Master of Mine: Masters of Haven Book One

by Dark, Raven

  Jesus, was she that terrified of him?

  He cleared his throat and opened his beer, tossing the cap with the rest of the mess on the table. “You missed class.”

  Her head bowed. “I know. I’m sorry.” When she glanced up and saw him watching her, she looked at the table. “I couldn’t… I just…” Her lips pressed together.

  “You just…?”

  She pushed to her feet, pacing the room and twisting her hands.

  God, he hated this. Hated to see her struggling. He breathed through his nose and stood up, setting the beer down. “Look. Gwen, if I scared you, I’m sorry.”

  She stopped with her back to him and ran a hand down her face. Shook her head with what sounded like a shaky laugh.

  If she would just talk to him. He wanted to cross the room and draw her into his arms. But if she was afraid of him, it would only make her retreat further.

  “If I upset you, I get that, but you have to talk about it. Communication is vital. I can’t teach you properly if I don’t know your triggers.”

  She turned, cocking her head at him. “Triggers? You think… oh god.” She shook her head.

  “I want to work this out, but you can’t just take off like that.”

  This time, she put her head back and dropped her arms. “Shit. Master Archer, you don’t get it. You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “Then what the hell happened?”

  Gwen turned her back to him, letting out a strangled sound. She covered her face with a frustrated moan.

  “Gwen, for god sake, just spit it out.”

  She drew a long breath and let it out without facing him. Dropping her hands to her sides, “I wasn’t scared, Master Archer.”

  He growled. “If you weren’t scared, then how hard can it be to talk about it?”

  “You have no idea.”

  He strode to her and grabbed her shoulder. “Damn it, will you look at me? What’s wrong?”

  “Just…” Gwen spun. Shame flashed across her face. “I wasn’t scared when you put your hand on my throat, okay? I was turned on.”

  10

  Epiphany

  It was out. Archer knew, and there was no putting the genie back in the bottle. Archer’s eyes widened. “What?”

  Clearly he’d heard her. Was he freaked? If nothing else, he had to understand now why she’d avoided him. After all, how was she supposed to explain to her sensei that the feel of his hand at her throat had made her whole body hum with instant, powerful need?

  Need for him.

  Every time she closed her eyes, she envisioned him bending her over her kitchen table and tearing off her clothes, ignoring her struggles and taking what he wanted. Telling her to shut her mouth and quit fighting, she wouldn’t get away from him. How on earth did she tell him that? But she had all but done so now.

  She let out a mortified groan and spun away from him, striding across the room. “What kind of a girl gets turned on by a guy putting a hand on her throat, Archer?”

  A long sigh left him. “You might be surprised how many people would react the way you did. It’s not as uncommon as you think.”

  She stared at him.

  “It’s just a kink. Everyone has a kink of some kind. I like when a woman fights me. You just happen to like a guy’s hand on your throat.”

  She blew out a breath and ran her hands down her thighs, wiping the sweat from her palms. “God, this is embarrassing. There’s… other stuff.”

  “Other stuff?” He crossed his arms. “Like what?”

  “Well… darker stuff.”

  “Like?” When she turned and paced away, this time he followed. “Gwen, I can help you. I think I know how to get you through this, but you have to open up.”

  “How? You’re…” You’re my teacher. And my brother’s best friend. What she imagined was bad enough, but him, of all people.

  “Okay.” Archer gently set his hands on her shoulders. His large palms heated her even through her thick sweater, and her heart raced a little faster at the gentleness in his eyes. “I want to ask you something, and I want an honest answer, all right?”

  She nodded mutely.

  “Gwen, look at me.” He tipped her face up until she looked right into his gorgeous grey eyes. “Fantasies are healthy. Everyone has them. And I’m willing to bet you’ve imagined more than a guy’s hand on your throat.”

  She let out a shuddering sigh. As soon as she said the truth, they wouldn’t come back from it. How could she still face him in class if he knew this? Damn it, she needed his help.

  “Is it the idea of being choked that turned you on?”

  “No. It wasn’t that. It was more the… the helplessness, the idea of being at… someone else’s mercy.”

  Christ, she’d nearly said “you’re.” Her cheeks flamed.

  But he didn’t seem to notice. “So you need the feeling of being powerless?”

  She blinked at him. How could he take this so easily?

  “Do you imagine someone taking you against your will, Gwen?”

  Her breath caught. “How… how can you know that? I mean, I didn’t think about that sort of thing really until that day in class. When you…you know. But since then, every time I close my eyes, I imagine you… Uh, I mean…”

  “A guy.”

  “Right, a guy…doing that.”

  Shit. He’d given her an out, but he had to know it was him she imagined. She forced her voice to remain level. “So, wait a minute. This is actually normal? It’s a kink?”

  “Yes. There are people at the club who do scenes like this. It’s ravishment role-play.”

  “Wow. I was beginning to think I was some kind of weirdo. I’m sorry if I made you think you hurt me. I just didn’t know how to talk to you about this.”

  “You’re definitely not a weirdo.” He chuckled, squeezing her arms, and then crossed the room to get his beer. “Listen, I have an idea. Would you be up for a visit to the club tomorrow?”

  “Assertiveness training? Sure, but…” She looked at him, confused by the change in topic.

  “No.” He grinned. “We’re not going to train. There’s something I want you to see.”

  * * *

  “I’m not sure I can get used to this.” Gwen glanced up at Archer as he led her through the packed club that Saturday night.

  “Used to what?” He settled his hand on her lower back, guiding her toward a private room in the back. He stayed close to her, and she couldn’t help feeling secretly glad for it.

  “The idea of Nick and Zoe… doing this. In front of me, us, I mean, Zoe’s my friend and Nick’s my boss.”

  “Nick’s not your friend?” Archer’s smirk made her knees wobble.

  “You know what I mean.” She had to shout when they got close to a scene and the crowed thickened, producing more noise. “I don’t see Zoe professionally. It’s just odd to think of Nick doing that. And this kind of scene.”

  At the thought of what she was about to see, her muscled clenched, but warmth also heated her blood. She couldn’t figure out if she was terrified or turned on, or both.

  At the door to the room, Archer took her shoulder, turning her to face him. “Okay, let’s get that out of the way now.”

  “What?”

  “If you don’t think of ravishment role-play as “the other,” it’ll be a lot less scary. It’s kink. Don’t think of Nick as your boss. He’s another Dom. You’re here to see a scene to understand your own fetish. That’s why Nick and Zoe do these lessons for members.” He ran his hands up and down her arms, warm, soothing.

  How did he know just what to say, what she needed?

  “Nick wanted us here at seven. Let’s get in there.” He pushed open the door and took Gwen’s hand in his, leading her inside.

  She wasn’t sure what she’d expect to see, but it wasn’t this. At one end of the room, chairs sat in rows, each of them occupied by members who came to watch the scene. On the other end of the room, behind a glass partition, there was an area ma
de up like a bedroom, with lowered lighting and a decidedly dingy feel.

  Like a cheap motel, complete with a worn mattress and drab walls, a broken fixture on the ceiling, from which a shallow light glowed. The seedy look of it intrigued her, but where were Nick and Zoe?

  Archer’s hand tightened in hers. “Gwen?”

  She shook herself. She’d stopped behind the last row of chairs, staring at the room. “Sorry, Master.”

  “Sir, remember?” He led her around to the second row. “We’re not at the dojo.”

  “Right, Sir.” She looked around before taking one of two seats while Archer took the other. When they were settled, he leaned in to her ear.

  “I want you to remember one thing.”

  She turned her head to him.

  “The instant things become too intense, you say ‘red’, and we’re out of here. Clear?”

  Gwen swallowed. Would it get that intense? She made herself nod.

  After a few moments, the lights in the main room lowered, casting the area where the spectators sat in near darkness. The other room took on a new brightness by contrast.

  Zoe entered the room through a door in the back, made to look like the entrance to a normal hotel room. She crossed the room to the window and spoke clearly to those watching.

  “Good evening everyone. I’m Zoe Kincaid. The man you will see me with is my husband, Nick.” She stood before them as though discussing the weather, dressed in a skimpy black teddy that hugged her small but firm breasts and clung to her slender, athletic frame. Her dark hair had been teased into a cloud about her head.

  “Before Nick arrives and the scene begins, a few things. This is a ravishment role-play scene. If you have triggers, I strongly suggest you leave now. Everything that happens within this room and everything Nick does to me is one hundred percent consensual. I have a safe-word, just like most other scenes. It’s ‘red’. When I can’t speak, my safe-word is to squeeze my fist three times.”

  She lifted one hand, clearly opening and closing her fist.

  “Nick and I have been together, doing this over fifteen years, and R/R is a regular part of our game. If at any time things become too much, please feel free to leave. For anyone interested in trying this out, we are here after the scene if you have any questions.”

  She paused, giving a bow. “Enjoy the lesson.”

  Somehow, hearing Zoe speak of the scene like this made it easier to watch. At the same time, it was clear why they chose to do the scene in an isolated room. They didn’t want people who might be freaked out to walk in on it without knowing what they were getting into. It also made sense that Zoe addressed the audience instead of Nick, even though Nick was the Dom. Coming from Zoe it was much easier to accept that her agreement was genuine.

  Zoe turned and walked over to the small dresser in the corner of the room, sitting in the chair there and brushing her hair. Nothing changed about her in an obvious way, yet somehow Gwen sensed the aura of someone who had slipped into a role. Like an actress in a play.

  The door Zoe had come through burst open so suddenly Gwen almost jumped. It hit the wall with a thud, and Zoe spun around in her seat.

  “Zoe.” Nick glowered at her from the doorway.

  Zoe didn’t get up, but she seemed to shrink a little in her chair. Then she lifted her chin. “What have I done wrong now?”

  “Seriously? You’re gonna ask me that now?” Nick stormed into the room, long, slender legs eating up the space of the tiny room with predatory ease.

  Strange, Nick was not a giant of a man, merely tall and athletic, with natural muscle, but now, in leather pants and stripped to the waist, fists clenched and shoulders rippling, he looked huge and frightening.

  Every muscle in Gwen coiled tight, but when Nick seized the back of Zoe’s hair in his fist, a low fire started in her belly. Zoe winced and tried to twist free, but he tightened his hold.

  “I told you to be ready in here after we went out.” He bent toward her, putting his face in hers, “Didn’t I?”

  “I was getting ready for you, Nick, I was. Ah, hey, ease up, babe.”

  Babe? Zoe didn’t address Nick as her Dom, but by name. Why? To make the scene more real? If so, it was working.

  “Yeah, right. You were avoiding me.” He released her roughly and spun toward the bed, then fired a glare at her. “I wine you and dine you, and this is the thanks I get? You know what’s expected of you after our dates, wife.”

  “Nick…”

  “Stand up.” Nick undid his belt. The slow, predatory movement made Gwen’s throat go dry. Watching this, she suddenly wished she and Archer were in the room, and it was him preparing to…

  Zoe shook her head, thick curls bouncing. “Nick, come on. Just this once, can’t we just have a nice night together? I don’t want to…”

  “Get the hell up. Now!” Nick pulled the belt out of his pants and coiled it around his fist.

  Gwen’s breathing quickened, every inch of her skin growing hot. Beside her, Archer slid his hand gently over hers, and she licked her lips, grateful for the contact. The touch grounded her. Her heart hammered.

  Zoe stood up slowly. “Nick, please don’t do this. Not tonight.”

  Nick stalked over to her and seized the back of her neck before pulling her over to the middle of the room, near the bed that dominated it. “Are you going to get on your knees, or do I have to whip you?”

  Nick pushed her slowly to her knees and stood in front of her. “Where’s my kiss, woman?” He took her jaw between his fingers, bending so his face was in hers.

  “Honey, please.”

  He kept his face in hers. Waiting, Zoe let out a small helpless rasp and lifted her face. She caressed his lips with hers, as if it took everything in her to touch him. His hand shoved her head closer as he kissed her long and brutal. The more he forced Zoe’s mouth to open to him, the tighter Gwen’s need coiled.

  When Nick pulled away, his face was dark and mean. “If you make me come good, I won’t tan you hide, but you’d better do it right.”

  The sound Zoe made indicated she’d been about to argue, but Nick seized her hair in one hand, the belt clutched in the other.

  “Take my cock out and suck it.”

  Zoe’s hands trembled as she undid his pants and pushed them down over his lean lips. Nick’s cock sprang free, He was hot, but Gwen’s brain instantly replaced him with Archer and she longed to feel his fist in her own hair, to see his hardness bared and waiting for her mouth.

  “Nick.” Zoe looked up at her husband, imploring. “Please don’t make me do this, you know I don’t like sucking cock.”

  The smile that crossed Nick’s hard features went from casual to wolfish in an instant. “Why do you think I’m making you do it?”

  Archer made a low noise beside her and his hand tightened on hers. The arousal in that sound made her nipples go hard.

  Zoe bowed her head, but lifted one hand and gripped Nick’s length, slowly stroking.

  “Look at me. Use your mouth.”

  Damn. How often had Archer ordered Gwen to look at him? The whole scene whispered to the deepest part of her, awakening needs and wishes she barely knew she had before now.

  Zoe lifted her head, meeting Nick’s eyes much easier than Gwen could have done with Archer. She shifted closer to him on her knees and took him in her mouth, hesitant at first. Nick’s hand tightened on the back of her head and he shoved into her mouth, hard and demanding.

  The ache in Gwen’s pussy was instant and almost painful. Everything about Nick’s action was so primitive, so animal, she swallowed, imagining Archer shoving into her mouth filling her, telling her to….

  “Suck it, Zoe. Harder.”

  Zoe made a protesting noise in her throat and visibly tried to pull her head away. Nick’s hand tightened on the belt and her head began to bob up and down as she slid her mouth over him, her cheeks working as she sucked.

  Nick took the belt in both hands and stretched it across the back of her head, trappi
ng her head so she had to accept his cock. He thrust in and out of her mouth almost viciously, teeth grinding in a silent snarl.

  Zoe let out a groan around him, gag reflex working hard. One of her hands clawed at his abs, the other one yanking at the strap across her head. Nick’s hips moved faster and he grunted like he as close to coming. Zoe shook and scratched at him, jerking to get away. Gwen’s whole core throbbed at the carnality of watching a man ripped to his most base needs, imagining the helplessness Zoe must have felt.

  God, if only it was Gwen there, on that floor, that it was Archer forcing her to suck him to release, trapping her head, taking everything she had. She nearly shoved her hand inside her pants and stroked the ache away.

  At last Nick release her and Zoe crawled away from him across the floor, panting. Nick bent and seized her ankle, yanking her back across the floor to him. Next instant, he was on the floor, pushing Zoe on her stomach, forcing her legs apart.

  “Nick, no, don’t, let go of me!”

  “Come here.” He pulled her hair hard until she winced, and jerked one of her hands behind her back. “I was going to give it to you nice, in the bed where you’d be comfortable, but since you’re making a fuss, you can take it here.”

  “Nick, get off!” Zoe’s scream reverberated through the room, and the helplessness of it made every ounce of Gwen’s blood boil like fire. Zoe kicked at him and thrashed.

  “If you pull away it’ll hurt worse. Shut up and let me fuck you.” He forced her legs to either side of him, kept her arm at the small of her back while his other hand shoved her teddy down to her waist. Zoe’s nipples were already long, hard points, and Nick tweaked them, rubbing his hardness between her legs.

  “Nick, that hurts, for fuck sake, get off me!”

  He shoved her all the way to the floor and crushed her there with his weight, pushing her knees apart with his. For an instant, Zoe’s face turned to the glass, cheek to the floor, and Gwen caught her expression. Zoe screamed and bucked, tried to pull her hands free, but her eyes were glazed with need, cheeks flushed.