“Struggling with something in particular?”
Glancing up, she carefully considered her answer. In her vision, he’d been fully engaged and enjoying the other woman. She wanted what he wanted, what pleased him and made him happy, but could she bring herself to give him that? Guilt inundated her. She’d done nearly the same thing. Should she give him this to make up for what she’d done?
Her hand rose, rubbing at the sting behind her eyes. She had a really warped perspective. The other problem was she didn’t know what he wanted, if their interests aligned anymore. In Galveston, they had seemed in perfect sync, but that had been one on one and didn’t necessarily carry over to club play. She got an idea.
“Can I see your list?” she blurted out. She’d simply make her list match his.
“No.” He practically barked, frowning at her yet again. “You’re supposed to be answering honestly about what you want, not trying to guess what I want or to please me. If that’s what you’re doing, start over.”
Her eyes returned to the page, zeroing in on gangbang. Yeah, it was actually listed that way on the page. The BDSM crowd being nothing if not direct.
“Mara.”
Her mind was whirling with indecision as she glanced up again.
“Honest answers.”
She nodded. “I’m trying, Master.”
Scanning down the list she saw gangbang had been no, a definite hard limit. But what about Sean? Was group sex something he was into now? Moving on, she frowned at the next item on the list. Grope box. She had no clue. Bukkake—uh, no! Co-Dom and alpha sub came after that. The terms were new to her, but their meanings were obvious and she didn’t particularly want them either. Her fingers tightened on the papers, crumpling them.
A shadow fell across the page and his long fingers pulled the forms from her grasp. She knew what he’d see; not a speck of red ink.
“You’ve been staring at the same spot on this page for twenty minutes, nightingale.” His tone was filled with warmth without a hint of anger or irritation. The endearment, which she’d lived without for close to a year, made her heart beat faster as it always did. She tried to smile, but couldn’t manage one.
He squatted beside her. “I had no idea this would be so difficult for you. What are you thinking?”
“I’m confused. When I filled this out the last time, I didn’t give it much thought. I marked what I presumed you wanted. But now, some of these things, well, to be frank, they scare the crap out of me and…”
“Finish your thought. And what?”
“I’m afraid I’ll take something off that you enjoy.”
“Baby, I don’t want anything that doesn’t bring you pleasure as well. Tell me what has you so stumped.” His intercom buzzed. He ignored it at first, holding her gaze, but it buzzed again. “Dammit.” He got up and pressed the button.
“Your two o’clock appointment has arrived, Master Sean. I sent her up to the room you reserved.”
“Thank you, Lenore.”
“Her?” Mara questioned. “I understood you were training a new Dom, a man.”
“I don’t think I specified, but dominants come in both genders. Adele is definitely a female. She also has no interest in me whatsoever, other than training. She has her own sub, a female.” He was back by her side, staring down at her as his fingers brushed along her cheek.
She breathed out, relieved. “So her sub is going to be there too?”
“Again, I don’t think I said, but I should have. That’s on me. I had intended for you to participate.” He glanced at the list in his hand. Mara knew it was turned to page three, unchanged, and ménage was listed as willing to try. “I can see you’re on edge about this, however. I’ll get someone else—”
“No.” The concept of Sean with two other women, one of them a club submissive, who he could have been with before, made a shockwave of jealousy arc through her. “I’ll do it.”
“Mara.”
“What is the lesson today?” She pressed on, ignoring his reluctance.
“Impact play. At least that’s what we have planned, but you know what this type of thing entails. Often, one thing leads to another.”
She considered his answer. Floggers, paddles and straps, no doubt. Whips were unlikely since she was a beginner. That wouldn’t be so bad. “Does sex usually occur in training sessions?”
“It can, but varies by the participants. Adele is committed, so she won’t be expecting sex. She will need to touch you to test your responsiveness, however. Fingers, mouths, tongues are all on the table and if the submissive is cooperative, a reward with an orgasm or two isn’t uncommon.”
She nodded slowly, closing her eyes. In her past, she’d had female clients and although it wasn’t for her, the women had been gentle for the most part. Mistress Arianna, from The Gilded Cage popped into her head. What if Adele was a sadist like her?
“I’ll see if Dano or T is available.”
“No, I can do it.”
“Clearly you don’t want to, Mara. You’re pale and tense, and if you squeeze that pen any tighter, you’re going to break it.”
As if on cue, the plastic casing of the pen cracked.
“It’s not something you have to do. There are plenty of other people who enjoy training sessions. I’ll find a volunteer from the unattached subs if Dano or T can’t step in for me.”
“You enjoy training, don’t you?”
He hesitated.
“You do,” she answered for him. “I’m being silly. You’ll be there and I have a safeword, right?”
“Always.”
Sean had told her once that mentoring was one of the things he liked most about owning the club. She didn’t want to take that away from him. If he was going to do it, then for damn sure, he wasn’t going to do it without her.
This time, her answer was decisive. “Okay, let’s do it.”
Chapter Twenty-five
While leaning against the back wall, he observed as Adele worked a generously proportioned vibe over Mara’s pussy, stopping not once, but twice to apply lube. Something was definitely wrong. He’d used the same device on Mara and within minutes had her writhing and bucking in her restraints.
He considered the scene before him. Wrists cuffed to chains above her head, legs spread wide and bound with ankle cuffs to D-links in the floor, her body, bare except for the black satin blindfold, was on blatant and magnificent display. But she was stiff and reserved, not once had a moan or anything sounding remotely pleasurable passed her lips in the thirty minutes since Adele had started the scene. To his experienced eye, the sub appeared bored and disinterested, the mistress frustrated and nearing her wits end.
Another ten minutes passed and he couldn’t bear to watch any longer. Discreetly, he signaled his student over. Adele, a tall, lithe, Norwegian beauty immediately complied. With a few murmured words to Mara, she came to his side.
“What seems to be the problem?”
“I’m not getting through, Master Sean. She’s as dry as the Mohave.”
The concerns he had about her participation today were coming to fruition. Damn, he should have followed his gut.
“Give us a minute.” He strode forward, determined to get some answers.
“Mara?” Purposefully pitching his tone low, she jumped anyway.
“Yes, Master?”
“Color?” With the backs of his fingers, he stroked slowly up her belly.
“Green.”
Taking in every nuance of her response to his simple touch, he traced up the midline of her stomach. She trembled, her abdominal muscles rippling. The rise and fall of her chest quickened as her need for oxygen increased with her excitement. Her breasts swelled, the nipples already ruching into tempting peaks. Always a barometer of her arousal, her mouth—that glorious mouth—opened slightly as her tongue slipped out in a slow glide, slicking along the full curve of her lower lip, demonstrably revealing her escalating desire.
“You’re certain?”
S
he hesitated, tilting her head as if considering his simple question. “Yes, Master. I’m green.”
His hand rotated so that his palm lay flat against her ribs before moving up to cup the bottom curve of her breast. “Then you’re being deliberately defiant.”
“No. I—”
“Did I tell you to obey Mistress Adele as you would me?”
“Yes. Have I done something wrong? I’m sure I’ve done everything she requested.”
Leaving his hand in place, he stepped around her, pressing his front fully against her bare back, the button fly of his dark jeans and the hard length contained beneath brushed against her bottom. His other arm encircled her, his hand lifting to cup her other breast. In her ear, he murmured, “This may be true, but you’re holding back.”
She shook her head in denial, but didn’t speak further, when he captured each nipple with a thumb and forefinger and pinched firmly.
“You are, Mara, and it’s obvious you aren’t enjoying it. Is the position uncomfortable? Are your bindings too tight?”
Increasing the pressure, he gave each tip a little tug. From across the room, he eyed her reflection in the mirrored wall. A lovely blush graced her cheeks as her head fell back, she arched, offering him more of her breasts.
He smiled. Her response to him was no act. The glistening moisture on her spread thighs was further proof.
“Mara.” Her name was a verbal nudge, a reminder that he awaited her answer.
“I would safeword if in pain as you’ve instructed me, Master.”
“Would you, baby? I’m not so sure.”
Her mouth opened as if she would protest, but she didn’t.
“What is it? Don’t you find Mistress Adele attractive?”
“She is quite beautiful.”
“What aren’t you telling me then? Talk to me, Mara.”
“It’s just that I can’t. I’ve never—”
When she didn’t finish, he bore down harder, giving the supple pink flesh a bite of erotic pain, hoping to get her to finish her thought. He should have known his ploy wouldn’t work; she enjoyed nipple play too much. Instead of talking, the pleasure-pain seemed to rob her of speech. Her head fell back against his shoulder as she caught her lower lip between her teeth and moaned.
With a lift of his chin, he signaled Adele over.
“Is it that she’s a woman?” he pressed, while signaling Adele to proceed. “Is her touch so different than mine?”
Understanding, the other woman’s fingers slipped between Mara’s pussy lips.
“When her flogger strikes your skin or her vibe presses against your clit, when her fingers glide up inside you, is the sensation so different?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Yes, but… you don’t understand.”
“Make me.” He looked down at Adele, her hand working between Mara’s thighs. At his glance, she pulled out. Her fingers came away glistening wet, soaked with juices.
“What’s different now?” He knew what it was, but he wanted her to say it.
“I thought I was broken. For a long time, I probably was. Other women, at work and at school, spoke openly about it. Good and bad. I’d had plenty of the latter, enough for a lifetime. I wanted the good, but something wasn’t right. Even after I got away, I couldn’t.”
Adele gasped. “Never?” she repeated, seeking clarification.
“Never. Not until Sean.”
“How old were you?”
“Twenty-six.”
“Damn!” Adele answered back.
Feeling lost, Sean looked between the two women in consternation, obviously missing something.
Mara licked her dry lips before she went on. “There was a reason why, but it wasn’t until Sean that I overcame it. His love healed me and he made me melt.” Softly, she added, “Quite literally.”
As if a light switch flipped on, understanding dawned, and his thoughts echoed Adele’s. Damn! Always responsive to his touch, right from the start. Their first time together, she’d burned hot for him, coming in a torrent of sweetness with a few licks of his tongue. The second time, she came apart as easily, quivering in his arms as her pussy tightened in a surge of warmth all around him. He’d attributed the long six-week buildup to her eagerness that night, and later the five-year long dry spell, by her own admission. Little did he know it had really been a lifetime. Joy, that he alone had experienced the beauty of his Mara warred with sadness that something so wondrous and natural had been taken from her.
Adele shifted slightly. Her wide eyes caught his, seeking guidance on how to proceed after such an admission. He bit back a curse of frustration. She was still raw, and between them, there were so many things unsaid, issues yet to be resolved, he was unsure of his strategy, advance or retreat. Maybe this wasn’t the time or the place.
He couldn’t stand having her eyes concealed and slipped off the blindfold. Cupping her jaw, his thumb swept out to brush her lips. At his gentle touch, her breath hitched.
“That was quite a revelation.”
“I’m sorry. I should have explained before.”
“You had boyfriends in college.”
“Yeah, but they weren’t you, Lucky.”
His head dipped to her neck. With words, she could so easily lay his heart open. As he nuzzled her there, he murmured, “You sure are a boost for my ego.”
“It’s the truth. I’ve never met anyone like you. I love you, Master.”
“And I you, baby. We should stop for now.”
“No! I’m green. I promise, and it was just starting to get good.”
Lifting his head, he found her brilliant green eyes staring up at him. Framed by long, silky lashes, their beauty haunted him. They were very expressive and he read so much there: love, eagerness and foremost passion. He wanted to clear the room, or whisk her away to somewhere it was just the two of them and give them both what they needed, but he had a student.
“You want to continue?”
“Yes, please.”
The question was how to proceed.
“Your Mistress for the night needs her practice. We can’t send her away with her lesson incomplete, can we?”
Mara blinked, her gaze shifted briefly to Adele, before lowering. “No, Master.”
Although she tried, she hadn’t been quick enough to hide her disappointment. It was all too clear, to him if not to the two women. Mara’s body spoke louder than any words. Until he’d stepped in, she was tense, unaroused and not enjoying the experience whatsoever. With his attention, that had changed and she’d come to life, responding beautifully beneath his touch. With the news that the scene would continue, he could see her slipping back to her previous state. A plan took shape in his Dom brain to teach a much-needed lesson and give them all what they needed.
“Color, Mara.”
“Green.”
“You’re sure? Do we need a safeword review?”
Her brows quirked slightly. “No, Master.”
“So you’re green and ready to continue?”
Mara closer her eyes, appearing stoic. “Yes, Master.”
He paused. She wasn’t catching on. He’d need to step up the play.
“Good. Adele, Mara wants more. Why don’t you haul out a few of your special toys?”
Adele gave him an odd look. “Master Sean, I don’t—” she began, but Sean waived her off.
“I believe I saw an extra-large butt plug and a quirt in your bag. How does that sound, Mara?”
“Um, Master Sean…”
“A moment, Adele, I’m negotiating.” He stared at his trainee hard, hoping to convey his intent. “Color, sub.”
Mara’s lips compressed, before she replied, “Green.”
He delivered two corrective swats to her stubborn ass. She yelped, rightfully so if her ass smarted as much as his palm. “Give me the truth this time and without the scowl please.”
Her lips curled inward, over her teeth.
“I saw an enormous strap-on in her bag too, and some Astrogl
ide. Arturo the sadist is free tonight. I thought I might invite him in. While she plugs your ass and fucks your pussy, he can whip your tits raw with the quirt. What do you think?”
“Sean!” Adele protested.
He ignored her. “Say what you’re feeling, sub. We have two other colors for a very specific reason.”
“Yellow.”
“Ah, you can say the word. Good girl. And if I insisted you play out the scene as I laid it out? What would you say then?”
“Red.”
“Which would end the scene. Why is that, Mara?”
“Because I don’t want that, Master,” her response was barely a whisper, “and the choice is always mine.”
“What was that? Adele, did you hear what she said?”
Finally, the Domme clued in to his lesson and following his lead, replied, “No, I didn’t quite catch it. Say it again, Mara, so we can both hear?”
“Because the choice is always mine, dammit.” This came out as a shout. He grinned despite the disrespect.
“Exactly,” Sean approved, his hands cupping her cheeks and lifting her face to his. They stood nose to nose when he drove his point home. “If you don’t want or like something, Mara, I need to know it, without question.”
“You were making all of it up, weren’t you? Like with my list.”
“I was. No way in hell would I allow a sadist with a whip near your flawless skin. This was another lesson and I’ll keep testing until I trust you to use your safewords, understand?”
“But I don’t want to disappoint you, or Mistress Adele.”
“I appreciate that, baby, but you’re not doing either of us any favors by humoring us or god forbid faking it, which better not happen, ever.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Honest responses, Mara.” Lowering his head, he touched his lips to hers in the lightest of kisses. “I was thinking about moving things along by joining you.”
Her breath quickened and she smiled, approval of that plan plain to see.
“Would you like that, having both your Master and Mistress Adele in control of your body?”
Second Time Lucky (Club Decadence Book 5) Page 29
