She shook her head, pleased that he asked her opinion after telling her he would be choosing everything for her as they left the house. He’d also checked to make sure she liked red wine before ordering. She had yet to take a sip. He hadn’t given her permission, and it seemed prudent to wait for him to do so. “I’m not a picky eater.”
“Good.” He released her right hand. “Try the wine.”
She loved the way he controlled everything in a subtle enough fashion that no one else would notice even if they were sitting next to them.
She lifted her glass and took a sip. It was dry with a hint of blackberry. “Mmm. It’s good.”
He gripped her leg between his and slid it a few inches out, widening her thighs more.
While she was struggling with the fact that her bare pussy was exposed so blatantly under the table, the waiter reappeared.
Rowen ordered, but she didn’t listen to a word he said. Instead, she concentrated on easing her other knee over to touch his.
“Faith,” he admonished as the waiter walked away.
She swallowed and spread her legs apart again. “Sorry, Sir. Instinct.”
He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. “Look at me, sweet girl.”
She lifted her gaze.
“That’s my girl. Have you ever submitted to anyone in public?”
“No, Sir. Not like this. Not outside of the club. Not so…thoroughly. Playfully on occasion, maybe.”
“Scale of one to ten, how aroused are you?” He leaned forward, holding her hand tighter.
“Eleven…Sir.”
His smile grew. “Then I’m doing my job. Let it go. Give me control.”
She held his gaze, finding it hard to breathe. “Yes, Sir.” For the first time since he’d arrived at her apartment, she let her shoulders relax and blew out a breath. She could do this. Trust him. She needed to stop wondering what anyone was thinking and trust him to make the right decisions for her. He had never failed her yet.
“That’s a girl. Let go of the reins. I’ve got you. Your only job is to obey me. For the entire evening let all that control you usually exert go.”
She nodded, swallowing for the millionth time.
He lifted his wine and took another sip, nodding toward her as he did so.
The nonverbal permission was welcomed. She needed the fortification of a few glasses of wine. And it was a delicious Malbec, the perfect blend. Expensive.
She took a few sips, savoring the flavors on her tongue as she thought about her parents’ wine cellar. They probably had a thousand bottles, every one of which cost more than this bottle. But Faith wasn’t a wine snob. She appreciated a good vintage, but she would never be able to tell the difference between a fifty-dollar bottle and a five-hundred-dollar bottle.
In reality she doubted her father could either, but he liked to talk the talk.
As if Rowen read her mind, he asked her about her family. “Tell me about your sister.”
“Hope?” She flinched as she set her glass down.
“Do you have more than one?”
“No, Sir. I do not. One is enough. Someone should have cut my parents off at zero,” she muttered.
He stiffened.
She hastened to get back on track. “Hope is bubbly and fun. She has always fit in better than me. Played the game. I can’t stand the thought of meeting whoever this man is she’s reportedly smitten with.”
“Why?” He cocked his head to one side.
Faith shrugged. How much should she tell him? Was he trying to gather information for tomorrow night? Because she was still committed to ensuring tomorrow night never happened.
She did not, however, want to ruin this perfect evening by bringing up their never-going-to-happen dinner with her family. “It will make me sad to find out she’s involved with someone she doesn’t even like.”
He jerked in his seat. “Why do you think she doesn’t like her boyfriend? You’ve never met him.”
“Because that’s how things work in my world. My mother probably picked him out. Or he’s the son of some important politician my father knows. I doubt Hope even met him before my mother had the wedding invitations ordered. Trust me. She tried the same stunt with me many times.”
“Come on.” He rolled his eyes. “Surely you’re exaggerating.”
When he said things like that, she thought maybe she should go ahead with dinner tomorrow just to show him the truth. It was a catch-22. Lose-lose. Which was worse? Having him break things off with her because she refused to take him? Or allowing him to learn the harsh reality that was her life before turning away and running as fast as he could?
She licked her lips just before he reached forward and brushed his thumb across the bottom one. “Makes my cock hard when you do that.”
She met his gaze. Did that mean he wanted her to stop, or keep doing it? She didn’t ask.
He released her lip slowly. “Go on. You were explaining the ancient practice of arranged marriages.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Rowen, if you want me to open up, you can’t mock me the entire time. It doesn’t make me feel safe and willing to share.” She stiffened, not sure how he would take her abrupt change of demeanor from pliant submissive to feisty bitch.
He slid his hand up her arm and tugged her forward with a grip on her shoulder until their faces were inches apart. “You’re right. I apologize. I shouldn’t be so judgmental. I’ve never walked in your shoes. I haven’t met your parents. Perhaps they’re ogres.” He smoothed his hand back down her arm and took her fingers in his again. “I promise to stop interrupting you. Please, continue.”
She glanced at her wine.
“Go ahead, sweet girl. You have permission to drink that wine at whatever speed you’d like, but I’ll decide when to refill your glass.”
“Thank you, Sir.” She lifted the glass and took another sip, finding it interesting how he managed to manipulate even that small thing.
“Your sister,” he prompted.
“It will hurt me if I don’t think she’s happy. I’m worried I’ll find her acting fake and subservient to both him and our parents, going along with a relationship to a man she isn’t interested in. I’d hate to see her spend her life in a loveless marriage of convenience just to appease my mother.”
He nodded slowly, seemingly taking in her words. Finally, he spoke. One word. “Subservient?” One corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk.
She laughed, realizing how funny that sounded. “There’s a difference, you know. I’m submissive by nature and by choice. And only to men who make my entire body flush with need under their command. It makes my heart race to submit to you. And it doesn’t extend to my professional life or have any correlation with my actual domineering personality—the one I exude all day when I’m in charge of ensuring hundreds of people enjoy a charity event.”
He didn’t move.
She leaned closer. “It’s heady to submit to you. Not the same thing at all as being kowtowed into doing someone else’s bidding completely against my will. It’s not like my sister has a safeword.”
“I understand. Thank you for your honesty.”
“You’re welcome, Sir.” She relaxed a bit more at his praise.
The food arrived, forcing Rowen to release her hand. The waiter set three platters down in the center of the table, family style, before placing a clean plate in front of each of them.
After Rowen assured him they had everything they needed, the waiter left.
“Sir, this is enough food for half the restaurant.”
He smiled. “Don’t worry. Just eat what you want. If there’s much left, we’ll take the leftovers to the club. The guys will go crazy over it in the breakroom.”
Good. She hated the thought of throwing over half of this spread away. She had never felt right about wasting food.
Rowen kept her leg hostage between his throughout the meal, but other than that he didn’t make her uncomfortable in any way. He served her, dishing food onto
her plate, but only after checking with her first and giving her the amount she indicated.
His method of dominance made her come alive. She found she liked it. A lot. He didn’t force her to eat more or less than she wanted, but he did control when she would be served and point at her silverware to indicate she had permission to begin. Subtle commands. He was completely in charge, and yet no one around them knew. Faith knew, however. And it was hot.
He let her wine glass remain empty for a while before filling it, thus controlling how much she drank without making an issue out of when she chose to do so or at what speed. Genius.
When she was full, she set her fork across the plate and took a long drink of water. “That was delicious, Sir.”
“I’m glad you liked it. I come here often. Both the food and the service are supreme.” He sat back, sipping his wine while staring at her over the lip of the glass. “We should discuss what we’re planning to do at the club tonight.”
“Yes.” Their dynamic was important. She’d thought about it several times during the week.
“Carter said Brooke came in Wednesday night and asked for an appointment with you for tonight.”
“Oh, good. I felt bad cancelling on her. I’m glad she came in anyway. She’s never come when the club was open.”
“Is that something you’d like to do? Domme for her tonight?”
“If it’s okay with you, Sir, I’d like to work with her. She’s…I don’t know…skittish. I’ve never seen her submit to a man, but I don’t get the feeling she’s interested in women, sexually, I mean. I’m afraid she’s been burned in the past and doesn’t trust easily.”
He nodded. “I’ve heard a few details. The guys were talking about her the other night while we were playing poker.”
Faith furrowed her brow, running her finger along the edge of her glass as she considered his words. “Is that appropriate, Sir?”
He leaned forward, setting his elbows on the table. “You mean discussing someone from the club?”
“Yes.” It made her nervous. Lines could be crossed. Did they discuss me too? There were club rules to protect people’s anonymity. Being a member of a fetish club was something people took very seriously. If their privacy was in jeopardy…
“Faith, look at me.”
She lifted her gaze.
“I’m part owner of Zodiac. You have to know I would never engage in or condone any discussion that was unethical.”
She nodded.
“My poker group is composed of employees only. Lincoln and Carter and I, in addition to three other employees who have worked there for years. Tyler, Aaron, and Dayton. Occasionally when it’s necessary, we do discuss members, but only when we feel like something needs to be addressed.”
“Okay, Sir.”
“Members are never present when we discuss them, and we do not gossip.”
She nodded again, half hating herself for doubting him and half concerned still about what had been said about her. “Did you…discuss me, Sir?”
He hesitated for a moment and then answered. “Yes, but only because my employees were curious about us. They’ve seen us leave together. They’re wondering if I’m topping you or vice versa.” He grinned.
“Did you tell them?” She sounded breathless even to her own ears.
“Nope. And I can only imagine how hard they’ve been scratching their heads in confusion.”
Her heart resumed its regular rhythm. He hadn’t told them. Not even his own employees. He’d let them believe he might be a switch just to protect her. Holy shit.
He cocked his head to one side. “I’m only speaking of Aaron, Tyler, and Dayton, of course. I’m sure Sasha does not keep secrets from Lincoln. I can also assure you Lincoln would never break that confidence. As for Carter, we’ve been friends for fourteen years. He knows me well. He hasn’t asked, but he’s not stupid.”
She nodded. Of course.
Rowen jerked her back to the more important subject. “As for Brooke, I’m going to permit you to do a scene with her tonight, but I want you to understand my reasons.”
“Okay, Sir.” Her heart pounded.
He stared at her for a long time, tapping his fingers on the table. So long she fought the urge to squirm. Finally, he cleared his throat. “For one thing, I’m concerned about Brooke. She seems to thrive best under your domination. I hope you can break through and help her. Maybe you can get her to talk to you.”
Faith nodded. That had been her intention the last time she dominated Brooke, but the redhead had clammed up and said nothing. She wanted to try again. This would be their first public scene.
“Another reason I’m going to consent is because I think it would be good for you to switch tonight to see how it makes you feel. You’ve been in a new role for the first time in a long time, submitting to me for the past week. You need to make some decisions for yourself. You can’t hide forever. I think dominating Brooke will help you get inside your head and figure yourself out. Do you want to go back to topping? Do you want to switch? Or are you in a place where you want to give up dominating to submit to someone instead?”
She winced at his word choice that did not specifically indicate he meant to be the one who dominated her if she chose that path. What he didn’t realize was that she would not submit to someone else. If he left her, she would be right where she started, floundering in a world where she didn’t quite fit in.
He continued. “There’s one more reason I’m going to permit you to top Brooke and that’s because I like the way you asked my permission. I like the fact that you’re taking this thing between us seriously. I like that you recognize you’re mine tonight and don’t automatically get to decide what you will and won’t be doing in the club.”
“Thank you, Sir.” She sat up straighter, feeling pleased with herself at the way she’d diplomatically handled things.
He grabbed her hand again, pulling it to his face to stroke her knuckles against his cheek. “Do not take advantage of this concession, Faith. You have permission to dominate one person tonight. Brooke. No one else. Don’t ask.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“I’ll let you decide whether or not you want to come out to other members tonight. I’ll totally understand if you’d prefer to keep our arrangement secret for now. It’s new. It’s admittedly precarious. I’ll be watching you top Brooke, of course. But I won’t say a word. You think about how you want me to dominate you before and after you do this scene. Secretly or publicly. I won’t hold it against you either way.”
She had mixed emotions about his statement. On the one hand, she was glad he was giving her options. He could have demanded she bottom for him without discussion. On the other hand, it spoke volumes about how far he saw their relationship going that he would keep it behind closed doors. Nowhere.
He tugged her hand as he leaned forward, silently asking her to do the same. When their faces came together, he kissed her lips gently. “You’re still mine tonight. All night. You’ll use the apparatus of my choosing for Brooke and follow my instructions with regard to timing and boundaries. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” She was breathless. As usual. In addition, her belly clenched, the need to be fucked right on the edge. She had no idea how she was going to dominate another person knowing Rowen was watching so intently. Was it possible for her to dominate someone while under the control of another?
She prayed it looked like the way he dominated her during dinner. Giving her options in a controlled environment.
Chapter 23
Rowen leaned against the wall in the darkest corner of Zodiac and watched as Faith prepared for her scene.
Brooke stood to one side, shuffling her feet as she distributed her weight back and forth between legs. She rubbed her arms several times.
Faith stepped over to her and whispered something in her ear.
Brooke nodded and then lowered her gaze and grasp her hands behind her back. She also planted her feet shoulder-width apart and stopped fidgeti
ng.
Faith was good. She was amazing actually.
Rowen had watched her perform like this several times, but this was the first time he was doing so overtly with Faith fully aware of his presence and the fact that he’d given her strict instructions about her scene.
It was still her scene. He wouldn’t interfere in Brooke’s experience just to keep Faith in her place. That wouldn’t be fair to Brooke.
Rowen had given Faith a choice of several apparatus to use tonight. He hadn’t been surprised when she chose the new spider web. He’d had daydreams of attaching Faith to the same piece of equipment one day. It didn’t shock him that she was lured to the web also.
He had given her permission to use whatever toys Brooke desired as long as blood wasn’t drawn, but he had not agreed to Brooke being naked.
It wasn’t that he thought it mattered one way or the other with regard to Faith. He wasn’t worried about her arousal or how she felt when she topped a nude submissive. She had already told him she didn’t get aroused dominating others. He trusted her.
No. He had other motives. One was that he didn’t recall ever having seen Brooke naked inside the club, so he felt confident the redhead wouldn’t likely request such a thing.
But the main reason why Rowen had set that boundary and several others was because he wanted to impose his will on Faith in subtle, unmistakable ways. He had also insisted she remain completely clothed, wear her heels, and keep the scene under an hour. He’d added the part about her heels simply because he liked to watch her shapely legs while she moved.
Faith had readily agreed to his demands, keeping her head bowed and her submission to him at the forefront while he spoke to her in his office earlier. When she’d questioned Brooke’s aftercare, Rowen had assured her he would arrange for Carter to step in and take over after the scene. It was obvious Carter had an interest in Brooke, and Rowen knew without a doubt his friend would see to her care.
Before they’d headed downstairs, he’d given her one last challenge. A choice. Either she could leave quietly with him after the scene and go to his apartment, or he would arrange to dominate her in a private room of the club. People might notice she went into the room with him, but they would not know what happened after the door closed or who topped whom. Let them wonder.
Obeying Rowen Page 21
