His Devil's Mercy

by Linzi Basset

  “I refuse to watch my sister scratching your itch, fucker,” Jack grumbled as they walked down the stairs.

  “Then find yourself a sub to keep you busy but this is where Jo and I will come to play, Jack, so you best get used to it.”

  “You’re very confident that she’s going to stay in DC, Max. You forget that she had a life in L.A. before she was taken.”

  “I’m well aware of that, mate. Jo has to start over; it might as well be with a clean slate. And I’ll be damned if I allow her to go back where I can’t keep an eye over her.”

  Jack smiled to himself. Joanne had always been a spitfire and she’d become exceedingly confident and independent over the past five years. If Max believed it would be easy to sway Joanne with his charm and beguiling smile, he was relatively sure that his mate was in for a surprise.

  * * * * * * * *

  The food had just been served when Max and Jack joined their friends at the table.

  “Ah, so this must be Jack’s beautiful sister I’ve heard so much about,” Enzo Bonheur said. He was the chef de cuisine at the club, as well as Rhone’s resident private chef. “Don’t come crying to me if the steak is tough. You should know better than to arrive late at my table.” He slanted a reproachful look at Max and Jack.

  Jack introduced Joanne who immediately crawled into Enzo’s heart with a sweet, welcoming smile.

  “Another little angel who is going to tie the Doms’ cocks into knots,” he said with a broad smile.

  “Only if she wants her ass turned red,” Max grumbled around the food in his mouth.

  “It’s bad manners to speak with a full mouth, Maximilian,” Joanne said cheekily.

  Max looked at her amid the chuckles from everyone around the table. The warning was as crystal clear in his eyes.

  “You know I don’t like that name, Violet. I’m warning you once. In here, I’m Master Jag and my name is Max. M-A-X, that’s it. Short and sweet. Got that?”

  “Hmm, grouchy. Did you hit him in the face, Jack? Lemme see.” Joanne gripped Max’s chin and turned his face this way and that, inspecting every inch of his skin. She touched a bruise on the side of his jaw. “Ah yes, I see. You should remember, Jack, Master Jag hates it when his looks are marred. I mean, it’s what all the subs are drawn to, you know.”

  Max caught her hand in his, his eyes scorching into hers. She knew what was coming before he opened his mouth. It was there in the evil smirk that turned his lips upward.

  “It’s not my face that interests the subs, my pet.” He pressed her hand to his crotch, smiling at her gasp when he folded her fingers around his cock that hardened under her grasp. “This is what they’re all after.” He leaned closer. “You should know, luv. You couldn’t get enough of him last night either.”

  Joanne was annoyed at the reminder that Max loved to dip the still swelling appendage into various pussies, and responded with a chilled whisper against his cheek, “Don’t flatter yourself, Master Jag. It’s been a year, I would’ve been equally demanding of any other cock to ease my lust.”

  She saw his shoulders stiffen. She glanced up to encounter a look that warned her she was pushing his boundaries. He surprised her by replacing her hand on her thigh and continued eating.

  “Eat up, sub. We have a punishment to attend to.”

  Joanne didn’t respond, somewhat disappointed that her quip hadn’t drawn blood. It seems Max had even more control over his reactions than in the past. Or, maybe he wasn’t as invested in her as she’d like to believe. She toyed with the collar around her neck.

  Maybe she’d mistaken the reason for him giving her the collar. It might be wise to test the waters before she made a complete ass of herself. She’d been overly possessive before and no matter how much she hated the thought of him with another woman, she wasn’t going to make the same mistake again.

  “I’m not your sub. You might have put the collar around my throat, sir, but I haven’t agreed to anything. Don’t forget about that.”

  Max glanced at her. His jaw moved as he chewed lazily, seemingly unperturbed by her response. The smile on his mouth made him look much younger.

  “No, you haven’t but you knew the rules before you stepped inside the club, my pet. You agreed to abide by them and to take accountability for breaking them, isn’t that correct?”

  Joanne frowned at his unexpected question. He was beginning to annoy her. She popped a piece of potato in her mouth, recalling the club contract and rules he’d discussed with her before he’d left for the club, once he’d signed her up as a member.

  “Violet? I expect an answer when I ask you a question, or have you forgotten the decorum of a submissive so quickly?”

  “Yes, Master Jag, I’m not an idiot. I do know BDSM club rules.”

  “Which means, whether or not you’re my sub, you will be punished by me; as the Dom you disrespected in full view of the club.”

  Max studied Joanne’s expression carefully. He was facing a conundrum. Even though she hadn’t been raped, she had been abused and whipped—brutally so. He didn’t want her first experience back into the BDSM lifestyle to be one of pain or humiliation.

  He was also aware that she’d continued with the BDSM lifestyle after they’d broken up. It was something he’d forced himself not to think about over the past five years—the fact that she’d become involved in Dom-sub relationships. On the other hand, it had given her the experience that she’d lacked when they were together.

  “I have studied the limit list you completed, Violet. Is there anything you’d like to change before I decide on your punishment?”

  Joanne frowned at the question. She had loved the erotic floggings and whippings Max used to give her but ever since the cruel and excruciating whippings at the hand of Dabir Qara, she’d developed an inherent fear of impact tools.

  When she’d completed the limit list, she’d put whips as a hard limit. That was never likely to change but other than that, she wasn’t opposed to some corporal punishment, as long as it wasn’t too extreme. She definitely didn’t want to lose out on the erotic floggings that Max had always been famous for.

  “No, Master Jag.”

  “Very well. Shall we get this over with, Violet?”

  “What are you going to do, Max?” Jack growled with concern.

  “Nothing extreme, Master Black. I’m cognizant of the fact that it’s her first day back in a BDSM club. As long as she takes accountability for her actions.”

  “She is not deaf, nor does she need to be pampered or protected. I’ll appreciate you not talking around me,” Joanne chirped.

  “It seems there are going to be many entertaining hours ahead,” Lance said. His eyes glittered with appreciation as they grazed over Joanne’s round breasts, pushed enticingly against the edge of the tight corset. They all preferred sassy and defiant subs. It was a challenge no Dom could say no to.

  “Choose, sub. Punishment one, two or three,” Max said as he chucked down the last of his beer.

  Joanne bristled. Her annoyance didn’t faze Max. She hated it when he played roulette with her and asked her to pick a number, without knowing what the punishment would be. She searched her memory. In the past, one was orgasm denial, two was public punishment that involved other Doms and forced orgasms and three was a whipping or a spanking with an impact tool. Of course, he might’ve changed the order or the actual punishments since.

  “Whichever you choose, my pet, it will be conducted in the whipping chamber.”

  Which meant it would be in full view of the all the members in the dungeon. Man up, Joanne. You insulted a Dom and that is a no-no in any club. The quicker you choose, the sooner it’ll be over.

  “One.” She’d decided on the lesser evil. She’d climaxed so many times the previous night, she was relatively sure it would take a miracle to get her aroused so soon after.

  The Doms’ collective laugh was echoed by the subs’ moans, which warned her that the punishment wasn’t what she’d assumed it would be.
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br />   “Three rounds on the punishment wheel it is.” Max confirmed her suspicion.

  “Punishment wheel?” Joanne squeaked. It sounded ominous and clearly not what she’d expected. Max’s wicked smile was evidence enough. She berated herself for not having the presence of mind to ask before making a choice. Not that he would’ve told her. Max had an evil streak when it came to punishments. He always did the unexpected.

  “Follow me, my pet.”

  Joanne followed him meekly. She knew better than to continue to oppose Max, especially as she’d already elicited one punishment. She’d been in the BDSM lifestyle for six years and to openly defy one of the Senior Masters of the club was a surefire way to get into trouble. She didn’t expect leniency because of where she’d been the past year. She wanted to start living a normal life and forget about it as soon as possible. Max knew her well enough to understand that she’d be insulted if he treated her like a porcelain doll.

  “Whose brilliant idea was this?” Joanne asked with a pout when Max prepared the punishment wheel, aptly named, Devil’s Pleasure.

  “It was a combined effort. Now, no glaring at me, Violet. You had this coming. I must say, I’ve often wondered why the subs don’t enjoy this wheel as much as the Doms do,” he taunted her with a wide smile.

  “Maybe we should strap you in. Just to see if you’d still find it as enjoyable then,” Joanne asserted.

  The members that had gathered around them to watch, laughed.

  “Some of the, shall we say, pleasures on the wheel require certain parts of your body to be naked. I’ll leave the choice up to you, my pet. You can strip before I put you on the wheel or we can remove the relevant piece of clothing if it is needed.”

  Joanne had never been shy of her body but as she glanced around, the memory of the leering eyes of the sheikh’s guards flashed through her mind, watching them when they relieved themselves, or groping at the women’s breasts. She shuddered.

  “If you don’t mind, I’d prefer to remain clothed for now, Master Jag.”

  Max drew her against his chest and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “Relax, Jo. Everything will be done at your pace. If you feel uncomfortable or need to talk, you call out yellow and if it becomes too much, you use the safeword. Remember the universal one?”

  “Red.”

  Max’s gentle smile and tender touch soothed her mind and the memories dissolved into darkness.

  “Lance, would you assist me, please?” Max lifted her onto the wheel and they quickly strapped her into a spread-eagled position.

  “As you can see, your right index finger is pointing outward. I’ll turn the wheel and once it stops, your finger will be pointing at the punishment you’ll be receiving. Ready?”

  Joanne was miffed enough not to respond.

  Crack! Crack!

  “Ow! Dammit!” She shrieked as Max slapped each thigh with his hand.

  “You know better, Violet. I asked you a question,” Max warned in an ominous tone that set off butterflies in her tummy. They tickled the submissive inside her whom she had been trying to suppress.

  “Yes, Sir, I am ready.”

  “Here we go.”

  Max winked at her and with a heave, he set the wheel into motion. She circled around one and a half times. She closed her eyes and prayed it wasn’t one of the harsher punishments on the wheel.

  Joanne didn’t realize that the Masters had the skill to control the wheel rotations. Max didn’t want her punishments to be harsh, so he ensured she landed on nipple play.

  “I’m not sure this is a punishment for you, my pet. If memory serves me correct, you love nipple play,” Max taunted her as he turned the wheel so that she was upright. “However, Violet, you’re not allowed to climax.” He chuckled at her expression. “Yes, luv, I remember how explosive your nipple climaxes used to be.”

  He turned to the small crowd watching. “Her punishment is nipple play, in other words, everyone here gets to play with her nipples. You may lick, suck, nibble or even whip them for two minutes. Who wants to go first?”

  “I would like the honor, Master Jag.”

  Joanne watched a beautiful Domme step forward. “You are quite a beauty, little one,” she purred as she traced Joanne’s nipples that were peeking out of her corset. “I’m glad Max got you out safely. I’m Mistress Pam. Shall we see what you’re hiding behind this gorgeous corset, my pet?” She yanked the corset down, watching as Joanne’s breasts bobbed in reaction.

  “Beautiful.”

  “Your time starts, now,” Max said, smiling as Joanne’s eyes flared when Pamela’s ruby lips locked onto her pink nipple and she sucked strongly. Joanne’s belief that she won’t be aroused easily was already waning by the time Max called time.

  Lance took over. He nibbled and pulled on the nubs that were hard and aroused by now, clearly enjoying himself. He palmed her breasts in a firm grip and suckled with gusto.

  Ethan elected for a nipple whipping that completely threw her non-arousal theory out the window. By the time he stepped back, her clit was pulsing in tune with her nipples, demanding attention.

  “Do not come, Violet. If you do, another turn on the wheel will be added,” Max warned.

  “I fucking hate you,” Joanne snapped through clenched teeth. Her breath wheezed from her throat when he stepped closer and traced the taut edge of her nipple with his finger. Her loins reacted with a flush of heat.

  His smile attested to the knowledge of the affect he had on her body. He sniffed the air. “Hm, I remember that beautiful bouquet, my pet.” Max tweaked her nipple, soft and then harder, watching her with narrowed eyes. His cock flexed in reaction to the enticing scent that tingled his nostril.

  “I’m surprised you can distinguish mine from the hordes of pussies you’ve been sniffing at,” Joanne managed to puff with taut lips.

  “You wound me, my pet. Painful as a spear right through my heart.” He placed his hand in a dramatic gesture over his heart. His eyelids lowered in a lazy wink. “Master Blade, you’re up.”

  “How many more,” Joanne asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know.” Max made a show of glancing over his shoulder, before lowering his head and breathing hotly over her quivering nipples. “Another ten or twelve, I’d say.”

  “Fucking hell.”

  “Nah, baby. Be honest. This is heaven for your tits. Just look at them perking up for Master Blade.”

  “Go aw-a-y,” Joanne whimper turned into a low moan as Keon started lapping at her nipples leisurely.

  Ten minutes later, she was cursing and begging alternatively. Her loins throbbed painfully with every suck, lick and nibble, arousing her to the brink of insanity. She could feel the prickles of a climax sting at her clit. It was something she’d always been proud of—her orgasm control—but a year of abstaining, and feeling Max’s eyes scorch over her, pushed her very close to the edge.

  “Time.”

  “Oh, thank god,” she puffed as Master Wade pulled his head back and released her nipple with a loud pop.

  “Enjoyed that, didn’t you, my pet?” Max took a deep breath. “From the delightful scent permeating the entire room, a little too much in my opinion, especially as this is supposed to be a punishment,” he drawled.

  “Just turn the fucking wheel,” Joanne snapped irritably.

  “Careful, Violet. Your disrespect is starting to show,” Max warned with a deep voice.

  This time the wheel did two full turns before it rocked to a halt.

  “Ah, now that’s more like it,” Max said with a satisfied grin. “This is one of my favorites, Violet. Care to guess what it is?”

  Joanne’s eyes narrowed. Max used to have too many favorites for her to guess accurately. She wracked her brain.

  Tickling!

  “No! That’s not punishment! That’s torture,” she gasped. It was something she hated with a passion. Why the hell is it even listed here?

  “But so much fun,” he said as he ran his fingers lightly along the underside of h
er arm to gently tickle her sides. She jerked away but couldn’t suppress the giggle.

  “No, Master Jag. I beg you; not that please!”

  A smile spread on Max’s face as her tingling laughter filled the room with every tickle of his fingers on her sides and the pit of her arms.

  “I’m willing to do just about anything to hear you giggle, luv,” he said and continued to tickle her mercilessly until tears were running down her face.

  “Please stop! I beg you, Master Jag,” she gasped amidst uncontrollable laughter that kept bursting from deep within her. It was so infectious that everyone watching, chuckled along with her.

  “Now, wasn’t that refreshing, my pet?”

  “You’re a fucking asshole,” Joanne managed to say, still gasping.

  “If you want to insult me, I expect you to do it at least correctly, sub,” Max warned.

  “You, Master Jag, are a fucking asshole,” she snapped.

  “You’ve always been a fast learner, my pet.” Max was in his element. He loved the way her eyes lit up with anger at him. The fact that she didn’t try and hide it, excited him to no end. It was the thing that challenged him as a Dom—a bratty sub. It offered so many satisfying opportunities to exert his dominance.

  “Are you ready for your final turn, Violet? I have a craving to hear your throaty cries fill my ears.”

  “Just fucking spin the wheel, Sir asshole!”

  “You might have been out of the lifestyle for a year, sub, but in here, I won’t tolerate your continued disrespect.” This time there was no mistaking the warning in his voice. Joanne stared at him, realizing just how badly she’d been behaving. She’d become so used to be the one in charge that she was on the edge of acting like a Domme herself.

  “Care to try that again, Violet?”

  “Please spin the wheel, Sir,” she cooed in a sugar-sweet voice.

  “That’s much better,” Max chuckled dangerously and set the wheel turning. By the time it stopped, Joanne was feeling giddy. There was anticipation in the room about what was coming. When Max pulled out a short-tailed flogger from his toy bag, she knew why.