The Game (3 page)

Mackenzie McKade

Oh, I’ll give you something to be angry about
. He reached out and twisted her nipple hard enough to force a gasp from her taut lips. Her reaction was immediate. Fingers interwoven, she uppercut her cuffed hands, aiming straight for his groin. Anticipating her response, he hastened aside. The momentum of her attack threw her forward. She twisted in midair, trying to regain her footing but continuing to fall. Thankfully, he caught her before she hit the ground.

Buried beneath a cloud of brunette curls he heard her growl of frustration. “Let me go!”

So he did.

A dull thud and a breathy groan followed, when her ass hit the floor hard. The stage shook as the crowd roared their approval. Excitement shimmered over the audience as if the weather regulator was pumping out ecstasy powder. Several women had shed their clothing and were attempting to break through the line of security guards. More than one man’s cock was throat-deep in his partner’s mouth. The scent of sex filled the air. Monty would have an all-out orgy on intergalactic cinema if he wasn’t careful.

The gleam in Seth’s friend’s eyes flashed dollar signs. Then Monty nodded again and the servant boy arrived carrying a small cushion. On top of the satiny pillow lay two golden bands connected by a chain.

The boy knelt before Seth offering him the jewelry.

“Now for a treat. Especially made for you, Chastity, your own nipple clamps, each guaranteed to give Seth great enjoyment. Will you place your ownership jewelry on your slave, Master Seth?” Monty was having way too much fun. “Of course, you may need to stimulate the areolas before applying the clamps.”

Seth was seriously considering wringing the man’s neck.

The heat in the room raised ten notches. More clothes were tossed into the air. Bloodlust seared Seth’s veins like acid. Erection stretched to the hilt, throbbing painfully against his leather pants, it would be so easy to take her. She’d fight him. The enticing thought made him inwardly moan. Whenever she was mad, tense, she liked it rough, liked it fast, liked it hard. And by the looks of her she was ready to implode.
Fuck
! He ran a shaky hand through his hair. If he touched Chastity in any sexual context here—now—he couldn’t ensure the outcome. So easily could he slip between her thighs and take what had been denied him. His blood heated, his pulse sped. The need to possess her, brand her, bordered on obsession.

Chastity’s head snapped up. “No!”

The sudden dissent was a knife to Seth’s gut. He flinched from the blow as if she delivered it with an undercut to his stomach.

Monty smiled. “I believe your slave has earned her first punishment.” The servant boy handed Seth the whip.

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The Game

Confusion glistened in her eyes. “Punishment?
Seth
?” It was a definite plea. As she scrambled to her feet Seth caught a glimpse of the swollen flesh between her thighs that he ached to caress.

“Face the curtains. On your hands and knees,” Seth demanded in a tone of indifference.

Chastity hesitated, then obeyed, arranging herself as he’d commanded. But when he got a good look at her perfectly sculpted ass facing the masses, he wanted to retract his command. Not only was her ass on display, but everyone could see her pussy lips, too.

Seth wanted to spread her cheeks and drive his cock deep between them. He held his breath, the mental image of his erection thrusting into her tight ass sending a wave of ecstasy through his body. He’d never taken her that way, but the position had great promise.

Speechless, he stood and stared at the two heavenly globes, so smooth, so firm. They had fit perfectly in his hands two years ago. His palms itched to touch. He barely stopped himself from reaching out and stroking their softness. Here he was about to flog her, when all he wanted to do was fuck her. Delve into her hot, wet pussy. Feel her breasts slide against his skin, the weight of her ass in his hands.

Instead, he snapped the whip, striking the object of his attention. Chastity startled at the sharp crack of the whip. Her body jerked forward as the shiny thongs met tender skin. She released a gasp somewhere between surprise and pain. Recovery was swift. Before the second whiplash hit she was prepared for the discomfort and took it without a sound. She remained rigid as pink splotched her alabaster skin.

He hadn’t meant to hit her that hard. Regret surfaced. What he wouldn’t give to kiss the hurt away.

He leaned into her, his bare chest feeling the warmth of her back. “Chastity, I’m sor—”

Over her shoulder she flashed him a look that would kill most men. The coldness in her eyes made him take a step back.

Through clenched teeth she hissed, “The clamps…have someone…from the audience…” She turned her head away from him unable to complete her sentence. She didn’t have to finish her request. She didn’t want him to touch her. He back away from her and turned to the crowd. “A prize for a lucky man in the audience.” It was a physical strain to force a smile. Like always, he performed for the cameras. “Who wishes to apply my slave’s nipple clamps?” From the corner of his eye, he watched Chastity’s shoulders fall with relief, an action that set his blood boiling. The leash glittered, swaying from her collar with her rapid breathing. A wild vision of the 15

Mackenzie McKade

strap wrapped around his fist forcing her head up as he fucked her mouth filled his mind.

Right there he made a vow. Over the next week she would learn to enjoy his touch. In fact, she’d be begging for it.

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The Game

Chapter Two

Be careful what you wish for
. How many times had Chastity heard that saying? And how many times during the last two years had she seen a good wish go bad? For example, her most recent desire to feel Seth’s hands caressing her body, his cock buried deep inside her. By no means was a nipple clamping and whipping what she had in mind.

After her first strike against him failed she should have stopped there. But,
noooo
. She had to wish him to the devil. And right before her eyes he had taken on Satan’s form. Chastity’s ass burned and her nipple ached, as well as her pride. Being flogged with a cat-o’-nine-tails on intergalactic cinema was not her idea of a good time. Now she was to endure yet another humiliation and more pain, but at least it wouldn’t be directly from Seth’s hands.

Chastity got up from her hands and knees as best she could with her hands cuffed. She slowly faced the crowd, her chin high.

After a moment of total chaos, a security guard ushered a man up the stairs and onto the stage. Chastity should’ve known that it would be a LA Annihilator in full combat attire. The audience was saturated with current and past players and more than a few wannabes.

Seth Allen worshippers.

Like little boys, they wore their khaki-green and tan uniforms and paraded around like warriors of the twentieth century. Only they weren’t in the Skyforce, they chased an astro-ball around the interior of a dome, for heaven’s sake. With a flattop haircut, the young man couldn’t be more than a year or so out of training guards. At least five years younger than her own twenty-six. Maturity lacking, the randy man high-fived Seth, then raised his arms, jumping up and down and roaring like a lion, a childish act of raging hormones. When he turned his intense brown eyes on her with a hunger that could only match that of a vulture, her skin crawled across her arms.

This decision had been her call. She had no one to blame but herself. But in reality she’d had no choice. Her hands were bound physically, as well as metaphorically. At this moment two things were raging out of control…her temper and her lust. If Seth touched her now, she didn’t know which one would explode first. Steeling her jaw, she drew Seth’s attention, forcing him to look at her.
See what
you’re doing to me? Enjoy it, because after this week you’ll never see me again.
Okay, so anger was in the lead. This was good. If she could keep this attitude up throughout the week she’d be home free.

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Yet for now she had to prove to Seth that she wasn’t frightened. That his fiercely dark looks didn’t move her, affect her in any way. He was just a man. Feet parted, she slowly lifted her arms high above her head, the movement pushing her breasts up and out, presenting herself on a silver platter to the man from the audience. With a sexy purr she murmured, “I’m ready, big boy.” But she was far from ready when the young man took her nipple into his hot, wet mouth. His hands ravished her body, stroking her ass, attempting to work his fingers between her legs. Sucking like a newborn babe, he slurped, and then bit down—hard. Chastity barely held back a scream of resentment and pain. Instead, she groaned. A sound that the idiot took as passion.

Seth shifted from one foot to the other, his discomfort apparent. A discomfort that Chastity knew couldn’t possibly match her own. She was the one half-naked, whip marks on her buttocks, and an imbecile nursing at her breast while his fingers played hide and seek.

But she was game.

Chastity closed her eyes and threw back her head, crying, “Yes,
yes
.” Yes, she would suffer at this man’s hands, but so would Seth. Was there anything left between them that would force Seth’s hand?

Her little act was enough to set Seth into a fury of motion. He jerked the young man off his feet, tearing him from Chastity. She grimaced, sucked in a breath as teeth scraped against her sensitized nipple. With ease, Seth slung the man across the polished floor. She took pleasure in watching the twit gather his scattered senses, push from the ground and stand like a tough guy, as if he thought to confront the raging man before him.

Smoldering silence, then a fierce growl rumbled low from Seth’s throat. A glance at his savage expression—teeth bared, eyes black with dark emotion—and Chastity understood why the young man cautiously backed away.

Not a word. Not a threat of retribution was uttered.

The audience held their breath. The young man never turned his back on Seth as he backed his way off the stage and down the stairs, putting distance between them. The game show host took several steps toward safety as the servant boy fled the stage. Which left Chastity bound and alone to bear the brunt of Seth’s anger. Their eyes met and the air between them shimmered. Electricity crackled. And she swore the lights dimmed. No, it was just lightheadedness, she had forgotten to breathe.

“I’ve changed my mind,” he murmured beneath his breath. He jerked the leash, dragging her reluctantly toward him.

Had she pushed him too far? Fear made her take the last few steps on her own. So close to the fire, she felt the heat of his anger rising from his body like steam. Felt the warmth of his breath fan her cheeks. The scent of his cologne took on a deep, dark redolence. Ten strong fingers wrapped around her neck.

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The Game

She tensed. Her pulse leapt wildly, beating a staccato rhythm through each fingertip.

Would he kill her in front of a billion eyes? He nudged her closer, his thumbs slowly stroking her throat in the vicinity of her jugular. He leaned forward. For a second she thought he would kiss her while he crushed her windpipe. Time stood still. Then he withdrew, the spell broken.

Roughly, he clenched her breast in his hand, pinching the clamp tight around her erect areola. Her chest arched forward, a moan escaping her lips. Whether from the pleasure-pain the ring induced, or the feel of Seth’s hands on her body, she wasn’t sure. Breathless, she awaited the warmth of his mouth, desired his tongue teasing her other nipple. Instead, he rolled the nub between his fingers until it peaked, and slipped the clamp over it. Instant pain shot through her breast. This time there was no pleasure. Without hesitation, he pulled on the chain connecting the clamps to encourage her to follow him.

She held back a cry, but barely. When the air finally flowed back into her lungs, she gasped, drawing his attention. The infernal regions of hell basked in his eyes. What an utter fool she was. He didn’t care about her. Revenge was his goal, his only goal. This was a game she had started two years ago. Now Seth was one-upping her. Emotions and hearts were involved. There could be no winner. Resigned, she surrendered. This was her trial to bear. The man she had loved was more interested in issuing pain than pleasure. And maybe she deserved it for leaving him without giving a reason. Would he ever believe she had no choice? That she had left to save his reputation and avoid gossip? Would he ever believe that she never stopped loving him?

If this was the way it was going to be, so be it. She would give him the pound of flesh he demanded and then disappear from his life.

“…and to ensure that each of you know the parts you’re playing.” Did the man have no scruples at all? The game show host continued as if nothing had just occurred,

“Voyeur II is supplying you with your own training coaches. Tor Thorenson will assist Mr. Allen.”

A golden god entered the stage. His attire was a toga made of white Egyptian linen and a gold medallion and chain around his waist. Brown sandals with black straps wound around each powerful leg to mid-calf, where the strings of leather were tied. Additionally, he carried something that unraveled like a snake before Chastity’s feet. The six-foot whip he held slithered through the air and then snapped. The evil sound made her flinch. She grasped Seth’s arm and then released it just as fast.

Chastity Ambrose, what have you gotten yourself into
? As if an ex-fiancé’s rage wasn’t enough, Voyeur II had hired King Dong and his minions. Two men followed, each a replica of the first. Shoulder-length blond hair and artificially enhanced muscles, bulging in every possible place a man could bulge. The taller of the two men, the one 19

Mackenzie McKade

with green eyes, Mr. Dong introduced simply as Master Shawn. The hazel-eyed devil with a scowl was Master Terrance.

Seth’s physique was natural, from his sinewy biceps and his artfully carved chest, to his tight, firm ass.

From the thunderous roar of the ladies in the audience, Chastity knew she was the only female not appreciating the new intricacies of the game. When the three mammoths surrounded her, she stood her ground. Their daunting scowls were meant to intimidate. Each slow, calculated step closed the distance between them, a quiet takeover of her personal space and her confidence. But she would not yield to the menacing bullies waiting for her to cower.