Chapter 26 #2
My hand squeezes his in my lap and I let myself feel the rough calluses on his palm.
“Is now really the time to be getting into intricate kink scenes? I have a stalker, and you and the others have problems of your own. You have Liliana’s husband held captive in a warehouse somewhere. I still can’t believe we’re opening.”
“Business as usual, Grace. We would be discussing some kind of scene if all of this weren’t happening, so why not do it anyway?
We’re here, we have the time, and if something more important comes up, we can handle that instead.
But while we’re waiting for the next crisis, why not have some fun making art with me? ”
And that’s exactly what we would be doing if I say yes.
He’ll turn me into a piece of art to be admired.
There’s a thrill that comes with that, but the negative voices in my head say it’s too much.
Doing a demo where he’s teaching someone else how to do needles or some other kind of play?
That’s useful. I’m being helpful. This feels indulgent.
“It would please me very much if you said yes, Grace. But I won’t pressure you. This is supposed to be for you too.”
“I’ll think about it.”
He nods and rises, kissing my forehead. “Take your time. We don’t open for a few more hours. In the meantime, I want you in charge of setup tonight.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Of your space?” That’s a task I’ve handled dozens of times.
He shakes his head. “No. The entire club. I want you to run the assignment meeting, and make sure everyone knows what to do.”
I’m shaking my head, but he fists a hand in my hair and gives me a look that both arouses and terrifies me.
“In case it’s not clear, I wasn’t asking, Grace.
This is an order. You’ve been here for years.
You know all the protocols, and I’m going to be pulled in a lot of different directions between now and when we open. ”
I nod, letting the commanding tone soothe me. He believes in me, and he’s my Dom, giving me an order. “Yes, Sir,” I say, trying to sound confident.
“Who is on the schedule tonight?”
“You know where to find that information. I’m giving you this task, Grace. Own it.”
I blow out a long breath and stand. Then I lean up on my tiptoes and press a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you, Master.”
His lips pull up into a small smile as he reaches behind me and smacks my ass. “Good girl. Tell me before you start the staff meeting whether or not you want to play tonight.”
“I do. I’m just nervous.”
Victor tucks a curl behind my ear and winks. “And now you have a task to sink those nerves into.”
I can’t help laughing as I head for the door. “You know me too well.”
“Wrong, I know you exactly well enough. Send Lili in if you see her.”
Lili
I knock on Victor’s door and wait for him to tell me to come in. The expression on his face is tense, but he softens when he sees that it’s me.
“Grace said you wanted to see me?”
He nods and moves to the wet bar along one wall and pours a splash of scotch into two glasses. Handing me one, he sits on the couch. I join him, eager to hear what’s on his mind, but trying not to push.
“I’m going to do a scene with Grace tonight.”
“Oh wonderful. What do you have planned?” I ask, curious as to why he’s sharing this with me.
“I’m going to give her wings.”
My nose wrinkles as I frown in confusion. “Is that some kind of sex position I don’t know about?”
He huffs out a laugh and shakes his head. “No, Spitfire, though I’m sure we could find a position to fit the bill. I’m going to make some art out of her with needles and feathers.
My eyes light up. “Oh. That sounds beautiful. What do you need from me.”
He drinks the scotch and sets the empty glass aside. “I need an assistant to hand me things and keep Grace focused. Do you mind being that person? It’s going to be the focus of the evening, and there may not be time for all of us to play together.”
I grin as I take a small sip of my own scotch, and he raises an eyebrow. “What’s that Cheshire cat grin for?”
I purse my lips and laugh. “Vic, you’re so sweet. Don’t worry,” I tease, “Your secret is safe with me.”
My expression softens and lock eyes with him. “In seriousness, it’s sweet of you to be thinking of me that way. Trying to include me. I appreciate it. And if you really need an assistant, I would love to help you. But not if you’re just trying to find a way to include me.”
Victor frowns. “Why wouldn’t I include you, Lili? I love you. Grace loves you. We want to make space for you, just like I hope you make space for us.”
I set my glass aside and pick up his hands. “I love you both. More than I thought possible. But just because the three of us love each other doesn’t mean we won’t need time to connect as couples too. If that’s what this is for you and Grace, I want to respect that.”
His face relaxes a little, and he squeezes my hands as he stands. “It could be, but I’m choosing to include you. This is for Grace. I want to do something to make her feel powerful.”
“And sticking her full of needles is what you came up with?” I ask with a laugh.
He reaches into his desk drawer and pulls out two boxes. “When you put it like that, it sounds insane. But yes, that’s exactly what I came up with. Are you going to mock me, or are you going to help me?”
“Lucky for you, I’m capable of both.”
He motions for me to join him at his desk and opens the first box. Rows of individually wrapped needles lay inside. “Why is that so sexy?” I ask, staring at the neatly arranged rows of sharp metal.
He chuckles and puts a hand at the small of my back. “I’m not sure, but I agree.”
“What’s in the second box?”
Victor opens it and shoves it my way. I gasp when I look inside. Some of the most gorgeous purple, black, and gray feathers lay inside.
“I don’t know exactly how this works, but fuck that’s pretty, Victor. I can’t wait to see how you do it.”
He walks me through the kind of help he’ll need tonight, and I listen intently.
“Can I feel one?”
“A needle?” he asks, reaching for the box.
“Yes. I want to know what Grace is going to feel, and we’ve already established that I like pain.”
His eyes darken, and he leans in to kiss me. “Yes, we have, Spitfire. Yes, we have. Take off your top.”
“You are not putting that thing in my nipple,” I blurt.
He laughs. “No. Not tonight. But the top part of your breast is a good spot for a first experience with needles. You’ll be able to see what I’m doing and see the blood run when I pull it out. If you bleed at all. Sometimes they don’t bleed much with needles of this gauge.”
“Which part do you like more? Putting them in or taking them out?” I ask as I pull my top over my head.
He watches me as he pulls on a sterile glove from the box and opens one of the needle packets.
“That’s a tough choice. Watching the metal piercing the skin is definitely enticing, and the little yelp that some bottoms make is part of the fun. But there is definitely something to be said for watching blood run down a woman’s skin. It’s…”
“Primal,” I finish for him, unhooking my bra. “I think I get that part.”
He holds up the needle with the cap still on. “This is a small-gauge needle, but not the smallest I use. For this project, I’m using something slightly bigger so there is no risk of skin tearing under the weight of the feathers.”
I frown. “That would never have crossed my mind. The feathers are so light.”
“They are, and it’s likely that any needle could handle it, but I would rather not take the risk.”
“Fair. I’m sure Grace appreciates that.”
He reaches out and pinches my nipple sharply without warning, and I whimper then moan. “If you don’t plan to fuck me right here and now, I would suggest you stop doing things like that,” I warn.
But Victor doesn’t heed the warning at all. Instead, he bends down and tugs the offended nipple into his mouth and sucks until I’m writhing against the desk.
Then he stands and picks up a small packet and tears it open. Sterilizing wipes.
His touch is gentle as he wipes down the top of my left breast. Then he pulls the cap off the needle and looks at me. “Ready?”
“Yes,” I say, my voice steady despite my nerves.