Page 42 of Illicit Education
“Greer…” I warned.
“Speaking of playthings, let’s go find your boss.”
“Oh my God,” I groaned as she pulled me forward, then stopped behind a crowd gathered around an open room.
Surrounded by three walls, this front wall was wide open, perfect for watching whatever happened inside. There was a red velvet rope stretched across the front like a museum exhibition, and another dungeon master standing off to one side.
I pushed up on my tiptoes to look over the top of the heads in the crowd and spotted a man with his back to us. A black leather hood covered his head, but I recognized those strong shoulders, that olive skin.
If I hadn’t been sure before, the massive Reed Publishing tree logo tattooed on his back would have done the trick. The tops of the branches curved around each perfect shoulder and stretched down to the waist of his jeans, the roots disappearing beneath the denim to cover the mounds of his ass cheeks.
To anyone not in the know, it was just a tree.
I lowered quickly into a squat, panic seizing my chest like a vise.
What do I do?
Greer lowered to join me on the floor, eyes wide. “What are we doing down here?” she whispered loudly. Thank God for the steady rhythm of bass in the entire underground area. No one even turned around or acknowledged us in any way.
She searched my gaze, her lips pulling into a smile as she realized. “That’shim, isn’t it?”
I gulped. Icouldlie to her…
If I was in any way, shape, or form good at lying.
She licked her lips, then stood quickly, yanking me up with her by the elbows. She slid her hand into mine and tugged me forward, skirting around the edge of the gathered crowd until we were practically front and center for the show.
My heart beat a frantic rhythm in my ears, eclipsing even the music.
All he had to do was turn around and he’d see me. Front and fucking center like a rabid fangirl.
Which I was, butshhh. Mind your business.
Greer squeezed my hand but I couldn’t tear my gaze away from the powerful man in front of me to look at her. Reed stalked around the room without even acknowledging the crowd, hands flexing at his sides. He murmured to himself, but I couldn’t hear the words, just the soft melodic tone of a deep, rumbly voice that would now haunt my sleep.
He walked further into the room and my gaze caught on the rest of the scene in front of me.
A brunette woman in nothing but a red lace bra and matching lace panties was strapped to a giant wooden X with her back to us. Spread eagle, each ankle and each wrist were fastened to the cross with leather straps. Angry red welts marred the back of each thigh.
He hadn’t been talking to himself, but speaking to her, which made me even more curious to know what he’d been saying. But as I strained to hear him over the rush of my pulse in my ears, it was apparent their conversation wasn’t for those of us watching. We could bear witness, but their words were for only them.
And the pull of longing in my chest shocked me.
Iwantedthat, wanted to be a part of that.
Wanted his whispered words to be mine. Only mine.
I was almost afraid to blink, for fear I’d miss something. My mouth was dry, my lips parted. I waited on bated breath for whatever came next.
Reed reached up and gathered all of the woman’s thick brown hair in his hands, then leaned forward to whisper in her ear and I found myself leaning forward too. He pulled her hair back into a ponytail, then gingerly rested it over one of her shoulders, revealing a small scattering of star tattoos. Like a galaxy, they spread over her skin like freckles from her shoulder blade and up her throat to her ear.
Reed leaned forward again to whisper in her ear, dragging his palm slowly down her back.
A shiver traveled down mine.
He walked to the left wall of the room and I followed each movement he made, transfixed by his every move. He retrieved two black whips, one for each hand.
They had dozens of long strips of leather attached to the end, rather than one long piece. Swallowing hard, I watched as he positioned himself behind her, his bare feet planted shoulder’s width apart.