SimplyIrresistible (3 page)

Practice had done wonders for Tiana’s comfort level. She
didn’t falter or even blush while holding the present position. Of course she
had all the sex appeal of a bundle of twigs and she wasn’t naked.

Across the room, Master Lewis talked with Cal and Brody, the
unmatched baby Doms. The buzz of male voices was audible, but not what they
said. She tensed every time she darted a peek at the possibilities.

Cal could pass as Heather’s brother with his blond
all-American hero looks. Unfortunately Tiana was allergic to pretty-boy blonds.
They reminded her of her abusive ex. The only other possibility, Brody, was the
strong silent type, a baby Dom enchanted with bondage technique and orgasm
denial.

“I hope I get Cal. He’s hot,” Ali whispered.

Cal’s light-blue eyes focused on Tiana too often. The new
Dom clearly couldn’t resist the challenge of a sub who didn’t want him. Since
he was the softer of the remaining newbies, Master Lewis might well assign him
to her, thinking the pairing a kindness. She suppressed a shudder.
So do I
.
“Fifty-fifty are good odds.”

Pleased by her new slim red bangle signifying she was a sub
and available to play, she wasn’t at all sure she deserved the official badge
of courage, because she still wanted to flee. Going home early and trying again
tomorrow night sounded better to her with every tick of the second hand.

Master Lewis strode across the room. The newbie Masters
followed his lead. The instructor guided Ali to her feet. “What is your
safeword?”

“Dublin, Sir.”

“Excellent, I want you to remember the club safeword is
red.” He turned. “Brody, remember safe, sane and consensual are your bywords.
If she says either Dublin or red everything stops. Got it?”

The silent baby Dom nodded.

“Good. The third station in the great room is open. Have
fun.” Master Lewis gently nudged Ali closer to Brody.

The baby Dom clamped a meaty hand on the back of his sub’s
neck. Ali’s saddle shoes scuffled across the room. One white knee sock drooped.

Tiana bit her lip in sympathy.

Cal winked at Tiana. Another shiver rolled through her,
leaving her with a rash of chill bumps.

The trainer’s mouth pinched closed. He might have sighed.

Her heart was pounding too hard to catch subtle stuff.

Master Lewis said, “You’re free to explore on your own,
Cal.”

The pretty boy left, pouting.

Her instructor folded his arms. “Why don’t you want to do a
scene with Cal?”

“How could you tell I don’t want to play with him, Sir?”

“You looked away every time he tried to make eye contact.
Now quit stalling and answer the question.”

Tiana swallowed hard. “He looks like my ex, Master Lewis.”

“Thank you for being honest.”

Surprised by his response, she flushed.

“And Brody?”

She hesitated.

“Don’t hold back and don’t even think about pretending you
wanted him.”

“He seems more interested in mastering techniques than in
training a sub, Sir.”

Master Lewis chuckled.“Smart little sub.”

I can’t be in too much trouble
.
The trainer’s
implied approval eased her nervousness and her pulse slowed. She kept her gaze
lowered, waiting for his dismissal.

“One more warning, you met Master Liam in the parking lot
tonight.”

Tiana nodded, not sure what Master Lewis was going to say,
but pathetically eager to hear more about the compelling Dom.

“He’s a demanding Master who pushes his sub’s limits, but
never allows himself to get emotionally involved. Do you understand?”

Maybe I am sick and subconsciously gravitate toward the
kind of men who enjoy hurting women.

“Is he a sadist, Sir?” Her breath caught as she waited for
Master Lewis to respond.

After a few seconds, he said, “He doesn’t think so. But he
has demons of his own and you’d be better off with a comfortable Dom.”

She nibbled her lip, wishing that she was normal and
attracted to nice, vanilla guys.

“My point is I want you to remember play here is safe, sane
and consensual. You’re going to explore for at least a half hour. There’s no
rule you have to hook up with a Dom tonight or anytime you enter the club. But
keep in mind permanent voyeurs aren’t tolerated.” He added in a softer, kinder
tone, “You cooperate, but you haven’t responded during any of the practice
scenes. I want you to consider this may be too soon for you to reenter the
lifestyle.”

I definitely responded to Master Liam.
That instant
spark of arousal between them gave her fresh hope. Someday she would get past
her fears. She just needed to work harder. “Yes Sir.”

He sighed. “But you want to try.”

“Yes Sir.”

“All right, stay safe.” He offered his hand, helping her
stand.

“Yes of course, Master Lewis.” Braver by the moment, she
might have actually fluttered her lashes.

He dipped his chin in amused approval. “Go get ’em, tiger.”

Tiana couldn’t imagine anyone less tigerish, but she
appreciated his encouragement. She bowed from her waist, staying low and
backing away until she bumped the door.

“Very pretty, kitten.”

Kitten was definitely more her. She beamed. “Thank you,
Sir.”

The hall outside the classroom was deserted. The dungeon’s
recessed lighting left plenty of dark corners for those wanting privacy. She
lifted her chin and moved as if she had somewhere to go. Hard rock had given
way to a Brandenburg concerto more in keeping with the Crucible’s medieval
ambiance.

The muted crack of leather drew her closer to a glassed-in
scene room. She found an unoccupied niche to watch from.

A Master disciplined a slave with a riding crop. The sub
hung from an industrial-grade chain, her bound wrists suspended from a sturdy
hook. The woman was nude except for a leather collar and matching chastity
belt. Rosy stripes marked her swollen breasts, butt and upper legs. She moaned
with each stroke and arched her back. Her eyes were glazed. Her dusky-rose
nipples were taut. Excitement seeped down her inner thighs from beneath the
straps guarding her pussy.

The Master set down his crop and checked his slave’s
bindings, cupping the back of her neck and leaning his forehead against hers.
Tiana was too far away to hear what he said, but his slave pressed closer.

Perhaps Tiana was more of a voyeur than she’d realized. A
longing for that kind of intimate connection swept through her, stripping her
defenses and leaving her hollow. She touched her tightly corseted waist, but
drew no infusion of calm from the rigid stays holding her together.

She whirled away from the intimate display and barreled
straight into a breathing rock wall.
So much for staying safe
.

Strong hands wrapped around her upper arms, holding her
firmly in place. “Easy, I’ve got you.”

Master Liam’s seductive scent filled her lungs while his
deep voice soothed her frayed nerves. Rough palms skimmed over her suddenly
limp arm muscles. Tingles coursed through her from every point of contact. Her
cheeks heated. She hoped the dim lighting hid her blush. “Thank you. I’m fine
now, Sir.”

He didn’t release his hold on her, so she added a helpful,
“You can let me go, Sir.”

The rigid length against my belly means he’s at least
somewhat interested
.

New frissons of sensual awareness fired faster in her
nervous system. Her heartbeat raced to keep up with the urgent demand and her
lungs heaved to grab enough oxygen. Connection, chemistry, magic—labels didn’t
matter. Neither did why she responded to him and no one else. Her reaction to
Master Liam was as natural and instinctive as blinking at a brilliant light.

He traced her lips with a work-roughened thumb. She briefly
wondered what he did when he wasn’t mesmerizing submissives. Then he covered
her mouth in a fierce kiss that caused her to open for him and made her press
closer. A surprisingly silky caress from his mustache brushing her face
registered. The slow burn of smooth whiskey and rough man teased her taste
buds. The man barely touched her and her carefully constructed barriers
crumbled.

If the maniac driver had rammed her next to one of the sheer
drop-offs lining much of the winding road that led to the Crucible she might
have died before ever meeting Master Liam. She shivered and chafed chill bumps
caused by an echo from her close call. She silently vowed to find more courage.

He pinned her against the wall and kissed her again,
claiming her mouth with such expertise she forgot everything except the man
feasting on her.

“I prefer my pretty nipples pebbled from excitement.” He
casually tucked the corset’s stiff cups under her breasts, exposing her to the
cool air and anyone who happened to pass.

“Nice tits.” A strange Master’s voice made heat race up her
neck.

“Thanks,” Master Liam replied with unruffled calm. “I plan
to decorate them.”

She reached to cover herself and found both wrists held in
an unbreakable grip. He wasn’t hurting her, but she twisted, trying to escape.

“Stay still.”

She froze at his command.

“What’s your safeword?”

There was no trace of anger in his voice. “Dragonfly, Sir.”

He straightened and brushed one of her silver earrings.
“You’re a dragonfly fan?”

“Yes, they’re fascinating, Sir.”

“So are you, pet. If something concerns you I want you to
say nymph and I’ll consider stopping.”

She tried to concentrate, but the haze from his intoxicating
kiss, the press of his erection between her legs and unfamiliar hum of desire
left her too muddled to process what he meant. “Nymph, Sir?”

“A pre-dragonfly.”

“Why don’t I just say dragonfly, Sir?”

“Because using your safeword means I’ve failed and we’re
done.”

Master Liam wasn’t failing. He was sheer erotic magic. She
was closer to an honest-to-God orgasm than she’d been in years.
Done simply
won’t work for me
.

Dismay threatened to choke her. She swallowed hard. “For
tonight, Sir?”

“Forever.”

Harsh
.
She tried to stay still and compliant
while she pondered his decision. Perhaps she flinched, because he studied her
even more intently.

“I’m going to help you keep out of trouble.” He worked with
complete confidence and startling efficiency, binding her. Something firm but
padded circled her wrists and closed with a click. “If the cuffs get to be too
much, you can say nymph. I’ll consider loosening or releasing them.”

Reflex caused her to tug against the restraints, but her
arms were securely bound.
Nymph
,
nymph
,
nymph
shrieked in
her head. Her breathing hitched. She waited for the choking panic she’d felt
when Richard restrained her to come back, but the paralyzing fear never
happened.

He stepped behind her and tested her cuffs carefully,
apparently satisfying himself they weren’t too tight or too loose.

Strangely, his matter-of-fact handling made her even hotter.
Her breasts swelled, the tips grew tauter still and her sex moistened and softened.
All she cared about was that he hadn’t rejected her. Relief surged, melting
more of her fear. She darted a swipe across her parched mouth.

Master Liam stood behind her, near enough for her to bask in
his heat. She reached back with her cuffed arms, barely grazing the thick
length of his arousal.

His hand collared her neck, startling a squeak from her.

“Problem?”

She swallowed again. “I want to touch you, Sir.”

“I’ll let you touch as much as you like…another time.” He
moved around her, keeping his hold on her nape, and leaned close. Instead of
the intoxicating kiss she craved, he nipped her already tender lower lip then
lapped at the bite. “So sweet.”

Too soon he pulled back and traced the faint mark where the
seat belt had bruised her. His rough fingers trailed fire from her collarbone
to the slight swell of her upper breast. “Tell me how this happened.”

The creepy tailgater ranked fairly high on the list of
things she didn’t want to discuss. She shook her head and tensed, waiting for a
reprimand.

“Okay, I haven’t earned enough trust for your secrets yet,
but you will tell me what happened eventually.”

She let out a sigh of relief at his easy acceptance of her
refusal to answer a question.

Master Liam lightly pinched her swollen nipples. He rolled and
tugged until the peaks were stiff and as dark as ripe berries. He pulled a pair
of graceful silver circles from his pants pocket. The finely crafted hoops
parted as he applied pressure. Once the metal opened she recognized the evil.

He attached a miniature clamp to each of her tender tips.
The pinch was noticeable, but within her tolerance for pain. He hooked a pretty
chain between the hoops, letting the added weight swing between her tortured
breasts. The metal clips bit into her tender nipples and the chain tugged with
every breath she drew, keeping her constantly aware of her aroused breasts.

Master Liam moved away to study his handiwork. “Very
pretty.”

Heat raced from the clamped peaks to flood her cheeks.

“Open for me.” He patted her leg halfway between her knee
and the crease where it joined her hip.

Her thighs parted automatically at his command. He tugged
down her damp thong. She lifted her feet one at a time, obedient as a circus
horse, while he removed her panties.

“You’re smooth and silky for me. He parted her slit with a
work-roughened finger. “Exactly the way I like my slaves—wet and wanting.”

He remained crouched in front of her for a moment. His
sensuous lips and the soft mustache were so close to her channel all she could
think about was his talented mouth licking her sex. A man who kissed like he
did had to be amazing at eating pussy.