“You’re a very beautiful woman, Shelby. You’re making it very difficult for me to let go of control tonight.” She opened her mouth, and he shook his head. “You do not have permission to speak unless you are asked a question or want to stop the scene.”
She shut her mouth and watched him. He nodded his approval.
“Just remember, pet, if you give yourself over to the pleasure, you may finally discover what you’ve longed for.”
The door opened before he could say anything else, and her head whipped around to look. Rafe stood in the doorway, tall and as brooding as ever. It was no wonder that some of the subs shied away from him, but nowhere near as many as those who avoided Jedrek.
“Ready?” Rafe asked as he walked in and shut the door.
Shelby fisted her hands quickly before releasing them. Mason wanted to comfort her, but this was her battle. He had his own to wage tonight.
“Yes, Rafe.”
“Come here, Shelby,” Rafe said as he walked to the spanking bench.
Shelby looked at Mason, and he nodded at her. The fact that she deferred to him first made his growing dick rock hard. She was acting as if she was his sub. If only she understood what that did to a Dom. She walked toward Rafe. Mason stood and followed alongside her as if she was his to protect.
“I am Master Rafe. You can call me Master.”
“Sir,” Mason corrected suddenly. He knew he was overstepping because all four of Scene’s business partners were called Master by any sub at the club. He didn’t care. Mason was her only Master.
Rafe raised an eyebrow at him. “I see.” Yeah, he just bet the other man was reading between the lines. Mason was asserting his leadership in the room, and Rafe would have to fall in line. This was new territory for them, but Rafe was a smart man. “Did you discuss the rules about safe words and stopping?”
“We’ve discussed everything. It’s her wish that you not touch her in a sexual manner.”
Rafe nodded at Mason and then turned to Shelby. “Sir will be fine. Please lay across the bench.”
Shelby gave Mason one last glance before stepping over to do as she’d been told. She elegantly draped herself across the spanking horse, which left her ass canted upward for optimal access. Rafe walked up to her and bent. Without another word, he began strapping her to the piece of furniture in a quick, efficient manner. He knew his way around this piece of equipment so well he could work it in the dead of night without a hint of light. Once her arms and legs were secured, he stood once again and nodded at his handiwork.
“Your safe word is red, but you’re permitted to use more conventional words to stop the scene. I would advise against using any of the sort unless you are absolutely sure you want the scene to stop for good because I do not take those commands lightly. If you are not sure or just think you need a breather, you may use the word yellow. I’ll pause and decide if we’re going to continue. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Very good.”
Rafe walked over to the wall and selected a paddle. Mason braced himself. Once he let Rafe start, there’d be no going back.
Shelby heard the sound of wood on metal right before heavy footfalls echoed in the room.
He was coming toward her.
This was so not what she’d planned. Jesus Christ, if her daddy knew his hard-earned classic restoration money was used to send her to college to learn five different languages so that her ass would be up in the air to be spanked, he’d have offered to do this shit for free. Well, minus the tied up naked part.
It’d taken her all week—all week—to work up just a semblance of a nerve to go through with this assignment, the meeting this afternoon sealing the deal. Mason could be a criminal. But he was also sexy. She’d be lying if that hadn’t made it any easier to accept her fate. She’d decided she had a job to do and was going to do it regardless. As for the attraction she felt, she’d ignore it and focus on her job.
And then the prick changed the rules.
She’d been ready to flee when Mason announced this new little twist, but she also realized she didn’t have a choice but to follow through. What the hell? Was this common practice? She didn’t know if she should feel like a cheap piece of meat being so carelessly handed off to another man, or if she should feel honored that Mason was trying to make the best out of this experience for her by selecting specialized Doms for the individual scenes. The jury would probably stay out on that for a while. She kept her head down and waited, wondering when it was going to start. Having another man in the room would seriously hinder any questioning she tried—
Shelby suddenly flinched when a palm caressed her buttocks. Shit, don’t freak out! She took a calming breath. Yeah, that so didn’t work.
“You may scream.”
That was the only warning she got before something hard landed on her rear. She gasped and looked up. She immediately found Mason watching her, his arms crossed over his chest, a look that rivaled anger etched on his face. She didn’t understand why he was mad, but she’d seen him mad once before and this wasn’t exactly the same. She didn’t know him well enough to understand what emotion he was feeling.
Oddly enough, staring into his eyes seemed to help whatever she was feeling. Somehow, he grounded her without saying or doing anything.
When the next blow came, she squeaked a little sound, but was unable to catch her breath before Rafe smacked her again. Then again and again. Oh God, he wasn’t stopping. He kept striking her with something, the force making her breasts sway over the bench and
