Page 14 of Desire

“I never said I couldn’t,” he said icily. It was all so predictable, and yet he couldn’t deny the thrill that came from exerting his dominance over those who craved it.

“Who knows, you might even get the surprise of your life tonight?” Colleen continued on.

“Doubt it,” Dante said.

As he stepped out of the doorway of his private room and into the throng of partygoers, Dante tried to get into the mood. This was his domain, his kingdom of darkness and desire. Tonight, like every other night, he would rule over it with a firm hand and an unyielding gaze. But deep within him, a spark of curiosity flickered—wondering if perhaps, among the sea of masked faces, there might be someone truly worthy of his attention.

Dante weaved his way through the crowd, his senses heightened by the pulsating beats of the music and the intoxicating scent of lust that permeated the air. He surveyed the sea of costumed bodies, their writhing forms barely contained by the constraints of their provocative attire. As his eyes scanned the room, a figure caught his attention—a vision in green and silver, her mask concealing her face, but not her allure.

“Who is that pretty little thing?” he murmured to himself. The woman was dressed as a fairy, her gossamer wings shimmering under the club’s dim lights. He stalked closer and when she turned, he nearly swallowed his tongue.

Despite the mask she wore, Dante recognized her instantly. What the actual fuck was Emma doing down here? He watched her across the crowded club, trying and failing to keep his eyes from wandering over her body. The frothy dress she wore left little to the imagination, the fabric clinging to her lush curves. His gaze instinctively dropped to the swell of her cleavage, exposed so tantalizingly by the low neckline.

She shivered when he stood toe-to-toe with her. Good. She should be worried. What if another Dom had caught sight of her first?

“Hello,” Emma said, her voice carefully disguised as she dropped into a deep curtsey. “I am Mab, Queen of the Fairies.”

His mouth twisted in amusement. “Is that so?”

So she wanted to play. A thrill ran through him at the realization that Emma wanted to keep her identity hidden. A part of him knew it was dangerous territory, but he could control himself long enough to show her some of the dangers and the pleasures of the dungeon.

The thought of Joey flashed through his mind, a much-needed dousing of cold reality. His oldest friend, the man who had looked out for him during some of his darkest times. Could Dante really betray that bond over some carnal impulses?

No, he valued Joey’s trust and friendship far too much to ever jeopardize them like that. Even if Emma was the most tempting source of temptation he’d ever encountered.

Get a grip, you sick bastard. This is Joey’s little sister.

But those thoughts did nothing to deter the molten wave of desire pooling in his gut. The fabric clung to her body like a second skin, leaving so maddeningly little to the imagination. As she bent over the display table, adjusting something, his stare zeroed in on the tantalizing swell of her cleavage peeking from the dress’s plunging neckline.

Fuck, he could so easily picture himself crowding up behind her right now. Pinning her against that table with his hips grinding shamelessly against that lush, perfect ass. Hiking up that tight skirt and claiming her hard and fast from behind. The mental image made his slacks feel impossibly constricting. Dante shifted uncomfortably, trying to adjust the sudden tightness.

“I’m Master Dante. Tell me, Mab,” he said, leaning in closer, “what brings you to Club Inferno?”

It pleased him that she didn’t shy away from him.

“Curiosity,” she said, her voice husky. “I’ve always been drawn to this world, but I’ve never had the courage to explore it...until now.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place,” Dante assured her, his hand brushing against hers. “I can show you everything you’ve ever dreamed of—and more. But first, I need to know your limits, your desires. What do you want to get out of this experience?”

No. He closed his eyes, trying to regain control over his starved libido. This was his best friend’s baby sister, for Christ’s sake.

Emma hesitated for a moment before replying. “I want to be dominated,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing with what he assumed was a mixture of embarrassment and excitement. “I want to feel the power and control that only someone like you can provide.”

He had not been prepared for that answer. Dante felt as if he’d been put through the wringer. Every muscle in his body was taut with the effort of restraint, a wrestling match with his own baser desires. He was painfully hard. It was her innocence that truly captivated him. The thought of dominating her, of awakening her submissive desires, was too enticing to resist. He needed to get her running out of here before he did something they both regretted. He needed to scare some sense into her.

“What are your kinks?”

“I’m not sure,” she said.

Her shyness made him feel like a moth to a flame. She was going to kill him with the way she bit her lip.

“Let’s try a test,” he said. “You can say no at any time and I’ll stop. You need to be honest with yourself and with me. Understand?”

“Yes.”

“‘Yes, Master,’” he corrected, the snap in his voice causing her to take a step back.

“Y-yes, Master,” she whispered.

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