Just One Taste (Topped #2)(9)

“Well, it won’t be Eric,” she heard herself saying.

Althea’s brow rose. “You’re aching for some discipline, sweetheart.”

“Or she got jealous at the thought of you touching her Dom.” Tiffany was grinning like this was the best entertainment she’d ever seen.

“I was not,” she shot back.

Althea’s perfectly made up lips curled. “Oh, this is going to be fun. I think I’ll make sure I get a seat.”

Master Liam seemed to be finished imparting whatever wisdom he had about beating her butt and Eric stepped back. He was perfectly calm and she was fairly certain her face was as red as her backside was likely to be. He walked over to Javier and started speaking to him as though nothing out of the ordinary was happening.

Why the hell was he here? She knew that was the very question that had gotten her into trouble, but she so wanted to know the answer. Eric Vail wasn’t supposed to want to spank a girl’s ass. He was supposed to be the guy who would be shocked at the thought of even harming a hair on a woman’s head. She would never in a million years have pegged him as a man interested in the D/s lifestyle.

Damn he looked good in leathers.

“I can’t believe he’s here.” Tiffany stepped up with her, watching the other side of the room. “Javi, I can see. He’s a total pervert, but Eric is so…noble.”

Yep. He sure was. “I have no idea. And apparently we’re some kind of match, which I don’t see at all. I don’t think there’s anything I can do about it tonight.”

Tomorrow was an entirely different thing. Tomorrow she could sort everything out. She would still have to be in the same class and deal with all the issues that would arise from that, but she wouldn’t have a coworker as her Dom.

For one night only, maybe she could indulge in a fantasy.

“All right, let’s pair up and then get this class going,” Liam said, quickly calling out names and pairing people up. Javier ended up with the blonde named Mia. Althea was partnered with someone named Harrison. Unlike the Doms, he wore no vest, his cut chest on display. He had curly ebony-colored hair and piercing emerald eyes that turned down the minute Althea stood in front of him. Tiffany was paired up with a lean man with short golden hair and a ready smile. He shook her hand as he introduced himself as Gage.

Eric stood at the far side of the stage, staring at her. He made no move to come to her.

Maybe he was more of a Dom than she gave him credit for. She was going to have to smooth some things over with him. It wasn’t like he would really spank her. She expected he would lightly tap her backside and she would make some little crying noises. It was all in fun after all.

There was nothing to do but brazen through it so she started to make her way to him. She would give herself over to the experience and she and Eric would be able to laugh about it later. He couldn’t be any happier than she was because despite what they had talked about earlier, she was certain he wasn’t lusting after her. He was likely as horrified to see her here as she was him.

“I’m sorry.” She gave him what she hoped was an apologetic smile. “I got us in trouble on the first day.”

His eyes pinned her. Those dark orbs were radiating authority in a way she’d never seen from him before. It reminded her that he hadn’t always been a chef. Once he’d led men into dangerous situations. “You got yourself in trouble, Deena. The next time it happens, I’ll be the one setting the punishment and it will be harsh. Your behavior reflects on me. Try to remember that.”

Wow, he was good with the icy cold commands. “I will remember that. So you have to spank me now. Should we talk about that?”

“We don’t have to talk about it. Was it in your contract that you would allow spanking? You should have signed a rudimentary contract with simple answers about initial play. We’ll go over a much more detailed contract tomorrow night.”

When they would sign the contract that would bind them together for the next six weeks. The thought sent a shiver down her spine. And she had signed that initial contract. Her first spanking. She’d never tried it before. She read about it in books and thought about what it would feel like. Her whole life was nothing but work and study. The days had become endless. She’d worked two jobs after her divorce to pay for the mountain of debt her ex had piled up. She was finally free and clear. She was about to graduate. It was time to move on. It was time to find out if this lifestyle that called to her was truly right.

Was she going to turn away because the man giving her this first experience wasn’t perfect? Or rather was far too perfect?

“Deena?” His voice had softened slightly. He was standing over her. “Are you going to submit or not?”

It probably wouldn’t even be that good. After all, superheroes didn’t typically spank bad girls. This was her element. He would likely discover it wasn’t his. She was safe enough. She tilted her chin up to look him in the eye. “Do your worst, Vail.”

His hand came up, catching her hair and drawing her head back. “That’s Master Eric or Sir to you. Don’t make this worse than it has to be. I’ll expect submission for the rest of the evening. Let’s not look like the bickering couple everyone loves to hate. There’s always one in any group. I would rather it not be us.” He leaned in and she could almost swear he was smelling her hair. It should have creeped her out, but she found it ridiculously sexy that Eric Vail was running his nose over her neck and up to her ear. “This can be easy between us or it can be hard. It’s all your choice, sweetheart.”