Free Club Wonderland by Christine d'Abo Page A

already learned the hard way about becoming emotionally attached to a sub. At least with Alice he knew her well enough to be able to see if things were getting too serious.
    “I know you don’t understand what we do here, what I like. You are permitted to ask questions. I might decide to answer them. Or not. That is my prerogative as your Dom.”
    Alice nodded, as a flush colored her cheeks.
    “I’ll make that rule number one. Alice must ask questions when she doesn’t understand. Say, ‘yes, Sir.’”
    “Yes, Sir.” The words were spoken softly, but she didn’t seem tentative.
    “Rule number two. You are to trust me. I need you to do what I tell you to, but understand that I won’t do anything that I don’t think you can handle.”
    “But how will you know?” Alice pressed her lips together almost as soon as the question came out. He’d seen this reaction before in a sub. They wanted to know, to press, but were scared of angering him.
    “Did you forget rule one already?” He wanted to touch her, run his hands through her hair and offer her a small measure of comfort, but held himself back. “I won’t punish you for asking questions. Not tonight at least.”
    Somehow, Alice’s big hazel eyes got wider. “There will be another night?”
    Shit. So much for not getting attached. “No.”
    There was a flicker of something in her eyes. Not disappointment exactly. If he didn’t know better, he would have said she looked challenged. He should have known that a woman of her caliber had boundless depths of strength to draw from.
    “To answer your question, I will know because you will tell me in a specific way. Saying ouch won’t cut it. Neither will stop . You’ll have to say Red . That will be the way I know things have gotten too much for you.”
    “ Red ?” Alice let her gaze slip to the floor. “Why can’t I just say stop or no ?”
    “Because some submissives enjoy saying no . They like to push and love it even more when I push them back. The struggle is what’s important.”
    “And how do you push them?” Her gaze was locked on his shoes and a beautiful blush now covered her cheeks and throat. “What exactly do you do?”
    He had learned the power and appeal of restraint early on in his life. It wouldn’t surprise those who were familiar with him in the courtroom that he took control in the bedroom in much the same way.
    Perhaps it was time for Alice to learn firsthand, and to hell with the consequences.
    “Don’t forget that you asked for this.” Closing the distance between them, Gael stopped by her side, pleased that she didn’t move her hands from where they were clasped.
    Alice watched him as he reached out and slid the thin strap of her sundress across her shoulder and down her biceps. Her skin was as soft as he’d imagined it would be, and he went slower than he would normally, liking the way her breath hitched and her blush deepened. She pulled her hands apart for a second, but when he gave her a sharp look, she re-clasped them behind her.
    Goose bumps rose on her skin, trailing in the wake of his touch. The scent of her perfume and sex tickled his nose, making his cock pulse. Regardless of what happened between them here, from now on when he caught a whiff of her scent, he’d associate her with this moment—half-naked on her knees by his side.
    “You know how to stop things. You need to say Red . I’ll back up and you can walk away. I won’t think any less of you.”
    It would kill him, but he’d do it.
    Alice shook her head. “I... No, I’m fine.”
    The top of her dress now pulled on the loose side, exposing her bare breast. Of course she wasn’t wearing a bra. That would be too easy on him, to have that rounded flesh hidden from sight. Instead of focusing on the skin before him, Gael moved around her slowly, running his finger along the back of her shoulders.
    “I know you’ve watched me through the day. Your flirting was obvious, but not obnoxious. Not like some