Club Helix: The Power Games (8 page)

That explains her shorts and T-shirt during the audition, and the damn flannel shirt that practically covered every inch of her body that she was wearing last night when I’d finally slipped into bed next to her. It also explains why she’s here competing in the games.

“I’ll take care of it,” I say unquestioningly. “I’ll also make sure you have something appropriate to wear to bed. If I allow a submissive to sleep in my bed, which I usually don’t, I sure as hell better be able to see her curves.”

“What’s wrong with what I wore to bed?” she asks indignantly, although her eyes are sparkling with a hint of humor. “It’s comfortable!”

“You can be comfortable on your own time,” I say firmly. “On my time, you dress to please me.”

“Yes, Sir,” she says teasingly, giving me a mock salute.

Her smile fades as I pull her forcibly to me, taking her mouth ruthlessly. But when I pull away, her breath is coming in short little pants.

I’ve made dinner reservations at the Barrymore, and we share a bottle of wine on the outside patio near the long fire pit while we wait for our table.

“The man you were with at the pool. Who is he to you?” I ask.

She casts a cautious look at me. “That’s Emmett. He’s my roommate,” she says, suddenly cool.

“In New York?”

She nods, clearly uncomfortable with my line of questioning.

“Are you romantically involved with him?” I ask, my voice harsher than I had intended.

“No.” Her response is quick, and I can see she’s telling me the truth, but it’s equally obvious that he’s far more to her than just a roommate.

“I looked at your application. He’s also your sometimes Dom?” I add skeptically, cocking an eyebrow at her, daring her to deny the obvious untruth.

“Yes,” she says defensively, crossing her arms over her chest.

I lean forward, making sure I have her full attention. “This is your one warning. Don’t ever lie to me again, Ava, or I promise you won’t be able to sit down for a week.”

She pales at that, her slender throat swallowing hard before she picks up her glass and takes a sip of wine. Then that shuttered look that I’m starting to recognize slides into place.

I decide not to press the issue for now.

“Why don’t you like to be called Avalon?” I ask softly. The more determined she is not to tell me, the more determined I am to find out.

I study her face closely as she takes another sip of wine, wondering if she’s going to give me an honest answer this time. I can see the indecision flit across her face as she considers whether to answer me at all, but then she sighs, and I know I’ve won this small victory.

“My parents named me Avalon after the mythical island in the legend of Arthur. My father used to tell me he chose the name because it was a magical place that was happy and blessed, and that’s how my life would be. I believed him.” She pauses, her eyes downcast as she idly plays with the stem of her wineglass. “But after my father died, I realized it was all a lie. There’s no such thing as magic, and there’s certainly nothing blessed about my life,” she adds ruefully. “Now it just reminds me of everything I’ve lost.”

I reach across the table and take her hand in mine. “Thank you for trusting me enough to tell me that,” I say, rubbing my thumb gently across her knuckles.

She pulls her hand away, but her eyes are soft as she says simply, “Thank you for trying to earn my trust.”

It doesn’t escape my notice that she thanked me for trying to earn her trust, implying I haven’t actually earned it. I frown. “If you want to stay in this competition, you’re going to have to trust me with everything, Ava. We could win the whole thing, but you’re going to have to loosen that control you cling to so tightly.”

A spark of hope flares in her eyes. “You really think we could win?”

I nod. “Definitely. But it means you’re going to have to give me full control and obey me without hesitation, even if you don’t want to or if what I’m asking you to do makes you uncomfortable. You have to trust that I won’t push you further than what you’re capable of. And you’re going to have to open up to me so I can know your limits. I can mold you into the perfect submissive, but you have to agree to my terms.”

She considers what I’ve said in that careful way of hers, and I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until she nods. “Okay,” she agrees tremulously. “I agree to your terms. I’ll do whatever you say.”

“God, Ava,” I groan, rubbing my hand over my face. What is this woman with her sweet vulnerability and soulful green eyes doing to me? I want to take her in my arms and comfort her as much as I want to force her to her knees, fuck her, and bend her to my will.

“Tell me one more thing,” I say, taking her hand in mine. This time she doesn’t pull away. “Tell me what you’re so afraid of.”

“I’m afraid of getting hurt,” she says quietly, and I can tell the effort it took her to tell me that simple truth.

“I will hurt you. I can promise you that,” I say softly. “But you’ll want me to. In fact, you’ll beg me for it.”

* * * *

When we get back to the Helix, it’s a few minutes before eight, so Ava and I go straight to the bar and slide into a table in the back of the room just as the meeting starts.

“Welcome to the Power Games, and congratulations,” Logan says. “Look around you.” He pauses dramatically as the men and women cast furtive glances at one another. “One couple in this room will become the face of the Helix—the Helix Dom and sub.”

He was born for this shit, and he’s in his element as he goes over the rules, reminding his spellbound audience that there will be no contact with anyone outside the Helix for the duration of the competition, although Doms and subs are allowed to leave the hotel together for preapproved outings. “But
only
if you’re accompanied by a camera crew.” He fixes me with a disapproving stare.

He adds that there will sometimes be additional guests invited to the group events for ambience and authenticity, as there were at the auction, and then he moves on to the topic of the photo shoot tomorrow, which creates a murmur of excitement. After advising the Doms that they will receive information regarding the first group challenge tomorrow evening, he dismisses us.

Emmett intercepts Ava and me just outside the door, his blonde sub trailing behind him.

“Ava! Where have you been all day? Are you okay?” His voice is laced with worry.

I step between him and Ava.

“Ava is not your concern,” I say tersely.

“Like hell she isn’t,” he growls. “Ava?” He looks questioningly at her, awaiting her answer.

She opens her mouth to say something, but I stop her with a stern look. “You do not have permission to speak,” I order her. Her mouth snaps closed. Good. She’s taking our discussion at the restaurant seriously. If we’re going to work as a Dom and sub, she’s got to trust me and rely on me for her every need, and that’s not going to happen as long as she keeps thinking of Emmett as her hero and savior. Plus, Emmett’s apparent belief that he’s the only one who can take care of her is quite frankly starting to piss me off.

I turn to him. “In case you don’t remember, I bought her at the auction, not you, and she’s mine until we get voted off the show. I will take care of her as I see fit, but I certainly don’t have to answer to you. She has a safe word should she choose to use it. In the meantime, I suggest you focus on training your own sub,” I add, nodding toward the blonde, who is looking at Ava with icy hatred.

Emmett’s hands ball into fists at his sides, and for a minute I think he’s actually going to throw a punch at me. But then he looks at Ava, and although she doesn’t say a word, something passes between them. He nods almost imperceptibly before taking a deep breath.

“Hurt her, and I’ll rip your balls off and shove them down your throat,” he says calmly before stalking toward the elevators without a backward glance at his sub, who flashes one more look of hatred at Ava before scampering after him.

Ava is staring at his retreating back with stricken eyes, and something like jealousy surges through me, which is ridiculous since she’s just a sub, and one I don’t even know very well. But she’s
my
sub, and I have no intention of letting her think about another man when she’s with me.

“Upstairs. Now!” I snap at her, grabbing her wrist and half dragging her to the elevators.

As soon as we’re in the suite, I shrug out of my jacket and surreptitiously flip the switch that turns on the cameras as she eyes me watchfully, not moving.

“I’m going to ask you again. What is Emmett to you?” I bite out the words, impatient with her lies.

“I told you. He’s my roommate.”

“He’s more than your roommate,” I say, taking a menacing step toward her. She stands her ground, looking me straight in the eye as if daring me to touch her, and my cock stirs to life. Her feisty streak turns me on as much as her innocence. “Roommates don’t communicate an entire conversation in a single look and then threaten to emasculate the man you’re with. But you said you’re not romantically involved with him, and he sure as hell isn’t your Dom. So what is he? A fuck buddy? A friend with benefits?”

Fire flashes in her eyes, and she takes another step forward and slaps me across the face hard enough to leave a mark. I stare at her in shock for minute, and then lust flares through me with a hard, stabbing vengeance. I grab her wrist, pulling her against my chest, so close that her eyes are inches from mine, and I can feel the thump of her heartbeat.

“Big mistake, Ava,” I say darkly.

My mouth crushes hers in a savage kiss, brutally forcing her to accept the bold intrusion of my tongue. I ravage her, bruising her lips with mine and plunging my tongue deeply into her mouth over and over again, taking what I want from her as I hold her immobile, letting her feel the hard length of my cock pressing against her. I want to punish her, to brand her with my mouth so she knows she belongs to me and only me, but dammit if she isn’t kissing me back, her tongue stroking mine.

I close my hand lightly around her throat as I place my lips near her ear.

“Rule number three. Never hit your Dom.”

Her breath is coming in fast pants, and her eyes are dark with a mixture of fear, anger, and what I recognize as pure, unvarnished desire. Apparently my innocent sub likes it a little rough, and I couldn’t be more delighted to oblige her.

“Lie facedown over the desk,” I snap, releasing her as I unbuckle my belt, pulling it from its loops with a soft
whoosh
.

Her eyes widen. “But…”

“Now, Ava!” The look in my eyes has her scrambling to obey.

She hesitantly bends over the desk and arranges herself over the smooth wood surface, her back arching and her breasts straining against her shirt as she looks back nervously at me. My dick throbs at the look of fear mixed with excitement in her eyes.

“Eyes forward. Hold on to the edge of the desk.”

Her nostrils flare, but she does what I tell her to. She’s brave; I have to give her that. I snake a hand around her slim waist and unbutton her shorts, sliding the zipper down slowly. She shudders slightly, but she doesn’t move. Taking a step back so I can fully appreciate the view as I expose her delectable little ass, I hook my fingers into the waistband of both her shorts and her panties, slowly lowering them over the curve of her hips until they puddle on the floor at her feet.

“Step out of them,” I direct.

I hear her sharp intake of breath, and then she obeys. As soon as she steps out of the clothing, I kick her feet apart with mine until they’re even with the legs of the furniture. She’s exposed and vulnerable, her ass perfectly positioned at the edge of the desk.

“What’s your safe word?” I ask, doubling the thick leather in my hand.

“Anthony,” she mumbles breathlessly.

That stops me cold. “What?”

“It’s
Anthony
,” she repeats, her voice stronger and laced with resolve.

“Christ! Are there any other men in your life I need to know about?” I demand, my voice an angry rumble.

She shakes her head, pressing her lips together.

“When I’m finished, you’re going to know exactly who you belong to, and I guarantee you’ll think twice before you slap me again,” I promise, holding her still with the weight of my hand.

She quivers beneath my touch, and I smile. Although I intend to punish her, I also intend for her to enjoy it. I lay the belt down across the small of her back and skim my hand over her smooth, rounded cheeks, squeezing each pale globe. She moans softly. I caress her ass again, kneading my hands over the well-toned curves before sliding my finger forward to lightly stroke her slit. She’s dripping.

I pierce her folds, relishing the feel of her tightening around me. I move in and out of her slowly, finger-fucking her as I feel her arousal grow. I find her clit and flick it gently until I feel her thighs tightening, her fingers gripping the edge of the desk tightly as need coils in her.

Then I remove my hand from her hot little cunt and pick up the belt. I wait a minute, playing with her head a bit longer before I begin. Anticipation is a powerful aphrodisiac. Her body stiffens at the first stinging lick of the belt across her backside, but she doesn’t make a sound. I bring the belt down again on one cheek and then the other, enjoying the tantalizing stripes of red the belt leaves on her flawless skin. Just as I’d suspected, she marks beautifully. She writhes against the desk, but I’m holding her too firmly for her to get any purchase. I bring the belt down one last time at the tender juncture at the tops of her thighs, and I could swear her hips tilt back to meet the bite of the leather.

I press against her, letting her feel my arousal. The belt clatters to the floor as I thrust my finger into her wet pussy again. She clenches around me, and it takes every ounce of self-control I possess not to bring her to orgasm right then and there. But her lesson isn’t over quite yet.

I slide my finger out, spreading her juices over her clit. She moans softly as I circle it with my finger—once, twice, three times—before sliding back into her wet heat, adding a second finger this time. Christ, she’s so fucking tight!