His Little Tart (4 page)

“You’ve never done anything like this before, have you, Constance?”

“No.” It wasn’t like she had no sexual experience at all. She’d had her share of lovers in college, even if none of them had really clicked. Her heart had certainly gotten involved then, though, and she spent many nervous hours waiting for calls back that never came, reinforcing her feeling that she was something of a dud in bed. “It’s all been, what was the phrase? Vanilla. Which is a really funny word for plain when you think about it, because vanilla is really tasty and not plain at all. It’s got a lovely aroma and—”

“I think it’s about ice cream, dear,” said Alex. “I like vanilla ice cream, but it’s not very adventuresome.”

“Oh. Ice cream.” She hadn’t had ice cream in nearly as long as she hadn’t had sex.

She figured that sampling her own creations got her more than enough sugar. Alex gave her a curious glance.

The sign on the door at the end of the hall said DUNGEON in letters that looked like they’d been made by dripping white candle wax on a black background. It reminded her of dripped melted sugar on a sheet of chocolate. Alex pushed the door open and led her back in. She’d been in the room for hours, so she hadn’t thought it would hold any surprises for her. But where her folding tables had been was now a solid oak board with black leather padding on top, supported by sturdy-looking legs.

All around the board were O-shaped bolts, and tied on top was a blindfolded woman.

There was a man at each end of the table, and the woman’s head was just off the board, leaning back to suck on one man’s cock while she was being fucked from the other side.

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“Okay, fine,” Constance said with a coolness she didn’t feel.

“Looks like she’s having a fun time,” Alex said. “She’s hogging up all the men. But Aidan’s waiting for you, so don’t you worry.”

Constance looked over to the door that exited toward the parking, and Aidan was leaning against the wall there, her stuff neatly stacked at his feet. He waved and nodded approvingly at her. Her heart did a little jump. Why did his approval matter to her? But nonetheless, it did.

“Now, you were wondering what would happen if you yelled our safe word loud and clear in here, so let’s go find out.” Alex led Constance to where Arthur and Samantha were talking to the two people doing rope bondage earlier, Bruce and Laera, and another couple. They looked like they could be chatting at any normal party, if you ignored the fact that Bruce was only wearing a pair of tight pants, Samantha had on an indecently short skirt, and Laera was wearing nothing but ropes. The third couple, by comparison, was dressed normally, but the woman was so tall and her long red hair so striking that even in a midlength black skirt and a plain black blouse, she stood out. Her man was even taller than she was, six-four at least, and wore jeans and a tight-fitting black T-shirt that showed his muscles to good effect.

“Ladies, Masters.” Alex broke into the conversation, and all four of them stopped and turned their attention to her. “Constance here is wondering what would happen if she was playing with someone—let’s say Aidan, and let’s imagine they’re on the spanking bench over there—and she said ‘danger.’ Can someone tell her?”

“Aidan would untie her and ask her what’s wrong,” said Bruce.

“And if he didn’t, Master Bruce?” pressed Alex.

“Wouldn’t happen,” Bruce insisted.

“But if he didn’t, we’d be over having a talk with him,” said Arthur. “James and I would probably end up holding him while Bruce undid the knots. And the girls would be making sure Constance was okay.” He grinned over at Samantha for a moment.

“And hopefully getting a few recipes.”

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Sindra van Yssel

Samantha grinned back. “Yes, Master. Because we need more cookies at our girls-only parties.”

“Ah, wedded bliss,” said Alex. “Do I hear that more wedding bells are coming?”

The last was addressed to the tall redhead.

“You’ll just have to wait for your invitation.”

Alex smiled. “As long as I get one, I’m happy. Constance here makes awesome cakes.”

“She’s becoming the bondage baker,” said Samantha, then giggled.

Constance smiled. She’d take all the business she could get. They seemed to so readily accept that she was one of them, and she didn’t feel like she was at all. But for this one night, perhaps, she’d put her foot in the water.

Aidan was powerfully built, but so were Bruce, Arthur, and James. All three of them could probably handle him well enough.

“Thank you, everyone,” said Alex and steered Constance away toward a corner where they could talk privately. “What Arthur didn’t mention is that Laera has a black belt, and Selena would probably be pitching in on tackling Aidan as well. We don’t want anyone getting abused here. But it all starts with that word. If you don’t say it, we’re going to assume everything is fine, even if what’s going on seems pretty extreme.

Although there are limits there, as well. Stay here in the dungeon, in the public area, and be willing to use your safe word.”

Constance nodded. Clearly, Alex and the others took safety seriously.

“Trust your dom, though, or you won’t have any fun. Don’t try to control the scene if you don’t have to for your emotional or physical safety. The best thing about submitting is being able to let go. Any more questions?”

“You’re a submissive, right?”

Alex grinned. “Most of the time.”

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“But you walked right in there among all those doms and they immediately listened to you.” She had a hard time wrapping her head around it. If there was a pecking order, shouldn’t the doms be on top?

“Being submissive doesn’t mean being weak. It doesn’t mean submitting to anyone you don’t want to. It can be between you and one special person.” Alex paused, then suddenly hugged her. “Even if they are only special for the moment. Keep your heart safe, Constance.”

Constance was surprised. She didn’t have time to warn the other woman she had flour and sugar on her jacket; they didn’t show against the white uniform. But she hugged Alex back. There was something very comforting about feeling she had a friend, and in a few short minutes, Alex had made her feel welcome in a way that had nothing to do with her pastry business.

“I will,” she promised. The promise was as much for herself as for Alex, although she had no idea how to make sure she kept it. “You, um.” She pointed to a splotch of white powder on Alex’s dress.

“Ah.” Alex looked down, then back up and grinned. “I’ll let you two play, and I’ll go find someone to lick this off. I’ll be back, though, to check and make sure everything is going okay. Don’t worry. If it is, you won’t even know I’m there.”

Alex walked back toward the exit. Constance wished she could be that open, that extroverted. Find someone to lick it off indeed. She understood what men found attractive about Alex. She had no idea what Aidan found attractive about her, but there he was, watching and waiting. She drew herself up. Knowing Aidan wasn’t likely to call her back was freeing in a way. This was just one moment, and she could be whatever, whomever, however she wanted to be.

She walked to meet him, thankful that they still had things to put away. “Thanks for getting all this stuff.”

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Sindra van Yssel

“No problem,” said Aidan, bending down to pick up the baskets of equipment. He left the fondue pot, still full of chocolate although it had now cooled and hardened. She bent to pick that up, only to have him shake his head. “Leave that. We’ll be using it.”

“Excuse me?”

“Trust me.”

“You wreck my pot, and you’ll have to pay for it,” Constance snapped.

“I won’t wreck your pot,” Aidan promised, looking more amused than taken aback. “But I agree; I assume full financial liability.”

Constance frowned. She didn’t know what her fondue pot could possibly have to do with BDSM, but she remembered what Alex had said.
Trust your dom.
“I’ll show you my car.”

Aidan smiled. “That would be very helpful.”

As she led the way, she wondered who exactly was serving whom. But that was okay. Having a big strong man carry her stuff was definitely one fantasy she didn’t mind living.

He effortlessly carried what would have taken her two trips, hoisting her stuff as if it was nothing. She felt mildly guilty for having her hands empty, but it was obviously so easy for him that the guilt went away quickly. When they got to the car, she opened the hatchback.

He didn’t seem to have any problems following directions as she told him where she wanted her gear. But when everything was stowed safely away, he moved behind her, took her hands in his, and kissed her softly on the neck without asking. “From now on, I’ll give the orders,” he said.

She shivered. The touch on her neck was so light it made all the little hairs on the back stand up. His words didn’t help any either. She shouldn’t be doing this. She should stay focused on making her business work. “I’ll give you an hour; then we’re done.”

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“What if you want more?”

“Just an hour, no matter what I say. Promise.”

He chuckled. “I promise.” He looked at his watch, pushed a couple of buttons on it, and then moved to her side, switching his grip so that he was holding just one hand.

He walked back toward the dungeon. For a moment, she was frozen in place. She was sure he didn’t mean to jerk her off her feet. No doubt he expected her to walk with him.

But it took her a moment, and she had to hurry to retain her balance.

“Nervous?”

“Yes.”

“Lovely.”

“Lovely? You’re supposed to say ‘don’t be.’”

“Oh, love, you really should know better than to tell me what to say. It works the other way around. You’re supposed to say Sir or Master Aidan when you answer questions.”

She didn’t mean to snort, but she did. Suddenly she was up in the air, lifted by one strong hand, and her bottom was stinging. He’d spanked her.

“Do you need another?”

He said no pain. It didn’t really hurt, much, although it startled the daylights out of her. She wanted to argue that what he’d done was out of bounds, but the moment of helplessness felt too right to argue with. “No!”

“No what?”

“No, Sir.”

He set her back on her feet, took her hand, and proceeded walking as if nothing had happened. “We’ll try that again. Nervous?”

“No, Sir. I mean Yes. Sir.” She was so confused that, for a moment, she hadn’t focused on what she was answering.

“Lovely.” He opened the door for her. “After you.”

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Sindra van Yssel

She looked around at all the strange furniture in the room. Most of it was in use, but was she going to end up bent over the bench where she’d seen a woman spanked or cuffed to one of the big wooden crosses? She thought about letting go of his hand and bolting. As if he sensed her uncertainty, he tightened his grip.

“What are you going to put me on, Master Aidan?”

He ignored the question. “I’ll need to gather a little equipment for what I have in mind. I don’t want to leave you alone, so you’ll have to come with me.”

“No whips.”

“Nope, no whips. But I don’t want you to see either. Close your eyes.”

She closed her eyes, knowing she’d peek at the next opportunity. But he wrapped something around her head, and it got a lot darker. A blindfold. She’d agreed to that, hadn’t she?

“Now we’re going to travel the quick way,” he told her. He picked her up and started moving. Intellectually, she knew that half-naked people were doing kinky things all around her, but that all disappeared. She hadn’t been carried since she was a child.

“You’ll drop me.”

“Not a chance, cupcake.” He chuckled. “Although I’m beginning to suspect you’re more a spicy little tart. Keep your head down. We’re going through a door.”

They went through two doors, and she got nervous. “Let me go! We’re going to play in public.”

“You’re still in public. Don’t worry about that.”

“Looks like you’ve got your hands full, Master Aidan.” Alex’s familiar voice comforted her. “In more ways than one.”

She relaxed in Aidan’s arms. “Ah, someone you trust more than me,” he murmured. “Master Dylan, could I borrow your wife for a few moments? I wanted to

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get a few things from the kitchen, and I think my sub might relax more if she were present.”

First her fondue pot, now her pastries? What did he intend to do, make her listen to him eat? She couldn’t imagine. What did all this have to do with the things she’d seen in the dungeon?

“When you’re done licking her, of course,” Aidan added.

Even blindfolded, she got a very distinct image. A brief moment of shock was replaced by several seconds of giggling.

“If you promise to get more sugar on her, I’m good,” said Dylan.

“Master!” cried Alex.

“Well, it won’t be pure sugar, but I’ll send her back with something for you to taste,” promised Aidan.

“Don’t I get a say in this?” asked Alex.

“No,” said Dylan. “Run along and help.” She heard a smacking sound and then heard Alex’s footsteps.

“What do you need, Master Aidan?” Alex asked.

Constance was wondering that herself. Aidan set her down on her feet, however, and all she could hear was the soft hiss of a whisper and not the words.

“Oh, you evil man,” said Alex.

That wasn’t very reassuring, and her nervousness must have showed, because Alex added. “Oh, don’t you worry, dear. You’ll be safe.” She touched Constance lightly on the shoulder.