King of Clubs (5 page)

“No!” Awai was reaching for her whip at her bedside at the same moment she realized she’d been dreaming.

She flopped back on her pillow and stared at the ceiling, her heart pounding and the dream still vivid in her mind. The room she was in was dark save for the glow of a single fat candle beside her bed. She turned toward it and frowned. Why did she leave a candle burning?

And then it all came back to her. Ty, the palace, his stories about her nieces and their children, his being a weretiger.

Ice slid over her and she tried to tell herself that had all been a dream, too. But even in the dim candlelight she could see that she was in unfamiliar surroundings. The same room that Ty and Kalina had left her in last night.

She started to climb out of bed and froze when she saw a gigantic tiger stretched out on the floor, its blue eyes focused on her.

Sleep, tigress,
came Ty’s voice, calm and soothing in her mind.

Awai scrambled under her covers and pulled them over her head. “It’s all a dream. Only a dream,” she whispered.

When Awai woke again, it was morning and she realized at once she was definitely not dreaming. She was in some kind of wonderland, with a gorgeous man who claimed she was to be his Queen.

Yeah, right.
That was sane.

After a servant brought in breakfast and Awai ate, she dressed and began pacing the room Ty had left her in. Sunshine bathed the chamber as the sun rose over the hills. A cool breeze blew in through an open window, stiffening her nipples through the thin cotton of her blouse.

She’d disregarded the robes laid out for her and instead had put her own clothing back on. Last night she’d washed her underwear out and hung it up to dry. Her blouse and skirt were still clean, so she figured she’d wear them until she could find something more suitable to wear, like a shirt and pants. She wasn’t about to dress in clinging robes that showed her body off like the other women wore in this place. Maybe the robes weren’t so bad, but she felt a need to have some kind of control of her own.

When she finally went to bed last night she’d wondered where Ty had gone. What if he’d slept with another woman? There were plenty of beauties in this place from what she’d seen when he escorted her through the palace. Not to mention the sorceress who had brought her dinner and had drawn her bath.

Awai frowned at the jealousy that pooled in her belly. She’d been in enough one night stand BDSM relationships to care less about any man in particular. She’d never allowed herself to become attached to any one person, and had avoided personal intimacy. Sexual intimacy was one thing, but allowing a sub to know anything about her life outside the clubs was something she’d never permitted. The fact that she’d shared so much with Ty yesterday—that blew her away.

Then Awai remembered the dream about cherry blossoms and a pure white tiger and she paused in her pacing. Ty had been sleeping beside her bed in his tiger form and had spoken in her mind again. Something about his voice had been calming enough that she’d fallen back asleep.

“Are you ready to submit to me, tigress?” came Ty’s deep penetrating voice from the doorway.

Awai whirled to face Ty and to see that he was even more incredibly handsome than she remembered. Again he was wearing only his leather pants and lace-up boots and his long blond hair fell freely about his shoulders. She wanted to drop to her knees right then and there and say, “Take me, Master!”

And by the cocky look in his blue eyes, she had no doubt he could read the desire in her eyes.

“I need suitable clothes.” She gestured toward the silky black robe lying over a clothing trunk. “That isn’t what I call suitable.”

Ty raised one eyebrow. “In the palace, it is what women wear. And when you agree to be my submissive, you will wear what I choose for you.”

Before she could take the argument any further, he gave her that sexy little smile of his that made her heart melt a little more. He held out his hand and suddenly in his grasp was a pair of short boots. He handed them to her, and she found they were lined with something soft like sheepskin, and once she slipped them on, she discovered they actually looked good with her short skirt.

“Come,” he said as he reached for her hand. “Let me show you more of my realm.”

Surprisingly, Awai found herself looking forward to learning more about this world that she and her nieces were in. Although she had yet to discover their collective well-being, somehow she trusted Ty in that they were doing well, that they were healthy, and cripes, that they were happy as mothers and wives.

I must be out of my mind.
Since when did she trust the word of someone who was a virtual stranger to her?

Ty led her through the palace and then took her down a winding path. The air smelled of sunshine, wet earth, crisp pine, flowers, and other scents she couldn’t identify.

He took Awai to his village first, and in her short skirt and midriff blouse, she felt extremely underdressed compared to the women of the village. Most wore robes, although many also wore shirts and leather pants. She was beginning to wish she’d worn the robe.

The village was an amazing place filled with color, music, laughter, and magic. She spent her time absorbing her surroundings while Ty spoke with his subjects and as he showed her the various shops. People bowed when he passed, and it was obvious in their motions and in their expressions that they respected and loved their King.

Was he showing her all this to impress her? Awai’s old suspicions plagued her as she studied the man, but her instinct told her no.

He wasn’t making an attempt to impress. He was simply sharing what had meaning, showing her his heart.

It was almost more than she could stand, considering she wanted to keep all inner walls firmly in place.

While he talked with the swordmaster about the order of weapons she was making for him, Awai took in the sights and sounds and scents of the village to distract herself. Warm smells of baked bread and cookies came from the bakery and the smell of fresh fish from the fishmongers’. A cart filled with round and oblong fruits passed by. Behind it was a woman who seemed to be directing the cart with flicks of her wrist, but she wasn’t actually touching the cart.

Magic. This whole place is powered by a force I don’t even understand…

Awai’s eyes strayed back to Ty, who indeed appeared to be a mysterious force as he admired the swordmaster’s blades. The muscles in his arms bulged and rippled as he lifted a white-gold dagger. The sun’s reflections on the blade were the same color as his hair. Indeed, she had never seen a man so beautiful, or so…basic. Ty seemed to have no artifice about him at all.

Enough! That can’t be true. All men can deceive, and any man might.
Shaking her head, Awai forced herself back to reality. Whatever that was.

For lunch they ate at an outdoor deli of sorts where their food appeared on the table before them. While they ate the spicy meat-filled pastries, Ty and Awai talked. He explained to her in more detail about his world and how their systems of trade worked and what his Kingdom’s specialties were. It was obvious he was proud of his people and his Kingdom and Awai found herself admiring him even more, despite her best intentions not to let him any closer.

After they’d finished eating, Ty took Awai up the hill and into the sweeping fall of cherry blossoms. At first it brought back the memory of her dream, but she brushed it away, not wanting to ruin the day just because she’d had a nightmare.

They walked through the grove, blossoms raining down and floating on the wind like small flurries of snow. Awai laughed as they caressed her face and landed in her hair. When she saw Ty’s flower-studded hair she gave a little school-girl giggle then clamped her hand over her mouth.

Ty smiled and brought her into his embrace. Without hesitation, he kissed her. A soft, slow kiss that soon deepened until her head was spinning and her body was crying out for him. She wanted him to take her here in the cherry blossoms, here where they were still in view of the palace, here where she would do whatever he asked of her.

She broke the kiss. “You were serious…” Awai swallowed then continued, “If I become your submissive, and I’m uncomfortable with anything, I can tell you and you won’t push me?”

“I would never hurt you, my sweet tigress.” His expression was sincere and caring. “As you no doubt know, any responsible Dominant dedicates himself—or herself—to caring for the needs of the submissive. Look into your heart, your instincts, and ask yourself if you feel that I would meet those needs?”

She looked up at him, confused yet certain all at the same time. Maybe she was out of her mind, but he was giving her the choice. And she believed him when he said he would never push her beyond what she was comfortable with.

Was he right, too, that she needed to submit to fully heal her wounds?

And what about filling my deepest fantasies, the ones I’ve never told anyone…barely even myself…

Awai bit her lower lip then slowly nodded. “All right. I’ll give it a try.”

The most sexy, seductive smile broke across Ty’s face. He slid his hand into her hair and roughly brought her to him, this time kissing her hard and demanding, like she’d never been kissed before. Everything around her whirled. She’d never been so lost, so totally immersed in a kiss before. It gave her that shivery excited feeling that she’d always heard about but had never truly experienced until this very moment.

His intoxicating male scent surrounded her, mingling with the perfume of cherry blossoms and…pipe tobacco?

Ty pulled away from her, groaned, and put his forehead against hers. “Pillar.”

Awai’s mouth still felt hot and warm from his kiss, her senses still swirling. “Excuse me?”

“He means me, missy,” a squeaky voice said.

Her gaze shot in the direction of the voice and to her surprise she saw a small man sitting cross-legged on a gigantic toadstool that was as high as her waist and the top was at least twice the size of her hips. The man was smoking a long pipe that looked similar to a peace-pipe. The scent of the tobacco was making her woozy…and very horny for Ty.

“Welcome to Clubs,” Ty said with a bow to the little man. He turned to Awai. “Câter Pillar is of the Munchfolk. Apparently he has chosen to grace us with his presence as well as the
cerih
pipe.”

Awai almost giggled at the thought of the pipe-smoking caterpillar on the mushroom in Alice in Wonderland, but she managed to keep a straight face as she said, “Nice to meet you, Mr. Pillar.”

“Just Pillar.” The man extended his short arm toward Awai, holding out the pipe. “One puff each and I’ll be off!”

“Er…” Awai looked up at Ty and he gave her a firm nod. As she turned back to the little man and took the pipe, it occurred to her that she was already deferring to Ty as her Dom. That caused her a moment’s hesitation, but then she realized she had already told him she would be his submissive.

“Thank you, Pillar,” she said, not at all sure she was thankful as she brought the pipe to her lips. But when she took a puff of the cherry-flavored tobacco, her entire body responded. Just being with Ty had already made her hot and wet for him, but something about this
cerih
pipe made her beyond aroused. She wanted to jump Ty now, caterpillar man be damned.

Her eyes were heavy-lidded as she handed the pipe to Ty. He smiled, his gaze appraising nipples that raised the material of her thin shirt. He puffed on the pipe then returned the long device to Pillar.

The little man stood on the mushroom, gave a flourishing bow, then the next thing Awai knew, she was staring at a few sparkles.

Pillar was gone.

“How’d he do that?” She looked up at Ty who had his arms folded across his chest.

“He is Munchfolk. It is the way of their people.” His expression went completely serious. “You are certain you wish to submit to me?”

Awai nodded. She’d clearly made up her mind before the woozy horny feeling she was experiencing right now. “Yes.”

His features hardened into those of a true Dom. “You will refer to me as Your Majesty, or simply Majesty.” His sapphire blue eyes darkened as he added, “starting this very moment.”

Well, damn.
He certainly wasn’t taking any time getting into his role. Awai bit back a retort, automatically wanting to reject his demands. Of course she had insisted her subs refer to her as Mistress, so this situation was certainly no different.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” she murmured and lowered her eyes. To her surprise the submissiveness of the act aroused her.

Within her line of sight, he gestured to the moss-covered tree behind her. “Move so that your back is against it and raise your hands above your head.”

She shivered with excitement at the command in his tone, but did as he ordered. The
cerih
pipe had made her relaxed and languid, and she felt any of her remaining inhibitions draining away.

When she was against the tree, her hands high, Ty held out his palm and two lengths of golden rope appeared in his palm.

“How do you do that?” she blurted. Ty frowned, and she added, “Your Majesty.”

“It is a talent of my people.” He reached for her hands which she still held above her head. “In the future do not ask questions unless you have asked for permission first.”

A moment of fear passed through Awai as he bound her hands to the tree. Her voice trembled a little as she said, “Yes, Majesty.”

With the second length of rope, Ty fastened it around her waist so that she was firmly tied to the tree. When he was finished, he studied her as though she was a fine portrait, then reached up and pushed her blouse so that it was above her nipples. Cool air brushed the taut nubs and Awai bit her lip to keep from moaning.

Ty gave a satisfied nod then held out his hand again. On his palm appeared a pair of gold club charms. He leaned down and flicked his tongue over one of her nipples, causing her to gasp. In the next moment he was fastening one of the charms over her nipple and pulling the loop taut. The hard nub quickly turned purple, engorged with blood. Awai squirmed from the pain and pleasure of it. He slipped another nipple ring on her other breast and this time she arched up to him, pulling against her bonds, begging him for more.