THE NEW PET{BDSM 1}

“Excuse me.”

Joshua Melrose turned anxiously to see the owners of the timid voice. He was fairly sure it was but a dominant, but he wasn't certain. He couldn't breathe deeply until he turned and saw who was speaking to him.

The person was small, much smaller than his six feet, with cotton-candy pink hair cut in a pixie cut. They had an ornate leather and silver collar around their neck, and cuffs in a similar style on their wrists.

But even without the accessories, Joshua could tell in a heartbeat that the person speaking to him was a sub. Practically anyone would have been able to tell. It was clear from the way they kept their eyes on the ground when they spoke to him and from the timid tone in their voice.

Joshua had read that they were members of the community who only submitted sexually, and others for whom being a sub was part of their identity. Josh could tell immediately that this was part of the latter.

He couldn't tell at first glance in the dim-lit corner of Twilight, the ultra- exclusive BDSM club where he'd found himself on his birthday eve, whether the person he was speaking to was male or female, and he did not want to stare at the person's body for too long.

He focused his eyes carefully somewhere in the space above the person's head and asked in a carefully neutral voice:“Yes, how may I help you?”

“My Mistress wants to meet you. She sent me to bring you to her.”

Josh felt his heart leap into his throat. He'd barely been here for thirty minutes and he'd already been noticed.

He knew it would be impossible to blend into a corner for five hours, but he'd hoped to last for at least two before he had to make other plans. But it seemed even that was too much to hope for.

He looked at the sub, who was still looking at the feet, and said as politely as he could, “I'm extremely flattered your Mistress has decided to grace me with her attention, but I'm afraid I'm going to respectfully decline.”

Josh stopped, wandering whether he should give a reason, but he decided against it. He wasn't able to come up with anything that would hold water, and he didn't want to give one that would raise any eyebrows. His plan was not to get thrown out of the club before three if he could help it.

The sub hurried off, eyes still securely powered, and Joshua turned away. He yearned to follow the sub with his eyes, curious to see the woman that had taken notice of him, but he restrained himself.

He did not want to risk catching her eye and piquing her interest any further.

Josh wandered off to an even darker room lit by a single ghostly light, where one of the many corner bars in the club was located.

A bartender stood there discreetly, looking bothered and professional. Josh felt his heart slowing. A few drinks would settle his nerves, and then he would be able to think clearly enough to come up with a better plan.

“One martini please, no ice.”

“One martini coming up.” The bartender nodded, and began mixing the drinks. It was ready in no time and he placed it in front of Josh.

Josh sighed gratefully, murmured his thanks, and we just about to pick it up when he felt someone pressing against him from behind.

The person was not heavy, but the pressure was intentional, as deliberate as the hand that reached around him and cupped his groin through the leather pants he wore. He'd felt ridiculous putting them on that night, but now the friction against his bare skin drew a gasp from his mouth.

He started to turn around, and the person stepped back to give him room. His eyes traveled up long legs and a muscular torso the color of dark chocolate, to a face that looked like it belonged to an ancient goddess that was both loved and feared in equal measure.

The Red Company was already tall—two inches shorter than him, but in the high-speed boots she wore she practically towered over him. Her face was oval shaped, with full lips and sinfully long lashes. Her hair was a complicated weave styled in a half-up, half-dozen style.

He could not tell the color of her eyes in the low light, and he was surprised to find he was quite disappointed. In her hand she carried a whip. The whip made Josh start, and a corner of her mouth went up at this.

“Well, hello there.”

His gulp was loud, and both of them heard it. Her smile widened a little.

“Don't worry, I don't bite. I sent July to tell you to come to me, but they said you declined. You're new here.”

“Yes. I am.”

He couldn't see her eyes, but he could feel them boring into him. He kept his eyes lowered respectfully, his arms hanging loose by his sides.

“I see.”

She came towards him, her floral scent filling his nose, intoxicating him. She leaned over him and picked up the martini glass.

She held the glass gently to his lip, tipping it over till the liquid was at his lips, and then he

parted them, letting the warm alcohol flow down his throat until the glass was empty.