Chapter 43

Mae stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her head. It felt glorious to be clean and
well rested. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep on Master Xavier’s lap after that
ridiculously intense scene in the Library. She’d slept for close to ten hours, waking at midnight in the
same bed she’d used last night. But unlike before she’d slept well, without the restlessness and
nightmares that had plagued her the first night. She’d had one vivid sex dream about Xavier, so real
she’d still been able to taste his kiss when she woke. Mae might have slept through until morning if
someone hadn’t set the bedside alarm clock to go off at twelve a.m.

She’d found a note under a water bottle waiting beside the chiming alarm.

1:30 a.m.

Iron Court

Your choice of attire

X

Mae didn’t have time to dry her hair, so she braided it before putting on the only other outfit she’d
brought with her for the weekend. The steampunk-style under-bust corset and leather panties were a
bit less girly than her normal clothes. They were both prototypes, and Mae was glad she’d chosen to
test them out this weekend.

She put on an off-the-shoulder sheer lace shirt under the corset, the lace spaced widely enough that it
was not hard to spot the pink of her nipples.

Next she put on the panties which were modeled after vintage lingerie cuts—high in the waist and
nearly straight across the top of the thigh. These were made of thick brown spandex with panels of faux
leather to give it a steampunk look, and there were decorative bits of chain at one hip. The



embellishments matched the clasp closures down the front of the corset. She finished the look with
sheer white thigh-highs and gold pumps with lacings up the heel that mimicked rope bondage.

Examining herself in the mirror, Mae decided that she did like the outfit. When she got home on
Monday she’d make the call on the new line. Though it was different from her original brand—a brand
Mae was mother-bear protective of—she could imagine the girl who would buy this and wear it, which
was what mattered.

Wishing that she had time to dry and curl her hair, which would help soften the look, Mae instead
applied her makeup, and then, with twenty minutes to spare, left the Subs’ Garden.

This time no one looked twice at her. With the most obvious of her marks covered, Mae no longer wore
the evidence of her submission for all to see. She regretted that—not that she was going to go back
and strip—but she’d liked showing off Master Xavier’s domination of her.

At this hour of night the club was alive with activity. Subtle lighting made it easy to see where she was
going in the myriad of indoor-outdoor spaces, but didn’t detract from the darkness of the night. Voices
spilled from the library and dining room, but Mae wasn’t tempted to stop. Quick steps carried her
toward Master Xavier.

When she rounded the corner and saw the Iron Court, her feet slowed. The statuary garden was lit not
only with strategic landscape lighting, but by dozens of torches, clustered around a small stage that
had been erected in the center. A few Doms were milling around, and when she appeared, their
attention snapped to her. Mae snuck a quick glance at the stage, which was three feet off the ground
and roughly five feet by five feet, then knocked on the door of the room where she’d first met Xavier.

“Come in.”

A sense of deja vu washed over Mae as she opened the door. Had it only been twenty-four hours ago
that she’d stood here, with no idea who, or what, waited for her on the other side?



Master Xavier wore a gray dress shirt instead of the tight, sleeveless black top he’d had on earlier. It
was open mid-way down the chest, exposing golden. The sight of him made her fingertips tingle.

He was standing beside the armchair he’d used the first night. A plain wooden chair held the place of
honor in the center of the room.

“Master Xavier.” Mae closed the door behind her.

He crooked his finger.

Mae’s whole body responded to the casual command—her nipples hardened under the lace, wetness
flooded her pussy, and her mouth went dry.

She stopped a few feet in front of him, skin tingling in anticipation of his touch. He looked her up and
down, the corner of his mouth kicking up in just the hint of a smile. Reaching out, he tugged her braid,
then ran his hands down to her breasts—pinching her nipples and rubbing the lace against the
sensitive buds. Mae arched her back, offering him more, offering him everything.

Xavier released her and pointed to the plain chair.

Mae took a seat, knees together, hands braced on either side of her thighs.

Xavier circled her, occasionally dipping one hand into her top to fondle her breasts. When she leaned
forward slightly, brushing her cheek against his arm as he passed, Xavier thumbed her lower lip, then
stroked her neck. The quiet room made it easy to forget everything but these strange wonderful
feelings he elicited in her. He tugged her shirt down enough to expose her right nipple, flicking it with
his thumb until she arched her back and gasped.

Mae was perilously close to coming, aroused to the point of orgasm by nothing more than his presence
and a few touches. He stopped, which was both a relief and a disappointment, and took a seat.



Half in shadow, he seemed lazily dangerous, like a jaguar napping in the sun. “Blindfold, ball gag, soft
beating, biting, breast bondage, being serviced, and light bondage.” Xavier tapped his fist against the
arm of the chair. “Those are the checklist items we’ve done.”

“Yes, Master Xavier.”

“Those are also the lightest items on the list.”

Mae shivered, remembering what was still to come.

“I’ve taken you to your limits, pushed you further than you ever have been before. Am I correct?”

“Yes, Master Xavier.”

“And you’ve enjoyed it?”

Mae nodded quickly.

“I have too.” Xavier sat forward, bracing his arms on his knees. “But I need more. I do not play on the
darker side of the spectrum because I like it. I do it because I need it. Do you understand, Mae?”

She dropped her gaze. “I bore you.”

“You are anything but boring. Being with you has challenged me as a Dominant. Helping you discover
the depth of your submission is rewarding.” His tone deepened, hinting at the darkness within him. “But
I do not come here for that. I come here because I need things.”

“What things, Master? I’ll do them.” For him, with him, she wanted it all.


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