Page 65 of Taming Her

Ava swallowed. She did feel like a pet. Before they’d stepped into Cauldron—a single scarlet door in a wall with a discreet intercom—Griff had attached a silver chain to the collar.

“Yeah, I have,” he said, coiling his finger around the end of the chain and putting a little tension on it.

“There’ll be a few disappointed women in there if you’re not playing.” Shannon jerked her head at a black polished door.

Ava bristled. What the heck did that mean? Griff had women here? Ones he ‘played’ with regularly—women who weren’t just someone else’s sub but women who searched him out, who wanted him.

The way I do.

“Perhaps.” Griff stroked his thumb down Ava’s cheek then her neck and came to rest on the collar. “But this one requires all of my attention.”

“Feisty, huh?”

“That’s one word for it.” He smiled, eyes flashing, then picked up a pen and signed them both in.

“Have fun,” Shannon directed at Ava.

She smiled. Not only was she being led like an animal, she’d also been told not to speak without permission.

Griff pushed through the black door.

The scent of smoke, hot bodies, and alcohol filled the air.

They stepped into the warmth and it lay sultry on Ava’s bare shoulders. Her short, figure-hugging scarlet dress had thin shoulder straps and she’d teamed it with blood-red heels.

“This way.” Griff walked in front of her, holding the lead slightly to his right.

She followed him, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dim, red-toned lighting and taking in the sights. The club was over half full, mostly people sitting in groups on low chairs. An empty stage sat to the right of a long wooden bar propping up people in various states of undress. Many of the women wore corsets that revealed their breasts. One walked past, holding a cocktail, wearing nipple clamps decorated with long black feathers. She had another feather in her hair, sticking straight upward.

Ava’s nipples tingled, remembering the sensation when Griff had put them on her. Could she ever walk around in public with clamps on? She didn’t know, but the idea excited her.

The collar tugged and she realized she’d slowed down. She trotted a few steps to keep up with Griff who was striding along, his shoulders wide in his black suit jacket, and his white shirt collar peeking over the edge. She’d never seen him dressed this smartly and he looked so handsome and confident and strong. Certainly other women in the club had noticed him walk in and their heads had turned.

A strange combination of pride and jealousy tangled inside her mind.

Mellow jazz played from two speakers by the stage. A waiter walked past with a tray of wineglasses held aloft. Over his bare chest were braces holding up black trousers. He had a thick collar around his neck.

Did a woman put that on him? Or maybe a man?

Questions were beginning to stack up on Ava’s tongue, but she held them in. Griff had told her there’d be time for questions, but now she had to be quiet and obedient, make him proud.

Which she wanted to do, but more than that she wanted to fit in. Ava was used to being the center of attention and understanding the lay of the land. Being out of her comfort zone didn’t sit well. Thank goodness she had Griff to lead her… literally.

He came to a halt at a low table with a small red candle in the middle and took a seat in one of four soft chairs.

“On your knees.” He nodded at the floor beside his feet. “Use the cushion.”

Ava spotted the stack of flat emerald cushions beneath the table and took one. She folded down, her knees sinking into it.

A group to their right was talking loudly. A naked woman was bent over, her ass near the face of a man who appeared mesmerized as she shifted her hips from side to side giving him a good view.

Ava’s attention was drawn beyond them to a couple in the corner. He was on his knees, his face buried between her legs. She appeared to be in the throes of ecstasy, her wineglass tipping dangerously.

“There’s lots to take in.” Griff turned her to face him. “But mainly I want you to see that here anything goes as long as it’s consensual. There’s no judgment, only pleasure, whatever your definition of pleasure is.”

She nodded and stared into his eyes. The candlelight flickered in their dark depths and she had an urge to be in his arms, to be held by him while she took in her new surroundings.

“It’s okay.” He held the lead up between them. “I have a tight hold on you.”

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