Chapter 35

Mae closed her eyes, competing feelings of relief and anger warring within her. Relief from having him in control and anger for this heartless charade he’d put her through.

“Look at me.”

Mae met his gaze, and there was something in his eyes that seemed to echo what she was feeling. He tipped her head back a fraction, gaze hardening until his eyes were as unreadable as his masked face.

“You will submit. You will behave.”

“Yes, Master Xavier,” she murmured.

“Good.” Xavier released her.

James was rubbing his jaw and looking at her in a decidedly unfriendly way. “Mae was always a bit bratty, but this is new.” He looked from Xavier to her. “You two need to talk. I have this room reserved for the weekend. You’re welcome to it until this evening.”

The other Dom clapped Xavier on the shoulder before leaving and closing the door behind him.

Now that she was alone with Master Xavier, Mae didn’t know what to say, what to feel.

Their gazes met once more, and she had this strange feeling that Xavier was just as much at a loss as she was. She’d never even spoken to him until twelve hours ago, and yet the idea that he’d dismissed her by passing her off to another Master had shredded her heart. That he had the power to impact her so heavily was beyond worrying. It was terrifying.

“I didn’t mean to upset you.”

His words were both unexpected and infuriating. “You gave me to another Dom.” Mae tried to keep the emotion out of her voice, to match his level tone. “How did you think that would make me feel?” She wasn’t succeeding—pain leaked into her words.

He shook his head. “I don’t own you. I couldn’t give you away, even if I wanted to. And I don’t.”

“I thought…” Mae blinked to keep tears from falling.

“James is the kind of Dom you like. I thought you’d be comfortable with him.”

“I didn’t walk away last night when you told me to, so now you’re trying to get rid of me this way? Then you could have a sub who won’t ever talk back or be scared.” Mae spat each word, losing the battle with her feelings. Pain and a sense of betrayal made her long to lash out again.

Xavier grabbed her hips, jerking them against his. For the first time she felt the hard length of his erection. The evidence of his desire took her breath away.

“I thought you’d be comfortable telling him the truth.” Xavier’s face was only inches from hers, his voice a growl.

“Truth about what?” she breathed.

“Whether you really wanted to include sex in our session.”

Chain rattled as Mae reached for him only to be brought up short. “How could you doubt it?”

“A Dom can’t change the terms of a scene while it’s happening. Submissives will agree to things they shouldn’t when they’re in subspace.” Xavier’s hand moved up her side until his thumb was poised at the bottom swell of her breast. “They’ll do things like say yes to everything on the checklist because they’re turned on while they’re filling out the form.” His lips twitched and the corners of his eyes—just barely visible behind the mask—crinkled. Mae blushed.

“I needed to know if you really wanted more than straight BDSM play.” His eyes were new-leaf green, the daylight making them appear lighter than they had last night. “What James said was true—you’ll be completely at my mercy. I told you that I’d push you. I did, and I will, because there’s something inside you begging to be let out. And because it’s what I want, what I need to do to you.”

Mae closed her eyes. The answer to the question of sex was a resounding “yes,” but the rest of it was a bit more complicated. They’d spent only a few hours together and yet he’d had more impact on her than any other Dom in years. If they kept going there was no telling who she’d be when they reached the other side.

“I want you.” It was the simple truth, and Mae hoped it was enough. “I want you to touch me, dominate me. In every way.”

Xavier’s hand closed over her breast as his lips captured hers in a savage kiss. Mae arched into him, wanting every bit of contact he would give her. She moved her hips side to side, rubbing his cock with her lower belly. His free hand closed over her abused ass and she bit his lip in reaction to the sudden stab of pain.

Xavier growled and jerked her head back. “Did you just bite me, Red?”

“It was an accident, Master.” She was half distracted by the nickname, but the intensity of his stare warned her to concentrate, to watch him and obey his commands.

“I’m going to bite you, and it’s not going to be an accident.” He smiled darkly. “Good of you to remind me that we have checklist items yet to complete. I think we should take care of ‘biting’ right now.”

Master Xavier dropped to one knee, his mouth level with her bellybutton.

“Spread your legs, Mae.”

She inched her feet apart, exposing her wet core. Her heart was pounding so loud she thought he’d be able to hear it. It wasn’t fear of him biting her sensitive pussy that had her blood racing, but anticipation of him finally touching her.

Xavier lowered his head, Mae sucked in a breath, and he bit the inside of her right thigh.

The pressure-pain of the bite was so close to her aching pussy that it only made her body throb harder.

“Master Xavier, please. I can’t wait any more.” Couldn’t he see how wet she was? How much she needed him?

“You will wait.” His words brushed her pussy. “I like you this way. Wet. Needy.”

Mae let out a frustrated little scream, banging the cuffs back against the bedpost. In response Xavier placed a second bite next to the first, this one a bit harder, lasting a bit longer. Mae trembled, but didn’t protest or move her leg away. The sweet sting of pain wasn’t the orgasm she craved, but it was satisfying in a way she didn’t fully understand.

“You’ll have a bruise there.” Xavier traced the marks he’d left on her thigh.

“Thank you, Master.” And she was thankful. She wanted him to mark her.

“I have something of yours.” He went to the screen and came back carrying her shoes. Dropping to one knee he carefully helped her slip them on.

Mae looked down at her naked body and her lips twitched. “Master?”

“Yes, Mae?”

“They don’t match the collar either.”