Breaking Free

Chapter Nine

After a trip to the powder room, the subs followed their Doms to Master Nolan’s dungeon near the front of the house. Stomach quivering with nerves, Beth lagged behind the others and stopped in the doorway. The dungeon was almost as big as the great room. It had shutters over the windows, a dark hardwood floor, dark paneling, and dim lighting. If Nolan had designed it to be intimidating, he’d done a good job. She hugged herself as chills goose-bumped her skin.

The ceiling beams were exposed with chains dangling from them. A St. Andrew’s cross leaned against one wall. A bondage table, a sawhorse…more equipment in a dark corner. Various toys hung on the walls: whips, floggers, paddles, canes. The big armoire probably held others.

“I’d forgotten some of what you had here,” Master Dan said, dropping his toy bag and wandering around the room followed by a wide-eyed Kari. “I’m going to have to play catch-up.”

Cullen snorted. “Isn’t possible. Just about the time you do, he’ll build himself another piece.”

Build? Venturing a few steps into the room, Beth bent to examine the closest piece, a spanking table made of solid oak. The joins were perfect, and the finish satin smooth.

Was there anything the man couldn’t do?

She realized she’d spoken aloud when Sir squeezed her shoulder and answered, “I cook badly. I can’t add without a calculator, can’t sing a note, and anything I plant dies in a week.” The gentle look in his eyes captured her gaze more effectively than any restraint.

“Got a game for us?” Cullen asked.

Master Nolan ran a finger down her face before turning to the others. “Don’t I always? The game is in two parts. First, restrain your sub and warm her up in whatever manner pleases you: flogger, paddles, hands, whips.”

Whips? Apprehension scraped like fingernails through her insides. She tried to edge away. Sir’s fingers curled around her arm, stopping her.

“After that, we’ll go out to the pool area, and our subs will serve refreshments,” Nolan continued. “I’ll explain that part when we get out there.”

She really, really didn’t like the slight smile on his face when he talked about “serving,” but the worry about what he planned to do in the dungeon was more immediate.

Dan said, “I remember the game you came up with last time. You’re an evil bastard sometimes.”

Nolan grinned.

When Dan clipped Kari’s wrists together and tugged her over to a chain, the sub looked appalled, whispering, “You wouldn’t really beat me, would you? Master?”

Dan didn’t stop.

Cullen strung Deborah up quickly. He visited the wall, returning with a paddle and dropping a cane on the floor nearby. Deborah took a deep breath, her face flushing and nipples peaking.

“Come, little rabbit.” Sir tugged on Beth’s arm, but she’d set her feet. With a laugh, he swung her over his shoulder and set her down under a dangling chain. His strength seemed frightening all of a sudden, and her mouth went dry. He hooked the chain to her wrist cuffs and winched her up until her toes barely touched.

“That is a pretty sight,” he murmured, running his hands over her breasts. His palms were warm against her cold skin. He tilted her chin up. “What is your safe word, sugar?”

“Red,” she whispered. “Can I use it now?”

“Do you think I’m going to hurt you unbearably?” he whispered back.

Yes. No. Maybe. Playing in the Shadowlands felt so much safer. This dungeon was too much like the room Kyler had set up. Too private, too dark. What if Sir kept her here after the others left? Everything inside of her shook. A frightening sound caught her attention, and she stared as Cullen slapped a paddle across Deborah’s thighs.

Sir followed her gaze, snorted, and grabbed a blindfold from the wall. “I know you’ve seen that at the Shadowlands, even had it done to you, Beth. But today, you might do better not watching everything.”

The blindfold wiped out the room. Now she heard even more clearly the smack of the paddle hitting flesh and the tiny grunts accompanying it, the creak of chains, a bitten-off cry from Kari and her Dom’s deep laugh. She could smell lingering disinfectant, and then Sir’s scent of leather and man and soap. No fancy colognes for him, he-

Something soft touched her left arm, and she jerked then relaxed at the fluffy feel. Fur. It moved down her arm, over her breasts, and zigzagged across her stomach to her bare mound. She held her breath as the fur stroked her, circling some areas quickly, then moving in gentle strokes across her buttocks. The touches were never where she anticipated, and slowly her skin roused.

She gasped as something cold circled her breast. Freezing water trickled between her breasts and down until her stomach muscles flinched from the icy feel. Her lips were wetted before the cold moved down her neck and across her collarbone.

Master Nolan’s mouth closed around her nipple. He sucked briefly, leaving the skin tight and wet. A hand squeezed her bottom and released. She received a nip on her other breast. Each brief touch left her more sensitive. When he patted her bare pussy, need shot through her in a massive wave. He sucked her other nipple, his mouth hot and wet. When he puffed air on the wet skin, her nipple peaked almost painfully. Her breasts felt swollen.

He touched her pussy again, and this time slid his fingers through her fold. “You’re wet, sugar,” he whispered. With one hand gripping her bottom, he slid a finger up into her, holding in place as she jerked at the sudden intrusion. Two thrusts and then he spread the wetness over her clit, rubbing the nub slickly with a firm finger until it hardened. Until her hips tilted into his hand.

And then Sir moved away, leaving her pussy burning. Where had he gone? She listened anxiously. What was he planning now? Her heart rate climbed.

Something hit her legs, a spatter of sensation, too soft to be painful. Another and another, moving across her body slowly, each stroke like a heartbeat with only the location changing. The tiny flicks over her breasts were erotic; more teased her pussy until her clit ached with need. The blows increased, stinging now, tiny nips that hovered on the edge of pain, transforming to carnal pleasure.

Suddenly, from the right, Deborah screamed, a high shrill cry that echoed in the room.

Beth jumped at the sound, the chains clinking above her. She tried to inhale… No air came. Her lungs pumped, but she felt like someone was squeezing her chest, keeping her from getting a breath.

She heard a thump of something. “Yellow,” she gasped through numb lips. “Yellow.”

Sir yanked the blindfold off, and the room appeared, wavering around the edge. His fingers closed around her arms.

“Easy, sugar. Look at me,” he snapped, and his unwavering gaze filled her vision. “Breathe with me. Exactly with me.” A Dom’s command. When he inhaled, his big chest expanded, and her own followed… In. Out. In. Out. Not enough air. Her breathing sped up. He growled, and she focused again. Breath by breath. The tightness in her chest eased, and her heart rate slowed. The room came into focus.

He cupped her face. “Better?”

She nodded. “I got scared.”

He snorted. “You had a panic attack, sugar. I think I’ll leave the blindfold off so you remember who your Dom is today.”

“You’re going to continue?” Her breathing faltered.

His hand was still on her face, keeping her gaze on his. “Were you in pain…or were you scared? Think for a minute.” And he waited.

She frowned. The flogger hadn’t been striking that hard and actually had been rather exciting. But the scream, the sounds around her, especially Cullen and the sound of the cane he was using, had revived old memories. Sir hadn’t hurt her. “Scared, Sir. I was just scared.”

His smile was slow, waking something inside her that glowed with his approval. “Honest sub.” He looked around and picked up the flogger from the floor.

She realized the thump she’d heard had been him tossing it aside…even before she’d said yellow. He’d been watching her that closely. And then he’d talked to her and listened to her. He would stop if she couldn’t take it. The knowledge felt good. Freeing.

Stepping back, Master Nolan shook out the flogger. When her breathing increased, he caught her gaze again. “Watch me, Beth, not your memories. I want your eyes on me at all times.”

He waited until she managed to lift her gaze away from the instrument of pain and up to his eyes. His smile at her was like a warm hug.

He started slow and gentle again, the leather strands more of a caress than a blow with the same rhythm as her heart, brushing against her skin until she began to anticipate each blow. When he moved up her body, over her buttocks, and around to her breasts, her breathing was fast, not from fear, but excitement. Featherlight touches on her pussy, the new bareness adding to the sensation. The force increased, reaching the tiny stings where she’d panicked before, but she watched Master now.

His eyes were hot and intense, his face hard as he concentrated, not on her pain, but on her arousal. He saw her every response, and everything he did drew her higher and higher, and her response in turn carried him along. Nothing else existed except the two of them.

As if he could hear her, his smile flickered, his gaze burning over her as the strokes lightened again into teasing flicks across her mound. Her clit started to ache, and she grew so wet that it trickled down her leg.

The flogger moved up, and the strands hit her breasts with more force. She jerked in the chains as fire streaked down to her clit. Her nipples constricted into peaks just in time for the next blow. And the flogger moved away, circled around her back, lashing her bottom. Her excitement increased, her clit throbbing.

The blows became harder, hurting, and she yelped, only each strike slid from pain to pleasure so quickly that her cry turned to a moan. Two blows onto her pussy, and she rocked back at the pain, yet she was so close to a climax that her hips pushed forward to meet the next blow.

It never landed. He tossed the flogger on the ground and cupped her face between his hands. His eyes were molten darkness. “I’m regretting the game,” he murmured, “because I’d really like to bury myself deep inside you.” He tangled his hand in her hair, his grip pulling her head back as he took her mouth. His tongue plunged into her over and over until her breath turned ragged.

“You cheating over there, Nolan?” Cullen’s rough voice had amusement in it.

With a low groan, Sir drew back. He unfastened her from the chains and lifted her into his arms so quickly her head spun. As he carried her out to the pool, her skin was so acutely sensitive she could feel even the tiny hairs on his arms.

Beth quivered in his arms as Nolan led the others to the pool area, and he stopped long enough to nuzzle her cheek. She’d done well in accepting the flogging despite her past and that she’d been aroused by it was more than he’d expected. Her courage in admitting her fear, and moving past it touched his heart. She was a tough little woman, and she felt good-right-in his arms.

Well, hell. He’d gotten sucked right into caring for this little bundle of troubles.

Putting that worry aside, he glanced around the pool area, checking the position of the chairs and tables. Nothing missing. His gaze snagged on the weedy yard outside the patio, and he winced. If Beth didn’t take on the job, he’d have to search for someone, and God knew what kind of an idiot landscaper he’d get. Probably end up with squared-off gardens in pink and white. Beth better step up to the plate, or he was going to be pissed off. He glanced down at her, smiled at the way she’d snuggled against his chest. Be brave, little rabbit. Take a chance.

He set her on her feet then took a towel from the stack on a table and dropped it onto the concrete beside the middle patio chair. “Sit there, sugar. I have to get something from the kitchen.”

When he returned with a tray of small paper cups and drinks, the others had settled in with Doms in the chairs, subs at their feet. At the far end of the pool, Nolan filled the cups to the brim and set them in a single line across a big table. After grabbing the water, he returned to the others and handed each sub a bottle. All three had the flushed look of interrupted passion, and he smothered a grin. “Drink up.”

He turned to Dan and Cullen. “Here’s the rules for the second half of the game.” He pointed to the baskets beside each chair. “You each have a basket of toys. We’ll start with the vibrator.” He reached into his basket and pulled out the garish purple and green bullet, trying not to smile at Beth’s worried look. She definitely hadn’t been to a play party before. “Lay back, sugar.”

He could see her desire to say no, even though her nipples tightened. Slowly she lay back on the beach towel. In the sunlight, her blue-green eyes were clear as glass as she watched him warily.

“Relax. This won’t hurt a bit.” He grasped her ankles, spread her legs apart, and knelt between them. She was very wet. Still enlarged, her clit glistened, slightly reddened from the flogger, and just begging for attention. Not yet. He slid the purple bullet into her vagina. Enjoying her squirming, he made sure the curved form would hit her G-spot.

Rising, he pulled her to her feet and instructed the others. “Attach the remote to your sub on the side and out of the way.” Using bondage tape, he secured the small box to Beth’s waist.

Once everyone was ready, he continued. “Subs, you’ve been rehydrated, but your Doms are thirsty.” He pointed to the other side of the pool. “There’re drinks over there. Master Dan gets water, Master Cullen gets dark beer, and I get light beer. When you fetch the drinks, go in alphabetical order: Beth, Deb, Kari. Take the next cup in line and serve it to the correct master. Don’t serve the wrong drink to the wrong master or that master will spank you.”

Deborah had no expression, Beth still looked worried, and, he had to admit, the consternation on Kari’s face was priceless. Dan was a lucky guy. “If you spill, you’ll get spanked by the master whose drink you spilled. If you make it back with a full cup, the Dom will reward you with hands or mouth in whatever way he wants.”

“After your reward or reprimand, return to your own master for more toys from the basket.” He glanced at the Doms. “Each round, add toys and then change the remote settings to whatever speed and mode you feel would be interesting.”

“Looks like fun,” Dan remarked, eyes on the pretty pink cheeks of his sub. “What happens if some little sub gets off?”

“The master whose drink is delayed gets sucked off for the length of time it takes the other two to fetch another round.”

Cullen let out a bark of laughter. “Not bad. Might take a while to get a drink back down here, though.”

Nolan pointed to the whippy switches beside each chair. “Not too long. The last Dom to be served has a right to be annoyed and will administer one stroke of the switch…anywhere he chooses. Each round starts at the same time with the subs in a line. Subs, begin together. Cheating will be punished.”

“Questions?” he waited. “No? Then set the remotes, gentlemen.” Holding Beth in place, he flipped on the vibe. She jumped, the hum audible. This wasn’t the quietest vibe in the world, but definitely powerful. “Go to work, subs.”

The subs were an enjoyable sight as they hurried to the other end of the pool. Deborah dark and muscular. Kari soft and round with a pleasing bounce to her ass that her long hair didn’t cover. Beth like a slender flame with a high, firm butt and gorgeous legs.

Nolan rubbed his chin. Seems like he hadn’t had those legs wrapped around him yet. Beth’s thighs wouldn’t be soft like he was used to, but strong, probably grip him like a pair of pliers. Those little heels would hammer on his ass as he plunged deeper and… Hell. Sitting back in his chair, he wrenched his thoughts back to the subbie race.

At the table, each woman took a cup. They lined up together and set off. Each sub concentrated fiercely on her cup, trying to walk quickly and smoothly.

Deborah spilled. Nolan grinned as she realized she’d be spanked no matter what, and she might as well not be the last to arrive. She sped up, leaving the other two behind.

The other two continued on slowly, barely distracted by the vibrators inside, moving so smoothly their breasts barely wobbled. That wouldn’t last long. The higher modes had random settings.

Deborah stopped in front of Nolan and handed him a half-full glass. He frowned. “You were more worried about winning than making sure I had something to drink. I’m displeased with you.”

Her reaction was minimal, and his eyes narrowed. She obviously lacked the desire to please that lay at the heart of a submissive. No wonder Cullen didn’t look happy. Nolan gestured to his lap, and she stretched over his knees for her spanking. He adjusted her, bottom up. She was scarcely tense at all. All right then.

Rather than restraining her shoulders with his left hand, he reached down and cupped her breast. She wasn’t expecting that. He played with her breast for a minute and then grasped the nipple between two fingers, holding it just to the point of pain. “Don’t move, Deborah,” he warned. “Ten strokes. Count them aloud, please.”

He slapped her ass, felt it jolt through her, although she didn’t move. “One,” she said, voice steady.

Harder with the next blow. “Two.” Harder with the third. “Three”

He slid his hand between her legs, avoiding the remote wire. Not particularly wet. He pinched her nipple, felt her pussy clench, and nodded. She was more into pain than submission. So be it. His next three slaps hit full force. She yelped and yelped again when her jerk of surprise yanked at the nipple pinned between his fingers.

Much better. He turned to check on his little rabbit, and saw Beth hand her cup to Dan. Nolan studied her for a minute. Steady hands, flushed face, clear eyes. She was doing all right.

He frowned down at the sub lying across his lap. “I didn’t hear you count, so I’ll start over.”

And he spanked her remorselessly, pausing between each swat to give her nerves a chance to recover…so the next one would hurt as much or more. Her voice rose higher with each counted blow. “Seven.” He nailed her on the tender upper thigh just below her buttocks. “Eight.”

And on the other thigh. “Nine.” Her voice this time was just short of a sob. He waited, drawing out the suspense before the last one, and then slapped her across both buttocks on the undercurve. She let out a high shriek before gasping, “Ten.”

He checked her pussy. Sopping wet. Pain slut, indeed. “All right. Return to your Dom,” he said, helping her stand. She walked over to Cullen, her self-assurance markedly diminished, and her arousal markedly increased.

Kari was hurrying away from Cullen with a long red stripe on her ass from the switch. If she’d lost the race, that meant Beth should be getting rewarded. Nolan turned to his right.

Beth had her hands laced together behind her back. Dan had wrapped an arm around her and gripped her hands, securing her between his legs, keeping her breasts right in his face. Now he ran a tongue around one nipple and took it into his mouth. Beth’s color was high, her breathing fast.

Nolan grinned. Now there was a submissive.

When Master Dan sucked strongly on her breast, Beth felt a tugging sensation all the way to her pussy. And then he switched to her other breast, rubbing the nipple against the roof of his mouth until the pain and pleasure mingled through her body and weakened her knees.

When he released her, she took a wobbly step back, feeling hot and confused. How could she get excited by someone besides Master Nolan? Although Master Dan was handsome-especially when he smiled-he still wasn’t Sir.

Master Dan looked up at her, dark brown eyes crinkling at the edges. He ran his finger around one wet nipple sending heat through her. “Very pretty,” he murmured. She looked down. Her nipples were dark red, the peaks long and pointing like pencils. “Go to your master,” he said.

As Beth stepped past Kari, Dan held his hand out to his sub. “Come, sweetie, let’s see what’s in the basket for you.”

“Oh, God,” Kari said under her breath, giving Beth an anxious look.

Beth felt Nolan’s gaze on her, and she hurried over. He pulled her to him, running his hands down her thighs. When he kissed her stomach, her muscles quivered. Master Dan’s touch had been as firm and controlling as Sir’s, but Sir’s felt…right. How could there be that much difference?

Master Nolan opened a package from the basket and held up two tweezer-like things with dangling stones. Jewelry? Nipple clamps, she realized. “Wasn’t it nice of Master Dan to get you ready for these?” Sir said. “Lean forward.”

He attached the rubberized ends of one clamp to a peaked nipple and moved the tiny ring upward to tighten the clamp until she hissed in pain. He lowered the ring slightly and then did the other breast in the same way. “Very pretty, sugar, don’t you think?” With a finger, he made the dangling jewels swing, shooting little darts through her.

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered.

Kari had also received a nipple clamps. On the left, Deborah was bent over in front of Cullen. When the sub straightened, her mouth was twisted. Beth stared at the slight dimpling around the crack of the woman’s buttocks. Oh, Lord, had she gotten a butt plug? Poor Deborah.

And Deborah’s bottom was horribly red. Nolan must have spanked her really hard. Really hard. Maybe he wasn’t as…maybe he’d do… She bit her lip as her feeling of rightness eroded right out from under her.

His eyes narrowed. Then he glanced at Deborah. “Ah, little rabbit.” He pulled Beth down on his lap.

She sat for a moment, confused. Even knowing he’d hurt Deborah, she still wanted to just snuggle against his chest. How wrong was that? She pushed against his chest, and his grip tightened.

“Beth, listen to me. People are different in how much pain they like and tolerate. Can you agree with that?”

“Um. Yes.” That was common knowledge.

“Good. Now for you, if you’re already excited, a little pain enhances your arousal.”

A little unnerved by him seeing that so clearly, she looked down.

He raised her chin. “Unlike you, for Deborah, the pain is the arousal. A lot of pain.” His intent eyes kept her from looking away. “Sugar, can you trust me to know the difference between you?”

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered, and relaxed as she realized she hadn’t been wrong about him. And that she could trust him. She did.

“Good.” After setting her on her feet, he pressed something on the remote control at her waist. The vibrations inside her became stronger, then increased in speed, slowed…sped up again. The feeling was no longer something she could ignore.

“Next round,” Nolan called, slapping her butt, making her jump.

She hurried back to the other side of the pool, the jewelry swinging from her breasts and dragging at her nipples. The feeling was a little painful, a lot exciting.

The other two waited for her to pick up the first cup before taking theirs in order. She had dark brown liquid with the malty scent of beer so it went to Cullen. The three lined up and started off, Deborah much slower this time, Kari faster. Beth ignored them and concentrated on moving steadily until she realized she was behind. Oh, God. She hurried faster, and the beer sloshed over the top, wetting her fingers. Damn, damn, damn.

Okay. Moving much quicker-what was there to lose after all-she went past the other two and heard an exclamation from Kari as she also spilled. And they both left Deborah behind.

Beth walked up to Cullen, skirting his long legs. His green eyes crinkled at her. “Little Beth, what did you bring me?”

She handed him the paper cup, and he sucked it down. A tiny hope rose in her. Maybe he hadn’t noticed she’d spilled. Then he turned her hand over, raised his eyebrows at her beer-dampened fingers, and patted his lap. “Bottoms up, love.”

She couldn’t do this, let him hurt her. Heart pounding, she took a step back and shook her head. He didn’t move, just watched her, the stern expression in his eyes so much like Sir’s that her mouth went dry. He held his hand out, and she set her fingers in his before she could stop herself.

He pulled her forward gently, positioned her beside his legs, and pulled her down over his knees. She went rigid, her breathing fast and shallow.

“Relax, sweetie. It’s only my hand, nothing else,” he said, his hand pressing her shoulders down until her palms pressed flat on the concrete. The nipple clamps swung freely, bobbing against her face. To her surprise, he didn’t start spanking her. Instead he played with her bottom, running his finger along the crack and across the crease of her thighs until she relaxed.

“Good girl. I want to hear you count and thank me for each stroke.”

She remembered her first master had asked that. The memory had been buried under the horrible intervening years. A hand hit her butt, lightly, the mildest slap. “One. Um, thank you. Sir,” she said breathlessly.

Another. “Two. Thank you, sir.” Another and then he was hitting her hard enough to sting, alternating buttocks. Her bottom began to burn. Between each smack, she became aware of the vibrator humming inside her, and the pain made the vibrations stronger… She was very wet. Her clit started to throb, and she squirmed a little.

He stopped suddenly. She gasped when his thick fingers slid between her legs, through the folds, and pressed against her clit. The burn in her bottom and his finger on her clit joined somehow, and her hips moved involuntarily, wanting more of…something.

He chuckled. “I think you’ve had enough, little Beth.” As easily as Sir, he set her on her feet, pinning her between his knees until her mind cleared, and her eyes could focus. She looked up to see Master Nolan’s gaze on her. He’d been keeping an eye on her, and somehow she wasn’t embarrassed. She just felt safe.

His eyes crinkled at her, and then he returned to the sub, Kari, lying across his lap. He swatted her two times, not very hard.

Beth turned back to Master Cullen. He smiled at her, his eyes very green in the sunlight. “Okay, love, my hand is tired. Head on back to your master.”

This time Deborah had a stripe on her ass, so she must have lost the race. As Beth reached Master Nolan, Kari was climbing off his lap, rubbing her butt, tears teetering in her eyes. Her face was flushed and nipples erect. Sir held her for a moment and checked her steadiness. “Back to Master Dan with you.”

As Kari hurried away, he held his hand out to Beth and pulled her to him. Turning her, he checked her bottom, running his fingers gently over the burning skin. His voice sounded amused as he said, “Well, Master Cullen must like you; he went very light.”

He picked up another toy from the basket and opened it. More jewels dangling from a long narrow Y-shaped object which had a long, thin chain. Another breast clamp? She already had two…

“Lay on your back,” he said.

“What? Wait-”

He gave her a look that sent her onto her back. He worked the bend in the clamp to loosen it before kneeling between her legs. When his fingers grasped her clit, she jumped. No! “No, Sir. Please. I-”

His raised eyebrows and silence stopped her tongue. As if she hadn’t spoken, he continued and slid the bend over the top of her clit, the long sides pushing her labia together. She smothered a groan. The pressure was painful…thrilling…painful. He watched her for a moment and then nodded. “Good. Up you go.”

She started to sit up and squeaked when pressure hit her squished clit. She rolled over instead and pushed to her feet. Master’s eyes gleamed with laughter although he didn’t smile.

He pulled her closer. When he picked up the tiny chain, she saw it ended in a Y shape. He secured each end to one of her nipple clamps, then tightened the tension until it was pulling up slightly on her clit and down on her breasts. Until each movement sent a shock through her.

He sat back in his chair, looked her over, and nodded. “Very nice. Breathe, sugar.”

She inhaled, and the chain tightened, making her jump. Her scowl increased the laughter in his eyes. He turned her sideways and changed the settings on the remote. This time the vibrations came in long surges, reaching an intense peak that sent her close…too close to coming. Pulled chain or not, she couldn’t keep from panting.

“Don’t come, sugar,” he cautioned her, a crease appearing in his cheek. Damn him.

“No, Sir,” she said, trying not to moan as her insides vibrated and heat swelled through her. The thing on her clit made it worse, as if someone’s fingers were pulling on her. Her knees felt like melted rubber as she walked back to the drink table.

Deborah had acquired nipple clamps. From the way Kari walked, she had a butt plug. Stepping up to the table, Beth picked up the next drink in the line. Brown-Cullen again. Something nearby hummed loudly, and Kari moaned, her face reddening.

When the other two picked up their drinks, Beth said, “Let’s go.”

Halfway to the men, her vibrator surged inside her, and she stopped dead, her insides coiling tighter and tighter. No, she couldn’t. The others were almost to the Doms. Beth tried to move and stumbled. Her breasts bounced, pulling her clit and… Oh, God! The orgasm rushed over her as unstoppable as a breaking wave. Her surroundings blurred, disappearing entirely as her body shook…and shook.

After what seemed forever, she opened her eyes. She didn’t remember closing them. She was still on her feet. All three Doms were watching, she realized, and felt herself turning red. Redder. If that was even possible. When she managed to start walking again, each little movement sent aftershocks through her.

When she finally got to Cullen and held out his drink, his laugh boomed across the patio. She looked down. She’d crushed the little cup completely. Cullen tossed the cup on the ground, and then shut off her vibrator. “Time to give you a rest from this.”

“Thank you, Sir,” she whispered, glancing at Master Nolan.

He had Kari in front of him and was lifting one of her feet to rest on the chair beside him. As if he felt Beth’s gaze, he met her eyes and shook his head. “Little rabbit. You came without permission. You spilled Master Cullen’s drink. And you were last. You’re in for it, sugar.”

He glanced at Cullen. “Toss Dan a package from the basket. He can put it on Deborah and adjust her settings. You’ll be busy with Beth, I think.”

Beth’s legs started to tremble, and she barely managed to suppress a whimper.

Master Cullen leaned forward and took her hands, engulfing them entirely between his. He massaged her cold fingers. “Do I really look like such an ogre?” he asked, his eyes gentle.

She shook her head, realizing he wouldn’t hurt her, yet still feeling the firmness in his grip, seeing the determination in his face. Nice or not, he was still a Dom.

“You may choose what to do first.” His green eyes crinkled. “Choose now.”

Pain, pain, or no pain. That was an easy choice. She dropped to her knees and started unfastening his jeans.