was all set to follow, but my time was up. Cat’s green eyes smiled at me as she reached his side, taking up her pint of water like the good little sub she is.
I sat back in my stool, waiting for the jealousy.
But it didn’t come.
***
I watched Raven and Callum approach from across the dance floor, only letting my eyes linger for fleeting seconds, so as not to appear too interested. Raven was alight with expression, and Callum followed mutely, hanging on every single word she was saying. Cara’s dainty arms snaked around my waist, and I leant back against her shoulder, waiting for her verdict.
“Two arty peas in a pod,” she whispered. “That’s cool, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I said. “I think so.”
“She’s a great judge of character.”
I kissed her on the cheek. “Clearly.”
“Shit, I didn’t mean it like that,” she blushed.
“I know you didn’t. But she is, it’s true.”
Callum’s dark eyes met mine, and for that one moment something clicked. He was still edgy, hands thrust in his pockets in an attempt to appear nonchalant, but his expression said it all. My stomach fluttered, hands itching to reach out and touch him, drag him into one of the playrooms and fuck his brains out, but it wasn’t to be.
“They’re on,” Raven said, grabbing her drink and downing it in one. “Showtime, baby,” she squeezed Callum’s arm. “Here’s your initiation, kid, the best of the best.”
Sure enough, the lighting changed on the main floor, and the ripple of excitement spread like wildfire, a bustling of bodies making their way to the stage. Raven led the way, gripping Cara’s hand possessively en route, and smiling back at us over her shoulder to make sure we were close behind. The spotlights lit up, fixing their glare onto the shackles hanging from the ceiling. The stage was empty, but not for long.
I twisted my arm through Callum’s and he squeezed it close to his side, leading me along after Raven without coaxing. Raven secured us a bench in the shadows, a clear view from the far side of the dance floor. We were just in time to watch Cat make her appearance, stark bollock naked apart from knee high boots. She had the ghosting of bruises across her perfect thighs, the faint remnants of whip lashes across her ribcage. Their holiday had been fun, no doubt about that.
I cuddled up to Callum, daring to rest a hand on his thigh. I smiled inside as he wrapped his arm around my waist, resting solid fingers against the slope of my thigh. Please enjoy this. Please God.
The room turned silent as Cat prepared for the shackles, holding her wrists high in the air and taking slow, deep breaths, oblivious to the roomful of eyes on her body. I gripped Callum’s thigh as Masque stepped onto the stage. The man in the mask moved with purpose, solid steps as he closed the gap between him and his submissive. Cat shuddered as he took her wrists, hands limp in his grip as he fastened her into the chains. My mouth turned dry, thighs clenching involuntarily. Callum must have felt it, as his fingers teased my skin, splaying out to press against me.
I moved my mouth to his ear, whispering just loud enough that he would hear me. “Watch closely. Maybe you can do the same for me sometime.”
He didn’t respond, but I’m sure I felt his breath hitch just a notch.
Cat tested her bonds, lowering her weight into the chains to ensure she was secure. She was. Of course she was.
“Spread your legs,” Masque ordered. His voice had taken on its trademark low growl, thick with lust. She did as she was told, shifting her feet apart without hesitation while Masque took up a flogger from the side of the stage. He swished it in the air by her head, close enough that she flinched. I felt Callum flinch too.
“Don’t worry,” I whispered. “He knows what he’s doing. She really wants this.”
He grunted in response.
Masque took hold of Cat’s hair, wrapping it around his fingers for grip. He tipped her backwards to the edge of her balance, until her limbs were straining in their restraints and her thighs were taut with the pressure. She moaned as he draped the flogger down over her shoulder, dancing the tails across her stomach and up over her breasts. He snaked it with expert precision, then let go of her hair long enough to wrap the whip around her throat. I took