CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Must we go?” I murmured, but I knew the answer.
Dane caressed down my back and rested his hand above the curve at my bottom. “We do. It’s part of being on this cruise. It’s a chance to network, to show off the women and men they agreed to keep for whatever time needed. If they consider trading, it’s a time to sample. All the members here agreed to it, or so I’m told, but…how do I put this?” He rubbed the space between his brows.
“It’s also a chance for Dane to see if Angel is here,” Elliott added quietly.
I swallowed and nodded, not trusting my voice to speak. I had forgotten his search for his partner. I also was having a hard time with the ‘sample’ part of the evening. “I don’t want anyone else touching me.”
“I know,” Dane said softly. “And that will be my intention.”
Intention—not a guarantee.
“Dane, you have to be real with her too,” Elliott said, turning to me. “He can’t stand out. Here you’re a willing slave that will do anything that’s asked of you without question, including letting another man see and touch you.”
“With my consent—” Dane argued.
“And you’ll stick out if you don’t,” Elliott cut him off. “You need to prepare yourself. If Angel is there, Dane will have to find a way to get her back.”
I blinked. “Would that include bargaining me?” I tensed under his hand then rolled off the bed, moved over to the bathroom, and closed the door. I wanted to be alone. Remember, you are alone, my negative inner voice chimed in.
I didn’t even get a minute of privacy. Dane opened the door and walked in, leaving it ajar. He came directly to me and stood close. His hands clasped the sides of my face, and I cast my gaze downward. “Gia, I don’t know what to tell you.”
“It’s nothing,” I said then cleared my throat. “We all had a great time.”
“It felt like more than a good time.” He turned on the water in the walk-in shower.
We went in and he picked up a sponge from one of the built-in shelves then took over bathing me. He was tender in his touch as he caressed each part of my body like it was a precious jewel. It was calming, but much too intimate. He could see his Angel tonight. He could be using me to get Angel back.
I stiffened. “You’re preparing me to trade.” I gave voice to my fear, but then didn’t want to wait to hear whatever words he’d have to let me know how ridiculous I sounded. We weren’t anything to each other. It was all sex. I went to leave the shower, but he took my hands and backed me against the tiled wall, trapping me. His hands quickly took my wrists and secured them in his grasp.
“You need to listen.” His eyes seared as they met mine. The emotion and turmoil on his face was unconcealed, and his voice softened. “I will never trade you, even if Angel is in the room. Angel’s been gone for almost three years. I want to help her, but not at the cost of you. Tell me what you’re thinking.”
A hot ache grew in my throat. “I’m scared.”
I hated admitting my vulnerability, but there was something about the way he handled me that opened me up. There were moments when we were together that I believed we could have a beginning.
“I know you are, but you’re going to have to trust us,” he said. “Give me a chance to prove that I mean what I say to you.” He pressed his body into mine. “Dammit. I came in here to talk, but I need to fuck you again.”
I inhaled sharply at the contact. His closeness was so male, so bracing, and my flesh was still tender from Elliott sucking and Dane’s hard thrusts, but I craved more. I needed our connection again. I prickled at his touch, already reawakened with need to feel him inside me again.
Dane let go of my wrists then took his cock in hand and rubbed it against my cleft.
“You need my cock inside you,” Dane said in a low rumble.
I slid my hands into his thick hair and wrapped my legs around his waist. “Yes, please. Oh Dane.”
Dane ground his cock in and pressed me into the wall. “Your pussy’s gripping me so tight.” He withdrew and then thrust back in. I panted as I struggled to take in air. He felt so good, and I never wanted it to end. “Come with me,” he said firmly.
I let go as he moved inside me, hard and fast, crying out as I came. His breathing was ragged as he fucked me hard. He pulled out as he came, covering my mound with his cum. When I came down, I went to rinse it off, but he stopped me.
“Leave it,” he said. “I should rub it all over you to mark you as mine.”
What he wanted to do was lewd and possessive, but if it made it clear that I was with him and he didn’t want to share, I would leave it and let him do more to me.
Wow. What has gotten into me? It shocked me that I could find such pleasure in such uncertainty. My mind raced. Dane stayed at my side, touching and caressing me, and the more he did it, the less I reacted like it wasn’t natural. I liked it. I liked him.
We finished up and returned to the bedroom. Dane retreated to the walk-in closet.
Elliott’s eyes flicked over my body and his jaw tightened.
I lifted my chin. “What now?”
He motioned toward the bed. “All the members get specific clothes to put on, and Dane made an outfit selection for you while he was out. It came while you both were in the shower.”
There was a black leather corset top with sheer bottoms and a thong with thigh-highs. Lying next to the outfit was a leather mask that appeared more severe than the other one. It had slits for the eyes, nose, and mouth. The back of it had a string to tie and a lock next to it.
My eyes widened. “I can’t wear that mask.”
“This mask covers your whole face and hides your identity,” Elliott said roughly. “Some of the men are from Seattle. It’s so you won’t be recognized.”
I scrunched up my face but started putting on the ensemble anyway. “How long do we have to stay?”
“I’m not sure,” Elliott answered. “When we leave this room, you’ll be expected to kneel next to Dane or sit down on his lap. You do not make eye contact or speak to anyone. I don’t even want them to hear your voice. Whatever Dane asks you to do, you do without hesitation, understood?”
I hunched my shoulders. I didn’t want to, but I understood I had no choice. “Yes.”
He bent down and helped me with the thigh-highs, smoothing his hand over my leg. “You need to stay calm. Whatever you see, don’t react. Remember, we don’t know everything going on yet. We believe everyone here wants to be.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. I’ve got some moves,” I joked, but my voice caught, betraying me.
“You do.” He kissed my forehead. “You blew my mind.”
My face warmed. “Stop teasing me. Seriously, I just need to know what is expected, and if all goes to hell, I’ll kick ass.”
Dane snorted, returning with a dark blue suit. “Elliott may have showed you how to fight, but I don’t want you doing it. I don’t want anything to happen to you,” he said with a critical tone to his voice.
“And neither do I, to either one of you,” Elliott retorted, his jaw clenched. Our eyes met; I didn’t want to come between them, but I was with Elliott. While I didn’t want to hurt anyone, the defense lessons made me feel safer. Dane didn’t raise the issue again, so I continued getting changed. When I was dressed, I braided my hair tight to my scalp, and Dane helped lace the strings of the mask before locking it in place.
“Since Elliott didn’t go over how you’d be expected to behave at this type of mixer,” Dane started, “we’ll need to discuss it now.”
“You can’t stand out or attract attention,” Elliott instructed. “You’ll have to kneel. You tried it earlier, but do it again for us.”
I went down on my knees and placed my hands on my thighs, facing upward, my eyes focusing on the carpet.
“Hmmm,” Dane said. “That’s too provocative.”
“Come on, Dane,” Elliott said. “This is a show-off party and you know it. Spread your thighs wide enough that we can see your pussy.”
“Argh,” I groaned.
“You have on the mask,” Elliott said. “No one but us will know.”
My face burned. I told myself they had already seen me up close so I didn’t need to be modest, but brazenly displaying myself before them was intimidating. The dark looks on both of their faces were enough to let me know I’d done it right.
“I’d say wider,” Elliott teased.
“I’m not a pretzel,” I shot back, and we laughed.
“Come on,” Dane said, trying to suppress his grin. “We have to get the rest right. If you’re on my lap, I’ll open you up, but if you’re on the floor, you lay back with your legs open.”
My mouth dropped open.
“You open your mouth if you’re kneeling between his legs,” Elliott said. “Go on, Gia. Better here than doing it for the first time in there.”
I grimaced but did as I was instructed, adding in an arch to my back with my arms up.
“Fuck. Don’t improvise,” Elliott said, reaching down and adjusting the front of his pants.
“Yes,” Dane said. “And if I touch you, you don’t have permission to come.”
“Good thinking, Dane,” Elliott said. “She’s too tempting when she comes.”
“Hello?” I said. “Talk to me, not about me. I don’t think I can hold back if I’m touched intimately.”
Dane helped me to stand up and kissed me. “I’ll do my best to avoid it, but you have to try, or you’ll be punished.”
I grinned. I knew he was teasing, but I was game. So far, I’d enjoyed what he’d done when I didn’t follow his orders.
“He won’t punish you with something you’ll like next time,” Elliott said, bursting my fantasy. “Just try to follow our lead. You’ll be fine.”
The mask gave me limited vision, but I could breathe easily. He held me away from him, at arm’s length. “You look exquisite, even in the mask. I know I’ll have to follow the rules of the party by showing you off, but I don’t want them to see you.” He chewed on his bottom lip.
“I’m sure you’ve showed off plenty of women,” I said in a light tone. “I thought that was part of your sharing.”
“It is,” he admitted. “But you make me selfish.”
He looked mouthwatering in his suit. Elliott looked equally as striking in all black.
“Where are your masks tonight?” I said, my voice muffled as we headed out of the room.
“The men will be unmasked now,” Elliott whispered. “Remember, anything out of the ordinary will attract attention.”
We walked down a carpeted corridor to the elevator and took it one floor up. When we arrived, we were escorted by guards into a large hall. The room was not at all like I had expected. It was a ballroom decorated in a festive theme with strings of white lights, small evergreen trees, and floral arrangements placed throughout. There were men and women dressed in formalwear seated at linen-draped tables. Some were playing chess and cards while others chatted on lounge chairs and couches. It appeared no different than what I would have found at a party on any other occasion, though there was one prominent exception.
Some of the women with the bracelets were dressed while others were naked on cushions by the seats or being toyed with by the men. All were masked. Even with my limited view of the men as we moved past the tables, I understood Elliott’s and Dane’s precautions. There were several men I recognized in attendance, some among the upper echelons of Washington’s elite. A few I knew had partners or were married and had children. If their secrets got out, it would shake our world. I was certain any of the men I saw there would harm me before leaving me with their secret. My presence there was dangerous.
I forced myself to stare at the heels on my feet. Dane and Elliott put their hands on my back and guided me forward. We moved slowly, giving Dane and Elliott a chance to search around for Angel, but then a gravelly voice beckoned us over. “Dane, Elliott, join us.”
I recognized the old man’s voice as the one I’d heard by the boathouse on Dane’s property.
“We have our own table, Vincent,” Dane said, his tone clipped.
“But we’re happy to join you. Thanks for inviting us,” Elliott added. I glimpsed him taking a seat on the other side of the half-moon shaped lounge.
Dane tapped my shoulder and I went down on the cushion at his feet, relieved to not be at eye level with the man, although I could feel his stare on me from across the table. The sound of loud slurps had me glimpsing over at Vincent. A naked woman was between his legs, sucking on his cock through his open trousers. A dry laugh erupted from him and I quickly lowered my head back down. I cringed inwardly. He’d already noticed me.
Dane petted my head, and I leaned in slightly to let him know I was okay.
“Get off,” Vincent admonished coarsely.
The woman tumbled to the floor. His foot came down on her hand, but she didn’t make a sound.
“She’s well trained,” I heard Elliott’s voice say. “At least in keeping her mouth shut.”
I glared at him behind my mask.
“She still uses her teeth,” Vincent complained. “I’ll have to remove them or pass her around to learn how to suck. You interested, Elliott?”
“I’ll take her off your hands if you’re already bored,” Elliott joked back, and they laughed.
My stomach lurched. It was a good thing I had the mask to cover my face; there was no way I could hide my disgust otherwise. I hoped Elliott was joking.
“Dane, you’re quiet over there,” Vincent mused. “I see you brought your last-minute entry?” There was a slight edge to his tone.
“Yes, I did,” Dane answered coolly.
“Drinks.” A staff member came over, and the three men conversed about the holiday and business. After a while, my legs cramped from the kneeling. They were all absorbed in their conversation, like us two women weren’t even there. So, I stretched. I quickly realized soothing my discomfort was an error when Vincent let out a derisive snort.
“Untrained I see,” Vincent said. “What are you calling it?”
I seethed behind the mask at him calling me an it.
“No name yet.” Elliott laughed. “We don’t know if we’re keeping her.”
I tensed. Elliott seemed too at ease here. Was he really Dane’s friend? Had I given in to an enemy or was he just playing the role expected of him? My mind raced, but then Dane spoke up.
“I call her mine.” He put his hand on my neck. “That’s all you need to know.”
“She can’t be just yours,” Vincent replied, his voice flat. “She’s here, and part of being here is negotiating. Now I’m curious as to what has you already owning her after a few days. Send her over to me.”
“Why tempt you with what I’m not willing to share,” Dane said in a curt tone.
“I bet you’ve been willing to give Elliott a taste,” Vincent pouted.
“I had a taste,” Elliott affirmed in a bored tone. “Why do you think I’m here now?” He chuckled, but Vincent didn’t join him this time.
My shoulders slumped. He may have been playing along, but his words still stung.
“You come out and see all our secrets,” Vincent grumbled. “But you want to keep your pet at the sampling party. Perhaps it would be better if you leave before the trade show.”
“Now, Vincent,” Elliott said. “There isn’t a rule that says you have to share with everyone. Dane already shared her with me. He’s keeping with protocol.”
“Elliott’s right,” Dane said. “I only share with those of my choosing. I don’t choose you.”
Silence stretched between them.
“Perhaps it would be better to show her off,” Elliott said, speaking up. “It’s harmless.”
Vincent coughed. “Thank you, Elliott. I was beginning to think Dane had lost himself. It was sure making me curious to see what was so special about her that has Dane so anxious.”
“We can show you there is nothing to get upset about,” Elliott said in a curt tone. It was an obvious warning to Dane.
I moved a little, trying to send my own signal to Dane that I’d do whatever he needed to keep the peace.
“Stand between my legs,” Dane instructed.
I did as I was told and kept my head low as Dane undid my corset and worked my thong down to the floor, leaving my body on display for anyone looking in our direction.
“Hmmm, she’s older, curvy.” Vincent spoke like I wasn’t there. “Is her pussy tight? Get her to bend over and let me feel it.”
“You won’t be finding out,” Dane said resolutely. He reached between my legs and stroked the cum he had left there, and I quivered. “She only needs to please me.”
My body trembled as I struggled to remain still and passive like the other women in the room. My only solace was that I was still masked.
“Look at the blush on her skin,” Vincent replied, ignoring Dane. “Kind of a sexy innocence there. Let me see if I can get you to negotiate, Dane. I’ll give you the building downtown, the contract with a redesign of my yachts, and a million if you give me the rest of the ride back to San Francisco with your plaything.”
I tensed. There was no way I’d go willingly.
“A night maybe,” Elliott said. “What do you think, Dane?”
“I’m not interested.” Dane pressed his hand on my shoulder to instruct me to get back into position. I didn’t hesitate to do so, though he left me nude. My mind was too preoccupied with the cavalier way in which Elliott was willing to use me.
“I don’t know why you’re being so insistent,” Dane said. “There are plenty of women around here, or men if you want one. I’ve never shared with you before, and I don’t want to do it now.”
“And why not?” Vincent asked.
“Because you break your playthings,” Dane said icily.
Elliott laughed. “Relax, Dane. Vincent’s only teasing you.”
Was he? I didn’t believe it.
The music started and a stage was revealed. On it, a couple went on a St. Andrew’s cross. The Dom teased the submissive with a vibrator. He then used clamps on her nipples and pussy, ending by whipping and fucking her. The sex scene had all the men playing with their partners, except at our table. Vincent, Dane, and Elliott stared at each other while the other woman and I remained on the floor. So much for blending in.
Finally, Dane rose and tapped my shoulder to rise with him. “I think I’d prefer to sit tonight out.”
“Elliott, you’ll stay and participate?” Vincent called to Elliott.
“Okay,” Elliott said. “I’m game.”
“I already asked Elliott to share with me tonight,” Dane said. “Maybe you can invite him tomorrow.”
We were about to move away from the table when Vincent called Dane back. “A million for the night, and you, pretty girl—I’ll triple whatever he’s offering you.”
I tensed. There was nothing Vincent could ever offer to make me go with him willingly. “I already told you, she’s not for trade,” Dane said through gritted teeth.
“Everyone’s for trade,” Vincent said in an icy tone. “It just takes the right incentive. You’re too blind to realize it, or maybe there is something about this woman that has you disrespecting me.”
“You demand respect, but you insult me at every turn,” Dane seethed. “You went against the rules. You can’t make an offer to someone who’s claimed. Now, I haven’t decided what I wish to do, but it is my right to choose who to introduce, show, and trade. If you have someone else to present, let me know, but don’t mistake my politeness for weakness. Don’t try me again.”
We didn’t stay around for Vincent’s reply. Elliott’s curse as we breeched the door told me everything about Dane’s exchange with Vincent. We were in trouble.