“Is that a complaint?” Finn teased, nudging her gently with his hip. “I'm not sure I'd enjoy sharing this delightful little body with another man, but if it's something you're inquisitive about, we could maybe discuss a one-time-only deal.”
Ava stumbled, righted herself, then gaped up at him. “You'd seriously consider it?”
He shrugged, a seed of jealousy already burrowing into his consciousness and turning him green. “You tell me it's a genuine fantasy you'd like to explore, I'll see what I can do. Of course, including a second man would involve some stipulations. Preferably where he's blindfolded, handcuffed, and gagged throughout.”
“Well, that's just mean.” She snorted in amusement. “Why would you make him do all that?”
Finn grabbed her elbow and swung her around, tapping her back against a streetlight. “Because I don't often share, darlin'. It's not in my nature. What's mine is invariably mine.” He ducked his head and ran his nose up her throat. “So, were I to cave to your fantasy, I'd make fucking sure he couldn't see, touch, or taste you. Hell, I might even stick a pair of headphones on the bastard so he can't hear your cries when you come all over our cocks.”
Her eyes dilated so quickly, Finn understood what might have been a curious thought had just become a real fantasy. And damn him, he couldn't help dipping his fingers into the pot and stirring her into a frenzy. “My, my. A certain dirty minx likes the sound of that, doesn't she?” he crooned against her ear. “If I finger your tight little cunt here on the street, I'll find it wet and wanting, won't I? Think you could take two big...thick...long cocks, darlin'?”
A gaggle of young people passed behind them, and Finn glanced over his shoulder to make sure they kept going. They were no older than Ava, more early twenties, but he didn't need to bring trouble down on his head in public. He was a well-built guy hunching over a much smaller female; it wouldn't surprise him if someone stopped to check that Ava wasn't being held against her will. But they did indeed keep going with wild giggles and a couple of flirtatious looks he cast aside.
Ava's hand slid over the front of his jeans, cupping his cock in her small palm. He jerked in response, feeling his erection swell to almost painful proportions as her fingers tried to grip him through the denim. He rewarded her pluck with a slow roll of his hips, thrusting into her touch. “Is taking two an order or a request, Master Finnegan?”
He shouldn't be doing this out on the street, he reminded himself. Black Light was two minutes away, less if he threw her over his shoulder and ran. But his blood was gasoline and her words the single spark needed to set him ablaze. “Your fantasy, darlin'. Are you gonna be a good girl and play nice, or am I going to have to...convince you to do as you're told?”
She moaned quietly. “Tough choice, Sir. I think, as my Master, you should probably do whatever you like. If I'm a b-bad girl,” she said hesitantly, her confidence sliding, “then maybe you should definitely convince me.”
“You surprise me, Ava, continuously.” Finn stepped back, linking his fingers with hers as she processed what she'd just said. Fantasies were all good until shit got real. “Take some time and think about it, darlin'. If you're sure, we'll make it happen. If not...well, teasing you with it should be entertaining. Until then, I have the perfect idea for a scene tonight.”
She recovered faster than he expected, her heels stepping into sync with his boots on the sidewalk. “Should I be worried?”
“Are you asking if you're in trouble for hiding the knife in the coffee shop? No, you're not. Extenuating circumstances are going to spare your ass from a tanning, little dove, but don't expect leniency if you try it again. We met Madeline for a reason and that reason is to move forward.” Finn stopped outside the psychic shop and turned to face her. “Moving forward means not holding onto the small stuff, Ava. Hiding the knife was wrong but using it would've been worse. So, we'll say it's forgiven and—”
“Move forward,” she finished quietly.
“Exactly. Ready to go back to the place we first met, little dove?”
The shadows in her eyes cleared and she smiled at him. “Seems like forever since I walked up onto that stage, scared stupid and in those ridiculous heels Rosie lent me.”
“The ones that almost broke your neck when one snapped,” Finn recalled with a chuckle. “Caught you before you smashed this pretty face on the floor. Thought I'd captured a butterfly, all fragile wings and skinny legs, but it turned out I penned a nervous filly with more spirit than I gave her credit for.”
“Does that make you my stallion?” she asked impishly, fluttering her lashes at him.
“It certainly makes me yours,” he replied as he reached for the door and pushed it inward, spilling out the scent of incense and what he considered woo-woo stuff. Herbal, cleansing, refreshing. More like home than the aromas of the city. “Home sweet home.”
She fell into step, not beside him, but a fraction behind. He felt the slightest tug on his waistband as her finger threaded through a belt loop. An action of her doing, not by his request. It was gratifying to see she took her own steps toward obtaining submission rather than waiting for cues from him.
Jaxson, Emma, and Chase Cartwright-Davidson had built a safe haven for those in the lifestyle who could afford the privacy they offered at both Black Light East and West. Everyone involved—staff and members alike—were subject to security clearances. It was a members-only playground and admission came at a hefty price. Money was nothing compared to the reassurance that what happened in Black Light stayed there, as long as the rules were abided by.
Break the rules, break the law, and membership could be revoked in an instant.
The same wizened old lady who'd manned the store counter on Roulette night was there again. Finn suspected she hadn't moved since that night—even her clothes looked familiar. Aged eyes barely glanced at him or Ava as they walked past her to the curtain at the back of the store.
Speaking of membership...Finn paused and drew his wallet from inside his jacket, rifling through the worn leather sheath for the obsidian black card which bore no names, no numbers, no identifying marks. He kept the card in his hand but tucked the wallet away. Tugging the curtain opening, he offered the man hidden on the other side of the cloth a smile.
The guard dog at the gate to heaven.
“Evening, Luis.” Finn greeted quietly, keeping his voice low.
Luis was an impressive specimen. As wariness changed to recognition in those dark, Hispanic eyes, Finn was grateful he didn't have a beef with the guy. He wasn't entirely sure who'd come out on top. He didn't know how the man had gained the nasty scar bisecting the rugged face, but he wasn't about to ask. “Good evening, sir. Ma'am,” he said with a nod to Ava. “Membership card, please.”
Finn flashed it, got an approving smile in return. It was quite astounding how an upward lift of a mouth could alter the whole appearance of someone's demeanor.
“Thank you. Danny will be waiting for you at the end of the corridor to sign you in. Have a good evening.”
“Same to you, Luis.” Finn moved to the top of the short set of steps leading down into the tunnel connecting the shop to Black Light, sliding his hand to the small of Ava's back to guide her down. The passageway was aglow with neon lights; the memory of what waited at the end was like having spurs dug into his sides. “I hope you're not as nervous as you were the first time, Ava.”
“No, Sir. This time, I don't have to worry who I'll be partnered with or whether he'll like me. Whether I'll ruin his evening by being a complete failure at submission.” Her voice echoed in the empty space. “We needed this, didn't we? I love playing at home but there's an atmosphere here that...I don't know how to say it. I mean, I've only been here once and after I found you, after the awkwardness faded, it's like the raw, anxious parts of me just smooth out and calm like they do at home, but faster.”
She wasn't speaking of the place. Finn understood what she was trying to say better than she could explain it. What she described was submi
ssion. And like his theory on God, submission didn't require a house in which to worship it. Submission came from inside a person, a need to please and obey. But, like a religious person attending their place of worship, there was a stronger psychological connection gained from being around the same type of people.
Saints and sinners, he thought wryly.
It was easier to accept submission when those around you submitted. He got the same rush from being around Dominants. There was a headiness to being in the fold of power, to sit among those of the same mindset, and he imagined submissives radiated their own energy when they congregated in places such as this.
Fascinating, really.
“Maybe we should think about coming more often. My membership is paid up and it would be a simple matter to get yours. We could make it a monthly thing, come down to D.C. for a weekend so you can stay in touch with Rosie, check in with Madeline if you want to. Ranch life is consuming, Ava, and it can get lonely after a while. Touching base with civilization regularly might be good for us both.”
“Civilization isn't all that,” she replied, taking a deep breath as they approached the door leading to the club locker room. “When chaos lives in your head, finding peace is a miracle. The ranch is my miracle, Finn. You're my miracle.”
Finn stopped, his heart doing a weird twisting dance in his chest. She slayed him when she came out with this stuff, giving him glimpses into how he made her feel. He wanted to know, needed to be sure he was doing the right thing for her. Apparently, he was hitting the mark when it came to keeping her happy. “I love you, Ava. If anyone deserves a miracle, it's you.”
She tottered on her heels to face him, peering up at him with guileless blue eyes. “I thank God every day that I found someone who loves me almost as much as I love him. I never had a prayer answered before you.”
He leaned down, his empty hand on her waist, and kissed her. Softly, as though she might shatter at the slightest contact. Who knew what the night would bring, but in this moment, he was just a man besotted with his woman. His heart was in her hands. “Let's see if God will answer another one by the time I'm finished with you tonight, little dove. I'm going to make you sing.”
The sassy minx began to hum the pop version of Hallelujah under her breath.
Challenge accepted, he thought with a grin, opening the door into the final security barrier before the club proper became available. He ushered her inside and let the door snap shut behind them, nudging her toward the desk where a familiar face waited for them.
“Master Finnegan, Ava. It's been a while.” Danny leaned back in his chair and pursed his lips. “I haven't seen you since Roulette night.”
“Yet you remember our names,” Finn answered with a light laugh. “I'm impressed.”
Danny tapped a finger to his temple. “The vault of names and faces. It's rare I forget either. It's a pleasure to see you both back here, we thought you'd forgotten about us.” He accepted Finn's membership card, picking up a small black scanner which emitted a bright blue light as he waved it over the card. A barcode appeared and Danny checked the details transmitted to his computer. “All's present and correct, Master Finnegan. Thank you,” he said and returned the card. “All valuables and electronics to be placed in the locker, and you'll need to sign your submissive in for the evening with Maureen.” He gestured to the small window further along the wall.
“About that.” Finn retrieved his wallet and returned the membership card to its rightful slot. “Who do we need to talk to about either upgrading to a couples' membership or purchasing one for Ava? We're thinking about making regular trips, and it seems more productive for both of us to be members.”
“Smart thinking. I'd say a couples' deal would be more beneficial for you, but you'd need to discuss it with Spencer. He's on DM duty tonight, so you'll see him making his rounds. Just ask him for a few minutes and I'm sure he'll oblige. We'll get Ava signed in for tonight, and hopefully we can get that all sorted and in place for you before you leave.”
“There's no rush,” Finn assured him. “We're hoping to come back tomorrow night before we leave for home on Sunday.”
“Busy weekend, huh?” Danny reached into his desk and pulled out some papers. “If you can give these a quick read through to refresh yourself on the rules, and sign and date before you give them to Maureen. There's the non-disclosure agreement there too. You filled them out for Roulette, but we'll do them again for the sake of thoroughness.” He dug back into his desk and rolled a pen onto the desk as Ava inched forward and looked over the papers.
Her hand trembled as she picked up the pen and signed her name to the necessary sheets, dating them in neat handwriting. She clutched them against her chest like a shield.
“Once you’ve given those to Maureen, you’re all done. Enjoy your evening.” Danny winked.
Master Finnegan slid into place. “Any objection to my sub stripping out here? I'd prefer to store her clothes for the evening so I don't have to worry about carrying them around.”
Ava's mouth dropped open comically.
“Not a problem for me. Maureen can check them in at the window if you don’t want to stash them in the locker with your valuables.” Danny didn’t blink an eye at the request.
Finn took his phone and wallet out of his jacket, walking over to the locker to lock them away for the night. He tugged his membership card out of his wallet before he closed the door, tucking it into his pocket in case he needed it. Absolutely no recording devices were permitted inside Black Light. Understandable, considering the caliber of clientele and what some of them did for jobs. A photo or video of certain senators, rock stars, movie stars, lawyers and the like engaging in the kind of kink that went on inside these walls could be catastrophic for their careers.
No, not could, he corrected himself. Would. Reality wasn't kind to those in the lifestyle.
He closed the locker and, stripping out of his own jacket, faced Ava. His poor sub was frozen by the desk, probably trying to decide if he was joking or not. He made it easier for her. “Lose the jacket, Ava, and everything but the corset.” He rubbed his chin. “Actually, we might as well go for broke. Take it all off and fold your clothes neatly on Master Danny's desk.”
She fidgeted. She squirmed. Her feet turned in until the toes of her boots touched. He noticed how she rubbed her forearm firmly after she placed the papers on the desk, squaring her shoulders and wriggling out of her jacket. There was a mulish expression in her eyes as she neatly folded it and set it aside.
The boots came next, toed off and picked up, laid on their side on top of the jacket. Losing them returned his height advantage and emphasized how small she was compared to him. Restored the Dominant-submissive balance in a manner that seemed to sink into her brain and mellow the remnants of her resistance.
Finn folded his arms over his chest, enjoying the methodical revealing of what was his. That body belonged to him, and an idea was stirring in his head as to how to make sure everyone knew it. Tattooing Property of Finn McLeod on her ass probably wouldn't go down well with Ava, and they both needed to be happy with the final result.
It would be permanent, after all.
Black slacks slithered over her hips, pooled around her bare feet. In the neon lights, the V of her pussy was shadowed, alluring. Delectably naked. He was definitely satisfied with the panty ban; he was inclined to keep it for the foreseeable future. Tormenting himself with the knowledge she was always bare, always available, was a distraction, but one he could afford.
When she stepped out of the puddle of fabric and bent over, Finn saw Danny's eyebrow flick up in approval. She was certainly giving the Black Light Master a view to remember, whether she was aware of it or not. He grinned when she straightened and folded the slacks—her face was so flushed, there was no doubt in his mind she was hyper-aware of which direction her pussy was aimed.
Just the corset to go. Finn crooked his finger at his sub, and after the briefest hesitation, Ava shuffled toward him. Eyes d
owncast, her body stiff with embarrassment, she waited for his next order. “You're doing well, Ava. Good girl. Face Master Danny and I'll unfasten your corset for you.”
Her shoulders sagged. “Thank you, Master Finnegan.”
“My pleasure, little dove,” he responded cheerfully, stroking down her arms when she gave him her back. Little trembles shivered under her skin as his fingers attacked the tiny hooks keeping the garment in position. Bit by bit, tantalizing inch by tantalizing inch, the material spread apart to reveal the long, lean column of her back.
Her hands automatically lifted to her breasts to hold the fabric up as the last hooks popped free. Finn gave her a sharp pop on the ass. “Drop them, Ava. We're taking it off, not hiding those pretty breasts behind it. Drop them,” he repeated in a low voice, “and just relax, little dove.” He skimmed a fingertip up her spine. “Trust me.”
Her arms fell to her sides. He eased the corset off her shoulders, down her arms, and off. Naked as the day she was born, she stood in front of two Doms and didn't have an anxiety attack. Pride didn't come close to what he felt in that moment.
Leaving her there, he scooped his jacket off the floor and tugged a slim black box from the outside pocket. He dropped the coat on top of Ava's pile of clothing and stepped in front of her, tipping her head back with the softest nudge. “I think this might be an excellent opportunity to make things official, little dove.” He snapped the box open, suddenly nervous that his choice wouldn't be to Ava's taste. “Kinda seems fitting to offer you this here, where we began. Would you allow me to put it on you, knowing what it means?”
Black Light: Branded Page 22
