Page 47 of Wickedly Played
“Get in the car, Serena,” he commands.
Wanting to step up the game, I square my shoulders to him. “There is only one person who delivers the orders, and it sure as shit is not you. If you want to play, then do something about it.”
The undefined feeling coursing through my chest is something I can’t describe. If I had to put a name on it, I would say maybe red-hot lust? Or is this hate?
I know my clients adore me. I fill a role that every one of them needs. I can be their disciplinarian, the nurturer, their entire universe, their listener, their primary source of pleasure, and everything in between. However, I am aware of the role I play with them. This role I play with Max is unknown to me.
We finish the rest of the drive in companionable silence. At least I’m hoping it is. There is something about looking at his side profile as he drives. He has so much control over my Maybach - his hand flexes on the gearshift while the other one controls the wheel. He takes the curves of the road masterfully. I can tell by the little smirk in his eyes that he knows I’m watching him. I can’t help it.
“Serena,” he murmurs.
“Yes?”
“What are you doing?”
I really don’t know.“Nothing.” I clear my throat and then look in front of us.
Max jumps out of the car after we are parked in the valet section, flicking his hand at the valet worker to move on. “I got her,” he decrees.
My insides feel gooey like a cooked marshmallow. I place my hand in his to allow him to help me out of my seat. Max has adjusted himself to stand in front of me and leads me through the crowd with one of his hands wrapped around my little hand. His powerful hand dwarfs mine. He is scanning the crowd to make sure there aren’t any threats.
“Serena! Serena!”
I wave at everyone as I enter the venue space. Max drops my hand, helping me shrug out of my little coat. I watch his hand clutch my jacket, and I point to where our seats are. Stella and Deacon are waiting for us at our table.
Both Stella and Deacon stand up when they see us, and I throw my arms around them both. “You look beautiful,” I compliment Stella.
“Your bodyguard’s eyes are glued to your ass,” she whispers in my ear.
“You need glasses,” I mumble back.I’m sure they are. I’m sure he’s imagining doing all the things that we both want him to do, but neither of us is going to make the move.
Stella smirks, a devious one. “I think it is you who needs glasses, Mistress.” She taps me on the ass, and I kiss Deacon on the cheek.
“Everyone, thank you for coming!” Bill, the club owner, is standing on the stage with a microphone in his hand. “I’m so glad to see so many of our patrons here. Your support has been amazing in helping grow our club’s membership and continues to be the best club.”
A round of applause rings through the room. Bill has been kind enough to let me showcase my skills to the new members. He has been a big supporter of me doing cams, too.
“I would like for the demonstrators to please stand up!” Bill calls out. I stand with a wave, and one of my subs, Katie, comes over to hand me a bouquet. I kiss her cheek, causing her to blush. “Our club’s mission was to bring people together who love to do the same thing and maybe want to learn something new. We are thankful that Mistress Aphrodite continues to be involved in our club. Please give her a round of applause.”
I smile and wave again.
The rest of the evening goes off without a hitch. Max has not relaxed at all since we left my house. I don’t miss the way his hand is resting on the back of my chair, observing the room as much as he can. “Relax,” I whisper over the crowd.
He doesn’t respond.
Oh, well. I tried.
“Everyone in this room has had to walk through a metal detector before coming in,” I remind him.
His head whips to me with a look of something I haven’t seen from him. “Sweetness, you think you need a weapon to do damage to someone?”
My bones start to rattle a little. “I’m sure you don’t, but…”
“I’m not taking chances when it comes to you. The quicker you realize that the better off we’ll be,” he snaps.
My stupid heart starts to race with him saying this. I know it doesn’t mean what I’m hoping it means… Even though I would love it to mean that he likes me.
“Everyone! Enjoy the music. Please dance. Please drink responsibly! No demonstrations tonight,” Bill finishes with a bow. “With that being said, private acts can be carried out in the rooms.”
