Sweet Seduction - Maya Banks Page 0,56

can easily bring to heel."

Nathan gave him a disgusted look. "I don't want to bring her to heel. I just want to be the only guy in her bed."

"Fair enough. Takes balls to own up to what you've done and be honest. Most guys would keep their mouth shut and hope she never found out."

"I may wish I'd done just that if she tries to remove my balls with a rusty spoon."

"She's one hot woman, Tucker. You're a lucky son of a bitch if you rope her."

Nathan grinned. "Don't I know it. Don't I know it. And hey, Micah. This is awkward as hell for me, but I wanted to say thanks." He almost groaned as the words came out of his mouth. What kind of moron did it make him to be thanking his buddy for fucking his woman? But better it was Micah than some other jerk who had no regard for Julie's pleasure and well-being.

A flirty grin curved Micah's mouth upward and a gleam entered his eye. "Not a problem at all. Remind your girl when the time comes that you've got her hog-tied and under your palm that she owes me one."

"Oh? What does she owe you?"

"Nothing yet. But she will," he added with unrestrained glee. "She definitely will."

Julie stepped into the hallway and paused at the top of the stairs. She should go. Exhaustion whispered in her ear and made her muscles sag like overcooked pasta. But the murmur of voices from the opposing end of the hallway drew her.

She'd never actually been by the common room when it was in use. Damon had given her a tour of the facilities when no one had been around. But he'd told her about it, and her curiosity had been firmly piqued.

Straightening her T-shirt and smoothing her hands down her jeans, she walked quietly down the corridor, blinking as the lighting got stronger.

When she stepped into the doorway, she scanned the room, disappointed that for the most part, everyone seemed to be standing around. There was one couple stuck in a far corner going at it like rabbits, but that seemed to be it. So much for public debauchery.

Then her gaze lighted on a woman in the middle of the room, a woman that every eye was upon. She was completely nude, her long black hair sliding down her back like a veil of silk. Her hands were bound together at the wrists above her head and then tied to a heavy wooden beam that formed an upside down U.

Dear God, it was Serena.

Julie's breath caught in painful anticipation. What the hell was Serena doing here? Well, here and naked. She shouldn't be surprised that Serena was here, given that the place belonged to Damon. But what on earth was going on?

She leaned against the doorframe, hiding most of her body in the hallway. She gripped the frame with her hand and peered around it to see what was happening to Serena.

When she saw Damon approach Serena, her lips pursed and she frowned. He had a ... he had a whip in his hand. Good God, was he going to beat her in front of everyone? What the hell could she possibly have done to deserve this kind of treatment?

She knew that Serena and Damon had a very . . . nontraditional relationship. Nontraditional being a code word for Serena being completely and utterly submissive. The slave to Damon's master.

Julie shuddered at the idea, the implication of what that meant. Complete subjugation to a man. Sometimes she wondered if Serena had rocks in her head. Or if she was just completely and utterly blinded by love. What else could explain why such an intelligent, beautiful woman who could have any man with the snap of her fingers would remain in a relationship where the balance of power was severely tilted in Damon's favor?

Silence fell over the room, and Julie found herself holding her breath as Damon trailed the tip of the crop through Serena's hair. He pushed it over until it hung over her shoulder, baring her slim back for all to see.

He moved methodically. No, he definitely wasn't in a hurry. Julie searched Serena's face for any sign of fear, some sign that she didn't want what was about to happen. All she saw was calm acceptance. And love.

Befuddled and still analyzing the softness she saw around Serena's eyes, she jumped and her hand flew to her mouth when Damon raised the crop and struck Serena