Claiming Cleo (Masters Club 2)

It made her realize how tightly she’d held herself around him, even during their BDSM scenes. She’d never quite dared to let herself go—to admit the depth of her feeling for this man she hadn’t believed could ever truly be hers.

It had been so long since she’d felt such easy happiness that she wasn’t entirely sure what to do with it. The thought that Jack might have strong feelings for her—feelings that went beyond the confines of a carefully choreographed BDSM scene, was almost too big for her to process.

Yet, even in the midst of this strange, newfound joy, she wasn’t entirely sure what was happening between them. He’d said he wasn’t going to let her get away, but what did that mean exactly? What would happen when Jack returned to London in a few days’ time, while she remained in New York?

While a part of her wanted to demand a neatly laid-out future with all the loose ends neatly tied into a bow, she was content, for now, to leave these weighty subjects for a later time. The day was too perfect, his revelations still too new.

After lunch, they meandered through the cobblestone streets of Greenwich Village. Jack, who had gone to NYU for his undergraduate degree, pointed out all sorts of landmarks and interesting tidbits about the Village that brought the place alive for her.

Cleo took him to her favorite BDSM boutique, which had a tattoo and body piercing setup in the back. The small, cluttered space contained racks of fetishwear and glass counter cases filled with BDSM jewelry and paraphernalia. A selection of whips and floggers were on display behind the counter.

Master Jack stopped to admire some of the nipple jewelry. He turned to Cleo. “What’s your take on body piercing? Your beautiful nipples would look amazing with these pretty opal hoops.”

Instinctively, Cleo brought her arms protectively over her breasts as she leaned over to look. She was startled by how breathtakingly beautiful the jewelry was. The bottom half of each hoop was encrusted with a half circle of five beautiful oval gemstones that caught the light like fiery white stars, each one bracketed by tiny, sparkling diamonds. Then she saw the price tag—nearly two thousand American dollars.

Cleo had considered piercings before. She’d often admired the piercings of other subs, both nipples and labia, and she liked the symbolism. She was aware of the irony that a woman who craved erotic pain and intense sensation could be such a baby when it came to needles, but then, phobias were rarely rational.

The woman behind the counter appeared in front of them just as Cleo was turning away. “Hi, there. I’m Maya.” She extended a hand across the counter.

“I’m Jack,” Master Jack replied as he shook her hand. “And this is Cleo.”

“A pleasure to meet you both,” Maya said. She looked through the glass countertop to the jeweled hoops they’d been admiring. “I see you have a good eye. That’s one of our finest pieces, especially designed for us by Marguerite Flaubert, a world-renowned jewelry designer. It’s a gorgeous blend of simplicity and elegance. The platinum hoops have a hinged top for easy insertion and removal.”

Maya pulled the black velvet tray that held the beautiful hoops from under the counter and put them directly in front of Master Jack. “Those are white opals there, of a very high quality.” She picked up one of the hoops, angling it so the gems caught the light. “See the rainbow play of color, the body tone and the brilliance. If you know anything about opals, you’ll know these are especially high quality. We were able to negotiate an excellent price. A piece like this typically goes for quite a bit more.” She turned the hoop, giving Master Jack a look at the hefty price tag, in case he’d missed it.

He didn’t bat an eye. “They’re exquisite,” he pronounced. “Delicate and precious, just like my sub.” He put his arm around Cleo, pulling her close. A lovely warmth moved through her as she melted against him.

He looked down at her, dominance radiating around him like an aura that drew her into its light. “What about it, Cleo? I’d love to get these for you, but only if you’re on board with the idea.”

The submissive inside her caught its breath at his words. There was great symbolic importance in the scene around piercing. It was an acknowledgment of ownership. The sub’s body, which she gave willingly to her Master, was a canvas for him to use and mark as he pleased.

But needles… Yikes.

“I don’t know, Sir,” she said hesitantly. “Needles and I don’t get along so well.”

Why hadn’t she just said a flat-out no? Needles had always been her only hard limit within the scene. Yet, here she was, not only entertaining the thought of letting someone poke her with a very sharp, pointy object, but actually considering letting them permanently pierce her flesh. The very thought of the needle drilling through her sensitive nipples was enough to make her shudder with fear.