Текст книги "Disgraced"

Автор книги: Annabel Chant

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Текущая страница: 10 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

    Thirty One

Her

We walked back around the dance floor, where a small Japanese man was tying a girl up with thin, red rope. She was one of those in an outfit made of little more than a few leather straps. It left little to the imagination as she stood there, her hair pulled up behind her and knotted into the rope. In fact, the straps of her outfit could barely be seen, covered as they were with yards and yards of the rope. As I watched, she began to rise up into the air, her bound breasts sticking out in front of her and her feet rising behind her, to meet her hair, until she was suspended, almost like a human circle, above the clubbers on the dance floor.

I hadn’t realised I’d stopped, until Nat took my hand and pulled me away.

‘Shibari.’ He seemed to think that was a fitting explanation, and indicated towards the far side of the room.

‘Bless you.’ I followed him, looking back over my shoulder at the bound woman.

‘I’m sorry?’

‘I thought you sneezed,’ I said, immediately wishing I hadn’t tried to be funny. ‘You said shhhbari.’

‘Very good, Miss Anderton,’ he said, with a disapproving look. ‘I said, shibari. Rope bondage. From Japan. What did you think?’

I didn’t answer straight away. I looked back at the girl, spinning slowly in the air, her naked crotch on view, her bare breasts too small to hang, but bulging from the rope wound so tight around them. What did I think of it?

The pulsing of my clit answered the question for me. The girl was practically naked, after all, her body exposed to anyone who cared to look. She had no recourse to modesty, no way to hide herself if she wanted to. I felt my breasts swell and my nipples tighten as my clit continued to tingle, the leather crotch of the thong growing wet at they did so.

I turned back to him. He was watching me consideringly, and raised an eyebrow as I met his gaze.

‘Well?’

‘Yes,’ I said, my voice betraying me with its breathlessness. ‘I…like it.’

‘Would you like to experience it?’

I nodded.

He smiled, looking satisfied. ‘Good,’ he said. ‘You’d look stunning. Another time, though. Tonight is more an…exercise in acclimatisation.’ He put his hand to the small of my back and steered me towards one of the gothic-style arches, set into the wall in front of us. ‘Here, we have the playrooms.’

His touch sent thrills of longing up my spine. Every part of me was already on fire with anticipation – being in the club, especially in my state of undress, was like sensory overload. I could already hear moans of pain from within the playroom, followed by the crack of some sort of whip and, for the first time since we’d arrived, I felt truly apprehensive.

‘Don’t be shy.’ He steered me forward, until I was looking into an ornate cell-style room, the greystone walls pierced by metal shackles. Her face to the wall, a woman stood, her hands manacled above her. Her head was tipped back, her hair flowing like molasses down over the pink and patchy skin of her back. It looked sore.

‘Stick that ass out.’ It was the man who’d been talking to Nathaniel, when we arrived. ‘And spread those legs.’

The woman did as she was bidden, leaning forward as far as she could and pushing out her even sorer-looking, ruddy buttocks.

The man drew back the instrument in his hand, before swiping it forwards again, bringing it down with a resounding crack across her bottom.

She arched her back still further, letting out a small gasp of pain which was barely discernible over the music coming from the dance floor behind me. Then she moaned – a sound of purest pleasure.

I couldn’t help turning to look at Nathaniel. He was smiling, in an almost fatherly way. He leaned his head into me, not taking his eyes from the spectacle in front of him. ‘Thoughts?’ he said.

I hesitated. ‘I…don’t know. She seems to be enjoying it,’ I added doubtfully.

‘Oh, she is,’ he said, turning to look at me. ‘She’s most likely entered what they call sub-space. It’s like...’ He paused, as if searching for the right words. ‘…being high, in a way. She probably isn’t even aware of us right now.’

I wasn’t sure that was a good thing.

‘Should we be watching, then?’ I said, feeling even more uncomfortable.

‘Of course.’ He gave a laugh. ‘This is a demonstration. A lot of these watching are here to learn techniques. There’s a fine line between pleasure and pain, Angel. Believe it or not, Christo isn’t a pain slut.’

‘A wha…?’ I tailed off. I wasn’t sure I wanted to know.

‘It’s a general term, not meant to be offensive.’ He moved his hand around to my waist and pulled me in front of him. ‘Some people – men and women – get off on pain. Real pain, I mean. Not like this.’

Not like this? It seemed real enough to me. I could feel him, hard, against me, and I couldn’t help but press backwards against him. My heart was racing. I could hear my own blood, rushing in my ears, but I wasn’t sure if it was due to his proximity, or his blatant disregard for the suffering of the woman in front of me.

‘You’ve a beautiful ass,’ he murmured in my ear. ‘I may have to claim it at some point.’

I think I must have frozen at that, because he laughed softly. ‘Not tonight. Sometime soon, though, with your permission. Nothing you don’t want, Angel, remember? What do you say if I push you too far?’

‘S…stop,’ I managed to stammer.

‘Good girl,’ he said, putting his other hand to my chin and tilting my head up. He kissed my cheekbone, then the hollow of my cheek and finally my jaw – light, fluttering kisses that sent thrills down my neck. I couldn’t help but tip my head back further, eager for more, and he turned me to face him, his lips seeking out mine. He’d obviously shaved while I was asleep because his skin was smooth against mine as he kissed me, softly at first, but then harder as my mouth opened under his.

‘Are you up for some fun, Angel?’ he murmured, in between kisses. ‘Because I think it’s time for your punishment.’

I turned and looked back at the woman. She did seem to be enjoying it, moaning with each crack of the…what was it anyway? It wasn’t a whip, anyway, that much was for sure. It was more of a crop, if anything. Maybe my concern was misplaced, after all. Maybe I just didn’t understand. What harm would it do to try it? I could always say stop…couldn’t I?

‘Yes,’ I said, palpitations fluttering in my chest like his kisses across my face. ‘Go on, then…punish me.’

‘I should do it here, really,’ he murmured, pulling away to stare into my eyes. He had a wicked smile on his face. ‘In front of everyone.’

I thought I was actually going to come at his words and I drew back, alarmed by my body’s betrayal of my desires. He must have thought he’d pushed me too far, because he relented, his smile softening. ‘It’s okay,’ he said, stroking my cheek. ‘I was only teasing. I want you all to myself tonight.’

He put his arm round me and walked me back around the club, towards the exit. As we passed the other archways, I was dimly aware of crowds clustered around each one. I wondered what they were watching, and the very thought made me ache with desire, in spite of myself.

‘I’ll always push you, though, Angel,’ he remarked, as we passed the last one.

Inside it, I could just make out a man, staked out on a diagonal cross. He was practically naked, except for a mask over his face. I wondered who he was, and if he was a public figure. Nathaniel had mentioned over dinner that the clientele of Dominion were mainly the rich and famous. I hadn’t recognised anyone, though, apart from Max. I felt myself flush again at the recollection of it. I had to face him in the morning.

‘One day, that’ll be you in there,’ he said, indicating the man. ‘Or even on the stage. You mark my words.’

I hadn’t even noticed the stage. It was at the far end of the dance floor, furthest from the entrance. It was empty, but for a cross, much like the one the man was shackled to.

‘It’s a St Andrew’s cross,’ said Nathaniel, conversationally, as we walked over to the cloakroom. ‘Great for keeping subs…well…subdued.’ He shot me a wink. ‘And their legs spread, of course.’

I flushed again but, this time, it wasn’t from embarrassment but, rather, the anticipation of what was to come.

    Thirty Two

Him

I should have known better than to take her to Dominion. I hadn’t opened up to a woman like this since Aimee and, once I’d started, I didn’t know when to stop. I wanted her to know everything, to see everything about me, but now I wondered if I’d pushed her too far, too soon. Knowing her most secret longings, I suppose I’d expected her to be more understanding of my sexual proclivities. I now realised there was a world of difference between her fantasy of being used as a slut and my growing desire to use her as my sub.

She’d actually pulled away from me, when I’d playfully suggested using her publicly at the club. I hadn’t been expecting quite such a negative reaction and now I wondered whether she’d really enjoyed Dominion at all.

We got into the lift, my coat wrapped tightly around her. She was looking at the floor, her face pinched again, and she was almost hugging herself. I felt bad for putting her into a situation which had so obviously left her feeling awkward and uncomfortable. I hadn’t realised I could be so selfish.

If it hadn’t been bad enough, Max was there. Why, I had no clue. Felicity was still in hospital, with no improvement in her condition, last time I’d rung. He was addicted to the lifestyle, I knew, but even he – unfeeling bastard that he undoubtedly was – should have been there, rather than at the club. I could have kicked myself for ever suggesting taking her down there.

‘I’m sorry, Angel,’ I said. ‘We don’t have to do anything, if you don’t want to. I’ll take you home if you want.’

She looked up at me. ‘You want me to go home?’

‘No.’ I put my hands up in defeat. ‘I don’t know what to say for the best. I don’t want you to go anywhere, but I don’t want you to stay because you feel you have to. Back there, in the club, it was a mistake.’

‘I don’t think it was a mistake,’ she said slowly. ‘It was just…I’m trying to get my head around it all. It was just so…different.’

‘I know.’ I was struggling to find the words. ‘It m…must have seemed crazy to you. For me, it’s all I’ve ever known.’

She lapsed into silence for a few moments, before looking up at me again.

‘Do you really want me to know everything about you?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘But I should’ve thought more before...’

‘Then, I have to know about…that…all this.’ She opened my coat and let it fall to the floor, exposing her tight, tanned body in its white leather corset. ‘I need to find out for myself.’

Despite everything, the blood rushed straight to my cock. I really was a selfish ass.

‘No, Angel…’ I took a step back. ‘You don’t.’

‘Yes,’ she said, her tone brooking no argument. ‘I need to find out what it really means to be your submissive.’

She sank to her knees, right there in the hotel’s glass lift, and gazed up at me. ‘Punish me, Sir,’ she said, her eyes sparkling through the mask. ‘Please, Sir, I need to be punished.’

    Thirty Three

Her

The lift reached the top of the building and he bent down to pick up his coat. ‘Come on, then, Angel. I’ve work to do.’

His manner had completely changed. He’d seemed so vulnerable for a moment that I almost felt guilty for my doubts. Christ, he’d even stammered at one point. Although it had melted my heart, I preferred his normal manner. God, I loved it, in fact.

I got up to follow him out of the lift but he turned to face me, stopping me in my tracks. ‘Uh-huh,’ he said, pointing at the floor. ‘Get back on your knees, Miss Anderton. You’re going to crawl.’

If he’d added “to your doom”, at that moment I wouldn’t have been a bit surprised. He was back to himself, that was for sure. He towered over me, looking down at my horror-stricken face with amusement.

‘I don’t want to,’ I said, embarrassment at the thought of it coursing through me.

He laughed. ‘If you wanted to, Angel, it would hardly be a punishment.’

I got onto all fours, wondering if anyone could see my rear end, sticking up behind me and pointing towards the glass back wall of the lift. I had no idea – I’d hardly noticed our journeys in the lift, being so caught up in Nathaniel – but the thought was enough to set me crawling out of its confines.

Nathaniel stepped back to let me pass and bent to give my ass a short, sharp slap as I shuffled past him. ‘There’s a good girl,’ he said. ‘See? You can do as you’re told.’

I felt half mortified, half…something else. His hand striking my ass hadn’t really hurt, but I could still feel its contact, burning into me like a brand, as I made my way, on all fours, along the corridor. It was as if it had flipped some hidden switch inside me and, as I crawled along the soft carpet, I started to enjoy it. It brought back the memory of being in his bedroom, at the Castle, on my knees, and how I’d felt it was where I belonged. I could feel myself growing wet again, between my legs, and I deliberately stuck my ass up in the hope his hand might connect with it again.

‘Now, now,’ he said, in that reproving manner that I both loved and hated. ‘Not so eager, Angel. I’ve told you before, control is everything.’

We reached the door of his penthouse and he stood aside to let me in. The lushness of the carpet ended at his door. Beyond, it was wood and, although hard on my knees, the boots afforded some protection and I barely noticed the discomfort, so intent was I on doing as I was bidden.

He shut the door quietly behind him and followed me into the living room. When I was halfway across the floor, he spoke. ‘Now, Angel, sit up and look at me.’

I sat back on my haunches and met his gaze.

He walked round behind me and, bending down, unlaced my mask. Pulling it gently up and over my head, he came back round to face me and stood staring at me, as if seeing me for the first time. ‘Such a shame you had to wear this tonight,’ he remarked, looking at the mask with distaste. ‘You outshone everyone there by miles and no one knew it. Now, what am I going to do with you, I wonder?’

I didn’t speak – I had no idea if I was meant to. He didn’t seem to expect an answer. He just walked around me, looking at me from all angles, as if considering where to begin. I stayed still, holding my breath as he continued his pacing.

Then, he turned and went up the stairs to the mezzanine. He was gone for a few minutes and, while he was out of the room, I took the chance to look around it. Everything was as I remembered it from earlier. Stylish, clean lines, several large cream sofas, a television bench and not much else. No photos, no ornaments – nothing personal at all, and I wondered how he managed to be so alone when he seemingly had such a large entourage. The steps he’d disappeared up were open, rising from the middle of the room to the mezzanine, high above the windows.

He came back down them carrying a large case. ‘Sorry to keep you, Angel,’ he said. ‘Just gathering a few…tools of the trade.’

He’d taken off his shirt. In the clean light of the living room, his muscles stood out as if etched into him by Michelangelo himself, but I could only afford them the most cursory inspection. I was too busy staring at the case, wondering what the hell was inside it. I didn’t have to wait long to find out.

‘Stand up, Miss Anderton,’ he said, opening it onto a large coffee table. ‘Position yourself behind the stairs and face the windows.’

I got to my feet, my knees hurting as I straightened them, and moved round behind the steps. I could hear intermittent rattling noises, which I took to be him sorting through the case. It was hard to know, as I could only make out the vaguest of shapes in the windows’ reflections.

    Thirty Four

Her

The longer I stood there, the more nervous I became and, by the time he came around the steps and stood, surveying me, I could feel myself trembling.

‘Are you worried, Angel?’

‘I’m…slightly cold,’ I lied. There was no way I was going to admit how much he was unnerving me. He had one hand behind his back, which did nothing to calm my anxiety. I wondered what he was hiding.

‘Cold?’ He looked amused. ‘But it’s the middle of summer and this hotel has ambient heating.’

‘It’s fine.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘I’m sure.’

‘Good.’ He sounded satisfied. ‘Then let’s begin. Put your hands above your head.’

I looked at him for a moment, to see if he was joking. He raised his eyebrows. ‘Best you do as I say, Angel. You don’t want to make things worse for yourself. The list of your infringements is…extensive, already, as I’m sure you are aware.’

I couldn’t help scowling, but I did as I was told and stood there, my hands in the air.

‘Stretch them higher.’ He walked up to the side of me.

I reached up, until my fingers were almost touching the underside of the step above me.

‘Very good, Angel,’ he said, pulling his hand out from behind his back and deftly locking a metal cuff around my wrist.

At once, I remembered his words back at the Castle; I was going to tie you up. Worse, I remembered how much those words had alarmed me later, when he’d been taken away by the police. Had thing really changed since then? There was no one else here now. If he wasn’t the man I thought he was, I could be in serious trouble. Could I really trust him?

He must have felt me stiffen because he pulled away from me and looked into my eyes. ‘Nothing you don’t want, Angel, remember? If you want me to stop, just say so.’

I didn’t speak for a moment, just looked at him. He was criminally handsome, with murder-blue eyes, but that was as far as it went. He wasn’t a killer. In my heart, I knew it. My head, though, still wavered.

‘Do you not trust me, even now?’ I could hear the disappointment in his voice and it stung me.

‘I do,’ I protested. ‘It’s just…’

‘It’s just?’

‘It’s just I feel…vulnerable.’

‘Of course you do.’ He smiled, much as he had earlier when watching the sub being punished in the club. ‘That’s exactly what it’s about. Power exchange. Giving over power to your Dom, putting your care into my hands. If you don’t trust me, it won’t work.’

‘What won’t work?’ I said. ‘Us?’

‘This,’ he said. ‘This isn’t us. There’ll still be an us, Angel, I promise you.’

‘Okay,’ I said.

‘Okay, what?’ he said. ‘Okay, stop?’

‘No.’ I shook my head and took a deep breath. ‘Okay, tie me.’

He looked at me steadily for a moment or two, before reaching up and looping a chain through the step above me. As he did so, he kissed the top of my head. ‘I have to say, Miss Anderton, I know you won’t appreciate this, but you do look delightful. Vulnerable suits you.’

He cuffed my other wrist, and linked them together with the chain. ‘I think that was what made me fall in love with you, so early on,’ he added, but I had the feeling he was talking more to himself than to me.

He stood back and regarded me, his head on one side. ‘You can drop your hands, now,’ he said.

I let my arms go, but they barely moved. They were securely chained up and the sudden feeling of helplessness made my heart start to race again.

‘You don’t have to fight it every step of the way, you know, Angel,’ he said, stroking my cheek. ‘You could just enjoy it.’ He walked around me and ran his hand down my back and across my bare buttocks. ‘After all, you’re at my mercy now. Why not make the most of it?’

‘I will, Sir,’ I said. He was right, after all. Nothing that happened from hereon in was my fault. I was tied up – anything that happened from now on was down to the beautiful man pushing his hand up between my legs.

The firmness of his hand, pushing apart my thighs, made me quiver but, this time, with lust. As he turned his hand on its side and forced them still further apart, I lay back into it, supporting myself on the cuffs, gripping the chain in the palms of my hands.

The flat of his fingers pressed upwards onto me, rubbing at my clit until I found myself spreading my legs still further, pushing back against his fingers, desperate to feel them inside me.

‘I think it’s time we dispensed with this,’ he said, putting his hands to the sides of my thong and slipping it down over the suspenders and boots until it lay, a tiny scrap of white, on the floor.

‘Now, this,’ he indicated my corset. ‘Can remain. However…’ He put his hands to the top of the bustier and pulled the cups down until my breasts were fully exposed. I could see myself in the window’s reflection and, for the first time, I wondered if I could be seen from outside. I don’t think I’d have cared at that point. He ran his hand back up my thigh, thrusting two fingers inside me and rubbing my clit with his thumb. I was beside myself by this time, desperate to come.

He must have sensed it because he withdrew his hand altogether and stood up straight. ‘Are you enjoying yourself, Angel?’

‘Yes,’ I gasped, still thrusting forward in my desperation to feel his touch.

‘I thought so,’ he said. ‘Which is why I stopped. You’re not here to enjoy yourself. You’re here to be punished, or had you forgotten?’

I almost wailed aloud. How could he leave me like this?

‘Now, now,’ he said. ‘It wouldn’t be much of a punishment if you didn’t suffer a little, would it?’

I shook my head and glared at him. God, he could be such a bastard. I needed him.

‘You’re lucky, you know,’ he continued, blithely ignoring my filthy look. ‘Usually, when I punish a sub, I actually punish them. Make them write lines, a letter of apology, sit facing a wall, something they really hate. They’d love to be punished like this.’

I looked at him. Was he for real? I didn’t want to hear about him and other subs.

‘Charlotte,’ he continued. ‘She’d have revelled in this.’

Oh my God. She was his sub. I felt sick suddenly and couldn’t help but look up at the chain holding me in place.

He shot me a look. ‘Don’t go getting the wrong idea. I didn’t have sex with her, for your information. I was training her or, at least, I thought I was. I’m not telling you this to make you insecure. I’m telling you to let you know that you’re special. This isn’t just a Dom/sub relationship. This is love.’

I felt ashamed, suddenly. He’d done nothing but look out for me. From the moment I’d met him, he’d had my back. And I still couldn’t help listening to rumours.

‘I’m sorry,’ I said. ‘I love you, too.’ I did, so much, and I wanted this – I did. ‘Please punish me.’ At that moment, I really felt I deserved it.