Club Shadowlands (Masters of the Shadowlands #1)(19)
Author: Cherise Sinclair

Sir chuckled. “And I’d enjoy seeing you there.”

That thought made her burrow closer. She listened to his heartbeat for a while, slow, even, calming. Had she ever had a man that just liked to hold her? Had she ever been content with just being held? The stillness between them was so comfortable…

Okay, one question from last week was answered. This was more than just BDSM stuff; she wanted Sir himself. She wanted his hands, callused and hard, on her body. She wanted more of his intense eyes, his deep voice, his attention.

Oh, she was in trouble now.

Chapter Ten

Under Sir’s amused gaze, Jessica re-tied her halter. Then they wandered back out into the main room, making a slow circle of the bar. Sir knew everyone there, and Jessica couldn’t help noticing all the longing looks he got from the women in negligees. The subs. Not that he seemed to notice. He kept her close, one hand always on her. Each touch moved to new areas, until her skin grew so sensitive that even the brush of his slacks against her thigh made her shiver.

“Z, I heard you’d requested a bottom for tonight.” A tall man in black leather pants and vest leaned against the back of a couch, a darkly beautiful brunette curled at his feet. Jessica remembered seeing the man on the dance floor last week, kissing a different sub. He continued, “Vance is clearing the medical room for your scene.”

“Ah. Would you believe I had totally forgotten about the lesson? Thank you for reminding me, Daniel.” Sir glanced down. “Jessica, this is Master D. He occasionally works as a dungeon monitor here.”

Was this the Daniel who had lost his wife, and who liked soft women? She realized he was gazing at her with overt appreciation. She flushed, knowing her lips were swollen from Z’s mouth, and the nightie didn’t hide nearly enough of her.

“I’ll be happy to watch over Jessica while you’re busy, Z,” Master D offered with a wicked grin.

She felt Sir’s arm around her turn to iron, and his voice was icy, but quiet. “Thank you, Daniel. I don’t believe I’ll try your resistance in such a way.”

Master D blinked, and his eyebrows rose. “Well now… I see.”

“Z, my dear.” Leading a collared blonde sub on a leash, a pretty woman in a red vinyl catsuit walked up to them. “We’re looking forward to your scene. Did you want to use my slave or –” Her gaze ran over Jessica, and she smiled slowly. “That’s a pretty morsel you have there. Will you be using her instead?”

Jessica glanced up at Sir, her stomach twisting. He wanted another woman for…for what?

“Thank you for the offer, Melissa. Give me a moment.” Sir grasped Jessica’s shoulders, turned her to face him. His smile had disappeared. “Little one. Last week, I promised to give a short training scene. I’ll be using a sub, but… I don’t think you are ready for this, kitten.”

She saw the woman’s slave staring at Sir with open lust, all but drooling. Jessica’s hands tightened into fists. Z was her Dom, dammit, at least for now. And he wanted her to let him use someone else. Put his mouth and — “I’ll be your sub.”

“Jessica, you don’t realize what this would entail.”

Butterflies swarmed into her stomach, making her voice quiver. “It would be in public? In that medical room?”

“In that room. In public. Yes.”

“Doing what?” she managed to ask. Maybe she could keep her clothes on.

“That would be up to me, pet.” He stroked a finger down her cheek. “Pleasure only, no pain. But the decision is yours.”

Could she stand seeing him with someone else? No. “I’ll do it. Use m-me.” Jessica choked a little on the last word. Was she insane?

“Well.” He tilted her chin up, studied her face until she had to tuck her lip between her teeth to hide the trembling. “You are still very new to this. Are you certain?”

She gave a jerk of her head. Yes.

Zachary frowned as Jessica’s feelings washed over him. Her fear was mixed with a possessiveness that pleased him immensely. And he saw that taking another sub at this point would damage her growing trust in him. But the lesson he’d promised James wouldn’t be easy for her, although she was perfect for the role.

Her eyes narrowed as he considered, and he could feel her determination. Stubborn little minx. How did she get him into these situations? He sighed.

“So be it.” He set an arm around Jessica’s waist. “Daniel, Melissa, thank you for your offers.”

Daniel grinned. “Your sub seems mighty feisty.”

Melissa snorted. “That won’t last long.” She tugged at the blonde’s leash and headed toward the back, saying, “Come, slave, I think we’ll watch this.”

Z pulled Jessica closer and followed. He could feel the way her legs wobbled and shook his head. He’d probably have to carry her out of the room afterward.

The hallway had filled with people. As Jessica entered the medical room, she realized the windows had been slid open so the audience could hear. They’d be listening to Sir. To her. Oh, God.

She pressed her lips together and straightened her spine. Be brave, she told herself, putting a hand on the exam table for balance. Besides the table, the room held a small sink with a cupboard above it, a metal tray table, a rolling stool, even an upright lamp. Very much like her doctor’s office. And, hey, she’d survived pelvic exams before. Breast exams, vaginal exam, speculums — she could handle this.

Sir took a white lab coat from a hook on the wall and shrugged it on, transforming himself into a doctor. Looking oddly correct in the part.

A locked drawer in the cupboard yielded three packaged objects. He set them on the tray table. A speculum maybe? But what were the other two?

Touching her cheek lightly with his fingers, he gave her a warm look, then said, “Undress, please, and climb up on the table.”

She glanced at all the people, her heart quailing as she realized everyone was staring at her.

Sir tilted his head at her, his eyes level. Waiting.

She’d told him she could do this; she’d insisted, and so she would.

Her fingers trembling, she undid the halter ties, sucking in a breath as her breasts were exposed. She heard whispers from the people outside the room, and her jaw tightened. She knew what they must be saying. Naked was bad enough; being fat and ugly made it all worse. Her nightie dropped to the floor.

“Stop.”

Her hands froze in the process of pushing the thong down.

She realized Sir was right in front of her. He cradled her face in his hands, looking deep in her eyes. “Jessica,” he murmured in a low voice the audience couldn’t hear, “you are a lovely woman with a gorgeous body. Although there may be some fools who want skinny women, I don’t. There are many others here who share my preference and adore your type of body.”

He’d said that before, but now, with all these people, he must be ashamed of her. “Are you sure?” she whispered.

Shaking his head in obvious exasperation, he pressed her hand against him, against a rock-hard erection. “This is what seeing you naked does to me.”

He liked her body. The glow of that kept her buoyed up as she removed the thong, as she climbed up onto the table. The leather was cold against her bare skin. She glanced at the people crowding the windows and then couldn’t pull her gaze away.

With a huffed laugh, Master Z stepped directly in front of her, blocking her view. “Look at me — only at me,” he ordered. Her eyes met his, his so very dark and gray, crinkling at her, and she felt better. A little better.

“That’s right. In fact, I think we’ll blot those people out altogether,” he murmured. “Close your eyes.”

She hesitated.

He growled, “Jessica.”

She swallowed and complied. He put something soft over her eyes, tying it in back — a blindfold — and held her hands firmly when she instinctively reached up to tear it off. After a minute, she regained her control and put her hands in her lap.

“Lie down, little one,” he said, moving to a position beside her. One arm behind her back and a hand between her breasts, he pressed her flat onto the table. Her legs dangled off the end. “Are you comfortable?”

No, she wasn’t; oh, she really wasn’t. She managed a nod.

Silence.

Moistening her lips, she whispered, “Yes, Sir.”

He chuckled. “Let me rephrase that so you can be honest. Aside from being terrified and embarrassed, are you comfortable?”

The room was warm enough, the table cushioned. “Yes, Sir.”

He took one of her hands, kissed the knuckles. “Very good, kitten. I’m proud of you and how brave you’re being. I know this isn’t easy.” The enjoyment of his praise lasted only seconds, until he said, “Now, being a good doctor, I’m going to make sure you don’t move.”

Expecting him to put her feet into the stirrups, she was shocked when a strap was cinched across her body, just below her breasts, pinning her arms to her sides. Heart pounding, she yanked at the restraints. She couldn’t move. “Sir!”

“Shhh, little one.” His hands came down on her shoulders. “Nothing here will hurt you. What is your safe word?”

She could feel little quivers running up and down her whole body as her breath came fast and shallow. He waited, his hands resting on her shoulders, the warmth, his presence so reassuring. He wouldn’t hurt her. She was all right, and she was stronger than this. She couldn’t back down now and disappoint him. She managed a deeper breath. “Red. It’s red.”