by Sedona Venez
“So where is the man of the hour?” I asked casually, snagging a glass of champagne with a canapé from the passing waiter.
His jaw tightened. “Knox and Ryker had some business to attend to. They should be here shortly.”
“Strange. I don’t get this relationship between Ryker and Knox,” I stated casually, trying to get some gossip out of Bones. I really didn't understand how they knew each other. They both moved in completely different circles. Knox was all rocker and Ryker was all wolf-shifter. The combination didn't mix.
He nodded at a guest before responding. “How so?”
I stepped closer, not wanting to be overheard. “Come on, Bones. They both come from completely different worlds.”
His sky-blue eyes narrowed. “Wow, isn't that hypocritical? Especially given all the prejudice crap your family endures for being Fae-witches?”
“It wasn't meant to be prejudice. It was a logical question that's been bugging me. I just don't get why Ryker was so adamant about getting Knox an Other escort. You and I both know that it's just too dangerous.”
Bones raised an eyebrow. “What's so strange about it? Humans and Others hook up all the time. We just don't talk about it.”
I arched a brow.
He pushed me forward to escape a throng of exuberant partiers. He sighed heavily. “Knox is vital to Ryker,” he stated firmly.
I didn't have a chance to ask how before I saw Knox moving through the crowd, wearing a tux obviously made to accommodate his muscular frame. His green eyes narrowed on Bones, who immediately stepped away from me, his hands out.
“Whoa! Relax, Knox. I was just keeping her company while we waited for you to get here,” Bones said quickly before disappearing through the crowd.
Knox's eyes caressed me greedily. “You look beautiful.” His husky tone skated across my nerves, arousing my senses.
“Thank you,” I responded, deliberately keeping my tone cool.
My breath caught in my throat when he pressed a hand on my lower back, moving me through the crowd into a secluded corner. He swiftly turned me, letting his eyes rake over my body. “So, are you good with the paperwork I sent over?”
I squirmed remembering the documents that confirmed that he was disease free and healthy. A process we required for all clients and escorts as a matter of procedure, not necessity. Others by nature did not carry diseases and females did not get pregnant unless they were mate-claimed.
I looked at him coolly while my insides felt like jelly. “Yes, Knox, I did. You got mine, I gather.”
“Yes. So we're both healthy and disease free. I'm glad we got that bullshit out of the way.” His eyes held mine with cool intent that tightened my abdomen. “Because I don't want anything to interfere with my pleasure when I take you tonight.” He abruptly pinned me to his side, navigating us through the excited crowd, weaving through a hallway that led to stairs blocked by two men. They nodded at him, making way for us to go up the windy stairs.
My mind was still buzzing with all of the things I knew that he would want from me tonight. Frankly, I just wasn't sure that I was up to the task.
All business, he briskly pushed open the huge, ornate wood door, leading me inside. “This is my suite. And that’s the outfit I want you to wear.” He gestured over to the scraps of material lying on the bed. “Once you're done, Harper will be up to escort you down the back stairs to the show.”
I looked at the outfit and then back at him. “Outfit for what?”
“Your sexy dance performance.” His eyes were cold.
I poked him in the chest. “You are out of your damn mind. I'm not dancing, Knox.”
He crossed his arms, looking down at me like I was some misbehaving child. “Of course you are. I volunteered you to perform on stage like all the other females brought here by their Doms. It's for charity.”
I marched over to the bed, glaring at the black leather and lace corset bodysuit ensemble. “You think I'm going to do some strip show for some perverted old men to get their rocks off?”
“Don't forget the women too.” He smirked.
I tapped my foot. “You’re a fucking mean bastard. You know that, right?” Just when I thought we were making progress on the forgiveness front, we take three steps back. “What kind of game are you playing now?”
He stormed over to me, cupping my jaw. “When will you realize that this is not some game, Storm? Call it liberation. I'm unchaining you from your vanilla life.” He brushed his lips against mine. “You want this. You want to be onstage for me to see you touching your body in all of the naughty ways you want me to. Call it foreplay, baby. Getting me all ready to bend you over that bed and take you to heights you've never been.” He licked my lips before patting my ass. “Now get your ass in gear.” He turned on his heels, walking out of the room without a backward glance.
He was such a bastard. I slumped onto the bed, staring at the walls and not knowing what to do. My first instinct was to walk out of here and never turn back, but I knew that would only make him angry—so angry that he might do something I might regret… destroy Credence O. This was so wrong. I hadn't danced in years and taking my weekly cardio dance class did not count. Stripping off my dress, I pulled on the tighter-than-hell body suit that was cut so high in the back that my ass hung out. I gritted my teeth as I pulled on the shoes provided.
I'm going to kill that jackass. This was freaking maddening to know that not only was I Knox's private sex toy, but I was also his public one too. To make matters worse, there's nothing more frightening than a room full of rich Alpha men impatiently waiting for some balls-to-the-wall strip show like I was some agenda item at a quarterly board meeting.
The loud knock on the door sounded loudly and Light peeped in. Her eyes widened. “Damn, that's hot.”
“Oh, shut up! I'm freaking out here. I've been volunteered to shake my money maker”—I did air quotes—“for charity.”
Light smiled, blinking her eyelashes dramatically. “But it's for the children. Just think of all the families you’ll provide with affordable homes just by shaking that ass. Besides, it will be an enriching experience… for all involved.”
My fingers clenched. “Then why the hell don't you do it?”
Light fingered the body suit like it was a piece of art. “Are you out of your mind? You know I'm rhythmically challenged.” She bopped her head. “But you know that if I could, I damn well would. I'm an exhibitionist, baby, with not a shy bone in my damn body.”
That much was true. Now I was really annoyed at myself for panicking like some coward. I wasn't even a panic kind of girl. “I can't do this. I haven't danced since college.”
She smirked, walking around me with eyes wide. “Oh, give me a damn break. You shake that toned ass five days a week in cardio dance class. Shit, you could probably teach the class. That's how good you are.”
I adjusted the back of the corset in vain. My ass was determined to make an appearance. “This outfit is horrible.”
“It's H.O.T.” She dragged me over to the huge floor mirror tucked into the corner. I just stared in shock. The tight leather corset made my waist look extremely tiny, pushing up my breasts appealingly. The high-cut sides made my legs look long and sleek. She turned me around grandly. The lace-up back revealed a naughty glimpse of skin. My apple butt was tight with cheeks peeping out suggestively. Light looked down at my black Crystal cutout shoe booties. “And I want those damn shoes when you're done.”
“Light, this isn’t funny. I'm going to make an ass of myself.”
“You do know he's testing you.”
I wanted to laugh hysterically “Testing me to see if I'll break? Or testing me to see if I'll walk over and slap his ass for treating me like some dime store stripper?”
“Nope. Pushing your limits. Doms are very competitive. It's the ‘whose submissive can leave you wanting more’ showdown. And he’s going to put you on full blast in front of a room packed with experienced Doms who’ll be drooling when they see you o
n that stage. He wants them to know you’re his little sub.” She danced around me suggestively. “I think I'm in love with Knox,” she sang off-key. “He has a sadistic streak that is so enticing.”
I stepped forward and proceeded to wrap my hands around her neck in a playful choke and she playfully gagged. “Will you stop fucking around? I'm really stressed here.”
Totally ignoring me, she looked at the clock. “We've got to go. I promised Harper I'd get you down in time.” She hustled me out of the room and down the stairs into some backstage area packed with scantily dressed women as sensuous music whirled around me like a prelude to the main event.
I looked around at the stick-thin women with obviously fake breasts. And here I was, size nine, dressed in a leather corset so tight that my ample ass cheeks hung out saying hello.
Light's eyes narrowed on the blond-and-fit brigade and then back to me. “Oh no, you are not doing the self-conscious shit. You see them?” She pointed at them with a disdainful glare. “They need more bread in their lives. Their bodies look like young boys with fake boobs. Look at how they’re looking at you. They’re fucking jealous. You know why? You are fucking hot. So hot that if I wasn't your cousin, I'd switch to the other side.” She wagged her eyebrows suggestively.
I slapped her arm softly. I didn't know what I would do without her. “Okay, got it.”
My eyes locked onto the two bodyguards leaning against the wall, looking at me. No doubt reporting everything to Knox via earpieces. And from the smirks on their faces, they were enjoying watching me squirm. So I glared right back. If Knox was trying to teach me a lesson, then I was determined to teach him one too. That I wasn't the woman he pegged me for. Yes, I had issues, lots of them, but I wasn't the stuck-up, class-elite woman he thought I was.
The women skirted around me, looking at me with barely concealed disdain. Some smiled with admiration of my outfit. Some barely missed pushing me maliciously as they bustled over to check their makeup. It was a regular cat fest.
My eyes narrowed with warning on a woman who deliberately bumped me. “I have no idea what song to dance to. Maybe a circus theme song?”
Light winked at me. “Don't worry. Harper and I worked that out.”
Biting my bottom lip, I started to get real nervous. What if I tripped? What if I got stage fright? It was one thing dancing around in my living room, but in public? My stomach got that queasy feeling like I was on a roller coaster. Light grabbed my hand with a reassuring smile.
“Don't overthink this, Storm. You both want each other. So go out on that stage and show the uber Dom exactly what he's getting.”
I sighed heavily. “I'm the one who has to prance down that stage all exposed. So he's clearly in the position of power… this time.”
“True, but that's just part of the power dynamics. To make you feel powerless. But that's the misconception about D/s relationships. The truth of the matter is that sexual submissives have all of the power in the relationship.
I wanted to stamp my feet from frustration. “I'm not a submissive, Light! Please, will you stop?”
Light rolled her eyes. “What do you think all of this is about, Storm? Deny it all you want, but right now, you’re his submissive.”
I pursed my lips with disapproval. “And when did I agree to that?”
“The minute you agreed to become his escort. Come on. Let's be honest. You want this. You might as well put a big red bow around your ass and sit on his lap, declaring yourself as his gift.”
My heart raced. She was right. I did want this; I wanted to grab on to the freedom of not having to think every second. He was giving me that freedom. And after spending a lifetime of overthinking everything in my life, it was freeing but scary to put my trust in his hands. Granted, I wasn't there on the trust issue, but I knew that despite his sadistic streak, he wouldn't hurt me.
Light grabbed my face. “You can stop this play anytime you want. I don't give a shit about saving this business if you're unhappy or hurt over any of this. He won't hurt you, Storm. I can read him, and everything about him says he wants you. But it's up to you to take this leap of faith, knowing that if you do, you'll end up on your knees before him as his sub.”
I calmed my breathing. “How is it that I can walk into a room full of executives and give an off-the-cuff presentation without blinking an eye, but the thought of getting on that stage scares the shit out of me?”
“Because getting on that stage means that you have to let go of that leash you have on your emotions.”
Arching a brow, I looked at her, annoyed. “There’s a reason that I don’t get emotionally involved.”
“Don't go there, Storm. The curse doesn't mean we spend our lives as emotional cripples. He’s giving you an out for however long this lasts. Take it. Just live in the moment for once in your damn life.”
She was right. I wanted Knox. There was no need to deny that fact. But if he thought that this trip down memory lane was all about him, then he was dead wrong. The gloves were off and I would make sure he was ruined for any woman after me. My taste would always linger on his tongue and body. That was a promise.
“All right, let’s just do it. Be damned with the repercussions.”
Light clapped her hands, bouncing up and down with excitement. “Oh shit! Yes, the old kickass Storm is back. Knox is in trouble now.” Light reached over and snatched a jet-black fedora and a black men's tie off the dressing table. “Here're your props. Use it and abuse it as you strut your stuff.”
Slapping the hat on my head, I made short work with tying the tie loosely around my neck. “Okay, so how does this strip-a-thon work?”
“There's no stripping involved. It's really a bump-and-grind show that's almost burlesque.” She pointed over at a curvy, gorgeous redhead strutting across the stage with a feather fan twirling around her body seductively. Light pointed to the black button in each man's hand. “When a man likes what he sees, he presses the button to bid on the woman. The winning bid gets to have drinks with the woman after the show. You track the winning bid up there.” She pointed to the wide-screen anchored discreetly near the ceiling.
We looked back at the woman twisting her body sexily. Frankly, I've never seen anything so seductive. But the men looked absolutely bored as they ignored her, talking business loudly. They blew cigar smoke in the air and slammed alcohol-filled glasses on the stage. Her eyes widened as she tried to maneuver around glasses without sloshing them. It was a mess. She glanced up at the wide-screen, her mouth tightening at the flashing $1000. Abruptly, she gave the men the middle finger before stomping off the stage.
I looked at Light, perplexed. “What happened? A thousand is good, right?”
Light arched a brow. “The woman before her got a ten thousand-dollar bid.” Her cell buzzed. “That's Harper. She said you're next.”
My stomach fluttered nervously. “Okay, what song will I be making a fool of myself to?”
“Don't worry about it. We got you.” Light shoved me forward.
The music lowered as Harper sauntered across the stage. “Doms, the next beautiful submissive to take the stage was brought to you by Mr. Gunner. He calls her Breaking the Storm.”
I tapped my foot grumpily. “For the last fucking time, I’m not a submissive.”
“Oh, shut up and dance,” Light said before shoving me through the curtains.
“You little…” I sputtered. My body froze and I just stood there with all eyes on me. I counted at least thirty men of every ethnic background and age sitting in expensive leather chairs surrounding the wide stage designed to look like an actual boardroom table.
I instantly recognized the heavy, sensuous beat of the music as it thumped and echoed throughout the room. Damn those two. They picked Knox's hit single for me to dance to. I blew out anxiously, feeling like I was about to throw up. Damn, maybe I should just concede victory to Knox and go home with my tail between my legs. That's when I saw Knox with his wide muscular back deliberately turned away from me,
in what I knew was an intentional you're not even worth paying attention to slap in the face. Okay, Mr. Gunner, it's time to wipe that fucking disdain from your face.
“Let's get ready to rumble… New York style,” I mumbled under my breath as I paraded about a bit before strutting my stuff. Releasing all of the tension, my body relaxed, fully taking in the magnitude of the utter power and sexiness of my captive audience. Unleashed dominance pulsed around me. Yep, I could do this. It was Seduction 101, and from the lustful hooded stares of the men that were now sitting up at attention, they were very interested in seeing exactly what I brought to the freaky boardroom.
Licking my lips seductively, I flipped my hair, strutting forward with a deliberate sway to my hips. Chest out. Head up. My gaze swept to every man as a hush filled the room. Knox turned around, giving me a blank stare.
The lights flashed while the music wove a hard rhythm around me. I loosened the tie, running it through my hands seductively, then over my shoulders. A man with sexy black hair peppered with gray at the temple beckoned me over with a nod. Placing one foot directly in front of the other, I strutted over, proud and sexy.
Twirling the tie in my hand a couple of times before leaning forward with my stomach in and ass out, I swung the tie around his neck to draw him close. Gracefully swaying my hips from left to right as his eyes followed my hips in perfect synchrony. Releasing my grip on the tie and with a simple lift of my leg, my heel dug into his wide, muscular shoulder. His eyes dilated, turning a light yellow. A tiger-shifter. Bumping my hips sensually, I glanced at the wide-screen. The bid was at $80,000.
“Absolutely beautiful,” he said with a sexy Texas drawl. He pressed the button, moving the highest bid to $110,000. “You, I definitely want.”
“Tiger, you might be asking for way more trouble than you can handle,” I responded with a wink before digging my heel deliberately farther into his broad shoulder, knowing that the pinch of my heel would give him what he wanted—pain. A growl rumbled deep in his chest, his hands clenching his glass. Just like I thought, the tiger was into pain. He pressed the bid button again.
