Chapter Seven
At Cassia’s request, they agreed to try the sensory overload scene again on Thursday night.
Master Quinton had been hesitant, but it hadn’t been the scene so much as a specific part of what he’d used to overwhelm her that had caused her breakdown. If he removed the sound of the water, Cassia was convinced that she could handle it. At least, she wanted to try.
Which was how she found herself spread-eagled and cuffed to the St. Andrew’s cross again, a double layer of lace over her eyes and the headphones heavy against her ears.
He tormented her body with alternating sensations again, though not the same as before. He dripped what she thought was melted wax down her back and over her ass. He drew a spiky Wartenberg wheel over her skin. And he spanked her with a flat, leather paddle. Winding her tighter and tighter until she thought she might burst.
And then the music started in her ears, only different. It was the song from the dance floor. The one that had been playing when Master Quinton had told her to close her eyes and listen to his voice. Driving and sexy and seductive.
It shoved her hard toward release. But she couldn’t ask for it. She couldn’t beg, even though she wanted to, because she wasn’t allowed to speak.
Cassia couldn’t do anything but wait for Master Quinton to set her free.
It was a delicious torture.
One that became even more intense when another song began to play on top of the one they’d danced to. The first had been a faster alternative song, but the new one was heavier rock. The beats, lyrics, and rhythms competed and intertwined, making it impossible for her brain to concentrate on just one—making it impossible for her brain to concentrate on anything. And even though she knew that was the point, her mind couldn’t take on that kind of analysis when so many sensations competed. The first song, the second song, the darkness, the paddle, the prickly traces of that wheel.
Pressure fell against her clit. His fingers circled once, twice…
Cassia’s orgasm detonated as if the touch had been a command.
And just like a bomb, the explosion left her disoriented. She couldn’t tell what was up and what was down with the world spinning and her body floating.
She thought she heard Master Quinton’s voice, but that couldn’t be true over the music. She thought she saw colors, but somehow, could still feel the stretchy weight of the blindfold. She thought…she wasn’t sure what she thought…
Finally, she just gave in to the chaos, into the peacefulness, into the nothingness, and let it carry her away…
The next thing she was aware of was Master Quinton’s brown eyes. “Talk to me, Cass.”
“Hi,” she whispered.
A slow smile drew up over his mouth. “Hi. How are you feeling?”
“Good,” she said, unable to hold back a sudden yawn. “I’m sorry. Was I sleeping?” She realized he had her in his lap on the big leather couch in the outer room where he always took her.
“Just a little,” he said, stroking her hair. “You fell pretty deep into subspace at the end of the scene, so I told you to rest. Do you remember us talking about that?”
She searched her thoughts, but, no, she didn’t. “No, Sir. Really?”
“You were very out of it, so I’m not surprised,” he said. The little touches he gave her felt soothing, calming, and it was like he needed to touch her. Needed to soothe and calm.
She adored it. “That was…it was really intense.”
“Intense good or intense bad?” He tilted his head and nailed her with an assessing stare.
Cassia thought back over what she could remember. The disorientation. The disconnection. The floating. “It was good,” she said. Then stronger, “It left me feeling totally freed. And even though I knew it was dark, behind my closed eyes I could perceive colors. And I feel like…” She grappled for the words as the significance of that began to sink in. “…like there’s hope that I could learn to apply that in other situations. To know there’s color and light even in the dark.”
His smile was so sweet. “That’s great, Cassia. I’m glad it left you feeling so hopeful. That’s…” He nodded, emotion plain on his face. “I’m happy for you.”
Lacing her fingers with his, Cassia brought their joined hands to rest against her heart. “And I’m grateful, Master Quinton. I don’t know if any of this will have lasting results, but hope is more than I’ve had in a really long time. So even if it doesn’t, that means a lot.”
He kissed her then, and it felt different from any other kiss they’d ever shared. It was soft and slow, but urgent. Tender, but demanding. It was sexy and hot and arousing, but more than anything, it felt intimate.
It felt like strings attaching.
At least, it did to Cassia. It’d only been about two weeks since they’d started playing together, but damn if the old crush she used to have on him years ago wasn’t rearing its head again. Or maybe this was all new now. Growing up like a spring bud through the recently thawed earth, having been watered by the intensity of everything they’d shared during this short time.
And Cassia wasn’t sure what to think of that. All at once, it worried her, excited her, scared her, and left her wishing she was as brave as Master Quinton thought she was.
Because she didn’t feel that brave, she changed the subject. “So, I have a surprise for you, but it might be too short notice.”
His expression seemed to register the changing of gears, but then he just smiled and let her get away with it. “Oh, yeah? I love surprises.”
“Good,” she said. “My brother says Saturday could work for a visit to the Green Valley Race Track, if you’re available. If we get there before two, you can drive the track. Then the races start at seven.”
“Oh, damn. Yeah? That sounds awesome. I’m supposed to work the bar Saturday night, but if I can get Master Leo to switch with me, you’re on.”
“Okay, great,” she said, smiling at his enthusiasm. Knowing he was so excited about it totally made the grilling Jagger had given her when she’d called worth it. She’d been prepared for it though. After all, she hadn’t been there for months, and now her first time back, she was bringing a guy. A guy friend, but still. “If you can’t switch, I’ll ask Jagger for another date. There are races most weekends.”
“Jagger, huh? That’s a cool name.”
“Well, his real name is Jackson, but he’s kind of a genius on the guitar. I don’t even know for sure how young he was when people started calling him that, but it’s pretty much been his name as long as I can remember.” Affection filled her as she spoke about her brother.
Things hadn’t always been great at home growing up. Their mother tried, but after their father split, they had trouble making ends meet. Seven years older than her, Jagger had picked up the slack at a series of odd jobs until he found the Raven Riders and then work at their track. Her grades had been good enough to earn some scholarships, but Jagger had otherwise been responsible for putting her through school.
Cassia owed him so much.
“No shit? I play, too, but nowhere close to good enough to be nicknamed for a rock star,” he said with a laugh, his tone full of that self-deprecation she found so endearing.
Excitement had her pushing herself into a sitting position in Master Quinton’s lap. “Seriously? You play?”
He held up his hands and shook his head. “I dabble on the acoustic. Have for years. But the emphasis is on dabble.”
Cass grinned. “Still, that’s so awesome. You and Jagger are going to get along great. I can just tell.”
Chuckling, Master Quinton nodded. “He sounds like good people, so I’m sure we will. What did you tell him about me, anyway?”
“Just that you’re a friend with a crazy obsession for fast cars, which he totally respected, by the way.”
He nodded, and for a moment she could’ve sworn that something regretful passed behind his gaze. But then he smiled again. “Sounds about right. Well, let me twist Master Leo’s arm and see if I can make this happen.”
“Sounds like a plan,” she said.
“Good. Then let’s get you cleaned up.”
“Okay,” she said. “And thank you, again, Master Quinton.” Cassia pressed a soft kiss against his lips, and then he helped her rise.
The blanket fell into a heap as she rose, and she leaned down to retrieve it.
“Freeze,” he said. “Stay just like that.” Bent at the waist, she braced her palms on her knees as his hands ran over her back, her ass, her thighs. His touch was soft and caressing, but still heated her blood. “Just admiring all this wax against your gorgeous skin. Almost hate to see it go.”
She peered over her shoulder. “I’ll wear it for you if you wish, Sir.”
Dark eyes flashed to meet her gaze. “Is it uncomfortable?”
She shook her head, because the pleasure she’d get from putting that interested look on his face would far outweigh the annoyance of tolerating the tight weight of the wax for a little while longer. “Tell me to wear it for you.”
He arched a brow, his tongue dragging over his bottom lip, and then he nodded. “Keep it on for me, Cassia. Until you get home. Wear it because you know it pleases me.”
“Yes, Sir,” she said, arousal stalking over her skin again.
He squeezed her ass one last time. “Very good. Then get dressed and we’ll head out to the bar. Leo’s on, so I can ask him about the schedule tonight.”
Fifteen minutes later, they were standing at the crowded bar, waiting to get Master Leo’s attention while they chatted with two people Master Quinton introduced as Master Griffin and Kenna. The couple was a study in opposites—Griffin was a big guy with dark hair and olive skin, while Kenna was shorter than Cass and lean, with fair skin and golden blond hair. But the way they looked at each other and the beautiful jewelry-style collar Kenna wore made it clear what they had in common was far more important. As the men fell into conversation, so did Cass and Kenna.
“Are you new here?” Kenna asked. “I haven’t seen you around before the last couple weeks.”
“I used to belong a couple years ago, but I had an accident and didn’t come for a while. Just started back,” Cassia said.
“Wow,” Kenna said with an easy smile. She held up her prosthetic arm. “I could’ve given almost the same exact answer. I joined right after Blasphemy opened, and then about a year later I enlisted in the Marines and this happened. I re-joined the club at the end of the summer after five years away.” She spoke about her amputation like she was totally at peace with it, and it made Cassia wish she could be the same way.
“Wow is right. Thank you for your service, Kenna. My accident wasn’t anything as honorable. I got trapped alone in a cave-in for a few days and now I’ve got a thing with the dark,” Cass said, putting herself out there in a way she usually didn’t with new people. But if Kenna could do it, she should be able to, too.
Kenna’s eyes went wide. “That sounds terrifying, Cassia. But I’m glad you’re back. And from what I understand, you’re in very good hands with Master Quinton.”
Cass’s smile was immediate. “Yeah, I think so.”
The other woman grinned and leaned in. “He’s so nice. I’m glad to see him settling down with someone.”
She inhaled to correct her, but was interrupted by Master Quinton kissing her cheek. “Good news. Master Leo and I are trading Saturdays, so I’m all yours.”
“Oh, that’s great,” Cassia said, torn between excitement that their day together was going to work out and concern over letting Kenna think there was something more serious between them than there was.
But she never got the chance to say anything more to the other submissive, because just then, her Dom guided her away into the crowd.
A spot opened up at the bar, and Master Quinton drew them into it so that they could lean against the cool marble. “You okay?”
“Yes, of course. Better than, because you are going to love the track. And now I get to be the one to share all the behind-the-scenes stuff with you.”
His laughter chased away the last of her weird mood. She’d just be sure to talk to Kenna the next time they ran into one another. “Yes, you do. So, what time should we leave on Saturday?” he asked.
Master Leo appeared in front of them. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“No worries,” Quinton said. “I was just telling Cassia the good news.”
The dark-blond-haired Dom nodded, and Cassia was struck again by the mesmerizing uniqueness of his different-colored eyes. “I went into the system to update the schedule. Are you still doing that demonstration next Saturday night? Is that going to work if you’re tending bar?”
Demonstration? Master Quinton was doing a demonstration? Competing reactions flooded through Cassia. Regret and jealousy that he’d be playing with another submissive. Irritation at herself for feeling that way. Resignation, too, because of course he could play with other people if he wanted to. Her head started to spin at the whirlwind of emotion. They’d never agreed to be exclusive, and they’d specifically discussed keeping what they were doing no-strings-attached.
The memory of the intimate kiss they’d shared flashed through her mind. The one that had felt like all kinds of strings.
“Oh, hell,” Quinton said. “I forgot about that…” His gaze cut to her for a moment, and he shook his head. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll figure something out.”
“Okay,” Master Leo said. “Can I get you two something?”
The way he eyed her made her feel exposed, like he’d seen something in her reaction that she hadn’t meant to reveal. Cass felt twitchy and restless, full of fight or flight. “No, thank you. I should probably be heading home soon.”
“Oh, okay. Of course,” Master Quinton said, his expression a little concerned, like maybe he’d picked up on it, too. Which made Cassia really need to get out from under all these too-observant Dom gazes. At least for a little while. Until she could pull herself together. It had been a very draining and emotional night, after all. “I’ll walk you out.”
They threaded through the crowd until they found themselves at the women’s locker room door where she’d stowed her purse and coat. “So, about the time on Saturday? What do you think?” he asked.
She forced a smile. “How about eleven? That’ll have us up there by noon and give us a few hours at the track before things get started.”
He nodded, his gaze running over her face. “I’ll pick you up at eleven sharp. Okay?”
“Sounds great,” she said, desperate to bolt and itching to remove the evidence of their time together from her skin.
“Tonight…tonight was a privilege, Cassia.” He leaned in and kissed the corner of her mouth.
She didn’t know how to respond. Because the words were sweet and kind and felt…meaningful. But he hadn’t kissed her on the mouth like he had before, and he had plans in the not-too-distant future to play with someone else. So her mind was a jumble. And, oh, for crap’s sake, all this intellectual masturbation over what he said and did and what it meant was one of the reasons she hadn’t wanted a relationship in the first place!
“Good night,” she finally managed.
Slipping inside the locker room, Cassia knew at least one thing for sure—she had some major string snipping to do before Saturday.