Cherise Sinclair - Dark Citadel

There were plenty of subs begging for his use, and he frequently enjoyed one for an evening, but his interest in long-term commitments had died with his wife three years ago. No one could replace his Marion.

“Then you're ready to start.” Master Z's voice broke into Dan's thoughts.

Lecture was over; time to get the puppies moving. Dan rose. “Come with me. I'll show you around the club and answer questions until your class begins.”

And like puppies, they followed him across the room, obediently at first. Then Dan heard the man whispering and turned. He caught a few words: “…stay right beside…guys trying to grab themselves a woman…saw how he looked at you. You belong to me…I'm in charge.”

“Uh-huh.” The woman rolled her eyes and tried to move away.

Buck grabbed her arm hard enough that she winced. His voice rose. “Are you listening to me?”

Having once been married, Dan could have told him those were fighting words.

And yes, Kari's face turned pink with anger. She yanked her arm away and stepped back. “Yes, I'm listening, and I don't like what I hear. I'm going home.”

Buck's face darkened. “Don't be childish. You knew this was going to—”

She spun on her heel, headed for the door.

He grabbed her wrist. “Look, honey, I'm sorry. Maybe I—”

“Let me go!” She tried to pry his hand off and failed.

Oh, hell, Dan thought. The guy apparently didn't understand the basic fuck off! she'd put so politely.

“Let her go.” Dan set his hand on the wannabe Dom's shoulder, tightening his fingers until the man flinched and released her.

“If she doesn't want to continue, you can't force her,” Dan said. He glanced at the girl. “Kari, do you want to leave?”

“Yes. I do,” she said. From the pissed-off look in her big blue eyes, she'd crossed the dude off her date list. Smart move, sweetie. Did she have a ride home? “Did you come together or—”

“Separately,” she said.

“Then I'll walk you to your car.” And prevent any altercations in the parking lot. “Buck, if you want to continue, go on in.”

The man stood there for a minute, then scowled at his date. “Fine. I'm going to take the class, since I already put out the money. I'll call you later, and we'll talk. I would have taken good care of you. You're not being reasonable at all.” Straightening his suit coat, he headed for the door to the main club room.

“Well, then.” Dan looked down at his charge. She was rubbing her arm again. “Are you all right, sweetheart?”

Startled, she looked up and he caught his breath at the hint of pain in her eyes, at the vulnerability. The need. His body responded as if she'd been stripped and tied to his bed. Damn.

“Um. Yes, thank you very much. I'm sorry about this,” she said, her voice was melodic, a little husky. And so very polite. What would it take to break through the politeness to the woman beneath?

“No problem.” He nodded toward the front door.

But as they passed the sitting area, Z lifted a hand, stopping them. “Kari, sit down, please.”

She took a seat and folded her hands in her lap, all prim and proper except for the pink toes peeking out from under her dress.

“I see you and your date have parted ways,” Z said. “But you obviously had an interest in this lifestyle or you would not be here. Am I correct?”

Her eyes dropped, and she nodded slightly.

“Excellent.” Master Z continued, “Since that is the case, Master Dan, could you secure her a drink and see if she would like to continue tonight's class with you?”

The woman's head jerked up. “Continue? But…”

Z's glance at Dan was filled with amusement before he said, “Indeed, continue. Master Dan has far more experience and is far more gentle than your…other choice.” Z's voice lowered, commanded, “Look at him now.”

Instant compliance. Submissive. Innocent. Temptingly lovely. Before he could stop himself, Dan held his hand out. “We'll go discuss it, Kari. Come.”

Again, that appealing obedience.

As he curled his fingers around the cold little hand, he could only think about the next time he would order her to come. With his fingers inside her and his mouth on her clit, yes, she would most surely come.

Oh God, what was she doing?

The man's grasp enfolded her hand. Master Dan. She didn't even know his last name.

They crossed the room, heading toward a heavy wooden door. She halted abruptly.

“Kari?”

She looked up. Good grief, he was even bigger than Buck. Somewhere over six feet, but when you're short, anything over six feet was hard to judge. His shoulders were beyond broad. Like the other men in the room, his gold-trimmed black leather vest had nothing under it. Well, nothing except muscles and more muscles and a sprinkling of black chest hair.

His biceps bulged, and his forearms appeared almost as thick. The leathers he wore for pants were—wow, really tight.

When her gaze managed to move back up to his face, he smiled, laugh lines crinkling around his eyes. Her face heated, and she knew her pale skin reddened.

“You're allowed to look, sweetheart,” he murmured, running a finger down her hot cheek. “I enjoy having your eyes on me.”

His eyes were a dark, dark brown, his face tanned and hard looking until he smiled. But when he didn't… She remembered the hard look on his face when he had grabbed Buck. She bit her lip. Go home, she told herself. Now.

He started to push the door open.

“No. Wait, please.” She held up her hand. “If it wouldn't inconvenience you, might I take a minute to think?”

“Take all the time you need.” Crossing his arms, he leaned one shoulder against the wall, amusement in his eyes.

Just standing here beside him wasn't going to work. Shoot, even Madame Curie wouldn't be able to think with that man looking at her. Kari turned her back and paced across the room.

Stay or not? That was the basic question for tonight. So check the facts.

If she simply went home, nothing would change. Her life would go on. She'd never know if she might have learned something that would make a difference in her sex life. Nothing else had. How many relationships had failed due to her lack of interest in sex? She'd thought her basic personality or body created the problem. But the excitement she felt hearing about domination—heck, just the word itself—had been amazing. A revelation in a way.

She could definitely get aroused.

But this BDSM stuff appeared very, very strange. Kinky. And she wasn't a kinky person in the least. Shoot, the school nuns had used her as an example of model behavior. “Why can't you be more like Kari? She's polite. She follows the rules.”

Well, following the rules in the bedroom wasn't working too well for her, now was it?

She reached the end of the room and turned around. Master Dan hadn't moved, his patience apparently inexhaustible. Nonetheless, she needed to figure this out, pros and cons, and reach a decision.

In the Go Home column: First, she didn't know nearly enough about this stuff. She scowled as she paced back. Her home computer had died last month—stupid technology—and she couldn't afford to replace it yet. She sure couldn't research BDSM on the school computer. So she only knew the tidbits Buck had doled out. Her mouth tightened. She hated being ignorant.

Second: She didn't know this man at all. How dangerous was that? She could just imagine, all her friends and family mourning around her grave. The tombstone would read Kari Wagner, Died of Sheer Stupidity.

In the Stay Here column: It would be almost as bad to have her grave marker read Died of Terminal Bedroom Boredom. Unmarried and childless. There was a darned good reason she wanted to try this stuff, after all.

As for knowing the man? She glanced at Master Z. The owner had leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled, watching her pace. He was no dummy, and he'd basically recommended Master Dan.

And Master Dan sure wasn't anything like Buck. She pursed her lips. She considered that a major bonus, right there.

What about being ignorant? Well, she might be, but she had a feeling that Master Dan knew all about the subject of domination.

She stopped in front of the door to the bar, could hear the sounds of classical music and muted conversation. If she left now, she'd never have the courage to return. Her head said no. Her heart said go for it.

Master Dan straightened.

She placed her hand in his. Go it was.

“Nervous?” he asked softly.

“A bit.” No point in hiding the truth. Considering her heart was trying to pound through her chest, he could probably hear the noise.

“Let me make it easier. Right now, all we will do is go into the club room and talk. Can you trust me that far?”

Just talk in a bar. She could handle that. “Okay. The bar.”

“Good girl.” His eyes softened.

Opening the door, he escorted her through, setting a warm hand low on her back.

Once inside, Kari paused to look around. The huge room boasted a circular bar in the center, and wrought iron circular stairs in the corners. Groups of plants sectioned the tables and overstuffed couches into secluded sitting areas. Flickering wall sconces and glass chandeliers hanging from low rafters provided shadowy light and made the hardwood floor gleam.

A scattering of people occupied the couches and bar stools. To Kari's relief, no one was doing weird things or having sex on the floor. Leathers, latex, and skimpy dresses seemed the attire of choice—nothing too outlandish.