Page 249 of Bound By Her

His body tingled, remembering the last time he and Adria had performed. But, this time his brothers vibrated next to him. Stage fright was an understatement. Adria had made it perfectly clear what she expected this evening. Complete and total obedience, and Bryson was dead set on giving it to her. Seth and Kaydon would have their own struggles no doubt, but he needed to ensure she understood that what he had said this morning was not bullshit.

If that meant embarrassing himself in front of one hundred people, then so be it.

People filed back into the hall, ready for their dinner and their show. For once, Bryson had no issue keeping his eyes on the floor.

He felt Adria before he could see her. Her energy, as always, was impossible to ignore. Even his brothers shifted beside him. It felt like she spent ten minutes just standing there, lording over them.

No one spoke, including the guests. The room descended into silence, anticipation heavy. Bryson could guess the question many of them had.

How was she going to top the previous performance?

Truthfully, Bryson had wondered the same thing. The thought both thrilled and terrified him.

A crack of a bullwhip split the silence, and Seth jumped beside him. Bryson’s heart galloped harder, and he stole a glance at Kaydon, whose face had broken into a wide grin.

Let’s go.

The whip cracks continued behind them. Bryson reminded his body what his mind already knew. They were not in danger, but his inner dialogue did little to dissuade his flesh, especially when the fall of the whip made contact with his right shoulder blade. The sting cut into him and caused his teeth to clamp together and his lips to tighten.

Adria hadn’t chosen her weapon by accident. It was the same one Crest had used against Kaydon. Except Adria was giving them a small taste of what Kaydon had endured. But to the onlookers, she was showing who the real Domme was. She was showing them how she could do it better and with less force.

Bryson glowed with pride under her hand. Cunning and smart but she didn’t need to be cruel to gain power. No, she had gained her status by being herself.

“On your backs,” Adria’s voice boomed behind them.

All three of them lay flat on the floor, the skylight towering over them. Bryson watched the last bit of sunlight receding into the shadows on the ceiling.

Adria’s painted lips came into view. Whip in hand, she radiated power.

She swung her hand back, and the belly of the whip moved over her shoulder. Bryson braced for the impact he knew was coming. His eyes wanted to shut, but he stayed focused on her face. Locked onto her eyes.

She waited, as if she was willing him to move. Wanting him to dissent. When he didn’t, she turned to her audience.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I have a unique treat for you this evening,” Adria said.

“We have a stable boy who can not only submit but also Top. How many of you have wanted to try the opposite side of the sash? Or watch someone else put in the work, while you enjoy only the rewards.”

Adria paced along the stage.

“Bryson Winters, would you stand up?”

Adria’s arm pulled back in a grand gesture. Bryson moved, realization dawning on him.

When he was standing, she stepped aside. Giving him the floor.

Frozen in place, he stood on the stage, staring out at the sea of people. The awkward silence stretching in front of him.

He waited for Adria to give further instruction. But she made no more acknowledgement of the situation. Instead, she moved deeper into the crowd, standing next to Dianne.

Bryson’s limbs were stiff and heavy. He tried not to focus on the people watching him, the urge to run settling over him like a shining, bright lightbulb.

A tap on the shoulder drew his attention. Eric held a medium-sized duffle bag.

“Courtesy of Mistress Federov,” Eric said, handing the bag to him and walking away.

Bryson unzipped the duffle, aware of the uneasy silence that had filled the hall. His eyes scanned the contents. The bag seemed empty. Bryson shuffled his hand into the fabric, knowing there had to be something inside. His fingers wrapped around a small cylinder first, and after he felt a tiny swath of fabric. Bringing the items into the light, he glanced up at Adria.

She nodded to him, and that was all the permission he needed. He felt warm under her gaze and knew inthat moment that he could do this. He wasn’t going to let her down.

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