‘One day, that’ll be you in there,’ he said, indicating the man. ‘Or even on the stage. You mark my words.’

I hadn’t even noticed the stage. It was at the far end of the dance floor, furthest from the entrance. It was empty, but for a cross, much like the one the man was shackled to.

‘It’s a St Andrew’s cross,’ said Nathaniel, conversationally, as we walked over to the cloakroom. ‘Great for keeping subs…well…subdued.’ He shot me a wink. ‘And their legs spread, of course.’

I flushed again but, this time, it wasn’t from embarrassment but, rather, the anticipation of what was to come.

    Thirty Two

Him

I should have known better than to take her to Dominion. I hadn’t opened up to a woman like this since Aimee and, once I’d started, I didn’t know when to stop. I wanted her to know everything, to see everything about me, but now I wondered if I’d pushed her too far, too soon. Knowing her most secret longings, I suppose I’d expected her to be more understanding of my sexual proclivities. I now realised there was a world of difference between her fantasy of being used as a slut and my growing desire to use her as my sub.

She’d actually pulled away from me, when I’d playfully suggested using her publicly at the club. I hadn’t been expecting quite such a negative reaction and now I wondered whether she’d really enjoyed Dominion at all.

We got into the lift, my coat wrapped tightly around her. She was looking at the floor, her face pinched again, and she was almost hugging herself. I felt bad for putting her into a situation which had so obviously left her feeling awkward and uncomfortable. I hadn’t realised I could be so selfish.

If it hadn’t been bad enough, Max was there. Why, I had no clue. Felicity was still in hospital, with no improvement in her condition, last time I’d rung. He was addicted to the lifestyle, I knew, but even he – unfeeling bastard that he undoubtedly was – should have been there, rather than at the club. I could have kicked myself for ever suggesting taking her down there.

‘I’m sorry, Angel,’ I said. ‘We don’t have to do anything, if you don’t want to. I’ll take you home if you want.’

She looked up at me. ‘You want me to go home?’

‘No.’ I put my hands up in defeat. ‘I don’t know what to say for the best. I don’t want you to go anywhere, but I don’t want you to stay because you feel you have to. Back there, in the club, it was a mistake.’

‘I don’t think it was a mistake,’ she said slowly. ‘It was just…I’m trying to get my head around it all. It was just so…different.’

‘I know.’ I was struggling to find the words. ‘It m…must have seemed crazy to you. For me, it’s all I’ve ever known.’

She lapsed into silence for a few moments, before looking up at me again.

‘Do you really want me to know everything about you?’ she asked.

‘Yes,’ I said. ‘But I should’ve thought more before...’

‘Then, I have to know about…that…all this.’ She opened my coat and let it fall to the floor, exposing her tight, tanned body in its white leather corset. ‘I need to find out for myself.’

Despite everything, the blood rushed straight to my cock. I really was a selfish ass.

‘No, Angel…’ I took a step back. ‘You don’t.’

‘Yes,’ she said, her tone brooking no argument. ‘I need to find out what it really means to be your submissive.’

She sank to her knees, right there in the hotel’s glass lift, and gazed up at me. ‘Punish me, Sir,’ she said, her eyes sparkling through the mask. ‘Please, Sir, I need to be punished.’

    Thirty Three

Her

The lift reached the top of the building and he bent down to pick up his coat. ‘Come on, then, Angel. I’ve work to do.’

His manner had completely changed. He’d seemed so vulnerable for a moment that I almost felt guilty for my doubts. Christ, he’d even stammered at one point. Although it had melted my heart, I preferred his normal manner. God, I loved it, in fact.

I got up to follow him out of the lift but he turned to face me, stopping me in my tracks. ‘Uh-huh,’ he said, pointing at the floor. ‘Get back on your knees, Miss Anderton. You’re going to crawl.’

If he’d added “to your doom”, at that moment I wouldn’t have been a bit surprised. He was back to himself, that was for sure. He towered over me, looking down at my horror-stricken face with amusement.

‘I don’t want to,’ I said, embarrassment at the thought of it coursing through me.

He laughed. ‘If you wanted to, Angel, it would hardly be a punishment.’

I got onto all fours, wondering if anyone could see my rear end, sticking up behind me and pointing towards the glass back wall of the lift. I had no idea – I’d hardly noticed our journeys in the lift, being so caught up in Nathaniel – but the thought was enough to set me crawling out of its confines.

Nathaniel stepped back to let me pass and bent to give my ass a short, sharp slap as I shuffled past him. ‘There’s a good girl,’ he said. ‘See? You can do as you’re told.’

I felt half mortified, half…something else. His hand striking my ass hadn’t really hurt, but I could still feel its contact, burning into me like a brand, as I made my way, on all fours, along the corridor. It was as if it had flipped some hidden switch inside me and, as I crawled along the soft carpet, I started to enjoy it. It brought back the memory of being in his bedroom, at the Castle, on my knees, and how I’d felt it was where I belonged. I could feel myself growing wet again, between my legs, and I deliberately stuck my ass up in the hope his hand might connect with it again.

‘Now, now,’ he said, in that reproving manner that I both loved and hated. ‘Not so eager, Angel. I’ve told you before, control is everything.’

We reached the door of his penthouse and he stood aside to let me in. The lushness of the carpet ended at his door. Beyond, it was wood and, although hard on my knees, the boots afforded some protection and I barely noticed the discomfort, so intent was I on doing as I was bidden.

He shut the door quietly behind him and followed me into the living room. When I was halfway across the floor, he spoke. ‘Now, Angel, sit up and look at me.’

I sat back on my haunches and met his gaze.

He walked round behind me and, bending down, unlaced my mask. Pulling it gently up and over my head, he came back round to face me and stood staring at me, as if seeing me for the first time. ‘Such a shame you had to wear this tonight,’ he remarked, looking at the mask with distaste. ‘You outshone everyone there by miles and no one knew it. Now, what am I going to do with you, I wonder?’

I didn’t speak – I had no idea if I was meant to. He didn’t seem to expect an answer. He just walked around me, looking at me from all angles, as if considering where to begin. I stayed still, holding my breath as he continued his pacing.

Then, he turned and went up the stairs to the mezzanine. He was gone for a few minutes and, while he was out of the room, I took the chance to look around it. Everything was as I remembered it from earlier. Stylish, clean lines, several large cream sofas, a television bench and not much else. No photos, no ornaments – nothing personal at all, and I wondered how he managed to be so alone when he seemingly had such a large entourage. The steps he’d disappeared up were open, rising from the middle of the room to the mezzanine, high above the windows.

He came back down them carrying a large case. ‘Sorry to keep you, Angel,’ he said. ‘Just gathering a few…tools of the trade.’

He’d taken off his shirt. In the clean light of the living room, his muscles stood out as if etched into him by Michelangelo himself, but I could only afford them the most cursory inspection. I was too busy staring at the case, wondering what the hell was inside it. I didn’t have to wait long to find out.