Slave To Love (23 page)

Taren considered the option. She’d picked him not because she knew him, or thought she knew him. She’d picked him because she did like his answer. Out of all sixteen contestants, his answer about his favorite form of play impressed her the most. He talked about her instead of himself.

Then came the realization that she’d had sex with this man and had a signed a contract that she wouldn’t have sex with any of the contestants. She had to be honest. If honesty truly ruled her, she would admit that she wanted another session with Jace. Master. Damn.

“Since we didn’t do it while he was under contract, I guess it’s okay if he stays.” Taren could barely look at Master. “You’re going to have to do a lot to gain my trust back.”

Kitty growled. “Fine. Tell the P.A.s to get everyone ready for dinner tonight. The mute one will have to change masks. He can’t eat with the one he has.” She pointed to Master. “You had better watch yourself. Anything else funny and I’ll kick your ass out.”

Master grabbed Kitty’s pointed finger and held it. “Understood.” He continued to hold it for a beat before letting her go.

“I have to get the next shot set up.” Kitty started to leave, then stopped. She whistled. “You. Master. You are not going to be left alone in a room with her again. Come on downstairs. You have to be assigned your sleeping quarters.”

“I’m staying in the guesthouse.” Master put his fist to his hips like he wanted to end this conversation.

“No, you’re not. All contestants stay in assigned rooms.” Kitty stepped up close to him. “It was in the contract unless you had that clause removed.” She glared at Vern.

Sweat poured down the big man’s face. “No, nothing was changed.”

“Good. Go down to the production room. You’ll be bunking in with a few guys.” Kitty glanced at Taren. “You take a bath or shower. Relax a little. I’ll send hair and makeup up here for you in a couple of hours. You’ve met the guys. Next you’ll meet the house slaves.”

Taren nodded. “Sounds good.”

Master walked backwards out of the room, keeping his stare on her until Kitty closed the door. Taren didn’t waste any time. She locked the door and pressed her back to it. As much as she wanted to disagree with him, Master had been right. She did pick him. She could have easily chosen Master Rock. He ticked off a lot of boxes on her list. Even without seeing Master’s face, her body felt the draw.

She knew what she would have to do. During the first round of eliminations, she would have to get rid of him. She saw his character. She didn’t need to know anything else.

****

“You really have some huge ones, buddy.” Kitty said between gritted teeth as she stomped in front of Jace. “Don’t think I don’t know who you are. Not only did you weasel your way onto the show, but you managed to fuck the talent. That was, like, rule number one of things you shouldn’t do.” She stopped him outside of the production room. “What are you even doing here? I thought you were supposed to be gone.”

“Business trip got cut short. I swear, I was going to stay in the guesthouse and not get involved. One thing led to another. Pretty soon—”

Kitty held up her hand. “Spare me the details. Just know this. I have a feeling that you’ll be in a hotel after the first round of eliminations.”

“Hotel?”

“Contract. Don’t you read anything? Eliminated contestants are put up in the Westin until the end of taping.” She nodded toward the room. “Go in and find out who your new roommates are.”

“Fine. But I’ll need to get to the guesthouse at some point to get some clothes.” Plus he could use the away time to get up to Taren.

Kitty glared at him while shaking her head. “Ananda is going to freak about this. You know that, right?”

Jace put his finger to his lips. “Our little secret for now.”

“Don’t make me regret any of this.”

Jace couldn’t guarantee that, but he would do his best to at least not embarrass himself. By the time he walked into the production room, the other contestants had removed their jackets and ties, but their masks remained in place.

“Got called to the principal’s office? Were you caught cheating?” Fear tossed his jacket on the couch as he looked at Jace.

“Careful, man. Your insecurity is showing.” Jace stood in the middle of the room. “I need to know my room assignment.”

Soneni rushed to the middle of the room with a tablet in her hand. “I have it right here, gentlemen…and ladies. Okay, in one bedroom we’ll have Master, Lord No, Sire Swift and Bruiser. The other bedroom will have Fear, Mistress Night, Sire Ball and Miss Twist.”

“Wait. I have to bunk with women? Why can’t they have their own room?” Fear pointed to the two ladies.

“Are you afraid we’ll see your business?” Mistress Night winked before she chuckled.

“I would think you two would be uncomfortable with sleeping in the same room with two men.” Sire Ball remained seated as he offered his opinion.

“Sorry. That’s all the room we have. Anyone willing to switch?” The assistant scanned the group.

“I don’t care.” Bruiser raised his hand. “I’ll move over with Night, Twist, and Ball.”

“Night, twist, and ball. Sounds like one of my Friday evening activities.” Twist laughed.

“Great. I believe dinner for you all is ready now. Then you’ll be asked to stay in your rooms tonight. Afterward the house slaves will eat with Taren. She’ll get to know them.” Soneni started to leave when Fear stopped her.

“Will the slaves be serving us?” Fear asked.

“Not for this meal. After tonight, they will.”

“Will they serve us at all tonight?” Fear started to fidget in his spot.

“No. It will all start tomorrow.” Even at her diminuitive height, Soneni stood toe to toe with Fear.

“Who will wash my dick for me when I take a shower?”

The room fell quiet.

“Dude, did you really just ask that out loud? You really need someone to wash your dick?” Bruiser shook his head.

“Yeah. It’s that fucking big.” Fear stomped away from talking to Soneni.

She took the opportunity to leave the contestants alone.

“Great.” Sire Swift shook his head. “I can’t wait until all this gets underway.”

“Me, too. It’s like we’re living our lives in a segmented way.” Ball rose from the couch and pointed out his luggage to the crew.

While the contestants got their items together to go to their rooms, Jace took that moment to slip out. He managed to get through the back door to the guesthouse. As he packed his bag, he couldn’t help but look up to the master bedroom window. When he saw her silhouette pass, he couldn’t take waiting anymore.

Jace abandoned packing and darted to the stairs at the back of the house that went up to his office. Using his keys, he unlocked the door. The office hadn’t been touched. He opened the main door that went into the bedroom.

“Hello? Is someone there?” Taren called from the bathroom.

Jace couldn’t decide if he should leave his mask on or take it off. He decided that if Taren responded to honesty more, he would have to approach her sincerely. He removed the mask and shoved it in his pocket. “It’s Jace.” He didn’t want her to be afraid.

She’d already called him a liar and told him that she would be eliminating him first. In order to gain her trust, he had to prove it.

He heard splashing.

“What are you doing in here? Are you with Kitty and Vern?” Excitement rose in her voice.

Jace stood outside the bathroom door. If he looked inside, he couldn’t promise that he would stay on the other side of the door.

“No, I’m here alone.” He pressed his hand against the doorframe, but stayed out of view. “I wanted us to talk alone.”

“I don’t think that’s appropriate or necessary.”

Her musky aroma wafted out of the bathroom door. She bathed in that scent. Jace felt a throbbing below his waist that wouldn’t quit. He would need to either satisfy it or leave. Too bad he couldn’t move his feet.

“It is necessary. When you asked me if I was the director or if I was a part of the crew, I didn’t answer you. I changed the topic.” Jace leaned against the wall. “I take care of this house.” Not a lie. “I hadn’t planned on getting involved in the show.” Complete truth. “I tried staying away from you. I couldn’t help but be drawn to you.” Fully exposed.

He heard some more splashing like Taren had stepped out of the tub. Within a few seconds, she appeared in the doorway wearing a white terrycloth robe and nothing else. From the sheen and bubbles over her chest and legs, it didn’t look like she had even dried herself.

Taren stared at him like she didn’t know what to say. “You’re not wearing a mask.”

“I told you. I’m Jace.” He held up his hands to show he meant no harm.

Taren tightened the belt around her waist. “I had to tell them.”

“Actually I’m very proud that you did. Shows that you have integrity.” If he hadn’t been quick-witted to remember that he’d signed the contract
after
they had had sex, he would have still be standing there fighting the good fight. He didn’t want to leave, and it had more to do with Taren than getting back at Eagan and Ananda.

“Thanks.” She glanced around the room. “How did you get in here?”

He pointed to the closed office door. “Through there is an office. The door is always locked. I have a key. There is a balcony with stairs that go down to the backyard.”

“So if you wanted, you can come in here at any time.” Her breathing increased. “I don’t know if I like that.”

He shook his head. “What is the BDSM credo?”

“Safe, sane, and consensual.” Her words came out in hushed tones.

“Exactly. Nothing happens unless you want it to. I control the play. You control the action.” He took a step closer to her.

Taren moved away. “I don’t want you here.” She had her back to him. “I don’t like when people hold back information from me. Never works out well for me.”

“If you’re waiting for me to apologize for controlling the information I shared with you, you’ll be standing there a long time. Being open with my feelings and sharing information have not been great for me, either.”

Taren turned to him. “Then I guess my decision to eliminate you first still stands. If I can’t trust you, how can I have you as my Dom?”

Jace knew she had a point. Being open had always bitten him in the ass. He couldn’t drop his defenses. They helped keep him protected.

“I may be closed off, but know this. I’m honest about situations around you. I can keep you informed if I feel you’re doing something risky.” He thought about something crucial that he hoped would have her looking at him differently. “I held back some vital details, but I’ve never lied to you.”

Taren turned around.

Jace had to expose himself a bit more. “I want you right now. Would you tell Kitty?”

****

Taren didn’t know how to answer. For once in her life, she wanted Jace as her own little secret. She’d never lived her life that way. Even as a little girl, if she’d done something wrong, she told her parents right away. Kids hated her and called her a tattler for telling teachers when they did some mischief.

Taren couldn’t help it. The truth truly set her free. For that reason, she had to be honest.

“I would tell. We signed a contract.” She ran her hand up her arm to feel the soft fabric of the robe the show had given her.

Jace loosened his necktie and unbuttoned the top few buttons. “I can’t leave here without something.”

Taren felt her lips moving but nothing came out of them at first. “What do you mean?”

He framed her face. He stared into her eyes, which weakened her. “Don’t hate me.”

Taren put her hands to his chest, preparing herself to push him back. Instead she coasted her hands down his body to his belt.

Jace grabbed her wrists and pulled her back. “If you do anything more, I won’t be able to stop myself. And I’ll be damned if I get eliminated from this based on some contract clause.”

“Please.” She brought his hands up to her mouth and kissed them. “You have to leave and don’t come back again. It’s obvious that I can’t control myself around you. I thought it was the BDSM play I’d seen. But now…”

Jace let her hands go and grabbed the tie around her waist. He pulled on it and let her robe flap open, exposing her nude body. The air conditioning cooled her skin on contact, which helped her considering how hot she’d become.

Taren started to lower herself to her knees, but Jace must have had other things in mind. He led her to the bed and eased her back onto it. He crawled over her. After brushing his lips over her cheeks and chin, still avoiding her lips, he moved them down her neck, licking her down to her breasts.

He held one tit in his hand. The other, he sucked into his mouth. Taren arched her back and held the back of his head. Everything in her brain told her to kick this man out of her room. Never see him again. Write him off as an experience and move on. Her body, however, had another agenda.

She found that after their first time, she craved him like a drug, and Taren had never been addicted to anything but fun and happiness. Past boyfriends she’d had sex with never made her feel this good, this satisfied. Jace knew what to do with her, how to please her.

He moved his mouth over to her other breast while his large hand massaged the one he just laved. He twirled his tongue around her nipple. Each pass caused her body to jerk and twitch out of control. She’d never had an orgasm from her breasts being played with, but she could see where it would be possible.

Jace eased down her body until he positioned his head between her legs. Taren willingly parted her thighs while he moved her nether lips apart. Her heart pounded until she felt his tongue lick her pussy opening to her clit. Then she jackknifed off the bed.

“Please, please, please, don’t stop. But I think I’m going to scream.” She nodded. “I know I’ll scream.”

“Get a pillow.” Jace covered her clit with his mouth and circled his tongue around the tip.

She thought his request that she retrieve a pillow didn’t make sense until then. She reached as far as she could without jostling the man giving her the ultimate pleasure to snag a pillow. Instead of placing it behind her head, she covered her mouth, biting into it as he continued licking and sucking her.