Deanna smirked. “You two really don’t know the masters here. But you will.” She hooked an arm through theirs. “Come on. Let’s get you signed up before you’re stuck with the BJ challenge. Neither of you is ready for that.”
Chapter 26
Emily stood at the shadowed entrance to the labyrinth, the night air skimming her bare skin. She, Deanna, and Gaby were among the other submissives joining the game, each wearing only wrist cuffs and shoes. A cluster of dominants lingered nearby. Some she knew from D&A—Rhys, Leland, and Mateo among them—but most were new to her. Unlike the submissives, they seemed at ease—leaning casually against the outer hedge walls, arms crossed, eyes appraising.
Emily shifted her weight nervously. She’d been naked at the club before, but never without Alec’s reassuring presence close by. Gaby bumped her shoulder, flashing a grin that didn’t quite hide her unease.
“Nervous?” she whispered.
“Terrified,” Emily murmured. “I didn’t expect to have to strip bare. You?”
“Naked subs in a maze isn’t a new idea,” Deanna chimed in from her other side. “But turning it into a charity game? That’s all Master Dev’s wicked imagination.”
“Do you understand how this works?” Emily asked. “I read the rules three times, but other than no penetration, the doms don’t seem to have any.”
Deanna huffed a laugh. “Were you expecting subs’ rules? Not in this lifetime—unless your dom’s a switch, and that’s not happening with this crew.” A slow, wicked grin tugged at her mouth. “And you forgot the exceptions. Fingers, tongues, and toys are still on the table.”
Gaby uttered under her breath, “I was trying to forget that part.”
Emily turned to ask why she’d chosen the maze over the tamer games, but her eyes were on Rhys. That was answer enough.
“The maze adds suspense,” Deanna continued. “I’d rather be indoors with all the amenities.”
“What kind of amenities?” she and Gaby asked in unison.
“Battery-operated toys are fine, but hard-wired? That takes the experience to the next level.” She shrugged. “There’s always next weekend. So, newbies, who are you choosing if you win?First, second, and third placeget their pick of doms. I’m going for Master Mateo. His accent alone makes me wet.”
“Isn’t Mateo a sadist?” Emily asked, warily.
“Mm-hmm,” Deanna said, eyes gleaming. “I’ve never done a scene with him, but some of the other girls say he can work miracles with a single tail.”She rubbed her hands together. “I’m aiming for a perfect score and a religious experience with that gorgeous sadist as my reward.”
She was another unabashed free spirit. Emily wouldn’t have been surprised if she licked her lips.
Deanna bent forward to peer around her at Gaby. “You’re awfully quiet. Sure you’re up to this?”
“I’m just planning my strategy,” was her reply, but her gaze drifted to the group of dominants.
“I thought Rhys was out of town on a case,” Em asked.
“I did, too. This is a big night for Devil and Cari. Maybe he came back for it.”
A ripple of excitement moved through the crowd.
“Speak of the devil,” Deanna murmured. “There’s Master Dev now.”
Dressed in black from collar to boots, he strode to the front, commanding without effort. Conversation ceased when he raised a hand.
“Welcome to our inaugural running of the maze race,” he began.
“Labyrinth,” several feminine voices corrected.
“Yes, yes. I keep forgetting,” he acknowledged with a smirk. “Quick rules review. At five-minute intervals, each sub will enter the labyrinth”—he paused for the cheers that he’d gotten it right—“and move quickly but carefully until they reach a fork. Choose wisely, subbies. One path leads to a reward from one of our skilled dominants. The other? A dead end or a lovely loop that spits you out where you started.”
A few subs exchanged nervous glances.
“If you don’t find the station before the timer sounds,” Devil continued, “you’ll be assessed a penalty.”
A hand shot up and a tentative voice asked, “What if we get hopelessly lost and never find a station?”
