But then they parted before her, and she had to hold back as gasp at the opulence of what lay on the other side. The walls of the spacious room had been draped with deep red velvet curtains. Gilded, intricately-worked wood emerged from the top of them, glinting in the dull light of the enormous crystal chandelier. The domed ceiling had been painted with a map of the known world dating to the sixteenth century, the continents delineated in golden brown hues.
The luxurious room was filled with men and women in lavish costumes like Jake’s and Mallory’s. Only some of them were already in various states of undress. Mallory tried to force back her blush as she watched one man biting a woman’s br**sts, which had spilled out of her tight golden corset. Another man’s c**k was being teased by a cruel-looking woman who was wearing men’s trousers and boots. Mallory was overwhelmed by the sumptuous world of sex that she had just stepped into.
Then her eyes fell on a man in a black mask that covered his entire face, carved into a forbidding frown. He wore a deep red cape and twisted devil’s horns. She shivered as he met her gaze.
“Eyes on me, Mallory,” she heard Jake’s deep voice command. She looked up into his eyes, and he cupped her face tenderly in one large hand. “You’re safe with me. You know that, don’t you?”
Mallory gave a jerky nod. She did feel safe by his side, his strong arm anchoring her, his powerful demeanor calming her.
His gaze became intense. “Do you trust me, Mallory?”
She felt a moment’s hesitation. Did she trust him? She wasn’t sure. She knew that she wanted to, but then again she had only known the man for a few days. But he had shown her more sexual pleasure than she had ever experienced in her life in that short time. And although he had caused her pain, he had never truly hurt her.
“Yes,” she admitted. “I think I do.”
He smiled smugly, as though he had won a prize. It made Mallory shiver, but not entirely unpleasantly.
“Come on,” he said, still smiling. “Let’s get you some champagne, loosen you up a little.”
“So what now?” Mallory joked. “You’re going to roofie me?”
He smirked down at her. “As if I would need to,” he said cockily.
Mallory rolled her eyes at him. But she could not deny the twinge in her sex at his haughty demeanor. Suddenly, he gripped her upper arm and pulled her into him.
“Don’t you roll your eyes at me,” he told her reprovingly. As he spoke, he ran his free hand softly over her br**sts, tracing the curve of them where they were pushed up by the corset. Her ni**les pebbled and her breath hitched at the sensual contact. His hand dipped into her cle**age, pushing its way under the garment until he found her hard nipple. The pressure of his hand on her already constricted br**sts was painful, a pain that was only increased when he closed his thumb and forefinger around her nipple, pinching it. He slowly increased the pressure until Mallory was wincing, even as pleasurable tingles rushed from her breast to her pu**y.
“Jake, please,” she said breathily, not sure if she could handle any more.
He looked down at her, his eyes hard and menacing. “Say you’re sorry,” he ordered coldly.
“I’m sorry,” she said immediately.
“You will address me as ‘Sir’ tonight. Is that clear?”
Mallory balked. What? No way. No-
But then he was pinching impossibly tighter, grazing her delicate flesh with his manicured nails. She could no longer bear it.
“I’m sorry, Sir!” She gasped out.
She sagged in relief as he released her, abruptly extricating his hand from her corset. But her moment of relief was short-lived as she again became aware of where she was. She suddenly felt as though dozens of eyes were on her; everyone around her had witnessed her humiliating capitulation. To her chagrin, she could feel wetness between her thighs. Her face went crimson.
Jake’s arm was around her waist, his mouth at her ear. “Yes, they all saw, Mallory.” His breath was hot on her neck. “They all saw you give in to me.” His free hand pressed against her sex, and even through the voluminous folds of her skirt the contact made her cl*t harden with need. A soft, strangled sound escaped her. “They’re watching you, Mallory. And you love it, don’t you?”
He was trying to force her to admit it out loud when she could hardly even admit it to herself?
“Jake-” She began.
But he cut her off. “Answer my question, Mallory.” He insisted.
She tensed, resisting.
“Do you need another lesson in obedience?” There was a threatening growl in his tone.
She shivered. No, she didn’t think she could handle that. Not again. “No,” she said, her voice small.
“Then answer me, Mallory. You love knowing that everyone is watching you, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she whispered, her cheeks flaming.
Jake gripped her sex harder, cupping it roughly through her skirt. “Is that how you are to address me?” His gaze was a deep blue now, hard and flinty, demanding only one response.
“Yes, Sir,” she said, her voice barely audible, her eyes dropping submissively.
“Good girl,” his sexy, approving rumble made her shiver delightedly.
Chapter 2
“Here,” Jake said, his voice kind again. Mallory glanced up to see that he had taken two glasses of champagne from a waiter and was proffering one to her. She looked the liveried man in the eye and thanked him, remembering that just four days ago she had been the one serving at a fancy party. His eyes looked surprised through his black-and-white mask.
“Grazie,” he murmured before turning away from them, continuing his rounds.
Jake touched his glass to hers with a small clinking sound. “To new adventures,” he said with a smile.
Mallory wanted to roll her eyes at him, but she stopped herself just in time. Instead she settled for a slightly sharp look as she brought her glass to her lips. Thankfully, Jake gave her a pass, seeming amused by her attitude rather than angry, as though he thought her petulance was cute.
Mallory took a long drink to keep herself from saying something snappish at him; the man shouldn’t be allowed to be so damn smug. The champagne, deliciously dry and sweet at the same time, bubbled down her throat in an effervescent stream. It instantly sent warmth shooting from her chest to her fingertips, making her pu**y tingle. Her cl*t was still hard from Jake’s teasing, and the effects of the champagne were only heightening the discomfort caused by her intense need to be touched.