Reed's heart pounded. He wanted to be the one to introduce her to BDSM. His reaction surprised him.
He clicked the claimed button at the top of the screen to indicate she had been contacted by a dom and was now off limits. Then he reached into his pocket to grab his cell phone, and after he entered the last number, he placed the phone to his ear.
It rang twice, and then a string of curse words followed by shuffling filled his ear. Reed had expected to receive voice mail. He had not anticipated someone would answer at this late hour. “Hello?
More rustling sounded before a trembling voice answered, “Hello."
In the background, Reed could hear a couple of women giggling, and he wondered if he had the right telephone number. “I'm looking to speak with Marley Adams. Is she around?"
"Um...er...” The woman cleared her throat. “This is her."
"I'm Reed Matheson. I've seen your profile on the castle's forum and am interested in arranging a night with you."
He was met with silence and pulled the receiver away to look at the screen, curious if she had hung up, but the lit screen indicated she hadn't. He returned the phone to his ear. “Are you still there?"
"Yes."
Reed waited a good thirty seconds before he concluded something was amiss and wondered if maybe this was a joke. “I'm not in the mood to be trifled with. I'd recommend the next time you ladies want to play a game, you choose another method to do it. Good night."
"No, don't go."
The desperation in her voice stopped him. Clearly something else was going on here. If this wasn't women being drunk and playing around, what could be Marley's hesitation? Then it dawned on him. “Is the problem because you're not alone?"
"Yes."
Another round of hushed giggles sounded. “Right. Then I take it you don't want to discuss this with your friends there?"
"Exactly.” Marley sighed.
That sigh of hers sent a rush of blood straight to his cock. Her voice held a wonderful sensual tone that appealed to him and confirmed he had made the right decision to contact her.
His reaction intrigued him. When had he been so interested in a submissive? Not since his ex-girlfriend and that knowledge sent a ping of pain to his heart, which he flatly ignored.
He wanted to be the one to guide Marley. Something about her made his stomach clench, and the thought of not having her maddened him.
Now understanding that she'd paused because she craved privacy, Reed took another approach. He scrolled back up to Marley's information, clicked on her e-mail address to open a new message, and attached his profile. “We'll keep this short then. I've sent my details to the e-mail address you've provided on the forum. Have a look, and we'll go from there."
He heard shuffling again, some whispered arguing, before Marley gasped. “Oh...um...you're..."
Reed chuckled. He didn't mind that his looks left her speechless. Hell, hers had done the same to him. “Do you approve?"
"He's gorgeous,” a woman said, not Marley.
The sound of a slap followed by Marley's grumble informed him she'd just issued someone a punishment for speaking so loud. “I'm interested,” was all she said.
That was enough for him. “Read through the castle's rules and follow them accordingly. It'll take you around twelve days to get all the documentation you require, so let's meet two weeks from tonight. Come to the restaurant at the Castle Dolce Vita at seven p.m. When you arrive, you will ask for and always address me as Master Reed. Understood?"
"Mm hmm."
Her response made him tighten his jaw. “You will answer me with words, not sounds."
"Okay...sorry. I'll be there."
He would rid her of that behavior. He preferred that his submissives to speak forthrightly and for their responses to be clear. “Very well. I look forward to seeing you then."
A long pause followed before Marley whispered, “Me too."
Reed waited for her to hang up first, and as her friends in the background laughed, he heard Marley exhale, long and deep. Nervous? Excited?