Controlling Interest (3 page)

Regine looked down briefly, when she looked back at the
camera, tears streaked her cheeks. “I know you think that you were the lucky
one when you found me and I lifted you out of the gutter, but the truth is
entirely
the reverse. You brought meaning back into my life when I had grown cold and
cynical. And you have helped me face this disease with a grace I never would
have been able to find without you. For that, you have my undying gratitude and
love. Thank you, my dearest Mouse.”

As the screen went black, Mouse began to cry again. God,
she’d loved that woman. Regine had been a bitch on wheels, capable of terrifying
everyone in D.C.—everyone
but
Mouse. She’d miss Regine horribly in the
future because her best friend and surrogate mother was now gone. Mouse slipped
the list and the card back into the envelope and stood. It was time to follow
orders and make her former boss…and Domme proud one last time.

Chapter Two

Mouse unlocked the front door and looked around the
entryway.
Her
entryway. The foyer was open with high ceilings and
beautiful hardwood floors. She closed the door and locked it behind her before setting
the alarm. How could this place really be hers? But it was. It was
all
hers! Yes! She walked with purpose to the kitchen and made herself a cup of tea
with lemon then went into her at-home office. Mouse ran her hands over the
cherry wood desk and settled into her chair with a shake of her head. She
looked at the ceiling and closed her eyes.

“Thank you, Regine,” she whispered, and hoped her mentor
heard her.

She took the envelope out of her purse and pulled out the
list and the card. She studied the business card. Who had such a plain business
card these days? It was a simple and white with
1-800-DOM-help
in thick
black letters. On the back, the words
Mistress Zarah
were written.

She had to do this but felt terrified. Working with Torin
Stuart would be excruciating—a combination of sexual frustration and a sincere
desire to strangle him. He was as opinionated as his mother had been, but he
pushed all her hot buttons. She still remembered the first time she’d seen him.

He’d breezed into his mother’s home and ignored Mouse as he
threw open his mother’s office door. She’d been in the midst of an important
meeting, and for Mouse there’d been hell to pay for not stopping him. Even
while he’d chuckled at her predicament and Regine verbally ripped her hide off,
Mouse had wanted to drop to the floor and suck his cock until he shot in her
mouth. She shivered. Her desire had raged on high ever since while he remained
cordially distant. Lousy bastard.

She sighed and looked at her hands to find they were
shaking. She clenched her fists. She
would
do this. Mouse dialed the
number. It took awhile to connect, but then the line rang, precisely twice,
before a man spoke.

“Thank you for calling 1-800-DOM-help. This is the Operator.
How may I be of assistance?” Mouse swallowed…hard. She needed to speak. Just
open her mouth and talk. “Hello? I can hear you breathing. How may I help you?”

“I was told to ask for Mistress Zarah?” Mouse rolled her
eyes at her tentative squeaky tone.

“Ah, you’re a special caller. I believe you were directed to
me by Mistress Regine.”

Her jaw dropped. How the hell had he known? “Um…yeah. I
guess.”

“Very good. Please hold while I connect you.”

Mouse held her breath and released it in a huff when a
smooth, deep-voiced woman answered.

“You sound happy to speak to me,” she chuckled drily.

“Sorry.”

“Mouse, right?”

“Um…yeah. How did you know?”

“You asked for me. No one else would do that. How can I help
you?”

“If you know my name, do you know my situation?”

The deep, sexy chuckle made goose bumps rise on her skin. If
she weren’t straight, she could fall for this woman just by her voice alone.
She must drive her submissives insane.

“I do. Regine was specific, and Tor would be a handful—even
for a submissive comfortable in the life. I don’t know what Regine was thinking
to toss a newbie sub into a battle with him.”

“Are you sure it will be a battle?”

She laughed again. “Hell yes. Regine and I have both made
the suggestions on her list to him through the years but he blew us off.”

“I thought Regine held controlling interest?”

“She did, but Erotically Bound was his baby so she didn’t
interfere. That and the fact that it’s part of a franchise of a sort.”

“It is?”

“Yes. Do an internet search, dear. You’ll find clubs with
the same name all over the continental United States.”

“Oh.”

“Well, we need to get you up to specs at the speed of light,
so let’s talk.”

For the next few hours, Mouse learned about BDSM. How it
worked and didn’t work. What safe words were and when to use them. At the end
of their talk, Mistress Zarah told her that first thing in the morning a
package would arrive for her and that night she and Zarah would be visiting a
local club called Unfettered. She wrote down the address Mistress Zarah told
her and took a deep breath.

“Mouse dear, Unfettered is exactly how a club
should
be run. Look and learn so you’ll have something to compare EB to. This club
is…new to D.C. but I’ve been there before.”

“Is EB so terrible?”

“No, it’s an excellent club—but it could be better. That’s
your job. Make it the best it can be.”

“I wish I knew what that meant.”

“It will become clear in time. Memorize that list. Oh, and
there will be a mask in the box. Wear it. Also, I won’t call you Mouse. Hmmm,
what name shall I give you?”

“My name is Mozelle.”

“No, someone might know that. Ah… I’ll call you Minnie.”

“What?”

“Minnie. Short for Minnie Mouse.”

“Minnie Mouse wouldn’t be caught dead in a BDSM club.”

“You might be surprised.”

“Right. So how will I know you?”

“I’ll wait near the bar for you. Arrive precisely at eight
p.m. and don’t be late, or I might have to punish you.” Her throaty laugh gave
Mouse another chill of arousal. What the hell?

“I don’t belong to you, Mistress. So punishment isn’t really
appropriate.”

“Maybe not, but you’ll be under my protection. It will be
easier that way because we don’t want any roving Doms to hit on you…yet. I’ll
see you tomorrow evening, dear.”

“Good night.”

Mouse sighed as she hung up. This was the craziest thing
she’d ever done in her entire life. She just hoped it was worth it.

* * * * *

Walking up to the front door of Unfettered terrified her.
Not because of its location. After all, it was only a few blocks from her
townhouse. No, her fear arose from what she’d learned by surfing the web after
her call to Mistress Zarah. How could Regine possibly think this would work?
Tor would never allow her to make the kind of changes on that list.

Mouse adjusted her gold leather mask and hoped she wouldn’t
meet anyone she knew as she tugged her coat tighter around her. Even though it
wasn’t yet winter, the cold wind blew up under her coat and her very short red
leather skirt. She felt like a walking cliché festival in her mask, metallic
gold bustier, red leather skirt and red spike heels.

After taking a deep breath, she approached the woman at the
door, trying to ignore the big guy leaning against the wall flexing his
muscles.

“Can I help you?”

“I…” Oh damn. One of her squeaks. That squeak was why Regine
always called her Mouse instead of Moze, her lifetime nickname.

The woman smiled in a kindly way. “Do you have a name?”

“Yes, M-M-Minnie.”

“Well, M-M-Minnie let me check my list to see if you’re on
it.” She perused a clipboard and finally nodded. “Yes, you’re meeting Mistress
Zarah. As you go in, you’ll see her at the bar. She’s the tall lady in tight
black leather pants who bears an uncanny resemblance to Melissa Etheridge.”

“Oh. Okay. Thanks…”

“I’m Dru. And don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll have fun.
Mistress Zarah isn’t
too
tough on newbies—usually.”

Mouse scuttled through the door and came to a halt just inside.
She stood and stared, barely noticing as someone helped her off with her coat
and handed her a coat check stub. She absently stuffed it into her clutch
purse. She didn’t know what she’d been expecting, but she didn’t think this was
it. The décor was gorgeous in a very sexual way. Dark, polished wood was
everywhere. From the beautifully carved wood of the bar to the gleaming floors.
The couches and arm chairs were covered in a deep burgundy leather. It looked
exactly like a classy private BDSM club should look. Not cheesy and over the
top, but rich and elegant.

She noticed the people at the bar and there was one woman
who stood out. A circle of silence marked her and no one approached. Every
submissive in the room eyed her with interest, and if they came anywhere near
her, they bowed. Yup, black leather pants, black jacket and wavy light brown
hair. Melissa indeed. Mouse took a step and paused. How the hell was she
supposed to go up and talk to her?

“Hello, angel girl. Alone tonight?” Mouse jumped then looked
up at a tall, reed-thin older man.

“I…”

“She’s with me.”

“Your new girl? You have taste, old friend.”

Mistress Zarah chuckled. “She’s my guest, but she is lovely,
isn’t she?”

“Indeed. Let me know if you decide to cut her loose.”

“Her choice of partner is up to her.”

He sighed dramatically. “Pity. Submissives need guidance.”

“Only once they choose.”

As he shrugged and walked away, Mouse sighed in relief.
“Thank you, Mistress.”

“Turn. Face me.”

Mouse followed directions with a blush while Mistress Zarah
surveyed her. “You’ll do.” She walked behind Mouse and poked her in the small
of the back. “Stand straight. Head and shoulders up. Be proud of yourself.
Dominants would love to spank that curvy full ass.” Mistress Zarah’s hands slid
over her butt and gently squeezed.

“Um… Mistress.”

“Hush. I’m enjoying.” She strode back in front of Mouse. She
ran her fingers over the rise of her breasts as they rose from the bustier.
“Ah, Minnie, you have luscious tits too.”

“Are you a lesbian?”

Mistress Zarah grinned. “Bi. I’m an equal-opportunity
Domme.”

“I see.”

“You’re straight?”

Mouse nodded. Zarah brushed over her nipples. “Yet these are
at attention for me.” She looked beyond Mouse and smiled. “Perfect. He’s right
on time for once.”

“He who?”

“Master Torin.”

“Oh my God…” Mouse shivered and ducked her head.

Mistress Zarah surveyed her. “Oh, now that’s just not fair.
I bet you creamed your panties, didn’t you?”

“Mistress, could you please keep your voice down?” Mouse
hissed, heat filling her cheeks.

Zarah chuckled. “Oh, I don’t think so. But for your sake, I
suggest you don’t speak much when he comes over here or he might recognize your
voice.” She turned her head to look behind Mouse. “Ah, Master Torin. How are
you, dear?”

He came around Mouse and gave Zarah a brief hug and a kiss
on the cheek. “Well enough, considering.”

“It’s such a loss. We’ll miss Regine terribly, you know
that, don’t you?”

“I do. Thank you.” Torin turned and looked Mouse over from
head to toe. “Very nice. Is she yours?”

“No, darling. A guest who wants to explore the dark side.”

“As a submissive or is she a Domme in training?”

“Submissive.”

Tor turned the full force of his gaze on her. Their eyes met
briefly before she dropped her gaze to his shoes. Please let him not recognize
her. Please.

“Yes, definitely a submissive,” he purred. He lifted his
hand and paused, glancing at Zarah. “May I?”

“The choice is hers.”

“Do you have a name?” he asked, brushing a strand of hair
off her forehead. Normally, she kept her bushy hair pinned severely back, but
the letter that arrived with the clothes ordered her to let it fall around her
face naturally.

She glanced at Mistress Zarah, begging for help. Zarah
smiled. “Her name is Minnie.”

“Minnie? Unusual.”

“That’s her name tonight. Who knows? Her name tomorrow might
be Mickey.”

Mouse glared at Zarah, who just laughed.

“Do you want to play with me, Minnie?”

Mouse’s eyes flew to Tor’s. Did he know? Surely not. And
what the hell did he mean by play?

“Play?” she squeaked. Damn it. Why did she always have to
squeak like a mouse when she was anxious? At least Tor was unfamiliar with her
nervous habit because by the time they’d met, Regine had worked the squeak
right out of her.

He chuckled, his fingers trailed along the bare skin of her
arm from her shoulder to her wrist. Gently, he encircled her wrist and rubbed
the vulnerable skin there with his forefinger.

“Yes, Miss Squeak.
Play
. That means you and I go
someplace private and I give you a spanking you’ll never forget. A spanking
that will have you begging for more.”

Mouse couldn’t catch her breath as he lightly ran his
fingertips up to her elbow. He leaned close and brushed his lips along the edge
of her ear. She jerked when his tongue flicked against her lobe.

“Sensitive, aren’t you?” he murmured.

“Yes.”

“Yes,
Sir
.”

“Oh sorry. Yes Sir.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

He chuckled in her ear. His hand moved from her elbow to her
waist while he tormented her by trailing the fingers of his other hand from her
wrist to her shoulder. Then he brushed a finger along her shoulder and up along
her neck. Mouse couldn’t stop the shiver that coursed through her at his touch.

“You haven’t answered my question. Would you like to play
with me?”