“I’m good at slow dancing also,” Devin returned with a confidence she’d noticed most of the Doms had in common. “One more. Unless there’s someone else you’d rather spend time with.”
There was, but since Connor wasn’t of like mind, Tamara decided she couldn’t do better or feel more comfortable than with Master Devin. “No, there’s not.”
“Good.” Devin’s dark blue eyes remained on Tamara’s face as he drew her right arm behind her and held her wrist against her lower back, his hips swaying with hers as he pressed her against him. “Relax. Just like last week, nothing will happen between us you don’t want and agree to. For instance, I would love to see your breasts.” He lifted his free hand to the tie on her left shoulder, his fingers toying with the laces, his gaze patient but intent.
He was moving fast, she thought, but maybe that was a good thing. It gave her less time to think. And why not? It was just a boob, right? From what she’d witnessed last week and so far tonight, that small exposure was nothing. She found the slow swaying of their bodies pleasant, his secure hold of her arm behind her oddly titillating, both sensations bolstering her courage.
Since she wasn’t sure she could get a word out around her dry throat, Tamara nodded in agreement. She should have known it wouldn’t be that easy. These were not easy men in this place.
“I need the words, Tamara.”
She swallowed and said, “Yes, okay.”
“Thank you.” With a quick tug, he released the bow and the left side of the silky top dropped far enough to expose her breast to the waft of open air and his heated gaze. “Nice.” Brushing one finger over her nipple, the light graze drew the bud into a pucker. She sucked in a breath but despite the pleasure of that touch, she didn’t experience the heat that one look from Con could produce. That disappointment only hardened her resolve to go even further.
Bending his head, Master Devin whispered in her ear, “I’d very much enjoy taking you upstairs and touching you even more.”
Tamara nodded, determined to keep pushing forward. “I’d like that but reserve the right to back out if things get too…” She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say. Too intense? Too uncomfortable? Too painful?
“You know the club safeword is red. Say it and I stop, no matter what I’m doing or how far we’ve taken the scene.”
“That does help.” She nodded. “Let’s go before I chicken out.”
He chuckled. “I like your honesty, girl.”
Connor pulled into the parking lot of The Barn and saw Tam’s compact, white SUV. He had to take a moment to get himself under control before he went inside and risked laying into her again like the mistake he’d made before. She was a grown woman, free to come and go from his club as she pleased. He didn’t have to agree, or like it, but his brother and Grayson overruled his objections and left him no choice. Resigned to seeing her inside and to giving her another, more forceful lesson he prayed would deter her from continuing down this path and not jeopardize their relationship, he walked in with leaden steps.
Nothing, absolutely nothing could have prepared him for seeing Tam across the expanse of the playroom with one small, perfect breast exposed, her hand clutched by Master Devin’s as the other Dom led her upstairs. His gut tightened, his throat closed and a myriad of emotions ranging from fury to lust filled him with a sense of impotency. He knew her, knew every nuance of her expressions. As he crossed the space with long, ground-eating strides, he could see the taut cast to her jaw and compressed mouth that portrayed determination, but the flash of uncertainty in her eyes as she took that first step up spoke volumes.
Before he could reach them, Caden stopped him with a grip of his arm. “Slow down and think, Connor.”
“Get out of my way,” he demanded, his need to step between Devin and Tamara growing stronger.
“Not until you settle down. We went through this already. You’re being unfair. She wants this, so either tutor her yourself or leave her alone to continue with someone else.”
Caden was right, he’d known that coming here tonight. But could he scene with her without losing or putting a wrench into their newly patched relationship? What choice did he have, did she leave him with? He’d been protecting her for years and wasn’t about to stop now. For years before she’d moved away, Tam’s eyes had held stars when she’d looked at him and he’d known she thought she wanted more from him than his friendship and their close bond. Since her return, he’d caught fewer glimpses of those stars, but they still lingered, and he didn’t want to hurt her.
Being a guy and only human, he’d responded with both surprise and lust to those hints of desire, but his Tam was made for a committed relationship that included home and hearth, and he wasn’t. Once he showed her this lifestyle wasn’t what she thought she wanted, he would gently let her know he wasn’t the man for her and with any luck, they could return to their mutually satisfying friendship.
Taking a deep breath, he nodded at his brother, now under control and eager to get upstairs. “I’m good, Caden. But she’s always been my responsibility, and that doesn’t stop inside these walls.”
Caden stepped back with a nod. “I think I’m beginning to see a lot more than you, little brother,” he said to Connor’s back as he watched him stop at the bar for a glass of ice before hightailing it upstairs.
Chapter 7
Tamara chose the uncomfortable-looking, wood-slatted A frame when Master Devin gave her a choice of which apparatus she would like to try. The padded bench she had sampled last week had been comfortable, but she was counting on the discomfiture of this contraption to distract her from the public exposure and touch of a nice man again when she yearned for another.
“From the feedback I’ve heard, subs are enjoying our newest bondage equipment,” he said as he backed her against the frame and lifted her right arm above her. “I’m glad you picked this. It’s a lot different from the bench I strapped you on the last time. How does that feel?” He stepped back after securing her other arm and eyed her bound body with approval.
“It’s okay.” She didn’t know how else to answer him regardless of his frown of disapproval at her short reply.
“You’ll need to be a little more forthcoming, girl, if we’re going to continue. Although,” he drawled, turning his head as Connor approached them carrying a glass of ice, the possessive, determined glint in his eyes clearly visible without his hat. “It looks as if you might not need to answer to me much longer.” He looked back at her with friendly curiosity. “Is there something between you and Master Connor I need to know?”
“No,” she answered the same time as Con said, “Yes.”
“Interesting,” he murmured.
Devin’s smile sent an uneasy quiver through Tamara, which turned into a full-body ripple of misgivings as Connor drew him away for a private chat. She couldn’t make out their low voices, but the short discussion seemed to end on amicable terms as the two men returned to her, both looking satisfied.