frightened cat. “I have more space than I know what to do with in this house. We should be clear, though, that you being here isn’t a burden on me. Money means nothing.”
“Money only means nothing if you’ve got a lot of it. I have nothing. My net worth is negative, actually, although creditors have no way of reaching me anymore so that’s not an issue.” Why were they talking about money, when he should be fucking her senseless? Was the sight of her, near-naked on the bed, not enough to make him want her?
“Ah. I was wondering why you lived with Gregory.”
“He was my Dom, and yes, he took care of me. But now I’m worth nothing to him either.” She touched her neck, feeling the bare skin where her collar once lay.
“That’s not true. You’re worth so much to him that he let you go so you could have a chance at finding happiness. You’re worth . . . a lot.”
“A price above rubies,” she quoted, one of the few biblical phrases she remembered because she liked the idea that a good woman’s worth was a price above rubies, even if she probably wouldn’t qualify as a good woman. Not with all her kinky fuckery. Well, all that submission had to count for something, right?
She unzipped the duffel bag and grinned, looking at Trevor like they were two kids about to play a really fun game. He grinned back.
“You pick four items. Three you want and one that you would rather avoid. And don’t tell me which is which.”
“That sounds awesome.”
“Hard limits?” he asked.
“Don’t kill me, don’t accidentally kill me, no scat, no golden showers, no fire, no blood play,” she rolled off quickly. “Don’t hold my head under water, and don’t leave me alone if I’m gagged because whenever I cry my nose gets all stuffy and I can’t breathe.”
She’d learned that last one the hard way. She hadn’t even been alone, just gagged, and the caning Gregory gave her got to be too much and before she knew it Gregory had to flip her onto her welted back and rip off the gag as she gasped for air, snot running down her face. From that point on, Gregory always put a mirror on the ground where he could see her face when he stood behind her, and he never gagged her. Instead, he soundproofed the bedroom.
“I know that one already,” Trevor whispered. “Gregory cares a lot about your safety. He considers it his responsibility as your former Master to continue to keep you safe.”
Elisabeth shook her head to rid herself of the memory; it was killing the mood.
“Tonight you’re my Master,” she said, wanting to get back on track.
“That’s right. Now choose or I’ll choose for you.”
What to choose, when she had to choose one that she didn’t truly want? Nipple clamps, absolutely, because a clamp anywhere at all was her idea of a good time. Spreader bar, because she loved being restrained that way. A vibrator that looked powerful.
Lastly, a short cat-o’-nine-tails with knotted leather ends.
Trevor raised his eyebrows at her choices.
“What can I say? I told you I’m a masochist.”
“That you did.” He took a step back, staring at her appraisingly. “You look so cute and proper.”
“Don’t worry, I’m not.”
He reached toward her, wrapping his arms around her back.
“Please don’t kiss me,” she whispered. “I’m not ready for that.”
Instead, he unfastened her bra and let it fall to the bed. “I haven’t earned that privilege yet?”
Elisabeth didn’t answer. Gregory never kissed her either, and it had been a long time since she’d had a man’s mouth on her lips. Especially a man like Trevor.
“I like those,” he said, nodding toward her surgical-steel nipple piercings shining in the glow of the wall sconces.
Fear took hold of her, out of nowhere. This was happening. But what? What was happening? During her time with Gregory, they’d fucked, but he was gay. This was different. Trevor was looking at her with lust in his eyes.
Maybe she was a tiny bit
Franzeska G. Ewart, Helen Bate