“Are you sure?” she whispered. He hadn’t frowned at Master Z, only at her.

“I’m a cold bastard inside.” He ran a finger down her cheek, his eyes crinkling at the corners when he smiled. “And you’re very warm. Yes, I’m sure.” His hand stroked down her body to circle her breast, lower still to cup her mound. With his other hand, he raised her skirt and touched her intimately, sliding his fingers through her wet folds. She gasped as pleasure surged through her. He kissed her neck, then bit her sharply. His finger pressed against her pussy, undoubtedly feeling it clench in reaction to the erotic thrill. “Definitely warm,” he murmured, licking the bite. “Hot might be a better word.”

She flushed. Although it was a heady feeling being called hot, she knew everyone could see where his hand lingered. To her relief and disappointment, he kissed her nose and settled himself back on the bar stool. “I’ll finish my drink and then let you down.” He took a small sip—way too small; they’d be here all night—and smiled at her.

She managed, barely, not to glare at him.

He lifted his eyebrows, lips quirking in amusement, then turned as another man in gold-trimmed leathers walked up. The mean-looking one she’d seen with Raoul earlier. “Dan.”

“Nolan, I heard you were back. Welcome home,” Master Dan said, shaking the man’s hand. “The place wasn’t the same without you.”

“It’s good to be back in the States.” The stranger tilted his head at Kari, and Sir nodded permission.

Nolan approached and looked down at her. Did all these dungeon monitor guys have to be so big? Black hair and black eyes as if he had Hispanic or Native American ancestry. His cold, hard gaze and the threatening set of his mouth made her want to flee. Involuntarily, she yanked on her restraints, tried to back up.

He didn’t move, just watched her futile struggles. Her breath kept getting faster.

“Do you like being touched?” His voice was low and harsh with a hint of a Texan accent.

Her hands clenched on the chains. She couldn’t answer that, not out loud. She licked her lips, glanced sideways at Sir.

Master Dan’s eyes narrowed. “Answer the question, Kari. Honestly.”

The man’s eyes were so scary that she dropped her gaze to the floor. “Yes, Sir, I do,” she whispered miserably. How could she want Master Dan’s hands on her so badly and still be turned on by someone else’s touch?

“Well, I’d hate to disappoint such an honest sub,” the man drawled. She looked up. His mouth curved slightly, amusement in his eyes. Maybe, maybe he wouldn’t hurt her—

He did worse. He tormented her, fondling her breasts with callused hands, circling around the edges of her nipples until the nubs burned with need. He finally relented and expertly squeezed each nipple to just the edge of pain and pleasure.

Her back arched, and she couldn’t muffle a moan.

At that, the man actually smiled. He tapped her on the cheek with a scarred finger, slapped Master Dan on the shoulder, and walked away.

To her horror, Kari felt wetness running down her inner thighs, and she pressed her legs together.

Master Dan studied her. Nodded. “Looks like we need to go upstairs again.”

He released her hands with a quick twist, and she staggered against him. Her lower half actually ached with need.

But rather than walking toward the steps they’d used before, he headed toward the back. Past the sawhorses.

A new woman was on one, her bottom poking up and out. Kari slowed, inhaled sharply. The woman’s crotch had been completely shaved. Oh my.

Master Dan wrapped his arms around Kari from behind, held her in place when she would have hurried to get past. He set his chin on her shoulder, seeing everything she was seeing. “Shaving your pussy makes it more sensitive. To everything,” he whispered in her ear. “And the spanking bench puts that little pussy where all of it can be reached. Touched. Played with.”

His hand dipped down, stroked her folds right through her dress, his fingers knowledgeable. Between his seductive words and his penetrating fingers, she couldn’t control the tremor of arousal that ran through her.

“Yes, I think you would like that position, little sub.”

Her breath stopped entirely. No—not in front of people.

Just then, a man walked up to the woman on the sawhorse. He pulled her cheeks apart farther, slid two well-lubricated fingers into her anus, in and out, and everyone in the area heard the woman’s moan.

Kari’s knees gave out, and Master Dan swooped her up with a laugh. “Upstairs for you.”

And without even breathing hard, he carried her upstairs and into a different room. Candlelight flickered over dark gray walls and black carpeting. No bed, only an armoire in the corner and a big easy chair in the other corner.

Still carrying her, Master Dan turned a little farther.

Kari stiffened in his arms. A sawhorse. Straps everywhere.

“You enjoyed looking; let’s see if you enjoy riding.” He put her on her feet and wrapped an arm around her, setting his big hand on her stomach to steady her. Grabbing her dress with one hand, he yanked it over her head, leaving her naked.

Her anxiety increased as his hot gaze slid down her body. “Spread your legs, Kari.”

Staring into his eyes, she eased her legs apart.

“More.” When she complied, he anchored her in place with a firm hand on her bottom, then touched her intimately, sliding his fingers through her wetness, caressing her clitoris with long, slow strokes. She grabbed his arms, her fingers digging into his skin as he drove her higher and higher, until her anxiety disappeared under the surging need.

“There we go,” he murmured. He turned her to face the sawhorse. Pressing her hips into the edge, he ordered in her ear, “Bend over.” His erection pressed into her buttocks as she bent, and she shivered, wanting him inside, thrusting…

His chest hard against her back, he flattened her onto the bench. The cold leather chilled her bare stomach, shocking her back to reality. When he clipped her wrist cuffs to the rings on the front legs, she felt like a trapped animal. Panicking, she jerked at the restraints.

He closed his hands on her arms, holding her firmly. “Stop now, sweetie. Are you in pain? Use the safe word if you need to.”

She panted, pulled at her wrists.

“Kari, answer me.”

His words finally registered. Safe word. She could make him stop anytime. The reminder helped, and she hauled in a slower breath. “I-I’m okay.”

“Of course you are.” Releasing her arms, he eased back. His hands settled on her back, warm against her cold skin. Gently, he massaged her shoulders until she sighed and relaxed.

“That’s better, little sub,” he murmured and kissed her cheek. “I like you a little anxious, but not scared.”

She’d barely decided she wasn’t too anxious. Then he set her knee on the attached padded bench and strapped it down. Then the other leg, securing her in an almost doggy position. With her knees set more forward, more of her showed.

When air slid like chilled fingers against her moist private places, she tried to move her legs. Nothing happened. Everything was on display, and she couldn’t move.

As if he could read her mind, he said in a low, husky voice, “Now you’re open to me. Fully. To my eyes, my fingers, my lips.”

She shivered, and yet the burn of arousal inside her heightened.

He was behind her, and she couldn’t see what he was doing, no matter how she twisted. A door creaked open.

“Master?” Her voice shook. “Are you there?”

“I’m here, Kari. I’ll never leave you alone if you’re restrained.” Something rustled, and she realized the creaking sound had been the armoire door.

“Let’s see if I can’t get your mind off all these worries.” He knelt behind her, his hands rough on her bottom, spreading her as his thumbs roamed up and down her labia. She squirmed, made a noise, and he laughed.

And set his mouth on her.

“Ahhh!” She jumped, her legs wrenching against the straps.

Rubbing her folds gently between his fingers, he exposed her clitoris completely. He swirled his tongue around it so hard and quickly, she cried out again.

“You feeling a little warmer?” He inserted a finger, and her tissues were so swollen from his previous use, she could feel every inch going in. She clenched around him.

“I like how my finger feels inside you,” he murmured, “but I know you’ll enjoy something longer. This should fit about right.”

She felt so vulnerable, unable to see or move, as he pushed something into her. Not his cock; this thing was cold. Her vagina spasmed around it, tried to push it out. He held it in place and then moved it slowly in and out. She was so wet, it glided easily.

All the way out, then back in, filling her fully until she moaned. But it wasn’t enough, not quite. When he took it out, her legs quivered uncontrollably.

He chuckled, and then she felt his tongue lick up and over her clitoris, over and over. He lapped at her like a dog, his tongue flat. Her insides tightened; her clit hardened. Every little cell in her waited, waited for each excruciatingly arousing slide of his tongue.

“More,” she moaned. “Please, Master.”