Claiming Cleo (Masters Club 2)

“Now,” he said, ignoring his rising erection, “I will ask you a final time, and you will give a respectful, definitive answer. Do you agree to a 24/7 total power exchange for the next five days—no limits, save for your safeword? It’s not too late. If the answer is no, I will honor your decision, and let Grayson know we have chosen to forfeit our contract. If it’s yes, it’s the last decision you’ll make for the next five days.”

As he waited for her to speak, he forgot how to breathe.

“Yes, Sir,” she finally replied, lifting her chin slightly, a determined look coming into her eye. “I accept.”

Chapter 7

Cleo opened her eyes to the sound of birds chirping outside her bedroom window. A sense of excited anticipation instantly filled her, though just emerging from sleep, she didn’t at first remember why.

Sitting up, she glanced around her small, cheerful bedroom with its large, old-fashioned wardrobe, cherry wood desk and framed prints of peaceful watercolor landscapes. The only nod to her status as a Masters Club slave were the cuffs that dangled at the ready at each corner of her wrought-iron-framed bed, and the decorative but quite effective single-tail whip that hung on the wall above it.

As memories of the night before flooded back, her heart gave a treacherous little flip. She had to be careful—very careful—over the next five days. Jack Hartford hadn’t asked her to come away with him. He hadn’t expressed his secret adoration for her or anything of the kind. He’d bought her at a play auction for charity. She mustn’t read too much into that, as tempting as it might be. This would just be an extended scene, in a way, and that’s how she intended to approach it.

Though it was nearing midnight once they’d executed the contract, Cleo had expected Master Jack to take her to the main dungeon or perhaps to one of the private play rooms. Instead, he’d said he was going to call it a night. He informed her he would return to the club the next evening at seven PM, and she was to be waiting outside in front with a packed bag. They would be going to dinner first, so she was to dress accordingly.

After he’d said goodnight, she’d thought about returning to the dungeon to see if anyone needed her. She would have liked to find Jess, but a quick check on the Masters Club phone app told her neither Jess nor Master Cameron, Jess’s partner, were on the premises. After checking in with Master Grayson and Mistress Dominique to see if they needed her, she took the small service lift up to the fourth floor.

Lying in bed, she had texted Jess on the off chance she was still awake and available. Jess had responded almost immediately with a phone call. She was thrilled for Cleo, and certain this was the beginning of something wonderful for her.

“I have to be very careful, Jess,” Cleo had said in response to Jess’s squealy excitement. “I don’t quite know what to think. I have to keep my guard up. Hell, I spent a bloody year getting over him. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m a pretty lousy picker when it comes to guys. I’ve had my heart broken so many times, it’s amazing it still ticks.”

Now, she threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. After her shower, she packed her things and made her bed. She bounced between high anxiety and thrilled anticipation at the prospect of spending five whole days with Jack Hartford.

It was both a dream come true and a potential nightmare rolled into one. She mustn’t lose sight of the facts: she’d been purchased in a play auction for a short-term Master/slave experience. This wasn’t a love connection. It was just a game, albeit a thrilling one. It would require a balancing act to keep her heart intact while submitting with the grace expected of a Masters Club slave.

Cleo met with Mistress Dominique to discuss who would handle her various duties in her absence. Mistress Dominique assured her they would be fine for a few days, though they would look forward to her return.

“There is one thing I’ll need for you to do. We have a new slave trainee arriving shortly. Her name is Rowan. She’s owned by a man by the name of John Garfield, who’s sending her in for a ‘tune-up’ with Eric. According to her Master, Rowan is skittish, needy and disobedient. He’s thinking about bringing a second slave into his home and wants to make sure Rowan is properly prepared to share him with another.”

Mistress Dominique frowned. “I have to admit, I have some reservations. Words like skittish and needy make me question what kind of Master he is, and what kind of environment he’s created that sets her up to fail.”