A Dark Eden Press Publication
www.darkedenpress.com
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
At the Dungeon Master’s Hand Copyright© 2008 Jennifer Cole
Edited by Qaey Williams
Cover art by Dawn Seewer
Electronic book Publication: March 1, 2008
This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Dark Eden Press, Inc.® 629 Lisa St., Burleson, TX 76028
This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.
Warning: This book may contain themes that could be considered controversial or offensive to some. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Publisher. Dark Eden Press is not responsible for any action that a reader may take against another person. Publisher does not endorse or encourage readers to live out any particular fantasy.
At the Dungeon Master’s Hand
Jennifer Cole
Dedication
For my husband, my Master, who is currently tied to my bed.
Chapter One
Natalie sat with her two best friends in the back seat of the taxi. She’d tuned out their mindless chit-chat blocks ago and now watched the bright streetlights whiz by. The pleasant, cool night air of late September teased across her skin through the open windows.
As a copy editor, she’d been working 24/7 with the magazine’s newest client, preparing an expansive layout, which was the feature for the next issue. A lot was riding on the spread. If successful, this project would be a huge stepping stone in Natalie’s career. Since Midge Patterson’s retirement three months prior, she’d had her eye on the unfilled copy chief’s position and, come hell or high water, was determined to make it hers. She’d been biding her time and had proven herself more than capable in her four years with the highly successful magazine.
This was her first weekend off in six weeks and now, Natalie really needed to let loose. She intended to make the most of it. Having been cooped up in her office for so long, she’d almost forgotten there was a big old world outside the confines of those four, cell-block-grey walls. Truly, she would have liked nothing better than to be at home tonight, curled up in the corner of her cozy sofa, finishing off the romance novel she’d started more than a month ago. Or watching the M*A*S*H series she’d purchased on DVD three months ago, and had yet to open.
But, oh no, she’d allowed Megan and Dani to drag her out to God knows where, to do God knows what. She loved her two best friends with all her heart. The trio had known each other since first grade, and now, after her parents’ passing four years earlier they were the only family Natalie had left. After twenty-three years, she trusted them with her life, although, after some of the messes they’d dragged her into, she wasn’t sure why.
Natalie was the sensible, level-headed one in their trio. She’d had to study hard for good grades, worked several part-time jobs to put herself through college, and dedicated every spare moment to her career. Executive editor was definitely in her future.
Despite coming from old money, Megan was thrifty, organized and focused. She managed a trendy clothing store in a popular mall, primarily to feed her shopping addiction. As a shop-aholic, clothes-horse, Megan couldn’t pass up the employee discount, even though she could afford to pay three times the price for the products. With a politician father, parties were the norm of her everyday life, and good times hummed in her blood. Megan was always ‘game on’ in the name and pursuit of ‘fun’.
Dani was a stereotypical blond, which would be fitting if she weren’t a brunette. She was fun-loving, naïve, and innocent to a fault. Her family didn’t have the money for Dani go to school, so she worked the day shift at her parents’ local coffee shop. She loved her job and her customers adored her.
With Megan’s lust for adventure and all things odd, and Dani’s natural instincts to follow Megan’s lead, it never failed, the three would generally find themselves somewhere ‘weird’ and usually in trouble. And Natalie knew tonight would be no exception.
“Okay, Meg.” Natalie finally broke into their conversation. “Where are you taking me?”
Her friends giggled excitedly.
Dani reached over, grabbed her hand, and gently kissed the back of it. “Nat, you really need to take a load off. You’re going to get all wrinkly before you’re thirty if you don’t let go of all that stress.”
Megan was still giggling beside her. “Dani’s right, Nat. Now that the Marsden project is finished and on its way to print, it’s time you let those gorgeous curls down and cut loose! Hell, we haven’t spent any time with you since you were assigned that account. So tonight, you are ours.”
“Well, for a little while anyway.” Dani wagged her brows.
“What the hell is that suppose to mean?” Natalie asked nervously, glancing from one to the other. “Oh God, what are the two of you dragging me into?”
Neither one answered.
Megan and Dani resumed their chatter and Natalie once again tuned them out, wishing she were sitting in her apartment, enjoying complete silence, and working her way through a bottle of red wine.
*****
From the window, he watched the growing crowd below.
Initially he’d opened the club as a lark, just to stir up shit at City Hall. He honestly never thought he’d be issued a permit to open a BDSM club within the stuffy city limits. Once he had the permit in his hands, he’d worked day and night, opening Le Club d’Esclavage within four weeks, nearly a month ahead of schedule.
As he remembered the uproar the grand opening had caused, he didn’t try to stop his lips from curling in amusement, especially since, as the owner, he had no desire to be in the public eye. His best friend Troy, a well-established and experienced Dom, had the ability to manipulate the media and maintain the position as front man of the operation.
Its appeal lay in being ‘new’, so he’d expected the club to do well in the beginning, as an attraction for the curious, of course. However, he had no idea it would still be considered the place to be a year later. He felt bad for the owners of the three mainstream night clubs who had closed their doors due to the lack of patronage. Every week his clientele increased to the point they had to start taking reservations for the private play rooms on the second floor.
The club generated more money than he’d ever imagined, however, he had no need for it. Once the employees’ wages and the day to day operating expenses were paid, whatever was left went to local charities. Anonymously.
*****
“Oooo we’re here!” Megan and Dani squealed in unison.
Natalie, who hadn’t been paying attention, looked out the window at a lengthy queue. Climbing out of the taxi she glanced up at the neon sign and gasped.
“Oh…my…God,” she finally said. “We are not going in there.” She stood shaking her head, gaping at her two friends, giggling beside her.
“Damn straight,” Megan replied as they each linked their arms with Natalie’s and headed for the front door, bypassing those waiting in line.
*****
He tipped his bottle taking the last pull off his beer as a yellow taxi stopped out front. Swallowing the pilsner, he watched as the back door open. He recognized Dani Miller as she emerged from the passenger side accompanied by Megan Washington.
His heart rate quickened and his cock stirred restlessly inside his Dockers. Could it be? He wondered. No, that would be too good to be true. Although it would appear he had horseshoes up his ass when it came to success, even he couldn’t possibly be thi
s fucking lucky.
Holding his breath, he watched as one leg emerged from the passenger’s side, and then a second. The creamy skin of her bare thighs, a tan, suede mini-skirt, and then her strawberry blond curls pulled back in a hair clip. He watched her stand and gawk open mouthed at the neon sign over the door. The look of stunned surprise on her pretty face made his balls pull up tight against his body.
“My God, she’s here. She’s really here,” he said to the empty room. His grin of ardor broadened as he watched her two friends link arms with her, leading her through the front door, right into his domain.
Adjusting the thickening flesh between his legs, he grinned in anticipation.
*****
“Hi, Mikey,” Dani tipped her head coyly, greeting the man at the door.
“Good evening, ladies. Welcome to Le Club d’Esclavage,” he greeted the threesome and winked at Dani.
Natalie spun her head around to look at a moony-eyed Dani and stifled another gasp. “Dani, have you...”
“Maybe once or twice,” Dani snickered. “Now, come on, let’s get in there.”
Dani pulled them through the door Mikey held open. He stopped them short, “I’ll meet you shortly.” He smiled at Dani as she giggled and they quickly made their entrance.
Natalie threw a speculative glance at her friend. How was it that after twenty-three years of sharing absolutely everything, she had no idea her friend was into the BDSM scene?
Le Club d’Esclavage was the newest sensation to hit their city. Roughly translated as ‘The Club of Slavery’, it had turned the entire community on its ear when its grand opening a year ago had attracted record numbers of patrons from the surrounding areas. Le Club d’Esclavage was a scrupulously monitored establishment catering to adults interested in the BDSM scene. Whether you were a novice interested in participating in a little ‘slap-and-tickle’, or a ‘whip-me-beat-me-call-me-trash’ hardcore enthusiast, Le Club d’Esclavage offered something to whet any appetite.
The owner of the club remained a mystery. His or her identity had never been revealed and all media correspondence regarding the popular establishment was conducted through its manager, Troy Simon. Troy was a studious leader and demanded all guests and employees follow the strict and necessary guidelines while patronizing the club. All arrangements of play must be consensual, no bestiality, no pain infliction for the sake of inflicting pain, no blood play, all engaging partners must practice safe play at all times. And above all else, have a great fucking time! It’s just sex after all!
During the grand opening of Le Club d’Esclavage, Troy was quoted as saying, ‘The owner would like to make one thing very clear. When you cross the threshold into Le Club d’Esclavage, it is your desire to participate completely in our manner of play, and such will be expected of you.’
A shiver coursed through Natalie as she remembered editing that specific piece on the club from one of the reporters for her magazine. In the Know had been the only print media given an exclusive. Until then, she’d known nothing of the BDSM scene and had found herself mildly intrigued at the concept of pleasurable pain and domination and submission. However, she wasn’t curious enough to ever give it a try.
Here she was standing at the bar in the very club that had inspired numerous nights of naughty dreams and many mornings of damp panties. Jesus, she thought as she watched Megan order their drinks, why in the hell, do I continue to let her drag me into these situations?
Loud dance music vibrated from the multiple speakers throughout the enormous room. Natalie sighed as she surveyed the growing crowd inside the dimly lit club. Oh how she longed to be alone in her quiet apartment.
The inside looked like every other night club she’d ever been in, except most of the patrons in Le Club d’Esclavage were dressed, or rather not dressed, in barely-there leather straps wrapping this way and that. Women wore bustiers which pushed their naked breasts up and out for everyone’s viewing pleasure. Many of the men wore leather pants with the seat missing, showing off ass cheeks of all sizes, or some type of pouch encasing only their genitals. Bodies were bumping and grinding against one another on the dance floor. Couples, males with females, males with males, females with females, and a few threesomes she could see, were kissing, stroking, and rubbing each other.
Natalie shivered at the erotic exchanges. In an attempt to tamp her growing arousal she emptied her glass and ordered a second fruity umbrella drink, this time with a double shot of rum.
It was going to be a very, long night.
Dani had disappeared half an hour earlier with Mikey, the doorman. Studying Megan, Natalie could clearly read her friend’s mind as she made goo-goo eyes with a blond Adonis at the end of the bar. Natalie knew she was seconds away from being dumped for the imitation Greek god, even before Megan turned to meet her gaze.
“Oh fuck it, just go,” Natalie quipped as Megan’s mouth opened.
“Ooooo, you’re the best! I love you!” Meg squealed and kissed her cheek. “Have fun! See you later!”
“Humph.” Sulking in her chair with a heavy sigh, Natalie’s lips curled in disgust as Megan vanished into the crowd. Well, at least now she wouldn’t have to worry about being caught when she bolted out the front door. Damn them! She thought. They practically dragged her here...dragged her...and then deserted her. Oh I will get them back, she vowed. Finishing her drink and setting the glass on the marble-topped bar, she stood up to leave.
“Hello, Natalie. Leaving so soon?” a deep masculine voice purred close to her ear.
Natalie jumped at the intimate proximity of the stranger’s body, but realized someone would have to be fairly close in order to be heard over the noise. Instantly recognizing the husky timbre of the voice, she spun around and bumped into a solid chest. The man standing in front of her grasped her arms to brace her unbalance. “Max,” she gasped.
Her face turned bright red with embarrassment at being caught by her hunky co-worker in the BDSM club. Natalie tried to rein in her composure and silently willed her puckered nipples to recede. She didn’t have any luck. The twin peaks were rock hard, standing at attention, begging for his touch.
Max Renfrew was the head of publications at the magazine where she worked and, since her first day, she’d had an enormous crush on him.
“Buy you a drink?” he asked, leaning close. His warm breath wafting across her cheek and ear made her shiver. Cocking his head playfully, his lips curled.
Although he exuded unchallenging confidence in his position as head of publications, he appeared rather shy in casual situations. On several occasions, Natalie had tried to engage Max in friendly conversations, but getting him to open up about anything other than work had been unsuccessful. Eventually, Natalie respected that Max was a private person wanting to keep his home life separate from his work life. Natalie understood, but she’d wanted to get to know him outside of the workplace. She knew nothing about him and neither did any of her co-workers.
Finally, conceding defeat where Max Renfrew was concerned, at least personally, she kept their encounters strictly work related. Besides, she really wanted someone a little more dominant to compliment her slightly submissive side. Natalie was very surprised to see him in the club, and hoped her expression didn’t reveal her thoughts.
“I wandered in for a beer,” he began looking over the mostly naked crowd. “I admit I’ve been curious about this place.” He offered her a lopsided grin. “Please, don’t leave me to drink alone.”
Natalie swallowed the lump forming in her throat, and returned his smile. Suddenly, she was very nervous in his presence. She’d never realized before just how tall and broad he was. Physically, Max was exceptional. Although she’d only ever seen him clothed in fine tailored suits, and on the rare occasion a dress shirt after shedding his suit jacket, he appeared to take very good care of his body. Neatly coiffed dirty-blond, wavy hair hung just below his ears, and she dreamily imagined running her fingers through it. His eyes were deep, dark liquid chocolate and his
gentle smile was infectious. Max wasn’t drop dead gorgeous, but his striking features were beyond just handsome and revved Natalie’s libido more often than not. On more than one occasion she’d made a mad dash to the ladies room, to clean up. As she stood beside him, his nearness and the scent of his fresh, clean cologne overwhelmed her.
“Um, sure, Max...okay,” Natalie stammered.
“Excellent,” he said and helped her back up onto the bar stool, seating himself beside her. Turning to the bartender Natalie hadn’t noticed watching them, he placed their order. “Whatever the lady was drinking and I’ll have a domestic draft, please.” Max placed a twenty dollar bill on the bar and turned his attention back to Natalie. When their drinks arrived, he told the bartender to keep the change.
Max was easy to talk to and equally willing to engage in dialogue. This was a nice change from the fellow at the office, and Natalie thought it encouraging. After a couple more beverages, Natalie glanced at her watch and realized, they had talked away two and half hours, and not once did their conversation stray towards work. At the deep timbre of Max’s voice, Natalie realized she’d been staring at him as her thoughts wandered.
“Would you excuse me for a minute,” he said leaning toward her. “I’ll be right back.”
“Yes of course. I’ll wait here,” she replied.
As Max disappeared into the crowd of undulating, sweating bodies, Natalie’s mind began to wander again, this time with very naughty, unladylike thoughts. The sight of Max’s dark eyes looking up at her from between her spread thighs, as his tongue laved her moist pussy, teased her mind.
A chill ran through her and she felt the warmth of a blush rise from her chest. A sexy hum slid past her lips. A vision of sucking his thick, silky cock down her throat, made her nipples taut and the tiny bundle of nerves between her legs begin to throb. She took a deep breath, then a mouthful of her drink, and fanned herself with her hand, blinking several times trying to clear the hedonistic images from her thoughts.
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