Chapter 29

Mae wanted to cry when Master Xavier left her, returning to that sinister duffel bag. The loss of his body heat made her shiver, even as her scalp ached from his hold.

She couldn’t stop thinking about what he’d said. Had she been topping from the bottom?

This time when Xavier returned he had a flogger. Mae tightened her hold on the straps attached to her cuffs. She wanted him to flog her. She wanted to wear the marks from his beating.

This isn’t you.

“There’s something we haven’t talked about.” Master Xavier rubbed his cheek just under the edge of his mask. She wondered what he looked like without it. What color was his hair? How old was he? He was fit, but had the kind of presence that made her think he might be older.

“Mae?”

“Yes, Master Xavier?”

“Did you hear what I said?”

“No, I’m sorry.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“You, Master Xavier.”

He rocked back on his heels and crossed his arms. “And what were you thinking?”

“I was wondering how old you were and what you looked like under the mask. Why do you wear it?”

“It’s not your place to question me.”

Mae dropped her gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry, Master Xavier.”

He was silent, and she thought he was angry, until he said, “Why do you think I wear it?”

“Because it makes you look like Batman.”

Xavier blinked twice, then started to laugh. He laughed so hard that he braced his hand on the wall near her. His laugh was a wonderful, rich sound. Mae found herself smiling, and wishing she could hold him, feel that joy and mirth against her body.

“Batman?”

“One of the submissives called it a Batman mask. Though no one would dare say it to your face.”

He shifted closer, bracing one forearm above her head so they were separated by mere inches.

“Except you?”

“I’m not thinking straight.”

“Really? Or do you like teasing and sassing your Doms?”

Mae couldn’t deny that. “Is it really such a bad thing?”

“Before meeting you I would have said so, but now…I think it isn’t. But you have to be willing to pay the price.”

“And what’s the price?” she whispered.

His lips brushed her ear. “Whatever I want it to be.” Smooth leather strands trailed over Mae’s upraised leg and she whimpered.

“Are you scared, Mae?”

“Yes.”

“Scared of me, or of the flogger?”

“You.”

“Why?”

“I’ve played with a flogger before, but I don’t think… I think it will be very different if you’re the one using it.”

“Smart girl. It will be. And that brings me back to what we need to talk about.”

Xavier pulled some folded papers from his back pocket and flicked her nipple with them. “This is your checklist.”

“Yes, Master Xavier.” She was so wet, so ready, that if he just flicked her nipple a few more times she might be able to come. Bracing her hips, she thrust her chest forward, begging him without words to touch her.

Xavier stepped back. Mae nearly growled.

“What do you remember about filling out your checklist?”

Mae blew out a frustrated breath. “It was years ago.”

“Years? How long have you been a member?”

“Six years.”

That seemed to surprise him. “How old are you?”

“Don’t you know you shouldn’t ask a lady her age?

“Don’t you know that you should answer when a Master asks you a question?” His voice was cold with warning.

“I’m thirty-one, Master Xavier.”

He grunted in surprise. When he didn’t say anything, Mae had to wonder if her age changed the way he thought of her.

“You didn’t answer my question.”

Shit. “I’m sorry, Master Xavier, could you repeat it?”

“What do you remember about filling out your checklist?”

“I remember reading it was arousing.”

He flipped to the last page, held it up so she could see. “You signed this list, and it’s part of your membership contract with Las Palmas.”

Mae frowned. Why was he pushing this issue? “Yes, Master Xavier.” That was definitely her signature —she’d used glittery purple ink.

“For the purposes of the game, and therefore this scene, you’re bound by what you put on this list.

Anything you marked “yes” or “maybe” to is a valid option.”

“I understand, Master Xavier.”

He turned a few pages, then again held it up for her to see. She recognized her own handwriting—the checkmarks and initials she’d used to indicate her level of interest in each item. Mae narrowed her eyes, wishing for her glasses. Xavier held the paper close to her face.

It was the page with all the “B” items, everything he’d read out loud.

And she’d said yes to every single one.

Mae’s mouth fell open in dawning horror. Suddenly Xavier’s actions made much more sense. She’d been paired with one of the most dangerous Doms, insisted on playing with him even when he’d warned her away, all without realizing that her checklist gave him carte blanche.

“Oh…”

“I was more than a little surprised when I saw your checklist.” There was a hint of amusement in his voice—but not the funny “ha ha” kind.

“I don’t…I don’t remember doing that.” Surely she wouldn’t have said yes to beatings and branding.

“Are you accusing me of something?”

“No.”

The flogger struck the wall with a heavy thunk. “No, what?”

She flinched. “No, Master Xavier.”

“I gave you the chance to leave, Mae. That opportunity is gone. You still have your safe word. What is it?”

“Banana.”

“Say it again.”

“Banana.”

“Good. Using your safe word will pause the scene.”

“Pause it?”

“Yes. Everything I’m about to do to you, you said you were interested in. If I were to end the scene when you used your safe word, you would be in control. But for the next forty-eight hours I’m your master. Everything you have, everything you are, is mine. Use your safe word if you need to, but understand that I will decide if we need to stop, or if you simply need a different approach.”

“Master Xavier, the things on that list. I didn’t understand. I don’t want—”

He pressed the flogger up under her chin, snapping her teeth together and stopping her mid-sentence.

“Don’t insult either of us by pretending you didn’t know what these things were. If you were that ignorant you would never have been allowed in to Las Palmas.”

He moved the flogger, giving her the chance to continue her protest, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. He was right. She’d known what each of those things were, what they meant…she’d just never assumed they would happen to her.

After all, she was the cute, sassy sub who got over-the-knee spankings and punishment by multiple orgasms.

“You want this Mae. You wouldn’t have insisted on staying if you didn’t want it.”

She lowered her head, unable to deny it.

“I won’t go easy on you.” He seemed to want her to acknowledge what he’d said.

Taking a deep breath, Mae mustered all her courage. “I don’t want you to, Master Xavier.”