Casey's Choice Read online

  His smile was wicked and dark and Casey knew that it was disappointment she felt. She wanted him to bend her over, pull up her skirt, spank her. She wanted that broad palm across her ass, over and over. She wanted to squirm under his ministrations, beg him to stop, to continue; wanted him to bring her to ecstasy. He was playing her, controlling her desires with his words, his restraint. She’d never known how powerful and persuasive it was to hear “no” when you expected “yes.”

  “Come with me,” he ordered, offering her his hand. “There are some people you need to meet to make sure you wish to stay.” She gave her hand without question, murmuring “Yes, Sir,” as she did, and was rewarded with a brilliant smile. She felt that she’d kneel as long as he asked, present her ass without question, if it meant earning another of those heart-melting smiles. She could see a dimple in his cheek. She liked the way the sides of his eyes crinkled.

  They approached a man and woman, both of whom stood with an air of authority. Hunter nodded and said, “This is… Sofia. Our newest member.” He turned to Sofia, his face serious. “Sofia, remember the lesson about obedience? It will be required of you. Do as Mistress Alexa asks.” He waited until Casey inclined her head before he stepped out of her line of sight.

  The man and woman appraised her, and the woman spoke. “I’m Alexa. Mistress Alexa. Welcome to Dominion, Sofia.”

  “Yes, thank you. It’s nice to meet you, Mistress,” replied Casey, remembering she needed to address the masters with their titles.

  “And I’m Max Abbott,” said the man, his voice rich and smooth.

  Casey nodded. “Yes, Sir,” she said.

  He had the most compelling blue eyes. She wasn’t sure if she should offer to shake hands, and the question was answered when the woman cleared her throat and spoke. “Sofia,” she said, “please lift your skirt and show me your panties.”

  “What? Mistress, I mean, I’m sorry?” Casey’s face suffused with heat. She turned, looked for Hunter, found him and gave him a pleading look. But Hunter nodded at her, his expression serious, almost concerned.

  “I—I…” Casey glanced around. A few people had gathered. A woman wearing nothing but cuffs stood next to a man, their faces interested. A few men and women in evening wear stepped closer. She felt hemmed in.

  “Sofia,” Alexa said. “I don’t make requests more than once.” Then she raised her voice. “Dominion, we have a new member, and it is time for her introduction. You are welcome to watch.”

  Casey’s chest lurched. The faces around her were not unkind; nobody laughed. She thought she saw empathy. One woman nodded at her and winked, and Casey felt a surge of gratitude.

  She took a shuddering breath and whispered, “Yes, Mistress.” Her palms were sweaty, but she took the sides of her dress and shimmied it up her body until it bunched around her waist, leaving her flat belly and thighs exposed. She was glad that she’d waxed, and even more grateful that she’d splurged on the fancy black G-string. At least she’d look sexy in front of these people. Her face burned and she didn’t know where to look. It was all fine and good to talk about the sanctity of identity, but she’d never been more exposed. She was on display, and she didn’t know anyone here, and Hunter—her only guide—had fallen back.

  She was on the edge; she could yank down her skirt and run from this place, and she knew nobody would stop her. She could stay and keep doing this, go where it led. Maybe Alexa saw that struggle, because she stepped forward and her voice was kind. “Very nice, Sofia.” But what she said next shot arrows of doubt into Casey’s heart: “Now I want you to take off your dress and your lingerie, and stand before me naked.”

  “I—I can’t.” Casey felt tears come to her eyes. Why couldn’t she just walk around, invisible?

  “If you can’t, that’s perfectly all right. Max can escort you to the exit and call you a cab to get you safely home. We have a private driver, too, if you prefer.”

  Max smiled, and she tried to smile back, but her mouth trembled. “It’s all right,” he whispered, and then he reached out his hand. “We’ll take care of you, I promise. Nothing bad.”

  She stepped toward him and he took her hand, and the relief at the supportive touch made her want to cry. “You promise?” Her voice shook.

  “Yes.” And this was ridiculous, because they had literally just met, but she trusted him. Something about his gaze, the set of his jaw, the way he held his broad shoulders, the lines of his face and body—something about the whole was so much more than the sum of the parts. His essence told her that he was kind and careful as well as sexy, and she knew that it really would be all right. But it was still terrifying.

  A laugh from across the room caught her ear; not everyone was watching. Casey’s scan found some people engaged in a private, hushed conversation. Another couple kissed in a corner, the man’s hands roaming over the woman’s body. A pair of naked women strolled across the room, gave her a spare glance, then turned back to each other. But even so, there were enough interested people here to make her wish to disappear.

  She wanted to see Hunter’s face. But then the thought of him seeing her naked like this made her more anxious. She scanned the crowd, and the woman who had winked nodded her head and mouthed something. It’s okay.

  A choice was needed, and the thought occurred: Why not? If privacy was guaranteed? If this was the entrance fee to stay here and look into Hunter’s eyes, to learn more about the world he inhabited? You only live once.

  With a surge of bravery, she pulled up the dress, careful to avoid messing up her hair, and tossed it aside. With as much grace as she could muster, she stepped out of her G-string and dropped it on top of the dress. Then she stood as tall as she could and stuck up her chin, and looked Alexa right in the eye. Her whole body coursed with a crazy nervous energy, but she didn’t flinch.

  “May I touch you?” Alexa’s voice was polite, and Casey nodded, words strangled in her throat.

  Alexa took her shoulders and turned her so that Casey was facing the room. She saw Hunter, then, standing back. When his eyes met hers, she saw something spark in them, something dark and avaricious, and a muscle clenched in his jaw. He made a fist and relaxed it, and Casey wondered what he was thinking.

  “Sofia, drop your arms to your sides and spread your legs, please,” Alexa said, her pleasant voice a command, and Casey did it, even though she couldn’t look at anyone anymore.

  “Turn around, please, Sofia. A full circle. Let everyone see your body.”

  She couldn’t believe she was doing it, but her feet moved, she didn’t fall, and she circled. Why were they making her do this? What was the point? She felt like crying, but held the tears back. The expression in Max’s face was her anchor, keeping her steady.

  “Dominion, this is Sofia.” Alexa’s voice was even but carried, and everyone turned to look. “She is now a member of our community and is to be treated with the full respect and dignity of every other member. You are to welcome her and make her feel at home. Nobody will touch her without permission. Today she is here just to look and learn. Now please look at her and appreciate how beautiful she is, how courageous, to come here and show herself to us. Applaud for her, Dominion. She will never again appear before you this way unless she chooses it, so take this chance to let her know how lovely she is.”

  To her astonishment, Max started clapping, a woman joined, and then the whole room applauded. Casey’s eyes swam with embarrassment, fear, and pride. All of these people were clapping for her—standing here naked. She saw nothing resembling mockery—the faces in the crowd held fascination, enjoyment, and pleasure. Her courage came back, little by little, until she was able to smile. When the applause didn’t stop, she felt pride, gratitude, and even enjoyment. This was the most surreal experience of her life, even if it was a mixture of a fantasy and a nightmare, and she was caught up in the swell of the moment.

  When the applause died, Alexa nodded. The crowd dispersed, and Max appeared at her shoulder. “You may dress again, if
you wish. You do not need to.”

  Casey nodded. “I’ll get dressed,” she stammered, her head spinning with the oddness and immensity of the experience. Where was Hunter? Surely he knew how overwhelmed she felt at this moment? She made a small noise, unable to find him.

  Max stooped down to his knees and offered the clothes up to her. Casey clutched them, unsure of his intentions, but he just smiled. “So brave,” he complimented her. “Welcome to Dominion. It only gets easier.” He stood and gestured across the room. “If you want privacy?”

  Casey nodded and found a large, intricate bathroom, larger than her bedroom, and closed the door in relief. She sank down onto a chaise near the door, not caring that she was naked, and curled up, clutching the dress to her chest like a blankie. She took several deep, shuddering sighs, forcing her breathing to even out, her pulse to slow. She wasn’t sure how long it took, but she felt like she was coming up from under water when she sat up and looked around.

  Her panties were cold going on. The crotch was soaked with her former arousal, and Casey shivered. She tugged on the dress and arranged the hem to her liking, then checked her face in the mirror. Her hair was perfect, her makeup untouched. The only thing different, she thought, was her eyes. In them she could see something new. “Really through the looking glass now,” she murmured, watching her reflection mouth it back at her.

  When she emerged from the bathroom, it was underwhelming, like coming out of an el stop into a street full of busy people; everyone was caught up in their own passion. Another couple was using the spanking bench. In a room to her left, she spotted a woman tied to a cross, and a naked man flogging her. Two women lay head to thigh, each stroking and licking between the other’s legs, their small murmurs of pleasure encouraging a growing crowd to watch from a respectful distance. But she didn’t see Hunter.

  A thought occurred to her: Was he with another woman? He’d given no indication that he was single. That idea was depressing, and she darted her head to and fro, trying to find him. Of course he had a partner, or multiple partners, either constant or changing—he was the sexiest man in the place, he was gorgeous, he was powerful. Perhaps he was even married. There were all kinds of relationships in this world.

  She bit her lip. He’d been nice to her, sexy, alluring, but then again, that was the whole goal of this place. She’d let her imagination billow, putting him in the empty spot in her mind where she wanted her future lover/dom to go.

  A voice at her shoulder startled her out of her melancholy reverie. “How do you feel?” Max held two flutes of sparkling golden amber.

  She looked up into his eyes, noting that he was a good five inches taller than she. “I’m definitely on the other side of the river, now,” she said with a small laugh. “And you were my ferryman. Thank you for the encouragement. I couldn’t have done it, without.”

  “I like to think I’m more handsome than Charon, but I’ll do my best to take you across safely, wherever you want to go. Would you like a drink?” He offered her a glass of champagne. “This is Dom, but we have sparkling water, juice, and soda in the kitchen.”

  “Dom Perignon?” Casey took the glass. “Fitting.”

  He smiled and nodded. “Yes, isn’t it?”

  “I’ve never tried it before. I’d love some. Thank you.” Max lifted his own glass and clinked it against hers, the faint tings of the crystal singing together for a fleeting duet. “I feel so luxurious.” The bubbles danced on her tongue, and the flavor was far less sweet than she’d expected.

  “Do you like it?” Max raised one eyebrow, and Casey thought he was asking about more than the champagne. His shoulders were broader than Hunter’s and he was a little shorter, although still quite tall; she could tell he was muscular by his stance and gait. His blond hair and blue eyes made him stand out from the others, and his chin held just the barest stubbly beard.

  “It’s certainly richer than anything I’ve ever tried,” she responded, taking another sip. “Something I never thought I’d experience.” She tried to memorize the taste, to see what made this particular bottle so renowned.

  “Worth it, do you think?”

  Chapter Four

  “I’m not sure,” she replied, then faltered, “Sir? Am I supposed to call you Sir?” She frowned, because the title felt like an intrusion into the conversation.

  “Do you prefer not to?” he countered. “Some people find it more appealing. Some, less.” She noticed the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. And God, those eyes. She’d never seen anything so blue. He could get his own modeling contract. She’d never been into blond guys, but Max was the kind of man who was so handsome that he could convert the most inveterate dark-haired lover.

  “Hunter said I had to,” said Casey, clutching the glass. “That it was a rule.”

  “Ah, but certain rules are meant to be broken,” he replied. “You showed your obedience by doing as Alexa asked, and I don’t mind granting you an indulgence. Call me Sir, or call me Max.”

  “Max.” Casey tried it out. “I like the way that sounds.”

  “I like the way it sounds, too.” His voice was low, sensuous. Casey saw a quick flicker of a smile on his lips. “But you’ll have to make your own arrangement with Hunter.”

  Casey nodded. “All right. And Alexa?”

  “Ask her, but later. She appears to be occupied.” Max gestured across the room, and Casey was startled to see Alexa kneeling, her hands bound behind her, before a woman holding a crop.

  “But I don’t understand. Isn’t Alexa a mistress here? Shouldn’t she be holding the crop?”

  Max smiled. “Alexa is a mistress of Dominion, yes. But what she chooses to be for anyone else is her own decision. That’s her partner, Cassia. They switch. Do you know what that means?”

  “It means they take turns?”

  “Exactly. And today, Cassia is being the domme to Alexa.”

  “Hmmm.” Casey raised her glass and drained the rest of the champagne. “Interesting.”

  “Yes.” Max took the glass. “Would you like more?”

  “I would.” Casey smiled at him.

  “Then come.” He walked close, but didn’t touch her, and Casey wanted to feel his hand on her arm or shoulder. Another couple was in the kitchen, laughing over decanted red wine, and they smiled to Max and called out hellos, but Max didn’t do introductions, as the couple walked off, arms intertwined.

  Pouring from a green bottle with foil around the neck, Max looked at Casey. “Were you surprised at what we asked you to do?” The liquid fizzed as he poured, hundreds of bubbles forming and rising, seeking the air.

  “I was, yes. I—didn’t expect that. My friend…” Casey felt a fierce pang of guilt at her deception. “Kelsie didn’t mention… that. I had no idea I was going to—” She trailed off.

  “It’s meant to be a surprise,” Max explained. “A test. People who want to be here will do it. Those who aren’t ready will leave.”

  “I thought…” Casey summoned her courage. “That maybe she was going to do something to me. Spank me. Or make me do something, you know, sexual. Then I remembered that Hunter said no touching without consent. But I was scared.”

  Max looked into her eyes. “I could see it in your eyes, the uncertainty. But you realized that we were just asking for submission? Everyone does it, in the beginning. A rite of passage. It’s a way to shed your inhibitions and prove that you’re here for the right reasons. Whatever those are.”

  He laughed for a second. “That sounds pretentious. The right reasons. I suppose almost any reason for being here is a right one. But the point is that we want everyone to reveal themselves, the first visit, to show their honesty. The whole point of coming here is to explore our sexuality. To accept others being naked and to show that we want to do that, too.”

  “Why are you here?” The question was bold, and he let her know it by raising one eyebrow, but then he smiled, handing her the refilled glass.

  “Why am I here.” He sipped the champagne.
“I enjoy BDSM and I enjoy playing with partners who know what to expect, and want the same thing. It’s a rush to command someone who trusts me to take them to the heights of pain and passion.”

  “I came to see what this lifestyle feels like,” she confided. “I’ve been curious.”

  He raised his glass. “Brava, Sofia.”

  She winced at the name. “Thanks. So, how does it work if you meet someone from the club in public?” She imagined running into Hunter at a coffee shop. He’d be in a business suit, getting a latte, and his face would light up. Then she saw an overhead image of the two of them leaning over a small table, ignoring steaming mugs of coffee, eyes linked, hazy sun flashing and glinting like gold.

  Max laughed. “If you meet another member in public, don’t act like you know them from anywhere. Just meet for the first time, if it happens, as strangers. Of course, some people here are close friends, confidants. Partners.”

  “Like Alexa and Cassia.”

  “Yes, like that.”

  “And… Hunter? Does he have a partner?” Casey held her breath. Max gave a short laugh and shook his head. “I was hoping you were going to ask about me. Hunter is currently unattached. But you should know, he’s not a man who enters into relationships very easily. He prefers to play with women here, and only here.”

  “No, I’m not asking because I’m interested, interested. I was just curious, interested, you know. There’s a difference. And of course, sure, are you—um—with anyone?”

  He smiled. “I’m looking for the right person.” His eyes looked sad, though, despite his expression.

  Casey touched his arm, then drew back her hand. “Oh, wait. Am I not supposed to touch you? Should I ask first?” She bit her lip. “I don’t get how this all works, yet.”