Casey's Choice Read online

  “Sofia,” he said, and his voice was rich and low. “You can touch me any time you want. Blanket permission.”

  “All right.” Her voice came out low, too. Although it was Hunter who’d first captured her attention, Max was a very sexy man, and right now, the look in his eyes, and his handsome face, made her breath come fast. The whole world was at her disposal. This man right here—this sensuous, appealing man—wanted her. He wanted her, and he wasn’t hiding it, and if she wanted him too, she could have him. She was in Dominion, the city’s premier erotic club, and if she wanted this man, there was nothing and nobody to tell her no.

  She added, “You can touch me, too. I mean, like, on my arm. My hand. Hug me. That kind of touch. Oh, God.” She hid her face in her hands. “I don’t know what I’m even saying right now. I’m sorry.”

  He laughed and stroked her arm. “I think I understand. And if it’s ever wrong, all you need to say is stop, or no.”

  “So right now,” she asked, meeting his eyes. “If I wanted to touch your face, that would be okay?”

  “It would be okay,” he responded, his smile both gentle and teasing.

  Casey nodded, and reached up, ran her fingers over the stubble on his chin. “Sharp!” she commented with a giggle, and his jaw clenched under her touch. Her smile trailed off as she ran her fingers over his jawbone, then stroked her palm down his neck. She could feel his pulse, even and strong, and she rested her hand there, and stepped in closer. “Did you have to stand naked in front of everyone?” she asked, mesmerized by his blue eyes. If she kissed him, would his lips be as tender as they looked? How could they be so chiseled, so masculine, and yet look so soft?

  “No.” He shook his head. “I scene in front of people, but I didn’t do the introduction like you just did. It only started being a ritual this past year, as we grew to a larger membership. We had some issues with people trying to sneak in just to see what happens here, Sofia. Adding in some public display tends to weed out the imposters. Last month we had a few people who somehow got an invite, but weren’t serious about joining. The minute we asked them to strip, they came clean and left. Effective. It’s a harsh introduction, in some ways, but we find it works.”

  Casey pulled her hand back. “I see.” She felt a little sick.

  “You don’t have to stop.” His voice was a little hoarse. “Your touch feels good.”

  She tried to smile. “I’m sorry. It’s been a very powerful evening for me. My emotions are all over the place. I need time to adjust.” She started at Hunter’s voice behind her.

  “Sofia?”

  “Hi! I’m here. Talking to Max. Hi. Having some champagne. It’s good. Sir.” She flushed, wondering if he’d seen her touching Max. If he’d care. After all, this was a very specific club, and touch was intrinsic to its purpose.

  Max gave a growl and frowned. “Nice timing, Hunter.”

  Hunter nodded. “You know she’s off limits her first night. Anyway, I’d like a word with Sofia.”

  “Of course.” Max threw up his hands, his voice sarcastic. “Anything for the supreme master of Dominion.” The smile they gave each other told Casey that they were friends, despite the language.

  “Sofia?” Hunter raised an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Sir.” She turned to Max. “Thanks for the champagne, Max. I hope to talk to you again soon.” Her voice came out sultrier than expected, but she liked the look in Max’s eyes at her tone.

  Hunter turned. “You’re calling him Max? Did you forget Sir?”

  “He said I could,” Casey added, setting her glass down harder than she intended, flushing at the sound. “So.”

  Max put one hand into his pocket. “I did,” he nodded. “I told her she can call me Max, or Sir, whichever she prefers.”

  “I see.” Hunter’s voice was dry. “Well, I still expect to be Sir, Sofia.”

  “Yes, Sir,” she said, drawing out the words, dripping them with honey and obedience, “coming right away, Sir. Absolutely.” Max’s guffaw made her smile in pride, like they had a secret joke, and her stomach thrilled at Hunter’s expression.

  “Man, you’re going to have your hands full,” Max said to Hunter, and poured himself another glass of champagne. His shoulders looked tight, and she thought he shook his head, but her attention was drawn completely to Hunter.

  Hunter didn’t speak until they were alone again, near the same pair of chairs where he’d spoken to her about the nonconsensual couple. “Please, sit,” he said, and Casey’s stomach thrilled at the casual command disguised as a request. For some reason, that turned her on, hard and fast. Maybe it wasn’t a good thing, but it was how her body responded to him.

  “So, you made it through,” he said. “Good for you. I’m glad you did.”

  “Were you worried about me?” Casey wanted to take a teasing tone, but her voice was more serious than she’d expected. “You disappeared and left me all alone.”

  He didn’t answer the second part. “When Alexa asked you to strip, you seemed unsure. For a minute I thought you’d leave.”

  “I thought about it,” she admitted. “But the reason I stayed was—” She broke off. She had been going to say, “because of you,” but that wasn’t precisely true. It was partly because of him, yes, but there had also been that other thing, the spark of discovery at her new power, her strange beauty, the way it was enticing to stand in front of the crowd. And Max’s eyes.

  “It was what?” Hunter leaned forward. “Sofia?”

  “It’s complicated.” She shook her head. “Hard to explain.”

  “Try?” This time it didn’t seem a command.

  “Why do you want to know?” She was bemused. “I don’t understand why it matters. You’re so powerful here, so masterful. Literally. Why do you care to know about my small, new experience?”

  “Because of exactly that. Your experience is so new, so fresh. It’s been a long time since I was… that. I’m curious, I suppose.” He tilted his head, looked at her.

  Her thoughts were jumbled, and she tried to organize them as she spoke. “It was overwhelming, but now that I did it, and I realize it was a test, it’s okay. I guess I feel proud of having passed. But at the time it was freaky. I think my knees almost gave out.” She put her hand on her stomach. “I wanted to vomit. I, maybe if you gave people a little more time to adjust first, you know?”

  She tried to smile, but it wobbled. Yes, it had been heady, but excruciating, and only time would tell how her mind would choose to memorialize the moment; which fleeting emotion would win the trophy and be forever attached to the mental image of standing naked in front of the crowd.

  His nod was quiet. “I see. What else?”

  “I—liked it, a little. After it began, and I stood there, I could see the admiration in the people looking. And desire. For me. For what I was doing. My submission made them excited—I gave them that feeling.”

  He smiled. “That’s a taste of how submission can be power, when you do it on your own terms, with the right people, in the right place. Commanding other people’s arousal is sometimes best done on the other side of the whip. Metaphorically speaking or not.”

  She liked the color of his eyes, the green mixed with brown and flecks of gold. “Can I come back?”

  He sat back. “Yes. Will you?”

  She nodded. “I think so. But I’m not going to have to…”

  “No, the first time only. I imagine you’ll get a lot of attention.” His jaw clenched for a minute.

  “What do you mean, attention?”

  “You know what I mean.” His voice was even. “Like from Max. You’ll have your choice of partners, when you wish to play.”

  “But if I don’t wish to play?” She twisted her fingers on her lap. “Can I still come?”

  “You can.” His expression was hard to read. “Take your time. But keep in mind that this may not be the place for you, if you never wish to participate.” It didn’t sound like a threat, just an explanation, but still, she felt her stomac
h lurch with a combination of nerves and worry.

  “What about you?”

  “Me?” His eyebrows rose. “What about me?”

  “Do you… play, here? Usually? I mean, will you, tonight?” She felt herself get hot. “Sir.”

  “Not tonight, no. Tonight I’m going to look after you, make sure you’re all right, help you make your way around.”

  “Well, you know what would have been good, would be to know I would need to twirl around like a naked ballerina in front of the whole crowd. If you’re going for helpful, that is.” She rolled her eyes, wanting to tease him, to push him, to see if she could goad him into—something. Some reaction.

  He leaned in. “Do I have your permission to touch you from now on, as I wish? To teach you? To discipline you?”

  “Do you do that for everyone?” The question was asked before she even registered speaking. She didn’t know why it mattered, but it did.

  “No.”

  “Why me?”

  His eyes were unreadable. “You need a guide. Most people who come here already know what they want, what they like. They have experience. You don’t. I can help you find your way.”

  “Do you need permission?” Her breathing quickened, and she saw him glance at her heaving chest. She wanted him to just take permission, instead of asking for it. She wanted to touch his jaw, his lips, his hair.

  “Don’t I?” He gave her a mild look. “Is it something you give for free, to just anyone?”

  “No, of course not! I don’t do that. I just assumed. I mean, you’re a master here.”

  “Have I touched you yet?” His voice was light. “A real touch, that is. Has anyone?”

  “Well, before, when you made me bend over. You touched me, then. And I liked it,” she said, her voice low.

  “Oh, you did, did you?” His was rough, teasing, now. “Would you like me to do that again?”

  She nodded.

  “What if I didn’t stop with a touch next time, Sofia? What if I spanked you, like you expected? What if I teased you, tantalized you? Would you let me do that?”

  “Yes, I would.” She felt adrenaline surge.

  “Before, it was just a test,” he said. “From now forward it will be something else. Something more.”

  “I want more,” she said, meeting his eyes.

  “You don’t know what you want yet,” he said, an enigmatic expression on his face. And like lightning, he stood and pulled her into his chest. “But I’ll be very glad to help you figure it out,” he growled into her ear, and then his lips were on her neck, and Casey melted into his body with passion that arose in her from his voice, his touch, his smell.

  “Sofia,” he whispered into her skin. “There are so many things I want to do to you, God.”

  “Like what?” she whispered back, letting her hands drift up his muscled shoulders, squeezing him through the fabric of his jacket. “Tell me, Hunter. Because I want you to do things to me, too.”

  “Sir,” he corrected, but he bit her earlobe and then her neck again, and trailed kisses along her jaw. “If you don’t start saying Sir, Sofia, I will punish you. Now that we have an understanding.”

  “Sir,” she said, leaning her head back, exposing the soft part of her neck, and he growled and bit her again, tugging her into his arms. “But I like calling you Hunter,” she admitted, and moaned at the touch of his lips to her skin. “But I’ll say Sir!” she added, as he took her chin in his hand and gave her a stern look. “I will, for real. Promise.”

  He smiled. “Want to know what happens if you don’t?”

  “What?” She could barely breathe.

  “Stand as before. Bend over, spread your legs. Eyes forward.”

  She couldn’t think, she was so eager, and her legs wobbled as she spread them.

  “I’m going to lift your skirt,” he warned her, resting one hand on the back of her neck. “And then I’m going to remind you to call me Sir. And then…” His voice trailed off as he pulled up the fabric of her skirt so slowly that she almost died from the anticipation. “And then do you know what I’m going to do?”

  “I don’t know,” she breathed.

  “Take a guess,” he ordered.

  “Maybe you’re going to… spank… me? My ass?” Her voice was a mixture of defiance, desire and concern. But all she felt was his fingers tracing the line of her G-string along her hips, and she gasped when he tucked a finger under the stretchy band and snapped it. “Hunter!”

  “No.” His voice was firm.

  “Sir, I mean.”

  “Why do you think I want you to call me Sir?” he murmured.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Guess.”

  “Because it makes you feel powerful?”

  “Because it shows me the gift of your submission,” he corrected. “And that is something so sexy, Sofia, something so arousing, that I love hearing it on your lips.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She felt delirious. Was he going to spank her or not? When would he start?

  “Stand up.” His voice was clipped, and her heart sank. “Sir?” She turned to face him, skirt bundled around her waist. “I—what?”

  “Tonight, nobody is to touch you like that,” he said. “Including me. But next time, Sofia, I will teach you the lesson we started tonight.”

  “But if I’m a member now, can’t I do what I want? Sir?” Her voice was petulant as she tried to smooth down her skirt.

  “The first night is intense. We find it’s best to have new members ease in the first time.”

  “I don’t need to ease. Hunter.” She crossed her arms, safe in the knowledge that he couldn’t—or wouldn’t—do anything about it.

  “Don’t think I won’t remember that for next time. Sofia.” He raised one eyebrow, and the sound of the other girl’s name on his lips made her cold.

  She sat back down and locked her fingers together. “I need to tell you something. Without the sirs. Just us, talking, again.”

  “What is it?” He sat down too and leaned his elbows on his knees. “Go ahead.”

  “I—it’s hard. I’m sorry. There’s something I need you to know.” She felt nauseated, more than when she stood naked in front of the crowd. She’d only been here a few hours, and she never wanted to leave. How could she continue on with him, with all of them, as a fake?

  “You can trust me.” His voice was rich.

  “I believe you. But I don’t think you’re going to trust me, maybe, after you hear this.” Tears came to her eyes. “I really like this place, Hunter. I didn’t know what to expect, and I was scared. But what I see here, it’s—it’s what I dreamed about. I want to come back. I want to learn things, with you.”

  “Yes?” His voice was even, urging her on.

  “I don’t belong here.”

  “Why not?”

  “I—” She wiped at her face. “I’m not who you think I am. I did something wrong before. Something you won’t like.” She bit her lip.

  Chapter Five

  His eyes were trained on hers, but his expression held a smile. “We ran a background check on you, Sofia. We know about the arrest, and nobody cares.”

  “The what? You don’t?” She was confused.

  “A lot of people protest in college, Sofia. The fact that you were arrested for that is a credit to you, in a way. It shows dedication, determination, and that you care about the world.”

  She put a hand to her mouth. Apparently, Sofia Maria Madigan, the real one, was more than a pretty face who wasn’t into BDSM. Who knew? “Yeeees.” She drew out the word, trying to force out the next critical ones. “But, actually, to tell you the truth, I didn’t—”

  “The fact that you wanted to come clean about this means a lot to me. You’re the kind of person who belongs here.” His eyes burned.

  “Who belongs here,” she repeated. “Ah.” She swallowed. “Hunter, but I—no. I don’t. Because, and I need to tell you—”

  “We all have things in our past,” he cut in, taking her hand
. “Maybe your grades weren’t the best, but you made it out. I’m not judging you, Sofia. With your situation, I understand how hard it was to stay focused on your studies.”

  “Um, yes, I did make it out. With my… degree.” What the hell degree did Sofia have? Not Casey’s own PhD in art history with her straight A’s and A+’s. What was the situation?

  Why did it matter? She had to tell him right now, before this got out of hand. There was still a chance to salvage this. She could explain; say it was an accident, an experiment. Surely he’d understand and forgive her, and let her come back as Casey? After all, everything tonight she’d said and done was her, the real her, Casey. The only thing Sofia here was the name.

  But something made her hold back. Maybe it was the look in his eyes, or the memory of his lips on her skin. And that fatal hesitation of a single second turned into two, and time expanded, and the window of opportunity closed.

  Max’s voice intruded. “Hunter? Selene is asking for you. Sorry to interrupt.” He looked at Casey, smiled, although it was a sort of pained smile.

  Hunter shook his head. He touched Casey’s cheek. “Sofia, I need to check on this. Max, will you take her around for me?”

  “Of course. Sofia, let me know if you have questions about anything, and I’ll explain what I can.” Max ushered her back to the main room, pointing out various activities, explaining in a low voice, telling her names and details.

  People were busy, with more couples having sex or engaged in various acts of intimacy. Sounds of a crop, a paddle, a whip, a vibrator mixed in the air, a symphony of sex. A woman walked by wearing nothing but a jeweled butt plug between her firm, muscular cheeks. A young man with nipple rings crawled to his master. Cries of arousal, soft laughter, and sobs joined together.

  Max looked at her face. “Does any of this especially appeal to you?”

  “I’m not sure.” Casey didn’t want to commit just yet; it was too soon, the carnival of color and flesh before her was too new and exotic to even know what she might want to taste. Still, the flash of blue from the crystal plug sparkled in her mind, and she looked again at the woman wearing it.