Chapter 16

Mariana looked like a queen. There was no other way to describe the fit Cisco had picked out for her debut at the club. Sky-high heeled black leather boots that came up to her knees. Stockings with intricate embroidery of roses and thorns up the back, anchored to the fanciest garter belt she'd ever seen. A frilly velvet skirt that was so short it showed everything if she even thought about bending over. A blood-red bustier that had been tailored so exquisitely she looked like she was going to tumble out of it at any moment but was in no danger of doing so. And a platinum fucking crown with rubies set into it.

Rio just about fell to his knees in supplication when he saw her, which is how she knew it was fucking perfect. For his part, Rio wore a black mesh shirt that was entirely see-through and black leather pants that left absolutely nothing to the imagination. They tied at the waist, but he hadn't bothered to do more than knot them loosely as though they might fall at any moment, though they were taped into place precisely.

Cisco strolled into the room next, wearing a tight black shirt that looked like it was going to pop a button at any moment, even though it was undone nearly to his navel. His pants were red leather that matched her bustier perfectly. Saints, the man had taste. And he looked good enough to devour.

Mari had to keep a tight hold on her libido, or they were all likely to tumble into bed, or the limo, or some random closet along the way, rather than make it to the meeting they couldn't afford to miss.

She strode between them, feeling powerful and gorgeous.

Esmé, for her part, nodded with approval when she saw them but otherwise didn't bat an eye.

Thankfully, the contracts had been drawn up for review in advance of the meeting, so there wasn't much to be done aside from hand over the bank and magical key code information and then wait for the law witch to do her work.

Esmé informed them that Argento had been gone when she arrived, but she had people out looking for him. Mari very specifically didn't ask for details about the type of people and in what condition she had asked he be brought to her, and Esmé didn't provide them.

The two witches signed their respective contracts, and Mari felt the magical binding tighten around her as she spoke the words of the invocation.

When they were outside, Cisco took to the air while Rio helped her into the limo.

"I really like the outfit," Rio said with a grin once they were settled, his eyes roaming over her tits.

Mari laughed. "I can tell."

"People are going to be lined up to beg to kiss those sexy-ass boots before the night is over."

She propped the boots on Rio's knee. "Do you want to get in ahead of the rush?"

Rio met her eyes, and his lips curled in a smile filled with dark promises. "If I start now, we won't get out of the car."

The bolt of lust that went straight to her core at his suggestion finally convinced her that she did like ordering him around. She held his gaze as the simmering heat between them swelled.

He finally looked away, one hand wrapping around her ankle as if to ground himself. He chuckled. "You're getting really good at that."

She scooted along the seat and moved closer to him, stretching to reach his chin and turn his face toward her again. "I'll stop if you don't like it."

"No, I like it. I really like it." Rio sucked in a breath before meeting her eyes. "It's just weird for me. I haven't wanted anyone but Cisco in a long time."

"What's your safeword, Rio?" She was ashamed that she hadn't asked before. She had to be better than that, especially with him.

"Crimson," he answered her as if reflexively, then smiled.

"Do you have any limits I need to know about?"

His face closed off for a moment, and that scary blankness was back, but it faded again before she could tell him he didn't have to talk about it if he didn't want to. "Magic scares me sometimes. Not the stuff you do when you're in the moment. That feels different. Feels good." He swallowed hard. "And silver."

Mari touched his face. "I would never hurt you with my magic. And if there's any silver left in the house, we should sell it immediately."

He nodded slowly. "There's silver at the club. A lot of it."

Thoughts of how the metal had been used against him, or any other shifter, had her mad enough to bite someone. "I'm going to tell Esmé as soon as we get there that all of it needs to go."

His relieved smile eased the ache that had been building in her chest. "Okay." He shrugged. "That's it, I think. There's not much I won't do happily if I think it will please Cisco. Or you." Something else occurred to him, and he frowned. "Just don't make me hurt anyone. Please."

Mari hated her father more in that moment than she ever had before. She gripped his chin. "Never."

Rio nodded, some of the tension easing from his shoulders. He reached behind her on the seat and pulled down a box wrapped with a red ribbon. "Cisco said you should put this on me. You're going to walk in with me, and he'll join us after."

With no idea what might be inside, she opened the box, her hands shaking. She lifted the cover and gasped quietly. Inside rested an exquisitely tooled leather collar, red to match her bustier once again. A platinum tag set with rubies sparkled up from the ring, the word "Rio" etched into it with an elegant font she recognized from his tattoos. A gorgeously supple matching leash wrapped around the edges of the box.

She looked up at him, not sure what to say.

He smiled, the corners of his mouth trembling slightly. "I'm yours for the night, mi reina."

Mari's first entrance into La Petite Mort was very different from how she had expected it to be. In the early days of their little revolution—had it only been a week ago?—she had assumed it would be Cisco leading her while everyone gawked and she felt frightfully embarrassed. Instead, she strolled through the entryway dressed like a queen with her head held high and the world's most handsome puma shifter trailing a step behind her.

Her eyes rose to take in the tall building she had seen many times but never entered. Cisco's large form perched at one corner, wings spread, watching over her but not stealing the spotlight. A few people snapped pictures. She smiled and posed as was expected of her.

Rio stepped forward to open the door for her, his gaze scanning over her again, as if he couldn't stop looking. The naked appreciation in his expression made her want to do decadent things to him. Instead, she grabbed a hold of his leash and tugged him after her.

Esmé met them just inside. She curtseyed deeply, spreading her full green skirts to both sides. "Do?a Reyes, welcome to La Petite Mort." She gestured for them to follow.

Several people milling about in the lobby stopped to look at them, curious about the change in management.

Mari inclined her head in greeting and then stepped closer. "I've been looking forward to my first visit. I'm excited to hear about the changes you've made."

Esmé smiled. "Well, as I mentioned earlier, Argento was already gone when I arrived." She left it tactfully at that. "I found a list of VIP customers in his office whose memberships I have temporarily revoked until they sit down for a meeting with me, where I'll outline the new policies and such."

They walked side by side, with Rio trailing one step back to Mari's right. "And how did it go with the staff?"

"A handful left with a fair payment and our best wishes. Several more said they would stay for a week to see what it was like and reassess. I've got six new people starting today and a few others on deck in case we need them."

"That seems better than anticipated."

Esmé nodded. "I think so. We might lose a few more, but we're in good shape. I brought over some extra security for the first couple of weeks as well."

"Are you expecting trouble?"

Esmé shrugged. "I'm not sure. Some of the VIPs are dangerous, but I don't know if they'll want to provoke a fight. Argento is a definite threat."

"I wanted to talk to you about the silver." Mari didn't look at Rio but could see him tense at the edge of her vision.

Esmé turned to look more directly at Mari, her expression registering a faint bit of approval. "It's been removed from all the playrooms and will be disposed of tomorrow. If patrons want that kind of play, they can go elsewhere."

Mari nodded. "I agree."

A murmur of excitement behind them made Mari turn around in time to see Cisco entering the lobby, looking windswept and gorgeous.

He walked straight to Mari and dropped a chaste kiss on her cheek. "I hope I haven't missed the tour." He kissed Esmé's offered hand and took up position on the other side of her.

"Your timing is impeccable." Esmé smiled. "We were just about to start."

A house witch dressed in a sharp black suit opened the doors before them with a wave of her hand as they approached, and then bowed low.

Esmé gave her a little wink and then walked through. "The first floor is the bar area. The most important change here right now is only sensual play is allowed on this floor. No pain."

The bar area was busy but not packed, and everyone Mari could see seemed to be having a good time.

"The vibe is very different already." Cisco sounded impressed.

"Some are still rightfully skeptical, but I think it will improve even more over time." Esmé held out her hand to indicate a seating area to their left. "I reserved this one for you. Best seats in the house. You can see everyone as they enter, and they can see you."

The seating was elegant, comfortable, and shaped in a semicircle. Cisco and Rio waited for Mari to pick a spot. She chose the seat with the best view of the doors they had just walked through. Once she was settled, Rio fell to his knees gracefully, his arm brushing her leg slightly in a silent offer of support.

Cisco sat to Mari's left about an arm"s length away.

Esmé reached to touch a metal plate set into the back of the seating area, and a shimmering veil of magic rose around them. The view and sound from outside were partially obscured, but Mari knew, from the other side, those within would be imperceptible. "In case you want a little privacy." She grinned and lowered the curtain again.

"Allowed level of pain escalates as you go up the floors. So be warned that the higher floors are not for the faint of heart." She pointed to the far end of the room where a neon sign proclaimed: "This way to subspace."

"If you want to go up there, talk to Hyssop at the elevator. They can see that you get where you'd like to go. Your membership is comped, of course, so you can go all the way up, if that's what you want."

Rio spoke up for the first time since the limo. "The top floor?"

Esmé met Mari's eyes and offered the information that Rio couldn't or wouldn't. "Top floor used to be some dubiously consensual fight club, which is not allowed in my fucking house. It's now an area exclusively for submissives, for them to rest and recharge. No dominants allowed. Not even me. Willow runs it like a spa."

Rio sighed heavily and leaned to rest his head on Mari's knee. She ran her fingers through his hair and felt him relax against her. She hated that her father had caused him so much pain and didn't have any idea how he trusted her as much as he did.

"The people who were there?" Mari asked after a moment.

Esmé shook her head. "I'm not sure. Argento had the brains to clean it up before I got here. He probably thought you and Cisco would be around before long. I'll see if I can get the information out of him once I find him."

"He probably sold them to the VIP clients," Rio said, his head still on Mari's knee.

Mari had no idea what had happened to him up there, and she thought he probably wouldn't answer if she asked, so she just kept stroking his head.

Cisco looked ready to go extract her father's remains from wherever they might be and kill him all over again, but he didn't add anything to the conversation. His talons flicked uneasily over the shelf behind the seats.

Esmé seemed troubled by the suggestion. "I'll ask when I meet with them." She waved one of the servers over. "Everything is on the house for your table. Tonight and every night. I hope that you enjoy yourselves, and you're welcome back anytime." Without any more fuss, she moved off to greet someone else who was entering the club.

They placed an order for drinks and looked around while they waited to be served. Mari had to admit, the place was very different than she'd imagined. She supposed Esmé was responsible for most of that.

Cisco brushed his fingers over her shoulder. "You okay?"

Mari met his gaze. "Yeah. I'm trying to figure out if I want to know what it was like before."

"I don't see that there's any point torturing yourself with it. Esmé has it in hand. We're paying her handsomely to take care of it, and so far, I'd say she's doing good work."

Mari nodded. "Do you want to go visit with Willow?" she asked Rio.

He looked up into her eyes. "If that's okay with you?"

"More than okay." She ran her fingers through his hair again before unclipping the leash. "Say hello for me."

He kissed her knee before rising. "Save me a spot right here. I assume as soon as people get over their nerves, they are going to be flocking over to say hello."

She smiled fondly. "Tonight, nobody is sitting at my feet but you."

Rio turned away with a bounce in his step and headed for the elevators.

"This suits you," Cisco said.

When she turned to look at him, his eyes seemed more luminous than usual. "It's definitely not how I thought my first night here would be."

Their drinks arrived, and soon after that, the first of the crowd descended. They accepted congratulations and praise Mari wasn't sure they deserved and well-wishes she thought they might need. While many people offered drinks, Mari wanted to keep her head about her, so she declined almost all of them. For his part, Cisco only drank sparkling water and watched everyone who approached with varying degrees of suspicion.

The noise from the club rose and fell around them as people arrived and went to other floors. She watched people in various configurations engaged in all sorts of carnal activities. As Esmé had said, no one was doing anything that involved pain here. Cisco watched her silently, his eyes glowing slightly. She knew he was close enough to feel the magic growing turbulent inside her as she watched what other people were up to.

Rio came back after a while and leaned to kiss Cisco in greeting. Cisco reached up to hold him there longer, then nibbled at Rio's lips before moving on to his jaw. "Go take care of your queen. I think she's been riled."

Rio showed him a breathtaking smile and then moved to where Mari sat. He knelt in front of her, his hands smoothing over her thighs. She leaned back into the seat, scooting her hips toward him. He ducked his head under her skirt. Pulling her panties to one side, he licked along the seam of her lips. Mari tangled her fingers in his hair and forced his head back until his mouth made its way to her clit.

Mari locked eyes with Cisco and let her magic swell as Rio sucked her clit between his lips.

He grinned, showing his fangs. "Do you want me to raise the curtain?"

Mari lifted one leg to rest on Rio's shoulder and made herself more comfortable. "Let them watch and enjoy the contact buzz."

Cisco grinned. "Confidence looks good on you."

Rio applied pressure to her clit and worked her piercing with his tongue. Mari ran her fingers through his hair, letting the desire and the magic build without trying to direct it.

Having Rio cradled between her thighs felt natural, felt right. She trusted in his mastery of her body and his devotion to her implicitly, and that allowed her to engage in this performance without any fear.

Mari focused on how he made her feel with his sinful mouth. He played her expertly with his rough tongue, knowing when to push harder and when to back down to drive her wild. She lifted her hips rhythmically to meet him, amplifying every sensation. Sounds of pleasure poured from her, and she did nothing to restrain them. She arched her back, letting the magic rise out of her to fill the room, giving it away as freely as Rio gifted pleasure to her.

He slid two fingers into her, curling them against her inner wall at the same time as he tugged her piercing with his teeth. The dual pressure drove her over the edge, and she didn't resist the fall. She came in a rush, waves of magic crashing out from her in time with the clenching of her body.

Mari collapsed against the seat, her hand idly stroking Rio's hair as he lapped her clean with the utmost reverence.

The murmurs of conversation around them gradually resumed, and she knew without a doubt that she'd held the attention of every eye in the room.

Rio sat back on his heels and gently set her clothes right. He turned his head and kissed the boot over his shoulder, then winked at her. She tugged him up by his collar and kissed him, taking the time to taste herself in every crevice of his mouth and run her tongue over the sharp tips of his fangs.

When she finally pulled back, she held his face between her palms and stared into his golden eyes. "None of this would be possible without you."

Rio leaned forward, pressing his forehead to her collarbone, and sighed deeply, his satisfaction evident.

Mari pulled him up next to her on the seat and wrapped her arm around him, cuddling him close. She turned to where Cisco sat. "How was that?"

Cisco shook his head. "Fucking perfect. No notes."

After a few minutes, Esmé wandered over and set down a drink for Mari. "I've never felt anything like that. You broadcast more powerfully than any sex witch I know." She grinned toothily. "You probably just did more for our bottom line than anything I could do."

Mari nodded, feeling overwhelmed by the praise. "If I can do anything to fix the mess my father made of this city, I'll try."

"Coming back once in a while to spread the good vibes will do a lot to help."

Mari didn't mind the thought as much as she would have expected to. "We'll have to discuss it, but I think that sounds fine."

Esmé glanced toward Cisco, clearly trying to figure out what her chances were with him.

"Whatever the queen says goes," Cisco said with finality.

"Oh, so we're going with queen now? Should I put out a memo?"

Cisco chuckled. "I doubt you need to after that performance."

Esmé snorted with laughter. "You're probably right. It's all anyone will be talking about in the morning."

Mari couldn't decide if she was mortified or proud as she glared at both of them. Rio nuzzled into the side of her neck when he felt her tense, and she was glad for the momentary distraction so she didn't have to think about it more.

After Esmé left, Cisco said, "Did you see Nova up there? I haven't seen her on the floor tonight."

Rio turned to look at him. "No, I asked and she hasn't been around."

Cisco took an irritated gulp of his drink. "I don't know if that's something we should worry about or not."

"Willow said a few of the submissives didn't show up for work today, but they weren't sure if that was just them keeping their heads low or something else. We're going to have dinner tomorrow to talk about it."

The name Nova was familiar, and as they were talking Mari turned it over a few times to figure out where she knew the name from. The connection came to her suddenly, and she blushed as the memory filled her mind. Nova was the curvy medusa with copper snakes that Rio and Cisco and a few other guards had shared the night she watched them.

When Cisco picked up on her change in posture, he chuckled. "Oh. That was the night you watched us at the barracks." He winked. "That was a good one."

She nodded, embarrassed all over again, and tried to change the subject. "And Kima isn't here either?"

"I haven't seen her," Rio said, glancing around. "But she wouldn't have been upstairs with the submissives."

"Definitely not," Cisco added. "But it is weird that she isn't here. I'll make some calls about it tomorrow."

They spent the rest of the evening chatting idly between drinks and letting themselves be seen enjoying a night of leisure by the denizens of the Las Vegas underworld. All in all, Mari thought the night went well. It was definitely draining for her, but she also knew now that she could handle the attention. And, if she was honest with herself, she very much liked it.