Wanting to give the man comfort, but not sure how, she laid a whisper-soft kiss in the center of each ass cheek. His skin was burning hot to the touch. She wondered if it was possible to get a black and blue ass. Pulling back, she began to spray the red hot skin.
She heard Merlin hiss when the icy cold spray hit his ass the first time. Then she heard him sigh as it went to work. She continued until her hand was tired from pumping the spray bottle and every inch of red skin was wet with spray.
“Cover him with the blanket,” Dane instructed in a whisper.
Sloan opened the blanket and carefully tucked it around Sir, working to keep it from brushing against his sore, raw ass. Once she was satisfied she’d done everything she could, she returned to kneel beside Dane’s leg.
As time passed, Sloan began to wonder how much love it took for Dane to allow Merlin to be spanked by anyone in the bar. Didn’t he get jealous at the other Dominants who’d touched his man?
Wonder turned to envy as she wished she could meet someone who would love her enough to learn her innermost secrets. Someone who saw past the fleshy hips and rounded belly to see her heart. These two men had looked deeper inside her in the past few hours than anyone ever had before. But they were committed to each other. They wouldn’t be interested in opening their love to include her.
She had no idea how much time passed when Merlin finally roused. Leaning up, he kissed Dane. It was a gentle kiss that was deep and hot and made Sloan squirmy just watching. Then she realized she wasn’t supposed to be watching the men and dropped her gaze to the floor. Her cheeks burned.
“Thank you, Master,” Merlin whispered. “It’s been a wonderful birthday.”
“Are you ready to take our angel home?”
“Yes, Master.”
The two men then turned to look at Sloan. “Angel? Are you ready to leave? Or would you prefer to go back upstairs and play some more?” Dane asked, his voice softer, without the thread of steel his Dom voice carried.
“I’m ready, Master,” she whispered, wondering for a moment how the rest of the weekend would go. She’d felt comfortable here, knowing that Jenna and Taurus were close by if she needed them. Would things change once they were away from Esoteria?
She watched as Dane helped Merlin to his feet then connected the snaps of his leathers together. She winced in sympathy when Merlin hissed as the leather rubbed against his raw ass. After handing Sloan the toy bag, Dane wrapped an arm around Merlin to steady him.
“Angel, go to the bar, and tell Taurus we’re leaving. Tell him you will call him in the morning to check in.”
Sloan stared at him in shock. How did know she was nervous? Was she really that transparent?
Merlin smiled at her, looking tense and in pain, but he looked more relaxed than she’d seen him all evening. “You’re in safe hands, angel. The same rules apply at home as here. Use your safe word for pain or extreme discomfort, and everything stops.”
Sloan nodded. “Yes, Sir. I’ll be right back.”
“We’ll meet you at the door,” Dane said.
Chapter 9
Sloan woke naked and alone with no memory of how she got to wherever it was she now lay.
The last thing she remembered was climbing into the passenger’s seat of Dane’s expensive SUV. Merlin had crawled into the back seat and lain down, hissing every time his leathers rubbed against his ass. She’d closed her eyes as Dane pulled out of Esoteria’s parking lot, feeling surprisingly relaxed and sleepy.
Sitting up, she looked around the room, hoping to find a clue as to where they’d taken her. Obviously a bedroom. The bed was huge, the biggest she’d ever seen. The sheets were soft, the comforter thick and warm. The room was dark except for a sliver of light coming from a half-closed doorway to her left. There was no noise, except for a burbling, splashing sound coming from the room beyond the lighted doorway.
Climbing from the bed, Sloan looked around, but her almost-dress had disappeared, along with the shoes, shawl and purse they’d retrieved right before leaving the club. With a shrug and a sigh, she crossed the room. .
She paused in the doorway, all at once unsure. Would they be mad she fell asleep? Would they not want her now? Or were they so wrapped up in each other they’d forgotten about her?
Sure Dane had paid a lot of money for her, but that didn’t mean they wanted anything to do with her here.
She slowly edged the door open and found herself stepping into a bathroom the size of her living room at the duplex. One wall held a mirror and three sinks. The glassed-in shower in the far corner looked big enough to hold a party in, and the Jacuzzi tub next to it appeared equally large.
Merlin was alone in the tub, looking peaceful. He floated front down just under the water, with his red butt breaking the surface. His arms and shoulders held him in place. His rested a cheek against a towel on the side of the tub with his eyes closed.
Looking around, she found what she was looking for. Moving slowly and silently, trying not to disturb Merlin in his bath, she answered nature’s call. She planned to head back to the bedroom and wait for someone to tell her what she was supposed to do next.
“You could join me.”
Sloan jumped and spun around at Merlin’s quiet offer. “I didn’t want to disturb you.”
She watched him open his eyes and shift around the edge of the tub until he could see her. “Sweet angel Sloan, you could never be a bother. Come and join me. I’m supposed to soak out the pain, but I’m not sure it’s
