Page 26 of Callback
I had just barely dropped to my knees beside him, when he brushed his fingers through my hair. “Actually—could you get me a drink, Poppy? Martini, very dry. And get yourself a water, too.”
I bit my cheek to stop a snarky retort—a water? What was I, sixteen? And was there a reason why he couldn’t have asked for the drinkbeforeI sat down? I pushed myself to my feet, and with a polite nod, answered, “Of course.”
A satisfied smile stretched across his face and I couldn’t stand to look at the smug grin any longer, instead turning toward the bar. Before I got one step, he grabbed my hand, stopping me. “Of course… what?”
I swallowed, remembering his contract.Sweet girl must always address Jude as Sir during playtime, whether in public or private.“Of course,Sir,” I whispered.
“Good girl, Poppy.” Pleasure rushed through me and I walked quickly to the bar. I put in the order for him and asked for a water, drumming my fingers across the marble counter.
It wasn’t often I needed a drink. But here? Tonight? I was so far out of my comfort zone, I could really use a little liquid courage. “Actually,” I said, glancing quickly at the bartender—a young girl with golden blond hair. Her nametag read Andrea, and I reached out a hand, stopping Andrea as she grabbed for a water glass. “I’ll have a Woodford on the rocks. A double.” Because damn, did I need it.
It only took Andrea a few minutes to prepare both drinks and as she finished, she slid them across the counter with two small, royal blue square napkins. “Oh—oh my God, I don’t have my wallet,” I said, sliding my hands in my jeans pockets to see if I had any cash tucked away that I had forgotten about.
“It’s okay,” Andrea said. “All drinks are billed to your Master.”
“My Master,” I whispered, taking a heavy sip of bourbon. “Right. And that includes your tip, too, right?”
Andrea nodded. “Masters and Mistresses are usually very generous,” she whispered. Her smile was sweet, her bright blue eyes, kind. “I’m kind of new here, too,” she added. “But everyone is really nice. Chloe takes good care of anyone who steps foot inside here. You need anything, you find her, okay?”
“I will. Thank you,” I said, lifting the martini and the bourbon. The glasses were cold and felt good against my clammy palms. The circle stared at me as I approached, every single person’s eyes wide, and one of the subs even gasped as I sat down beside Jude.
“What?” I handed the martini up to him and took another sip of bourbon.
Jude placed his martini on the table beside him and leaned forward, resting his elbows onto his knees. His sigh hissed through his nose. “I told you to get a water.”
I shrugged, looking down at the bourbon in my hand. The glass was beginning to sweat, beads of cold condensation running over my fingers. “Yeah, but I wanted a bourbon. I kind of felt like I needed it.”
“In these walls,” Jude whispered, “you don’t get to choose what you need. I choose what you need. And you’re supposed to trust me to make the right choice. I would have ordered you a bourbon next—but I wanted you to hydrate first.”
I narrowed my eyes, glaring up at him from the stupid seat on the floor. “You’re fucking joking, right? I’m an adult. I’ve been drinking for years. I think I can handleonebourbon.”
“First of all, that’s not the point,” he whispered. “I didn’t tell you to get yourself a drink. And in this world—in my world—that’s the sort of action that requires permission. Second of all, that’s a double pour. So technically, you ordered yourselftwobourbons.”
I opened my mouth to argue, but thought better of it. “Well…can I have it now? It’d be a waste if I didn’t—oh!”
Jude pulled me off the floor, some of the amber liquid sloshing out of the tumbler and splattering beside my toes. He pulled me over his lap, taking the bourbon from my hand and placing it on the floor at his feet. Leaning down, his breath was hot against my ear as he whispered, “What’s your safe word?”
I swallowed. “Planner for stop. Sticker for slow down.”
His palm came down onto my ass in three fast strikes. His spanking wasn’t hard in the least, but it did things to me. Things that I didn’t want to admit, even to myself. My belly pressed into the firm musculature of his thighs and with each strike of his hand, an erection pressed a little harder into my stomach.
Heat blasted from my blushing cheeks down to… well, my other cheeks. Thank God I was wearing jeans, otherwise my bare ass would have been on display for the entire membership of this bizarre club. But even without that added gem, the situation was humiliating enough. And yet—despite the embarrassment… despite the humiliation, longing stirred between my legs. A tight pressure built and I could feel my muscles flexing with each spank.
As his hand came down with the final slap, it lingered on the curve of my backside. He stroked where he had so violently spanked only seconds before and the vast difference between gentle and aggressive caused a shiver to tumble down my spine.
Only a few seconds passed, but it felt like eons. Jude helped me back to a seated position on the floor. Then, handing me the remaining bourbon, said, “Now, go get a water. After you drink the entire glass of water, you may have your bourbon.”
Only, I didn’t need the alcohol anymore. That display had been intoxicating enough.
*
Jude
I pinched thestem of my martini glass with such force, I was afraid the fragile glass might snap in half. The liquid slid down my throat, chilled to perfection and smoother than water. Damn, they made a good martini here.
I needed to get a grip. I enjoyed spanking Marly’s ass way too much—and based on the way my cock pushed against my slacks, most everyone in the circle would know it too. Ash sent me a knowing glance, hiding his smirk with his scotch.
It has nothing to do with Marly,I reasoned. I haven’t spanked anyone in over a year. Haven’t fulfilled this dark, aching need inside of me to control and release. Nope. Doesn’t have a damn thing to do with Marly.
