Page 14 of The Debt

Strontium aluminates embedded in the aggregate floors glowed like Belle Epoque footlights to illuminate couples while they swayed on the dance floor beneath strategic lighting. Stone-clad walls featured ornate silver sconces that cast a medieval ambiance. The contrast was beautiful against the modern leather furniture scattered throughout.

“I’ll have a dirty martini, please.”

The dress code told its own story of the club’s clientele. Some women wore elaborate kink wear, others a variety of leather corsets studded with silver or pretty bows. Mesh bodysuits that left little to the imagination were a big favorite among the subs present, as were latex dresses that caught the light as they walked by. There were those who opted for elegant evening wear, though their collar choices marked them as submissives. The Dominants commanded more of her attention. There were prominent Doms dressed in tailored black suits paired with black shirts and silver ties, while others wore tight jeans and crisp white shirts.

“Hmm, now that’s what I call yummy,” she said sotto voce with her eyes lingering on a few who wore black leather pants with open waistcoats that displayed well-maintained physiques.

“There you go,” the bartender’s guttural voice interrupted her scrutiny of the vast entertainment area.

“Thank you.” Lifting the glass, she took a tentative sip. The perfect balance of premium vodka, vermouth, and olive brine danced across her tongue. The subtle saltiness was complemented by the aromatic bitters. “Now, this is absolute perfection,” she cooed.

“I do my best, sub Venus.”

Tatiana smiled briefly at hearing her club name. Master Zero—in her opinion, the most powerful and experienced Dom ever—had been the one to train her when she had joined the lifestyle eight years ago. He had christened her with the name. His deep voice echoed in her mind as she recalled the day she had graduated.

“I name thee sub Venus—a name that refers to the Roman goddess of love and beauty, and just like her, you are a symbol of beauty, grace, and affection.”

Tatiana wasn’t a vain woman. In fact, she saw too many flaws in herself to believe she was a real beauty, but she had loved the name, and had kept using it as her club name ever since Master Zero had honored her with it.

“Hmm,” she breathed in deeply. The low din of voices and laughter washed over her. Here, she could shed the heavy responsibility of being CEO of a multi-million-dollar company. Here, she wasn’t Tatiana Polov, the granddaughter being pressured into marriage.

The club’s reputation for strict adherence to SSC protocols and its ban on hardcore scenes created an atmosphere of safety and sophistication. Rather than the dark dungeons many imagined, The Pearl Icon offered a refined space where the lifestyle could be explored with class and discretion.

In here, Tatiana could simply be herself—a woman seeking connection, understanding, and the sweet release of submission under the care of a powerful Dominant—like Master Hades, who had claimed her body and soul two months ago during his brief business trip to Atlanta. The memory of that night still haunted her. Since then, she had questioned everything she thought she knew about herself.

“Evening, sub Venus,” a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.

“Dom Alex, it’s good to see you,” she responded politely, somewhat annoyed by the interruption.

“Are you still available for a scene tonight?” The attractive Dom looked at her with hopeful anticipation. They were regular playpartners at the club, and he always sought her out for a scene.

Her lips turned into a timid smile. “I haven’t decided if I want to play tonight, Sir. Maybe later, but for now, I just want to enjoy my drink.”

“If you do decide, come find me in the dungeon.”

Taking another sip of the martini, she watched with appreciation how his buttocks rippled as he walked away. Her mind drifted to the encounter with Master Hades. A shiver tiptoed down her spine as she recalled the way he had read her body’s responses like an open book. His commanding presence had knocked down her carefully constructed walls and had left her raw and exposed. His intuitive understanding of her needs had been uncanny—as if he had reached into the depths of her psyche and pulled out desires she hadn’t even acknowledged to herself.

Blyat’! I even had sex with the man. Hot, unforgettable sex, but still…

That she had allowed such intimacy during their first meeting still bewildered her. Tatiana Polov didn’t do one-night stands. She didn’t surrender control easily, and she certainly didn’t end up in bed with men she had just met. Her usual approach to potential bed partners was methodical—much like her business dealings. A scene at the club was one thing, but sex? That required trust built over time, countless conversations, and a thorough vetting process.

Yet, with Master Hades, all her carefully crafted rules had crumbled like sandcastles in a storm. Perhaps it had been the way he seemed to anticipate her needs before she could voice them or how his quiet authority had made her feel vulnerable yet completely safe. Whatever the reason, she had found herself craving more of what only he seemed capable of giving her.

Tonight marked her fourth visit to the club since their encounter. Each time, she hoped to catch a glimpse of his powerful presence. Each disappointment only served to heighten her frustration.

Regardless of the fight they had, the continued and growing pressure from her grandfather about marriage to Petrov was becoming unbearable. Resentment was slowly building inside her, which was, in part, why she sought out the sanctity of the club tonight. She had scened with other Doms, seeking that same release, that same ability to surrender completely and let go of her burdens. Except, contrary to past scenes with them, their touch, their commands, and their attempts to dominate her now left her feeling hollow and wanting.

Master Hades had managed to help her truly escape from her responsibilities and Gregor Polov’s manipulation, but more so, from herself. He guided her to feel free from all the restrictions. She needed that escape now more than ever. She craved someone who could push her past her boundaries while keeping her safe. A Dom who could turn her mind off and her body on until nothing existed except sensation and surrender.

“I was hoping to find you here.”

The deep, darkly grating voice folded around Tatiana like an invisible cloak. An initial chill raced through her body before igniting every nerve ending with remembered pleasure. It was the same voice that had commanded her surrender two months ago, the same dark Dom tone that had reduced her to a quivering mass of need and desire.

Forcing herself not to snap her head around, she elected to finish her drink in two long sips, hoping the vodka’s warmth would steady her suddenly trembling hands. Only when she felt marginally more in control did she turn her head to look at him over her shoulder. The attempt to present herself as cool and collected nearly crumbled at the first sight of him.

Good God, the man is gorgeous!

Master Hades stood well over six feet tall, his powerful frame commanding attention without effort. His long dark hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, emphasizing the sharp planes of his face. Her breath caught as his molten gray eyes, framed by thick dark lashes, locked onto hers. She shivered at the intensity of his gaze.

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