What About Love (Club Decadence Book 6) (16 page)

“This little sub will be with me tonight, Sam, so back off.” Twisting her head she saw Eric standing tall behind her.

When she turned back, Samson was searching the room. Having a full view of both the bar and the lounge from his vantage point, he was clearly looking for someone. “What about Val?”

“Under my protection, not what you think.”

“I was hoping you were learning from me and embarking on a threesome.”

Although taller and heavier than Eric, coming close to matching T for size and bulk, Sam took an abrupt step back. If Angie hadn’t been watching in the mirror, she would have wondered at his reaction. But as glares went, the Master Dom’s was lethal and the one he sent the burly barkeep just now could have surely melted steel.

“As you know, Sam, my fiancée will be with me as always, so cut the crap. That’s how rumors get started.”

“Sorry, boss,” the big man rumbled. “Bad joke.”

T snickered into his glass. “Don’t give up the night job, man. Your material needs serious work.”

Eric ignored that and when he spoke again, the fire had gone out of his words. “Val and I will be rounding up some prospective Doms for Angie to try on for size.”

She relaxed, comforted further by Eric’s squeeze of reassurance before he released her. T on the other hand, went nitro, tossing back his drink and slamming his empty shot glass on the bar top. He rose and in a growl to Eric stated, “I’ll be waiting in administration for us to finish our meet.”

He then stomped away.

“What is it, tonight? Full moon? PMS?” Samson grumbled as he walked away. “Everyone’s seriously pissy.”

“Four missing women will tend to do that, my friend.”

Samson stopped dead in his tracks, drawling, “I’ll be damned if it don’t.”

Eric’s sigh was enough to part her hair as he helped her from the stool and led her back to the conference room and as Samson had so charmingly put it, a seriously pissy, Lil T.

*****

“I’ll pick her play partners, T.”

“The hell you will, I’m her handler on this mission.”

“Yes, but you can’t follow her around like a puppy. You’ll blow her cover. Whereas I can be her mentor. With Val on my arm, we can vet an easy, friendly Dom for tonight. It they don’t hit it off, or he doesn’t do it for her, she comes back tomorrow and we’ll give it another go.”

“A friendly Dom isn’t going to draw his attention, I don’t think,” Angie cut in softly.

“Brat it up,” Eric advised. “Without a doubt, you’ll get a spanking, but I’ll find you a Dom that won’t be severe, no matter your sass. Be loud, though. And lose your top. The other four were exhibitionists, remember?”

“Yeah, I remember.”

T could tell by her expression she more than remembered it, she dreaded it.

“What about the carousel? I’ll have to ride that.”

“No,” T barked. To Eric, he clarified, “Val’s right. We can’t ask that of her. Think of another way.”

Eric’s phone buzzed. Glancing down at the screen, his brows gathered a little. “LAPD, I better take this.”

When he left the room, Angie turned to T, her hand clutching his forearm. “I have to, T, he’s only taken women from the carousel. I don’t like the thought of that either, especially with a stranger. I was thinking—”

She stopped abruptly, concealing her thoughts behind a fringe of thick black lashes. He looked down to where her pale hand gripped his tanned arm. It was trembling. Angie might show the world a brave tough exterior, but this was too much for her to hide.

“You’re not doing it.”

“I could do it, um, if it was… with you.”

He dipped his head, trying to catch sight of her face and determine if she was serious, but all he could see was the top of her head. Reaching for her jaw, he lifted her face on the heel of his hand, finding her eyes tightly closed.

“Darlin’, you don’t have to do this.”

“I know, but I need to. Besides, I owe you one.”

That ticked him off. “You don’t owe me anything that isn’t freely given, goddammit.”

Her eyes flew open at the heat in his words. “T,” she began hesitantly, her gaze shifting away as she murmured, “This is embarrassing to say.” Awkwardly, she cleared her throat. “It wouldn’t be a hardship for me. Ever since that day in the Rossi lobby, I’ve wondered how it would be, but I was—”

“You were afraid. I get that.” He did get that, probably more so than she did herself, especially when her dying words haunted his dreams.
I’ll never know what it would have been like to love you.
“You’re new to all of this. Add in the drama and the intrigue, it’s easy to get sucked in. On top of it all, introducing a D/s relationship, if only for a night or two can play with your head, beautiful, as well as your heart.”

“I’m a big girl, T.”

“I know, though it would kill me to see you hurt.”

“I can handle it.”

“Don’t fall for me, Angie. This will have to be it. I don’t—”

“I understand, T. You don’t have it to give.”

“Yeah.” He paused, his thumb stroking her chin, taking in her beautiful face. So brave, and naïve. “I want to clarify that I’m not asking you to do this, nor is Eric or Cap. Hell,” he huffed a laugh although far from amused. “Cap doesn’t know. He told me to find another way.”

“He’s family and protective. Not to mention, Megan would lose her mind.” She glanced up at him. “But this is my decision, T. It’s my body, my mouth—”

“Some find that much more intimate.”

Processing that for a moment, she glanced hastily away. He could practically see her mind working as she imagined herself taking him into her mouth. The image ran through his mind as well and he hardened. He couldn’t deny he hadn’t fantasized about this exact thing, but it wasn’t something Angie did. She might be caught up in the excitement of the case and the intrigue of the lifestyle now, but what about the aftermath. He wondered what about the carousel would bother her most the morning after, being on display, having strangers touch her, or giving him pleasure as she took him inside her hot mouth, letting him glide over her plump, pink lips.

Her low voice interrupted his spiraling thoughts. “It’s not like I’ve never blown a guy, T.”

His back went rigid, as if a steel bar had melded to his spine. He did not want to hear about the men in her past. Jealous anger ran all over him. Fortunately, she had looked away and didn’t see his inexplicable reaction.

Still not meeting his gaze, she murmured. “Maybe we’ll catch a break in the case and it won’t come to pass. We’ve got two nights to solve this, don’t we?”

“We do, and I hope like hell that wish comes true, but we went back through the logs, each abduction happened on Saturday, on the night the subs rode the carousel.”

Her head came up and she read the truth of his words. A shadow of alarm crossed her face as she whispered, “Fuck me!”

“Although I hate to hear you say it, baby, that about sums it up.”

Chapter Nine

It was nine o’clock. She sat across from Master Eric in the owner’s booth while Val went over the Doms he had recommended for her first scene. She was sure the reason for her presence tonight was more than that. Most likely she was there for moral support, or as a licensed therapist, to pick up the pieces if she fell apart. As a fairly new sub herself, she was also watching her with sympathetic eyes.

“It’s either George or Renaldo, Angie. I wouldn’t match you up with anyone else.”

She looked to Eric for his opinion. He nodded.

“I’ve known them each for a couple of years. Experienced, yet not old enough to be your daddy, which you’ve made clear you’re not into, although that would almost be easier.”

“Eric!”

He wrapped an arm around Val and pulled her into his side, giving Angie a shrug in the way of an apology. “Thinking aloud when I shouldn’t. Age play certainly isn’t for everyone, although the nursery upstairs gets a lot of use.”

“Focus, Sir. You’re freakin’ her out.” Val wrinkled her nose. “And to be honest, me a bit too.”

Eric’s arm gave his sub a good squeeze, as he continued. “I’d say George. He’s mid-forties, like me. Although I’m not the one to judge, the subs think him handsome and he’s quite tall.”

Val rolled her eyes, then proceeded to impart what would actually reassure Angie about a potential Dom more than his good looks. “He’s popular with the subs and not into anything extreme, and Master George has the kindest voice and smile.”

Eric shot his fiancée a disgruntled look. “I wasn’t aware you knew George quite so well.”

“We had him over for dinner last month, Sir. He told us funny stories all evening, if you recall.” She winked at Angie, obviously trying to put her at ease. “He’s a pediatrician and says what I already knew was true having raised two precocious youngsters, kids say and do the darndest things.”

“Hm,” Eric grunted in acknowledgement, although he didn’t seem too thrilled. “What do you say, Angie? He’s right there by the chain station. I can call him over.”

“Yes, I suppose I should get on with it.”

When he had the chance, Master Eric signaled the Dom over. After a brief introduction, he explained the situation. “She’s eager for a taste, George, but under my care because her friend and Dom wannabe wimped out. In spite of that, she has an avid interest that she wants to explore. I’m seeking someone who will give her a gentle introduction.” Eric advised him of this straight off, authority ringing clear in his deep voice. “If you’re looking for more adventurous play, we’ll turn our focus elsewhere.”

George nodded in understanding and accepted Master Eric’s restrictions. Partial nudity, bondage, and moderate spanking were all a go, although sex was off the table. Giving his word to adhere to the limits the Master Dom had set, he offered Angie his hand. A verbal contract to play having been struck, she placed hers in his and let him lead her away.

“I’m a little scared, Sir.”

“That’s to be expected, pretty girl, though I hope there’s some excitement mixed in as well. We’ll see if we can’t coax that to the surface.”

*****

T watched as George Atkins, an older, well-respected, conservative Dom, the exact type he would have selected for Angie himself, lead her to a private booth where he seated her and slid in on the same side close behind her. He turned his back to the room, affording them privacy without the intimacy of drawing the curtains, but effectively blocking his view of Angie. Shifting his position didn’t help much other than to give him a better angle on George, who lifted his hand and began to play with a lock of her long hair, curling it around his finger. Irked over the familiar gesture, T could only imagine how he’d feel when the scene began and more intimate touching followed.

Feeling wired, he was aware that his annoyance showed on his face, mostly due to the wide berth other members were giving him. He tried to lock it down, attempting to smooth out his features as he covertly observed the pair while circulating nearby, acting like he was interested in the scenes going on when all he could think of was Angie in an upcoming scene of her own.

He welcomed the distraction when one of the members he’d met during previous visits came up to say hello and filled him in on several pieces of new equipment and changes to the theme rooms upstairs. As he spoke, T scanned the room as if looking for an available sub or scene, yet his focus kept going back to the booth in the corner. Fifteen or twenty minutes passed and they remained seated. The Dom had shifted closer, giving him a clear shot of them both when he slipped his arm around her and brushed a hand along her cheek. T’s jaw clamped tight as he ground his teeth.

“Master T.” A soft voice rose from the floor, drawing his attention. “So good to have you back in L.A., you’ve been missed.”

The lovely blonde on her knees at his feet was familiar. He’d enjoyed her company in the past, but tonight, it irritated him. She was near perfect in her pose: head bowed, back arched slightly to show her body in the best light, palms open and resting on her parted thighs. That only irked him more. There was no spark, no sass, and no flashing enigmatic hazel eyes. He politely declined her implied offer and moved away, then his brows drew together in a frown. He was supposed to be working. The Master T who came to play in the past would have jumped at the offer.

“You’ve changed, Master T.” Another Dom who’d witnessed the interaction observed, proving he wasn’t playing his part.

“My tastes have changed,” he stated simply, hoping that was explanation enough.

“Interested in a little fire, instead of a simpering slave?” He nodded his head behind him. “Too bad she’s taken, eh?”

Glancing where he indicated, T saw that Angie and her Dom had left the booth. Standing only a few feet away, they were having an animated discussion. At one point, she folded her arms and stamped her foot, her lower lip turned down in a pout. She was a sight to behold—cute, spoiled, sassy—and in need of a sound spanking. Her Dom should feed right into her bratty behavior, T predicted, and wasn’t surprised when he did exactly that.

Following at a discreet distance, he watched as the Dom hauled his spirited brat over to a spanking bench. Unlike the traditional prayer bench or sawhorse, this one had a T-shaped design, with a wide cross bar at one end where the knees could be secured on extensions set well apart. The other rail extending out long enough to support the chest and head, but was narrow to allow the breasts to hang down on either side. As he knew she would be, she was a sight to behold strapped to the bench, particularly since she was playing her part to the hilt, wriggling and squirming as she declared loudly that he was a “big meanie” and being most unfair.

Wishing he was in George’s place, he watched through gritted teeth as the other man effectively ended her fidgeting with adeptly applied leather restraints to her wrists and above both knees, using an additional strap at her waist. That quickly, she was fully immobilized, the padded split-leg supports keeping her thighs spread and her bottom up thrust, ready for her punishment. He stroked a hand down her back and over her covered bottom. Then, with a flip of one hand, her skirt wasn’t a barrier any longer.