“Come along, sweet angel. Master is waiting.” Turning, he led the way back to their Dane.
* * * *
“She’s been interested in the lifestyle, asking questions, doing research, reading erotic romances and such. We thought she’d enjoy seeing the reality of a sub’s life. But we didn’t realize…” Jenna said.
“We thought she had more experience,” Taurus finished for her. “She never told us she’d only been with one man. Or that he’d basically raped her. She agreed to do this just like she always agrees to anything we ask her to do. She is submissive at heart, though I’m not sure even she knows how submissive.”
Dane nodded then smiled. “Since my purchase is more special that even you realized, I will be doubling my donation to the shelter fund.”
The club owners gasped. “That’s hardly necessary,” Jenna assured him.
“Why do I have to keep reminding people that it’s my money and I’ll do with it whatever I damn well please. I’ll just tell Kyle it’s a tax deduction. He’ll believe that,” Dane said. He watched Merlin and Sloan emerge from the restrooms, exchange a few words, and then link hands and head in their direction. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there is a virgin sub and a birthday boy in need of my attention. I’d like to lock Merlin in one of the stockades so everyone can get in a few birthday swats later, if that’s all right with the management. Any and all Dom/Dommes can have five swats for health, wealth, wisdom, love, and luck, just like last year.” He nodded toward the bar which had stocks at two corners and St. Andrew’s crosses at the other two.
Taurus chuckled. “I think we’ll be able to accommodate him.”
After telling Taurus exactly how he wanted Merlin to be offered to the crowd, Dane walked away so the cousins could not upset angel. She belonged to them for the next forty-six and a half hours, and he didn’t want her cousins to speak to her until after that. Always the planner, Dane decided they would to stay here for a couple more hours before going home where the real fun would began.
“Follow me, pet, and bring your new toy,” he growled as he brushed past the pair.
He stopped at the bar to retrieve his toy bag and the key to the room he’d reserved weeks ago. Without a glance to confirm the subs followed, he headed to the wide circular staircase in the back corner that led to the second floor. It was time to teach their angel how to fly.
* * * *
Merlin knew bravery would carry Sloan only so far and wasn’t surprised when she faltered at the top of the stairs. She just stopped walking, pulling on his hand, trying to free herself.
“Master,” he said.
Turning around, Merlin closed the small distance between them, taking stock as he did. She was too pale, and her breathing was too fast. He stepped around behind her so that her arm lay across her middle, their linked hands resting at her opposite hip. He wrapped his free arm around her body just above her breasts so his hand curled around her shoulder joint. When he pulled her back against his chest, he felt the fine tremors that passed through her. “You’re freezing,” he observed.
“Angel? Is everything all right?”
She began to shiver in earnest. “I want this, I really do, but I’m not sure I can walk the rest of the way. Could you kiss me again?”
“Nothing will happen unless you want it. We’ll always talk out the basics of a scene before we start. Things may change or progress to something we didn’t talk about, so your safe word is ‘red.’ Use it only if you’re really scared or in so much pain you cannot continue. Use ‘yellow’ if you just need a minute to catch your breath or adjust to what we’re doing. Do you understand?”
Sloan nodded.
“He needs you to say the words. When playing, communication is key. Talking, sharing thoughts and feelings, is essential to all good Dom/sub relationships. Do you understand?” Merlin explained as Dane continued to stare at her.
Chapter 5
Sloan thought over Merlin’s words. Communication was the key to any relationship. Was that why hers always failed? Because she couldn’t share her feelings and needs and wants? Because she didn’t know how to ask for what she wanted?
With these two, she didn’t seem to have that problem. They learned more about her in the short time they’d been together than other men she’d dated learned after a half-dozen dates.
“Yes, Sir. Yes, Master. I understand. ‘Red’ to stop, ‘yellow’ to slow down.” The shivers slowed. “But I’d really like you to kiss me again. Please, Master?”
“Well spoken,” Merlin murmured as he bent and kissed his way up the side of her neck.
Dane didn’t respond with words. He just lowered his head and kissed her. Instantly her lips parted, and she met his tongue and invited him in. He tasted so good, like mint and chocolate, man and power. She didn’t want it to end. But eventually he pulled away. Then he leaned over her shoulder. She turned her head and watched him kiss Merlin.
While kissing Dane had heated her, watching the two men kiss shot her lust to a high boil. “Oh, wow,” she breathed. “That is so hot.”
Needing to be a part of it, she stretched up and kissed whatever skin she could reach on either man.
A moment later, Dane pulled back. “We need to continue this in private,” he growled. He brushed another kiss on her lips then pulled back to study her closely. “Feel better now?”
Sloan nodded. “Yes, Master. Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome, little one. Now come along, our room is just down here.”
Merlin
