CollectiveMemory (3 page)

Chapter Two

Mace took a breath and tried not to pant as he stared at
Devin’s almost naked breasts. He’d had dreams about those breasts and had been
pretty well assured he would never get a chance to see them naked. When a woman
laughs when you ask her out, you figure you’re out of the running.

Now he was here, looking at her breasts and about to take
her into the sex club scene. He hadn’t been to Switch in a few months. He’d
basically been hibernating since Devin’s rejection. Not that he’d been
heartbroken, but having a woman laugh in your face was always a good time to
reassess.

He stepped back and looked at his companions. Cayl was hot,
no doubt about it. Just what Mace liked in a man—tall, muscular, nice ass—but
Cayl seemed to believe he was from a different world. And here looking for a
killer.

Mace didn’t have a problem with a person’s delusions—crazy
could be fun—but Devin appeared involved in the delusion.

“We could probably go in. It’s a bit early but things will
pick up soon.”

“Finally. We must search every corner—”

Devin held up her hand again and Cayl blinked and stopped
talking though Mace could tell he wasn’t pleased about being interrupted.

“We can’t just barrel in there. Can Harken recognize you?”

“No, he has not seen this form.”

“Harken?” Mace asked. He knew—hell, Devin had told him—that
they weren’t telling him the truth about why they wanted access to Switch. He
was just supposed to go along but damn it, he was going to ask questions when
he got a chance.

“The guy we’re looking for,” Devin tossed out. “Okay, how
will you recognize him?”

“I can trace his essence. It is something he cannot hide.”

“But doesn’t that mean he can trace you?” Devin asked.

Cayl sighed like the answer should be obvious. “No. He is
not from my world originally,” he explained. “I told you that. This is even
more reason why we do not involve ourselves with humans. They do not retain
their memories past a moment.”

Devin’s chest rose in a long slow breath and Mace could see
she was doing everything in her power not to reach out and smack the arrogant
“alien”. Mace could relate.
Gorgeous is one thing but total asshole is
another.

“Harken’s original being is traceable. But the signature
lasts less than twenty-four Earth hours and we have most likely lost our
opportunity for this night because of your delays and strange human customs.”

Mace felt his lips pull up into a reluctant smile. This guy
really got into his character. He glanced at Devin, wanting to share the “this
dude is crazy” moment, but she wasn’t smiling.

Her eyes tightened into a fierce glare and her jaw clenched.
Mace’s teeth ached in sympathy. “We’ll do our best. Now—”

Mace tried to temper his smile but damn, Devin was lovely
when she was pissed and she didn’t even seem to be trying to hide it anymore.

“We’re going inside. Mace will lead the way. You—” She
stabbed a finger into Cayl’s chest. The way Cayl jumped told Mace she’d put
some real force behind it. “You will attempt to blend. Follow Mace’s lead.
Watch what the other males do. And for God’s sake don’t tell anyone else you’re
an alien.”

She turned and looked at Mace expectantly.

“Damn, babe, this is going to be more fun than I thought.”

With that, he grabbed Devin’s hand and started forward. She
resisted for a moment then came along. He glanced back and Cayl had taken her
other hand.
Great, we look like kindergarteners on a field trip.
But he
didn’t stop. They’d drop hands when they got inside.

Mace led them to the club entrance. This early in the
evening, there wasn’t a line, not that he ever waited in line here. He’d been a
member for years. They knew him on sight. He walked through the dark wood doors
and stopped at the membership desk. Mistress Vanessa was working the door
tonight. She stood when he entered and leaned forward, her breasts almost
tumbling out of the corset that bound her chest.

“Mace, my love, haven’t seen you in ages.”

“Been busy.” Cryptic was always better in these situations.

“I can see.” She looked over his shoulder to Devin and Cayl.
“And what lovely toys to be busy with.”

Mace flashed a smug smile at Devin. “They are entertaining
enough.”

He waited for her annoyance to show but instead she blinked
and pushed her lower lip out in a sexual pout.

“But, Sir, I’ve been trying so hard.” As she spoke, she
pulled her shoulders back, opening the edges of her jacket. The slick lining
seemed to glide across her skin until her nipples were almost revealed.

His dick bounced in his jeans, pressing against his zipper
with a sharp ache.

“I think I need to be punished.”

She said it with the right amount of submission and
eagerness and he could almost imagine that she really wanted it, if it hadn’t
been for the mockery in her eyes.

Two could play like that. “I agree.” He glanced at Vanessa.
“Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” Her gaze grew slumberous and sexual. And she
licked her lips in anticipation. Mace held back his own grin. He’d fucked
Vanessa a few times. She was good fun but Devin was his focus tonight.

He turned his attention to her and watched the light of
reality invade her eyes.
Oh this is going to be fun.

Fuck.
Devin crushed the curse in her throat. She’d
gotten herself into this, taunting Mace. Now she couldn’t brush it off, not
without breaking their cover. And it had been her command that they blend.

“Bend over, hands on the table.” Mace’s low, penetrating
voice filled her core and made her pussy clench.

She swallowed but it made no difference to the lump in her
throat. A quick glance toward Cayl did nothing to calm her. He stood a few feet
away, observing, his clever mind obviously recording everything. God, please
don’t let him ask questions.

Taking a breath, she leaned forward and placed her palms on
the table. She lifted her head and met Mace’s stare. The challenge in his eyes
shot through her body. She could handle this. It was just a simple spanking. Or
at least that’s what she thought he had in mind. Vanessa hummed softly, the
sound mocking. Whether it was directed at Mace or Devin, she didn’t know.
Didn’t matter. She wasn’t going to let some Elvira wannabe laugh at her or
Mace.

Devin took the noise inside her and used it to power her
resolve. She pushed her ass out and lowered her eyes.

“Please, Sir.”

“Very good.” Mace accompanied the words with a slow caress
to her ass, his fingers measuring the curve. “Nice,” he said, his voice low,
intimate. “I’m just going to warm your ass a bit, then finish when we get home.
Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Her fingers curled against the wood despite the fact that
she couldn’t grip the smooth surface. She wasn’t afraid of being physically
hurt. She didn’t think Mace would actually beat her and her skirt would protect
her from the sting but still the thought of being spanked, in public, made her
heart race.

She waited, the anticipation almost too much before she felt
the first strike. As she’d expected, the material of her skirt muted the
sensation. She could do this. He’d smack her ass a couple of times and then
they’d move on.

“Mace, Sir…” Cayl’s voice broke through Devin’s calm. “If I
understand physical punishment, there should be some discomfort. Would it not
be better to strike her bare skin?”

Her gasp resonated against the wood desk.

“Why, Cayl, I believe you’re right.”

No, no, no. He couldn’t be serious.

“Help me pull her skirt up.” Two sets of hands tugged on the
hem of her skirt. Cool air rushed across her skin as they pulled the material
high, forcing her to shift to draw it up to her waist. She did a mental flip
through her morning and tried to remember what underwear she’d put on.
Please
don’t let it be the cotton granny panties.
Not the granny panties.
She
remembered having them in her hand but couldn’t remember if she’d actually put
them on or—

“Ooh, our slut is showing off for us today.”

Damn, the fluorescent-pink bikinis.

She shivered as warmth slid across her skin, Mace’s large
hand cupping her butt cheek. He gave it a little squeeze. The heat in his hand
sank into her pussy and it was all she could do not to press back against him.
No, this wasn’t good. She had to—a faint hum, high, like a question, filtered
through the air. And another hand settled on her ass, covering her other cheek,
testing, following the curve.

“Nice.” Mace asked, giving her backside another squeeze.

“Yes.” Cayl mirrored the action. “Again, strangely
compelling. Similar physical reaction to the sight of her bare breasts.”

His hand slid down, fingers dipping between her legs. Devin
crushed a yelp. His fingertips traced the line of her panties, a breath away
from her pussy. Her mind raced with the fact that she was wet, really wet and
if he touched her he would know. And he would probably announce it to the
world.

“Not so fast, slick.” Mace’s voice halted Cayl’s fingers.
“We want to make sure her pussy is nice and eager before we give her any
relief.”

“Hmm.” That masculine, assessing hum told her Cayl had put
the concept into his memory. From what she’d read of his world, he wasn’t
likely to forget. Cayl’s fingers slipped away. “Now you will punish her?”

“Almost.” A tug on her panties made her shift, giving Mace a
little space as he pulled down her underwear, leaving it stretched tight across
her upper thighs. “Now, she’s ready.”

She heard other voices in the background and realized they’d
drawn an audience. Devin gulped and forced down the panic—and the foreign
flutter in her pussy. Damn, she couldn’t like this, right? Not bare-assed in
front a group of strangers, waiting to be—

She heard the
smack
to her backside seconds before
the sensation jolted her—a sharp pain followed by a slow burn.

“That’s a good girl,” Mace murmured a heartbeat before he
spanked her again. The strokes were hard but not unbearable. Each tap zipped
through her body and teased her pussy. She’d been wet before but now… She
squirmed as his palm made contact again, needing something more, needing to
feel something in her cunt.

“That’s it, honey. Your ass turns a lovely shade of pink,”
he whispered, his breath teasing her hair. Then he straightened. “Just two
more.” She braced for the blows but still gasped when they came. Her body
seemed to move without her permission, her back arching and pushing her ass
out.

Mace’s hand curved around her ass once again. “Just right. A
little warmth but not too much.” She whimpered when Cayl’s hand joined Mace’s,
stroking.

“Yes, there is some heat to her skin now. Will this be
uncomfortable for her?” Pure curiosity lingered in his voice.

“She’ll be fine, won’t you, Devin?”

Irritation returned. She’d forgotten for a moment that they
were here on a mission and that mission wasn’t spanking her ass.

“Yes, Sir,” she replied though her answer was spoken through
clenched teeth.

Mace laughed and gave her another tap, just for being
snotty, she was sure.

“You can stand up. I’ll beat the rest of it out of you
later…when you can thank me properly.”

Fire burned through her chest at the thought and settled
deep in her core, enflaming the fires his spanking had ignited.

With legs wobbling more than they should, she straightened,
yanked up her panties and tugged her skirt down over her backside. The woman
behind the table—Mistress Vanessa—smiled at her, her eyes glowing with a hunger
Devin wasn’t about to acknowledge.

“Very nice.” Vanessa looked at Mace. “Does she play?”

“Only with me.”

Vanessa clicked her tongue. “Too bad. I could do wonders
with that attitude.”

Devin’s spine straightened. She didn’t have an attitude
problem. Well, maybe a little one.

“I’ll consider it.” Mace’s voice rang with sexual laughter
but his hand tightened on Devin’s hip as if to reassure her that he wouldn’t be
loaning her out.

It took all her strength not to jab her elbow into his gut.

Instead she stood patiently as he took her hand and led her
forward. This time, Cayl didn’t grab her other hand. He followed but his gaze
tripped across the room, bouncing from one visual to the next. The sights were
impressive, even for so early in the evening.

A few steps inside the club and they stood before a small
stage. Devin stopped, surprise not letting her progress forward.

In the middle of the raised platform sat a woman, her sheer
blouse open, her hands squeezing her breasts, long, sensual fingers tugging on
her nipples. A man knelt between her legs, his face buried between her thighs.
The woman’s hips rocked back and forth in tiny pulses as if the man was fucking
her with his tongue. A spark settled in Devin’s already heated pussy. Her body
hadn’t recovered from the spanking and now this—sexual and hot and purely
wicked.