At His Mercy (Masters Club 1)

Grayson appeared beside them, two tumblers in hand. He handed one to Dominique and took a seat beside her. “Thanks, babe,” she said with a smile. Then, “Cameron just handed off his mentee to another guy for her virgin scene.”

Grayson raised his brows. “That was generous of you, bro. Why the sudden altruism?”

Cameron shrugged again, annoyed with all this questioning. Yeah, they ran the place, but did they have to lord it over him? He knew, even as this uncharitable thought entered his brain, that he wasn’t actually annoyed at them. They were perfectly correct to question his failure to take his charge in hand her first time out. It was himself he was pissed at.

“No real reason,” he said aloud.

“How’s the sexual assessment going?” Grayson queried, a predatory look entering his eyes. “If you need someone else to foist her on, I’d be more than glad to handle that particular training.”

“I bet you would,” Dominique replied with an indulgent laugh. “But that’s a mentor’s job. I’m sure our newest Head Master already has firm plans in that regard. Am I right, Cameron?”

Her tone was light, but Cameron sensed the challenge in her words. You’d better step up to the plate, buddy.

“Absolutely,” he agreed. “We’re going to meet tomorrow evening so I can take her sexual measure.”

Slave Brandon came into the room. Coming to stand in front of them, he ducked his head deferentially. “Your toys are ready, Sir and Ma’am. Both trussed in the bondage web, blindfolded and gagged, as you requested.”

Grayson jumped to his feet, draining the last of his drink. “Excellent.” He held out a hand to his wife. “Shall we, darling?”

“We shall,” she agreed with a grin, letting him pull her to her feet. As they left the room, she turned back to Cameron. “Let us know how it goes tomorrow.”

“Will do,” Cameron replied, giving her a mock salute.

~*~

The next morning, Jess woke up with her hand between her legs, her heart pumping. Her dream had been so incredibly hot and sexy, but it was already melting away like mist over the water as she came more fully awake.

She threw back the covers and swung her feet over the side of the bed. Her frustration from the night before had been ameliorated when she’d met with Master Cameron post-aftercare. He’d praised her for how she’d handled herself during the intense scene with Master Kevin and his slave girls, and, even better, they’d made arrangements for a private session that night. “I’ll need to test your sexual aptitude,” he’d said, sending a flutter of nervous desire coursing through her that had lingered, coloring her dreams.

She ran the water for the shower. While it was heating, she used the toilet and brushed her teeth. They were to meet that evening at eight o’clock. She was to be waiting in the sexual training room on the third floor.

Sexual training! Was this his subtle way of acknowledging their mutual attraction?

Or was she reading way too much into this whole thing, projecting feelings on both their parts that were really nothing more than an immediate response to the intensity of the situation?

Yet, she’d been in intense BDSM situations before, and she’d never felt like this. Even with Master Hayden and Mistress Olivia, as intense as that scene had been, she hadn’t felt that instant spark of attraction, of connection. Was it mutual, or was that only wishful thinking?

Wait just a minute. What the hell was she doing?

“What are you even thinking?” she said aloud to her mirror image as she rinsed her toothbrush. “Mr. Lord is your boss.”

As she climbed into the shower and let the hot water spray over her, she continued her argument with herself. “Yeah, Mr. Lord is my boss. Master Cameron is…whatever he is.”

She wouldn’t even think about it. She’d always been good at compartmentalizing her life, and there was no reason to think she’d lost that ability. She’d do her Saturday morning run, get a fresh cheese Danish from her favorite bakery afterward as a reward, and then head into the office to get a jump on the upcoming week, just like she always did. Before she knew it, eight o’clock would be here, and then…

“Oh, my god,” she squealed aloud, giving in to her inner eight-year-old. “I can’t wait!”

Evening did eventually arrive, though at times during the day it seemed as if the clock had stopped, the time dragging interminably. Vince pulled up to her building at seven fifteen. They drove in companionable silence for the most part, exchanging only a few pleasantries. Jess would have liked to ask him about his experience in the scene, but somehow sensed it would be intrusive.

Cleo wasn’t there to greet her when they arrived at the Masters Club. Though she would have liked to see her new friend before meeting with Master Cameron, it pleased Jess that she was apparently now regarded as a full-fledged member of the club, one who didn’t need an escort to get where she was going.