Cruel Masters

by Stone, Piper

  “He wants to put her in a cage. She replied she’d sleep with a real pig first.” Dax laughed softly to himself. At least he spoke the freaking language.

  It took all I had not to rip out the man’s throat.

  She shifted her gaze, locking it onto mine, a look of hatred crossing her face. Then she moved away from the edge, shaking her head. “You know, I came here tonight based on the premise that I’d gain feedback on a business that needs support and guidance, a financial boost that will keep my friend and me from shutting our doors. Instead, I found nothing but a room full of pigs. If you think I’m going to stoop so low as to provide a sleazy act in order to gain assistance,” she hissed, her chest rising and falling from her level of anger, “then you’re as stupid as you are reprehensible. Fuck all of you.”

  There was a moment of stunned silence blanketing the entire room.

  To Caroline’s credit, she stood her ground, her smoldering eyes burning a hole into mine.

  The Frenchman remained where he was, smiling luridly as he clapped, issuing four ugly words. “Yes, a perfect pet.”

  Huffing, she turned on her heel, tossing the microphone onto the floor before disappearing off the makeshift stage.

  I jerked to a standing position, taking my time before getting in the Frenchman’s face. The ability to curtail my rage wasn’t one of my finer traits. However, I would ensure that he understood his place. “The lady is off limits. Period.”

  “Interesting, but I am curious whether she has a price for more… privacy. It would seem that all women do,” he retorted. “She also needs harsh punishment for her egregious actions.”

  “She is my pet to do with as I please, including her discipline.”

  “Ahh. My apologies,” he said, bowing his head as if that would make up for his disrespect. He backed away, moving into the shadows.

  “Interesting guy,” Chase said under his breath.

  “More like a typical asshole,” I huffed.

  “That display should answer our questions. Her application isn’t about money,” Dax mused. “She is definitely after something else entirely.”

  Chase moved to his feet, wrapping his hand around my arm to keep me from going after the asshole.

  “You’re right, Sebastian. She’s hiding her real identity and even if she is utterly perfect, we need to be careful,” Chase said with longing in his voice. “I also don’t think it’s in our best interest to start a fight at this point. Just let it go.”

  The Frenchman turned once again, tipping his hand before returning to his seat.

  “Chase is right. We need to figure out what the hell she’s trying to do,” Dax added, flanking my side. “With the Tredegar deal ready to dump in the toilet, we can’t afford any additional bad press.”

  Press. I thought about the single word, my hackles raised.

  “Agreed, but she made a serious mistake with offering that display. She will need to learn that rules must be followed,” I answered. “An infraction that brazen can’t go without punishment.” The club owners would require our party to handle it in accordance with their barbaric rules.

  I’d laughed at the concept up until now.

  I stormed after her, ignoring the shocked expressions and statements of anger from the other club members. They were all aware she was Extreme’s single candidate for the night. Information on every applicant had been emailed prior in the day. The fact she’d broken rules mandated by the club would likely leave a black mark on our company’s name if not handled appropriately. And I had it under advisement that the owners of the club would take extreme measures in order to keep their secretive environment hidden if necessary.

  Another thing I didn’t give a rat’s ass about; however, the Tredegar deal was important for the company and Richard Tredegar had yet to reconfirm after my phone call.

  What I did care about was that she’d broken my rules.

  I managed to catch her seconds before she attempted to wrap her fingers around the handle of the exit door. I felt Dax and Chase’s presence behind me. It would seem they were on board with my selection as well as my decision to punish her right here. Right now.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Caroline demanded, her reaction immediate—a hard slap across my face. She shifted the same look of defiance to the others, trying her best to back away.

  I’d managed to keep my hold on her wrist, yanking her arm behind her and returning her into the salon. There were instant reactions, nods of respect as I dragged her back toward our table. She struggled with every step, cursing under her breath.

  “That was rude, Caroline. I thought you understood the rules,” I said harshly.

  “Rules? I certainly understood your professional requirements, but this… garbage is disgusting,” she retorted, doing everything to get out of my grasp.

  “This evening was all about an opportunity for you to obtain additional support for that business you seem so concerned about. Nothing more. While the method the owners of this club use might be considered unsavory, nothing is forced. None of those women were coerced into their actions, including you.” I kept my voice low, scanning the room until I found the Frenchman. Of course, he was watching intently.

  She laughed, although the sound was riddled with anxiety. “You’re out of your mind. You were expecting me to lower my personal standards.”

  “While your refusal to provide any information is acceptable, your tawdry behavior can’t go unpunished,” Chase added.

  “That is true. You’ve already sullied Extreme’s reputation with your misguided behavior.” Dax gave me a look before taking her by the arm, immediately dragging one of the dining room’s hardback chairs away from the table.

  “Misguided?” she huffed, managing to pummel her hand against his chest.

  I took a step away, surprised that Dax had taken over control. That meant he was just as enthralled by the gorgeous redhead as I was. I was consumed with need, bolts of electricity shooting through every muscle, visions of fucking her almost blinding me to anything else.

  “Definitely misguided,” Chase said almost in passing. By the sound of his tone alone, I could sense he was even more intrigued than I’d been initially. “And reprehensible.”

  She shifted her gaze back and forth, her eyes lit up like firecrackers. “What the hell do you think you’re going to do?”

  Dax gave me a look, smiling when I nodded. “You’re getting one brutal spanking.”

  Chapter 4

  Kendra

  What the hell? Were these three men out of their minds? As I darted strained glances at all three of them, my body’s reaction was disgusting. I was actually aroused, my nipples hard as pebbles. By this? By them? No way. They were just trying to humiliate me in front of the same pigs who’d acted as if I was a commodity. “Fuck you.” The words slipped out of my mouth before I could stop them. From the stern looks on their faces, I could tell they were serious.

  One or all three were going to give me that spanking.

  I was shocked by hearing the words, let alone that the bastards actually thought they were going to do something like that here. In the middle of an all men’s club and in front of other members. I glared at all of them, every inch of my body trembling.

  “Such nasty words,” Sebastian stated, shaking his head. “You certainly have no reason to be upset with anything either I or my partners have done. We’ve upheld our end of the initial agreement. You’re the one who broke it in an egregious manner. That is unacceptable of any of our candidates.”

  My God. He was acting as if this was nothing more than a business transaction. I was floored by his audacity. I wasn’t surprised by his cold demeanor, the man as uncaring as everything I’d read about him.

  The second I’d read the request, or in my mind a demand, to appear at the club, I’d realized that Grace’s concern had been on the nose. While I should have told Sebastian there was no fucking way I’d join in such atrocities, the little voice inside my head had reminded me
that I’d planned this tremendous fabrication for months. If I’d allowed my discomfort to get in the way, then I wouldn’t be much of a reporter.

  Then I’d panicked like some stupid little girl, fearful of standing in front of a group of nasty men spewing off bullshit. There’d been no requirement to perform a striptease or anything equally as lurid, but as the parade of women doing exactly that had come before me, I’d almost raced out of the building. Spewing off my mouth had gotten me in trouble before. I refused to lose this opportunity.

  The moment I’d stared into the eyes of all three men as they sat with drinks in their hands, I’d gathered a sense of their hunger, as if they were going to devour me. That’s when I’d lost it, allowing my real personality to shine through.

  But a spanking?

  My mind as well as my body refused to back down, doing everything I could to fight Dax before he sat down with a hard thud, immediately pulling me over his lap. I managed to scramble off, dumping myself onto the floor.

  Dax fisted my hair, dragging me over his lap again, only this time, my ass would be on full display for everyone in the room.

  “Get off me!” I bellowed, managing to smack my hand against Dax’s face. He responded within seconds, pinning my arm against my back.

  “You’re not going anywhere.” Dax growled, snaking one leg over both of mine. The man was powerful in build. Standing at least six foot four, he had to weigh two hundred pounds. I was no match for his brawn or his intentions.

  Yet I continued to try, my actions only managing to grind my body against his groin, his cock thick and throbbing. All three men were getting off on this. They were nothing but freaking barbarians.

  I was forced to suck in my breath, trying to remind myself that I had reasons for breaking through their veiled barrier, gaining access to their worlds. That was the only way I’d be able to ascertain my story.

  And follow through with going to the police with my findings.

  When Dax jerked my dress all the way up to my waist, I couldn’t stop a moan from rushing up from my throat. I’d worn a thong of all goddamn choices. My entire naked bottom was on display to anyone in the room.

  The humiliation made me sick.

  “I don’t think we’ll need these any longer,” he huffed. When he wrapped his fingers around the thin elastic of my thong, snapping his wrist, the sound of the material being ripped to shreds echoed into my ears.

  Oh. My. God.

  I was totally exposed. Shaking, I reacted just as I had before, wiggling in order to get away from him.

  The moment he brought his hand down, the crack of his huge palm slapping against me jarring, I added a yelp to the repertoire. My God. This was really happening. While there was only a small sting, the anticipation was making it seem a lot worse.

  He smacked me four times in rapid succession, moving from one side to the other. This time, the pain was biting, shooting down the backs of my legs and sucking my breath away. I did everything I could to hold in any additional cries. That’s exactly what they all wanted.

  To break me.

  That wasn’t going to happen. I made a promise to myself I would get through this.

  Then Dax’s palm came down time after time again, hard and fast until I lost count. Tears formed in my eyes, my pulse skipping, and the pain blasted into anguish.

  But I was grinding back and forth, the friction making me hotter, so wet I had no doubt my juice had stained his terribly expensive pants. I almost laughed at the thought, the sick anxiety in my stomach increasing.

  After at least ten additional brutal smacks, I couldn’t take it any longer.

  “Stop. Fucking stop!” I insisted, as if that was going to do me any good.

  “Not until I’m satisfied that you’ve learned your lesson,” Dax said in a controlling tone of voice. He was just as gruff and demanding as his counterpart. He was also equally gorgeous, his shaggy blond hair and chocolate brown eyes adding to his dreamboat features. What the hell was I thinking? This wasn’t some amazing story of good men doing fantastic things in the world.

  My article was going to be an exposé of how dangerous and cutthroat they were. I’d have some additional comments that would make them notorious. I jerked again, shifting back and forth across his cock, shuddering as a series of electric vibrations jetted into every cell and muscle. I refused to be attracted to any of them. This was a job and one I would follow through with.

  Somehow.

  Dax refused to stop, smacking me fiercely, the torment yanking at my ability to breathe. I was sick inside from the embarrassment crowding my system, trying desperately to put the event somewhere in the back of my mind. I could hear the other men, their nasty growls and whispered words. They were all getting off on this. It would be over soon. Then not one of the three bastards would ever have a chance to touch me again.

  No fucking way.

  I’d find another way to ruin them.

  I gritted my teeth to keep from crying out, fighting the tears of frustration that would be seen as a weakness. After another four hard slaps, he stopped long enough to caress my heated skin. I had no doubt I’d find it uncomfortable to sit for several hours, which of course was their intention.

  They wanted me to know without reservation that they were in charge, especially if I was the recipient of the loan.

  And they didn’t care that they’d embarrassed me to my very core.

  It would be a cold day in hell before they’d make the loan offer now. I’d likely blown my entire plan.

  Dax resumed the spanking, making every strike harder than the one before. Finally, I couldn’t stop the ragged moans or my body’s wayward reaction. My pussy clenched and released several times. I could orgasm from this. No. No…

  The scent of my leaking pussy floated into the air. My juice had already drenched my thighs, further adding to the level of degradation. I would never be able to forgive myself. How many of the horrible men could tell the condition I was in? I’d never be able to show my face again in Chicago. They’d point and laugh.

  Or worse.

  Just when I thought I couldn’t take it any longer, I was yanked off Dax’s lap and into Chase’s arms. But he wasn’t saving me from any further humiliation. It was simply his turn.

  He pushed me over the edge of the table, pressing his hand against the small of my back.

  “You’re going to learn to be a good girl one way or the other,” Chase stated with just as much domination in his tone. He kicked my legs further apart and I had no doubt my swollen pussy lips were exposed, the wetness from being aroused clinging to my skin. Nothing could be any more horrifying.

  Blinking several times, I was able to focus on hunger in several pairs of eyes, even a sickening kind of admiration that I was being ‘handled.’

  “Fuck you,” I whispered under my breath. Whether or not he heard me I couldn’t be certain, but it certainly made me feel better.

  I clawed the table as he brought his hand down rapidly, the brutal snaps even worse than Dax’s. Tears formed in my eyes, but I refused to give in, sucking in my breath and shoring my resolve as anger took over.

  Leaning over, he whispered in my ear, “Be careful, little girl, or I’ll need to wash your mouth out with soap.”

  I gritted my teeth to keep from spewing off a series of nasty words. He had the audacity to caress my bruised and aching bottom for several seconds. Then my humiliation was almost complete as he slipped his finger into my tight channel. I bit back a moan, closing my eyes to prevent me from seeing glee in the crowd’s eyes.

  “You’re very wet,” he murmured. “I think you need a strong man in your life. Isn’t that true?”

  “Not a chance in hell.”

  “Then I can see we’re not finished yet.”

  I lost count of how many additional smacks Chase gave me. Everything was a blur. When the spanking ceased, I tried to stumble away from the table only to be stopped by Sebastian as he wrapped his hand around my arm, pulling me to a standing po
sition facing him.

  He held me only a few inches away, taking his time to gaze all the way down to my black pumps. “For a woman of such intelligence and drive, you certainly don’t follow the rules.” He brushed a single strand of hair out of my face, the act far too intimate.

  I shoved my palms against him, no longer finding the strength to fight him.

  “All you seem to care about is ensuring that everyone obeys your every command. Isn’t that right?” I managed, smiling after I issued the words.

  The ire settling on his face gave me a moment of joy, yet it was short lived as he immediately tossed me over the edge of a different table, running his hand between my legs. “Naughty little girls should learn when to keep their mouths shut.” He pressed his hand against my mound, using his fingers to tease, pushing me closer to a moment of raw bliss.

  I couldn’t let it happen.

  “You will learn,” he whispered before resuming the round of discipline.

  There were even more men who’d come into the room, as if this was the main event of the night. They were amused, as if this was just a part of the disgusting game they were playing. How could any respectable man act this way?

  The warm blush that had risen on my face from before turned into a full-blown blaze, the sizzling sensations catching me off guard. At least it matched the extreme heat crisscrossing my bottom. I closed my eyes, no longer finding the energy to fight. I just wanted this to be over with.

  “I don’t think you understand that for every cause there is an effect, something the majority of owners don’t seem to understand. That’s the reason the majority of businesses fail, Caroline. That’s the first lesson I’m going to teach you.” Sebastian’s words were said with such acuteness, as if this was a regular part of his lesson plan for nurturing failing businesses.

  What garbage.

  But he was determined to teach me a valuable lesson, his sharp smacks even harder than Dax’s or Chase’s. I did everything I could to shut down my anger as well as my increasing arousal. Seconds later, although it seemed like minutes, he stopped his brutal actions, remaining in back of me. I felt both the heat and the weight of his body as he leaned over. His intoxicating scent was a reminder that he was all male, gorgeous in every regard. The fragrance was woodsy and exotic, masculine and spicy. I couldn’t breathe or think, my heart racing. When he whispered in my ear, the tone of his voice pure suede, another series of quivers roared into my system.