Wicked (12 page)

nightclubs in town, Val had been able to set up the meeting as a favor.

Once they were both settled, Karl got straight to the point. "Someone's taking

compromising photographs of your members, while they're within The

Dungeon."

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As a lawyer, and a Dom, Karl was pretty good at reading people's

expressions, but Mason didn't give anything away. A breach in security like

that would mean the club's business. Members of The Dungeon paid highly

to be able to play in a safe, protected environment. "And you've come by this

information how?"

"I'm sure you've read my membership file, so you know I'm a divorce lawyer.

One of my clients is going through a bit of a nasty one, and she's procured

some photos of her soon-to-be-ex-husband as leverage. She refused to tell

me how she got them, but I will find out. I just figured you could work it from

this end as well."

The muscle in the club owner's clean-shaven jaw twitched. "You saw the

photos?"

"Yes."

"Describe them."

"To be blunt, a pretty well-known male client, strapped to a padded horse

bench in the Shared Room with a dildo shoved up his ass and a cock down

his throat."

Suddenly Mr. Clean-cut didn't look so calm. "The Shared Room," he said.

"Do you know when they were taken?"

Karl shook his head. "No, and I'll do my best to make sure my client doesn't

use them, but I think you'll need to do some damage control there anyway."

Karl stood, and the two men shook hands. "Sorry I had to bring this to you,

but we both know how important it is."

"Yes, thank you," Mason said. "It'll be dealt with, and quickly."

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Karl left the office and put that issue in the back of his mind.

Second up was a chat with his mentor and friend, Simone, before Marie

arrived. Mistress Simone was a friend. A beautiful, sultry Latin woman with a

well-rounded body that looked illegal in black leather. They'd probably have

a helluva good time in bed together if they didn't kill each other, but both

would fight for control…so instead, they worked scenes and subs together

every now and then. She was someone he trusted to tell him if he was being

a complete idiot.

"Simone, thanks for meeting me tonight," he said to the raven-haired beauty he found already seated at his favorite booth.

"You know I'm always here for you, Karl. Especially when you're so generous

with your playmates." She winked at him. "Your little Marie is a treat."

He smiled. Perfect. "I'm glad you enjoyed her, but she's not strictly mine. She

can play with whoever she chooses."

"Really?" Simone tapped a red-painted fingernail on the tabletop. "She gave me the impression that she was strictly yours when I suggested we get

together again."

"Did she give you a hard time?"

"Oh, no, she was delightful to play with, and very polite when she said she'd

be happy to please me,
anytime you instructed her to.
"

Karl waited while the waitress set their drinks on the table with a small smile.

He'd been afraid Marie was getting too attached. Her phone calls and the

fact that he'd not seen her play with anyone else at the club for a few months

had made it clear it was time for him to do something.

"I'm going to tell Marie tonight that I won't be playing with her anymore," he said when the waitress was gone and they were alone again. "She might

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need some attention."

Simone's eyebrows rose. "You've been with her for a while, haven't you?"

"Almost a year," he nodded. "But I made it clear from the start that it was a play situation only. While we have taken it outside of the club, it's been

scene-play only, and I've never offered up a collar. She knows I play with

others and I've encouraged her to as well."

"But she hasn't?"

"Only when I've arranged it."

Simone nodded, her dark eyes serious as they looked at one another. Karl

didn't need to say any more, he knew she understood his worry. "Is that the

only reason you're turning her loose? You're feeling pressured?"

He took a swallow from the frosty beer in front of him before answering. "You

are entirely too astute at times, Simone."

"I am good, aren't I?"

They chuckled and he met her gaze. "I've met someone I think could be

special."

"Do I know her?"

Karl shook his head. "She's not part of the scene. In fact, she's not even

aware of her own submissive nature."

Simone's eyebrows jumped. "How did you meet her?"

"It was a random meeting. We had dinner, and I thought that was it. She's

loud, bold, and even brassy, so I walked away. But I couldn't get her out of

my head, and when I saw her again, she showed me something rare. She

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feels…
right
when I'm with her. Like she was made for me."

"Does she know what you are?"

"I've told her and, adventurous minx that she is, she's willing to give it a try.

But I don't think she truly understands what she's getting herself into and…"

"And what, baby?"

He blew out a breath and met her gaze. "And I'm not sure
I
know what I'm getting into. But I can't walk away."

"Then don't," Simone said simply, laying one of her hands over his. "You've been playing and skimming the surface with these playmates of yours for a

long time. Now it's time to get serious. You go after what you want, and

maybe you'll both find what you need."

He nodded. What she said not only made sense, it had a ring of truth to it that

he couldn't deny. He'd just been coasting, playing. It was why meeting Katie

Long had affected him so deeply. She'd wanted more than play.

Simone patted his hand on the table. "I'm here if you need me for anything."

"Thanks, Simone."

She grinned at him wickedly. "And it'll be my pleasure to ensure little Marie

doesn't miss you in the least."

They laughed and Karl felt some of the tension ease from between his

shoulders. Marie would be there soon. He'd say good-bye to her in one of the

private rooms, with Simone there to cushion his departure.

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17

K
arl bit back a growl on Tuesday night when Lara opened the door and

he saw what she was wearing. Anticipation had been building inside him all

day. Every minute of free time his mind had filled with ways to introduce Lara

to her true nature. But none of that had prepared him for the sight of her

again.

The leather vest from the other night had been lovely on her, but this…this

was a totally different kind of Wow.

He'd been expecting another tight showy number, not the one-piece dress

that skimmed from the curve of her breasts to the top of her thighs. It looked

like she'd gotten out of the shower and wrapped a thin black silky towel

around her body before stepping into knee-high black leather boots.

"Wow," he said.

She smiled. "You said a naughty night, so I'm ready for action."

His blood heated, and his balls filled. So was he.

But first, "Lift your dress and show me how well you listen."

Her eyes twinkled and she tilted her head, making the thick dark hair sway

across her shoulders. "You said no panties. I was a good submissive and did

as you asked."

The words were right, but the twinkle in her eye said she knew exactly what

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she was doing. She was testing him.

"Show me," he commanded.

Lara stopped a foot away from him. Far enough away that he'd have to reach

to touch, but close enough that her scent tickled his nose. Her full lips tilted

and she lifted the hem of her dress without hesitation.

Karl's breath caught when he saw her pussy. Not only was she pantiless,

she'd shaved. Completely.

"Very nice," he said, fighting the urge to touch. "Did you do that for me?"

"I thought you might like it. I like it." She reached between her thighs and touched herself. "So soft, and very sensitive now. Even the breeze when

walking is a turn-on."

Get a grip, buddy.
His mouth watered and his fingers tingled. He wanted to

touch, to taste, to delve between the thick lips and seek out all her hidden

secrets.

Instead he just arched an eyebrow. "Did I say you could touch?"

"No."

"Then stop."

Her hand pulled away and she dropped her dress, her eyes glued to his

expectantly. She was waiting for something from him.

He held out his hand to her, and when she laid hers in it, palm against palm,

he pulled her close. He kept hold of her hand, and lifted his other to cup her

cheek and stroke his thumb over her full bottom lip. "Tonight, you can ask

anything you want, say anything you want, but you're to
do
only what I say,

okay, sugar?"

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Her pupils dilated slightly and he heard her breath catch. Then she nodded,

her grip on his hand tightening slightly.

He pressed a soft kiss to her mouth and stepped back. "Good girl." He

gestured to the door and she sashayed through it.

Lara locked up the house and he took hold of her hand again, intertwining

their fingers as he led her to his truck. He'd toyed with the idea of using his

bike, but he'd asked her to wear a skirt and it wasn't quite warm enough to

have bare skin on the windy road.

"So where are we going?" she asked as soon as he climbed in and started

the truck up.

"The Dungeon. It's a private club I belong to." He swiveled his head and met her gaze. "One that will help you to understand what I want and expect from

you. And what you can depend on from me."

"What about what I want from you?"

"We'll cover that too." He bit back a smile. She was quick.

"I did a little research on BDSM and this Dom thing, and I have to say, some

of it sounds too good to be true, while other aspects of it are pretty scary."

He'd planned to just sit and talk with her for the first while once they reached

the club. He wanted to let her get a good look around while they talked about

limits and safety and got comfortable. He should've expected Lara wouldn't

wait for explanations from him. She took life head-on and full speed ahead

and this was no different.

The streetlight ahead of them turned red and Karl slowed the truck to a stop.

When he glanced at her, she was watching him closely.

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"Tell me what you learned," he encouraged her. "And always feel free to ask me anything."

"How many submissives do you have? Do you top men as well as women?

What's my safe word going to be? Are you just into the bondage and

discipline, or the sadomasochism thing too?"

A bark of laughter jumped from Karl's mouth before he could bite it back.

When he saw her brow snap forward he immediately leaned toward her.

"Come here."

She leaned in and he kissed her. Soft, slow and sensual, just touching his

tongue to hers before pulling back. The car behind him honked and he

started forward again, the light green.

"What was that for?"

"I wasn't laughing at you. Your knowledge and questions surprised and

pleased me. The kiss was a thank-you for asking them."

"Oh."

"I'm what's known as a loving Dom, or a gentle Dom. I'm not into large

amounts of pain or humiliation, and those I play with don't often require it

from me. I believe in the reward and denial system of training." He flicked his

eyes from the road to her quickly. "But make no mistake, I
will
punish you if you disobey."

He saw her nod, her mouth twisting slightly. "So this is more than just a 'do

anything once' game. You're interested in training me?"

There was an empty parking spot almost directly in front of The Dungeon

and Karl pulled into it, turning the truck off before he turned to face her, his

pulse racing.

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"I don't want you to think of it as training, not yet anyway. For now, I just want you to think of it as an introduction to your true nature. No!" He put a finger

against her mouth when she started to interrupt him. "I know you don't

believe me, and that's okay for now. I'll earn your trust."

He could see the gears in Lara's head turning. Her eyes brightened and little

white teeth nibbled at her bottom lip.

He reached out and stroked his thumb over that lip soothingly. "You always

have a choice, sugar. For tonight, you can watch only, or you can be

involved. But if you say yes to being involved, then you are
mine.
I have

complete control of what you do and what happens to you. You will submit to

me and my desires. Understood?"

She nodded once, and Karl's pulse raced while he waited for her answer. He

was right to give her the choice now. If she said yes, then it was the last

choice he was giving her. "Do you want to decide now? Or go inside and

check things out a bit first?"

Flames leapt to life in her eyes. "I understand, and I don't want to just sit and watch. I'm yours."

Pleasure washed over him and he let her see a glimpse of it. "Very good.

You can always ask me anything, but do not disrespect me by talking back,