Page 12 of Master My Love

“You’re in no shape to drive. You’re trembling. I must insist you stay until you calm down at least.” With a firm grip on her arm, he escorted her to his office and seated her on the couch. “Breathe, Valerie,” he murmured, as he crouched in front of her. “Nothing is going to happen here that you don’t want. Understand?”

She nodded but didn’t seem convinced, and neither was he. What had happened since he’d been away? Leaving her briefly, he grabbed her paperwork off his desk and glanced at the heading. Nothing unexpected. The beginners’ packet included a short inventory of BDSM basics and shouldn’t have caused such a panic.

Flipping through it, he stifled a curse. Some idiot had stapled the advanced limit list to the novice packet. No wonder she’d freaked. With decades of experience under his belt, some of the advanced activities gave him the willies.

“This is my fault. You were supposed to receive the beginners’ limit list. I was in a hurry and didn’t check it.”

Pulling the correct document from the cabinet, he moved to the couch and sat beside her. Passing her what she should have had to begin with, he watched as she scanned it.

“We carefully curated the newbie list, excluding extreme and high-risk activities. Otherwise, we’d never get prospective subs past the paperwork phase.”

While she read, the furrowed lines in her brow progressively relaxed. When she finished and glanced up, she appeared less like a frightened rabbit looking for a hole to scurry into.

“We accept all comers here,” he stated in the same soft tone. “As long as they pass security screenings and meet our stringent membership requirements, they are welcome: male, female, dom, sub, sadist, masochist, gay, straight, or bi-sexual, old pro like me”—he cupped her cheek, noting her skin was soft and smooth like satin—“or a curious yet anxious newbie like you. Provided that they are safe, sane, and consensual, a wide range of BDSM practices are acceptable—emphasis on the term consensual. You are free to say no to anything or anyone, or if in a scene, to use a safeword and immediately stop whatever is scaring you.”

“Some of those things...” She glanced warily at the papers as if they were a snake about to strike. “Like blood play, and using guns, and such. Do people really get off on that?”

“We don’t allow extreme play at Decadence, but we have members who take part in private.”

Valerie lowered her eyes, nervously fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. He stilled them with a hand, noticing one of his easily encompassed both of hers. She was lovely, and her subtle makeup pleased him. Her natural beauty needed little enhancement with a rosy blush in her cheeks, silky black lashes contrasting darkly against her fair skin, lips a pretty pink, and so full he had an intense urge to taste their softness. He controlled himself, however, afraid to push her too soon.

“You’ve come this far. Don’t you want to see what it’s all about?”

Eric waited until her eyes came to his. The deep-blue pools were still bright with emotion. Before she looked away, he saw her confusion. Her indecision and vulnerability stirred a need in him, to protect and defend, dominate and possess, to enfold her in his arms and still her fears and uncertainties, and if need be, to choose for her.

Except this was a decision she had to make on her own. Coming here alone proved she possessed an inner strength, but left on her own, to wonder and worry, her uncertainty had grown. It was the reason he hadn’t wanted to leave her. If being tweaked by what she saw buried that strength too deep, this was not the place for her. But if, as he suspected, this was merely a hiccup, and the curiosity and need inside her slowly simmered, waiting for the provocation to rise to the surface once more, this is where she belonged.

He raised a hand to her cheek, appealing to it now. “You came here searching for something. You won’t find it around every corner, or on display at your local store. Society thinks it’s naughty, deviant, dark, and taboo. That’s why Decadence exists. It’s a place for those of us who crave dark and need naughty, and where we can find others who do as well. And there’s nothing wrong with that; we’re all willing adults here.”

His thumb swept across her lower lip when it trembled. Damn, he wanted to kiss her and show her all she’d been missing.

Drawn by her beauty, her innocence, and her vulnerability, he moved closer until his lips hovered over hers—an underhanded, seductive tactic, but he used it all the same. “Tell me, lovely Valerie, are you daring enough to take what you want? If so, this is your chance.”

Her lips parted on an indrawn breath, her pink tongue sweeping out to wet them. He could feel the pulse in her throat flutter against the backs of his fingers, and her skin blushed a delightful rosy color—the effects of an adrenaline rush unmistakable.

Fight or flight—which would she choose?

His mood lightened when she swallowed then breathed deep, bolstering her inner strength. He knew her answer before she spoke.

“Although I’m shaking in my ridiculously high heels, I am daring enough, sir. It’s why I’m here tonight. To at long last take what I want.”

Suppressing a shout of triumph and resisting the searing kiss he so wanted to give her, he smiled instead and murmured, “That’s my brave girl.”

Clasping both her hands in his, he pulled her to her feet, realizing he hadn’t been this enthralled with a woman, particularly a wet-behind-the-ears newbie, in a long while. He had a feeling, watching her reaction to something even her fantasies couldn’t conjure up, would be as eye-opening and exciting for him as for her.

With her hand clasped tightly in his, he headed for the door. “I think it’s time we get out of this stuffy office and begin your adventure.”

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