She noticed the roped-off areas near the walls had been brightly lit, standing out in the shadowy room. She frowned and tugged him in the direction of one. “What—” At his narrowed gaze, she gulped. “Sir?”

“Good catch.” And when he grinned, the flash of white in his tanned face was mesmerizing. “You have questions for me, Kari?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Ask.”

But her questions disappeared right out of her mind when the roped-off area came into sight.

A naked woman squirmed on the St. Andrew’s cross.

Kari’s mouth dropped open. Good God. In the class, Master Raoul had put a clothed man up there; this was so very different. She took a step back, came up against Master Dan’s hard frame.

His arm came around her, his hand just under her breast. He whispered in her ear, “Imagine yourself up there, unable to cover yourself, open to every man’s gaze, available to every man’s touch.”

She could…she could see herself, and the thought was terrifying. Erotic. Her pussy dampened, and he rumbled a laugh in her ear. “Yes, the thought excites you, doesn’t it?”

No way, no way would she let herself be put in that position. She shivered as he set his hand almost on her pubis, pressing her back against his erection.

“I would like to see you there too. But not yet, my sweet.”

Hand against her back, he moved through the room. They passed a naked woman on the spiderweb, and then a man on the bondage table. A hooded Domme in a red latex corset stood beside him, wielding a switch.

When they reached the back wall, Kari stopped again. Her hands closed convulsively on Sir’s hard biceps.

“What are they…she…?” But she could see. A woman lay on her stomach across the sawhorse, her wrists cuffed to the front legs. Her bent knees were strapped to the short cushions on each side, and she showed…everything, even more than the woman on the wall frame.

A man stood behind her, his jeans open, fully erect. He thrust into the woman with one stroke, and she screamed in pleasure.

Master Dan had to pull Kari away, she was so outraged. “Sir, he just took her right there. In front of everyone.”

He stopped, lifted her chin, and looked her right in the eyes. “Call me Master Dan or Master. I tire of being nameless. I want to hear my name and my title from your soft lips, little sub.”

“Bu—”

His eyes darkened, his mouth tight. He was really, really serious. Call him Master. To actually say that aloud felt like she’d be giving him too much power over her.

He waited, fingers unyielding, his other hand clamped on her shoulder. People swirled past around them. A woman somewhere broke into a cry of rapture, a man shouted in pain.

She had let him tie her and take her, punish her. Her body recognized his title, even if she didn’t want to admit it. “Master.”

“Again.”

“Master Dan.” As she feared, saying the words relinquished something inside her, some control she’d still been holding on to.

“Sweetly done, little Kari.” He took her lips gently, lovingly even, his tongue rubbing against hers, slow and sensuous, until she was pressing up against him for more. His arms tightened around her. He was hard and ready, and she wanted him again. When she rubbed her breasts against his chest in invitation, he growled a laugh, and his hands reached under her skirt to massage her bottom.

The air on her butt hit her like a cold shower; she pushed away and opened her mouth to scold him. Shut her mouth.

“Nice save.” He held her against her chest, stroking her hair. “What should you see next?” He glanced over at the other side of the room and shook his head. “Mmmph, not that.”

She stood on tiptoe and still couldn’t see.

“Perhaps next time.” He stroked her cheek and smiled down into her eyes. “There will be a next time, will there not?”

Oh my God. Come back? This was so much more intense than just that first lesson. And seeing the equipment in use… Just look at what might be done to her. “Uh—”

His eyebrows drew together. “The answer is, ‘yes, Sir.’”

“Yes, Sir.” He wanted her to come back. More. Oh God.

“I think we both deserve a drink, don’t you?” he murmured and pulled her to the bar.

“Daniel, how’re things at the station?” A white-haired man, his hands knotty with arthritis, nodded at Sir. “Did I hear Bonner is retiring?”

“End of next year, he says.” Sir shook the old man’s hand with obvious care. “Master Gerald, this is Kari, here for the newbie classes.”

“Pleased to meet you, Kari.” Gerald wrapped an arm around the tiny woman standing next to him. “This is my wife, Martha.”

Probably in her seventies, Martha wore a collar and cuffs that matched her bright pink bustier. Her long black skirt had pink studs along the waist and hem. She nodded at Kari, her aged eyes dancing with humor. “Master?”

“Go ahead,” the old man said.

“Welcome to the club, Kari. We enjoy seeing young faces.”

Was she allowed to talk? Kari glanced up at Sir, received a nod. “Thank you. I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Kari, you’re still here!”

Kari turned to see Jessica break away from a group of people. “May I borrow your sub for a moment, Master Dan?” she asked, taking Kari’s hand.

Sir frowned, pointed to a spot about ten feet away. “Go no farther than that.”

Jessica dragged her over to the spot. “How on earth did you end up with Master Dan again? I heard what happened Monday when you left.”

Gossip. Like cockroaches, it survived in any climate and apparently any kink. Kari grinned. “He decided he wanted another night. Go figure.”

Jessica pulled at her lip and watched Sir talk to the old man for a moment before turning her gaze back to Kari. “Well, that’s interesting. Are you doing all right?”

Kari sucked in a breath. “It’s so different. I like it and I don’t want to like it, and I feel like I’m going straight to hell, you know?”

Jessica laughed. “I doubt we’ll get a chance to chat tonight. Your last class is Saturday, right? Why don’t you come early, and we’ll have time to talk.”

“I’d like that very much.”

“See you then.” Jessica grinned and darted away, heading for the front of the room.

As Kari rejoined Sir, Cullen walked over, his grin breaking the hardness of his face. “How’s your sub, Dan?”

Master Dan stroked his hand down her cheek, his approval of her so obvious that she unconsciously leaned into his hand. Both men smiled. “How do you think?”

Master Cullen studied her, his eyes lingering on her mouth, and she realized her lips were swollen from Master Dan’s kisses, from sucking on his… She flushed hot.

“She looks nicely used.” He set two drinks on the bar top, and Master Dan handed her one.

She sipped. Rum and Diet Coke.

“Master Cullen never forgets a drink.” Sir’s finger traced over her wet lips. When she closed her lips around his finger and sucked, he chuckled, though his eyes heated. “He rarely forgets a sub’s reaction or needs; he’s very popular.” He tapped her drink. “Enjoy it while you can.”

That sounded ominous, and she edged away from him as she sipped. The strong drink gave her a slight buzz. No supper. Oops.

When she’d finished about half, Master Dan smiled at her and pulled her a little closer. She realized his eyes weren’t smiling… No, he had that look in his eyes, the one that made her quiver inside. “I have decided your lessons are not over for the night.”

She froze, then remembered to swallow.

“Your body is mine for tonight. Is that what we agreed, little sub?” He waited. “Kari?”

“Yes, M-Master.”

“I use your body as I please.” He waited for her nod, then leaned forward and whispered, “And give it where I please.”

Her eyes widened, but he already had her hands in his. “One of the reasons that subs wear cuffs in here is this—” He hooked the cuffs together, then pulled a chain down from the low rafter over the bar area. Lifting her arms up, he hooked the cuffs to the chain. And stepped back.

Her arms were fastened straight over her head. She yanked, couldn’t move. Her breath came fast, and her heart pounded. “Master?”

“Oh, very good.” He smiled, nuzzled her face, his jaw abrasive with a day’s whiskers.

“I don’t—”

“Kari, a few minutes ago, you showed me that being looked at by strangers is arousing to you. Even being touched…” He tugged on the strings holding her halter top up.

The top dropped, leaving her naked above the waist. In a roomful of people. Many—heck, most—of whom were men. Cool air wafted across her breasts, and she shivered.

She shook her head. “Master Dan. No. Please, no,” she whispered frantically. She pulled again at the chain.

“You’ll only hurt your wrists,” Master Dan murmured and bit her chin, the little nip almost painful. “If you damage those pretty wrists, I’ll punish you.” His hand reached under her skirt, right in front of everyone, and rubbed her naked bottom as a reminder. “I think you should stop pulling.”