Page 108 of House of Cards

She snorts. “Letting you choke me to death for real will be less painful than watching you play teacher. Besides, I don’t need training. I already know what to do. Stand here and make all the appropriate noises while your sicko client assaults me.”

“No one’s choking you,” I mutter, hating how excited my cock gets whenever I’m this close to Zoey’s body and now, apparently, whenever she says the word ‘choke’. “And the training’s notforyou.”

“Oh.” Zoey’s voice is a malicious little purr. “I thought you were a bit clumsy last time, but I didn’t want to say anything.”

I grab her chin before I can stop myself, wrenching her head around so I can glare into her eyes. My heart is beating so hard it feels like it’ll plow through my chest.

“Keep at it, kitten.”

Her lashes flutter with unease at the warning in my voice, but hardly a second later, she’s visibly steeling herself. “I know what’s going on here.” She smirks at me. “Can’t handle me yourself, so you’re bringing in reinforcements.”

Jesus Christ.

I don’t even realize what I’m about to do until I’ve ripped off my tie and slung it around Zoey’s throat. She gasps, her eyes going wide as the satin tightens against her skin.

“You brought this on yourself,” I growl as I drag the fabric up her throat.

Just before the tie slides between her lips, she blurts out, “Wait! I’m sorry!”

I pause, eyes narrowed, waiting for a full apology

She licks her lips, tosses her hair. “I’m sorry you’re such a pathetic—“ She cuts off with an indignant, “Mm!” when I tie off the gag behind her head.

I dip my head until my mouth is right by her ear. “Think you’re sorry now?” I murmur. “Since the day we met, I’ve had rope burns planned for your wrists and bite marks for your tits.”

I pat her cheek, smiling when she glares daggers at me above the strip of shimmery black fabric. “There’s my good girl.”

The client arrives a moment later, as I’m busy blindfolding her. She tries to buck away from my touch, but there’s nowhere for her to go.

A guy in his late twenties wearing khakis and a pastel blue polo with the collar popped swaggers into the room. He flicks his head, and then sweeps a hand through his long bangs, grinning like an idiot when he sees Zoey.

I already hate him before he’s opened his fucking mouth.

“Hey, bro, you must be?—”

“The Dom.” I don’t mean for it to come out as a growl, but here we are.

The guy hesitates, but his entitled grin stays right where it is. He cuts his eyes to Zoey, who’s still trying to shake the blindfold off her head, and keeps whining into the gag.

“Damn. No wonder you guys are so fucking pricey.” He lets out a low whistle that makes the hair on my nape stand to attention. “What’s cooking, good looking?”

Zoey freezes. Then she turns her blindfolded head and, somehow, stares straight at me. I canfeelher despising me, despite the cloth over her eyes.

“Are you experienced in impact play?” I ask, trying to draw the idiot’s attention away from Zoey.

“Oh, yeah, man. I love tying ‘em down and giving it to ‘em hard and rough. Til they’re squealing my name, you know?”The idiot’s grin is still there, and Christ, how badly I want to backhand it off his smug face.

I turn and give the two-way mirror behind me a long stare. I’m not the only one who vets clients, so this imbecile must be the work of either Myles or Rich.

“Got any dildos? Fuckingloveslapping ‘em with dildos.”

I face the guy so fast he reels back like I’m about to punch him in the guts.

Which I am.

“No more talking.” I barely get the words out past my clenched jaw. “Just shut up and listen.”

The guy’s smile slides a bit, but then it’s right back again. He nods a few times as he steps to the side and starts taking off his belt.

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