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Master Richard observed with interest the new waitress who worked with Miranda at the bar. She was shy and not at all used to life in the club. Her black corset and short micro skirt were tasteful. He would give Miranda that. The girl’s expressions as she took in some of the costumes of the patrons were comical.
His panther thought they were charming.
A couple had come through, the leather clad Domme leading a man dressed in nothing more than a dog collar and a strategically placed genital cage, and he thought she was going to choke on her own tongue. From time to time on his rounds as dungeon monitor, Richard caught her observing the patrons in the spanking room, a curious look on her face as if she were trying to comprehend why a person would do such a thing.
“She’s delightful,” Cage stated, noting the direction his attention traveled. “The people love her and she’s gotten more tips than all the other servers combined.” The hum of the club had picked up over the last couple of nights and he’d been relieved at the influx of people.
Richard shrugged. “Another pretty face.” She seemed like any typical Texas girl when he first saw her. Blonde hair, curves that filled out her jeans nicely, and a pleasant disposition that defied logic. But in the corset and microskirt—his cock stood up and took notice.
“True.” Cage eyed his friend askance. “Did her background check come back okay?”
“It did. She’ll be here about a week, from what Natalia said.” Cage paused, then added, “She’s been abused.”
“How do you know?” But he’d seen the telltale bruising on her face. It wasn’t hard to guess what had happened. No doubt she was on the run from an ex. All the more reason to steer clear.
But his panther wasn’t listening to reason. Every time she entered the room, he stood at attention, sniffing at her scent.
“Natalia told me. Be careful, Hoss.”
“What do you mean be careful?”
“I know that look.”
“I have no intention,” he started to say, and then realized it was a lie. He’d been relieved when he caught her watching his performance during the public exhibition tonight and wondered what her ass would look like stretched across his bench, the rosy pink kiss of his paddle coloring her cheeks.
Her eyes had gone bright, so she was shifter. The question was, what kind?
“I don’t know that she...”
“You wouldn’t know unless you ask. Just keep in mind, she’ll be heading to Houston for that modeling audition as soon as she can get enough money to get her car fixed.”
“She’s a model?” His cock hardened at the thought. He was definitely attracted to her and there was no question his cat was interested. And she was a polar opposite of Sarah.
“She’s fragile.”
“I’m not looking.” Richard gritted his teeth at the lie.
Cage wasn’t falling for it and cut him a pointed look. “I didn’t say you were, but if you do, don’t hurt her. She’s been through enough.”
***
The corset was tight around Clover’s ribs and she sucked in a deep breath, trying to reign in the excitement of the night. Her tables had been more than generous and, during a lull, she caught sight of something happening in the stage area.
The first performance had been none other than Master Richard and a volunteer from the audience. He had paddled the squirming sub to a rosy pink puddle of feminine appreciation.
Her first reaction completely surprised her and she almost dropped a tray of drinks as her heels wobbled. She wanted to be that woman.
Her.
Holy carrot sticks.
The more she read his books in the gift shop, the more she wanted to be a part of his world.
“Do you want to watch?”
She turned to find the tall Dom standing next to her.
“What are they doing?” she asked, her rabbit heart beating fast.
Don’t faint. Don’t pop a whisker either.
“Her Dom is issuing a public punishment.”
Clover swallowed. His nearness was both exhilarating and scary all at the same time. She scented the air and caught a whiff of cat and had to stop herself from backpedaling like an idiot.
God. He was a cat. Go figure.
“And she, um, likes that?”
“Why don’t you come and find out?” Master Richard’s lips twisted upward into an inviting smile and she wanted more than anything to take him up on it.
So did her bunny.
Clover sighed and tried to think about granny panties, car repairs, and anything else that would distract her naughty bunny thoughts.
Gah.
Miranda ambled up and greeted them. “I think your shift is over for tonight, girlie girl. Why don’t you go exploring with Master Richard?”
“I don’t want to leave you. My tables...”
“Are just fine. Go. Enjoy.” She winked and gave her a light shove and, in trying to right her footing, Clover found herself encased in Master Richard’s arms.
Her skin felt hot in the places he touched her and she tried to shake off the sensation, wondering if she had lost her mind.
Her bunny hopped up and down, teeth chittering.
Mate
Clover shook her head and tried to recover from whatever it was had just happened. His scent was a heady musk of pine and outdoor places and she wanted to rub up against him, right here in front of everyone.
The mate bond was real. Her mother had spoken about it often enough. Clover hadn’t really believed her. With Ellis, his naughty boy coyote had thrilled her, but this...this was something off the charts and she felt it from the top of her head to the tips of her toes–bunny and woman.
Master Richard held her a moment longer than was normal, his eyes locked on hers. The glow of his beast showed through and a flare of his nostrils revealed his interest.
Clover swallowed.
He led her toward the stage, keeping one hand low on her back. Midway through the benches, she paused as a woman to the right of her cried out, her eyes closing as an orgasm ripped through her. Nearly nude, save for the thin pair of panties covering her backside, her ass pink from the paddle, the woman shook as sensations ratcheted through her body.
Speechless, Clover glanced up at the Dom.
“Do you want to try it?”
“No...”
His lips twitched in amusement. “Is it just the public spectacle of it that bothers you?”
“No. I just don’t understand how anyone could find satisfaction by being spanked,” Clover replied.
Master Richard snorted. “You don’t know much about BDSM.”
How dare he laugh at her. Her bunny narrowed her eyes.
“I don’t. It wasn’t something that ever really came up back home,” she replied, wryly thinking of how the folks at the diner would react to a woman being led around by nipple clamps or the guy she saw with a cage around his privates.
Yup.
They would faint dead away into their chicken fried steak.
It was strange, but it also left a curious flutter in parts of her she didn’t know existed, and as she glanced over at the man in front of her, she knew he could teach her to embrace those parts. If she had the nerve. Reading about it was one thing, but to see it in person...wow. That was a whole new perspective and she didn’t know if she had enough courage to dip her toe in the proverbial water.
His eyes were thoughtful. “I could instruct you while you’re here. Just some basics, if you like.”
Panic slid through her. “I’m only here for a few more days. I’m not looking to start a relationship.”
Her bunny chuffed at her and she coughed into her hand.
“Neither am I,” he replied. “But I am looking for a model and I understand you do that kind of work on the side?”
Damn, Miranda. But as soon as the spike of irritation hit, it evaporated. Her new friend was just trying to help her get her car fixed. Nothing more.
“Yes...”
“Good. Maybe we can talk more tomorrow. Come to my class. I’m giving a tour of the theme rooms and you might enjoy it.”
“I’ll consider it.”
“Please, think about the modeling opportunity as well. I want someone on the other side of my lens that I can connect with. Who can make love to the camera with her eyes.”
Heat slid up her neck and into her face. “I don’t know... I’m not doing porn.” She backed away, feeling like a fish out of water. Some of the pictures in the books had been very revealing and she wasn’t sure that was the direction she wanted her career to take.
“Is that what you think? Have you seen the pictures on the walls?” Master Richard’s smile slipped and she immediately regretted her words.
“I have,” she replied, thinking of the sultry brunette. “She’s beautiful.”
“Yes. She is.” He seemed to almost add something, his expression darkening momentarily, then a smile transformed his face.
“Let me teach you about the lifestyle. You won’t regret it. You can attend classes with the others in the evening and I can also give you some basics in my office in the morning before you’re due at the bar.”
He watched her with heavily lidded eyes as she considered.
“What else are you going to do while you wait? And perhaps you can use the funds for some of the pictures toward whatever future it is that you imagine for yourself.”
Good point. She nodded.
“Fine. I’ll be in my office by eight. Or, if you can make it, be here at five-thirty tomorrow afternoon for the class.” He headed off in another direction and she wondered just what she’d gotten herself into.
