She shot him a suspicious frown. “How do you know so much about this stuff?”
Beck had wondered how long it would take her to ask. “Well, as a medical professional, I’ve encountered some interesting things over the years.”
“I want to experience life.” She sighed and shook her head. “I mean really experience it.”
“And you should.”
Together, they moved to the next piece. The oil painting was a close-up of a woman’s profile, lips red, a blurred hint of her arms strung up above her head in the background. Her Dom had attached a clothespin to her wayward tongue.
Beck bit back a chuckle. He’d used this punishment on a few unruly subs.
On his left, Heavenly’s brows slashed down in confusion. “I guess someone really doesn’t want her talking.”
“Clearly, she’s said enough.”
Heavenly wrinkled her nose. “I don’t think I’d like this at all.”
“I doubt that woman does, either.”
“So some people like to be bound but none want to be silenced. If that’s true, why do this?” She gestured to the painting. “It seems like a punishment a parent might have given their child for swearing or lying once upon a time.”
“You’re not far off. Think about it… Sometimes, even adults have to be corrected. Granted, this may seem like an extreme way to get one’s point across, but do you think she’ll forget the lesson anytime soon?”
Heavenly shook her head. “If someone ever did that to me, I’d want a warning that I was saying too much before he felt compelled to hunt up a clothespin.”
Duly noted, little girl. I’ll be more than happy to keep your sexy ass in line.
He reached for her hand, leading her around the freestanding wall to the feature on the other side. Front and center, a bright splash of a photo greeted them—this one of a sub’s freshly whipped ass. Some blows on her hip were deep enough to have drawn blood. A red drop ran down her pale thigh, contrasting artistically with the almost innocent yellow-flowered shirt that brushed the edges of her welts.
Imagining his marks on Heavenly’s untouched ass roused the sadist in Beck and pushed his desire nearly to the edge of his control.
Beside him, she gasped and recoiled, burying her face in his shoulder. “Why would anyone do that to her? It’s savage and cruel.”
How did he explain that this Dom had lined his sub methodically, giving her a beautiful endorphin high while pushing her to her pain threshold?
“Several of the mediums on display depict various aspects of the BDSM lifestyle. Do you know what that is?”
Heavenly shook her head. “I’ve heard the term before but…”
“Bondage, Dominance, submission, masochism. It contains elements of discipline and sadism, among other things.”
She dragged in a breath. “Did you bring me here because you like this stuff?”
He should have known she was too clever not to catch on. “I brought you here to view the art, to open your mind. I find it intriguing.”
“You’re not turned off by…that?” She pointed to the photo.
Right now, whipping was clearly a hard no for her, and that made him want to howl. On the other hand, a good Dom’s job was to push his sub’s limits to help her find her truest submission. Maybe in time…
But maybe not. If he wanted her for his own, he might have to live without wielding a whip.
“I find a unique beauty in it. But remember, I’m a physician, so I know she’ll heal up fine in a few days.”
“But whoever did this to her is abusing her.”
Beck gave a sharp shake of his head. “My understanding of the lifestyle is that the people who practice it do so willingly. She always has the power to say no.”
“Really?” She sounded almost skeptical. Understandable, given her innocence.
When the time was right, he’d provide her a thorough explanation of safe words and boundaries. But for now, Beck let her wander around the next corner. “Ready to see what’s over there?”
“Please.” She finished the last of her liquid courage and set the empty glass on the tray held by a passing waiter.
Since he’d worried she would demand they leave the gallery altogether, her acquiescence filled him with relief. Maybe the wine had done its job.
As he cupped her elbow, he led her into the next open space. It held more photos and paintings, as well as several pedestals displaying bronze statues. Instead of methodically perusing each piece, Heavenly skimmed a discriminating eye over them, showing neither aversion nor excitement.
Finally, one particular photo caught her eye. She strode straight to it, transfixed. When Beck saw the image, he wanted to cheer. He’d brought her here hoping some of the pieces would call to her. One finally had.
A blindfolded woman wearing a black demi-bra, panties, and a garter straddled a chair with her stockinged thighs. Her hands had been tied helplessly behind her back. She listened raptly, head cocked to one side, while her fully dressed Master whispered in her ear.
“Oh…” Her murmur was so soft he almost missed it.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s powerful. Evocative. There’s a sense of…anticipation.”
Fuck yes! Beck’s head filled with all the wicked things he could say to Heavenly once he had her bound for his mercy. Clandestinely, he adjusted his aching fly.
As they continued through the gallery, Heavenly steered clear of the hardcore fetish or masochistic pieces, but works containing bondage almost always made her linger, a soft yearning filling her face.
Winding their way deeper into the exhibit, they found a narrow rectangular board mounted to a door frame with a protruding vertical line of a half-dozen penis sculptures, each in various stages of arousal.
When Heavenly caught sight of the protrusions, she giggled. “Really?”
“Any of those, um…stand out for you?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible. I’m not answering that.”
“C’mon. The limp one at the top is pretty pointless, but this one…” He pointed to the most sizable erection, complete with copious veins raised
