Sugar Dust (14 page)

A little shiver rippled through her as the first leather strap closed over her wrist. It cinched tight and the solid pressure reduced mobility there and made her heart quicken. The leather creaked as he fastened the second one, its faintly woody scent filling her nostrils. Hardening nipples drew her attention downward while the heat in her chest and stomach burst in long, fanning tendrils that flowed through the rest of her body. Dan’s hands teased down her legs until they reached her ankles, stroking each one before adding more leather.

“Now the collar,” he whispered.

Karen closed her eyes and tracked Dan’s movements with her ears.

Feather light, his fingers whispered over her throat, lingering in the hollow where the faint ache reminded her of the sharp press of his teeth. He kissed her. Traced both her lips with the very tip of his tongue then kissed her again, invading her mouth with an insistent thrust.

Beneath the brush of his stubbly jaw, her skin prickled. He tasted of mint and the scent of toothpaste lingered long after his lips left hers. Fresh sparks of pleasure filled her groin, and she rubbed her thighs together. The bell jangled. Thick leather creaked and a faint whiff of Dan’s shower gel filled Karen’s nostrils before the collar closed about her throat. She opened her eyes and found Dan watching her. His expression fanned the fire in her belly. She groaned.

“Do we have to go back out there, Sir?”

“No.” Again he traced her lips with his tongue. “But I want to.”

“Let’s stay here.” She touched his hip with one hand, thumbing an erect nipple through his shirt with the other. “Let me suck you again.”

Grinning, Dan kissed her fingers then stepped back. “Later, little Kitten.”

Karen sighed. Nodded. “Yes, Sir.”

“That’s my girl.” He moved close again, near enough to touch her nose with his. His eyes were dark and filled with the need she felt in his trembling hand as he cupped her cheek. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

She squirmed beneath his touch. Her cheeks warmed, a softer heat filling her lower body. “Thanks, Sir.”

He fitted the headband on to her hair. “Let’s go.”

***

K
aren glanced at Dan from her position on the floor. Pressed close to his legs, she could feel the rumble of his voice through her chest. She pawed the carpet and glanced over her shoulder at the milling crowds.

The soft murmur of conversation filled the air, broken occasionally by the crack of a whip, or a surprised shriek from one of the demo stalls. One in particular, with a large crowd jostling for space, demonstrated a selection of violet wand attachments. The scent of ozone and singed hair rapidly filled the space.

Dan stepped forward, peering at a selection of riding crops. The motion tugged the leash attached to her collar, and she shuffled across the soft carpet. A couple of mewling cries didn’t catch his attention nor did a gentle “paw” against his foot. So she lowered her head to his ankle and bit him through his pants leg.

“Ouch!”

A crop bounced off Karen’s head.

“What’s wrong?” He bent to rub his ankle.

Swallowing the urge to smirk, she mimed eating from a bowl on the floor.

His expression softened. “Poor, Kitten. Okay.” He handed some cash to the vendor and retrieved the fallen crop.

The shaft was blue with black stripes and a flat, heart shaped head. He gave it an experimental swish, swatting at her shoulders. “Very nice. What do you want?”

Karen craned her neck. Then mewled.

“Oh, go on then.”

Both knees creaked in gratitude as she bounded to her feet. When Dan unclipped the leash from her collar she stretched then cast a pointed glance at the buffet table. Another mew.

“Find yourself something nice,” he said, still swishing the crop. “Bring it back to me.”

Spurred by the growling of her stomach, Karen bounded over to the table and began piling snacks on a plate. She reached the mini sausages and bumped hands with a tall, broad figure wearing a full-head leather mask, thong, and little else.

“Sorry,” he said, muffled by leather.

“It’s fine.” She waited for him to move aside but he didn’t. Instead, he stepped closer and dropped a heavy hand on her shoulder.

“You’re Spanx’s kitten.”

Her breathing quickened as she recognized the figure as the one looming over Bethany earlier that night. Bones. She searched the area behind him for his companion.

“It is you, right? Karen?”

She stepped back and brought her plate close to her stomach. “Yes.”

He made a sound like a purr, though through the leather it sounded more like a growl. “Pretty little pussy, aren’t you?”

Stunned, her mouth opened and closed twice before words came out. When they did, they were soft and strangled. “Thank you.”

“How long are you staying?”

“Two nights.”

He smiled, or seemed to, through the narrow mouth slit in the mask. “Same here. We’re looking for playmates to pass some of the time. Don’t suppose you know anyone?” He touched her shoulder again, this time with the tip of his finger, tracing a lazy swirl down her arm.

Karen jumped. Frowned. Stepped back until her hip bumped the buffet table. “I—” She fought back the tiny flutter of unease.
He’s just trying his luck, like any idiot in a nightclub.

“I only know Master.” She made her voice clear and firm.

Bones glanced past her then back again. This time there was no mistaking the motions of his mouth. A sneer. “Yes, Spanx. Lady Bee told me about him. A bit soft, isn’t he?”

The plate creaked as Karen tightened her grip on it. “Depends what you mean by
soft
.”

“A bit vanilla.”

Unease became irritation at the attack on her master. “Everyone has their own style.”

“If you say so.” This time Bones grabbed her arm, a tight, crushing grip. His gaze lingered on her bare breasts. “Why don’t you come with me? Experience
my
style.”

She jerked free. “You’re a sub.” Confusion tightened her lips.

“Only for Lady Bee. I switch quite comfortably when the mood takes me.” He slid forward, close enough that his hip pressed into her side and his long arm draped around her shoulder, pulling her in to his chest.

Karen’s stomach lurched. Stiffness crawled across her neck and shoulders. She looked for Dan, but he faced the other way, talking to another vendor selling nipple clamps and matching weights. “Let go.”

“Come to our table.”

“No.”

“Come on.” White teeth flashed through the gap in the mask. “Bring Spanx if you must. I’m sure Lady Bee won’t mind spanking his ass. Where do you think he got the name?”

She narrowed her eyes. “Master doesn’t sub.”

“That’s not what I’ve heard.”

She sucked her teeth, and took the proffered bait, fighting to control her temper. “Meaning?”

Instead of answering, Bones steered her around, plate and all. His arm became an immovable weight, inexorably guiding her away from the table, away from the food, and away from Dan.

“Wait—”

“It’s fine,” he cut across her. “We’re just going for a walk.”

She heard her heartbeat flood her ears. Felt a hot flush of blood through her veins. Tightening in her throat that had nothing to do with the collar. Thinking of the collar reminded her she was trapped. Locked in the social niceties expected between dominants and submissives. This was nothing like a nightclub.

At a loss, Karen tossed back her head and screeched, high and shrill. The call fell somewhere between harpy and cat’s tail stuck in a door, but it had the affect she wanted. Bones grunted and leaned back, taking his rough hands with him.

A hush rippled through the crowd. The whip stopped cracking. Several heads turned in her direction. Two ushers paused their conversation and watched closely, one taking half a step forward.

“What the hell?” Bones looked angry instead of alarmed. His arm snaked out yet again and she opened her mouth to repeat the call.

Then, Dan stood at her side, slapping at Bones’ approaching hand. “Down,” he snapped.

Karen’s knees immediately hit the carpet, hands forming fists that she let rest in her lap. The abandoned plate rolled away, leaving a trail of mini sausages, scotch eggs, and grapes.

Just as her own anger began to burn, the comforting warmth of Dan’s fingers touched the back of her neck. Sighing, she leaned against his shins and closed her eyes while her heart rate returned to normal. He was here. Master would protect her.

“What are you playing at?”

It took several seconds to realize the question wasn’t aimed at her. She risked looking up and saw Dan staring at Bones with an expression she had never seen before. Dark. Cold. Angry.

Bones chuckled. “Talking to the pussy.”

She hissed at him, falling back into her role easily with Dan at her side. Her nails raked Bones’ shin, and he flinched back with a cry.

“Kitten,” Dan corrected. “And you weren’t talking. You were touching.”

Bones rubbed his scratched leg. “Was I?”

“Yes. It’s not allowed without permission.”

“Your permission, I suppose? Big, bad dominant that you are.”

Dan took a single step forward. “Hers.”

The response seemed to catch Bones off guard. His mouth twitched beneath the mask. “Hers?”

“Damn right. And if you don’t understand why then you shouldn’t be here. Come.”

This last part Karen knew was meant for her and she followed Dan on her hands and knees as he stalked away. Her crawl turned into a lope, then an awkward half gallop as his pace became too much. She cried out.

“Sorry, Kaz. Two legs now.”

She stood just as the ushers arrived.

“Everything, okay?” said the first, a sandy haired man with a body shaped like a bowling pin. He wore a black net shirt over a bare chest and tight leather pants.

Dan blew a deep breath through his nose. “Minor misunderstanding. We’re fine.”

“Sure?”

“Yes, thanks. I’m taking her downstairs now.”

In any other situation Karen might have resented the conversation about her welfare failing to include her opinion. Here, with her heart still racing, her head still light and dizzy, she could think of nothing more than her narrow escape.

“Fine. Have fun.” The usher beckoned his companion and they moved back into the crowds, aiming for Bones who stared at them with his arms folded.

Karen’s stomach writhed. The air felt hot and close, tight in her chest.

“You okay?” Dan’s voice caressed her ear, soft and soothing.

“No, Sir.”

“What did he do?”

“Nothing really.” She wrung her hands. “But I’ve never felt like that before. Helpless. I didn’t know what to do.”

“You don’t normally have a problem with idiots like that.”

“I don’t normally meet them at kink clubs, Sir. That was new to me. I don’t know the protocol.”

Dan stared for so long that she felt her cheeks grow warm. She tried to duck her head, but he tucked his fingers beneath her chin and held her in place. “Don’t look away from me, Kaz. I want you to look at me when I tell you this.”

His tone made her focus on his eyes.

“You’re mine, understand? But if another dickhead like that comes along while we’re playing, do whatever you need to. Punch him, kick him in the balls, I don’t care. But don’t make yourself a victim. You’re not a victim, that’s one of the reasons I love you.”

Karen’s heart skipped in her chest. Sounds died away. Crowds faded. Nothing existed but the sincerity of Dan’s voice and the firm pressure of his hands on her shoulders. His eyes, brown and intense, fixed on hers as though she were the only other being in the world.

A giggle slipped out of her mouth. Even to her own ears it sounded crazed, but before she could stop it, another one followed. Within an instant she was laughing openly, the wild, hysterical song of one thrilled to the point of bursting. She wanted to sing. To leap into the air. To scream and shout at the top of her lungs, to hug anybody who would let her.

He stared at her. “What?”

“You said it,” she burst out, stuffing one hand against her mouth, as if that small gesture might stop her glee from spilling over.

“What?”

“You love me. You said you love me.”

“No.” Dan’s face turned a queer shade of green. “I didn’t. I said—”

“You did,” she insisted, prodding him in the chest. “
One of the reasons you love me
, that’s what you said.” With a hop she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close.

He froze beneath her, but even his stunned silence couldn’t temper the joy. Dan eventually pulled back. “Okay.” A tide of red crept up his neck and face. A little stutter broke up his words. “Now what? What does that mean?”

She kissed his nose. “Nothing. Everything. Don’t worry about it.”

He cleared his throat and tugged his shirt collar. “Let’s get something to eat.” Avoiding her eyes, he led her back to the buffet table.

Karen smiled the whole time, gazing at the side of his face while playing with the links of her slave band.
It’s true...he does love me.

Chapter Twelve

Dan glanced at the unfamiliar ceiling and sat up straight. Beside him, Karen yelped and slid off the slippery sheets onto the floor face first.

“What the hell?” she snapped, easing back into view. “You frightened the crap out of me.”

“Sorry. I didn’t know where I was for a second.”

Karen rolled her eyes.

“Come up here.”

“I need to pee first.”

He watched her walk away, admiring the play of dappled morning light on her naked skin. Yet again he thought of how lucky he was.

Cat like, he stretched on the bed until his spine and hips cracked. “How are you feeling?”

“Fine. Why?”

“Not sore? I bloody am.”

A soft snicker came from the bathroom. “I’m in better shape than you.”

“But you did more acrobatics than me. Where did you learn to bend like that, anyway?”

“Yoga.”

“Really? Hannah can’t get her ankles that close to her face, let alone keep them there without her using hands.”

“Hannah clearly doesn’t practice enough.”