It was a weak attempt at best. She knew it, and so did Rick, which was why he hadn’t tried this before. But she also knew this could be the last opportunity she had to get intel from Mason. He hadn’t seemed excited about seeing her. More like resolved. Without any more scheduled visits, this could be the last time they saw each other. She was sure this was what motivated Rick to try wiring her.
“Let’s stop by my house first,” Shelby said, trying to find the mental strength she needed to get through this.
And by this, she didn’t mean the scene itself.
Chapter Eighteen
Mason spent the next hour setting out the supplies he needed for the scene, while trying to keep his temper in check. He was furious, so much so that he knew it was a bad idea to play with Shelby today. He should wait until he calmed down before doing this.
But then he’d remember she’d been playing him all along, and he’d think fuck it. Rational thought had fled when understanding of her deceit had taken up residence. Though he wasn’t doing this for her pleasure. Or for his. He was doing this to finish what they’d started with a little punishment thrown in. He wouldn’t hurt her. Much.
Still, he’d never punished a sub when he was angry with her. He was too controlled to do otherwise.
Fuck control.
Shelby had used him, played him, insulted his intelligence, and crushed his heart. He couldn’t be bothered with control right now.
Once everything was ready in his bedroom, he waited on the couch for her to arrive. If he had a dungeon, he’d have used it for practical matters, but once he’d opened the club with his partners, he no longer had a need for one in his home. He refused to do this at the club, so he should’ve at least set up in one of his guest rooms rather than his bedroom. But he had a bit of masochism in him. He knew every time he slept in his bed, he’d be reminded of her being in it, being punished, reminding himself to never get close to another woman again.
Before he’d met Shelby, he’d been in a relationship rut, not really connecting to a sub. He wanted to go back to that. What had been a rut before would be a haven now.
When the security guard altered him she’d arrived, he stood and faced the door, waiting for her. Her engine cut off and, moments later, his doorbell sounded. He crossed his arms and called out for her to come in. He wasn’t opening the door for her. He’d let her come to him.
All the way.
Then he’d show her what Hell was really like.
The door opened, and his muscles flexed, instantly reacting to the need instilled in him to go to her. He fought the reaction, refusing to move. She shut the door and looked at him. She was even more beautiful than the day they’d met. He wondered if spiders thought that about black widows when they came for them, too.
“Lock it.” She turned and did as he instructed without comment. When she turned around and took a step toward him, he lifted his hand. “Stop.”
Her foot was in the air when she froze at his command, and she eased it back to the floor. Good. Though he wouldn’t praise her for following orders. She didn’t deserve it.
“Strip.”
“Mason,” she said, looking down.
“No!” Hell no. But he tamped down his anger for now. If he pissed her off too soon, she might leave without her punishment. And he had no intention of ever seeing her again after today. “It’s Master. You’ve gotten too lax on the rules, pet. That’s my fault.”
He watched her neck as she swallowed. “Something’s wrong. I can see that, and it’s not about what was said this morning. What happened at work?”
Yes, he bet she’d love to know that, and he’d tell her. Just not yet. “You’re stalling. That’s the only thing wrong with me right now. Take off your clothes, Shelby.” He forced his arms to relax at his sides.
After standing there quietly for several seconds, she nodded slowly. He waited with baited breath as she removed her clothes, stripping down to her panties and bra before removing them, too. When she stood completely naked, head cast down to the floor, he took his time soaking in her beauty. Then he silently cursed his perusal. Of course she was beautiful. If the feds were playing him, they wouldn’t send in an amateur. Then his stomach dropped as another thought occurred to him. Was Shelby already in the lifestyle? Had she played him so well that he’d been completely fooled by her feigned ignorance?
Didn’t matter. This was a lesson he’d learned regardless of how skilled she’d been, and he would never be making this mistake again.
“Follow me.” He turned to leave, but when she dipped to pick up her things, he stopped. “You won’t need those.” He glanced at the stuff in her hands and gazed at her again. “Put it all back on the floor.”
She frowned at her things, but eventually eased everything back to where they’d been. New anger flashed through him when he thought about what might be hidden among her things. A gun, a recording device, mace, handcuffs. Any number of things she could use against him.
She wouldn’t get the chance.
Once she stood empty-handed, he turned without issuing the order again, knowing she’d follow him. He made his way to the master bedroom with her in tow. He walked in and waited by the door.
“On the bed. Back on the fire board.” He turned to lock the bedroom door and heard as she complied. When no more movement sounded, he rounded to face her, his back braced against the
