She hides it well, but I’ve been paying attention. I see her.
Here, in my domain, that mask is slipping. She wants to let go.
She begs to be cared for, punished and worshipped with equal enthusiasm.
Sutton lifts her gaze to scan the room. The grip she has on her drink is severe.
Her discomfort is obvious and it has me fighting against the urge to scoop her up and take her away from the crowd, to hide her and keep her all to myself.
But she’s curious, too, her gaze flicking around, lingering on people as they pass.
She’s the sweetest thing I’ve seen in a long, long time.
Her wavy brown hair is swept up into a loose twist, exposing her slender neck and that dusting of freckles I know rests just above her cleavage. She’s dressed in a simple but elegant slip dress, the deep amethyst fabric draping over her curves in a way that leaves very little to the imagination. The dress settles around her feet in a pool of slippery satin, with one slit up her left leg exposing her soft skin to mid-thigh. From here, I can’tmake out a panty line, and the thought of her bare beneath that dress is torture.
I’ve wanted to make her mine since the moment I first laid eyes on Sutton Hart, and now she’s here, in my world, ripe for the claiming.
If only it were that easy.
If only her presence here wasn’t a deliberate act of warfare. It’s too easy to forget that part, too tempting to allow myself to get swept up in the fact that she’shere. The prospect of Sutton Hart on her knees, in full submission, makes my mouth water.
Sutton’s presence here is the worst temptation, the most difficult test… because I’ve wanted her for so damn long, and now she seems almost within my grasp.
It’s too good to be true.
Isn’t it?
As I debate my fate, my adversary decides to wander.
And I am helpless against the urge to follow.
I need to know why she’s here, what she wants. And, most importantly, what it will take to keep her from exposing this aspect of my life and blowing up my entire world.
My jaw clenches as I move through the room, ignoring anyone who tries to get my attention. I’m never overtly friendly as Dominus, but now even less so. I’m on guard, under threat. I don’t have time to woo the prospective new clients when one of them might be here to collect intel she can leverage me with. I’ll leave that to the other Dominants in attendance.
She slips down a quiet hallway and I quickly follow, closing the distance between us in three long strides. She pauses near a doorway and I wait on bated breath for her to feel my presence.
The seconds tick by, slowly counting down until this woman brings my world crumbling down around me.
To our right is an off-limits bedroom, reserved for club business only tonight. Leading Sutton into this room would bewrong. Even as the owner of the home, club rules stand during club-hosted events. I cannot bring a prospect into a members-only space. My gaze flicks to the closed door to the restroom. I need to get her alone. I can’t risk anyone overhearing us and discovering my true identity—orworse, realizing that the integrity of our exclusive and very private club has been breached.
There are rules for a reason and I cannot break them.
Even if seeing her here has me spinning out of control on the inside, theoutsideis still Dominus, masked Dominant and high-clearance member of The Rabbit Hole. I cannot jeopardize that, no matter who stands before me.
The door to the bathroom opens and Sutton tenses, shrinking against the wall like she wants to become one with the flocked velvet wallpaper.
A couple strides out, not even noticing us as they head down the opposite hallway.
After a quick beat, Sutton hurries forward, disappearing into the bathroom—
And I lunge after her, slipping in behind her before I’ve had a chance to realize what a mistake I’m making.
She gasps as I close and lock the door, then she presses against the opposite wall, watching me like a hawk.
“You shouldn’t be here,” I say, my voice distorted by the modulator within my mask.
Sutton jumps, startled by the rough, robotic sound of my words, then she bows her head. “I’m sorry.” She gulps. “Is there another restroom I could use?”
