Bunny appeared to be having a good time on the dance floor, so Joseph took the seat next to Samson when it was vacated by another member and positioned himself so they could talk and he could also keep his eyes on his sub. She blew him a kiss from the dance floor and laughed when he tilted his head, without breaking eye contact with her, and chomped as though he’d caught her kiss in mid-air with his teeth.
Samson looked at him as if he had two heads, and Joseph schooled his expression and said, “It’s usually for the subs that I serve as matchmaker, but I wonder, why is it that in all the years you’ve been playing here you’ve never found a sub who you felt a deeper connection with?”
Samson’s heavy shoulders rose and fell with his deep sigh, and he tipped his drink to his lips and took a deep swallow. He gave a half-shake of his head but didn’t respond.
“What about Victoria, from earlier? The cardiac surgeon. It’s obvious there’s affection between the two of you, and you were more than content in giving her aftercare.”
His friend looked around, making sure they didn’t have an audience. “She called to see if I’d be here this evening because she needed me. She lost a patient this morning, during surgery. A newborn. And she heard that one of her former patients died in a car accident. The double whammy was just more than she could handle. The last time we played she told me a little about her career and how much stress she internalizes with it, and I told her that, if I could help, I would, and I gave her my cell phone number. But there’s no connection there beyond friendship, and that’s a mutual thing. She said her schedule would be hell on a relationship, and I’m okay with that.”
“As long as it’s mutually agreed upon, Samson. I don’t expect you to service the masochists out of a sense of duty. You’re supposed to get something out of this, too.”
Samson grinned and pointed at the dance floor. “So long as I get to spank, paddle, and whip little girls and make them cry I’m good. One of these days I’ll find a luscious woman like that one who I can unleash the beast on. Oh, wait. You’ve already claimed that title, haven’t you, Beastly?”
Shit. “Keep your voice down. I don’t want that nickname getting out.” He hid his grin behind his rocks glass as he lifted it to his lips.
Cecelia chuckled and made big eyes at him, merriment glowing in their golden brown depths. “Too late—Beastly.”
Samson was still watching the dance floor, and he started laughing, a full-bodied barking sound, and pointed. “I knew she couldn’t behave herself for long. Where did she get that?”
Joseph squinted at the dance floor, watching his bratty, wayward sub with her friends. “I take my eyes off of her for two seconds…”
“And she gets into mischief. At least she hasn’t smacked the wrong butt with it,” Samson said, wheezing laughter as Joseph set his drink down.
Bunny lifted her gaze to him as he rose from his seat, and she popped her hand over her mouth in an oops! gesture and hid his brand-new calfskin flogger, the newest in his private collection, behind her back.
He’d mentioned the purchase to Hector, and his friend had asked to see it because Juno had a particular liking for calfskin. The craftsman had dyed the soft leather a vivid blue-green, to his exact specifications. He’d asked Hughes to bring the flogger from his private dungeon so Hector could see, firsthand, the quality of workmanship. He’d also imagined holding the intricately wrapped and perfectly balanced handle as he swung the flogger for Bunny.
Not at her. For her.
She must’ve snuck over to the seating area and absconded with it because he was certain none of the other subs, especially Mona, would’ve dared touch it.
The slow, seductive vocalizations of the next song began, and the rhythm of the dancers changed with the slow, methodic beat of Hozier’s “Arsonist’s Lullabye.” The lights on the dance floor changed color to reflect the mood, and Bunny bit her lip as she watched him approach. He felt the attention of both Doms and subs on him as they watched the scene unfold.
No fear. Her sparkling eyes held only devilry as she edged from the dance floor, keeping several pieces of furniture between them.
That’s all right, fiammetta. I have all night.
He heard her panting, and he shook his head when one of the Doms tried to halt her so he could catch her more easily. She lifted the flogger and stroked it along her bare torso, and when she moved under a light, he saw the goose bumps as they rose on her skin.
Tracking her like a predator was more than half the fun for him as he slowly backed her into a corner, near a fountain.