Page 67 of Master My Love

She lifted it to her lips, and when she sipped, the effervescence tickled her nose. Champagne wasn’t her drink of choice. She didn’t like the bubbles or the tartness. Still, she’d heard it was unlucky not to drink after a toast and she drained it, setting her empty glass on the table as a little shudder passed through her.

“Not a fan of sparkling wine?” He watched her closely, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement. “You wrinkled your nose and made a cute little pucker. Is it a little too dry for your taste?”

“I’m from Texas. A beer or a margarita are about as fancy as I get.”

He tipped his glass and finished his small serving. “I’ll have to remember that. The glass you chugged like a sailor on shore leave was from a $1000 bottle of Armand de Brignac Rosé Champagne.”

She grimaced at the exorbitant price. “You don’t always get what you pay for, huh?”

His laughter rose above the backdrop of moans, slaps of floggers, and cries of both pleasure and pain. It was a paradox, but the easy acceptance of the overt sexuality in the room, along with the atmosphere of playfulness and raw desire, was invigorating.

Thomas came up to their table, and with a brief nod to Valerie, congratulated Eric on his successful mission. Then he added, “And you made it for your eleven o’clock demonstration. Everything is ready upstairs.” His eyes shot to her then shifted to his boss. “Unless things have changed.”

“No. I’ll make my way there soon, so we can keep to your schedule.”

Without another word, he moved away.

“You’re holding a demonstration tonight?”

“I didn’t get to tell you, but part of the festivities, aside from the champagne, pajama theme, the live band, and dancing, are four demonstrations. Since you missed your chance on Thursday, I thought you could take part, if you’re ready.”

“What kind of demonstration is it, exactly?”

“That’s the surprise I mentioned earlier. Will you trust me to take care of you, Val?”

Her nickname from his lips startled her. It had always been Valerie, sprite, little one, and more recently, baby. Her eyes stung with tears. “You called me Val.”

“Is that bad?”

“No. I think it’s wonderful. The night we met, I told you my friends called me Val. When you chose not to, I thought you didn’t want to. Be friends, that is.”

“And you worried about it all this time? Baby...” His hand slid into the hair at her temple, his warm palm cupping her cheek, and his thumb brushed away the wetness there before he explained. “I prefer Valerie because it’s a lovely name, as beautiful as the woman who bears it.”

Her voice broke when she whispered, “I’m an idiot.”

Pulling her close, he kissed away the tear trickling down the other cheek. “No, you’re not. You’re just still very green. Save yourself needless worry and ask me when something is bothering you.”

“I will.” As she looked into his beautiful eyes, blue overshadowing their usual steely gray, her hand rose to his face. “The members don’t have a clue there’s a romantic behind your stern, unyielding master’s exterior, or that you’re sweet and kind, like the fluffy doms Master T wanted to set me up with the first night.”

He grunted, clearly not of the same opinion. “You may think that, but I urge you to remember how your butt felt the other night after this fluffy dom got through with it.”

Her mouth opened to say more, but she thought better. The punishment spanking hurt, for sure. It was also one of the hottest things she’d ever experienced in her life. Closing her mouth, she decided with him she got the best of both worlds.

Samson materialized at Eric’s elbow. “You better head up now, boss. It’s shoulder to shoulder in here tonight.”

As quickly as he appeared, he was gone.

Eric squeezed her hand, his unwavering gaze locked on hers. “Ready?”

“It’s my choice.” She stated this as an assertion, not a question.

“Always.”

Val didn’t have to think about it anymore; she trusted him completely. “I’m ready.”

He wound a hand in her hair, tugged her head back, and smothered her lips with a kiss full of such demanding mastery it was staggering. He raised his head enough to whisper, “I’m proud of you, sprite. And I swear, you’ll enjoy what I have planned.” Taking her hand, he murmured, “We better go.”

As she followed along behind him, a thought occurred to her. “What if I said no? Would you have had to cancel?”

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