Mercy (Salacious Players Club, #4)(65)

“Very good.”

Without warning, she delivers the second blow, and this time, I let out a squeal. My skin starts to prick with heat.

I don’t think I can do this.

“Two…” I say with a hint of fear.

As she inflicts the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth, I slowly start to lose my composure. She holds my attention by giving me little tips as the Domme in between the blows, but I struggle to focus because the pain is blinding. By the time she’s done with the paddle and asks for a color, I quietly whisper, “Yellow.”

“Very good,” she says, gently rubbing my back.

After a few minutes, she comes back and strokes my hair as I rest my forehead against the wall. “How are you feeling?”

“I hate it,” I groan, and she responds with a light chuckle.

“Do you think he’ll hate it?” she asks, and I consider Beau for a moment.

“No.” The word comes out without much thought. He’s so desperate for punishment, and whether or not he gets off on the pain, he seems to crave it. “I think he’ll love it.”

“I’ll do three hits with the flogger, so you can feel it, and one with the riding crop. How are you feeling now?”

I let out a moan. God, I hate pain, but if I want to do this to him, it’s only fair that I feel it for myself first. Swallowing down my fear, I lift my head.

“I can take it. Give me six of each.”

She laughs again. “You know you’re not supposed to be giving me orders, right? But you’re learning, so I’ll let it slide. And three of each will be plenty.”

As it turns out, three of each is more than enough. This pain is different and more intense each time. With each new device she uses, the blows are concentrated and sting about ten times more than the one before.

The entire time I’m thinking about him, how he would react to them. And when I’m done, Eden unfastens my cuffs and rubs something across the tender flesh of my ass and upper thighs. An hour ago, I might have been uncomfortable with her touching my butt, but right now…I don’t even care.

“So, what do you think now?” she asks. We’re sitting on the platform bed, both of us leaning against the headboard and sipping cold waters from the mini fridge. “Are you more or less nervous?”

I think about it for a moment. “Honestly…I’m excited.”

Her brows rise as she smiles. “Good.”

“I can’t wait to see how he breaks.”

She smiles wickedly at that response. But I can’t stop thinking about what it’s going to be like for him. He needs this, something to help him shatter that emotional wall he’s built around himself. The pain was bad, but this could be the thing that makes him stronger.





Rule #27: Don’t be too cocky. It hurts more than you think.





Beau





“Holy shit, Maggie!” I snap as she shows off her bruised ass and legs.

“It looks worse than it is,” she replies.

“Liar,” I say with a laugh.

“Okay, yeah. It hurt like a bitch. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes, ma’am.” I pull the mask down over my face before cornering her against the bathroom counter and grinding myself between her legs. She lifts it up, finding my mouth with her own. With a hum, she slides her tongue against mine.

I’ve been looking forward to tonight all week: the club’s weekly masquerade night. It’s the only opportunity for us to go in there together, without being noticed. Maggie’s more nervous than last time because there’s a chance my dad and the other owners will actually be there tonight.

But our plan is to go in there disguised and head straight to a room where we can be alone. We just have to enter separately and do our best not to draw any attention.

I can’t explain why I need this; I truly have no clue. I just know I want to feel the worst that Maggie can give me because the thought of her hurting me sends blood coursing straight to my cock. I’ve never found pain to be a turn-on before, but like everything else, her power over me pushes all the right buttons.

“Come on. Let’s go,” she replies. “We’re gonna be late.”

On the entire drive over, I can’t stop smiling. After that stupid night when I lost my shit, things have been different between us. The comfort I feel from every moment I kneel for her is addicting, and as much as I know things between us will have to end, I still feel changed. Maggie just calms me. She makes it easier to be me.

So I’m going to soak up every moment I can.

After parking at the lot across the street, I slip on my mask and walk alone toward the club. She’s meeting me inside, so we aren’t seen entering together.

When I hear what sounds like a crowd standing outside, I pause. Getting closer, I let out a groan when I realize there is a small mob of protesters, harassing people trying to enter Salacious. They’re carrying large signs with Bible verses painted across them, spouting hate at each person rushing past them.

There are two security guards helping people cross the street and putting themselves between the members and the protesters.

“Aren’t you going to get rid of these assholes?” I ask one of the guards. He looks frustrated as he opens a door to usher members through.