Page 20 of Scarlett Thief (Criminal Underground 2)

“We’re not in a club,” I reminded him.

“No, but I am a Dom and if you’re going to be a submissive—you need to at least act the part. Now kneel.”

This time, I didn’t just gape at him, I took a healthy step back. “No.”

His tone deepened. “Scarlett, I am asking you—as a Dom—for you to kneel at my feet. This is what you’ll be doing in the club. Even if you’re a new submissive, any submissive invited to a club would know the etiquette. If you can’t even do this, then you’re not going.”

I ground my teeth together and contemplated what I should do. On one hand, he was right—I needed to know how to act appropriately in the club to go with them to get information. On the other hand, the thought of kneeling before Hadrian seemed very dangerous. He waited patiently, though, after he explained his reasons, and when minutes ticked by and he still didn’t try to pressure me, I felt myself softening.

“Fine,” I muttered before hesitantly lowering onto my knees before him.

“Good,” he said. “Back straight. Hands, palms face up on your thighs. Spread your legs.” My cheeks heated, and I bit my lip hard as I followed his directions. “There’s no need to be embarrassed, Scar,” he said when he noticed. “You’ll also be wearing far less in the club than you are right now.”

“Doesn’t make it any less humiliating,” I snapped.

Hadrian sighed and stepped forward; his hand sank into my hair and I stiffened, ready to feel him use his hold to jerk my head back. I was waiting for it—prepared. It was something Jaxson would’ve done. I froze at that thought. Since when did I think of Jaxson anymore? I shook it off, hating that for even a moment he’d entered the sanctitude of my mind again, and refocused on what was happening in the here and now.

Instead of yanking my head like I expected, Hadrian gently urged my head back until I was looking up into his eyes. “It’s not about humiliation,” he stated. “Though I won’t judge anyone who has that personal kink—it’s about respect.”

“How is this about respect?” I felt stupid, sitting there with my legs tucked and spread and my hands on my thighs.

His fingers moved against my hair, shifting it as though he were petting me. It didn’t feel particularly bad, but the movement confused me—it seemed so very out of character for him. Then I realized that it was—this wasn’t Hadrian the professional, the hacker. This was Hadrian the Dom, and he was far softer and more patient than I’d expected.

“You kneel to show your Dom respect,” he said. “It’s a visual representation of the power exchange. Any good Dom would show you the same respect in return.”

“How?” I challenged. “By ogling my ass.”

“Yes,” he replied. “When you enter the club, you’re entering with their rules in mind. Inside the realm of BDSM, it’s seen as a compliment to have Doms and subs alike look at your body, Scarlett. I didn’t think that was something you’d be shy about.” He quirked up a brow.

“I’m not.”

“Then take it as it’s meant to be taken,” he advised. “You’re a beautiful woman. A work of art. You deserve to be shown off—but only if you want to be.”

“And if I don’t want to be?”

He smiled. “I think you do, but feel free to lie to yourself if you want.” He removed his fingers from my hair, and for some reason, the second his skin was no longer on mine, I felt bereft. Hadrian took a step back. “You can get up now. Your form is good—but don’t be surprised if I or Wolf ask you to practice it again for us a few times before tomorrow night.” He moved back around the table as I got to my feet once more. “You should do some research on your own, but definitely read what I’ll send to your email. If you have any further questions, I’ll be here.”

Shaking away the abnormal sensation that he’d left within me, I turned and headed for the bedroom. I went straight through the room and into the master bathroom, not stopping until the door was closed and locked and my back was pressed tight to it.

Across from me, the mirror revealed someone I didn’t recognize. It was me, but it wasn’t. It was a Scarlett that I didn’t know. The same facial features. The same body. But there was something in the pinkness of my face—in the curiosity in my gaze—that told me continuing down this path with the two of them was dangerous.

This should have been easy—just like every other job.

Except it wasn't every other job. Pursing my lips, I started to question if I could truly be someone's submissive and if, maybe, Hadrian was right—that Ididlike it.

* * *

Despite all ofthe things I'd done in my lifetime, I had never been to a sex club. Incatenato was not at all what I pictured one would be like on the outside.

When we arrived at the nondescript building, the only oddity was the fact that there were no windows on the bottom floor and all of the windows on the second and third floor had blackout shutters.

"Remember," Wolf said, his low voice vibrating against me as his chest pressed to my back and his lips touched my ear, "in there, you're not Scarlett the Thief, you're just another sub."

I snorted. "Doesn't matter if you want me to use my name or not," I glanced over my shoulder at him, "I am who I am. Say it or not. It never changes the fact."

"Tonight it does," Wolf said. His eyes were dark, far darker than they ever seemed before. I could sense a change in him and we weren't even inside yet. "You're not used to having Masters, Scarlett, but tonight you'll have two. My friend's wife will be showing you the ropes; ask her anything you like. She's done this before."

"Ropes?" I blinked up at him. "Did the big, bad mercenary just make a pun? Or are you really planning to turn me into a rope bunny?"

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