How dare that asshole think he can treat me like his property?
Balkins tightened his grip. “I’ve been admiring you for quite a while. You have a strength of spirit even when being dominated that I would love to mold and guide. That’s rare in a sub.” He ground his erection against her, and she tightened her fists until her nails dug into her palms, to ward off the temptation to kick his ass before she heard the rest.
After that, all bets are off.
Balkins cleared his throat and pressed a kiss against her hair. “I’m sure whoever you were meeting will gladly defer to me for the evening. I know you’re intimidated by who I am, which is why you have refused my offers. Once our play is concluded, I’m confident you’ll never want to sub for any other Dom.”
Rage boiled like acid inside Kate’s veins, and she slouched a bit, hoping to even out their heights. Going still in his arms, she dropped her head forward until her chin rested against her chest, waiting for him to straighten so his face was directly behind her head. He did, and she clenched her teeth against the impact that would come when she slammed her skull back against his.
“Kate. I’m so glad I found you.”
The voice of Ed Ralston, the owner of The Dungeon, startled her, and she reluctantly unclenched her teeth and slowly raised her head.
She sucked in a breath when instead of Master Ralston, her gaze traveled up the body of a very well-built man wearing leather pants and a black sleeveless T-shirt. She had only a moment to register the smooth, deep sienna-colored skin of his muscled arms. She did love great arms on a man. Winding rose tattoos formed a half sleeve on each of his arms that made the view even better. Slowly, her gaze continued up…and up…and up. He had close-cropped black hair and a clean-shaven jaw that brought her attention to his full, sensual lips.
Kate didn’t think she had ever met anyone as tall as this well-built masterpiece of a man. His gorgeous brown gaze captured hers, and she swore he could ferret out her every secret desire.
She grew wet between her thighs, which had nothing to do with Senator Balkins’s tight grip around her waist, or his erection still pressed against her ass.
It was the man in front of her who made her instantly ache.
“Kate.” Master Ralston’s voice pulled her attention away from the hunky Dom in front of her. She had no doubt that’s exactly what this man was. He exuded “Dom” like a heady cologne, and damn if it wasn’t sexy as hell.
She turned her head toward Master Ralston, as he liked to be called, since “Master Ed” fell a bit flat. “Yes, sir.”
“I’ve been looking for you.” He hesitated a moment before continuing with the blatant lie. “We arranged this meeting so I can introduce you to our newest Dom, Master Dex.” He gestured toward the man who had so thoroughly captured Kate’s attention, and her nipples hardened to tight points at the thought of playing a scene, any scene, with this man.
“I’m sorry, Ed,” Balkins said from behind her, his grip still tight around her middle. “Kate is mine for the evening, and I’m sure the new Dom can find plenty of other playthings for the night.”
“?‘Playthings’?” the large man in front of her demanded, his deep voice intense as he stared down at Balkins.
Kate’s gaze snapped to Master Dex’s face, and she watched as he visibly controlled his anger. When his features smoothed, they became even more devastatingly handsome, and her heartbeat kicked up a notch as she tried not to drool.
“Subs are not playthings to be used and discarded. And objectifying a sub who is not yours is disrespectful.” The Dom’s dark gaze drilled into Balkins with searing intensity. “As for Kate, she is spoken for this evening. I don’t go back on agreements I’ve made with my subs.”
Kate let the emphasis on the word my slide by, knowing he had used the possessive to put Balkins in his place, but she couldn’t help but wish it were true.
The new Dom’s presence filled the room. Kate was certain everyone in the waiting area had stopped to stare, but she didn’t want to take her eyes off him to find out. She stayed as quiet as possible, so as not to interrupt the wonderful drama unfolding around her. Master Dex cleared his throat, and she felt Balkins flinch behind her.
“I’m sure you can appreciate, Senator, I must insist Kate keeps our appointment.”
After a long moment of tense silence, where Kate thought Balkins might actually refuse, his grip around her middle loosened. She immediately slid out of his hold and stepped toward Master Ralston, surprised Balkins had backed down.