“The opposite of love isn’t hate, my dear—it’s indifference. Let him see you wearing his gift while talking with another young man. I’d say you should be able to gauge his feelings for you pretty accurately from that little experiment.” The old woman nodded shrewdly. “And if he cares enough to make a fuss about you seeing someone else, tell him he’ll have to get over the fact that you’re his friend’s sister. I dare say the idea that he’s going to lose you forever to another man’s arms might erode a little bit of that stubbornness of his.”
Valentine clutched the marquisate heart locket tight in the palm of her hand. “Mrs. Rosenblatz, that’s a wonderful idea. How can I ever thank you?”
Mrs. Rosenblatz smiled and patted her arm. “Well, it will be wonderful if you and your young man get together but I’d rather not know all the details if you see what I mean—especially before I have my first cup of coffee. My old heart just can’t take it.”
“Of course. I’m sorry.” Valentine grinned at her again. “Excuse me. I have a lot to do before tonight.”
And that was how she wound up back at the Black and Blue, barely a week after her very first trip there. The club was decorated for Valentine’s Day with little red leather heart-shaped paddles and black satin hearts hanging from the ceiling. It seemed impossible that so much had happened between herself and Shane in such a short time but whatever the circumstances, Valentine was determined to bring things full circle tonight.
She waited anxiously in the shadows, hoping that Shane would show. She’d learned on her first visit from some of the regulars that he was always at the club on Saturday evenings and knowing what a creature of habit he was, she felt fairly sure of seeing him there tonight.
What if I’m wrong? What if he doesn’t show? Valentine adjusted her new red leather corset nervously. It had been her birthday present to herself and its dark red material was printed all over with tiny black fleur de lis which made her skin look creamy and smooth. Also, it pushed her full breasts up and out in a very eye-catching way. To go with it, she was wearing a very abbreviated black vinyl skirt that was stretched tight across her ass and rose high on her thighs. Black leather boots that hugged her calves added to her height with their spiked heels and completed her look.
All in all it was an unforgettable outfit and Valentine was wearing Shane’s marquisate heart as a final, perfect touch. Now the only thing to do was to show herself and see what he did.
Of course, she was well aware that she was taking a big risk. She hadn’t forgotten the angry light in Shane’s eyes when he’d promised to make her sorry if he caught her back at the Black and Blue or with another Dom. But it was a chance she’d have to take to get his attention and make him realize they belonged together.
Just seeing me here should be enough, though, she thought, scanning the shadowy depths of the club and paying special attention to the area around the whipping post. There’s no need to actually find some other guy and have him parade me in front of Shane’s nose. That would be crossing the line. Who knows what Shane would do if he actually thought?—
“Well, hello there, girly. You look lost.”
The deep, smooth voice behind her scared Valentine so much she almost jumped out of her boots.
“Huh?” She whirled around to find a large man in dark jeans and a leather vest with no shirt standing in front of her. He had a handsome face with a knife-blade nose and hair that was perfectly gelled in place. If his body was any indication, he must spend the majority of his time at the gym and he wasn’t shy about showing it off, either.
Valentine stared at him. It was hard to make out in the dim lighting but… Is that body glitter on his pecs? Eeww.
“I was just saying you look like a little lost lamb in a den of wolves. Or should I say, a little lost sub?” The man grinned at her, showing teeth so perfect and white they had to be caps.
“Actually, I’m just fine. But thanks anyway.” Valentine gave him a cool nod but to her dismay, the man with the perfect hair and glittery chest seemed oblivious to her less-than-friendly words.
“I don’t see anyone around. And in the Black and Blue if you’re not claimed by a Dom, you’re fair game, little sub.” Quick as a flash, he reached out and grabbed her wrist, squeezing so tightly Valentine couldn’t help the soft cry of pain that escaped her.
“I’m a Dom myself,” she said, with a sudden burst of inspiration. “A Dominatrix. So you’re barking up the wrong tree. Now will you please let me go? My friend will be here any minute.”
“A Dominatrix who says please?” he sneered. “I don’t think so. If you’re a Dominatrix I’m a grandmother.”
“I am too a Dominatrix,” Valentine said, trying to sound stern. “And if you don’t let go of me this minute I’ll…I’ll have you whipped.”
“Speaking of whipping, I have a brand-new belt on tonight I’ve been wanting to try out. And I think this is the perfect opportunity.” He gave her another wolfish grin and, to Valentine’s horror, began to drag her away into the darkness of the club. There were back rooms behind the whipping post area that catered to special fetishes—punishment being one of them. And who knew what he would do to her once he finished whipping her with his belt? She opened her mouth and drew in breath to scream when another hard, masculine hand clamped around her other wrist, stopping her forward motion.
“That’s enough, Valentine. You’re coming with me.”
She looked up to see Shane standing there, wearing black leather pants and an expression like a thunderstorm.
“Shane, thank God! I was just standing here and this guy?—”
“Is there a problem here?” The guy with the perfect hair turned to face Shane, a frown on his face. “This sub’s taken, buddy. Get your own.”
“She is my own. Valentine belongs to me.” There was a dangerous light in Shane’s black eyes that would have made a wise man back away. Unfortunately the guy who had grabbed Valentine obviously wasn’t big in the brains department.
“She never said she was taken. And anyway, I saw her first.” He stepped up to Shane, his chest puffed out and his hand still firmly locked on Valentine’s wrist.
Shane gave him a pleasant smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll give you a choice. You can take your hands off my sub and walk away or you can spend the next six months drinking through a straw. Because if you don’t let her go right now I’m not just going to punch your pretty white teeth down your throat—I’m going to break your fucking jaw.”
At last the perfect hair guy seemed to get the message. “Hey, whatever, man. I was just showing her around. You don’t have to get personal.” He dropped Valentine’s wrist and backed away as though he was afraid to turn his back on Shane. Valentine could understand how he felt. She had never seen Shane look angrier and his grip on her wrist was scarcely less painful than the other man’s had been.
“Shane,” she said quickly. “Let me explain.”
