Nicole Edwards - Perception

“What is your safe word, Xander?” There was a hint of exasperation in her tone.

He knew she was asking more for Clarissa’s benefit than anything else. “Red,” he answered easily.

“Good boy,” Mercedes answered but she didn’t touch him which was somewhat of a disappointment.

Then again, he made a mental note to punish her later for calling him “boy”. Especially after Shane chuckled from the corner.

“Tonight, I’m going to introduce you to Xander,” Mercedes explained to Clarissa. “I’m not going to push your boundaries yet.”

Introduce her? Holy fuck. He doubted Clarissa understood just what the meant, but he damn sure did. And it surprised him on all counts.

Xander noticed the relief on Clarissa’s face.

Just wait, little girl.

“If, at any time, you’re uncomfortable, use your safe word. Everything will stop at that time, and you and Shane will be free to leave.”

Xander watched Clarissa’s face closely which is why he saw her immediate reaction. Concern?

“Talk to me, Rissa,” Mercedes encouraged.

“If I have to use my safe word, does that mean we will never engage with the two of you again?”

That was a good question. In his experience, when a sub used a safe word, he would end the scene and let it end there. Due to his expectations, which he admitted were quite high, he expected his subs to endure what he would give them. He fully respected them if they couldn’t, but he often found that given a repeat opportunity, that same sub would safe word out again. He was more than willing to teach a sub how to endure what they needed, but those were discussions he had up front.

He knew with Mercedes, she wasn’t quite as cut and dried as he was. She was strict, not leaving much room for error, but she would generally allow second chances if a sub opted to use their safe word. Sometimes a third. So, needless to say, he was quite interested in knowing as well.

Although she would always respect a subs reason for safe wording, Mercedes usually wasn’t a forgiving Domme. If something didn’t go the way she felt it should, she’d be the first to shut things down, and she’d move on. He’d seen her do it before.

“No, it doesn’t mean we can’t pick up in the future at some point,” Mercedes explained gripping Clarissa’s chin more forcefully this time. “But I want you to know who I am, Rissa. You have to understand that I’m not a pushover, and it’s my job to push my subs as far as they can handle and then some.”

“I understand, Mistress M,” Clarissa answered, her eyes locked on Mercedes, her tongue darting out to lick her lower lip.

“I will say this,” Mercedes began, inching just a little closer to Clarissa. “If I feel as though you’re holding back, not using your safe word if it is too much for you, then that’ll be the end. I won’t engage with you ever again like this. This is something I take very seriously. Do you understand?”

“I understand, Mistress M.”

“Very good,” Mercedes said, her head tilted slightly as though she were trying to read something in Clarissa’s gaze.

Xander hoped like hell she found what she was looking for because he was rapidly losing his patience. His mind was already halfway home and Mercedes was naked. Beneath him.

“I want you to undress Xander,” Mercedes instructed Clarissa and Xander’s gaze slammed into Mercedes’s.

Really?

She was going there?

Instead of speaking out, he swallowed his retort.

If Mercedes thought she could put distance between them by using Clarissa, the woman had another thing coming.

Shane stood near one corner of the room, trying to stay out of the way as Mercedes took control of the scene that would play out before him. It was harder than it looked, especially being a bystander while a Domme directed Clarissa.

He liked where Mercedes was taking this though. He definitely agreed with introducing Clarissa to Xander. It was a nice visual. Xander with his overbearing personality and his massive body, Clarissa so petite and sweet looking… Definitely hot.

It did not, however, look like Xander was fully on board with the idea. But Shane would give the man credit – at least he kept his mouth shut.

For now.

It was rather intriguing to see Mercedes direct Clarissa, to instruct the woman to put her hands on Xander. But he noticed that Mercedes did not instruct Xander to touch Clarissa.

And that wasn’t an accident, he knew.

Although, personally, he wasn’t as impressed with Clarissa’s hands on Xander as he would be if Xander were touching Clarissa at the same time. More so if he were the one doing the directing of the two of them. Hell, just the thought of it even made his dick hard.

God, the woman was so fucking hot. And he knew she was generally game for anything. But he hadn’t played with her much. It had just been recent when they had started down this path. Friends with benefits, they had agreed. Multiple benefits.

As he watched the three people across the room, Shane was impressed that Clarissa didn’t say anything, nor did she look his way. She just turned to face Xander more fully, staring up at him. Way up.

Having played with Clarissa multiple times at Kink, Shane knew what to expect from her. Being that she probably felt incredibly safe with the three of them because they were all friends, although Clarissa had the least amount of interaction with Xander, she was likely going to go with the flow easily.

That was one thing about her that he had a love/hate relationship with. Although she was nervous, Clarissa tended to do exactly as she was told. She had no problems handing over the reins completely. If he said crawl, she’d crawl. And he had definitely pushed her limits a time or two.

But for tonight, Shane had zero expectations. He truly hadn’t anticipated engaging with Mercedes and Xander. And damn sure not with Xander as a fucking sub. Shit, just looking at him was difficult. Even if, as a sub, he still exuded that overwhelming presence that people strayed to.

The man was not a sub. You could dress him up and make him do whatever, but he still wasn’t a fucking sub.

Shane wondered just how long Xander was going to play along tonight.

Turning his attention back on Clarissa, Shane watched as she moved closer to Xander. Even with her heels on, Xander was significantly taller. And probably at least twice her width.

The man was built like a brick shithouse. Granted, Shane wasn’t a pushover in the size department, but he’d be the first to admit, he had never broken six feet. But he did have a muscular build, not even remotely close to what Xander was packed with, although he wasn’t a lightweight either. But truthfully, Shane wasn’t sure he’d ever met anyone quite as big as Xander.

When Clarissa’s hands flattened against Xander’s stomach, Shane’s dick pulsed again. Her pale fingers against Xander’s tan skin were a vibrant contrast. The dim lights in the room helped to accentuate the planes of Xander’s chest and stomach as Clarissa roamed up and over the ripples of muscle.

Considering Xander wasn’t wearing anything from the waist up, Shane figured Clarissa was just getting comfortable with Xander’s body. Watching her was a fucking turn on like no other. He loved to watch her when she touched him as well. To see the wonder in her expression and the heat in her honey brown eyes. There were times when she still seemed so damned innocent, even if she was getting down and dirty.

And she certainly was a dirty girl. One of the main reasons he liked playing with her. That and she wasn’t looking for a relationship. Shane would admit that he cared about Clarissa as a friend, but he could never see anything more than that between them.