At His Mercy (Masters Club 1)

More tears welled, and this one spilled over. Cleo wiped it away, shaking her head. “I tried to accept it. I promised myself I wouldn’t scene with him anymore. It was too painful. I’d get on with my life. But he kept coming to the club, and he kept asking for me. And, as you know, a pleasure sub at this club doesn’t have the right to refuse a Master if he requests a scene. I probably could have gotten out of it, though. I could have told him it was too much for me. He’s such a great guy, I know he would have backed off immediately. But I had my stupid pride, and I never let him see the extent of my feelings for him. And, truth to tell, I wanted him too much to resist. But it wasn’t good for me. It just got so… I couldn’t…” She trailed off, not finishing what was clearly a painful thought.

Impulsively, Jess reached for Cleo, wanting to pull her into a comforting embrace. “It sounds so awful,” she said, her own voice cracking with emotion. “I can totally see why you had to get away.”

Cleo allowed a brief hug, but then she pulled away. Her laugh was brittle, her eyes still overbright. “Eventually, I had enough of my own ridiculous melodrama. I was tired of feeling like a character in a bad soap opera. So I did what any strong sub would do. I hauled myself up by the bootstraps and took action. I’ve always wanted to live in New York, ever since my parents brought us kids on holiday when I was twelve. A position for a full-time slave had opened here. I applied, got the job, made the move and put Jack Hartford out of my mind and heart forever.”

This time her laugh was genuine. “Here’s the double irony—he actually sent me a letter only a few weeks ago! A real snail mail letter saying he’d like to see me again. To possibly reconnect.”

Jess lifted her brows. “Wow. That’s great.”

When Cleo didn’t immediately agree, Jess tilted her head in confusion. “Isn’t it?”

Cleo shook her head. “Too little, too late. Even if we didn’t live three thousand miles apart, Annette would always be the ghost between us.” She flashed another smile. “Jess, I’m telling you, coming to New York was the best thing I ever did. Looking back, I can’t believe I wasted so much time and energy pining for that man. I’m so happy here with Mistress Dominique and Master Grayson. And Brandon is a living doll. We get along so well, and I’m fulfilled on every level.”

Jess couldn’t help but think the lady did protest too much, but she wasn’t about to call Cleo on it. Instead, she said, “It’s great that you were able to move on and find happiness. And thank you for sharing what’s clearly a painful part of your past.”

“And turnabout is fair play, as they say, so let’s hear it, girlfriend. Spill it. What’s got you hot and bothered? I bet whatever it is, it involves a certain gent with the initials C L.”

Jess laughed. “Am I that obvious?” she retorted, echoing Cleo’s earlier sentiment. Then it was her turn to sigh. She decided to cut straight the chase, articulating words she hadn’t even permitted herself to think until that moment.

“I think I’m in love with the guy.”

“Noooo,” Cleo wailed histrionically. “I warned you, right?” She placed a sympathetic hand on Jess’s arm. “That man’s a heartbreaker. You aren’t the first sub to have a crush on him, but it’s never any use. He scenes with a different sub every time he comes to the club, and when the scene is done, so is he. Take it from me, Jess, from someone who wasted two years of her life pining for the unattainable. Do yourself a favor and put any thoughts of a romantic involvement with Master Cameron right out of that pretty head.”

Jess sighed again, her heart sinking. “I know you’re right. And it’s probably just a stupid infatuation.”

But he kissed me. That has to count for something.

She almost blurted this out, but in light of what her new friend had shared about her own unrequited love, Jess was pretty sure where the advice would fall. She didn’t want someone else to talk her down from her ledge. She’d take her own leap, thank you, when she was good and ready.

The tequila had blunted the edges of her misery and given her a nice buzz in the process. She stood from the bed, resolute. “You’ve inspired me. From this moment forward,” she announced, “I’m kicking Master Cameron out of my head and out of my heart. I’m going to march down to the dungeon and scene with the first Dom who asks me.”