Queen (Mistress & Master of Restraint) (30 page)

“I’m sorry, Queen. It wa
s only the once,” she pleads. 

“It’s not that you did it or how many times, it’s that you didn’t think I should know something so pivotal. I’m pissed that you didn’t tell me the truth about Faith either. You outright lied to me about why she became Cynthia Brooks. I’ve tried to help her countless times and every time she slams the door in my face. I thought she hated me and I guess
she does- because of what you did. Does Ade know you fucked her fiancé’s partner?” 

“No,” she replies sadly.

“This isn’t a game, Angel. I will punish you for this. You have to tell Ade the truth.” I grip her tiny chin in my big fingers and drill my eyes into hers.

“Yes, Queen. I’ll tell Ade the truth.” She whi
spers, barely moving her lips.

“Lick both of my boots for being a bad girl. I’m very angry with you right now, Angel.”

I gaze down as her tiny, pink tongue tracks a shiny path from the toe of my boot to the zipper that runs up the inside of my calf. I feel many eyes on us, but I don’t look. We may be playing D/s but right now I mean it and it should lend to our validity.

“Good girl, now the next.” I slide my left foot forward for her. She repeats the action and smiles up at me.

I allow my eyes to finally see who’s looking at us. Where there was one, there are now three. I arch an eyebrow at the hovering Masters and it takes all of my will to turn from them. I can’t let them know they interest me.

“Apologize properly and all will be forgiven and never withhold from m
e again. Are we clear, Angel?”

“Yes, Queen. I’m severely sorry. You knowing
lifts the shame from my shoulders. I’ve wanted to tell you, but was afraid. I won’t do it again. I promise,” she vows.

Fate’s eyes go huge and instantly drop to the floor. Her arms hug my thigh and she buries her face into the side of my leg. I turn my face slowly. I already know what I will see by her reaction.
“Gentleman,” I purr smoothly in greeting. 

Ezra and Cort circle me like sharks scenting blood. I know who they are, but not who is who since they’re wearing black hoods over their heads. It covers them to the shoulder and has holes for the eyes and mouth. Their clothing is identical Italian designer label suits. Even their shoes are the same. Their eyes glow like steel ball-bearings from the safety of their masks. The mouths are different- one serious, one snarky- both ruby-red and kissable.

While they circle Fate and me several times taking our measure, the other Master stands in a sphere of his own confidence. He’s older and I don’t mean just in age, but knowledge. Ezra and Cortez feel like babies compared to this man. I bet he’s who I really have to impress.

I wait, always meeting their eyes when their path moves them back to my face. I don’t follow them with my gaze- I wait.

“Hello,” the hood with the serious lips speaks in a smooth deep tone. I know it’s not his true voice, but the one Kris calls
The Boss.
His eyes are kind and assessing.

No one pays Fate any mind as she cowers at my thigh. I hold their undivided attention. Curly-locks
is quiet- watchful- a predator sighting its quarry. Snarky mouth is leering at my chest and I smirk.
Caught ya, Cortez Abernathy.

“I seem to be at a disadvantage conversing with you while you’re hooded. I can’t see you, but you can see me.” I try to get them to out themselves. It’s a longshot.
“And who are you, Ma’am?” Ezra asks respectfully.

“Please call me Queen.” I draw on all of my lessons from Hillbrook to pull me through this conversation. The power in the air is stifling. I wonder if it’s difficult for them to be in the same room without having a cage match for dominance. I feel like I’m on
Animal Planet
and the lions are circling.

“Queen, indeed,” Cort says snidely under his breath and I wince. I turn my face from them in embarrassment.

I should have gone with something less- less everything. I know I’m strong, but the word also emulates elegance and beauty. I’m neither. Have to say, tonight has sucked for my self-esteem. First, the dominant one overlooks me for Fate and now Cortez makes fun of me- lovely.

“What did you say to up
set her?” Ezra accuses Cortez.

“Nothing,” Cort complains in confusion.

“Please excuse my partner. Words are his profession and it seems they have failed him this evening. I will apologize for not sharing our names, but this gentleman is Dexter.” He gestures to the dominant man. I wait for him to shake my hand like a civilized person. He does not- he actually crosses his arms over his chest in disobedience. This shit is going to be a piece of cake. I sigh audibly.

“The submissive at my feet is Angel. I apologize, but she’s feeling rather overwhelmed with all the power flowing from you guys.”

Cortez chuckles and Ezra swats him.

“Please excuse his behavior. He’s only a few days out of training. I think his Master isn’t pleased at the moment.” Ezra looks at the man named Dexter and he shrugs not giv
ing a shit how Cortez behaves.

“He already has a black-eye, Boss. I’ve washed my hands of him. My female is bad enough. I couldn’t stand training them both at the same time. I’ve cut my losses,” Dexter says and puts his hands up in defeat. 

Cortez outwardly leers at my chest and it makes me feel uncomfortable. I want the floor to swallow me whole.

“If you do not remove your eyes from her décolletage, I’ll send you to Master. Would you enjoy that? I know he can get you into hand.” Ezra threatens in a voice th
at sends chills down my spine.

If Mr. short, dark, and hung isn’t Master, who the hell is? I need to meet him.

“If she didn’t want me to look, she wouldn’t be on display. What, are you jealous?” The brat baits him.
I feel sick. I’m supposed to be respectable, not a piece of meat. Kris dressed me as a cliché. I already have a submissive; I don’t need to dress as if I’m on the prowl. Plus my ginormous body on display would make them run, not draw them in. I need the respect of the Masters, not be seen as a joke. I know that I hold no respect since Dexter refused to shake my hand and Cort is using me to piss off his boyfriend. I fucked up.

I reach down and stroke Fate’s hair in comfort. I want to pull her to her feet and flee this shithole, but I can’t let Ade down. Her freedom depends on us.

I ignore the fact that Ezra has Cort pressed up against the wall by a hand on his throat and he is growling words of malice. Cortez’s eyes glow with mischievousness that I’m sure is egging on his partner’s annoyance.  It’s a cock measuring contest and I’m short one cock.

I feel for Fate. She’s shaking against my leg in fear. I massage her scalp and murmur words of comfort to her. I wish someone would comfort me, but someone has to be in
charge, it may as well be me.

“May I see your sub’s face, please?” Cort asks nicely and his eyes and mouth are serious now. Apparently Ezra managed to appropriately cow the brat.

I assess Fate’s demeanor. She knows him enough to have slept with him. Her sister dated him for years. I’m not afraid of the spoiled brat I met over a decade ago. I tip Fate’s face with a fingertip at her chin. I look into her glazed over eyes. She’s enjoying the endorphins flooding her veins courtesy of her fear.

“You may,” I say to
Cort, never breaking her gaze.

I watch Cortez waiting for recognition to hit. He stares at her openly, but doesn’t acknowl
edge her. Maybe we lucked out.

“You’re very controlled. Have you trained under a Master in another city? I’d know if you trained here.” D
exter watches me as he speaks.

“No, this is my first time to a club, actually. I was born like this. I played in private. I wasn’t aware it was a lifestyle choice. Please excuse my ignorance.” I decide on honesty. I won’t tell them who I am, but a lie is easier to remember whe
n it is parallel to the truth.

“Would you be interested in training?” He watches me like a hawk for my reaction.
“I would like to, very much so.” I answer him truthfully. I think I need it. I need something to remove the numb that has deadened my soul.

“She’ll need to apply for membership first. We’ll need your information and your real names,” Ezra says
barely covering his curiosity.

“I guess we’re at an impasse, gentleman. I will not release my identity. Please forgive me, but I would think that the two of you would understand anonymity,” I gesture to their hoods.

“We could send her to Master. You would have to tell him your true identity, but it wouldn’t go past him.” Dexter supplies eagerly. He seems excited to have me here and I’m unsure why. Maybe he wants to get his hands on my sub.

“I know them both,” Cort’s words are a shot to the heart. “The submissive is Fate Simpson,” he says with amusement. Both Ezra and Dexter start choking. I could care less. I’m just waiting for him to say my name, too. I lock eyes with him waiting for him to drop the bombshe
ll that will implode my world.

“I don’t think she would be a good idea for our membership, do you, Boss? It’s not a good idea?” Dexter looks really uncomfortable, like his s
kin shrunk and caught on fire.

“Why?” I demand angrily. “Is this because of the reputation her father cast on the Simpson name? It’s not appropriate to judge the child for the father’s sins.” I
hiss my annoyance.
Dexter and Ezra try to tell me that it isn’t that but Cort cuts them off.

“Who in their right mind would trust a Simpson in this city? I wouldn’t trust her with my money and there’s no way I would trust her with my identity.” He says angrily and his partners try
to speak their voice over him.

“I trust her with mine. And I assure you that my wealth makes yours look like pocket-change,” I taunt.

His eyes brighten and I realize too late that I answered exactly the way he wanted.

“Shit,” I slur.

I gain the attention of all three men. Each is looking at me as if I hold the secrets of the universe in my identity. Only Dexter’s gaze makes me feel transparent.

“Fate Simpson is the figurehead of
Empowerment.
Masters, I do believe we have the elusive, reclusive creator of
Empowerment
in our establishment. And who may you be, Queen? We’re all dying to know. No matter how many ways we try to get around all of your dummy corporations to find the real owner, we hit a new roadblock. It’s impressive.” I can see his curiosity shining out from his hood.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ezra Zeitler,” I say to the correct hood. I see his eyes flare like a scared horse. I grin as I turn to the other hood. “And fuck you, Cortez Abernathy. Your books suck,” I try for venomous, but it falls short. I can’t really lie well. His books are pretty good. Fate clings to my legs as I laugh in their faces. I expect Cort to retaliate by saying my name, but maybe he doesn’t really know it. He just know what I am, but not who.

“My sources are better than yours, it may seem,” I say cockily.

“Can we keep her? I want to play battle-of-the-wills with this bitch. Please,” he whines to Dexter. “I think you should train her. It would be easy with two females.” He says deviously.

“Not a good fucking idea, Asswipe, and you know why. It’s the same reason training the two of you was a nightmare. I must have done something awful in a past life for this shit to show up on my doorstep,” Dexter groans into his hands and pulls them through his curly hair.

“I
do
know who she is. Master can’t train her because of who he’s training. It would be worse consequences. Trust me, Dexter.”

“I don’t trust you at all. I think you’re trying to make it so you can train her. You’re still a toddler; it’s not going to happen. We will allow Master to choose the correct path.”

“Alright, who is she. What the hell am I missing?” Ezra asks in complete ignorance.

Dexter and Cortez shake their heads no in perfect synchronization. I’m at a loss as well. I look to Fate for some insight and she shrugs and goes back to cowering.

“Give me your cellphone number. I’ll contact you with our Master’s response.”  The man in charge- Dexter- takes charge.

Chapter Six

In anticipation of my new life at Restraint and training with the
Master
, I went out and bought a new wardrobe that was more respectful and less drag-queen prostitute style. I invested in several bust-minimizing bras in a size too small to shrink my assets. I was so embarrassed by how I looked in my “outfit” that I threw it away, started a diet, and decided exercise was a wise decision.

I’ve always been confident about my sexuality. But my thoughts have veered to how Grant was coerced into our affair just as much as I was. He was probably making the best of the situation. I know he loved me, but that didn’t make me a supermodel. Now that I have to do this to protect Ade, I realized how unattractive I am and it fucking hurts.