Chapter 25 #2
A dom approached, selecting a token from a crystal bowl.
“Welcome to Mirror, Mirror,” Alec murmured.
Emily leaned in. “What’s the game?”
“The dominant draws from the bowl—impact, sensation, or toy. The sub doesn’t know what’s coming. But she gets to watch herself unravel. That’s the twist.”
A wand glided up the sub’s belly and over her breasts. “Don’t move,” the dom ordered. “I want you to watch, to feel, to see yourself shatter under my control.”
A loud buzzing filled the air, and he pressed the rounded head to her pussy. She trembled visibly, legs shaking.
“She’ll get a score,” Alec murmured. “He’ll rate everything, breathing, skin flush, nipple hardness… all the way to orgasm.”
“Most responsive wins?” she asked.
“Exactly. Losers can try again—or accept a fitting punishment.”
“What kind of punishment?”
Alec smirked. “Depends on the dominant. Some may send them through the gauntlet. Others could make them wear a ‘Needs Training’ sash. A few might assign a scene with a stricter hand.”
Emily watched as the dom’s fingers sank into the sub’s hair, holding her head still. “Eyes on the mirror, girl,” he ordered, hitting the switch again. The buzzing grew louder.
The sub gasped, body tense, fingers curling into fists.
“She won’t last much longer,” Emily whispered.
“They never do with the wand. She’ll see herself unravel,” Alec said. “That’s the point. It’s not just about sensation—it’s about self-awareness. Vulnerability. Exhibition.”
She couldn’t look away, transfixed by the sub’s surrender, her knees buckling, the dom catching her as her body jerked. Then holding her, stroking her gently and speaking low for the sub’s ears only.
When Emily swayed slightly, Alec’s arm slid around her waist, drawing her against him.
“You’re practically panting, and I can see the pulse in your throat racing,” he murmured. “You’re aroused by this game, little subbie. Should I add our names to the list?”
Emily licked her lips, desire warring with uncertainty. “Can I see it all before I decide?”
“Of course.” He brushed his finger along her jaw, the gesture featherlight. He tipped her face up and brushed his lips over hers. “Ready to continue?”
“Will there be more scenes like this?”
“Probably.”
She inhaled slowly then nodded, though her pulse hadn’t slowed. “I guess I’ll get used to it.”
Alec squeezed her tighter. “I hope not. The thrill’s in the unpredictable.”
They emerged from the hall into Devil and Cari’s den, where club members stood shoulder to shoulder. The stage and spotlight were achingly familiar, but the chair where she’d first surrendered was gone. In its place stood Leland, a mic in hand, his voice booming.
“Our next lovely submissive is Amalie. What are you offering for charity tonight, darlin’?”
Amalie leaned in, voice sultry, lips parted in an audacious smile. “Me, of course.”
The crowd laughed.
“What are your limits?” Leland asked.
She tilted her head and smiled slow. “When have I ever had limits, Master Leland?”
He turned to the crowd. “There you have it, folks. For the right price, Amalie is yours for the evening.”
Emily gasped as realization hit. This was an auction.
“The bidding starts at 9:30,” Leland continued, removing all doubt. “A list of entrants, their prizes, and starting bids is available for preview. Check in with Mistress Betty at the table by the patio door.”
The crowd began to stir, some already drifting toward the preview table. Alec bent near, voice low. “This auction is different, Em. It’s for fun and entirely consensual. You’re safe here.”
“I’m just surprised, is all. But I’m a definite no for this one.”
Alec’s arm tightened around her. “I’d veto it if you tried.”
She leaned into him, her smile automatic. “I’m not breakable.”
“I know you’re not. You’re a helluva lot tougher than you look. Let’s get some air.”
Outside, the breeze cooled her flushed cheeks. They passed the buffet, and Emily’s steps faltered. Regina stood behind the catering table, sleeves rolled, hair pinned back. She looked thinner. Tired. Not the drill sergeant barking orders she remembered.
“Why is Regina here?” Emily whispered.
Alec followed her gaze to where her former boss plated hors d’oeuvres. “I should have warned you she’d be here. The team did a full investigation after the rescue. She cooperated fully, even opened her books. She was cleared but she’s on probation. Devil’s orders.”
Seeing Regina stirred bitterness. She didn’t want to feel anything, but memories surged anyway, unwelcome and sharp. She forced her gaze away. It snagged on another familiar face. In a garnet-red halter dress, Gaby stood alone sipping a sparkling water.
Before she could ask about her, Alec’s phone buzzed.
“Mateo’s going to lose his mind if I don’t relieve him.” He looked at her, the tiny crinkles beside his eyes more pronounced with his frown. “I hate to leave you on your own. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea.”
“I’m a big girl, Daddy,” she teased. “I’ll be fine.”
He recoiled a bit. “Your smart ass is showing, Em, but I’ll take it as a good sign you’re back to your old self. Still…” He scanned the crowd. “I’ll find someone to keep you company.”
She laid her hand on his chest. “I’ll be okay for a few hours without you watching over me. Promise.”
“I’ll be in the security office,” he drawled. “Literally watching over you.”
“See!” she said, smiling. “I know a few of the subs. Deanna, Cari, one or two others. I’ll hang with them if I get lonely.”
“You’re sure?”
She pressed her hand to his cheek. “Yeah, Knight. I’m good.”
He hesitated then kissed her, with tongue and heat—nothing knightly about it. Before he left, he pressed something into her hand.
“I’ll come find you at midnight,” he said before disappearing into the crowd.
She watched him go, disappointment curling in her chest despite her reassurances.
“I know that look. You’re smitten with Master Alec,” a voice teased.
Emily turned, coming face-to-face with Gaby.
“You’re here! How is that even possible?” she blurted out. “I thought after your faux application and undercover stint—despite it being for a noble cause—Devil and his doms would give you the boot.”
“They probably would have, but D&A employees get membership. It’s a perk of the job.”
Her jaw dropped. “You went to work for Devil?”
“Yep. When I wouldn’t agree not to continue searching for Natalie alone, he figured hiring me was the best way to keep an eye on me. There’s a ninety-day probation period, and a permanent offer is pending my PI license, but seven years as a cop, three as a detective buys you something.”
Emily hesitated. “What does Rhys think?”
Gaby’s smile dimmed. Her grip tightened around her glass. For a moment, her bravado slipped, and she looked lost. “I don’t know. He left town on assignment. I haven’t heard from him since it all went down.”
“Surely Dev talked to him before hiring you.”
“If he did, he didn’t say.” She drained her glass then said with forced brightness. “Can we talk about something more uplifting? This is a party.”
“Sure,” Emily said, but worry lingered.
“Did you choose yet?” another voice chimed.
Deanna, radiant in silver mesh, grinned at her as if she knew every secret in the room.
“Choose what yet?” Emily asked.
“Which game to play. Word is, you’re still on the fence.”
“Alec sent you, didn’t he?” she guessed.
“He did. He’s so protective. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was a daddy dom.”
“You—wait… What?” she sputtered.
“Same question,” Gaby said, eyes huge.
“I’m mentoring two newbies, go figure,” Deanna laughed softly. “A daddy is nurturing, but dominant. It’s a caretaking style, which is just another power exchange dynamic,” she explained, as if reading straight from a rulebook Emily hadn’t known existed.
She flushed, never having thought of Alec that way—but now she couldn’t unsee it. “No wonder he looked at me funny when I called him that.”
“I’m telling you—he’s got that vibe,” Deanna warned. “But about the games. They end at 9:30 sharp for the auction. Playtime resumes at ten. If you don’t pick soon, your options will narrow.”
“I don’t have a ticket.”
“No?” Deanna pointed at her hand. “What’s that?”
She glanced down, only then remembering Alec had slipped something into her hand. A red paper ticket—the same as from childhood carnivals. As she turned it over, nostalgia hit hard. Nearly every good memory from back then had Alec in it.
This ticket gave her access to something entirely different. And, by giving it to her, he’d stepped back—leaving the choice to explore up to her. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that. Then, the ever-present question whispered through her. Would she enjoy being dominated if it was anyone else?
This might be the way to find out. But was she daring enough to try? And what if she didn’t like the answer? What if it changed everything?
“I haven’t used my ticket yet. The maze race doesn’t sound too bad,” Gaby suggested. “I’ll do it with you.”
Deanna smirked. “You two really don’t know the masters here. But you will.” She hooked an arm through theirs. “Come on. Let’s get you signed up before you’re stuck with the BJ challenge. Neither of you is ready for that.”