Shield's Submissive (17 page)

Spying a swatch of colour across the duvet, she headed over to see what he’d decided on. She was surprised to see a gorgeous silk cocktail dress in rich royal blue. The dress was beautiful in its simplicity. It had a deep v-neckline and thin straps in cornflower, navy and royal blue. The ruche bust had the same three colours crossing over each other. The skirt looked like it would float around her thighs and was pleated down the front. There was a black strapless bra with the cups totally separated, and connected by a clear vinyl strip.

Black, low-rise panties trimmed with lace, and strappy navy blue high heels completed the outfit.

She was surprised that it was the kind of dress one wore to a fancy cocktail party and not what she’d pictured in a fetish club. Erica looked at the clock and saw that she had only forty-five minutes before Mark said he would arrive, so she ran into the bathroom to take a shower.

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After moisturising her entire body and doing her makeup, she slipped on the lingerie and already felt like a sexy siren. Mark hadn’t left instructions on how to wear her hair, but knowing his preference, she left it down to float around her shoulders. When she slipped on the dress, she noticed that the front hem fell about three inches above her knees and softly floated down from the neckline with the pleats bisecting her middle. Giving an experimental twirl, she smiled.

When she stopped her spin, she gasped as she saw Mark standing in the doorway leading to the bedroom. He stood frozen, clutching a small box in his hand. He wore black, low-rise leather pants, a hunter-green, button-down shirt opened at the collar, and thick-soled, black boots. The leather on the pants must have been high quality, because it looked incredibly soft, conforming to his muscular thighs and slim hips.

If he would just turn around, I could see if they hug his perfect ass, too
.

Looking back up into his face, she saw he still wore a stunned expression. Thinking he was upset because she wasn’t ready, she lowered her head and mumbled, “I’m sorry I’m not ready. I just need to put on my shoes.”

She heard him step onto the tiled floor and saw his boots stop immediately in front of her. His fingers lifted her chin, and she saw his lips smile, but his eyes burned bright with undeniable heat.

“I knew you’d look beautiful in that dress, but I didn’t know you’d literally take my breath away. I’m sorry, love, if I gave you the impression that I was unhappy. I just didn’t want to wait downstairs like a good boy.” He took her hand and led her back into the bedroom, making her sit on the bed.

Picking up her shoes, he slipped them on her feet, his fingers caressing her ankles. His palms smoothed up her legs, over her knees to her thighs. His thumbs gently pushed them apart and ran up the inside, stopping just before the leg band on her panties. She smiled when she saw the flames racing through her body mirrored in his eyes. Regaining his feet, he helped her to stand.

“This is the last piece to your ensemble for the evening.”

Opening the box he’d carried earlier, he lifted out a flat rectangular velvet case. When he lifted the lid, inside were two earrings. He removed the earrings then set the box aside.

Turning her to face the mirror, he stood behind her and inserted them into her soft lobes.

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She stared as he inserted the earrings. They were absolutely stunning.

Talk about taking your breath away.

A round stone at the top—which she hoped to God was a rhinestone and not a real diamond—dropped down to an oval sapphire-looking stone at the bottom. The two were connected by additional diamond-like stones in a silver mounting.

“Please tell me those aren’t real diamonds and sapphires,” she said in a choked whisper.

He chuckled as he secured the final post. “Okay, they’re not real diamonds and sapphires.” His hands caressed her bare shoulders and slid down her arms until he linked their fingers together. “Perfect. Now, we can leave.”

Her fingers tightened around his, and she looked into his eyes through the mirror. She felt moisture gather in her own, stunned at the gesture. She saw concern grow in his.

“It’s too much…everything is just too much. I feel like Cinderella going to the ball, not a night out at a club, no matter how private.”

Eternally glad that it was just her feeling overwhelmed and not disappointed or unpleased by what he had chosen for her, he kept their hands linked together and wrapped his arms around her. He kept her gaze locked on his in the mirror.

“Don’t fret, love. Trust me to know what you need.”

“But…but…the dress…the shoes…the earrings. All of it is amazing and beautiful, but why?”

He sighed. “Because I enjoy spoiling you. Aside from your car, you never seem to splurge on yourself. You always give to others. I’ve seen it countless times over the years at work. I know it must seem like a lot, but I wasn’t kidding when I told you when we first got together that you should be treated like fine crystal. I don’t want you to panic and think I’m going to start smothering you with gifts, like you can’t provide for yourself. However, if now and again I do, it’s only because it makes me happy to see that light in your eyes. The one I saw when I caught you twirling in the bathroom like a giddy little girl. You can’t see it, but it makes you glow from the inside out, and I will do whatever is within my power to see that as often as possible in our time together. Whether that means buying you an occasional SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

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extravagant gift or simply snuggling with you in my arms to eat fatty popcorn during a marathon horror movie fest.”

He turned her around and gently sealed his vow with a kiss.

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They walked up to the club and were admitted after the doorman had verified Mark’s membership. Inside was painted a dark red, with sconces on the wall creating highlights and shadows. Thick carpet cushioned the feet. To one side of the room, there was a gleaming mahogany bar with high-backed chairs in black leather. Scattered around the room were clusters of overstuffed chairs and loveseats. Soft music played from invisible speakers, and further back, she saw linen-covered tables awaiting diners.

“Not what you were expecting, sweetheart?”

“Not exactly.”

“I bet you pictured a basement, backdoor club with leather and fishnet running rampant though concrete hallways with background noise of pulsing techno music combined with moans and screams.”

“Um…sort of,” she said sheepishly.

He laughed as he placed his hand on her lower back and led her to a host station.

“Don’t worry, there’s that, too.” He winked. “This is only one part of the club. Many people use it as a social gathering place. A relaxing atmosphere to gather with friends, have a few drinks after work, a nice dinner and not have to worry about hiding anything about yourself.

Here you can be as open as you want and know that you are in a place with like-minded people. Beyond those double doors you see towards the back there is a hallway that leads to an area more like your traditional night club. Dancing, lights, loud music and so forth, and finally, downstairs you’ll find what’s known as the dungeon. It has all the atmosphere and paraphernalia you would expect in a high-end BDSM club. There are private rooms you can rent or public display areas. All the members have safety deposit boxes with personal toys they maintain and are responsible for keeping sanitised. Things like floggers, whips, paddles, spreader bars and such are provided and maintained by the club.”

The host seated them at their table, and Mark selected the wine and appetisers. Erica didn’t think twice about him ordering for the both of them without consulting her. She trusted his choices. Looking around, she was once again taken in by the understated elegance SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

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of the front room. She could easily see this as a place where groups of gentlemen came to sip highballs or a good beer after work, have special occasion dinner dates, and apparently, beyond those doors, so much more.

“This place is amazing. How have I never heard of it before?”

He sipped his wine. “We keep a pretty low profile. Invited membership only. All new members have to be recommended by a current member and pass a screening test and interview with the owners before they’re even allowed to discuss dues and fees.” He served her a taste of their appetiser.

The flavour of the spinach artichoke dip burst onto her tongue, and she moaned. The heat of the dip actually caused a slight chill to race through her body.

“What about those people who would truly like to belong and pass all the tests but don’t have a lot of disposable income?”

Mark stood and placed her wrap around her shoulders. He kissed her head before reclaiming his seat. “I don’t want you to think of us as an elitist clique. We’re just selective about who we allow to be members.” He fed her another bite. “Remember, we’re all vulnerable here to a certain extent, and we have to maintain the privacy and respect of everyone within these walls. There are all levels of membership—everything from flat rate with an à la carte menu to complete carte blanche. You can do as much or as little here as you want, depending on what you want to spend.”

Setting his wine glass on the table, he captured her gaze. “I decided to purchase an onyx membership. That means I can do whatever activities I want throughout the year and not spend another dime while here, except for meals, which I put on my tab to be paid at the end of the year.”

She sat back as their dinner was served. The selection of beef tenderloin, steamed veggies and roasted new potatoes was expertly complemented by a smooth, rich Pinot Noir.

Once again, Mark had chosen perfectly for her. The tastes of the meal exploded over her taste buds. She enjoyed them almost as much as she enjoyed the taste of Mark. The naughty little thought made her smile.

“After dinner, I thought we would do a little dancing and then I’d take you down to the dungeon so you could observe,” he said. “I don’t intend for us to get into a scene tonight, but rather, I’ll let you get a feel for this public side of the dynamic.”

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* * * *

The dinner had been excellent, and Mark now led Erica through the doors to the night club area. Immediately, she noticed a change in the atmosphere. It was only Thursday night, so the music wasn’t a raging club mix, but it still had a heavy beat. Looking out on the dance floor, she was surprised to see many couples of all configurations gyrating and grinding against each other.

One particular couple caught and held her gaze longer than any other. They were two men, both tall, almost matching Mark in height. One was muscular and defined, but not bulging, and the other was trim and lithe like a swimmer. The smaller man had his back to the other man’s chest. A thick forearm circled his waist as they smoothly gyrated their hips in precise rhythm. He leaned his head back on his partner’s shoulder, looking up into his eyes.

Their lips met in a seductive kiss. Erica could feel the passion and desire building between them. They looked like they could create a backdraught of immense proportions if they so chose but, for now, were just fanning the flames. Her attention was snapped away from the pair when Mark’s voice purred in her ear.

“Stunning, aren’t they?”

“Yes. I’ve never actually seen two men so connected to each other. They seem completely enslaved to each other, like the outside world doesn’t exist. Do you know them?”

He reached for her hand and led her towards the dance floor.

“Uh huh. They’re my friends I told you about a few weeks ago.” He spun her around and placed his hand on the small of her back. He closed the distance between them as the music began to call to their bodies.

She was pressed against him but looked over Mark’s shoulder to continue watching the two men kiss and dance. “When they come up for air, do you think you could introduce me?

I’d love to meet some of your friends from here.”

Reluctant to stop watching the magnetising couple just a few paces away from them, she looked up and caught his gaze. He moved his hands to clutch her hips and leaned down for a steamy kiss of his own. His lips nibbled and cajoled as his tongue slid inside. He raised SHIELD’S SUBMISSIVE

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one hand to hold her head, while the other caressed her lower back, holding her hips tight against his.

She tasted the spice of the wine they’d drunk with dinner and the flavour unique to him. She was completely enraptured by the feel of his lips, pliant and searching against her own, the velvet caress of his tongue. Her arms wrapped around his back and her nails dug into the material of his shirt.

Suddenly, she heard a yell.

“Mark!”

She looked over his shoulder and saw the trimmer of the men she’d watched come bounding over to stand next to them. Mark pulled back from her but didn’t let go, snaking his arm around her waist and holding her to his side.

He gave his friend an annoyed look for interrupting their kiss but then smiled warmly.

“Trevor, good to see you.”

He let go of her to give the man a hug then came right back to her side. They’d turned their back on Trevor’s partner, but Mark winked at her when they did so.

“Hey, what am I? Chopped liver?”

Mark quickly spun around and attempted a wide-eyed innocent look. “So sorry, David.

I didn’t see you there.”

“Sure, buddy. No matter. I’ll just go over here and introduce myself to your lovely companion since neither one of you guys seem to have any real manners. Hello, I’m David Brown. Since the two numskulls over there so conveniently forgot to acknowledge my presence and so rudely seemed to ignore yours, would you like to dance?”

“I’d love to. Thank you.”

They stepped out onto the dance floor, and David pulled her tightly to his body. The music was fast paced and edgy. They seemed to move in perfect synchronicity with each other and quickly earned appreciative glances from other dancers. It didn’t take long for Erica to feel someone behind her, grab onto her hips and match their rhythm. She knew it to be Mark by his scent and feel of his body. Looking over David’s shoulder, she saw Trevor do the same thing to him.