Nicole Edwards - Perception

Shit, at this point, he wasn’t sure he’d even be able to convince his dick that this would be worth his while.

As he reached for the drinks he’d ordered at the bar, he felt the weight of the huge leather cuffs that wrapped around his arms and he fought the urge to groan. Another of Mercedes’s “surprises” for him tonight.

The woman was pushing her luck. Up to this point, he thought he’d been somewhat of a good sport about this. Thank God he’d be the one in control as soon as they made it back to his condo because he was going to tan her ass for putting him through this shit.

He made his way back to where Mercedes was standing, handing her the drink she’d requested. As he stood beside her, he kept his attention focused solely on her. It was that or possibly rip the fucking collar off of his neck and use it to bind her hands behind her back so he could take her nine ways to Sunday right there at the fucking bar.

The look she shot him would’ve had a weaker man cowering. She was going to push her limits tonight; it was written clearly in her beautiful gray eyes.

His attention was drawn to a sound across the room, and Xander looked up to see Shane laughing at something Luke McCoy said.

Just fucking great.

It looked like Mercedes was going to have her work cut out for her tonight because he wasn’t feeling especially submissive. Exactly the opposite. And maybe that’s what she needed. Topping from the bottom was something he despised, but it was also something he could master in the situation he was currently in. Based on the way Mercedes had submitted to him so sweetly over the last few days, he knew it wouldn’t be tough to accomplish either.

He glanced around the room as he waited for to command him to do something, wishing like hell they’d just get on with it. As it was, it seemed everyone who was anyone was there tonight.

Of course, he noticed Sam and Logan were sitting on one of the couches closer to the glass enclosed rooms talking to Sierra and Cole, who looked way too cozy at the moment.

He wondered how long before Mercedes noticed they’d shown up tonight. Or how long it would take for her to interact with them. If it had been him in control, after all that had happened since their first trip to Devotion, he could easily figure out a way to work Sam and Logan into tonight’s festivities.

Shit.

Glancing down, he noticed she was watching them intently, probably trying to mentally will them to see her. Or him. Or both of them.

Fucking hell.

If she had any intention of inviting them to watch, or worse, participate, he was going to lose his shit.

Then again, Mercedes was acting different tonight. Quite frankly, she’d been acting strange since he found her lying in his bed that morning. She’d been lost in thought when he approached, and it hadn’t been until he spoke that she even realized he was in the room.

They’d been apart during the day because work had gotten in the way, but as soon as she walked into his condo that evening, she’d taken the reins and was holding them tight, fully morphing into the Mistress she was known to be.

His only hope would be to get her naked so he could slake his lust inside of her. If that were to happen, he didn’t give a shit who stood by to watch. So, maybe, if he were lucky, he might just get something out of this.

Then again, if she wanted to keep it one on one between the two of them, no one around to see how hot she made him burn, he was all for that as well. He could think of a million ways to make her scream his name, didn’t matter if she believed she was the top or the bottom. He didn’t give a fuck either way.

“Are you ready?” Mercedes asked him several minutes later as she set her empty glass on the bar.

He downed what was left of his Glenlivet before turning to face her. Just for the hell of it, he didn’t answer, just nodded his head. The way she cocked her eyebrows almost made him smile, but he managed to hold it back. Just the little act of not verbally responding was enough for her to think about all of the ways she could punish him and quite frankly, Xander was looking forward to seeing her do her worst.

“I want you one step behind me at all times,” she ordered, and he immediately remembered the first theme night they’d attended just a few short days ago. He’d said something very close to that to her.

When she turned away, just because he could, he took a moment to admire her beautiful body. The woman made his blood burn hot, and it didn’t matter if she was wearing the demure silk that he preferred to see her in or in the sexy Domme-wear she sported now. Hell, she could’ve been naked because when she got that air of confidence about her, he lusted after her all the more.

Again, it was all about stirring things up a bit.

He followed Mercedes, knowing full well she intended to head over to Shane because that was going to be her way of punishing him for what he’d put her through the last few days. And since he’d already defied her once since their arrival, he knew she’d be keeping track of his transgressions from here on out.

Considering he knew Samantha and Logan were watching, Xander decided tonight might just be the night to introduce them to what it meant to be a defiant sub. After all, he could be a teacher no matter which role he was in.

“Shane, good to see you,” Mercedes greeted as the pair hugged and kissed one another briefly.

Xander didn’t allow the chaste kiss to upset him, although he had the urge to punch Shane in his too pretty face. Rather than give the man something to remember, Xander stood one step behind her as instructed and glared down at Shane with a smirk on his face.

“Looks like your sub’s a little cocky tonight,” Shane said, unable to disguise his amusement with the situation.

You’re a dead man , Xander mouthed, making sure Shane read his lips perfectly.

Shane laughed, causing Mercedes to turn and look back at him, taking a moment to study him as she did, and Xander made sure the smirk was gone.

“It would seem so,” she said absently. “I think I have a good idea on how to take care of that though.”

Xander cocked an eyebrow as he met her gaze, unwilling to look away. He wanted to know what she had in mind. He’d half hoped she would’ve laid out her plan for the night prior to their arrival, but she’d kept the majority of the details to herself. It appeared she was going to surprise him. That was ok too. He liked surprises. Monotony wasn’t all it was cracked up to be.

“Care to watch?” she asked Shane, never taking her eyes off of Xander.

“Depends,” Shane grinned like a fool. “As much as I’d love to see you beat his ass, I’m waiting for someone. She should be here any minute. If you can wait a few minutes, I’d be happy to watch. Or even participate.”

Xander was going to put a serious hurt on the man if he didn’t shut the fuck up.

“We’d like to watch.” The voice came from behind Xander and he did his best not to turn around, but he knew without looking who it was.

Samantha McCoy.

Lord kill him now.

“Is that right?” Mercedes asked, turning to address Samantha with a stunning smile on her lovely face. From what Xander could tell, she definitely liked the idea of Sam watching whatever she had in store for him tonight.

“If that’s all right with you, of course,” Sam amended.

Xander edged around, trying to stay one step behind Mercedes as instructed. He wanted to see Sam as she addressed Mercedes, wondering whether she’d even noticed the drastic role switch they’d done for the night.

“I’ve reserved room three,” Mercedes informed Sam, her hand lifting in the direction of the glass rooms that stood proudly in the center of the main floor. “If you’d like, you can have a front row seat.”