Devil's Dance Read online

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  The Wild Rose Press

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  Copyright ©2008 by Donna Whitehouse

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  NOTICE: This work is copyrighted. It is licensed only for use by the original purchaser. Making copies of this work or distributing it to any unauthorized person by any means, including without limit email, floppy disk, file transfer, paper print out, or any other method constitutes a violation of International copyright law and subjects the violator to severe fines or imprisonment.

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  Devil's Dance

  By

  Scarlett Sanderson

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Devil's Dance

  COPYRIGHT ©

  2008 by Scarlett Sanderson

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Angela Anderson

  The Wild Rose Press

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0706

  Visit us at www.thewilderroses.com

  Publishing History

  First Scarlet Rose Edition, 2008

  Print ISBN 1-60154-225-9

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedication

  To all the ladies at the Dark Hunter Anonymous. For your support, encouragement and most of all, your love of a hunky, dominant male!

  Chapter One

  "Do you need a master, little girl? I can be the one to own you."

  Tessa turned, facing the man who spoke the words. Much older than she, he had graying hair, a pinched face and dull blue eyes. The leather pants he wore were laced up at the side, his gut hung over the waistband and a leather waistcoat covered his bare, saggy chest.

  Tessa shivered at his repulsive offer. “Thanks, but no thanks."

  He grinned. “I can be your little boy if you prefer."

  Glimpsing his yellow stained teeth, she grimaced. “No, thanks."

  The man huffed out his chest. “Your loss.” He moved into the crowd, lost in the throng of people.

  Sending up a silent thank you to whatever gods listened, Tessa found a quiet corner booth and sat down. Her gaze surveyed the scene before her. Inferno was the latest in a series of BDSM clubs opening in the area, catering specifically to a high class clientele. Tessa vaguely wondered how Yellow Teeth got an admission.

  Not usually a place she'd visit, Tessa was curious. In all her sexual relationships, something had been missing. One of her female patients had described the thrill of being a submissive to a dominant master. The description sent a buzz zinging through her, a feeling rarely experienced.

  It had occurred to her that maybe she was a submissive. Maybe she needed that kind of relationship. To her analytical mind it made sense. Every day she experienced control—she was always in control, always the dominant personality. Her darkest sexual desires involved relinquishing some of that tightly held control to someone else.

  To a master.

  She'd taken weeks to work up the courage, and now that she was here, Tessa hadn't a clue what to do.

  Various people milled around in different types of BDSM outfits. Many were subtle in their choices. Some were bolder, wearing their fetish like a badge. The heavy beat of sensual music thudded, throbbing in time with the crowd on the dance floor. Scents of alcohol, cologne and the musk of people packed together in a small space filled the air. Wearing a pair of tailored black slacks, slightly heeled boots and a black cotton shirt, Tessa stuck out like a sore thumb.

  "You want a drink, honey?"

  She smiled at the blonde waitress, grateful for the chance of something to hold, something that would soothe her nerves. “Vodka, no ice."

  When the waitress smiled back, the knot of tension in Tessa's stomach eased just a little. “First time?"

  "Is it that obvious?” A blush rose in Tessa's cheeks as the blonde laughed, and she tugged at the corner of her sleeve, rolling her eyes to hide embarrassment. “I think I'm a little overdressed."

  "You look fine. Although a bit more leather would be perfect.” Winking, the waitress turned and headed back into the crowd, drinks tray raised over her head. She wound her body perfectly through the throng of people. With a slight turn of her hip, she avoided any wandering hands.

  At a guess, the girl was in her early twenties. Most likely a college student earning extra cash. The outfit she wore was unsurprisingly leather—a revealing black bustier and obscenely short skirt. Her shoes, thigh high latex without a heel. Sexy yet practical.

  Did she indulge in the pleasures of the club?

  Smiling, Tessa turned her attention back to the crowd. What would it take to get up and mingle? About another ten shots of vodka. Maybe more. More of a voyeur than a participant, she drummed her fingernails on the table. So this was the kind of place she could explore her submissive fantasies?

  So far the night was not turning out as she'd expected. Then again, she hadn't really known what to expect. Except for the leather. Leather was pretty much a given.

  "One vodka. No ice.” The blonde waitress set Tessa's drink on a napkin and gave her a dazzling smile. “Enjoy. And relax. They don't bite. Unless you ask nicely."

  Tessa laughed. “Thanks, I'll remember that."

  Reaching into her purse, she pulled out enough money to cover the drink and leave a generous tip. After all, the girl had been the first friendly face in the club.

  Taking a sip of the cool alcohol, she let the vodka burn a pleasant path from her palate to her stomach and glanced up. She groaned as Yellow Teeth once again decided to try his luck. He eased himself beside her in the booth. Whiskey fumes bled from every pore, and she curled her lips in disdain. This guy was so tanked. Not to mention he thought he was God's gift to the female species.

  He leered at her. “You sure look lonely, little girl."

  She felt an overwhelming urge to get up and knee him in the balls. Her temper was one of the many reasons she questioned her submissive tendencies. If someone put a collar on her, instinct demanded defiance.

  "Believe me, if I was lonely, you would be the last person I'd come to for company."

  Yellow Teeth chuckled, and the fat around his stomach jiggled. “Little girl, I have no doubt you'd love to come for me."

  Tessa almost threw up her vodka. She understood his innuendo, but the ‘little girl’ thing was really getting on her nerves. Grabbing her purse she stood, shuffling past him awkwardly.

  She almost made it out of the booth, but his hands snaked around her waist, holding her in place. She glared into his eager, hungry face, and annoyance bubbled over. “Look asshole, get your dirty hands off me. Now."

  He licked his lips suggestively. “Why, what ya gonna do about it?"

  "This.” She threw the vodka in his face, shocking him enough so she could wriggle from his grasp. “Jerk."

  "Bitch!” He grabbed her wrist. The more she tugged, the more he clung to her. His face twisted into mass of anger. He continued to snarl, spitting out a verbal tirade. “You fucking bitch. Leading me on, and then telling me ‘no’ like I'm some piece of shit on your shoe."

  Tessa knew how to take care of herself, self-defense classes were a must for any single woman living in the city, but he was giving her no room to maneuver. As she pulled back, he rose and backed her against a wall. Panic rising
, she looked around for someone to help or some form of escape route.

  "Let me go, or I'll scream for help."

  Yeah, even in her mind, it sounded like a weak threat. No one would hear her with the music pounding. Her only other option was to try and get a good whack over his head with her purse.

  A wild glint lit his eyes. “I like it when they scream."

  Convinced the guy was a total whacko, maybe even psychologically unstable, she readied her purse. Pity she hadn't put more things in it. She could really use her thick-as-a-brick data planner right now.

  "Sir, I really think you should let the lady go."

  Standing on tiptoes, Tessa peered around Yellow Teeth and into the green eyes of a god. About six feet tall, he loomed over them, his face covered with a leather half-mask that revealed more than it concealed. The sensual shape of his lips, the mass of dark brown hair styled into a choppy, spiky cut, and those green eyes that blazed with blatant fury.

  Now this was the type of guy she'd fantasized about finding. Tall, dark, buff and oh so dominating. Her heart did a slight flutter, and things low in her body tightened. Though violence was imminent, she couldn't take her eyes off her would be rescuer.

  "Screw you, pretty boy. She's mine. Got a problem with that?"

  Tessa did a mental eye roll at the pissing contest Yellow Teeth started. She was no man's property. Another problem when it came to being a submissive.

  "I've got a problem with that.” She spoke over Yellow Teeth's shoulder, addressing the buff guy. “I'm not his.” The grip on her wrist tightened, and she gritted her teeth against the pain.

  Buff Guy's nostrils flared. He laid a hand on Yellow Teeth's forearm. “Let the lady go."

  The commanding tone sent a zing of pleasure right through Tessa. She didn't feel zings often, but she was sure feeling them now. Yellow Teeth released her and squared off with Buff Guy, who was both taller and broader. Much broader. His shoulders were like a linebacker's. Thick, broad, buff and well ... thick.

  "Come on, asshole, you want a piece of this?” Yellow Teeth shoved Buff Guy's shoulders but didn't move him, not one inch.

  With shocking speed, her rescuer reached out and grabbed Yellow Teeth around the throat, squeezing his windpipe.

  "You ever set foot in this club again, and I will crush you. Are we clear?” To add some gentle persuasion, he tightened his grip.

  Yellow Teeth nodded, and Buff Guy threw him toward a detail of security men. “Get him out of here."

  Buff Guy's jaw set in a grimace, and his eyes burned with anger. She heard him mumble “pussy” under his breath and she gave a nervous laugh.

  Now the situation was over, Tessa felt both foolish and uncomfortable. She should have beat the guy over the head rather than play the frightened female. Yellow Teeth had just surprised her; she hadn't thought him a threat. Boy, she'd been wrong.

  Buff Guy turned his full attention to her. His gaze pierced hers, and the zings she'd felt moments ago burst around her body like firecrackers.

  In all the right places.

  She got a good look at him. The rest of his body was toned like his shoulders. A lithe, graceful torso rippled into a tapered waist, ending with strong thighs and legs. Despite being in a BDSM club where leather dominated the attire, he wore ripped denim jeans and a tight white T-shirt, his half mask the only leather adornment.

  "You okay? I'm sorry about the asshole.” He moved forward and cupped her wrist, cradling it in his hand. Gently, he rubbed the pad of his thumb over the already forming bruise.

  Tessa bit down on her lower lip, not from pain but from sheer, blissful pleasure. His thumb worked over her skin, creating ribbons of heat. She mentally fanned herself and prayed she didn't melt into a pool of orgasmic harmony.

  His thumb moved around and around in a lazy circle. She became mesmerized, watching it dance a pattern on her skin. Those electrifying zings reached an all time high as her body readied itself for action. Her nipples peaked beneath the fabric of her shirt, and moisture pooled between her thighs.

  The physical action she craved would never happen. She didn't do casual sex. Not with anyone from Inferno and especially not with the buff god standing less than a foot away.

  Raising her gaze to his, Tessa blushed. A predatory, confidence burned there, setting the green contours of his eyes alight with what she could only describe as sexual desire. When he grinned and touched his full, upper lip with the tip of his tongue, she mentally bit down on her knuckles and groaned. Her masked savior was sex on a stick. And she knew exactly where she wanted to lick first.

  "You seem a little dazed. Want me to repeat the question?” His voice, a rich timbre in her ears, held a slightly southern lilt that made her desire more painful. She'd always had a weakness for a Texas twang.

  Regaining some composure, Tessa withdrew her hand from his grasp. “I'm okay. A little shocked I didn't see him as more of a threat.” She gave the guy a wry smile, feeling foolish for allowing herself to be so naïve.

  He raked a hand through his spiky hair. She followed the movement, fascinated by the length and slenderness of his fingers. “We pride ourselves on a safe and discreet environment here at Inferno. I'm sorry you had to experience that in your search for a dominant."

  Tessa frowned. Lifting her chin, she stared straight into his arrogant, cocky eyes. “How do you know I'm not here looking for a submissive?"

  Her words brought laughter. Not just any laugh, but a throw-back-your-head-and-roar type of laugh. Her cheeks burned with humiliation.

  Gritting her teeth, she asked, “What's so funny?"

  The guy took a deep breath and looked down. His eyes danced with mischief, humor and a predatory glint, sending zings pinging through her body all over again. Her cheeks now burned with something other than embarrassment.

  "What's funny is the thought of you coming here to find a submissive.” Leaning forward, he fingered her lapel intimately. His gazed burned into hers. “You don't have a dominant bone in your body, lady."

  Tessa didn't know whether to grab his tight, white T-shirt and beg him to kiss her or to be offended by his comment. He spoke with such conviction, such absolute authority, she knew he had a dominant bone, and more than one.

  Still, it didn't become a woman to let a man get the better of her. On second thought, that was exactly why she was here. To let a man get the better of her. The whole Dominant/submissive thing was really confusing.

  "And how do you know I don't have a dominant bone in my body? You don't even know me, Mister.” There, she'd told him. “In fact, I might be looking for a nice piece of ass just like yourself to take home. I'll bend you over and spank those tight buns till you scream."

  He raised an eyebrow and stopped rubbing her shirt. He just stared at her, as if looking straight into her soul. Then, wrapping his fingers around her arms, he gently pushed her against the nearest wall. Her back collided with the concrete Yellow Teeth had held her against, and she let out a squeak. Whether from shock or excitement, she didn't know. He had her trapped, so to speak, and Tessa loved every second of it.

  Her breath hitched, her body cried out kiss me, kiss me, take me! A body could be a treacherous thing. Her lips parted in anticipation. Her pussy throbbed with delight.

  The guy slapped one hand against the wall above her head. With the other he stroked her hipbone. The guy was really into stroking.

  "How about I just bend you over my knee right here and give you a spanking?” The tone of his voice was low, intimate, husky. The sounds of the club faded away. All she could hear was him, all she could smell was his spicy, woodsy scent.

  His breath tickled her ear as he leaned into her body and whispered, “You'd like that, me getting those tight ass cheeks all red. You begging me to stop. You begging me to fuck you."

  Stunned, yet shamelessly excited by this rough talk, Tessa opened her mouth to speak, but his lips covered hers in a kiss that was anything but gentle. It was hard and brutal. Just how she needed it. Just ho
w she'd fantasized millions of times in the past.

  His tongue forced its way into her mouth, dueling with hers like they were two warriors battling to the last. They continued to kiss, to explore each other. His kiss was warm and enticing, stoking a sweet fervor inside her. Not once did he let up on the dominating assault.

  She felt as if she would drown from the passion building in her body. Her nipples became turgid peaks begging to be touched, her heart slammed against her rib cage. Elation and excitement coursed through her, mingling with the tepid feeling of taboo. This illicit encounter with a stranger shouldn't be making her quite so horny.

  Be quiet!

  He stroked his tongue against hers, licking the roof of her mouth before drawing back. His labored breathing matched hers. She managed to open her eyes and glance up. His thick lashes framed eyes languid with the heat of their kiss. She swallowed, and his gaze followed the movement of her throat. He parted his lips and licked his lower lip again. His eyes flared with passion.

  She couldn't read his emotions other than his lust. He was a stranger to her in every sense, yet she knew his scent, the taste of his lips, and she'd never been more certain that she wanted his tongue mating with hers again.

  Clutching his shirt, Tessa pulled the stranger toward her. Her lips clashed with his, biting, nipping, demanding. She let out a small moan as his hands tunneled under her shirt. His fingers stroked lazy patterns across her torso. The contact of his skin against hers was electrifying. Every nerve ending sparked to life. She wanted to wrap her legs around his waist, plaster her body against his and have him fuck her.

  The stranger placed fevered kisses on her cheek and across her eyelids. He nibbled at her chin before giving her throat one long, leisurely lick. Tessa sighed, wrapped one leg around his waist and draped her arms across his shoulders, clawing at his shirt.

  His teeth were doing wondrous things to her earlobe; his tongue rimmed the shell of her ear, making her shiver.

  She didn't even know his name. The thought was like a bucket of ice water across her heated skin.