Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

LANDON

H umiliation play. Not one of his favorites, but in his opinion, there were far worse options the chip could've landed on. A variety of things he could do to embarrass her without making her hate him more than she already did filtered through his brain.

Landon waited patiently for Clarissa to put her hand in his. Behind him, someone cleared their throat. He glanced over his shoulder to see Ian, who gave Clarissa the evil eye. Ignoring the head Dom, who undoubtedly would watch them carefully that evening, Landon turned back to Clarissa, his hand still waiting for hers.

Suddenly, she released an exasperated sigh, and then the cheeky woman he'd fallen in love with all those years ago emerged, if only for a few moments. "Fine. Let's get this night over with."

When she put her hand in his, he closed his fingers around it. Ian slapped Landon on the back and walked away without a word, fading into the crowd.

"What's your safeword, Clarissa?" Landon asked.

She closed her eyes, and he bet it was to keep from rolling them at him. "Red, as always, Master Landon ."

"Just checking. And watch your tone." While he preferred that she call him Sir, as she'd done when they were a couple, he'd take the "Master Landon" for now. He was walking a tightrope with her, and picking and choosing his battles was best. Any argument could send her running for the door.

Across the room, Landon spotted the owners—the Sawyer brothers Ian and Devon and their cousin Mitch—conversing with several members. As if feeling Landon's gaze, Mitch met it. He shook his head with a smirk. When Landon told Mitch his plan the other day over the phone, the man thought he was nuts about doing it in the middle of a big club event. There hadn't even been a guarantee that Landon and Clarissa would be partnered together. But he knew he had to take the chance. It was the only thing he could think of to force Clarissa to make the choice to listen to him since her only other option was to be permanently banned. She loved The Covenant and the friends she'd made among the members, and he knew she wouldn't risk losing this connection to them.

Landon tugged on Clarissa's hand and was surprised when she didn't hesitate to follow him to a circular iron staircase near the private playrooms. They climbed to the second floor, opposite the bar. Despite her obedience, one look at her face told him she was no longer dismayed about their pairing but, instead, bordering on outrage. He had to shut that down quickly before she ruined everything and got them both kicked out.

Entering the club's shop, he released her hand and pointed to a nearby corner. "Kneel, subbie, facing the wall."

If looks could kill, he'd be dead on the spot, but Clarissa didn't say anything beyond, "Yes, Master Landon ," through gritted teeth before following his command.

Once she was in position, Landon turned to Aldo Russo, a flamboyant submissive in his late twenties, who immediately greeted him. The man was recently promoted to boutique manager after the former one, Sasha Lewis, moved to the Florida Keys to work at the new Master Key Resort, which the Sawyers also owned. The assistant manager, Maggie Flynn, stood by Aldo's side, waiting for Landon to speak. His toy bag was in the men's locker room, but he hadn't had time to restock it since the last time he'd used it. While he hadn't dated or had sex with a woman since Clarissa had thrown him out of the house they shared, he still occasionally scened with a willing submissive, mainly out of loneliness. The boutique carried a wide variety of toys, fet-wear, and supplies, so the members didn't need to order them or shop elsewhere. The staff would add the total to his monthly invoice, which would also include any alcoholic drinks he might have while he was there.

After a quick glance around the store, he rattled off the items he wanted and waited while the two employees ran around, grabbing everything on his list. Landon had three whole hours to play with Clarissa, and he planned to take advantage of every minute. Hopefully, their next chip drop would give him a chance to explain everything to her without her being able to storm out like she had during the first Slot Scene Spectacular. For now, he'd ease into things and hopefully get her into a more relaxed state of mind.

When Aldo handed him the first two items he'd asked for, Landon stepped over to where Clarissa knelt impatiently. Bending at the waist, he whispered in her ear, "Lift your braid."

There was a brief moment of hesitation before she followed his order. He watched her jaw clench and her temple throb as he wrapped a hot pink dog collar around her slender neck. Next, he attached a matching leash to the collar and let the remaining length drop to the floor. He patted the top of her head. "Stay there like a good puppy."

A low growl emanated from her throat, causing him to chuckle and shake his head. If they got through this first scene without her biting him, it'd be a goddamn miracle.

After getting the last of the things he'd requested, he removed the packaging from several brand-new items before putting them all into a small bag that Annie held out for him. He thanked her and Aldo, then picked up the end of Clarissa's new leash and gave it a gentle tug. "Come, puppy. Walk on your hands and knees."

She exhaled sharply and glared up at him. "Seriously?"

"Quiet," he admonished. "Puppies don't talk—they bark and yap. Otherwise, they get spanked with this." He pulled a plastic rolled-up newspaper from the bag and showed it to her.

Her glare darkened, but she kept her mouth shut. This time, he couldn't help the smirk that crossed his face as he led her to a nearby restroom. While she waited outside, he washed his hands, then returned and ordered her to remain on her knees while resting her head on her hands, which would put her ass up in the air. She shot him another dirty look before complying.

He flipped her skirt up, exposing her bare cheeks. As he suspected, she hadn't worn any underwear, and his cock hardened at the sight. His beautiful ex-wife was a bit of an exhibitionist at times, something he loved to exploit when they'd been together. It'd made for some scorching sex scenes back then.

Landon sifted through the shopping bag and found a small packet of lubricant and a new butt plug attached to a stuffed tail, as well as a headband with felt dog ears attached to it. He set the band on her head, checking to ensure it didn't dig into her ears or pull her hair. Next, he lubed up the butt plug, then dripped the rest of the slick liquid down the slit of her ass. Using two fingers, he spread it over and into her puckered hole. When she clenched around him, his eyes slammed shut as he willed himself not to strip and fuck her right there outside the restroom—not that she'd let him, and non-consensual sex was definitely not his thing.

Once she was sufficiently prepared, he eased the butt plug into her ass. When it popped past her sphincter, a delicious moan escaped her, which shot straight to his groin. He knew it'd been involuntary when she abruptly cut it short and buried her face into her hands.

After setting her skirt straight, with the tail peeking out from under it, Landon stood and returned to the sink to wash his hands again.

Picking up her leash, he gave it another gentle tug. "Come, puppy."

As she followed him, he walked slowly so she could easily keep up. He allowed her to walk upright down the stairs before dropping to all fours again. He led her around and found an empty chair in a sitting area where a few other people had gathered. The Doms greeted him while the few submissives in the group bowed their heads in respect. One of the Doms smiled and said in an amused tone, "I see you've brought your puppy with you tonight. Does she do any tricks?"

Landon bit his lip as he sat down, trying not to laugh aloud. It would be one thing for the others to do that—after all, it was humiliation play—but Landon needed Clarissa to warm up to him tonight, not freeze him out completely.

"She's a work in progress, but let's see if she's learned anything so far." He pointed to a spot next to his feet. "Sit, puppy."

Clarissa's nose flared, and her upper lip quivered as if she fought the urge to bare her teeth before she lifted her chin, moved to the spot he'd indicated, and sat back on her heels. He could only imagine the curse words flying through her head at the moment, along with the many ways she would love to castrate or kill him.

"Good girl." He signaled for someone from the waitstaff to bring him two water bottles. When they were delivered, he pulled a bowl out of the shopping bag and removed the protective plastic that indicated it'd been cleaned and sterilized at some point. Setting it on the floor, he opened one of the bottles and poured water into the bowl. "Take a drink, puppy."

Her death glare pinned him again, and he just arched an eyebrow at her. "If I have to repeat myself, you'll be put in a cage until you can learn to obey your Master."

Clarissa's eyes rounded slightly. Cage play was on her red-limit list, so he couldn't follow through with the threat, but it reminded her about where she was and her role in the lifestyle she usually enjoyed. She glanced at the people surrounding them, all waiting to see what she would do. Finally, her gaze dropped to the floor, and she inhaled deeply before letting it out slowly and lowering her head to the bowl. She lapped up some of the cool liquid with her tongue, and Landon was reminded of what that wicked tongue used to do to his cock.

Furtively adjusting himself, Landon reached out and stroked the back of Clarissa's head. "That's my good girl."

Well, maybe she wasn't his yet, but he was determined she would be again before the night was over.