by Leah Brooke
“Making love to women who don’t want to get sweaty or have their hair mussed doesn’t excite me.”
Gabriel nodded. “I understand. And it’s not exactly easy to bring up your need to dominate, especially being in the public eye the way you are. Chances are the woman in red wouldn’t understand.”
“Probably not.”
If the chemistry he’d felt even thirty feel away was any indication, he could well imagine leading her slowly into his dark world of pleasure.
He took another sip of his ginger ale and glanced at Gabriel.
“I have a feeling she’d be a very interesting companion.”
Frowning again, Gabriel glanced around, lowering his voice. “Are you sure you can’t find her?”
“I checked with security. She didn’t park in the lot. She took a cab to the hotel, and when she left, she was running. I checked with every cab company in the area, and no one picked her up at that time.”
Gabriel stiffened, his eyes widening with horror. “I hope she didn’t hitchhike.”
Sin’s gut clenched, not in a good way.
“The thought of that has been eating at me all day. I need to know if she’s all right, but the possibility of never knowing is making me sick to my stomach.”
Not to mention the possibility of never meeting such a delectable woman.
“Jesus. No wonder you’ve been scowling since you got here.”
Sin hadn’t been aware that he had.
He ordered another ginger ale, hoping it would settle his stomach. “I have Sam waiting to see if she shows up at the hotel, but I was afraid she wouldn’t show up there for fear of getting kicked out again. I let the hotel clerk know where I was going and told him that if a woman called and asked to tell her where I am.”
Gabriel blinked. “You should have told me. I’ll tell the bouncers to be on the lookout for her. Otherwise, they’ll just turn her away.”
Scraping a hand through his hair, Sin blew out a breath. “I don’t know what else to do—other than make myself accessible until I find her.”
Gabriel opened his mouth to speak, snapping it shut again when one of the bouncers appeared at his side.
“Excuse me, Mr. Durand.”
Gabriel straightened, turning to the bouncer with flat eyes, all business. “What is it, Tom?”
“There’s a young lady at the door who insists on coming in to see Mr. Majors.”
Sin jumped out of his seat, his heart pounding furiously. “She came.”
Tom kept his attention on Gabriel. “I explained the rules, but she won’t listen. She said the hotel manager told her that he was here and she’s not leaving until she sees him.”
Gabriel turned to him, raising a brow. “I assume you want her to be allowed entrance.”
Surprised at his sense of anticipation, Sin grinned. “You assume right.”
Gabriel turned to the bouncer and nodded. “Bring her to Mr. Majors. If she’s not who he thinks she is and is a bother, you can escort her out again.”
“Yes, sir.” Tom nodded once and turned away.
Gabriel smiled. “The auction starts in just a few minutes. Several of your favorites are here tonight. Perhaps one of them will be available for a trip to the island if your mystery woman doesn’t work out.”
Sin stared after Tom, his heart pounding furiously.
“Hmm.” He barely heard him, focusing his attention behind Tom.
Approaching him, Tom moved aside.
And there she was.
Sin almost swallowed his tongue.
Her long hair had been secured in a tight knot, making his fingers itch to loosen it.
Dressed all in black, from her button-down shirt and jacket to her trouser pants and high-heeled pumps, she brought to mind sweaty sex, hot nights, and satin sheets.
The low-level arousal that he’d been fighting since their eyes first met came back with a vengeance.
Mine.
He didn’t even know her name, but in his mind, she already belonged to him.
“Jesus Christ.” Chuckling, Gabriel looked over his shoulder just as she appeared. “I can tell by your expression that it’s her. She’s gorgeous. And adorable. It’s a hell of a combination. The deer in the headlights look on her face is priceless. Keep her close to you. You’re responsible for her while she’s here. When you’re ready for her to leave, give a signal to Tom.”
She’d kept him awake for most of the night, haunted his dreams for the rest of it, and worried the hell out of him.
Now that he saw her, the anger rose within him, and some small demon inside him demanded that he make her pay for it on some level.
Her voluptuous curves drew attention, her olive complexion and dark hair and eyes that he’d seen in his dreams giving her an exotic sex appeal that made him want her even more.
“I will, Gabriel. Thanks.”
With a smile, Gabriel nodded. “You’re welcome. Enjoy the auction.”
“The what—oh. Yeah.” Watching her walk toward him, Sin had forgotten all about the auction.
Covered completely from head to toe, her curvy form drew more attention than even the most scantily clad women there.
But she looked only at him.
Giving everyone a wide berth, she made her way toward him, staring straight into his eyes. Pausing directly in front of him, she smiled, a smile that took his breath away.
“Mr. Majors, I’m sorry to bother you, but I desperately need your help. I tried to talk to you last night, but the security guards wouldn’t let me see you.”
Her words came out in a rush as if she feared being sent away before she could finish.
“Call me Sin.” Sin set his glass aside, turning his body to maneuver her to stand between him and the bar. “I understand you used those high heels as a weapon to get away. What’s your name?”
He wanted to make damned sure he didn’t lose her again.
Averting her gaze, she looked to Sin’s right, her eyes widening at the sight of the Dom and the submissive he held on his lap. “Um. Veronica. Veronica Sands, but my friends call me Roni.”
“Well, Veronica, would you like to tell me how the hell you got home last night, and let me warn you, if you tell me that you hitchhiked, I’m going to be real tempted to turn you over my knee.”
His threat surprised both of them, the shock in her eyes satisfying on many levels.
The brief flash of arousal satisfying him in many more.
He was just angry enough and aroused enough to carry out his threat, but he was honest enough with himself to admit that he’d made it to see her reaction.
To his delight, her breath caught as she spun to face him fully again, her eyes as wide as saucers.
“I didn’t hitchhike.”
The breathlessness in her voice made his cock throb with the need to bend her over the bar.
Lifting a brow, he waited for her to expand—thrilled by her flush.
Hell, it made her even more beautiful.
He couldn’t help imagining her flushed all over.
Clearing her throat, she stared at his chest.
“When I left your show, I was following your limo and got a flat tire. I had to pull over and managed to catch a cab, but it was only a few blocks. I didn’t know you were staying at the Royal. When I was kicked out, I walked back to it, changed the tire, and left.”
Sin gritted his teeth.
“You were out late at night, in the middle of Washington D.C, changing a tire?”
The thought of what could have happened to her infuriated him.
Glancing up at him, she frowned, obviously unsettled by his cool tone.
Good.
She paid attention.
Amused when her gaze went to the other couple again, he moved closer, deliberately invading her space, bending to breathe in her scent, and whispered in her ear.
“It’s not polite to stare, especially here.”
He lifted his head just enough to see her features, once again stru
Even in the low light, he could see that her face had turned a delightful shade of pink.
“I’m sorry.”
Cupping her jaw, he lifted her face to his, running his thumb over her full bottom lip, effectively wiping off most of her lipstick.
When she lifted her gaze to his again, currents of electricity shot straight to his cock, the chemistry between them breathtaking.
Touching her bottom lip again, he narrowed his eyes on hers, swallowing heavily at her shiver.
“You’re my responsibility while you’re in here, and there are consequences for breaking the rules.”
Her dark eyes went wide again, her breath quickening.
“Consequences? I’d better say what I have to say and get out of here then because I sure as hell don’t want consequences, especially since I don’t know the rules.”
The thought of teaching her his rules had his cock leaking moisture, her effect on him more than unsettling.
“You like watching him touch her, don’t you?” He held out a hand, humbled and thrilled when she readily placed hers in it.
Leaning close, she kept her voice at a low whisper. “It’s the way he looks at her—the way she looks at him.”
Her blush deepened. “I—I didn’t mean that.”
Sin’s lips twitched. “Yes. You did.”
Averting her gaze, she shrugged. “I sure as hell didn’t mean to say it out loud.”
Sin couldn’t hold back a smile.
“That I can believe.”
She swallowed heavily, glancing at the couple again. Keeping her voice at a low whisper, one that he heard despite the music, she leaned closer.
“He pushed the sides of her shirt aside so everyone can see her breasts. How can she let him do that?”
Sin’s cock stirred at the thought of doing the same thing to Veronica. “He’s very proud that she belongs to him. He clearly enjoys showing her off.”
Veronica frowned, swallowing heavily again. “She doesn’t mind? I mean he’s playing with her nipples in front of everyone.”
Amusement and arousal seldom went hand in hand with him, but with Veronica, nothing was normal.
Leaning closer, he purposely brushed his chest against hers, biting back a groan at her sharp intake of breath and the feel of her beaded nipples against him.
“Does she look like she minds? It’s obvious that she’s enjoying her Master’s attention immensely.”
Averting her gaze, Veronica inched closer. “Everyone’s watching her.”
“No they aren’t.” With a finger under her chin, Sin lifted her face to his, his chest tightening at the hunger in her eyes. “Many are involved with their own partners, and the women here know better than to look at them. It arouses you to see them. Interesting.”
Releasing her, he picked up his ginger ale, amused at her attempt to watch the other couple without seeming to.
“Would you like something to drink?”
Veronica spun to face him again, stiffening. “What? Oh. No. No, thank you. Can we go somewhere to talk?”
Noticing that she purposely turned her back to the couple who seemed to fascinate her so much, Sin hid a smile. “No.”
Veronica smiled faintly. “That was blunt.” Stilling as something else caught her attention, she bit her lip but not in time to hold back her gasp.
“I’m a blunt man. Now, what is it that you want from me?” He shifted slightly, glancing back to see what she was looking at.
“I…um…maybe I will have that drink.”
Intrigued at her breathless tone and the way she shifted restlessly, he lifted a hand to get the attention of the bartender. “What would you like?”
She crossed her arms over her chest, decidedly flustered. “Whatever you’re having.”
Without a word, the bartender nodded and brought her a glass of ginger ale.
Watching her take a sip, Sin gestured toward the threesome that had caught and held her attention. “She’s over her Master’s knee, a very appealing position, don’t you think?”
Veronica’s lips thinned, but need darkened her eyes. “For her or for him?” Holding up her glass, she frowned. “I thought you were going to get me whatever you’re drinking.”
“I’m drinking ginger ale. As for your question, for both of them.” He’d seen the couple many times in the past and knew what came next.
Leaning back against the bar, Veronica sipped her drink and glanced at them again. “Do you really think so?”
“Of course.”
Veronica stiffened with a gasp. “Oh God. He lifted her skirt. She’s naked under it. He’s stroking her ass right in front of everyone.”
Sin smiled, enthralled by her. “There’s more.”
Her breath caught, her eyes widening. “Another man just walked up to them. Oh God. Now he’s touching her, too.”
Sipping his ginger ale, Sin kept his attention on her, his hands itching to explore her luscious curves.
“At times, one Dom will ask permission to touch another’s sub.”
Sin knew that the two men were friends who sometimes shared the woman over her Master’s lap but didn’t feel the need to tell Veronica, choosing instead to let her watch others and gauge her reaction to what she saw.
Lifting his glass again, he hid a smile as he took in her flushed cheeks. “You said you needed to talk to me about something.”
He assumed it to be a ruse—an excuse to meet him—but he was intrigued enough not to be disappointed.
“If so, get to it because the auction starts in a few minutes.”
To his surprise, Veronica set her soft drink aside and faced him squarely. “My grandmother is being cheated by a woman who says she’s a psychic. She does an act with wind and the table lifting, supposedly done by my dead grandfather. It’s all an illusion, but my grandmother is so desperate to hear from my grandfather that she believes whatever the woman says. No matter what I say, she won’t believe me. I need someone to show her the truth.”
Stunned and even more intrigued, Sin raised a brow. “What makes you think that I would be willing to do something like that?”
Her cheeks reddened even more. “Because you do your illusions to entertain people—not to cheat them. My grandmother’s an old woman on a fixed income with just the nest egg my grandfather left for her. This woman is methodically taking all of it.”
Sin frowned. “I don’t like the sound of that, but even if I agreed to help you, what makes you think your grandmother would believe me?”
“Because she’s probably your biggest fan. She idolizes you. She said you would understand because you’re an expert on magic. She’d believe it if you told her. She hated that she couldn’t go to your show, but she walks with a cane and was afraid of getting jostled.” Veronica’s grin revealed adorable dimples. “She made me promise to get your autograph. Please will you help me?”
Intrigued at the opportunity to catch someone who cheated old women, and a chance to spend time with Veronica, Sin shrugged. “Perhaps.” He caught her chin when she would have turned to look at the couple that had interested her at first. “Watching Masters with their submissives seems to fascinate you. Have you even been dominated before, Veronica? Or are you a closet submissive who hasn’t yet had the courage to play?”
Shaking her head, Veronica climbed onto a stool and sipped her drink, staring down at the surface of the bar. “No. I’m just regular.”
Sliding onto the stool next to her, Sin allowed a small smile, more intrigued by the minute. “Regular?”
Shrugging, she kept her gaze averted. “I just don’t see the fascination with sex so I don’t spend a lot of time thinking about it.”
“Liar.”
Ignoring that, she looked away, apparently fascinated by everything going on around them.
Her eyes darted from one submissive to another, and leaning close to her, he heard her breath catch again and again, her breathing ragged.
He also noticed perspiration over her upper lip and the way she kept pressing her thighs together.
She kept licking her lips, finishing her ginger ale with one large gulp.
Ordering another drink for each of them, he watched her as the stage was suddenly illuminated with a spotlight and the auctioneer stepped up to the microphone.
Veronica lifted slightly, straining to see the stage. “What’s going on?”
Seeing another man eye her, Sin glared at him and pulled her stool closer. “They’re going to have an auction.”
Stiffening when she saw several men and women in various stages of undress walk onto the stage, she leaned closer to him. “An auction?”
The stirring of protectiveness toward her startled him.
“Yes. Submissives who are looking for a Master for an evening of fun.”
Turning to face him, she leaned back, frowning as she studied his features. “Is that what you’re looking for—a few hours of sex?”
The disappointment in her eyes bothered him more than it should have. “It’s not just sex. It’s not something you would understand. Now, be quiet so I can bid. Write your number down and I’ll call you tomorrow about this woman stealing from your grandmother. Tom will see you out.”
He started to raise his hand to gesture toward the bouncer, whipping his head around when she grasped his wrist.
“Is there a problem?”
She frowned, looking around and sidling closer. “Please. Can I stay with you?”
Shaking his head, Sin rose, his gaze moving over each woman on the stage. “I don’t think you understand. I’m going to bid on a woman.”
“Why? You’ve got women falling all over themselves to be with you.”
“It’s none of your business, but I’m planning to go on vacation, a well-deserved vacation to an island that caters to Doms and their subs. I plan to take a nice little sub to enjoy for a week at the resort.”
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