Page 52 of Seduce

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Tessa bit her lower lip so she didn’t make a sound. This was all so unexpected. Yes, she knew she’d eventually see her friends playing in the club. But not what was essentially her fourth visit.

She glanced up at the stage. Oh my. Sierra was in a bondage chair, and Max was doing some intricate bondage around her breasts. Tessa swallowed.

“Is this too much for you?” Damon whispered against her ear.

“No, Sir. Those ties are quite intricate.” She watched as Max wound the rope around, making Sierra’s breasts more prominent, but not cutting into her skin. Sierra’s expression was calm.

Max stopped and talked to her. She smiled and replied. Max continued down her torso. “It’s not Shibari, is it, Sir?” It didn’t look like it to her.

“Yes and no. Max doesn’t do the really intricate Shibari, but he enjoys rope play and is very good at it.”

“So I see, Sir.” Max stopped frequently to check in with Sierra.

“Notice how intimate he is with her. Not only talking, but the way his fingers skim over her skin as he wraps the rope around her.”

“Making sure it isn’t too tight, Sir?”

“Correct.” His arms tightened around her waist. “Max is super careful because Sierra’s skin is soft, and he doesn’t want to harm her.”

“I would think no Dom wants to harm their sub, Sir.” Tessa shivered. She’d seen a sadist once at a DC club. She’d run out of the room, but the images still stayed with her.

“What is that shiver about?” Damon lifted his hand and caressed her cheek.

“I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t understand sadists or masochists either. But my kink isn’t their kink and as long as it’s consensual, to each their own.”

“The pain that sadist inflict on a masochists is not harm in the widely understood sense of the word. The pain is satisfying to both. We may not understand other’s needs, but it’s theirs and theirs alone. That’s why the lifestyle is freeing. We’re able to express our sensuality and sexuality anyway we want.”

A soft cry came from the stage, and Tessa’s attention was pulled back to Max and Sierra. Max was now lightly swatting Sierra’s breasts with a rabbit flogger. Tessa’s nipples tightened in response.

“Red! Fuck it! Red.” The yell came from across the room. Max looked over with a frown on his face.

“Be right back, sweetie.” Damon stood and placed her in the chair. “Stay there, do not move.” Then he left.

Tessa was tempted to stand up to see what was going on, but Damon had told her not to, and she was going to obey, even if her curiosity was aroused.

Max was still staring across the room, then his features lightened. “All is well, folks,” he said to the audience watching him and Sierra. But the mood was broken, Sierra was talking to Max and shaking her head. Crystal stood nearby.

The crowd started to disperse. Tessa turned in her chair in the direction Max had been looking. She saw Harper, one of the club subs, shaking her head and gesturing with her hands. Jordan was standing with another man. His face was red, and he was obviously angry.

“I did not agree to that.” Harper’s words carried across the room. It was then Tessa saw she was crying. Orders or no orders. Harper needed another sub to comfort her.

Before she realized she’d moved, Tessa was out of the chair and across the room. Damon frowned at her when she came up to Harper and put her arm around the woman’s shoulders. “It will be okay,” Tessa whispered.

Harper leaned against her. Tessa spoke to Damon. “Sir, I’m going to take her over to the aftercare area.”

He nodded, and Tessa led Harper over to a sofa and sat down beside her. “I’m here for you, Harper.”

“I don’t understand,” Harper said sniffling.

“Here.” Crystal thrust tissues into Harper’s hands. “Tell us what happened?”

“I’ve played with Peter before.” Harper wiped away her tears. “We’ve always been compatible.”

“What changed tonight?” Tessa kept her arm around Harper’s shoulders, giving her a light squeeze.

“I don’t know. We discussed the scene, and then—wham—he wanted to change it. He wanted to use the bullwhip on me.” A shudder shook her frame.

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