
“Our little sub is new to the scene so this will be a brief, very mild demonstration. It’s important to check all the restraints and make sure they don’t restrict circulation.” He knelt and secured her wrists. Deft fingers ran along both wrists and under the cuffs. Tingles danced across her flesh. “And of course, all bench heights should be adjusted.”
He pulled locks from a small box at the base of the bench and locked her in. He ran his hand across her cheek. “You’re doing great, Viv. Just a little longer and we’ll begin.”
Nylon straps wrapped around her forearms and secured her position. He then moved behind her and repeated the process with her ankles and calves. She shivered when his fingers trailed across her calves and up her thighs.
“Very nice, sub.”
He massaged her legs in a circular pattern that left her breathless and writhing toward his palms. The motion moved upward inch by inch. She held her breath and waited for him to glide up to her pussy.
She relaxed and savored the sensations tumbling through her. She gasped as he swatted her ass, then rubbed. The second hit was harder, meant to sting. The burning made her hiss in shock. Her pussy moistened and her breathing quickened.
She was lost in glorious sensation as the stranger unleashed his heady mixture of massaging, swatting, smacking and rubbing on her defenseless ass and thighs. His fingers ran across her slit and he groaned.
His first utterance of sound made her shiver in delight. The restraints held her in place despite her writhing backward. She needed more, but she wasn’t sure what. The ability to reason was locked away, tucked into the recesses of her mind as her darkest fantasies spiraled forward and fed on the man’s ministrations.
Her eyes fluttered open and her gaze landed on Stryker. Her pussy clenched and she groaned when she noted the mixture of curiosity and lust in his dark eyes. What did he think of her submission to a man he likely knew? She envisioned him joining them and gasped when the man behind her swatted her extra hard.
“Don’t come without permission, sub.”
She battled the sensations mounting within her. Fingers delved into her slickened folds and moved toward her clit. He rubbed gently and she screamed in delight.
Don’t come without permission, sub.
The harshly uttered command echoed in her but she couldn’t formulate the words. She was too lost in her need to beg for something she couldn’t contain.
Her ass burned and her pussy clenched around his fingers as they entered her. She gasped, then swallowed—determined to beg for the release she needed so desperately. What started as a word in her mind formed into a groan when he moved his fingers inside her. She writhed against his hand and whimpered softly.
“Come for me, sub.”
Chapter Two
The sexy sub clenching his fingers was one moan away from feeling his cock sheathed inside her. Lance took a deep breath and expended the last shrivel of control he had over the scene. Whoever the hell this woman was, he wouldn’t let her leave until he’d fucked her hard. Repeatedly.
What started off as curiosity had become a battle of wills. He’d intended to teach her a lesson—don’t fuck with The Brigade. He’d arrived moments after her. Stryker suspected she was a reporter digging up dirt on the resort. Again.
There was an unspoken rule within The Brigade—never, ever invite someone without letting Stryker know beforehand. Thanks to the meddling vixen trussed up beneath him, he’d almost had his ass handed to him by the only man at the resort capable of actually doing him some damage. Okay, there were a couple more who Lance was leery of with good reason—but no one fucked with Stryker and his penchant for tight security.
That was suicide.
And how the hell would a reporter have gotten his name? Few members of The Brigade flew under the radar lower than Lance. Lives depended on his anonymity. Nah, something else was going on with this gorgeous bundle of silky flesh and lush curves.
She’d surrendered too easily to be a vanilla masking as a submissive. His cock throbbed with a need he’d not felt in a long time. He’d lost much of his humanity over the years, and the untamed side of him wanted to show her exactly how dangerous it was to pretend to be his sub.
Stryker stepped forward, as if sensing the last strand of moral decency slipping. He was one of the only men who could contain Lance if need be, which was probably why he was stand
ing here. Agreeing to do a scene with her had been a mistake.
He never scened this soon after returning from an assignment—neither of them did. And they sure as hell never did demonstrations with girls who weren’t known to them.
Whoever she was, he’d be crazy to take a phenomenally executed scene and turn it into the primal fuck-fest he craved more than the air he breathed. He pulled on her long, black curly hair and relished in her soft gasp. He knew she was barely aware of her surroundings.
A small measure of pride filled him. He’d accomplished what he’d set out to do for the scene. Now he just needed to figure out who the hell she was before he fucked her into oblivion.
Stryker moved closer and stood on her right. His dark gaze scanned her lush curves with a hunger Lance suspected matched his own. She was sin in leather and currently at their mercy. He had none to spare.
The moment her breathing returned to a semblance of normal, Stryker met his gaze. It went against his nature to not provide better aftercare for the little sub strapped so sexily to the bench, but they weren’t close to being ready to end this.
It had only begun.
Stryker’s voice boomed over the hushed whispers. “Let’s give Viviana a round of applause for helping us out with this demonstration.”
Pink stained her cheeks when Lance moved to stand to her left. He wasn’t about to miss her expression when he figured out who he was.
“And of course, we owe Master Lance a debt for filling in this evening.”
A small gasp escaped her lush lips. A widened, dark-blue gaze darted up to meet his. Shock filled her expression. Pink spread across her soft skin.
She tugged against the restraints locking her into place. Stryker motioned for Gabe to close the tent flap as the last of the onlookers exited the area. Silence hung in the tense atmosphere.
“I think we have a problem, Viviana,” Stryker commented as he kicked a crate closer and sat down in front of her. Her belly flopped when she saw the darkened expression on his face. “I’m afraid my friend here doesn’t seem to know you.”
“He knows my ass pretty well now.” Viviana winced at the sarcastic reply.
Lance. Shock riddled her senseless as she regarded Stryker and Lance, who’d settled onto a second crate beside his friend. Of course this happened. Viviana wouldn’t have any luck at all if it wasn’t bad.
Lance chuckled. “At least she has a sense of humor.”
“You are a lippy little thing.” Stryker grazed her cheek with his thumb. “Who are you?”
“Viviana, Sir.”
“And why are you here?”
There was no real good way to answer that. Her brother was going to kill her. Deader than a doornail dead. She cleared her throat and tugged on the restraints. “I guess you aren’t going to unlock me so that I can discuss this dressed.”
“You are a clever morsel,” Lance commented. He moved to stand behind her. “I’m starting to think you’re overdressed.”
“You told Gabe you were a covert spy.”
Viviana glared at Stryker. “I also told him I was dessert.”
“You certainly look edible to me,” Lance stated. He traced up her inner thighs, leaving no doubt exactly what he was thinking.
“I’ll ask again.” Frustration punctuated Stryker’s words. “Who are you?”
“Look, I get that I’m not wanted and I didn’t mean to wreck your party. Really. Just unlock me and I’ll get out of your way.”
“Oh, you’re wanted.” Stryker’s husky whisper cascaded through her body.
“I’m afraid we’re too curious to let you slip away.” Lance smirked. “The masquerade bores us, but you’re adding a layer of mystery this year that we intend to savor.”
“Well, we’re at an impasse then, Sirs.” She ground her statement out and tried to mask herself in the bravado she’d managed before. “It’s not as if my being here caused any harm.”
“We take the privacy of our guests quite seriously.” Stryker’s jaw flexed as he rested his elbows on his knees. “An unknown crasher jeopardizes them.”
“As if I’d really want footage of my naked ass being spanked splayed across the internet. I’ll leave the repercussions of the added cameras to someone else, thank you very much.”
“How do you know about the video surveillance?” Stryker asked.
Crap. Crap. Crap.
“There are extra cameras out here? Since when?” Lance asked. “And why the hell don’t I know that?”
“Probably ‘cause you’ve been God only knows where.” Stryker shrugged. “They were put in last week.”
Viviana shut her eyes and willed the situation away. But she wasn’t Dorothy and this definitely wasn’t the Wizard of freaking Oz. She’d been dumb to come here tonight. The interactions she’d had with Stryker via email had captured her curiosity because of his quick wit and sharper-than-average attention to detail. He was smarter than hell and she should’ve been more cautious with her responses.
“You work for Secure Pathways.”
She winced at Stryker’s statement. The man might be sin encased in sinewy flesh, but she could live without that sharp mind tonight.
“I did some of the backend programming.” Fear kept her talking. “I didn’t want my boss to know I was interested in this place.”
“What does one have to do with the other?” Lance asked.
“I offered anyone associated with the project a free pass,” Stryker explained as the two men switched positions so that he now stood behind her.
“Ah. Afraid the boss would get the wrong impression and want you for his sub?” Lance chuckled. “Or are you getting an education for him?”
Ewwww. Beyond ewww. She grimaced and battled nausea. “I think that scarred me for life, just so you know.”
“This resort piqued your curiosity.”
Viviana was too busy cleaning her mind with mental bleach—cute kittens and bundles of yarn, yapping puppies chasing butterflies—any image strong enough to obliterate the toxicity of them mentioning her brother. A sharp sting coursed through her butt cheek and she yelped.
“When I ask a question, I expect an answer.”
Right. There was a question. Viviana rewound the past few moments in her mind, determined to find her rightful place in the conversation without having to ask. Curiosity being piqued. Got it. “Yes Sir.”
“You thought a one-night foray into our masquerade ball would be enough.” Stryker’s warm hands glided across her sensitized ass. “Did this session sate that need, sub?”
“No Sir.”
Lance’s eyebrows rose as he crossed his arms.
Don’t piss off the really big, drool-worthy hunk of Dom, Viv. He’s already played your ass better than a bongo drum and left your body ready to pop like a firecracker. “I enjoyed it too much.”
“Nice save, sub.” Stryker massaged her thighs. “I can think of more pleasurable ways to spend tonight than punishing you.”
“Did you answer the questionnaire honestly?” Lance asked.
“I tried to, Sir.” She swallowed the balled-up anxiety and met his gaze. “I didn’t really know how to answer some of it.”
“Fair enough.”
“You are open to multiple-partner play,” Stryker stated as he swatted her ass. He slid her panties down and ran his fingers across her wet slit.
She shivered under his touch. “Yes Sir.”
“You’re such a good sub to never forget the ‘Sir’. You must think fast on your feet.”
“Having four older brothers determined to get you into trouble all the time does that to a girl.”
“Let’s see if we can get you thinking a little less then.” Lance moved closer. His fingers raked through her hair. “What’s the safe word, sub?”
“Cobra.”
“Good.” Stryker ran his finger across her clit. “From this point forward we will call you Jane while in a scene. Once we say your real name it’s a signal we’ve left the scene. Understand?”
>
“Yes Sir.”
“Good girl.” Stryker’s fingers plunged into her wet pussy. She stifled the moan in her throat. “You’re wet, sub. Did you enjoy being spanked?”
Almost more than I enjoy feeling your fingers inside me. He delved deeper and Viviana battled to remain on the bench—not that she’d get very far since she was still firmly locked into place.
“Don’t come until we allow you to.” Stryker massaged her clit with his thumb.
He had to be kidding. How the hell could anyone possibly prevent coming unglued with two Herculean gods about to fuck them into oblivion? And those fingers. Sweet heavens, the man should register his hands as lethal weapons to womankind. Who was she kidding? They probably were registered.
A moan escaped her and she tugged the restraints as she maneuvered upward on the bench to get away from his sensual ministrations. Lance chuckled at the attempt and pressed on her shoulders with just enough pressure to firmly shove her back to Stryker’s waiting assault.
Warm breath trailed across the nape of her neck. “It’s usually not a good idea to come here aroused. Some of us take it as a challenge to push you harder if you do.”
She expended the breath she hadn’t realized she’d held. Stryker swatted her tender ass with successive slaps meant to draw her attention away from the man breathing down her neck.
Lance chuckled. “I think you have a problem here, Viv. Stryker and I don’t usually play together, but we’re making an exception for you. We may need to practice a few scenes before we get a good groove going. I hope you don’t mind.”
Stryker pumped his fingers into her pussy deeper and began a fast fuck, which had her writhing upward to relieve the tension building within her. He swatted her ass and pressed her down until his thumb glazed her clit.
Warm hands stroked her upper back and swept across her arms.
Don’t come. Don’t come. The chant looped in her mind, a virus she couldn’t purge. “Please.”
“Not yet, Jane.” Stryker fucked her harder.
She’d wanted this for too long. Tugging on the restraints, she tried to focus on something other than the pleasure streaming through her system like molten adrenaline. The fact she was cuffed, defenseless, for the first time with a man she’d fantasized about the past few weeks, skewered the last of her resilience. Would he punish her if she surrendered to the onslaught of sensations?
