Page 8 of Power Play

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“You messed that one up,” the bartender commented.

Dane glared at him.

The bartender showed his blue bracelet. “Noah. I’m one of the Doms here. Regina takes finer handling than what you just did.”

“Have you played with her?” Dane hoped not. It was bad enough he wanted to smash in Colby’s face for flogging her.

“No, so don’t get your hackles up. Regina doesn’t like being told what to do with her life, and you just threw down the gauntlet. I’m amazed she kept her cool. The last time someone tried to pull what you just did, she called her safe word, and the guy ended up with his balls in his throat.”

Dane shivered. Yep, she was a fiery little thing. “I got off lucky.” While Regina was a sub, she had a good backbone and wasn’t going to take any crap, even from him. Good for her. He needed to rethink his approach.

“Maybe. You caught her after a scene, and she’d released all her emotions in that scene. If you’d done that before the scene… Well, let’s just say we might have had to cart you out of here.”

Dane nodded. “How long have you known her?” He wanted to know more. She said she’d come out here a month after he visited her brother. That would have been two months before they graduated from college.

“I joined the club a little over three years ago, and Regina was here when I joined.”

Dane continued chatting with the Noah, trying to get more information about Regina, but Noah didn’t know much about Regina’s private life. Or wouldn’t tell. Another indication that this club was solid and well run.

When Noah went to serve another group, Dane turned on his stool and searched the room for her. He found her sitting in an area with several women.

She chatted with the other women, her body relaxed and her face animated. Regina was at ease. Good. He didn’t want to make her tense. No, he wanted to turn her into putty in his arms. But how to do that?

“Red…red…red,” a female voice cried out.

Dane didn’t hesitate. He ran in the direction of the cry. Not that he had to worry, several DMs were already at the scene, along with Max.

“Shit! What did I do?” The male Dom was obviously shaken.

“Easy.” Max stood next to the sub on the St. Andrew’s cross before he looked around. “Regina, I need your expertise.”

Regina raced over. “Oh damn.” She spun around and grabbed the first aid kit from where it sat near the scene. Dane couldn’t see what had happened with the sub, but the Dom was upset, telling the DMs it was an accident. Colby took the Dom by the shoulders and talked to him in a voice that Dane couldn’t hear.

Dane moved close to where Regina and Max crowded around the sub.

“Take a deep breath, Melanie, this is going to sting,” Regina said before she placed a white cloth on the woman’s thigh.

“Damn,” the woman named Melanie hissed out.

“Sorry,” Regina said, removing the cloth. “It’s not too bad; I’ll bandage it up. Are you okay to get off the cross?”

“Yes, please.”

Dane moved to help Max. Releasing a sub who might not have full control of their limbs could be dangerous. Max glanced at him and nodded. They each released an arm, then the legs. Max gently lifted Melanie into his arms and carried her into the aftercare area.

Max settled her on the sofa, and Dane saw the red line across the front of her thigh.

“Master Max,” Melanie said. “It wasn’t Austin’s fault. It was an accident.”

Max touched the top of her head, the sign of a good Dom, making contact to soothe. “He’s very upset.”

“He should be,” Regina commented as she applied a clean bandage to Melanie’s thigh.

“Regina…” Max’s voice had dropped.

“Sorry, Master Max. Dom Austin needs to be more careful.” Regina’s voice was respectful, but Dane saw the flash of anger in her eyes. Had some Dom hurt her and ignored her safe word? He damn well hoped not, or he’d find that individual and show him a thing or two.

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