He still gripped her hips, soft hips with a beautifully rounded ass. It jiggled as she walked, enticing a man with the urge to grab and plunge balls-deep. He uncurled his fingers. She’d have some bruises there on her fair skin, more marks to add to the pretty red handprints on her ass. He ran his hand over the redness, enjoyed the resulting wiggle and squeak…and the way her pussy clenched around him.

Unfortunately he couldn’t stay here forever, tempting as it was. With a feeling of loss, he pulled out, removing the anal plug at the same time, smiling at the way her back arched in response to the sudden sensations. She started to slump, and he put an arm under her waist.

“I’ll hold her for you, my friend,” Raoul said.

“Thank you.” When Marcus stepped back, Raoul swung her up into his arms, waiting patiently.

Marcus disposed of the plug and condom and fastened his slacks, then grabbed a subbie blanket from the stack near the wall. After wrapping the blanket around her, he took her from Raoul.

Her mouth was swollen and pink, her eyes glazed. Droopy dog ears flopped on her flushed cheeks. “You are so cute,” Marcus said under his breath.

Raoul grinned at him in agreement, slapped him on the shoulder, and left.

Marcus settled into a chair with the little sub against his chest. She glanced up, focused on his face for a second, then, obviously content, lay her head back down.

“Master Marcus.” Andrea stood in front of him. “Cullen said your puppy needed water, and you might too after all your hard work.”

Marcus lifted his eyebrows. “Who said?”

She flushed. “Dios, you’re fussy. Master Cullen said.”

“Better. Open the bottles for me, please, and set one on the coffee table.”

She did and handed him the other bottle.

“Thank you, sugar, and please thank your dom for me.”

“Will do.” She grinned at him and walked quickly away before he could reprimand her again. He shook his head. Andrea was a beautiful woman, but he’d never envied Cullen her sassy mouth. And now look what he had: a little sub who outdid Andrea in brattiness without even trying. He knew damn well Gabi didn’t make up all the defiance—a hell of a lot of it was just her nature.

He kissed the top of her nose and chuckled when she frowned up at him. “Making me crawl on the bar was a very mean punishment, Sir.”

He tried not to smile but couldn’t help it. She had the satiated look of a woman who has come and come hard, and she still found the energy to glare at him.

“It was, wasn’t it?” He nuzzled her cheek, enjoying the playful fragrances of rose and sandalwood mingling with the scent of her arousal. “How much did it bother you to have so many men touching you?”

She looked away, stiffening slightly.

“Uh-uh. Look at me, Gabi.”

Big vulnerable brown eyes met his.

“Tell me.”

“It scared me at first, but you—When you watched me, I felt safe. And I saw that you wanted me to enjoy it, and somehow then I did. Thank you.” The gratitude and warmth in her gaze made him feel as if he’d grown another foot in height.

“And with Raoul? Did you like the threesome?” He kept his tone easy, knowing if she really wanted multiple men, he’d try to manage it for her. Somehow. His jaw tightened. He’d wanted to break Raoul’s neck for touching her. My sub.

A line formed between her brows. “I like Raoul and having you both excited me, but mostly because of you. Knowing you were watching, and when you took me, all I could think about was you inside me.” She bit her lip. “I’m glad I tried it, but I’d just as soon not do it again.”

Again. She had only one more day at the club. Did she even remember? He pushed the thought away. “And playing puppy?”

She giggled. “I rather like biting and growling. Especially biting.”

Brat. “Once you got started, you seemed to enjoy yourself. We did too, watching you heat up from being petted, seeing your breasts swing and your tail swish. I do believe the entire bar cheered when you screamed a minute ago.”

Red rolled up into her already pink cheeks.

“You come beautifully, sugar, and it’s a pleasure to watch. I’m sure the doms enjoyed knowing they helped you get there.”

She opened her mouth and obviously couldn’t figure out what to say, settling for a “Now what?”

“Now you can put your clothes back on. I’m being generous, Darlin’, so you’d best thank me. I’ll take myself a kiss.”

Her lips curved. “Thank you, Sir.”

He got his reward in a long, lingering kiss, one that made him remember how much fun simply kissing a woman could be. Especially this woman.

* * *

Most amusing. The spotter for the Harvest Association observed the ending of the puppy play and shook his head. The sub made an excellent dog. He diverted himself for a few minutes wondering how she’d react to pony play. To wearing a bridle and harness and a long tail attached to an oversize anal plug that would make her scream as it went in.

Perhaps pulling a cart.

He did enjoy whipping ponies to a faster speed, watching how their muscles contracted with strain and sweat poured off their naked bodies.

Glancing over at Gabrielle, the newest addition to the Association list, he smiled.

* * *

A couple of hours later, Gabi admitted she was having fun. Every dom in the place treated her like their pet now. She received a lot of “here, little puppy” calls from the doms who wanted drinks. She sassed them mildly and saved her good insults for the Masters.

Her feet hurt though, almost worse than her bottom. The trainees were all working harder. Z said Sally had gone to visit her family. That had been a rather sudden vacation, Gabi thought, but it eased her mind. Sally fit the profile of the kidnapped victims perfectly.

A thought struck her, and her eyes narrowed. Had someone whose name started with Z made sure one potential target got out of range? Oh, he damn well had; she knew it. Grinning, Gabi picked up the tray of drinks from the bar.

As Gabi checked to see if anyone needed a drink, her heart missed a beat. Marcus stood by the St. Andrew’s cross, talking to that blonde, the one who always came on to him. His girlfriend, Celine, Sally had said, although it seemed strange that Marcus would have a lover and still screw around with other women. Then again, Gabi didn’t have much experience with people in the BDSM lifestyle. Maybe everything Marcus had done with her was just considered part of the master of the trainees job. Nothing special. Nothing to threaten a girlfriend.

The woman was beautiful, damn her, like a glowing version of Marcus, with golden blonde hair, light blue eyes, and a dark tan. Tall and slender. Jealousy seared Gabi’s veins as if they flowed with acid instead of blood.

The woman knelt, as gracefully as a ballet dancer. Perfect manicure and pedicure, perfectly styled hair, perfect makeup. She wore what looked like a custom-fitted leather corset. So she was rich too. She and Marcus looked…right…together.

Marcus said something to the woman. She bowed her head and kissed his shoe, her golden hair spilling prettily over her back. The way she gazed at him in adoration made Gabi’s teeth clench hard.

Leave him alone, you piece of perfect. He’s mine. Gabi blinked and took a step away from the scene area. Then another.

He’s not mine. What am I thinking? And yet…she’d definitely headed herself right down that path. Not smart, Gabi. Nothing would last past this weekend. He’d agreed to work with her as his trainee. Nothing more.

Gabi bit her lip. The pull toward him felt like a riptide, impossible to escape. I want more.

The blonde picked up a flogger from the floor and held it up to him, waggling her butt in invitation. Gabi couldn’t stand it anymore. After last Saturday—with Marcus—she now knew exactly how intimate a flogging could be. I can’t watch this.

Turning her back on them, she took her tray to the bar, depression settling around her shoulders like a black cloak.

And when Cullen spoke, she sassed him so bad he tossed her on the bar top and walloped her a few times with his bare hand.

It didn’t make her feel better, but at least she wasn’t watching something that made her chest hurt.

* * *

Exasperated, Marcus frowned at the woman kneeling at his feet. Even though he hadn’t dated her in a couple of months, she still clung to him like kudzu. He’d scened with her occasionally when she’d begged—mild flogging, no sex, no real emotion. Not that she complained. She actually preferred lightweight scenes, didn’t like her boundaries pushed, didn’t want a significant connection.

I do. Even before he’d met Gabi, he’d known he needed more. And now, having made love with her and connecting with her on so many levels, he’d never settle for less.

He studied Celine for a second. She hadn’t taken his hints. Then again, she wasn’t a perceptive woman. When they’d first met, she’d delighted him with her apparent sweetness, her graceful submissiveness. Now her behavior felt cloying, for her submission was all on the surface, not soul-deep.

She wanted him to do a scene with her.

Marcus sighed. Galen and Vance had made it clear Gabi should appear uncommitted. She must play with various doms—and they’d encouraged him to do the same. Dammit.