She remained still, perfectly poised, giving me time to study her, to admire her long red hair flowing over her shoulders and the way she filled her elegant bodice.
My cock hardened as I drank her in.
Her mouth looked pouty, begging for a kiss. A savage kiss at that. Her long eyelashes fluttered with expectancy or nervousness—or maybe both.
Maybe this was her kink, and I was the disrupter.
I finally dragged my gaze away and scanned our surroundings. The room contained all the hallmarks of a sex club scene, a St. Andrew’s Cross and a swing—accoutrements one would expect to be used on a consenting sub. The kind of instruments a Neanderthal might use to harm her.
She’d been handed over for money. Not for love of the lifestyle. I had the urge to go back and punch Faulkner in his pretty boy face.
With Rue’s perfect posture she almost looked like she belonged here.
Almost.
She finally looked up at me, recognition flashing across her face.
Not missing a beat, I strode toward her.
“You didn’t win me,” she whispered, confusion soaking her words.
I checked the handcuffs. “Key?”
They’d literally strapped her up and left her vulnerable.
She tipped her chin at the mantle. I headed over to the fireplace and ran my hand along the marble.
Finding the key, I hurried back and unlocked the cuffs, freeing her hands. Then I unclipped the fine chain from her collar and discarded it.
I shrugged out of my jacket and flung it around her shoulders. “Where are your panties?”
“In the car.”
My jacket swamped her. She looked like she was playing dress up.
“You changed your mask?”
“Very observant. Now put yours back on.”
She retrieved her mask from a table. “Did the other guy bid on me for you?”
Refusing to answer, I ushered her out, glancing left and right to make sure our way was clear.
She glanced at me. “Are we changing rooms?”
“Not exactly.”
“Where are we going?”
“Keep walking.”
We passed a couple and I threw them a casual nod so they would think nothing unusual was happening—that I wasn’t attempting to extract a submissive from the premises, from Pendulum, no less. If they knew my intention, the powerful clientele here could make my life uncomfortable as a consequence.
Three dominatrices were gathered at the end of the hallway, all of them watching us intently.
I directed Rue to turn left down a different hallway. “This way.”
“Who are you?” she asked.