Crime and Punishment 4: Burning Submission (23 page)

Connelly was on the other side of Nathan, and Jennifer chanced a glance around his wide chest to see the pretty woman smile in encouragement at her. She smiled briefly back and then turned her awestruck gaze to the crowded room.

There had to be well over a hundred people here, if not more. Most of them wore slacks, although some of the more intense Doms wore leather. The subs were dressed similar to her, but some, she noticed, were completely naked except for collars around their necks.

Connelly had told her earlier the collars indicated a relationship. Connelly had one—a very dainty gold one encrusted with diamonds. She only wore it at the club, though, because Nathan wasn’t a lifestyle Dom. Just a club Dom.

God, there was so much to learn. So many things she still had questions about. Which type of Dom was Josh? She sighed inwardly, wondering why any of that even mattered. Tonight would be her last night with him.

They walked past a seating area, and Jennifer spotted a couple surrounded by three others. One of the men sat on the couch, slumped down as his sub gave him a blowjob. His fingers fisted in her hair as he watched her mouth work up and down his engorged length.

Jennifer came to a complete stop and stared. The other couples around them continued to talk as though nothing out of the ordinary was going on. She swallowed as she remembered how Josh’s cock had felt in her mouth and how his cum had tasted on her lips.

“There’ll be time for that later,” Nathan murmured in her ear as he tugged her with him and Connelly toward the bar.

She tried…really tried not to look back, but she couldn’t stop herself. She watched over her shoulder in fascination as the man grunted and came into the condom covering his shaft.

The Dom opened his eyes and stared down at the expectant submissive. He murmured something close to her ear, and she beamed at him as though she’d just been given a wonderful gift.

“She pleased him,” Nathan whispered, making Jennifer jump in guilt for having been caught watching. “A Dom should always give his submissive praise when she does well.”

She looked back at Nathan, her face heating with embarrassment. “Should the submissive praise the Dom as well?”

“No. The submissive’s explosive orgasm is usually praise enough.”

She studied his amber-colored eyes, noticed the teasing light in them, and wondered if he was pulling her chain. His lips twitched slightly, but he said nothing, making her think he could read more than just emotions.

How well could he read
her
? “How well can you read Josh?” she asked.

Nathan smiled at the bartender as they approached. The bartender nodded back before turning away to serve other patrons. As she waited for Nathan to answer, she gazed around at the various faces watching the three of them in mixtures of curiosity and jealousy. She supposed she could understand the latter. Nathan was gorgeous, after all, and Connelly looked incredibly good on his arm with her red curls dangling around her shoulders and her fair skin practically glowing against the black of Nathan’s shirt.

“My connection with Josh comes from years of working together,” Nathan replied softly. “Not all of it is psychic.”

Judging by his lowered voice, Jennifer got the impression he wanted this kept quiet. “The people here don’t know, do they?”

“No. And I would like to keep it that way.”

Jennifer nodded. “Believe me. I understand.”

She glanced around his shoulders to Connelly. “Does she know…about mine?”

“Yes. I tell Connelly everything.”

“And I have no choice but to tell
him
everything,” Connelly grumbled, but her eyes danced merrily.

“Something tells me you don’t really mind that,” Jennifer responded with a grin.

Connelly gave a dismissive shrug. “It has its moments.”

“Keep it up,” Nathan growled low in his throat, but despite the menace—or maybe because of it—Jennifer could see the desire simmering in Connelly’s gaze as she grinned up at her master.

“I’m already going to receive a punishment. The only question now is the severity. Besides, if I recall, you like mouthy submissives.”

“I did say that, didn’t I?” Nathan drawled.

Connelly glanced over at Jennifer. The wickedness in her stare made Jennifer bite her lip to keep from giggling. Apparently, Connelly liked being punished, and since Nathan enjoyed punishing, the two seemed to be a perfect match.

But what were she and Josh going to be? Two ships that passed in the night? What would he be like tonight? Would he be like he’d been at the house? Dominating? A little rough?

She liked that part—the rough handling, the snarling commands, the dark tone to his voice when he spoke. Just thinking about it now made her nipples harden even more. The material of her satin sheath brushed over them, and she shivered.

Where was he? Had he backed out?

“Master Delacroix?”

Jennifer spun at the sound of the deep voice behind her. She’d hoped it was Josh, but the tall blond man staring down at her wasn’t Josh. He was nice looking and had kind blue eyes, but…he wasn’t Josh.

“Master Kyle,” Nathan said. “Good to see you back.”

“It’s good to be back. I’ve missed the club and the beautiful submissives you always have.”

He was staring at her when he said it. Part of her wanted to smile at the compliment; another part just wanted to keep searching the club for Josh.

“Who’s this one?” Master Kyle asked.

“This is Jennifer, but—”

“She’s already taken,” Josh said from behind her in a soft, possessive voice.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Ian Kyle glanced at Josh and gave a slight nod in his usual civilized but distant way. “Master Barnes. You’re a lucky man.”

“Yes, I am,” Josh said softly as he grabbed Jennifer’s elbow and tugged her from Nathan’s side.

Ian was a nice man, a good master, but Jennifer was his.

“How was your trip to Europe?” Josh asked, attempting to be sociable.

He liked Ian, but socializing was the last thing he really wanted to be doing…especially after seeing Jennifer in that satin piece of material that barely covered her curvy body, and that blonde hair of hers curling around her shoulders like a shawl of gold.

He’d thought about not coming. He really had. He’d even walked out to his truck but then decided against leaving. He knew Nathan wouldn’t let anything happen, but the thought of her appeasing her curiosity with someone else cut through him like a knife.

He could fight it all day long, but in the end, he knew he wanted her. He would just have to make tonight enough to last a lifetime.

“It was very productive. It looks as though the merger is going to go through without a hitch,” Ian said.

“Excellent,” Nathan replied. “I knew you were worried about it.”

“Yes, I was.” Ian nodded with a smile. He glanced one final time at Josh and Jennifer. His smile faded somewhat. “Well, it looks as though I’m once again on the prowl for a submissive. It was good seeing you, Master Barnes.”

“You too,” Josh replied.

Nathan pointed toward a small group of young women sitting a few feet away at one of the many seating areas scattered about the club. “The brunette in the middle…”

Ian studied the young girl with the sweet smile. “Yes?”

“Her name is Sherry. I believe she would be a good match for you.”

“I don’t think I’ve seen her here before.”

“You haven’t. She’s a friend of Connelly’s, who just started.”

“Thank you,” Ian said with a grin. “I believe I’ll go introduce myself.”

“She would be good for him, I think,” Connelly murmured. “She will loosen up his stiffness.”

“He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a gold staff up his ass,” Josh said as he wrapped his arm around Jennifer’s lower back and pulled her against his side. “He’s a nice guy but definitely raised to be very proper.”

Jennifer snickered, and Josh tightened his arm around her.

“What that man needs,” Nathan added, “is an adventurous and sassy submissive from the wrong side of the tracks. Someone who will shake him up.”

“Kind of like you and Connie?” Josh asked, deliberately teasing Connelly.

“Excuse me?” Connelly asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Would you like for me to tie him to the poles, pet? So you can punish him?” Nathan asked.

“Now that I think I would like to see,” Jennifer said.

Josh slapped her hard on the ass. She yelped, and even though he didn’t look down at her, he could feel her angry gaze bore into him.

“Might want to behave yourself, sweetheart,” Nathan drawled as he put his hand at the back of Connelly’s neck. “Josh loves to punish almost as much as I do. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have a saucy submissive who needs a little taming.”

“Taming, my ass,” Josh murmured. “You love her just as she is, and you know it.”

“And unfortunately, so does she,” Nathan replied, grinning as he led Connelly away.

“Where’s he taking her?” Jennifer asked.

“To the whipping posts.” Josh grasped the hair at her nape and tugged her head back roughly, forcing her to meet his gaze. “Did you prefer Ian, sub?” he asked roughly.

“NO,” SHE GASPED, shaking her head as much as she could against his hold. Even with the tight grip, the tension as he tugged her neck back, and the fire blazing in his eyes, every inch of her body screamed for more.

“No what?”

Her eyes went wide, and she could practically feel the color draining from her face. What was he asking of her? He had her so wound up she couldn’t think straight. “What?”

“Master… No, Master,” Josh replied.

Nathan had told her earlier she would have to call him Master. She’d forgotten. But after this, she wouldn’t dare forget in the future. “No, Master,” she whispered.

Josh allowed her up, and she glared. She’d admitted to enjoying his rough handling, but in her mind, this might’ve gone a bit too far. What was his problem?

“Are you trying to scare me, Josh? Is that what this is? Because if it is, you can just give it up now.”

He turned to fully face her. “You wanted to experience Master Josh. This is me. I punish impish behavior. I reward good behavior, and I will not, under any circumstances, share you as long as you are mine. Are we clear?”

She lifted her chin and stared defiantly up at him. “I have no control over whether or not a man finds me attractive.”

Josh gripped her chin. “I’m not upset he found you attractive,” he said, softening his voice. “I’m upset that you looked as though you were considering him.”

Her eyes widened. Okay, maybe she had for a split second, but what did he expect? She’d begun to think he was going to stand her up. “You were jealous?”

Josh sighed and dropped his hand. “I think I was,” he whispered, just in as much awe as she was.

Jennifer wasn’t sure what to say. She was afraid if she said anything, it would scare him off, so she didn’t push. She could see the struggle in his eyes. The fight between wanting her and believing he wasn’t right for her. She had the same struggle herself, but from a different perspective.

She wanted Josh to stay with her, but what right did she have to make him choose between a job he loved and a life on the run? And that was exactly what their life would be if they couldn’t work something out with Dr. Borgan.

So she chose to change the subject. “You said Nathan was taking Connelly to the whipping posts.” Josh tilted his head toward the large roped-off scene in the middle. Jennifer turned to watch, and her stomach did a little flip. “He’s going to use the whip?”

“Yes.”

Josh let his hand slowly brush over her ass, and she had an insane desire to spread her legs so he could touch her more intimately.

“Would you like to watch?” he asked.

“Yes and no,” she whispered. “He doesn’t hurt her, does he?”

She chanced a glance up at Josh. He had an amused look on his face as he turned and stared down at her. “Yes and no,” he replied, mimicking her answer.

She frowned. “Ha-ha.”

Josh’s grin widened as he pinched her ass, making her wince at the bite of pain that traveled across her hip.

“It’s more than a sting, but he never draws blood.”

“I would be terrified,” Jennifer whispered as she watched Nathan secure Connelly’s wrists to the two poles.

“She was too the first time, but before he was done, he had her mewling like a kitten.”

Josh’s palm continued to stroke her ass cheek. Her flesh warmed from his touch as she inhaled his wonderfully spicy scent. She could stand here and smell him all night, but the more he stroked her, the wetter her pussy became, and the more her body hungered for him—and for more than just a smell.

A crowd began to gather around the roped-off scene, partially blocking Jennifer’s view. She shifted, wanting a better look. Josh moved down a few feet, pulling her with him as he went. Jennifer watched the floor, careful of where she stepped as they made their way through the crowd. She didn’t want one of the Doms stepping on her bare toes as she stumbled across the floor in her peep-toe heels.

Although the shoes were gorgeous, she wasn’t used to wearing a heel three inches high.

Josh came to a stop on the other side of the scene and sat on the arm of an oversize leather chair. He positioned her in front of him so she could see. She watched as Nathan slowly stroked his hands over Connelly’s hips, stomach, and breasts. He touched her everywhere until she was moaning in need.

“What’s he doing?” Jennifer asked.

“He’s getting her aroused and ready.”

Josh slowly slid his right hand up and down the outside of her thigh. Though it didn’t seem overly sexual, the touch nonetheless had her almost panting.

Nathan grabbed something that had several strings of leather flowing down from the handle. “What’s that?” Jennifer asked.

“That’s a flogger. He’ll use that first.”

Josh moved his hand to the front of her thigh and gently feathered upward and around the curve of her hip. Jennifer tried to focus on what Nathan did. The way he flicked the flogger over Connelly’s flesh, turning it pink. Over and over the leather slapped against her skin, the sound mingling with Connelly’s moans, becoming like a slow song of seduction.