The stage lights winked out, and Master Thomas and the girl disappeared behind the curtain.
Gabby managed to pull down her skirt before the lights in the auditorium came on, but that was the extent of movement she could handle at the moment. As the club members filed out and moved to the adjoining bar, Gabby remembered the question and answer segment of the night’s session would be conducted in the other room. She struggled to find her composure, but a light spacey feeling she’d never before experienced surrounded her. The overwhelming sensation felt so good she didn’t want it to stop, at least not yet. She couldn’t ever remember feeling this good.
A rustling sounded next to her as someone took the seat beside hers. Gabby froze in place and stared straight ahead. Mortified by her behavior, she couldn’t turn and face whoever had sat down. Hot blood flooded her cheeks as shame bubbled inside her. What had she been thinking? Somehow, someway, she needed to refocus and pull herself together enough to drive home. She was going to kill Angel. Her best friend had talked her into attending tonight’s meeting of the local BDSM club then had pulled a no show.
“Are you okay?” That voice. Right next to her.
Oh God, did he see her? Did he somehow know what she’d done during the show?
Gabby squeezed her eyes against fresh tears threatening to fall. She gulped for breath, trying to fight back the sudden wave of panic threatening to consume her, not to mention the fog in her head.
“Sit still and concentrate on your breathing, sweetheart. Let me get you some water.”
She grabbed his arm when he turned to leave.
“I’m fine.”
“I’m sure you are, but you still need some fluid. You’re pale and shaky. Don’t worry, I’ll be right back.”
Gabby watched him disappear into the bar area then scanned the seat next to her and the floor for her purse. She had to get out of here before he returned.
After hooking her bag on her wrist, she popped up from her chair and swayed to the right as the room began to spin. What the hell? She grabbed onto the back of the chair in front of her to steady herself but to no avail. Much more of this and she’d find herself pitching forward into the rows of chairs.
“Whoa, what are you doing, young lady?” Master Thomas hooked her around the waist and pulled her against him before easing her back toward a seat. That quick moment of her body pressed to his flooded her with renewed desire. Even the subtle scent of his cologne turned her on.
“I-I’m…”
“Yeah, yeah, you’re fine. I heard you the first time. Except you nearly took a header before I grabbed you. So sit down, and let me give you some water.” His silky tone had turned gruff, which did little to turn her away or settle her mind. Her butt hit the leather seat once again, her skirt riding up as she sat. Her brain warned her to adjust her clothing, but she was simply too out of it to care. With Thomas still touching her, it was impossible to think long about anything other than his contact. His heat.
“So what happened to you? Do you have any medical condition I should be concerned about?” He stared at her intently, looking right through her as humiliation burned up her throat and cheeks. “That’s not it is it?”
Gabby shook her head. She didn’t know what to say, but she certainly didn’t need him calling for an ambulance or anything crazy like that. “I’m not sure what happened.” To her mortification, her voice came out a broken whisper. Something about this man had her flustered and unsure, and she’d behaved like a woman who didn’t know how to handle herself out in public. It was damned embarrassing.
“Here. Have some water, I think it will help.” He held the water glass up to her lips and tipped it up as she drank greedily. After a few swallows, he moved the tumbler away, and she relaxed into the chair. “I’m Thomas, by the way.” He held out his hand, and she glanced down at his long, strong fingers with neatly trimmed, blunt nails before sliding her own hand lightly into his.
“Gabrielle. But everyone calls me Gabby.”
“Why?”
She puzzled at his question. “Why do they call me Gabby?” She’d been called by the nickname for so long she didn’t even remember when it had started. “I’m not sure. I can’t even remember a time when anyone called me anything else.”
“That’s a shame. You look more like a Gabrielle to me. An intelligent and curious woman who may be in over her head at the moment, though.” His assessment caught her off guard and might have offended her if she wasn’t feeling so loose and relaxed. In fact, the dizziness had faded and been replaced with an unexpected serene calm.
“I’m not sure what to say to that.” She pulled her hand back and fidgeted with the hem of her skirt.
“It wasn’t meant as an insult, merely an observation.” He stilled her hand at her thigh by covering it with his own. “Do I make you nervous Gabrielle?”
God, she loved the sound of her name rolling from his tongue. It came out exotic and sexy. And hell yes, he made her nervous. He was a Master in a lifestyle she craved but had little practical experience in—not to mention he’d gotten her off just from watching him on stage, and she had a sinking feeling he knew it.
“Can I have some more water?”
He smiled at her obvious avoidance and handed her the crystal tumbler of cold water. She gulped down several more swallows before handing it back.
“Thank you for the water and the attention. I shouldn’t have skipped dinner this evening, and the heat in here must have gotten to me. I think I should probably head home now and get some rest.”
The grim set of his lips and the narrowing of his eyes told her that he knew she was lying, but she wasn’t about to spill the truth to a stranger. Gabby still had to walk out of there, and she didn’t want to do so in shame.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Miss Gabrielle, and would certainly give a Dom a run for his money I’d bet. You should stay for a while longer—meet some of the other members.”
Hope shot through her at his words. To hell with the implication that she’d be a challenge; he had called her beautiful. She rose from her seat, and Thomas did the same, offering his hand again. He certainly knew how to be the perfect gentleman.
“Thank you again for you help, and it was a lovely demonstration you gave to the group tonight. I’ve never seen that piece of equipment used before. It was very educational.” She again grabbed her purse and let him lead her toward the front door.
“I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself.” He lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to the tips of her fingers. “Do you need an escort home?”
Was he offering? Her nipples tightened at the naughty images that popped into her head. This man in her townhouse, taking charge of their encounter, giving her the experience of a lifetime.
Stop that, Gabby. He’s just offering you a ride home, not a fucking lesson in BDSM.
“Thank you, M-Mas—”
“It’s just Thomas, sweetheart. The club insists on calling me Master, but honestly, I prefer only my sub to do so and only when she’s ready.”
His sub. So he did have one already. Of course, he did. A man with his talent, intelligence and a voice that could easily make a woman come on demand would not be unattached. “Thank you, Thomas, but I really do feel back to normal again, thanks to you. And I only live a few miles from here, so it won’t take me long to get home.”
“You live here on the east side or uptown?”
“Uptown in the fourth ward. I love it there.”
He smiled. “I can imagine you there already.” They reached the door, and he held it open for her. “I hope you’ll come back. We do meetings and demonstrations every month. It’s always educational and sometimes a little fun, too.” He winked at the last, and she knew for sure then. He’d somehow seen her masturbating to his voice as he’d touched and encouraged the beautiful Linda.
Gabby rushed from the door without another word, afraid to look back. She shouldn’t be so embarrassed by her behavior; Thomas certainly didn’t seem to mind. But she’d been caught off balance and didn’t know how to read the mysterious Dom who’d helped her.
She fished her keys from her purse, hurriedly unlocked the door and jumped inside. She should have never come, yet she’d learned a little, experienced even more and she didn’t regret that—not really. She was, however, still going to kill Angel tomorrow when she got a hold of her.
Chapter Two
A banging noise in Gabby’s head roused her from a deep sleep as she blinked her eyes against the bright sunshine pouring in her room. She’d forgotten to close the drapes again. Unable to settle down after returning home from the meeting, she’d grabbed a book and snuggled under the covers to read. That was at one in the morning. Now as her vision focused on the digital clock on her nightstand, she saw that it was after seven.
“Come on, Gabby, wake up and open the door.” Her best friend’s muffled voice sounded through the front door carrying all the way to her bedroom. Gabby flung the covers and rushed to open it. She didn’t need Angel standing out there making such a ruckus. Next thing she knew, her neighbors would be complaining about the noise.
“I’m coming, I’m coming. Quit making so much damn noise.” She flipped the locks and wrenched the door open to find her petite friend smiling at her.
“Finally. I’ve been banging out here for five minutes, waiting for you to drag your lazy ass out of bed.”
Gabby stepped aside, ushered Angel inside and shut the door behind her. “My lazy ass, huh? This from the woman who left me hanging last night.”
“I know, I know, I’m in so much trouble for that.”
“Trouble? What do you mean?” Gabby stifled a yawn behind her hand.
Angel tossed her purse onto the chair and stalked toward the kitchen, chattering all the way. “Well…I got myself in a bit of a predicament last night with Master and ended up in punishment for the night.”
Gabby laughed at her friend and the sparkle in her eye when she turned back to face her. “I’ll just bet you did. Somehow, you manage to do that more often than not. I can’t believe Jeff hasn’t caught onto your antics yet.”
Angel rolled her eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Uh huh.”
“Anyway, I feel awful for not showing up last night so, as soon as Jeff left for work this morning, I hightailed it over here to check on you.”
“You could have just called.”
Angel reached into the refrigerator and took out the orange juice then grabbed two small glasses from the cabinet. “Yeah, I could have, but would you have answered?”
“Of course, I would have.” Maybe.
“You are such a terrible liar.”
They settled around the kitchen table, and Gabby twirled the glass between her fingers. The events of last night still clouded her mind, and she couldn’t forget how wonderful she’d felt during the demonstration.
“So…are you going to tell me?”
“Tell you what?” She knew where her friend was headed, but she wasn’t ready to share the full extent of what had happened, not even with Angel.
“Come on, Gabby, spill. What did you think of the meeting? How was the demonstration? Did you talk to anyone? Meet anyone interesting?”
“Damn, Angel, slow down.” She shook her head and stood. She had nervous energy to burn, and she needed to do something. Today would be a perfect day to play in her garden. Work she could do later after it grew too hot to be outside.
“It was awkward being there alone. I didn’t want to stay, but when the lights dimmed and the demonstration began, I decided to give it a try. And I can admit I found it very educational.”
“Awesome. I wasn’t sure what you’d think of the violet wand. You’d be surprised how incredible it feels.”
Gabby turned sharply too her friend. “You’ve experienced it?” She held her breath, so curious.
“Yes, I have. Jeff loves to push my limits when he can, and that was one of the things I was most afraid of so he convinced me to try it.”
“And?”
“And it was the most incredible thing I’d ever experienced. It heightened everything. Perception, arousal, all of it. I experienced the most incredible orgasms of my life, and that night realized just how much I really trusted my Master.”
Gabby’s stomach jerked at her friend’s words. She could hear the love and trust in her friend’s voice, and her heart ached for that kind of experience. That kind of need and satisfaction flowing through two people was a rare and precious gift indeed.
“The sub last night was really into it. Her emotional and physical response to the scene was off the charts.” She couldn’t tell her friend how the desire in the room had rushed over and through her until she’d been compelled to touch herself. Just thinking about it now had her panties dampening in desire all over again.
“Who conducted the demonstration last night?”
Gabby hesitated almost afraid to say his name. “Master Thomas,” she whispered.
“Oh my God, really? This is perfect. Gabby, he’s the one I’ve been telling you about. The one who I think would be perfect to introduce you to the lifestyle. He’s a wonderful teacher.”
Gabby nearly joked on her juice. Angel had to be kidding. Either that or she’d lost her mind. Thomas would never be interested in someone inexperienced like her. Besides he’d mentioned a sub last night, and she was definitely not looking to get in the middle of someone else’s relationship or share a Dom with someone else. Baby steps.