Chapter 4

Chapter Four

D el watched as Matthew handed his clue card back to Ian's wife and wondered if the twink had correctly guessed who picked his snowflake. It'd taken a lot for the Dom not to stare at the object of his lust over the past hour or so, especially while all the subs taking part in the event tried to figure out who their Secret Santa was. Dressed as an adorable elf, Matthew had caught the attention of many gay men in the club since arriving about an hour ago. As he sashayed past them, their hungry gazes raked over the sub's delectable body. Del wanted to tell every single one of them that he had dibs on the boy tonight and, hopefully, for the foreseeable future.

Mitch retook the stage. "Listen up! We want to get through these quickly, so if you are not a participating Dom or sub, please back away from the stage and give them some room. If you are participating, please come closer so you can step right up when we call your name. Doms, once you've claimed your sub, head to wherever you plan to play tonight or at least out of the immediate area." People started moving forward or back out of the way, and Del found himself near the right side of the oval stage, with a perfect view of Matthew on the opposite end. "You have until eleven p.m. to complete your scene. Aftercare can extend past that for as long as you need. If you're participating and haven't had a chance to get your raffle tickets, don't worry. Besides the booths, subs will walk around with tickets from eleven to midnight to ensure everyone can get theirs. Good luck, everyone!"

He passed the microphone to Kristen and then left the stage. "Okay, like Master Mitch said, we're going to try and get through these quickly so you can get started on your scenes. Subs, when I call your name, come up on stage. Doms, please be ready to claim your sub even if they didn't guess correctly." Next to her, Angie randomly shuffled the cards while Tori stood on the other side of Kristen, holding a clipboard with several papers—probably the main list of who was matched to whom. Angie handed Kristen a card. "Here we go! Our first submissive is Carly J.!"

Next to Matthew, the cute sub squeaked before lurching forward and running up the few steps to the stage as Kristen continued. "Carly guessed that Master Cain is her Secret Santa!" Tori pointed to a spot on one of the papers she held and showed it to Kristen, who announced, "And that is incorrect! Master Tristan is your Dom for the night."

As the burly, russet-haired Trident Security employee Del met last week climbed the steps to claim his sub, Carly grinned, clearly happy with the results. After the Dom took her hand, he led her from the stage while Kristen announced the next submissive. Surprisingly, despite the large number of entries, the process went smoothly. Del had to chuckle as he watched several participating subs throw their hands up in the air or groan loudly when a Dom was called for someone else, likely because that had been their choice. But Del's primary attention was on Matthew, who glanced nervously in his direction every few seconds. At one point, he whispered something to the female sub standing beside him and jutted his chin toward Del. It was evident the younger man now second-guessed his choice, thrilling the Dom. That meant Del got to choose their play tonight.

He increased the intensity of his stare and felt electricity shoot through him when Matthew gulped but didn't look away. In fact, after a moment, he lifted his chin and licked his lips seductively— insolent little pup.

As the crowd of participating members dwindled, the moment Del had waited for finally arrived. "Matthew B.!"

The sub didn't move. It was as if he were caught in a web that Del's gaze had cast over him from the other side of the stage. The Dom reveled in it.

"Matthew B., come on up!"

Not breaking their invisible connection, Del raised his brow and cocked his head toward the stage. At the same time, one of Matthew's friends elbowed him in the side. He jumped in surprise and then ran onto the stage, the pom-pom of his hat bouncing along as Kristen and others laughed at him. "Glad you could join us. Matthew guessed Master Jonah as his Secret Santa, which is incorrect! Master Del, please claim your sub."

He didn't need to be told twice. He'd already started for the steps before she said the other Dom's name. Stopping at the top of the stairs, he crooked a finger at Matthew, silently ordering the sub to come to him. Matthew's blue eyes rounded as his feet seemed to work on autopilot while Kristen moved on to another name. "Our next sub is Molly H.!"

Ignoring everything else going on in the cavernous dungeon, Del held out his hand, and when a gaping Matthew took it, he led him down the steps toward the back of the club where he'd reserved one of the playrooms. While he wasn't sure he'd win and choose their play, he'd been optimistic. The room had a large display window where others could observe what happened inside, yet not disturb the occupants, and was the perfect choice for Del after reviewing Matthew's limit list again earlier in the week. While he wanted the quiet it would provide, his little masochist was also a bit of an exhibitionist, which was fine with the Dom.

Stopping in front of the playroom door with a "15" on it, Del studied the submissive's beautiful face. Matthew's lips had a tinge of red gloss, and his downcast eyes were accented by sparkling black liner and mascara that hopefully weren't waterproof. Del would make the masochist cry tonight, and the sadist in him loved to see a sub's perfect makeup destroyed by the end of a scene. Twisted? Yes, but that was the world they played in. "Eyes on me, pup." When their gazes met, he asked, "Are you disappointed Master Jonah isn't your Secret Santa?"

A flush spread from Matthew's chest up his neck to his face and ears. "N-no, Sir. Not at all. I, um . . . I don't even know who he is. He's new to the club, and one of the other subs thought he fit the clues."

Del was glad to hear that. He wasn't stupid enough to think Matthew hadn't played with plenty of Doms in the club, but the fact he hadn't written down someone he knew intimately was a tad satisfying.

"Good to know. What's your safeword?"

There was no stuttering this time—in fact, a smug smile spread across his face. "Red or pussy, Sir."

A bark of laughter burst from Del. "Well, okay then. Red or pussy will do. And when you're gagged, you'll be given a bell for your safeword."

"G-gagged, Sir?"

Instead of answering him, Del pushed the door to the playroom open. "Welcome to my temporary lair, pup. Enter if you dare. Not that you have a choice beyond your safeword since you're mine for the next two hours."

Barely a moment's hesitation preceded Matthew entering the room. Del followed and shut the door behind them.

"As cute as your outfit is, strip completely, then kneel next to the cross while I get a few things ready." He paused, then smirked. "On second thought, leave the pointy ears on, my little Vulcan. Tonight, instead of Master Del, you will call me Captain Del."

Matthew's eyes widened at the Star Trek reference before he responded, "Yes, Captain Del," and quickly began to strip—not that he had much on to begin with.

The other night, thanks to a few chatty subs, Del discovered Matthew was a Trekkie, having seen every episode and all the movies multiple times. He was especially fond of the original series, starring William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, and had gone to several Star Trek conventions. It was another way he and Del were compatible. Even though Del never wore a roleplay costume to the events, he kind of hoped Matthew did—it might be a way to fulfill a few fantasies in the future.

Since they were both fans of Star Trek , Del had chosen a futuristic theme room. The ceiling and walls were covered in a dark, cloudless, midnight-sky mural. It gave the feeling of floating in the far reaches of the universe among trillions of stars. A vast emptiness that begged to be explored by those who dared. When Del flipped a switch, the room's lighting changed from white to black, giving the stars an almost eerie glow. The St. Andrew's cross, a spanking bench, contemporary storage cabinets, a king-size bed with white sheets, and other furnishings were all trimmed with purple paint or fabric that glimmered under the black lights.

Black drapes covered the window, and Del pulled on the cord to open them. The recessed hall lighting was dim enough not to disturb the room's atmosphere. A few people already strolled past, waiting to see which rooms would be available for viewing.

He'd stopped in the playroom earlier and stored his toy bag in one of the cabinets so he wouldn't have to carry it around or retrieve it from his locker or from behind the bar. From what he'd been told since joining the club, the Doms respected each other's property, while the subs were known to play tricks and mess with a Dominant's unattended toy bag. He figured his duffel was safe since no one had seen him leave it there.

Sliding the zipper open, he used the soft glow of a fluorescent light under the upper cabinet to inspect the contents and noted nothing had been disturbed.

After lining up a few items he needed for the scene on the countertop, Del turned to see his submissive kneeling as instructed. The glow from the black lights gave Matthew's smooth, pale skin a lavender hue. The only tan lines were from a thong, and that turned Del on even more. He wondered where the sassy twink sunbathed in a skimpy thong because he wanted to watch next time.

Moving to stand in front of the sub, he placed two fingers from one hand under Matthew's chin and lifted until their gazes met. "Damn, you're so beautiful, pup."

Matthew swallowed before responding. "Thank you, Captain Del. And may I say you're very handsome?"

The corners of his mouth ticked upward. "You may, and thank you as well." He brushed his thumb across Matthew's cheek. "I'm going to use a cane on your sweet ass and thighs tonight. You're going to scream and cry for me, and then I'm going to fuck your ass and make you come harder than you've ever come in your life. If that isn't what you want, say your safeword now."

Lust and need filled the submissive's eyes. His lips parted as he swayed into Del's touch. "That's exactly what I want, Master—I mean, Captain Del. I don't want to safeword."

"But you will if it gets to be too much. Promise me." When he didn't get an immediate answer, Del gripped Matthew's chin hard with one hand and twisted the sub's nipple with the other, garnering a satisfying gasp. "Answer me, pup. Promise me you'll safeword if I go too far."

"Y-you won't, Sir. I trust you. But you have my promise—I'll use my safeword if I need to."

Del studied the sub's face, seeing the truth behind his words and feeling humbled. Matthew did trust Del to take care of him. To give him what he needed, what he craved. He also trusted Del not to harm him. Hurt him? Yes, that's why the masochist was there. However, the Dom would never harm him. There was a stark difference, and they both knew it.

"Thank you. Stand and face the cross." Once Matthew was in position, Del secured his wrists and ankles with fleece-lined leather restraints, ensuring they weren't too tight. Next, a large strap was fastened across his waist, and two more just above his knees, limiting his movements even further.

Striding back to the cabinets, Del grabbed several items before returning to his sub. A decent-sized crowd watched them from the other side of the window. With the room's intercom system set to semi-private, everyone in the hallway could hear the scene inside, but Del and Matthew wouldn't be disturbed by any outside noise. A large man wearing a gold vest, who Del didn't recognize, leaned against the wall on the far-right side of the window. A dungeon monitor. It didn't surprise him since he was the new sadist in the club and hadn't fully proved himself to be a responsible and alert Dom yet. Even though he received a glowing recommendation from his old club in Ohio, he would still be observed until the owners and the DMs were satisfied all his play was safe, sane, and consensual. It was another reason The Covenant had such a stellar reputation in the BDSM community on the Gulf Coast.

The large, white leather X the twink was attached to stood about two and a half feet from the wall, giving Del enough room to move between them and face Matthew. "I'm going to explain a few things before we continue, pup, because then I'm going to take away most of your senses."

He held up one hand, showing off the items he'd selected hanging from his fingers. "You'll wear noise-canceling headphones, a blindfold, and a ball gag during most of the scene. I want all your attention on the pain I'm going to inflict. Since you won't be able to speak," he showed Matthew the two small brass bells in his other hand, "I'm going to put one of these in each of your hands. Occasionally, I'll lift one side of the headphones, ask if you're still green, and instruct you to ring the bells for me. If you drop both bells, I'll take that to mean you're saying your safeword, and the scene will end. If one falls to the floor, I'll question you to see if it was an accident. If you need me to slow down for a moment or adjust something, just ring the bells, and I'll check in with you. Understand?"

"Yes, Captain Del. Ring the bells if I need you to slow down or adjust. Drop them both to safeword."

"Good. After I prep your hole with some lube, I'll start to warm your ass up with my hand and then the flogger. The cane will come next. How quickly do you usually go into subspace?" He had to ask because, with the starry-eyed expression on Matthew's face, Del had to wonder if just the thought of the cane had the sub halfway to Nirvana already.

"It depends, Sir. Some Doms can get me there pretty quickly. With others, I might not hit it at all."

He smirked. "Well, that gives me something to aim for then. You're not to come until I'm in that fine ass of yours. Then you can climax whenever you need to."

"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir."