Page 62 of Ryker

I walk over to a large wooden box he’s pointing at. Lifting the lid, I’m dumbstruck. “Holy cow.” There are a lot of options, all of which are still in boxes, unused.

The toy inventory for the sex club must be massive.

Glancing at the machine, it’s surprising how small it is. There’s a long steel rod on the end where I guess you attach the dildo somehow. I don’t know.

Okay. Fine. I’m actually a little excited to see how this thing works. Plucking a reasonably sized toy out of the box, I set it down beside the machine and blow out the breath I’ve been holding.

“Good girl. Now come back to me.”

I’m getting really horny.

Why am I like this?

A familiar voice echoes in my mind, ripping through my lust with an answer. You’re a disgusting little whore, Tara.

My stomach plummets.

“Hey. Woah.” Ryker’s suddenly holding my shoulder. “What just happened?”

“Huh?”

His face contorts with concern. “You just went all pale on me.”

“Oh.” I touch my cheeks. “Sorry.” I’m not about to tell him I heard my stepbrother’s voice in my head calling me names and slut-shaming me. That’s what therapy sessions are for. “I’m just nervous.”

He stares at me a little longer, then seems to accept my lie. “You sure?”

“Yup.” I slap on a big smile. “Let’s do this, Sir.”

He flashes another grin, but this one doesn’t make his eyes crinkle. “Okay.”

Ryker unravels the first bundle and makes a huge loop, then places it around my neck, with the circle hitting my bellybutton. He moves behind me and knots it at my neck. Then he brings my hand up so I can feel it. “Pull this at any point and it’ll all come undone. Understand?”

My heart skips a beat. “Yes, Sir.”

He takes another bundle of rope off the bench and unravels it. I want to fill the silence between us with words, but my head’s a little jumbled. Shame’s setting in because I feel awkward.

“Talk to me, Tara.”

“What should I say?”

“Whatever’s going through your mind.”

That’s not happening. “I feel silly being here.”

Ryker stops rigging. “Why?”

My stomach knots. Tears prick my eyes. This was a mistake. “I feel like I’m using you.”

He stills and I watch his Adam’s apple bob.

A mountain of guilt dumps out of me. “I’m sorry for causing you so much trouble at the ceremony. I know you didn’t want me to be the Butterfly. I shouldn’t have leveraged the property to get to you. And I’m sorry you’re stuck in this position.”

“I’m not stuck. I chose to be here.”

“No, I chose you to be here because I picked you to be my Dom.” Before he can argue, I add. “I don’t trust anyone. And I’m not well-versed in kinks. I just know vanilla doesn’t do it for me. Ever. I can barely get myself off, much less have some boring office manager pull missionary on me and expect me to come. I need chaos turned all the way up. I think I need to be overpowered so I can shut down my brain and let loose. Joining the Monarch only reinforced the desires I have.” I can’t believe I’m saying all this now. “And you’re the one who can give me what I need.”

“Any of my Doms can give you what you need, Tara. It’s why they’re here. It’s why I built this place. So people can explore kinks safely. My staff are trained to pleasure members safely.”

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