The last Sunday of every month I'll be posting a #SampleSunday post. It will include snippets of one of my books or one of my works in progress. To start this series off, I'm going to put up the Prologue of my debut novel, Claimed by Christmas. Let me know in the comments what you think. If you enjoy it, you can find the links for purchasing at the end of the sample.
PROLOGUE:
Katarina Light did not consider herself an adventuress by any means. But she had a best friend who lived a little more on the wild side. And when said best friend decided to give Kat a fantasies fulfilled type of weekend, with a guy she deemed “gorgeous and fit,” and did it all while imitating a big-eyed puppydog, Kat had a hard time saying no.
That was how Kat found herself, two weeks later, dressed in tight leather pants, a form-fitting corset, and a lacy mask that concealed half her face. She glanced up at the gorgeous, columned front of a stately manor house. The house had old wealth written all over it. From the half-mile driveway, lined with evergreen trees, to the well-manicured flowerbeds that graced the edges of the lawn and beyond, it looked like any other home in the neighborhood.
She looked over at her date. Zach was exactly as Rissa described him. Dirty blond hair, six-foot-one, and very well-defined muscles. As a former bodybuilder, she expected that he wouldn’t know how to be out of shape if he tried.
They entered the foyer of the mansion, the dark wood floor and burgundy drapes a stark contrast to the white exterior.
Zach approached the desk and presented the woman there with his invitation for the exclusive ‘fantasy getaway weekend’ event.
“Welcome to Nox, Mr. Moldare,” the woman’s voice was soft and her apparel and demeanor marked her as a submissive; she was clad in a soft cotton robe that was molded to her frame by a series of ropes and knots wrapped around her torso. What stood out to Kat, however, was the delicate chains around the woman’s neck - three fine, gold strands that came together at the base of her throat in an intricate knot.
Collared. Kat recognized the symbol for what it was - a sign of ownership, but also a deeply meaningful sign of trust between this woman and her Dominant. When Zach had suggested doing this, Kat had done a little research online. Most of what she’d found was, she suspected, fake representations of what people thought BDSM was about. However, a few sites had been pretty informative regarding the general guidelines for those exploring the Lifestyle. And of course, her curiosity had been sparked. Because although Kat wasn’t a big risk-taker, she did have an insatiable curiosity that could lead her into trouble if she let it.
“You and Ms. Light will be shown to a room where you will be able to store and lock your belongings. Before you enter, we ask that you please turn off all electronic devices, as well as sign these forms stating that you are both here as willing participants and that you understand the rules of the club. The rules are outlined on the second page, which is yours to keep.” The woman handed them each a copy of the consent forms.
Zach, Kat noticed, didn’t even bother to read through everything. He simply signed the first page and handed it back. Kat on the other hand, read through both pages. The first page was exactly as the woman stated, a Safe, Sane, and Consensual Play form. The second page had a long list of rules. The first five rules were highlighted and in bold at the top:
RESPECT - HONESTY - SAFETY - CONSENSUALITY - TRUST
[if !supportLists]1. [endif]BE RESPECTFUL OF ALL MEMBERS
[if !supportLists]2. [endif]ALL PLAYERS SHOULD BE UP FRONT AND HONEST ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR IN A SCENE.
[if !supportLists]3. [endif]DO NOT CROSS THE HARD LIMITS OF ANYONE YOU ARE PLAYING WITH
[if !supportLists]a. [endif]CROSSING THE HARD LIMITS WILL RESULT IN AN IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM THE PREMISES AND CLOSE MONITORING FOR TWO MONTHS OF PLAY.
[if !supportLists]b. [endif]IF A SAFEWORD IS USED, IT DOES NOT MEAN A HARD LIMIT IS CROSSED, BUT PLAY SHOULD CEASE IMMEDIATELY.
[if !supportLists]4. [endif]DO NOT INTERRUPT A SCENE
[if !supportLists]a. [endif]IF YOU BELIEVE A SCENE SHOULD BE STOPPED, INFORM A DUNGEON MONITOR.
[if !supportLists]5. [endif]EVERY ACTION WITHIN THE DUNGEON IS BY MUTUAL CONSENT. ANY NON-CONSENSUAL ACTIONS WILL RESULT IN PERMANENT REMOVAL FROM THE PREMISES.
Katarina signed her name and handed the first page back to the blonde.
The woman tucked both papers into a file. “We also wish to remind you that aside from myself, no one will be aware of who you are. Please refrain from using names whenever possible. We strive to respect every participant’s privacy while they are on the property. Please help us protect your privacy and others’ by choosing alternative names or titles only.”
Kat nodded her understanding as she tucked the list of rules into her handbag and turned off her phone. She looked back up and found Zach waiting for her on the far side of the room. “Thank you,” she said to the receptionist, giving the woman a smile.
“Enjoy your weekend, Ms Light,” the woman returned her smile, her voice considerably warmer from the initial greeting.
“C’mon,” Zach’s voice was laced with exasperation.
Kat hurried over to him, a frown pulling at her lips. The guy was cute, but his attitude was already starting to wear on her nerves and that was just from the drive.
At the door, Kat saw a dungeon monitor waiting for them. He was a good foot taller than her with hard, lean muscles, and his face was covered with what looked to be an executioner’s mask. His chest was bare except for the barbells piercing his nipples. And his black leather pants molded to his legs.
“This way,” his voice was low and commanding. The tone made Kat’s breath catch in her throat. And when he turned to lead them to the locker room, she almost stopped breathing.
On the man’s back, wrapping up his spine and fanning out to his shoulders, was a winged serpent tattoo. The detailing was extraordinary, and the black ink mixed with red against hard muscle was stunning. But what made Kat feel faint wasn’t the tattoo itself. It was the knowledge that she knew this man. He was a coworker. A friend. An occasional confidante.
Thankful her face was covered by the mask, Kat followed behind the man, keeping her gaze averted. Zach, however, was not so accommodating as to keep his mouth shut.
“Hey, man. Great tat! Where’d you get it done?” Zach sounded like a college frat boy. Kat rolled her eyes and fought back a sigh.
“Personal friend,” the man answered. The tone of his voice spoke volumes to Kat. Authoritative, demanding, arousing. Damn, she’d never thought of him that way. But with the masks, the anonymity, and the setting, she was starting to think she might have been missing out on something.
Zach was oblivious to the ‘I-don’t-want-to-talk-to-you’ tone. “So, where’s the dungeon at? I hear this place has all the tools and equipment you could ever want.”
“You’ll see it after you lock up your belongings.” Again, the tone was no-nonsense.
“Will there be someone to show us how to use the equipment?” Kat kept her voice low and soft, hoping it would be disguised enough.
The man cast a glance toward her. His mouth twitched, and she thought he might be fighting a smile. “Absolutely, little one,” he told her. His tone changed subtly. Still authoritative, but she could hear the respect he didn’t show Zach. “There will be three other couples and a few classes that you will attend before you are released for play. We want to make sure there are no chances of injury for any newcomers.”
“We have to take classes?” Zach complained.
Kat watched the full lips go from almost smile to hard and annoyed. She almost wished she could see his face. But knowing Jase’s expressions, she could figure out the missing pieces. She’d never been on the receiving end of his displeasure, but many other employees had seen that look.
“This is not something we take lightly,” Jase explained, stopping before a door. “You can leave your belongings here. There are also clothes for you to wear. You should dress in the role you believe you will fall into.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stared down at Kat. She tensed, wondering if he saw beneath the mask and had recognized her. When he spoke, it was a command. “Submissives wear a short skirt and bra. No panties,” he told her. His eyes heated her skin, though he made no move to look at her body. He simply held her gaze until she looked away.
“Dominants wear the leather pants and vest if wanted.” The words brought her head back up to meet Jase’s gaze. He hadn’t asked who was playing what role. He simply assumed.
“What about female Dominants and male submissives?” she asked. Her tone betraying her annoyance that he assumed she was the sub.
Jase’s mouth twitched against a smile. His eyes warmed considerably as he let his gaze travel from hers, down over her body and back up. A slow, leisurely perusal. “Little one, if you are a Dom, I’ll eat my own whip,” he told her.
“You don’t know anything about me,” she argued. “I could be the VP of a marketing conglomerate and used to running the show.”
“Whatever you are, whoever you are on the outside doesn’t always correspond to your BDSM side,” Jase said. “You, little one, are definitely a sexual submissive. And if your boyfriend here isn’t cutting it for you as your Dom, let me know.” He gave her another heated look, “I’ll be happy to help you find your subspace.”
“Hey! Don’t be poaching, man,” Zach cut in. His voice sounding both annoyed and whiny. He hadn’t missed the way they were looking at each other, or the endearment Jase was using with Kat.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” Kat admitted. “Just a date for this fantasy weekend.”
“Good to know,” Jase said, completely ignoring Zach’s outburst. “Now go get dressed, little one.”
Kat arched a brow at his order and gave him a smirk. “Yes, Sir,” she quipped before turning away from him to go through the door. She didn’t see the way his eyes darkened with lust, or how his lips turned up in a hint of a smile.
Zach scowled at Jase before following behind her. The man was an ass. Jase wouldn’t be surprised if he had to escort the guy from the property before the end of the night. And wouldn’t that be a shame? Jase was aching for the pretty little sub the guy had brought with him. Her natural submissiveness combined with her defiant attitude made him want to command her body and tame that rebellious streak.
When Jase had signed up to be one of the dungeon monitors for an exclusive fantasy weekend, he hadn’t expected to be doing more than showing a few newbies how to use a St. Andrew’s cross and a spanking bench. But the second he’d spotted the sweet little brunette walking toward him in reception, he’d known the weekend would be getting more interesting. Unfortunately, the guests had all paid for privacy, so he had no knowledge of the woman’s name, occupation, or social status. Luckily, thanks to her own admission, he did know the most important thing he needed to know: she was single.
Ten minutes later, Jase’s two guests emerged from the private changing room. As he’d predicted, the man was dressed as a Dominant, sans vest, and the woman was clad as a submissive. He wanted to reach out and remove the mask that covered half her face. As it was, he could see just enough to entice him - bright, expressive eyes and full, kissable lips. And damn, he wanted to run his fingers through the dark waves of her hair that fell in a waterfall to her waist, caressing the bare skin just above her skirt.
“This way,” he told them, turning his back on temptation.
Kat didn’t miss the way Jase’s eyes had stroked her from head to stiletto. She smiled to herself as she followed him down the hallway. Zach and she had already gotten into it while changing. She wasn’t going to give him another date. She already knew that. He already knew that too. So she’d proposed they just try to have some fun and enjoy themselves. He was put out that she’d told him no on the sex front, but he’d get over it. Maybe there would be another woman who would draw his attention. Then she could enjoy teasing Jase a little more.
The three walked to the end of a long hallway, then descended a set of stairs and went through a door. The room they entered was wide open. Along the sides of the room were various stations and a wide variety of equipment. In the center was a stage, which was currently set up for a short lecture on the basics of bondage. Another man, clad similarly to Jase, was already on stage facing two other couples.
Jase led them to the base of the stage. “We are waiting for one more couple to arrive before we begin,” he said. “You are required to watch three presentations before anything else. The first presentation will cover bondage, the second will cover some of the easier to use equipment, and the third will be your choice of one of the stations.”
Kat let her gaze wander around the room, checking out the various stations that were set up. Her gaze fell on the cross in one of the corners. When she glanced back around, she caught Jase giving her a knowing look. A delicate shiver ran down her spine and she quickly looked away.
As Jase walked up onto the stage, Zach began to wander away.
“Where are you going?” Kat asked.
“Don’t worry; I just wanted to check out some of this stuff,” he said.
His interest in a fantasy weekend had initially been appealing to her. But seeing the almost obsessive drive he was exhibiting had Kat questioning what he really wanted.
Zach came back after a few minutes, his eyes lit with anticipation. “There’s a whole station set up for whips and knives and stuff. I think that should be our station.”
Kat was shaking her head before he even finished. “I’m not doing anything with knives,” she told him.
“Relax, and let me be the Dom here,” Zach argued.
Kat shook her head. She may not be a dominant personality in the bedroom, but she had lines that she would not cross and pain play like Zach was suggesting was off the table. He would learn that the easy way, or the hard way. But either way, she was not going near that station with him. And if she was being honest, she was more than a little concerned that he wanted to play with knives.
The first two sessions went relatively fast. The men and women leading the sessions kept everything simple and basic. Easy knots and bondage positions, feathers, crops, and ropes were explained. When the second session finished covering sex swings - there were several of those suspended from the ceiling throughout the room - the man who seemed to be in charge spoke.
“Now that you have been instructed on some of the basics of BDSM, we would like for you to choose one of the stations you see to learn some more involved rules and uses. Please take a few minutes to look around. If you need water or a small snack, there are refreshments in the kitchen located behind the green door to your left. One of us will meet with you once you’ve chosen your station.”
The group broke up then, with two couples heading toward the kitchen and the third couple approaching a swing station.
Zach grabbed Kat’s arm and pulled her toward the knife station. Kat planted her feet and pulled out of his grasp.
“I told you no,” she said.
“Stop acting like this,” Zach demanded. “You are supposed to let me tell you what to do. You have to. That’s how this works.”
Kat gaped at him. He really thought he could do whatever he wanted and she would just fall in line? “That’s not how this works at all,” she said, her tone incredulous.
“Yes, it is. I’m the Dom, you’re the sub,” he argued. “You do what I say.”
Kat crossed her arms. “No.”
Zach’s expression turned to anger instantly. He reached a hand toward her, clearly intending to force her compliance. But before he could touch her, a figure stepped between them.
Jase’s eyes were hard and his grip on the man’s wrist was crushing. “All play revolves around trust and respect for your partner. You do not get to demand anything simply because you want it. When a person sets a hard limit, you are expected to respect those wishes. If you are unable to do so, you will be asked to leave. No exceptions.”
Kat heard the command in Jase’s voice. And although she was blocked from viewing anything, she could hear that Zach’s breathing had become a little labored. She had to assume that Jase’s pressure on his wrist was hurting Zach.
“Fine,” Zach capitulated, his voice turning sulky.
Jase released him and stepped from between the two. He looked down at the wide eyed brunette. “Do you still feel comfortable with your partner, or would you prefer he leave?” He forced himself to ask the question without any hint of his own opinion. Despite what he believed, she was entitled to her own choice regarding the jerk who was standing there wanting to tie her down and play with knives.
Kat bit her lip. For a moment she considered her options. Zach had been the one to invite her and set them up with this weekend at Nox. It was only the first night here; what was she going to do for another two days if she didn’t stay with him? Then again, did she want to deal with this type of attitude for a whole weekend?
“No,” she said. She kept her gaze on Zach and watched his expression turn mutinous. “I don’t feel comfortable with him.” She looked up at Jase and asked, “Would it be possible to call me a cab?”
Jase frowned, “Can you find your way back to the dressing room?”
Kat nodded.
“Go wait for me there. I’ll come get you once I take care of him,” Jase told her. He kept his voice firm, but gentle. It was clear the woman was more than a little freaked out and ready to forget the whole thing. He watched her leave through the main doors before turning back to the issue at hand.
“She was mine,” Zach claimed. “You can’t just let her leave.”
“You do not get to act the way you did in here. This place is not a free for all. There are rules that we follow to protect everyone else and ourselves. Clearly you did not pay attention to the instructions we just gave you or the forms you signed upon entering.” Jase’s voice betrayed his disgust with the man before him.
Zach scowled, “I thought this was supposed to be a fantasy weekend.”
“It is. But your partner has to be a willing participant in the fantasy,” Jase explained. He spoke slowly, as though he was talking to a child. The guy was clearly a selfish idiot who did not deserve the trust of anyone else’s body to his care.
Jase motioned two of the security team over. The large guys flanked Zach. “You will be escorted to the locker room to grab your personal belongings. Then you will be escorted out of the house and watched until you are off the property. Your actions violated several of our rules. Because of that, you will not be welcome back to this location. As you are not a member, you will not be blacklisted from other resorts. However, I would strongly advise that you consider what it really means to be a Dominant. If you intend to play, you need to be more aware of your partner’s wants and needs.”
Jase didn’t wait for a response before turning his back on the man. He took a shortcut through the house to the dressing room where he’d sent the sub. He wanted to get her out of there before her date showed up for his things. And he was also hoping he could talk her into staying and letting him be her fantasy weekend.
Unfortunately, when he walked into the room, he found it empty. He checked the attached bathroom and found it empty as well. With a frown, he left and headed to the front entry.
“Missy, did a woman leave here unescorted?” he asked the sub behind the desk.
“No, Sir,” Missy kept her eyes cast downward.
“Thank you, Missy,” Jase said. He wanted to ask for the woman’s information. But he knew he couldn’t do that. The guests paid for their secrecy. Only they could reveal their outside identities. The few staff members who knew names were held to the highest of standards to keep those confidences. Especially from other club and staff members. Anonymity was a key feature in their world at times.
Jase returned to the dungeon to help with the other couples. He hoped like hell that the woman would choose to return to Nox at a later time. He wanted another chance to see the little submissive. And an opportunity to play with her.
Kat sat on one end of a comfortable, leather couch in the office of Alec Stanton. As she’d closed the doors of the dungeon behind her, Alec had descended a set of stairs to her left.
“Ms. Light,” he’d extended his hand to her. “I’m Alec Stanton, owner of club Nox. Would you permit me a few moments of your time after you collect your things?” he’d asked the question politely, but Kat could feel the anger and demand shimmering in the air around him. So she’d acquiesced and had allowed him to follow her to collect her clothing and purse and then brought her to his office.
Now, redressed in her own clothes, mask removed, she listened to his proposition for her.
“I want to apologize for the treatment you were given from your partner. His behavior and attitude are not approved of or encouraged in our community.” Alec watched the woman across from him with discerning eyes. The fantasy weekend had been offered to a select number of people that had been screened prior to getting the invitation. Zack Moldare’s uncle had been chosen. Unbeknownst to Alec, the man had given the offer to his nephew at the last minute. Now, Alec had a situation to deal with. And the woman before him was, he was sure, a natural submissive. At the moment, she looked upset, but there was more simmering beneath the surface. Taking a chance that he was correct, he offered her a rare opportunity. “I would like to give you a trial membership for the club for a six month period. It would please me greatly if you would take advantage of some of the member benefits and have a chance to see and possibly experience what we are truly about.” He pushed a level of command into his tone, watching closely for her reaction.
Kat’s initial instinct was to decline the offer. But there was something very commanding about this man’s presence. His whole demeanor screamed ‘obey me’ even as he kept his words polite. And his gaze was unblinkingly direct. She felt the heat of his demand and a soft flush stole over her skin. Shifting, she crossed one leg over the other, hoping to ease the ache between her thighs. She’d been aroused by Jase, intrigued by the demos, and now this stranger was turning her inside out with the tone of his voice and the way he was looking at her. What the hell? she thought to herself.
After a few moments of internal debate, she finally nodded. “Thank you,” she told him. “I’ll take you up on that offer.”
Alec smiled in encouragement. “Wonderful,” he praised her choice. He stood and approached her, grabbing one of the folders that sat on his desk. Holding the folder out to her, he approached and took a seat beside her on the couch. “Everything you need to know is in here, including a list of various classes, group play times, intensive training, and some of the individual opportunities.” He opened the folder for her, and pulled one sheet from the right side. “I’ll need you to complete this before you leave today. We already have a consent form on file for you from this evening. However, members must also provide information for background checks.”
“Background checks?”
At Kat’s confusion, he explained. “We are very conscientious about our members’ safety and anonymity. We can’t have someone with a criminal history of sex crimes or a private investigator searching for improprieties wandering around.”
“I understand,” she said, accepting the pen he held out to her.
“I’ll call you a cab while you fill that out,” he said, standing and moving back out of her personal space.
With Alec a safer distance away, Kat breathed a little easier. She forced her gaze down to the page before her and focused on filling out her personal information. She didn’t look back up until she’d signed her name at the bottom. When she did, it was to find Alec leaning against his desk and simply watching her. It was disconcerting in the extreme. Unlike Jase’s voice, which rumbled through her like a vibrator, Alec was much smoother. His tone and voice were like hot caramel, a decadent invitation in every word, coaxing her body’s responses.
“The cab will be here momentarily,” he told her. “Stand up and I’ll tie your mask back on for you.” The order was there, but still just polite enough to be an almost suggestion.
Kat handed over the mask and turned her back to him. As the lace settled over her face once more, it was like pulling on another persona. Her body relaxed a little more now that the facade was back in place.
“You can wear the mask every time you are here,” he told her. “No one will judge you or hold your need for secrecy against you.” He turned her to face him then. “In fact, many people prefer it until they get more comfortable. And for some, the unknown is an aphrodisiac.” He tipped her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. “If you ever feel uncomfortable in my establishment, I expect you to come to me,” his tone was all business, but the way his eyes bore into hers left no doubt in her mind that his words were a hard command.
“Yes, sir,” she said. Her eyes widened slightly as she realized what she’d said.
Alec grinned, “Good girl.” He had no doubt that the woman would return to Nox again in the near future. Whether she would choose to join in any activities remained to be seen, but she was absolutely in need of a good Dom or two to take care of her. And after the quick glance at her information, he had a good idea who she needed. And who needed her.
He escorted her past Missy and out into the brisk night air. A cab approached and came to a stop just before her. Alec held the door for her as she slipped inside. “I look forward to seeing you soon, Katarina,” he said, the promise of fantasies fulfilled lingering between them.
“Thank you, Alec,” she murmured, just before he closed the door.
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