Club Helix: The Power Games (32 page)

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The next day at lunch, which we are all required to attend, Logan announces the new standings, and somehow Roman and I are still in first place. Emmett and Rebecca have dropped to third place, and Rebecca glares at me when I hug Tessa and Luke, who’ve crept up to second. Unfortunately, Karl and Bella and Stefan and Desiree are going home, and we all say our good-byes after lunch. Spending so much time together in such close proximity over the past few weeks has made us friends quickly, and it’s surprisingly hard to see them leave. Many of the girls are tearful as they hug Desiree and Bella, and both women who are going home are openly crying.

“Will you and Stefan still see each other?” I ask Desiree as I hug her tightly.

“Honey, I finally met a man who deserves me. I’m not letting him go that quickly.” She holds me at arm’s length. “You don’t let Roman go either, you hear?” she says seriously. “You two are good for each other.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Roman

Given the upcoming Fourth of July holiday, we have a long weekend to do more or less what we please before the next group challenge, and I spend the time initiating Ava into the world of Domination and submission. I make good on my promise to tie her to the bed for an entire night of forced availability, taking her however and whenever I want, and she’s wet and ready for me every time, even when I wake her from a deep sleep with my cock already inside her.

I edge her, bringing her close to orgasm and then denying her over and over, teasing and tormenting her until she learns to control her physical responses and look to me for her pleasure. I tie her spread-eagled in front of me on the bed and coach her to bring herself to release, something she’s clearly uncomfortable doing. When she finally orgasms at my command with her fingers between her legs and my name on her lips, I feel an undeniable flare of satisfaction.

Over the next five days, my hands both pleasure and punish, the two blending seamlessly together so she doesn’t know where one stops and the other begins. I push her to very edge of her limits for pain and pleasure, and she never fails to meet me at the precipice.

I slowly bend her to my will, molding her into the perfect submissive. But she keeps a part of her to herself, closed off and untouchable. There’s always a small, hidden piece of her I can never touch, and it both frustrates me that I can’t break her completely and makes me want her even more, giving me hope that maybe I’ve finally found a woman stronger than my demons—a woman I can’t destroy. It’s fucked up and I know it.

We also talk a lot, and I find I enjoy Ava’s company almost as much as I enjoy her whimpers of pleasure and the feel of her sweet little pussy around me when I make her come. When I find out Lipstick Jungle’s playing at the Hard Rock, we sneak out like teenagers for one of the best nights I’ve ever had, dancing and flirting and kissing until two o’clock in the morning. Monday evening, we watch the fireworks over Caesars Palace with the rest of the contestants, with her tucked under my arm, and I can’t help but notice how perfectly she fits next to me.

On Wednesday morning, Logan announces the next event. “Most of the games so far have revolved around putting our submissives in some uncomfortable and challenging positions. We’re going to turn the tables during round five of the Power Games and have the Doms go head-to-head in a series of challenges.”

The girls exchange smiling looks, and Tessa cheers loudly.

“The shuttle bus will pick everyone up at one o’clock and take us to Lake Mead where this portion of the games will be held. Although the men will be doing most of the work, both Doms and subs should wear their swimsuits.

“Submissives, your Doms will need a little incentive from you to perform their best. The production team, along with our panel of experts, has come up with six possible rewards that the submissives might offer to their Dom if he wins. Each submissive will draw a reward. Of course it will be up to her whether she chooses to offer it to her Dom or not, and if she chooses not to offer the incentive, there will be no repercussions as far as the games are concerned. However, the Dom who wins this round will be awarded one hundred extra points for his team that will be added to the audience vote, so ladies, you’ll want to motivate your Dom if at all possible.”

He rubs his hands together. “We’ll start with our submissive who’s in first place. Ava? Come on up and draw your incentive.”

Ava walks to the front of the room where Logan is holding a glass bowl filled with slips of paper. She hesitantly fishes out a piece of paper and then opens it.

“Oh, God,” she mutters as she blushes furiously.

“If you would, please read it out loud so the audience knows what Roman’s working for.”

Completely mortified, she reads, “
I’ll be your pet. I want to play. Pony or puppy, my Master I’ll obey.
”

Several of the Doms whoop good-naturedly, and I can’t contain my grin as she slides back into the seat next to me. I’m so distracted by images of Ava on all fours, leashed and collared and wearing a plug with a tail, that I miss most of the other Doms’ incentives. Not that it matters. I fully intend to win this one. I wouldn’t pass up a chance for pet play with Ava for anything.

I’m pumped and ready when we arrive at Lake Mead. Although Ava had blanched when I’d answered her questions about exactly what pet play entailed, she’s agreed to it if I win the round. I’m beyond motivated.

First up is a team challenge. A platform has been set up about twenty feet above Lake Mead with a ladder leading to a flat, square wooden board that’s balanced on top of it. There’s a short border around the perimeter of the board, and a hole about the size of a softball drilled in it. All six Doms are paired off for the day’s games by random drawing, and we wait for instructions.

“This challenge will require some teamwork,” Logan says. “You and your partner will climb onto the board at the top of the platform. You will be given five balls that you will have to get through the hole in the board using only the balanced weight of your bodies to shift the board and maneuver the balls through the hole. As you can see, the board is not stable, so you’ll have to work together to balance yourselves and move the ball around the board. If you get off balance, then you’ll both fall off into the water and receive no points for this round. Are you ready?”

I draw Emmett, and we watch as Luke and Caleb fall into the water almost immediately after the crew release the ropes that hold the board steady. Michael and Jake fare better, and although it’s hard to see what’s happening on top of the platform, we watch as three balls drop into the water in quick succession. Unfortunately, the two men are next, tumbling headlong into the water with a splash.

“It’s harder than it looks,” Luke advises us. “Try to use your body weight instead of moving your feet. That’s where Caleb and I went wrong.”

I clap him on the back in thanks as Emmett and I climb the ladder to the top of the platform. We position ourselves diagonally across from each other and give a thumbs-up for the ropes to be released as five rubber balls are dropped onto the teetering board with us.

We both stand still, sizing each other up.

“Let’s try to get one ball at a time, shifting our weight as little as possible,” I finally suggest.

“Fine,” Emmett says. “You move first.”

I shift my weight slightly, and a ball rolls toward the center. Emmett shifts his stance the tiniest bit, adjusting slowly as I remain still until the ball drops through the hole. We look at each other and smile.

“Let’s do it again,” Emmett says.

He’s got a natural grace and athleticism, and we’re well matched in strength and physical ability. We’re also both willing to wait and be patient to achieve what needs to be done, and we move incrementally, barely needing to talk we’re so in tune with what the other is doing. After ten long minutes, the final ball drops through the opening, and we’re declared the winners of the first round, netting us each twenty points and earning me a kiss from Ava when we reach the ground.

“I think our Doms need a little extra incentive for the next round. Submissives, would you please step over here?”

The girls exchange nervous glances before slowly walking over to Logan, who’s standing on a pier where six poles are rigged onto platforms.

“Ladies, if you would please step onto the platforms and stand with your backs to the poles, hands behind you.”

“What’s going on?” Rose asks nervously.

Ignoring her, Logan continues. “Doms, you will find a length of chain with a padlock and a key near where your submissive is standing. Please chain your submissives securely to the post and then lock the chain with the padlock.”

I step forward and pick up the chain before turning to Ava. Starting with her feet, I begin wrapping the chain around her.

“What is this for?” she asks uneasily.

“I have no idea. But it’s televised, so they can’t let us die, right?” I say with wink. She smiles back wanly.

I continue wrapping the chain around her, enjoying her little intake of breath as I rub the chain across her nipples before wrapping it tightly above and below her breasts.

“Whatever fucked-up plan the writers have come up with this time, you just have to trust I’ll take care of you, Avalon. You got that?” I say firmly as I lock the padlock.

She nods. “Okay.”

Once all the submissives are chained to their poles, Logan gives us the rules for the second challenge. The Doms are to complete an obstacle course that involves climbing up a cargo net to the top of a tall pole, traveling across a high-ropes course, zip-lining across the lake, and then dropping into it before swimming the remaining distance to the pier where the submissives are. We then have to sort through the keys, which all look identical, to find the one that will unlock our submissive. To add to the challenge, we’re only allowed to take one key at a time.

“One more thing,” Logan adds. “For each minute that you take, your submissive will be lowered one inch into the water.”

Hell! Who thinks up this crap? I glance over at Ava. She looks uneasy but not panicked.

“I’ll get you out in time,” I assure her.

“I know,” she says with a small smile.

The whistle blows, and we take off. The thought of Ava scared or suffering because of me spurs me to push myself harder than I’ve ever pushed before, and I power through the obstacle course. The irony of the situation isn’t lost on me, but dammit, if anyone’s going to hurt her or put fear in those endless green eyes, it’s going to be me.

Emmett and I are the first ones to the pier with Michael close behind us. We’d outpaced Luke and Caleb once we were in the lake, as neither seems to be a strong swimmer. I don’t know what happened to Jake.

By the time I reach the pier, the girls are all up to their necks in the water, and I grab a key and jump in next to Ava.

“Go get Rose,” she says urgently.

“What? Why?” I say, trying the key in the padlock. It doesn’t unlock.

“She’s terrified of drowning. Just go. Please, Roman!” She’s begging. “I’m fine. I can hold my breath. Please!”

“Jeez, Ava, you’re killing me,” I groan, but I can’t deny my sweet, bighearted submissive who will sacrifice herself for her friends.

I glance over at Rose. Ava wasn’t kidding; she’s wild-eyed and hyperventilating. And Jake is unfortunately way behind us.

“Okay. Hang on. I’ll be right back for you.”

I swim over to Rose and fit the key into her padlock. “Look at me, Rose,” I command her in my most authoritative voice. Scared brown eyes meet mine. “Breathe.” She takes a breath.

“Good girl. I’ll have you out of here before the water hits your nose,” I assure her calmly. “You just keep breathing in and out, okay?” She nods, and I pull myself out of the water and race back to the pile of keys. Emmett has freed Rebecca, so I have it narrowed down to four now, and I grab another key and jump back into the water with Rose. I can’t look at Ava, or I’ll lose my focus. I have to trust her now and her assertion that she can handle this.

This key doesn’t work either, and I quietly assure Rose she’s doing great and tell her to keep breathing before hauling myself out of the water and back to the keys. Michael has found the key to unlock Carly, so I pray the odds will be in my favor this time as I jump back in. The water is up to Rose’s bottom lip, which is starting to quiver.

Thank God! The key fits, and I unlock the padlock, unwinding the chain as quickly as I can. As soon as she’s free, I grab her hands and place them on the side of the pier. “I have to get Ava. Can you hold on here?”

She nods vigorously. Luke and Caleb have just arrived, and we each grab a key. My key doesn’t fit, and I watch helplessly as Ava is lowered another inch, the water covering her nose. I’m getting exhausted from hauling myself in and out of the water, but I’m fueled by a fear that grips my heart and squeezes it like a vise, and I’m back on the pier in seconds. Luckily, there are only two keys left—mine and Luke’s—and we wordlessly trade keys and vault back into the water to rescue our submissives.

I try to focus on keeping calm as I unlock the padlock and efficiently unwrap the chain I’d had so much fun wrapping around Ava. As soon as she’s free, I haul her into my arms and swim with her back to the platform. Although she’s gasping for air, she appears to be okay, but that doesn’t stop me from grabbing her face between my hands and making damn sure of it.

“I’m fine,” she assures me breathlessly. “Thank you for saving Rose.” She presses a tiny kiss to my lips. I growl and suck her bottom lip into my mouth, savoring the taste of her. Jake has made it back and is on the pier with Rose, and he reaches down to help Ava out of the water. I hand her up to him and then climb out.

“Thanks, Roman,” Jake says. “I got my foot caught in the net and twisted my ankle, which put me way behind. There’s no way I would have gotten to Rose in time.” He claps me on the back. “You ever need anything, and I mean anything, you just say the word.”

After we’ve dried off and had a chance to catch our breath, Logan announces the third and final challenge.