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It wouldn’t be the first time a guy didn’t realize that he was barking up the wrong tree.
The woman leaned back in her chair and studied Mel’s face. “You’ve been watching me.”
“I like to watch people too,” the woman said. “That’s why I come here. And to enjoy the fine selection of whiskey that The Lounge has on offer.” Her eyes never leaving Mel’s, she picked up her glass and took another long sip.
The woman nodded, her expression inscrutable. As Mel walked away, she swore that she could feel the woman’s eyes on her back.
“Get out,” the woman said, her voice cold and clear. “And take your friends with you.” The man looked her up and down. “Who the hell are you?” “I’m the owner of this establishment.”
She wasn’t some helpless damsel. Mel could have dealt with the customer herself, yet she couldn’t deny how this woman’s hand on her arm sent her pulse racing.
“You’re not going anywhere until I’m sure you’re okay, Melanie.”
Hanging from the bedpost was a black leather riding crop with a crimson handle. Heat rose up Mel’s body. For a fleeting moment, an image of the woman wielding the whip played in her mind. She tore her eyes away and pushed the thought out of her head. But she was suddenly hyperaware that she was alone in the room of a domineering woman who she felt an undeniable attraction toward. One who owned a whip.
Rose, and something both sweet and spicy that Mel didn’t recognize. She could hear the faint thrum of the music from the club below. It was far softer than it should have been. The room must have been soundproof.
She leaned forward and placed her drink on the table. “And you’re very hard to forget.”
it isn’t easy being a woman in a male-dominated profession. Not to mention a gay woman. Which I’m sure you know already.”
Mel almost choked on her drink. “How do you know I’m a lesbian?” She was the kind of woman who flew under most people’s gaydar.
Vanessa leaned forward, her eyes locked on Mel’s. “And I’ve seen the way you look at me.”
I’ve seen the way you look at me.
“Just so you know, that guy will never set foot in here again. No matter how rich or famous a customer thinks they are, lay a hand on my staff and you’re banned for life. He’s on Vanessa’s blacklist now, which means he’s banned from a long list of venues,” James said.
“Now that you’re in on her secret, you can give this to her for me. Here.” He held the bottle out to Mel. “She’s upstairs looking over some paperwork.”
Usually, Mel didn’t like it when people called her by her full name. But it didn’t bother her when Vanessa did. “Hi.”
Mel sat down on the couch, bottle in hand. She couldn’t help but glance over at Vanessa’s bed. Yep. It was still there. The crimson-handled riding crop.
“Yes. It was empty when I acquired the premises. I later decided to repurpose it to be something of a second apartment. For when I have company. I don’t like to take women back to my home, so I bring them here instead,” Vanessa said casually. She seemed determined to get under Mel’s skin.
“All right then. I have a question for you.” Vanessa leaned back and crossed her legs, her eyes fixed on Mel’s. “Both of the times you’ve been in here, you haven’t been able to stop staring at my riding crop.” Mel’s face flushed. She’d hoped Vanessa hadn’t noticed. No, that was a lie. “Does it make you uncomfortable?” Vanessa asked. “No,” Mel said softly. “Does it scare you?” “No.” Vanessa examined Mel’s face silently. “Could it be that you’re curious?” Mel’s heart sped up. “Maybe a little…”
“It’s beautiful.” Mel couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like against her skin, somewhere fleshy and tender.
“Have you ever used one?” Vanessa asked. “Or had one used on you?” “No,” Mel murmured. “Have you ever wanted to?” Mel hesitated. “I’ve thought about it. Once or twice.” Another lie. Vanessa reached out and took the crop from Mel’s hands. “And when you think about it, do you see yourself as the one holding the whip? Or at the other end?”
“Which do you prefer? Being in control? Or giving it to someone else?” She began to tap the whip against her palm. “Being in control means having all the power. But it also means responsibility. Giving up control means you get to let go completely. But it requires you to place yourself in someone else’s hands. To trust them. It can be terrifying.” She stilled the crop in her hands. “And it can be exhilarating.”
“I’ve said before that I’m good at reading people. And I think I know the role you’d like to play. I know your type, Melanie. Ambitious. Driven. Always striving for perfection. Never allowing the slightest lapse in self-control. It must be exhausting.” Vanessa ran her fingers along the shaft of the crop. “Don’t you ever want to just let go of all your problems and let someone else take the reins?”
“Does that tempt you?” “Yes,” Mel whispered. Vanessa brought her lips to Mel’s ear. “It’s more freeing than you could possibly imagine.” A shiver went through Mel’s body. Vanessa’s eyes seemed to strip away all her defenses. And Vanessa’s face was so close to hers. Vanessa’s lips were so close…
her mind went back to the same thing: Vanessa.
Vanessa was all that Mel could think about. Vanessa’s hips, swaying in her tight, silky dress. Her voice, like velvet, in Mel’s ear. Her eyes, that seemed to see into the depths of Mel’s being, while revealing nothing of what lay behind Vanessa’s own. And Vanessa’s words. Surrender. It wasn’t hard to figure out what she meant. Her dominant personality. The riding crop. Her talk of giving up control. It all pointed to one thing.
As Jess flipped through the notes, Mel closed her eyes again. Her mind picked up where it left off. She couldn’t deny how the idea of submitting to another woman made her hot all over. These desires weren’t new. No, they had always been there. But Mel had never allowed herself to even consider letting them play out. They went against everything she believed about herself. So she’d buried them deep inside her where they remained a half-forgotten fantasy. Until Vanessa had reawakened them.
“Or could it be… someone?” A smile broke out on her face. “I knew it!”
Vanessa. The crowd seemed to part before her as she walked through it with long, purposeful strides and a regal air.
As Vanessa passed Mel, she said nothing, but simply shot Mel a look. The same look she had given Mel in her room that night. The look that made Mel want to come apart.
Vanessa pressed the tip of the crop into the base of Mel’s neck and drew it down the center of her chest. “You know exactly what I mean.”
“We both know what you want. We both know what you’re longing for. I can give it to you.” Vanessa took Mel’s chin in her hands and tilted Mel’s face up toward her. “All you have to do is let go.” Mel’s heart pounded. She stared back at Vanessa, her mind swimming in conflict and doubt. Then she closed her eyes and let her body take over. At once, Vanessa’s lips were on hers, a soft, light kiss that lingered even after they parted.
Vanessa dropped the riding crop to the floor with a clatter. She grabbed Mel’s wrists, pinning them above her head, and kissed her again. This time the kiss was deep, hungry, insistent. Mel responded in kind. Vanessa pressed her body against Mel’s, trapping Mel against the wall with her hips. “I can tell how much you want me.” Vanessa pushed her thigh firmly between Mel’s legs, stoking the fire deep inside her. “I’ve wanted you since the first night I saw you in my club. And I always get what I want.”
Everything was happening so fast. One moment, Vanessa’s hands were grasping at Mel’s breasts. The next, they were down at the hem of her skirt, pushing it up around her waist. Then Vanessa’s fingers were between Mel’s thighs, pressing her wet panties into her lips.
A silent moan formed in Mel’s mouth. Vanessa trailed her lips down Mel’s neck, all the way to her chest, and took Mel’s nipple into her mouth, sucking, licking, and flicking.
Vanessa slipped her hand inside Mel’s panties and ran a finger up and down her folds. Mel’s head rolled back, and she grabbed the wall behind her to steady herself as darts of pleasure shot through her. Vanessa’s fingers and lips seemed to zero in on places where Mel had never been touched before. Vanessa slid her finger further down and drew slow, teasing circles. “Do you want me? Do you want me inside you?” “Yes,” Mel said between breaths. “I want to hear you say it. I want to hear you beg.” “Please, Vanessa… I want you so badly!” Mel meant every word she said. “I need you inside of me.
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Vanessa brought her hand up to Mel’s face, drew Mel’s bottom lip down, and gently pushed her fingers into the other woman’s mouth. Mel sucked on them lazily. She could taste herself on Vanessa’s skin. “So eager,” Vanessa said. “So obedient. Do you like following my orders? Do you like pleasing me?”
Vanessa spun them both around until her back was against the wall. Mel’s breath caught in her chest. She desperately wanted to touch Vanessa, to taste her. Instead, she stood and waited, gazing up at Vanessa with a silent plea in her eyes.
Vanessa answered it with a single word. “Kneel.” Mel’s knees crumbled beneath her. A faint smile crossed Vanessa’s lips. “Go on.” Mel slid her hands up the sides of Vanessa’s legs and under her dress until her fingers reached the soft black lace of Vanessa’s panties. She drew them down Vanessa’s hips, all the way to the floor, and pushed her slippery silk dress up to her stomach. Vanessa’s scent was dizzying. Anchoring herself on Vanessa’s hips, she traced her tongue up the soft skin of Vanessa’s inner thighs. Vanessa was as wet as Mel had been, and Mel had barely even touched her. Mel kissed
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Vanessa’s thighs quiver around her. Mel ignored the ache in her knees from the hard floor. Vanessa gripped tighter at Mel’s hair and her movements became more and more frantic. At last, Vanessa’s entire body shuddered, and her mouth opened in silent ecstasy. Mel lapped away, drawing every last drop of pleasure out of her. When Vanessa’s body stilled, Mel released her hips and let her silky dress slide back down her legs. Vanessa let out a deep breath. She reached down toward Mel and cupped Mel’s face in her hands, drawing her up onto her feet. Vanessa tucked a stray lock of Mel’s hair behind
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As she turned to leave, Vanessa pulled Mel back to her in a ravenous kiss. Mel had to tear her body away when she felt herself sinking into Vanessa again.
How when Vanessa had ordered Mel to get on her knees, her body had obeyed before her conscious mind even registered the command. This simple act of submission had felt completely natural to her.
Vanessa beckoned Mel closer. “If you let me, I can show you what it really means to submit. I can make your darkest desires reality. I can grant you your wildest fantasies. Do you want that?” She slid her hand up Mel’s arm. “Yes.” Vanessa’s touch sent a shiver along Mel’s skin. “More than anything.”
Vanessa nodded. She took another sip of her drink and pushed it toward Mel. “Hold on to this for me. Our conversation isn’t over.”
Mel couldn’t tell if James was convinced or not. She took Vanessa’s drink and placed it behind the bar. As the night went on, the drink sat there, the ice slowly melting. By the time Mel’s shift ended, Vanessa hadn’t emerged from her room. Mel wasn’t bothered by the fact that Vanessa hadn’t returned to finish their conversation. It was clear that Vanessa had more important things on her mind.
I’ll be in touch.
It didn’t matter. If Vanessa wanted to Mel to come to her dressed in pretty things, who was Mel to deny her?
“If I’m going to give you what you crave, you will have to give me something in return,” Vanessa said. “Complete and utter surrender. You will submit to me. You will obey me. You will belong to me in every sense of the word. Do you understand?”
Mel’s heart pounded. She lay spread-eagled on the bed in nothing but the sheerest of lingerie. She tugged at her bonds to test their strength. In the same moment, Mel realized that she could no longer hear or feel Vanessa’s presence. “Vanessa?” “I’m right here.” Vanessa’s voice came from somewhere beside Mel. She traced her fingers along Mel’s stomach all the way up to her cheek. “Stop thinking. Stop worrying. Just feel.” Vanessa kissed her gently. Mel cleared her mind and relaxed her body. She stopped straining to hear, and feel, and see. She surrendered to the darkness and focused her mind
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