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The man stopped behind his submissive and flogged her in rhythmic motions. She tipped her head back as she parted her lips.
On numerous occasions, Maddie had watched twosomes and moresomes play, but she’d never seen anyone so sensually content. Though she was nervous to expose that much of herself, part of her envied the expression of joy on the woman’s face.
The Top paused, stepped back, waited a moment, then wielded his flogger harshly between her legs. Jerking, she cried out, and he reacted immediately by soothing her with his hand, continuing until she broke, shuddering and crying as she came.
Maddie couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move.
“It’s Christmas. Dreams come true.” Master Zander’s words a purr, part promise, part invitation.
“I…” She gathered what remained of her wits and pulled herself away from him. “The parade’s about to begin.”
Before she could do something stupid, like drop to her knees and beg for a flogging like the woman in front of her had just received, she fled.
CHAPTERTHREE
When the last participants left Kinky Avenue, a worker erected barriers to close it off, part of the effort to ensure all walkways were clear for the parade.
Zander strode back to the main dungeon. Once there, he instinctively sought out Maddie.
Right up until the moment he walked through the Quarter’s front door, he’d considered cancelling. What he didn’t need or want was holiday frivolity. Instead he’d planned to do what he did every weekend from Thanksgiving to New Year’s: morosely sip whiskey and watch the clock, tortured by the memories of Christmas past, fighting to shove aside the whispers of what could have been, wondering how the fuck he’d make it through the night.
But he’d bowed beneath the force that was Mistress Aviana’s determination. She’d insisted she needed his help, but the truth was, she hadn’t. The other truth was, he was grateful.
Though she was nothing like the wife he’d lost, Maddie was a breath of fresh air. From the moment she’d looked at him, surprised, clearly searching for a way not to help him with his armband, he’d been intrigued. Her startling blue eyes flashed with emotion, raw and on display for the entire world to see.
Pain was there. If his guess was right, it ran as deep as his own. And like him, she buried it beneath the surface so she could keep going. He might turn to his own demons to find relief. But how did Maddie find solace?By taking care of others?
She visited the club on a regular basis.Why? For the companionship? Because of her most secret desires?
The fiery, no-holds barred elf had called him out for being a bastard. Though her words had been an arrow to the heart, the criticism was well-deserved. At one time, he’d been a better person.
But now…?
How many years had it been since he’d been enthusiastic about anything? Maddie with the unflinching way she stared him down had gotten through to him.
And then there was her reaction to the scene they’d watched together.
He sucked in a shallow breath.
Though he’d had what he considered an amazing relationship, BDSM hadn’t been part of it. He’d been willing to forgo that connection because everything else had been perfect. But less than half an hour ago, with his hands cupping Maddie’s shoulders, a need that had been dormant for three years sparked to life. And he was hungry for more. The problem was, he wasn’t sure he was good enough for her.
The worst possible thing would be for him to cloak her in his darkness.
Before he had a chance to locate her, Hayes McCall—one of his closest friends— joined him. Misery loved company.
They shook hands, then moved to a place near the wall to get out of the way.
Zander spoke first. “You planning to watch the parade?”
“Hell, no.” Hayes shook his head. “Heading to the bar. Don’t have a lot of tolerance for all this Christmas crap. Ho, ho, fucking ho. Open your wallet a little wider and smile while you do it.” His unwanted divorce had broken his heart and left him jaded and without half of his fortune.
“Got a business meeting in town Thursday,” Zander said. “Thinking of grabbing a drink at the Maison Sterling before heading back.”
“Susanna gets Trenton this year, and she’s taking him to Aspen.” He scowled. “Shoot me a text with the time; I’ll be there.”
After they parted ways, Zander once again scanned the area. When he didn’t immediately find Maddie, he moved to a more central location, near a St. Andrew’s cross.
The moment she neared him, the tiny hairs on his nape stood at attention and desire gripped him. No, it wasn’t desire. It was a primal hunger, and it ricocheted through him, making his heart pound.
