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“That was… is great. I’m happy for them.” She was about to say that was fast, but that news was just another reminder of how long she’d been away.
Taking another swig of the cold brew, Nan let her eyes wander around the room and spotted Master Greg and Master Devin on the dance floor, a tall blonde sandwiched between their gyrating bodies. The best friends were already enjoying a reputation for indulging in ménages the last time she’d been here, and it appeared they still did as she watched Greg reach around and cup the woman’s naked breasts, lifting them for Devin’s descending mouth. Heat curled low in her belly as Greg flipped up the girl’s skirt and ground his denim covered pelvis against her bare ass while Devin slid a hand between her legs and tugged on one, turgid nipple.
“God, they are so freakin’ hot.” Sydney sighed, fanned herself and then took a long drink from her amber filled glass. “You were with them once, weren’t you, Nan?”
“Yes, and yes, it was as good as you would think watching them.” Nan shifted as her pussy softened and dampened, the response surprising her. She hadn’t felt an ounce of arousal in so long, she’d despaired of ever getting the pleasant feeling back.
“I’ve never indulged in a three-way. I wonder if Connor…” Tamara squealed when hard hands plucked her off the stool and brought her up against her husband’s tall frame. “Oh, hi.” She flipped him a sheepish grin with a toss of her midnight hair.
“If Master Connor would what? Let someone else touch you? No fucking way, sweetie.” Lifting his head, he tipped his hat back and his small grin spread into a wide smile as he l
ooked at Nan. “Damn, it’s good to see you again.” Keeping one hand on Tamara, he leaned over and pinched Nan’s chin, tilting her face up for a quick kiss, much like his brother greeted her with. Releasing her, he cocked his head and a glint appeared in his blue eyes, “I think I recall a number of Doms promising retribution for your long, silent absence.”
Nan winced, her tension returning, and knew Master Connor thought it was because of his emphasis on silent, not the thought of a Dom’s retribution. She used to respond without hesitation when a Master hinted at punishment and to the idea of a long, over-the-knee, bare-butt spanking with excitement and longing. Before she’d left, everyone here knew how much she enjoyed the bite of pain, and the pleasure it always led to. But that was before Gerard showed her what real agony was, how deep the pain could go, how devastating, mind-numbing and terrorizing it could be.
Nan chugged the beer, looking away from Connor’s keen, appraising gaze as suspicion clouded his eyes. The cold against her palm helped steady her under his probing look, the long pull she took of the alcohol aided in calming the sudden jitters tightening her abdomen. Swallowing, she lowered the bottle and released an exasperated huff. “I guess I’ve got that coming, but give me tonight to just settle back in, would you?”
Caden frowned as he strolled up in time to hear their exchange, his gaze shifting behind her as he drawled, “What do you think, Master Dan?”
Nan stiffened, something close to panic threatening her composure. Tamara reached out and squeezed her arm, her and Sydney seeing more than she wanted them to from the looks of sympathy and puzzlement on their faces.
“I think the sub I remember would have vibrated with excitement at the mention of punishment and jumped to embrace the prospect.”
That deep voice, the only one to slither past the fear and pain numbing her mind during three days of huddling in cold, complete darkness, now drew a wave of rippling uncertainty. After taking another long drink, she swiveled to face Dan, leaned forward with a small grin and managed to pull up the old Nan still struggling to re-emerge.
“Master Dan. For you, I might change my mind.”
Apparently, she wouldn’t make a good actress. His narrowed dark eyes and tight set to his mouth signaled he saw through her attempt to flirt with and tease with him. She didn’t like the calculated gleam that entered his eyes as he removed his hat and tossed it on the bar top. He fisted his hands on his hips, drawing her gaze to the thick, wide belt around his waist and she recalled the sting of the supple leather snapping across her buttocks. The quick, welcome rush of heat subsided as he held out his hand, a silent invitation he’d issued, and she’d accepted, countless times before.
Nan started to reach for him, ignoring the churning in her gut, determined to move forward no matter what, when the sudden whoosh and snap of leather striking bare skin followed by a high-pitched screech echoed down from the loft and pitched her back into that dark space where the same sound had delivered waves of excruciating agony. Bile pushed up to clog her throat and freeze her acceptance of Master Dan’s offer. She squeezed her eyes shut, the only way to keep from looking up at the source of another flesh-connecting snap. Jerking as if struck, the memory of searing pain splitting her skin and blood dripping swept back to haunt her.
“Breathe, Nan.” Master Dan emphasized that command by pushing her head down and massaging the tight muscles of her upper back.
She fought the swell of despair and humiliation as hard as she struggled to breathe in. I’m still as much of a pathetic mess as I was months ago. The thought pissed her off as fast as that sound hurled her back to a place she never wanted to go again.
“Nan, are you okay?”
The soft concern lacing Tamara’s voice and Dan’s soothing touch broke through the final dredges of icy blackness threatening to keep her prisoner back in that horrible time. Nan sucked in a deep breath and nodded, pushing against Dan’s hand as she strained to rise. He removed it without hesitation and she lifted up, clenching her hands and jaw until her bearings steadied.
“Sorry,” she croaked, forcing a self-conscious laugh as she reached for the beer again. “I guess I’m still exhausted from traveling and the busy week of getting the shop re-opened. Whew!” She drew an exaggerated hand sweep across her brow and took a fortifying, guzzling drink that emptied the bottle. “It’s going to have to be an early night for me, I’m afraid.” Forcing herself to look up at Master Dan, she tried not to react to his scowl as she asked, “Raincheck?”
He nodded, reaching for her elbow as she slid off the stool. “I’ll hold you to it. Come on, I’ll walk you out.”
Shaken by her reaction, especially after feeling so good and positive, Nan pulled away from Master Dan’s grasp and turned her back on his astute, watchful gaze. “Thanks, but I’m fine. Catch you guys later.”
He caught up with her halfway to the front doors and she stiffened as he took her arm again. “I insist,” he stated in a cool, rigid tone she knew well.
Annoyance with both herself and him rose to the surface, shoving aside the remnants of her mortification. “Look,” she snapped, rounding on him as he opened the door to the foyer, “I didn’t agree to scene with you, so back off.” Yanking her arm free, she strode to the wall of cubbies and grabbed her sandals.
“I’m well aware of that, Nan, but I would be remiss in my responsibilities if I let any sub leave when upset without assuring she was all right to drive.”
A muscle ticced in his cheek, drawing her eyes to his taut, five o’clock shadowed jaw. She’d always found the contrast between his sandy blond hair and dark eyes and face as attractive as his hard Dom persona here at the club. It was another blow to her resolve to get her life back that she wasn’t pulsating with needful lust to submit to her favorite Master’s strict dominance.
Looking down to slip on her shoes, she managed to return in a steady voice, “I’m not upset, just tired. As I said, it’s been an exhausting week of trying to catch up.” Straightening, she pasted on a calm expression and prayed he didn’t see her still jumpy nerves. “I may have been away for a while, but I’ve driven home from this place plenty of times after an intense night of play without a problem. A little fatigue will not hinder my driving. Good night, Master Dan.”
Nan made it the few steps to the front door and grasped the handle before he asked a question she wasn’t prepared to answer. “Who hurt you, Nan?”
She didn’t dare turn around; he would be sure to see the revealing shock reflected on her face. Damn it, what made her believe she was ready to return tonight, to face the Doms who knew her best and would be sure to see more than she wanted, than she was ready for anyone to see? Shaking her head, she walked away as calmly as possible considering her racing heart, feeling his eyes on her as she got into her car and drove away without a backward glance.
