Page 330 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

“A great pleasure, Alice. Such a pleasure. Please sit. Sit, sit. Try this. It’s new, not on the menu yet, and I don’t know how I feel about it.”

On the tray was a single little shot glass of something with purple, blue, and yellow layers, with a dab of white whipped cream on top. Reuben lifted the glass and took the small silver spoon beside it, scooping up a small bite and tasting it. I watched as he closed his eyes and cocked his head, then opened his eyes and stared at it suspiciously. It was his calculating face. He made it a lot when he tasted something he was cooking and needed to figure out what to add to it.

“Hm.”

He took another spoonful and fed it to me. The layers were creamy and smooth, lightly sweet, and full of slightly floral flavors.

“I like it,” I grinned.

“You like everything sweet.” He took another bite, savoring it, still wearing his calculating face. “Lavender?”

Oliver Dupont smiled happily. “Yes. Blueberries, lavender, and lemon. We aren’t sure what to call it.”

“Blue lemonade,” I offered. “It’s like pink lemonade, but better.”

The men looked at each other, both shrugging. Sir scooped up the last bite and gave it to me. I savored it, sighing happily.

“It’s a bit too sweet, I think,” Mister Dupont said.

“I agree. It needs more of a bite, and it’s all the same texture. Change up the texture of the layers? Maybe a nice topping besides whipped cream.”

“Cici wants blueberry syrup,” Dupont rolled his eyes.

Reuben wrinkled his nose. “No. Maybe a whipped cream infused with lavender and topped with a single blueberry, and a sprinkling of graham crackers, or something with some texture. Or lemon zest.”

“My thoughts exactly. I’d actually debated adding a sprinkle of salt.”

“Oh... Yes. You should do one with rose,” Sir suggested.

“We have a rose-chocolate cheesecake. That’s your next dessert, it should be out shortly.” He turned to me and said, “Such a pleasure to meet you at last, my dear.” He offered his hand and I took it, expecting a shake, and receiving a kiss on the back of my hand. He smiled and left us to enjoy our rose-chocolate cheesecake.

“Sir... this whole evening has been amazing–” I squeaked when the TENS unit turned back on unexpectedly.

“Yes it has, little bug. And I suspect it will be even better when we get home.”

“What’s at home?” I looked up at him expectantly.

He leaned over and his voice rumbled in my ear, his beard tickling my cheek. “A fun little game I like to call, ‘let’s see how loud I can make you scream.’”

Back at home, Sir helpedme remove my dress, my new body chain, the belt, and the TENS toys, then told me to shower and scrub myself down. I was a sweaty needy mess and I wanted to play right away, but he shook his head.

“You’ve been out and about all day, little bug. And sweating. You need fresh, clean skin with no bacteria if you’re going to take what I’m going to do to you. Otherwise, you could get an infection.”

Oh my God. He was going to make me bleed. I practically ran to the shower.

I emerged clean and dry, my hair tied up in a high ponytail, naked as the day I was born. He took my chin in his hand and forced me to look at him. Even with my head all the way tilted up, he still had to lean forward to speak directly in my face.

He gave methat lookthat told me he was in the mood for bullying the hell out of me. Eyes dark and intense, eyebrows slightly lowered, and a smug smirk on his face. “I’ve turned off the lock to the dungeon door. Go downstairs and pick a few toys you want to play with. Set them on the counter, and then come back up here. Get on your knees, crawl to me. Ask me to hurt you. You can do that for me, can’t you, little monster girl?”

The bastard had buttered me up so that I’d obey him when we got home. I pursed my lips. I wanted to obey him, but I also really wanted to be a brat.

But he did just give me a fucking collar.

And he did drag me by the ankle out of a club.

I let out a deep sigh. “Okay, but just this once.”

He rolled his eyes, released my chin, and smacked me on the ass. “Go on, hurry up.”

---