Perfectly Played

Initiation into Submission: High Protocol

Book Six

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“Your safeword, Tinker?” His large hand splayed across her belly as he positioned behind her. Lips brushed against her shoulders and slipped across her skin to the tender tendon of her neck. He gently bit, sucking her flesh.

Shallow breaths tightened her chest. “Pickle, Sir.”

“No penetration,” he confirmed, his breath hot against her ear. “Here are my rules.”

The cool air of the room puckered her nipples, but the dangerous edge to his voice sent chills over her.

“Per favore—ah, excuse me. No, English is best for you. Please will be the only word from your lips. Do you understand?”

“Please,” she whispered. Her body trembled with his nearness. The scent of his cologne clung to him. She ached to bury her nose in his neck, taste the hotness of his flesh, and feel the power of his tightly controlled form against her.

The teasing glint in Luca’s eyes morphed into an erotic yet brutal glare. Did he see her as a challenge? He would know soon enough how pliant and submissive her nature was.

“You will not come from our play.”

She refused to lift her gaze. “Please?” How did she convey that she would need her release? The pleasure of BDSM was too ingrained within her to be quieted. But without his permission, she doubted her body would crest.

“Ah, sweet Tinker, if you want to come, you’ll give me the pleasure of your body.”

Her gaze lifted to his. Knots tightened her guts. The temptation, the whispered words, the powerful aphrodisiac of a Dominant in control tightened and coiled ready to strike.

Her heart pounded in her chest. She stared into his eyes, eyes flashing with the delicious arrogance of a Dominant. Luca Bruno clearly was a man used to getting what he desired.

But he couldn’t demand the one thing she held sacred. “Pickle.”

His gaze narrowed as a half-smile twisted his lips. “Mi scusi. Excuse me.”

“I’m sorry we couldn’t negotiate a scene.” She picked up her dress. Not bothering with her panties, she slipped on the sandals and draped the dress over her head as she went to the door.

Luca caught her and wrapped an arm around her waist. His touch released a riot of butterflies in her belly. She froze, fear and desire warring for dominance in her thoughts. Luca had the aura of a man not to be toyed with, but also the lure of a man who could master her mind and body.

“I am disappointed.” He released her. “Have a good evening, amore.”

Tinker slipped out the door. As she strode down the hall, her emotions overwhelmed her. She’d only just met him. She shouldn’t care, yet he’d left her with a hollow ache inside. She pushed through the door into the club, searching for the one face she needed.

Her gaze lifted to the platform. Alex laughed with Evelyn, Ronan, and Ronan’s submissive, Claire. Those weren’t the arms she needed around her.

In the distance, light glinted off a bald head. She weaved through the crowd. Sensing her approach, his gaze shifted to hers.

“Hey, Tink, what’s wrong?” The Professor opened his arms, and she stepped into his embrace. Thick tattooed biceps circled her shoulders. Resting her cheek on his solid, warm chest, she soaked in the calming energy of her best friend.

“I used my safeword.”

He chuckled and his eyes brightened. “Good girl.”

She stared up into his face. “Yeah, but we hadn’t started our scene yet.”

His brows furrowed.

She didn’t want to tell him the whole story. She just wanted to move on from an unfortunate misunderstanding. Maybe it was the language barrier. Although the no sex stipulation seemed to be clearly communicated. “The Boss has a business associate in town, an Italian. He specifically asked if I’d do a scene with him. Do you think Alex will be upset with me?”

The Professor nodded toward a man storming across the room. “You can ask him.”

Alex approached. His sharp gaze rested on her. Lips pulled into a hard line. “Tinker, what happened?”

She shook her head. “Nothing.”

The Professor’s hold on her tightened. “You have to tell him, Tink.” His attention shifted to Alex. “I don’t know, Boss, but she said she used her safeword.”

“We have different needs,” she explained, “so I decided not to scene with Luca. Is that going to cause an issue for you?”

“Of course not,” Alex said. “Did Luca cross a line with you?”

“He understood my rule,” Tinker said. “No sex. But he had rules, too. He didn’t like mine, and I didn’t agree with his.”

The Professor lifted her chin. “What were his rules?”

She licked her lips. “He wasn’t going to let me come.”

Alex bristled, and the Professor laughed.

“What a dick,” the Professor said.

His large hand trekked along the ladder of her spine. She’d been at the end of his flogger many times. Trusted him to take away her senses, strip her fears, and take her into subspace. She’d felt his calloused fingers on every part of her body, felt the sting of his whip, and the tender touch of his aftercare. But the Professor wasn’t emotionally connected to her or anyone else that she was aware of.

Alex cupped her cheek. “I apologize. I’ll speak to him.”

She rested her hand on his arm. “You don’t need to. He was a gentleman in every other way. He’s going back to Italy soon so why add to the situation. I’m fine.” She rested her palm on the Professor’s chest. “I’m going to ask this Dom who knows what I need for a lesson, and then I’m going home for the night. I’m good.”

Alex nodded. He inhaled as if he planned to speak, but something over her shoulder grabbed his gaze. “Excuse me.”

He stepped away, approaching Luca as he entered the dungeon.

Luca’s focus drilled into her. Arrogance radiated from him, confident in his dominance. There was something about him. A mysterious edge appealed to her submissive nature. That made him dangerous.

The Professor rested a hand on her hip. “Tinker?”

“Thank you.”

His rough knuckles brushed her cheek. “For what?”

“For making me strong enough to say no.” Controlling men were her weakness, her drug of choice.

“What do you want, beautiful?”

“A demonstration.” She wanted Luca to see what he’d lost in negotiations.

“Are you sure you’re my sweet, innocent submissive?”

No, she hadn’t been innocent in a long time.