fuck at a sex club while he’s wearing a mask, that’s it.”
“Yeah yeah, and I don’t like hot, wet snatch.” She poked her tongue out. “Did he hit you, over his desk?”
“Did he ever. Metal ruler.”
“Fucking ow. Right on the clit, I’ll bet.”
I grinned. “You know him so well.”
“Yes, I do.” She raised her empty glass and made after the rest of the bottle. “And I’m telling you, Lydia Marsh, that James Clarke has many habits, but screwing at the office isn’t one of them. It can only mean one thing,” she said, topping up my glass.
“And what’s that?” I smiled.
“The man’s in love, Lydia. He’s in love with you.”
I found myself wishing I believed her.
***
Chapter Thirteen
Lydia
“So, tonight’s the night?” Rebecca dropped her cigarette and stubbed it out with the toe of her stiletto. “Will there be tears?”
I looked towards the wooden doors across the street. “I don’t know how to cry, Bex.”
She wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “It’s easy, baby, let it all go and those tears will flow.”
“So I keep hearing.” I watched Cara totter on ahead, waving at some other regulars just arriving.
Rebecca pulled my attention back to her, tapping my forehead with a long, red fingernail. “Whatever’s in here, Lyds, all your reservations, all your pride, all your self-control. You’ve got to give it all up. Let yourself break for him, and he’ll love you for it.” She took my hand and led me to where Cara was waiting. “Believe me, baby, cry for him and he’s yours.”
I took a breath as we made our way inside. Cry for him, sure, no big deal. Like I hadn’t been trying for weeks.
Masque was already at the bar; the sculpted muscle of his shoulders glowing blue under the neons. I took a seat next to him, smiling as he ordered me a wine. Cry for him and he’s yours. If only that one tiny statement didn’t mean so much.
I made no time for small talk, leaning straight into the musky warmth of his neck. “Cane me, tonight. Please, Masque.”
He turned to me, the line of his mouth deadly serious. “What’s with the urgency, Kitty Cat?”
I sighed. “I want to cry.”
His mouth curled into a smile. “The tears I want from you are an emotional release, Cat. The cane will hurt like a motherfucker, I promise you, but there’s more to it than that.”
“Yeah, I know. I have to let go. I’m trying,” I sulked.
He brooded awhile, shadowy eyes staring me out. “If you’re serious about this, you’ll need a safeword.”
“Doesn’t that kind of defeat the object?”
“Not at all.”
I sipped my wine. “I’m not going to use the safeword, Masque.”
“Then there will be tears,” he said simply.
“Promise me you won’t stop,” I said. “Not before it’s done.”
He pulled me in close until his breath tickled my mouth. “You don’t need to worry about that, my pretty little Cat’s eyes. Your safeword is Paris.”
***
Paris, Paris, Paris. I swore to myself I wouldn’t need it, but standing there, naked, under the dark gaze of the chimera in playroom one, I wasn’t quite so confident. I turned my back to the faces at the window, blanking out everything but the man before me. He gestured to the flogging bench, and I took up position on all fours, my breasts mashing tight against the bench’s contoured padding. Masque buckled my ankles into the cuffs, leaving me spread wide open for him.
“You’ve healed well,” he said, stroking my ass. “A nice fresh canvas for stripes.” He fastened my wrists, pulling my chin up towards him. “Last call, Cat. Do you want this?” He brandished the cane before my face, letting rip with a healthy swish. I flinched but didn’t falter.
“Yes, sir. Please.”
I couldn’t read his expression, just took comfort in the soft caress of his thumb against my lips. He disappeared from my eyeline, taking the cane with him. “Only use the safeword if you really have to,” he said. I nodded, straining to keep him in sight as he walked around me. “Look straight ahead, relax.”
I did as he asked, twitching in my bonds involuntarily. They held firm. I jumped as warm breath teased my pussy lips, and groaned like a whore as he buried his face. He bit me as he pulled away, hard enough to make me whine.
“Such a sweet juicy cunt,” he growled. “I love how wet you are for pain.”
I heard the familiar swish of the flogger, but kept my eyes straight ahead. The tails pinched at my