Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Zachariah
With Lucinda safe in her stateroom, I ventured out on deck.
Several guests wandered around, getting to know their home for the next few days.
Arranging for her and Marcus to arrive at the pier at the same time had been the first step in my plan.
What I had planned for Lucinda would certainly push her permanently away.
The situation hadn’t changed. She was still too young, to innocent and too devoted to her father to be a part of my life.
She deserved the dream. A devoted husband, children, a house in the suburbs. It wasn’t the type of life I wanted any longer. I enjoyed variety. Never married, no kids. Nothing holding me down. A new sub in my dungeon every night.
But I was curious.
I spotted Marcus on the sky deck.
“Well, if it isn’t Zachariah Webber.” He grinned and approached with his arms out. “I thought you’d be hanging back in the shadows, not showing your face. This is a little public for you, isn’t it?”
“You know me too well.” I handed him a bottle of beer and clinked the neck with my own. “It’s good to see you, Marcus.”
“Well, I couldn’t resist the invitation.”
“You’re always up for a good time.” I sipped my beer, and leaned against the railing, surveying my floating domain. I nodded or raised my glass at a few familiar faces. They knew not to approach. “I have a proposition for you.”
“Oh, I’m intrigued.” He grinned with too many teeth, but he was a handsome fellow. He’d already caught Lucinda’s attention; I would use it to my advantage.
“The young woman you were speaking with on the dock.” I motioned toward shore. Marcus leaned over the railing, looking for the cameras, I assumed.
“You have the whole placed rigged.” He looked up.
“Well, the safety of my crew and guests are my utmost priority.” I grinned.
“Bullshit.” He smirked. “You’re a voyeur at heart, my friend.”
“So, back to the woman, Lucinda.” I stepped closer to him. “You two spoke for a while.”
“Yes, I remember.” He nodded. “She was sweet with a little sass, like I like them.”
A heat spread across my chest and I looked down to find my fist tightening.
“I hope to have a few spots on my dance card reserved for her.” He shrugged. “If she’ll have me,” he added with a chuckle.
It took an enormous amount of restraint not to sock him in his smug face.
He must have seen that and stepped back. “Or maybe her dance card is already full.”
Perceptive man.
“I need your help with something.”
His interest was piqued. Marcus was a people-pleaser. I didn’t have to remind him he had no choice.
While his moral compass was as skewed as my own, Marcus had the nerve to be uncomfortable. I’d had to remind him of his allegiance and debt to me.
After I filled Marcus in on my plan, I returned to my room before sail-away and took my perch in front of the bank of cameras, watching the evening unfold.
The door to the lounge had been opened and the room cleared. Tables had been assembled and arranged in a U-shape. Mountains of food covered each surface. The menu consisted of finger foods and every seafood known to man, alongside fresh vegetables and sushi. I wanted the menu light but decadent.
More tables were set up outside and a DJ played popular music from the sun deck. The mood was light and comfortable. It was the perfect proper cocktail party. Not a hint of the kinkiness set to follow after dinner.
The DJ and most of the stewards would be excused for the evening and take a tender to a nearby anchored boat. The captain began the night with a toast as his team pulled away from the dock and then we were off to our anchorage about twenty miles southeast of the marina.
On the cameras, I spotted Lucinda immediately. She was stunning in a soft silky lime-green dress that showed off her beautiful shoulders. It dropped down in the back to accentuate the curve of her ass.
My mouth watered.
Her every move exuded both confidence and submission, which was an amazing feat.
She was my dream realized. She stood off to the side, sipping on a fruit juice.
No alcohol was served after hours. Small diamonds hoops adorned her ears and a small cluster of diamonds hung on a platinum chain around her neck.
It fell just in the sweet spot where her cleavage began.
I knew it was a cluster of five diamonds and platinum because I had given it to her on her sixteenth birthday.
“Fuck.” I adjusted my cock in my pants and zoomed out, locating Marcus. I saw the moment he spotted her but hesitated to approach, his conscious warring with itself.
I smirked. It wasn’t like he was opposed to handling negotiation for me. I imagined his real dilemma was that he wanted her for himself. But not enough to go against me. All things equal, in a contest between the two of us, I would win. I always won because I played dirty.
I clicked on the microphone connected to the earpiece in his left ear.
“You’re up, my friend.”
He startled but regained his composure and turned toward the wall.
“I’m on my way.” His nervous chuckle was out of character. “Didn’t want to just pounce on the girl.”
“Yes, pouncing on her would be frowned upon.”
He peaked behind him like he thought I was lurking on the edge of the party and not watching it all unfold in the comfort of my office.
Forgetting the no-alcohol rule, Marcus nabbed a drink off a passing tray and downed it before looking into the glass, then smoothed down his suit jacket and wondered over toward Lucinda.
Her face lit up when she noticed him. A subtle push of hair behind her left ear along with a slight sway of her hips to the music made her a picture of submissive perfection.
“Lucinda.” He greeted her and handed her another glass of juice in a champagne glass from a passing steward.
“Ask her if she’s eaten since boarding the boat.” I spoke into the microphone.
“Have you eaten, darling?” He turned my words into his own speech. I recorded every word to play it back later. I had worked years to get rid of my Texas accent, but Marcus used his southern charm to his advantage.
“No, not yet.” She leaned toward him. “I’m kind of nervous.”
“Awww.” He took her elbow and lead her toward the nearest table. “What’s there to be nervous about? You have done this before, haven’t you?” He chuckled and it made her smile.
“Of course, but you know, new environment, new people.” She grinned up at him like he was her saving grace, and I supposed for now he was, but the night wasn’t over. I looked forward to her grinning at me like that.
“Tell her you would like to scene with her tonight.” I spoke into his ear.
He blinked and she picked up on his hesitation.
“Fucking get it together, Marcus.” I brought the microphone closer to my mouth. “She is a very perceptive young lady, and you are giving off the wrong vibes.”
He rubbed the back of his neck and stretched, then quickly removed the frown on his face.
“Listen, Lucinda, how about we get the hard part over with?” He caressed her cheek. “Would you care to perform a little scene with me tonight? Something to break the ice for us both. Get our feet wet, so to speak.”
“Okay. I would like that.” The appreciative grin she gave him made my chest ache. My sexy sub responded to kindness, and I wasn’t a kind man.
“Make sure to manage her expectations, Marcus.”
“So, I think we do a bit of impact play if you’re good with that and how do you feel about being bound? Maybe just your arms, to start. I only have one condition.”
“What’s that?”
He stepped toward her. She strained to look up to him. “I’d like you blindfolded the whole time.” He caressed her cheek. “Can you do that for me?”
“Yes.”
“While we scene, please call me Sir.”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered.
“Marcus.” I growled.
“Only in the scene, sweet Lucinda.” He grinned down at her, and she grinned up at him.
I shut off the sound but continued to watch their interaction. I knew he would charm her with little effort. Flirting was his love language, but I didn’t have to listen to it. He’d done what I asked and in a couple of hours, I would be sceneing with my sweet Lulu.
I could hardly wait.