Page 45 of Winter’s Fire

Tristan rose. “I think they’re getting ready to start in a couple of minutes. I’ll go and get us another drink—the waiting staff look a little busy right now.”

“Thanks, Tris.”

Lee was fascinating to talk to, and some of the stories he told Lucy almost had her afraid to switch on her computer the next time she was in the office.

“Hey, don’t let what I’ve told you put you off using technology. The black hats may be good, but we’re better.”

His confidence was reassuring. “Black hats? I’ve heard the phrase, but I’m not sure what it means.”

“It harks back to the good old days, when the villains in a Western wore black hats. These days we use it to describe hackers who break into computer systems with malicious intentions.”

“As opposed to hackers who break into systems with good intentions?”

“That’s as good a way as any to describe it. Part of the service we provide is to test existing security by trying to hack into a system, and we also have teams of cryptologists developing even more advanced security algorithms.”

Three small bottles hit the table with a thud. “Yeah, about that, Lee.”

Tristan had returned with the drinks, and something about the last thing Lee had said didn’t seem to sit well with him.

“Tris, can the attitude. Now isn’t the time.”

“It’s never the time! Lee, we need to make a move or we’ll lose—”

“Tris, that’s enough!”

The command in Lee’s voice was unmistakable. Lucy wondered if she’d somehow parachuted into the middle of an ongoing dispute—all was clearly not well between the two men.

“I’m sorry, Lucy.” Tris sent a regretful look in his partner’s direction, then went around the table to kneel in front of him in presentation position. “I apologise, Master.”

“Apology accepted, but you’ve just earned yourself a punishment when we get home.”

“Yes, Master.”

A cold tremor shot down Lucy’s spine. Safe, sane, consensual. Whatever Lee had in mind for Tristan, it would be delivered with Tristan’s unequivocal consent, she had to remember that. And Lucy had to admit, there was something deliciously hot and sexy about the thought of these two stunningly handsome men together. Add in the extra spice of their D/s relationship, and…

She was turning into a sex maniac. At the very least, she was becoming more than a little obsessed.

“You okay, Lucy?”

Lee’s concerned question cleared the sensual fog cloaking her brain and focused her concentration where it ought to be. “Yes, thank you, Master Lee. I’m fine.”

Tristan resumed his seat. “It looks like they’re about to start.”

The duty manager took her place on the low stage. “Good evening, Masters, Mistresses and Dominants. As most of you are aware, Master Clark was due to give us a demonstration of Florentine flogging this evening. Unfortunately, he’s been detained due to circumstances beyond his control, so won’t be able to join us tonight. However, Master Logan has kindly agreed to step in and give the demonstration for us. Please take your seats, then we’ll begin.”

A quiet ripple of appreciative applause came from the audience, then silence flowed around the room. The stage curtains swept back, revealing Logan in all his most masterful, black-clad, breathtaking glory. In that moment, Lucy realised she’d seen only a fraction of his power as a Dom. His presence rolled out from the stage, and one word resonated in Lucy’s mind.

Mine.

“Good evening, everyone, and thanks to Antonia for that introduction. And an even bigger thank you to Pixie for volunteering to help me with this demonstration.” Logan extended a hand in the direction of the very scantily clad woman on the St. Andrew’s Cross. “I’m going to start by warming her up with a little light flogging, and then move into four-point Florentine.”

Lucy was only half-listening as Logan explained the movements his hands would make as he wielded the twin floggers. What had thrown her for a loop was the unexpected pang of envy she’d experienced when he’d acknowledged Pixie.

In direct conflict with that, though, was the knowledge that she could never have handled being up there on display, the centre of everyone’s attention. If anything like that cropped up at the resort…

“Everything all right?”

The whispered words came from her left, as the man who spoke them took her hand. She managed a reassuring half-smile and a nod. Although he was Lee’s submissive, Tristan still possessed the qualities of an alpha male, and she was grateful for his quiet support.