He could almost laugh at her thin attempt at bravado. Almost, but he wouldn’t; he had an image to protect and he didn’t want the other submissives to get any ideas. “You’d think with as much trouble as you’re in, you’d be just a bit more respectful.”
“I don’t see the point. You’re going to do what you’re going to do anyway. Might as well let you know how I really feel.”
“Still with the backtalk, sweetheart?” he asked. “It’s like you’re looking for a reason for me to get my hands on your ass.” She opened her mouth to object to his slight restatement of her words, but his next words stopped her from doing more. “And trust me, by the time we’re finished, everyone in here will have no doubt about how you really feel.”
For the first time he could ever remember, Meagan looked unsure of what to do or say next. No worries, he told himself. For the next however long it took, she didn’t have to concern herself with what to do or say. He would be the one to direct her. And it started with one word.
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Kneel.”
* * *
Meagan kept her eyes on Luke as she went to her knees. She recognized she was in enough trouble without disobeying him more, but she wanted him to see her eyes. To feel her anger.
Though, truly, she really had only herself to blame. She had been disrespectful to Luke. Many times. And with her display tonight, she’d basically pushed him into a corner until he had no choice other than to do what he did. She did know better, but damn it, it was as though his very presence egged her on.
Unless he was right and she really just wanted his hands on her.
She didn’t feel like walking down that path at the moment.
When she made it back to her apartment after the photography session, she’d been surprised to find her earlier restlessness had dissipated, leaving her calm and at ease. It was as if she’d spent the last few hours in an actual scene instead of merely being photographed.
Then another e-mail from The Taskmaster had arrived and all her calm went straight to hell.
I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me. Keep up the good work and I’ll be in touch.
The anonymous man had taken pictures of her in her home; she didn’t know why it shocked her that he knew how she’d spent her afternoon. But it did and she found herself antsy and out of sorts. When Master V called and asked her to meet him at the club, she jumped at the chance. She hadn’t talked to him since that fateful night at the club, and the way she saw it, she’d finally have the chance to grill him about what really happened. Sure it was Luke’s club, but her need to get out of the house exceeded her need to keep her vow never to step foot into one of his clubs again.
She found Master V waiting for her inside when she arrived, so she didn’t know what name he used to get in. She had to admit, if he was listed twice using different names, Luke had every reason to be upset. Truthfully, as soon as she’d met up with him earlier tonight, she knew it had been a mistake. He had no interest in talking and she had no interest in playing. Still, when Luke had interrupted their conversation, all she could think about was how the entire evening was just a colossal waste of time and she hadn’t found anyone she wanted to scene with.
Of course, now she was going to get a different kind of scene.
The short time she’d been with Luke in the past hadn’t allowed him the opportunity to do anything resembling a punishment session. And the few times she’d observed him play, either in a demo or in a public setting, he’d always been participating in pleasurable scenes.
Funny, even though she’d imagined playing with him over the years, this was one scenario she’d never thought of.
He stood in front of her, watching her with questioning eyes, as if he was trying to read her mind.
“Do you have anything you want to say?” he asked.
“I’m sorry for disrespecting you, Sir.”
He looked relieved that she hadn’t argued. Surely he knew her better. But then again, she hadn’t exhibited her best side the few times he’d seen her as a submissive. With that thought came the determination that no matter what, she would take what he dished out and she’d be the best damn submissive he’d ever disciplined.
She bowed her head.
“Thank you, Meagan.”
Because she did Top on occasion, she was familiar with the decisions Doms faced. She had no issue with Luke’s decision to call her on her disrespect and correct it.
On the other hand, she was irritated with her traitorous body for being turned on at kneeling at his feet.
“Stand up and strip,” he said.
She couldn’t look him in the eye as she followed his command and folded her clothes neatly. After the photo session, it seemed too intimate to do so and she wondered if she’d feel the same if he’d had her naked in the studio.
Fuck, it turned her on being naked in front of him.
“Very nice, Meagan,” he said, but his voice was strained. “Now, go sit at the bar. I’ll meet you there soon.”
Sit at the bar? What the ever-loving fuck?
Still, she’d told herself she was going to be the best submissive he’d ever punished, so she made her way to the bar and sat on one of the stools. Almost every eye was on her, but out of respect to Luke, no one touched or talked to her while she waited for him to return.
She didn’t hear him come up behind her and she jumped when he placed a laptop in front of her. Maybe he was going to video something?
“I’ve decided your punishment is that you’re going to sit naked at the bar and you’re going to go through the membership of the club, looking for duplicates like your friend V. I want everything cross-checked: names, numbers, employers, photos. Find the duplicates and forward them to me.”
He wanted her to what?
“There are faster ways to accomplish this, Sir.” She didn’t want to argue, but this was borderline ridiculous. There was software he could install. Programming he could run. Anything but the way he was suggesting. “Doing it this way will take forever.”
“I’m aware of that, but I want you to do it this way. And if you don’t finish tonight, I want you back here tomorrow. Naked and working. And you will sit here, checking my database until you’ve finished and I’ve approved your work.”
Forget borderline ridiculous; he’d just crossed over into completely ridiculous. There was no telling how long it would take to complete the task. “I’d rather you spank me.”
“I’m sure you would. You think I didn’t see how turned on you were standing before me, naked? But I need the database checked, so that’s what you’re going to do.” He leaned down and whispered in her ear, “I’d rather be spanking you, too. But know this, Meagan. If I got my hands on your ass, I wouldn’t stop until I had you on your hands and knees, legs spread, begging me to fuck you.”
Hot. Damn. And. Yes. Sir. The visual his words brought to mind were enticing. So much more desirable than what she currently had to look forward to. If she closed her eyes, she swore she could almost feel him behind her, his warmth pressing against her. She swallowed a moan.
He chuckled. “Get to work.”
With a resolved sigh, she turned her attention away from the man behind her and opened the listing of members, trying to work out in her head what would be the best way to go about checking everything. She decided to pull up V’s information first to see if she could find the second name he was listed under.
After she’d been working a few minutes, Luke stepped away. She was surprised to find she missed his presence. Determined not to dwell on it, she refocused on the spreadsheet before her, th
ough she felt as if she was looking for a needle in a haystack.
She scrolled through the list of addresses. Would V have listed the same one? After several minutes of looking, it didn’t appear he had.
“Meagan?”
She had focused so intently on the computer, she jumped at the sound of her name. “Damn it, Sir.” She turned to face the interruption. “You scared me half to death.”
“I’m sorry. I thought you heard me.” He held out a slip of paper. “Here’s the name he used to get in. Thought that might help.”
“Yes, thank you.” She looked at the paper and frowned. She didn’t recognize any of the information. Interesting. But opening up the alternate name on the computer, she saw the connection. “There we have it.”
“What?” Luke peered over her shoulder.
“He listed his real name as a reference. Talk about a ‘fuck you and your security system, too.’”
“Shit.”