Free Club Shadowlands by Cherise Sinclair Page A

and led her to a locked door marked Private and then into a small room down a hall. With a wave of his hand by the door frame, two wall sconces glowed with soft, flickering lights.
    She halted just inside the door, one wrist still in his grip. The throbbing music from the club was a soft murmur in her ears as she looked around. The dark-paneled room held a massive wrought iron bed with a shimmering sapphire cover, an antique armoire, and nothing else. She licked her lips. What was she doing? This was too much, too irrevocable.
    She pulled against his grip.
    “No, Jessica,” he murmured. “You’re here because you want to be. If you leave, you’ll always wonder what could have been.”
    How did he know that?

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    Cherise Sinclair
    Her breath came hard as he led her to the bed, but he simply sat on the edge and pulled her onto his lap, clasping her hand. “First of all, this time between us is simply for pleasure.
    Trust me to know how to give you that pleasure. Can you do that?” His eyes were intent as if he could see into her soul.
    She nodded then stiffened. “You won’t whip me…or anything, right?”
    “No, kitten.” He stroked a finger down her cheek. “You’ve experienced the worst of the physical punishments I hand out.”
    Her muscles relaxed slightly. “Okay.”
    “Second. If you become too frightened or are somehow in pain, your safe word is red. If you use that word, everything stops. It’s the equivalent of calling nine-one-one, so don’t use it lightly.”
    A way out. That was good. She realized her hands were cold within his warm grasp.
    “But, Jessica.” He tipped her chin up to pin her with a hard gray stare. “If you’re hurting or frightened, simply tell me.” His lips curled up. “If I’m doing my job, I will know; nonetheless, I expect you to share what you feel with me.”
    Bare her thoughts, her emotions? Could even sex with him be as intimate? Both would leave her vulnerable… This really wasn’t a good idea, was it? “Sir, I think --”
    “You think too much sometimes,” he murmured, releasing her hands to tangle his fingers in her hair. “This is enjoyment, not a college exam.” Tilting her head back, his mouth closed on hers in a tender kiss. He kissed her slowly, thoroughly, as if he had all the time in the world. Her skin heated and suddenly she was ready to feel his hands on her, wanted his hands on her. Her fingers curled in his silky hair, and she kissed him back until her head spun.
    She hardly noticed when he rose to his feet, his mouth still on hers, when he pulled her to her feet. He stepped back, leaving her out of breath, her lips tingling.

    Club Shadowlands
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    His eyes were dark, his mouth in a firm line as he turned her to face the bed. Bending her forward, he set her hands on the cool silk cover.
    “Don’t move your hands from where I put them,” he said. “Do you understand?”
    Oh… It was starting. Her heart gave a hard thud. As her fingers curled the quilt into bunches, she nodded.
    “Say, ‘Yes, Sir,’ so I know you are hearing me.”
    “Yes, Sir,” she whispered, and shivered.
    “Very nice.” He stroked her cheek. Then she felt his hands on her waist, undoing her skirt. His fingers were firm, sure. When her skirt pooled around her feet, leaving her bare from the waist down, she jerked and started to stand.
    “Stay in place, little one.” His hand pressed on her back, unmoving until she resumed her position, hands braced on the bed. And then he touched her, massaging her sore buttocks, murmuring in pleasure. “You have a beautiful ass, Jessica. Just right for my hands.”
    His fingers slid down the crack between her cheeks, touched her folds so intimately that she gasped. “You’re wet for me already,” he rumbled. He slid his fingers through her wetness over and over until her slit was on fire and her hips squirmed uncontrollably. But she managed to keep her hands still.
    “You didn’t move. Good girl,” he said, and the