Chapter Eight
Tatiana
Two weeks later… The Pearl Icon, an exclusive underground Club, Sheraton Atlanta Hotel, Courtland Street, Atlanta…
Tatiana settled onto a sleek black leather barstool. Her elbows rested on the polished marble counter that stretched the length of the massive steel and stone bar. The exclusive underground club was her favorite where she maintained a standing membership.
She watched the three bartenders move in a synchronized choreography while they attended the clientele. Their black shirts and silver vests popped in bright relief under purple lighting.
Swiveling on her seat, she scanned the discreet seating arrangements that flanked the bar. Many of Atlanta’s rich and famous would come to avail themselves of the anonymity offered and indulge their passion for decadent behavior.
Strontium aluminates embedded in the aggregate floors glowed like Belle Epoque footlights to illuminate couples while they swayed on the dance floor beneath strategic lighting. Stone-clad walls featured ornate silver sconces that cast a medieval ambiance. The contrast was beautiful against the modern leather furniture scattered throughout.
“I’ll have a dirty martini, please.”
The dress code told its own story of the club’s clientele. Some women wore elaborate kink wear, others a variety of leather corsets studded with silver or pretty bows. Mesh bodysuits that left little to the imagination were a big favorite among the subs present, as were latex dresses that caught the light as they walked by. There were those who opted for elegant evening wear, though their collar choices marked them as submissives. The Dominants commanded more of her attention. There were prominent Doms dressed in tailored black suits paired with black shirts and silver ties, while others wore tight jeans and crisp white shirts.
“Hmm, now that’s what I call yummy,” she said sotto voce with her eyes lingering on a few who wore black leather pants with open waistcoats that displayed well-maintained physiques.
“There you go,” the bartender’s guttural voice interrupted her scrutiny of the vast entertainment area.
“Thank you.” Lifting the glass, she took a tentative sip. The perfect balance of premium vodka, vermouth, and olive brine danced across her tongue. The subtle saltiness was complemented by the aromatic bitters. “Now, this is absolute perfection,” she cooed.
“I do my best, sub Venus.”
Tatiana smiled briefly at hearing her club name. Master Zero—in her opinion, the most powerful and experienced Dom ever—had been the one to train her when she had joined the lifestyle eight years ago. He had christened her with the name. His deep voice echoed in her mind as she recalled the day she had graduated.
“I name thee sub Venus—a name that refers to the Roman goddess of love and beauty, and just like her, you are a symbol of beauty, grace, and affection.”
Tatiana wasn’t a vain woman. In fact, she saw too many flaws in herself to believe she was a real beauty, but she had loved the name, and had kept using it as her club name ever since Master Zero had honored her with it.
“Hmm,” she breathed in deeply. The low din of voices and laughter washed over her. Here, she could shed the heavy responsibility of being CEO of a multi-million-dollar company. Here, she wasn’t Tatiana Polov, the granddaughter being pressured into marriage.
The club’s reputation for strict adherence to SSC protocols and its ban on hardcore scenes created an atmosphere of safety and sophistication. Rather than the dark dungeons many imagined, The Pearl Icon offered a refined space where the lifestyle could be explored with class and discretion.
In here, Tatiana could simply be herself—a woman seeking connection, understanding, and the sweet release of submission under the care of a powerful Dominant—like Master Hades, who had claimed her body and soul two months ago during his brief business trip to Atlanta. The memory of that night still haunted her. Since then, she had questioned everything she thought she knew about herself.
“Evening, sub Venus,” a deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
“Dom Alex, it’s good to see you,” she responded politely, somewhat annoyed by the interruption.
“Are you still available for a scene tonight?” The attractive Dom looked at her with hopeful anticipation. They were regular playpartners at the club, and he always sought her out for a scene.
Her lips turned into a timid smile. “I haven’t decided if I want to play tonight, Sir. Maybe later, but for now, I just want to enjoy my drink.”
“If you do decide, come find me in the dungeon.”
Taking another sip of the martini, she watched with appreciation how his buttocks rippled as he walked away. Her mind drifted to the encounter with Master Hades. A shiver tiptoed down her spine as she recalled the way he had read her body’s responses like an open book. His commanding presence had knocked down her carefully constructed walls and had left her raw and exposed. His intuitive understanding of her needs had been uncanny—as if he had reached into the depths of her psyche and pulled out desires she hadn’t even acknowledged to herself.
Blyat’! I even had sex with the man. Hot, unforgettable sex, but still…
That she had allowed such intimacy during their first meeting still bewildered her. Tatiana Polov didn’t do one-night stands. She didn’t surrender control easily, and she certainly didn’t end up in bed with men she had just met. Her usual approach to potential bed partners was methodical—much like her business dealings. A scene at the club was one thing, but sex? That required trust built over time, countless conversations, and a thorough vetting process.
Yet, with Master Hades, all her carefully crafted rules had crumbled like sandcastles in a storm. Perhaps it had been the way he seemed to anticipate her needs before she could voice them or how his quiet authority had made her feel vulnerable yet completely safe. Whatever the reason, she had found herself craving more of what only he seemed capable of giving her.
Tonight marked her fourth visit to the club since their encounter. Each time, she hoped to catch a glimpse of his powerful presence. Each disappointment only served to heighten her frustration.
Regardless of the fight they had, the continued and growing pressure from her grandfather about marriage to Petrov was becoming unbearable. Resentment was slowly building inside her, which was, in part, why she sought out the sanctity of the club tonight. She had scened with other Doms, seeking that same release, that same ability to surrender completely and let go of her burdens. Except, contrary to past scenes with them, their touch, their commands, and their attempts to dominate her now left her feeling hollow and wanting.
Master Hades had managed to help her truly escape from her responsibilities and Gregor Polov’s manipulation, but more so, from herself. He guided her to feel free from all the restrictions. She needed that escape now more than ever. She craved someone who could push her past her boundaries while keeping her safe. A Dom who could turn her mind off and her body on until nothing existed except sensation and surrender.
“I was hoping to find you here.”
The deep, darkly grating voice folded around Tatiana like an invisible cloak. An initial chill raced through her body before igniting every nerve ending with remembered pleasure. It was the same voice that had commanded her surrender two months ago, the same dark Dom tone that had reduced her to a quivering mass of need and desire.
Forcing herself not to snap her head around, she elected to finish her drink in two long sips, hoping the vodka’s warmth would steady her suddenly trembling hands. Only when she felt marginally more in control did she turn her head to look at him over her shoulder. The attempt to present herself as cool and collected nearly crumbled at the first sight of him.
Good God, the man is gorgeous!
Master Hades stood well over six feet tall, his powerful frame commanding attention without effort. His long dark hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, emphasizing the sharp planes of his face. Her breath caught as his molten gray eyes, framed by thick dark lashes, locked onto hers. She shivered at the intensity of his gaze.
“Fuck me,” The soft curse escaped her lips as her gaze dropped to his mouth. Shards of heat spiked through her core at the memory of it trailing fire across her skin. Her pulse quickened, and a sharp breath hissed through her teeth as she felt herself becoming unhinged when her clit started to throb in erotic demand.
He wore confidence like armor molded to his frame—skintight and hugging every delectable muscle rippling under the white silk shirt that was unbuttoned to mid-torso. She judged him to be in his forties. He had the look of a man who not only commanded attention but expected it. Power radiated from him in waves—the essence of a true Dominant evident in every controlled movement.
“Master Hades,” she managed, proud that her voice remained steady despite her racing heart.
“I’m delighted that you remember me,” he drawled, moving so close, she could feel the heat radiating from his body. The low timbre of his voice resonated through her, continuing to awaken parts of her that had lain dormant since their last encounter. “I had hoped you might honor me with another night like the night we met.” His voice dropped to the same commanding tone that had haunted her dreams. “It was... explosive, wouldn’t you say?”
Tatiana’s fingers tightened around the empty glass. Everything in her screamed to say yes and to surrender to the promise in those gray eyes. Yet, something made her hesitate. She had come here hoping to find him, true, but now that he stood before her, reality crashed in.
This man was dangerous—not to her physical safety, but to the carefully constructed walls around her heart. The way he seemed to see straight through her defenses, combined with how naturally she responded to his dominance... Master Hades could easily become more than just a Dominant who gave her release. He could become the one man capable of making her fall in love… even break her heart.
“I…” she started, then paused as he moved even closer. His presence overwhelmed her senses. Her head spun as his masculine scent—a heady mix of sandalwood, leather, and pure sex-god male—wrapped around her like a sensual cocoon.
“Trust your instincts, little Venus,” he said softly as he read her hesitation. “From the trapped look in your eyes, I hazard a guess that you’re in even more need to lose yourself in a cloud of euphoria than the previous time we scened.”
A sensation crawled down her spine like ice water melting, leaving goosebumps in its wake. Her breath caught as that familiar confusion of excitement and fear coiled in her belly—the same feeling you get right before the first drop on a roller coaster when you know it’s too late to back out and your body can’t decide if it’s terrified or thrilled. Suddenly, her skin felt too tight, too sensitive, like it was waiting for his touch.
How did he do that? How did he strip away her carefully constructed armor with just a few words? Tatiana Polov, who could stare down board members and close million-dollar deals without breaking a sweat, felt completely exposed under his penetrating gaze.
“I’m not all that comfortable with your ability to see into my soul, Master Hades,” she admitted. Her husky voice betrayed her vulnerability. It was inconceivable that he could reduce her to this quivering mass of need without even touching her. No man had ever wielded such power over her—and that terrified her as much as it thrilled her.
“There’s no shame in admitting we are vulnerable beings, little one.” His words caressed her skin like velvet over steel. “It’s human nature to hide what we feel and truly need behind a facade of assertiveness, and worse... the zealous chasing of unattainable dreams.” He moved closer still, his warm breath brushing against the hair at her temple. Tingles of anticipation raced down her spine. “Be brave, my little Venus... like you were two months ago.”
Just like that, her resistance crumbled. Her head fell back against his shoulder as he wrapped a muscled arm around her waist to pull her tight against his hard chest. The solid wall of his body against her back made her feel safe but also desperately aroused. His lips traced a path of seduction along the side of her throat. Each sensual kiss was a spark of electricity that shot straight to her core. When he reached her ear and teased the lobe with gentle nips, her knees turned to rubber.
“Bravery is a reward to those who never allow fear to overcome them,” he murmured against her skin. His words struck a chord deep in her soul. “All you need to do is take my hand, and I will guide you to heights you never imagined possible.”
His words resonated with something deep inside her. Bravery—it had always been her shield, her weapon in the corporate world and standing up against her grandfather. But this was different. This kind of courage required her to be vulnerable, to let go of control, and to trust not just him but herself. And somehow, that seemed like the most fearless act of all.
She melted further into his embrace, with her body turning limbless in his grasp. Every point of contact between them sparked with static, and every breath she took was filled with his scent. She could feel the beat of her heart pulsing in time with his. The strong, independent woman she portrayed to the world dissolved, leaving behind just the sub Venus—raw, needy, and desperately wanting what he promised to give her.
You can do this, Tatiana. It’s why you’re here. Pull up your granny pants and just leap! Perhaps the time has come to open yourself to live… really live life for a change.
Taking a deep breath, she took his hand. The simple action felt monumental—a surrender, a beginning, and a leap of faith into the unknown. His warm fingers closed around hers. The slight calluses on his palm were a reminder that he was different from the men she had met through her grandfather.
“Oh,” she gasped as the connection sparked something primal inside her. It was the carnal feline that recognized and responded to his dominance on a visceral level.
“Yes, little one… oh,” he said with a tender smile. Their eyes met in the purple-tinged light of the club. Her breath caught. She saw desire there, yes, but also understanding, control, and perhaps a promise of something deeper she wasn’t ready to name.
His thumb traced slow circles on the inside of her wrist. The gentle touch was at odds with the power she could feel coiled within him. It was a reminder of how carefully he wielded his strength—like a master swordsman who knew exactly how much pressure to apply for maximum effect.
“Good girl,” he murmured. “I’m proud of you, little Venus.” His voice dropped to that dark velvet tone that seemed to bypass her brain and speak directly to her body. The praise shouldn’t have affected her so strongly—she was a powerful businesswoman who answered to no one—yet those two simple words made her inner muscles clench with need.
“You proved to me already that I can trust you with my body and my needs, Master Hades.” Exhaling slowly, she took the plunge. “I pray that you will tread with care on the path we’re about to take.”
His eyes narrowed, but it was so slight, she might have imagined it. Her world diminished to the point where their bodies connected—his hand holding hers, his chest pressing against her back, and his breath warm on her neck. The rest of the club faded away, along with the music, the other members, and the carefully cultivated atmosphere—all of it disappeared until there was nothing left but the two of them and the intoxicating current of anticipation humming between them.
“I am a crusader, my pet, and I have been searching far and wide for the one who will be my destiny.” He brushed his fingers over her cheek, ending with a seductive caress against her lips. “I believe my quest has finally brought me to this moment… to you.”
“I… you…”
His fingers against her lips silenced her. “Don’t overthink it, Venus. Just live for the moment. Let passion lead you… not only with desire but in everything you do.”
At that moment, Tatiana realized she had passed the point of no return. It didn’t matter that she knew nothing about him—not his real name or where he came from. All she knew was that, for once in her life, she listened to the quiet murmurs of her soul. Whatever happened next would be profound… and change her forever.
Who am I fooling? It already changed me… two months ago!
For once in her life, she didn’t want to analyze, didn’t want to strategize, and she definitely didn’t want to be in control.
She just wanted to feel.