At His Mercy (Masters Club 1)

Okay. This was insane. What had ever made her think she could keep her worlds separate and discrete? Because, clearly, this juggling act of emotions wasn’t going to fly. Something had to change, whether it was at the office, at the Masters Club, or both.

One way or another, she was going to have to choose.

Chapter 19

It was a long, difficult week for Jess. She made it through by forcing herself to focus on the myriad tasks and assignments in her never-empty inbox. She didn’t see Cameron Lord the entire time, except once in passing in the breakroom.

He’d been with Leo Silverstein at the time, who gave her his trademark hearty guffaw as he inquired, “Hello there, young lady. How are you on this fine day?” Jess doubted he even knew her name. Mr. Lord had offered her a bland smile and slight nod, no more than he would have done before he’d had his cock down her throat or his tongue in her mouth.

Jess understood on an intellectual level that this was prudent behavior. But that hadn’t stopped her from racing to the women’s bathroom to hide in a stall until she could dry the stupid tears that kept spilling over.

Toward the end of the week, the sadness was replaced by anger at how easily he was able to shut her completely out, while she couldn’t stop obsessing. But the anger, though an easier emotion to tolerate than sorrow, was ultimately unhelpful. What was she pissed off over anyway?

That Mr. Lord didn’t share her silly fairy tale fantasy? That he was behaving exactly as they’d tacitly agreed upon from the outset—keeping a strict separation between work and pleasure? In fact, everything was going exactly as she’d initially perceived it when she’d received the invitation to audition for the Masters Club.

She still had access to one of the coolest, most exciting BDSM clubs in the world. The ten-hour minimum per month would be a piece of cake to fulfill. She could enjoy a hot scene with experienced players every night of the week if she wanted to. Not only that, there were like-minded women there—a ready-made group of girlfriends not only sympathetic to the lifestyle but immersed in it.

Master Cameron had given her access to a whole new world of BDSM experience. All she had to do now was shove all the crazy feelings he’d awoken in her back into their black box at the back of her brain. He wasn’t the only Dom in the sea. Just because she felt this strong connection, it didn’t mean it was meant to be. There was a whole club of guys she could get to know. Maybe her one true Master was waiting for her, even now. All she had to do was find him.

She touched her lips, imagining she could still feel the warm press of Master Cameron’s mouth on hers.

Who the fuck was she kidding?

She didn’t want another guy. She wanted him.

Somehow, Friday eventually rolled around. Jess and Cleo had exchanged contact information, and though Jess had resisted texting her new friend to whine during the week, she gave herself permission to reach out that morning.

“Hey there. I’m planning on coming to the club tonight. I was wondering if you’d be able to chat for a few minutes? Do you have any free time? I can be there as early as 7:00.”

Cleo didn’t reply to the text until five-thirty that afternoon, just as Jess was wrapping things up at the office.

“Sorry. I didn’t see this until just now. Master Grayson and Mistress Dominique took me and Brandon with them overnight to visit friends in Long Island. We only just got back. I hope everything is good in your world. And, yeah. 7 is perfect. C U then!”

Vince wasn’t available to pick Jess up until eight-thirty. She opted to get herself to the club, calling an Uber for six-thirty. That gave her barely enough time to get home, shovel a few bites of leftover Chinese into her mouth, groom and dress for the evening.

Not wanting to waste time changing at the club, she wore a lightweight raincoat over her outfit. She’d splurged on an online purchase that had arrived that day. It was an emerald-green leather body harness with demi-bra cups that stopped just below her nipples, and straps that looped around her thighs and between her legs. There were lots of complicated-looking sexy buckles and O-rings built into the harness, but they were just for show. Vertical zippers along each side of the outfit made it easy to put on and remove quickly.

On an impulse, she’d also ordered a matching pair stiletto heels. She’d gasped at how high they were when she opened the box, instantly regretting the purchase. But, when she’d slipped her feet into them, they were surprisingly comfortable. With a little practice, she was able to walk across her bedroom without wobbling.