Elodie looks like she's about to pass out. One of our staff steps up, holding a brand new seven-inch black leather posture collar and a chrome arm bar with matching cuffs on each end. I snatch it away before Sir Richard gets within three feet of her. He catches my eye and works his way next to me.
"What's going on, man? This is my turn. My name was picked. You don't participate in this. What's going on?"
Elodie's innocent face turns toward us. Her mouth falls open. I look into Richard's curious smirk.
"Not this girl." I seethe.
God, she’s breathtaking. Girl next door meets sex kitten.
Sleek natural waves of beach blonde hair break over her shoulders. I’m so used to her hair being in that tight bun on top of her head. She looks…free. Natural.
Her body’s a masterpiece. She’s kept too thin in my opinion, her curves held back by her extreme diet and too much dance, but that’s been her dream.
Or so she says.
Her cheeks are ripe tonight, none of that over done stage make up either. Doe brown eyes are round and full of all that sweet innocence I want to corrupt.
He exhales slowly through his nose. "Looks like our Iceman has a weakness after all." He glances back at her. "Barely legal. She's some of the sweetest fresh meat we've had in here in a long time. I'm not giving up my spot, Rye. You know the rules. Our world runs on rules."
"The rules just changed. You put one hand on her, there's no safe word that'll save you. Step fucking back." I keep my voice low enough that only Richard and Leo hear, but there’s no doubt the crowd is reading the tension.
The room goes silent. Nothing but breathing.
Leo needs to clean this up and fast. I lean in close to his ear. "Tell the crowd there's a minor change of plans. A little bump at the start of things. Keep it moving."
Leo steps forward smoothly. "So, we have a little game we play here where one of our owners, if so inclined, can play their trump card. And it seems tonight Sir Rye has played his. Allegra, your new kink master for this evening is Sir Rye. It's okay. Don't be afraid. Let's keep this going."
My breath rifles in and out of my lungs. Things are happening below my belt that have never happened to me in this building before.
Elodie inches forward, eyes on me, something caught between fear and confusion on her face, lips pressed into a tight line as murmurs move through the crowd. I lean in to Leo. "Keep going. Call the next name."
She steps in front of me.
"Uncle Rye." Her voice is like wind chimes in a storm. "What are you—"
"I'll explain. But first you need to explain to me what the fuck you're doing in a place like this."
Her shoulders stiffen. Chin goes up. "I can be where I want. I'm eighteen. I signed the papers at the door. I showed my ID. I'm here for an experience."
I should be pissed. Iampissed. But her little bravado, that inner brat coming out to play, only makes my restraint that much harder to hold onto.
I shrug. "Is that so? You're a big girl now, huh?"
"I'm here with my friends for an experience. And I'm going to get it with you or without you." She holds my gaze. "So what's it going to be? Are you going to give it to me, or am I going back to Sir Richard? Because he's still staring. I think he might be a little pissed that you knocked him down in front of everybody."
“Sir Richard is going to lose his fucking eyeballs,” I growl. "Come here."
I close my fingers around her upper arm and lead her to the small, designated area for the evening's first scene. Leather flooring, a bright spotlight overhead. Leo's still talking, but every set of eyes in the room is still on us.
"You want an experience. You're going to get one."
I set the arm bar on the table, unsnap the posture collar, and look at my niece. I think about birthday parties. Taking her to the zoo. The thrift store runs that are one of our favorite things. Her mother hates it every time she comes home with secondhand clothes, but I’d do anything to see that smile.
What I want to tell her is something I'll take to my grave.
"Lift your hair."
She blinks at me.
