Page 30 of A Duke for Stealing (The Devil’s Masquerade #4)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“ Y ou have nothing to be nervous about,” Everett purred into her ear. His fingers trailed down Rose’s bare arms, sending sparks of heat through her anxiety. “You look positively ravishing.”

Rose smiled, despite her nervousness, and turned her masked face toward Everett.

It wasn’t that she didn’t feel beautiful.

She did. She was still in awe of where she was.

Of what she looked like- and even though she wore a mask of black lace and silk around her eyes and the left part of her face, she felt more bare than she’d ever had in her life.

The dress Everett had designed for her was not at all her usual taste.

The black silk, tunic-style dress had a plunging neckline that reached her sternum and exposed her cleavage, and the thin ropes for sleeves did nothing to cover her arms. Black, she had always thought, had never been her color, but after she’d donned her new dress, she considered that could have been mistaken.

“What if someone recognizes me?” She asked, looking back toward the common room of the Masquerade.

“Take a good look around, my good girl,” Everett whispered into her ear, pressing his chest to her back. “See why no one here cares to discover who you truly are.”

Rose took a steadying breath, and for the first time since they arrived a few minutes ago, she truly looked at those before her.

The common room was shrouded in billowy curtains of black and red, and red candles had been placed on every possible surface.

On top of the couches and chairs were masked and black-clad individuals.

Some were chatting softly among themselves.

Several men had women sitting on their laps.

A few women sat while men remained kneeling before them on the floor.

One woman was naked aside from her mask, and tied in a very exposing position in a chair while her partner stood right behind her, softly caressing her shoulders and neck, while others approached to ogle her.

Rose tensed slightly as she continued to watch the tied woman. She wanted to try something bold and new, but not that.

Everett was right. These people truly did not care who she was. They were too enraptured by the lustful energy of one another.

“Come along,” Everett commanded in a deep, low voice as he wrapped his arm around her bare back, “I shall show you more. Then you will tell me what you want to do next. This is your discovery, Rose. You will not be forced to do anything you do not want to do.”

Rose relaxed a little at his words and let her lead her into the room.

“Is anyone here forced to do these things?” She asked as they got closer to the tied woman.

“No,” Everett replied, “In fact, it is against the rules. Everything that happens here happens willingly. To do otherwise is to be cast from the club permanently.”

“She wants to be tied up like that?” Rose asked.

Everett stopped her as they stood almost directly before the tied woman.

“Take a good look at her face,” Everett urged. “Tell me what you see.”

At first, all Rose saw was the mask and ropes the woman wore.

Then she took a breath, looked beyond those things and past the fact that she was so starkly naked, and gasped softly in surprise.

The woman’s lips were parted, taking in deep, heavy breaths as the man behind her traced his fingertips wherever he pleased.

Her lashes fluttered through the eyeholes of her mask, and though it was subtle, the woman’s body was undulating beneath the man’s touch.

“Oh my,” Rose breathed, feeling heat wash over her. “She loves it.”

“She does,” Everett agreed, moving her along.

“And that is exactly what this place is for. To take part in what people love to feel, no matter how taboo it may be. Some people wanted to be dominated, like the woman in the chair or the men on their knees. Others want to dominate. Some like being exposed, tied, lashed. Some like to dally with one partner, and others seek those who want to dally as a group. And all those tastes are met here.”

Rose’s mind exploded with curiosity as Everett led her away from the common room. What did she want to feel? Experience?

“Rooms with a red sash around the doorknob indicate that others are welcome to join or view,” Everett explained as they came to a corridor of doors, “Ones marked with a black sash mean that those inside want their privacy. Choose your first door, Rose.”

Rose felt her anxiety shift into excitement as she was given the choice, and she reached for the first red sash on her right.

“Hmm,” Everett hummed as she opened the door, “These ones like to be lashed.”

In the center of the room stood what looked to be a metal four-post bed frame, with no bed in the middle.

In between the posts, three people were tied at their wrists and feet so their bodies were spread out like an X.

Moans poured from their mouths as their partners lashed them with different items along their backs and derrieres.

“What are those things?” Rose asked, pointing to what the three free were holding. “I recognize the crop, but that is all.”

Everett pressed his hand to his back again and led her not to the four-post frame, but to the wall to the left, where a myriad of items hung.

“Everyone has a different level of pain or pleasure they want to experience,” he explained, taking down a black crop, “For those that want more pain than pleasure, a crop, or a whip is better. What would you like to feel?”

Rose blushed at the question and glanced back at the others.

“We do not have to try it here,” Everett said before she could ask. “We can take these with us. Find an empty room and tie a black sash to the door.”

Rose sighed.

Good. I am not sure what I want yet, but I am certain I don’t want to be on display for others.

“The crop,” she said after consideration, “But not the whip.”

“Certainly,” Everett replied, his smile wicked as he put the crop back and took the whip. He also retrieved a black item that looked scarier than the crop. It had a thick leather handle and had several long, loose, heavy leather straps hanging from it.

“For those that prefer more pleasure than pain, they often request a lashing with this,” Everett explained.

This surprised her.

“But it looks so intimidating!” She whispered loudly.

Everett chuckled. “Shall we try it on you and have you discover for yourself?”

Rose nodded, her wonderment growing by the second.

“My Lord Pan,” a feminine voice purred from behind them, “My it has been too long since we have been graced by your presence.”

Rose caught Everett’s frown as they turned to face the woman speaking to him.

“Fortuna,” Everett greeted, his stiff tone surprising Rose.

“You look as handsome as ever,” Fortuna purred from behind her mask.

Rose had to agree. His black-on-black suit was well-tailored, and his black mask, which covered everything but his sharp jawline and chiseled lips, added an alluring mystery to his already good looks.

“And your little pet,” Fortuna went on when Everett didn’t answer.

She finally turned her eyes to Rose, and Rose bristled at the jealous spark she saw.

“How very adorable she is. She must be green, though, if you are explaining our little hobbies to her. Perhaps you and I could show her some things together.”

“No,” Everett replied, his tone adamant. “Have a pleasant evening, Fortuna. I am sure you will bring luck and fortune to someone else tonight.”

Rose didn’t miss the hurt expression on the woman’s face as they breezed by her; Everett not even sparing a second glance.

Maybe he is changing. Maybe he is…different now.

Well, not completely different. She could see the glimmer in his eyes as they made their way through the other rooms. Saw how his yearning for the acts they witnessed. The question was…did she yearn for them too?

When they reached a door that had neither a red nor a black sash on it, Everett drew a black sash from his jacket pocket, tied it to the knob, and then ushered her inside.

Rose was surprised at the finery of the room.

The room was decorated with red and gold brocade, as well as dark wood furniture that included a rectangular table with cuffs attached, a chair, and a large bed.

A fire was lit in the hearth, and light bobbed from the red candles in the sconces.

What she noticed the most, though, was that this room was free of people.

Excitement coursed through her veins as the skin on the back of her neck tingled, and she turned to Everett with a look of anticipation.

“And what is this room for?” She asked.

Everett smirked as he flicked the ends of the flogger into his palm.

“This room, my Rose, is for us. Now tell me. What is it you want me to do?”

Rose drew in a shaky breath as her skin prickled with heat.

“I want you to show me what you like to do here,” she replied. “What do you- what did you do with the women here?”

Everett’s green eyes glittered with satisfaction, but he remained still.

“I like to command,” he replied, his deep voice full of lust. “I like to control. However, that takes great trust or great uncaring from the woman’s part.”

Rose did care. She was caring more every day, so she knew she could not offer a lack of it.

“I trust you,” she whispered.

Everett’s smirk disappeared, and a hardened, almost primal expression took over his face. Then he nodded.

“Very well then, Rose.”

He turned then and went to the chair. He sat back, crossing one leg over the other, and braced the flogger on his knees. The crop he’d already laid on the table.

“Remove your dress and mask in that order,” he commanded, his grip tightening on the flogger. “Slowly.”

Rose shivered at his gruff, commanding tone, but she obeyed.

She reached slowly for the small strap on her left shoulder, pulling it down her arm.

Then she did so with the right. She then slid the dress slowly down her figure, letting it drag over her breasts, abdomen, and finally over her legs until it dropped in a black puddle to the floor.

There were no undergarments to remove. The dress was too tight for such.

A primal growl released from Everett’s chest as his eyes roved greedily over her naked form, and any thoughts of covering herself with her arms stopped.

Instead, she raised her chin almost proudly and reached up to remove her mask.

She let it clatter to the floor, then let her arms hang loose at her sides.

“ So beautiful, Rose,” he whispered, his voice raw with need.

Rose whimpered as another shiver passed over her.

“What shall I do now?” She asked, her voice trembling.

Everett stayed quiet for a long moment. His eyes continued to look over her greedily, as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Then he rose, laid the flogger beside the crop, and walked toward her.

Another growl rumbled from his chest as he circled her.

The touch of his fingers to her lower back was soft, yet the contact made Rose gasp.

It was as if every nerve ending in her body was standing on end, more sensitive than ever before.

His touch traced over her hip, her stomach, and to her other hip as he walked another circle around her.

“You’re trembling,” Everett said, tracing his fingertips up her spine. “Do you like my touch, Rose?”

“Yes,” she breathed.

“Do you want more?”

“Yes.”

He stopped walking as he came to face her.

He placed a hand on her lower abdomen, stroking the space almost reverently, then traced his fingertips up, between her breasts, over her collarbone, and up to her throat.

She whimpered and swayed when his fingers wrapped around her neck, and he squeezed lightly.

“Tell me,” he commanded, holding her gaze, “Tell me you want my touch.”

Rose drew in a shuddering breath, the anticipation starting to make her ache.

“I want your touch, Everett,” she replied.

“Where?”

“Everywhere,” she breathed.

Another rumble rose from his chest, and in an instant, he was pulling her forward. His lips crushed down on hers, sending an explosion of arousal throughout her body as he laid his claim. She parted her lips at his insistent kiss, and she writhed in pleasure as she felt his tongue slide over hers.

Everett kissed her until he stole her breath, her mind, and when he finally released her, she was dizzy and spellbound. In a rush, he spun her around, and his lips and teeth laid tantalizing attention to her neck as his fingers moved to her nipples and teased them into her hard peaks.

“Everett,” she whispered, feeling her knees start to buckle from the intensity, “Oh, it feels…so…so much…”

She couldn’t finish, couldn’t find a way to end her thought as one of his hands released her breast and slid down between her legs to her pulsing sex.

She let out a strangled cry as he began to tease the sensitive bud just above her petals, and it was only by his hold that she didn’t collapse to the floor.

He stroked her expertly, spinning rhythmic circles over her bud as he pressed her backside into his hardened length.

“That’s it, Rose,” he whispered into her ear, bringing her closer and closer to release, “Let go for me. Obey like a good girl.”

A moan poured from Rose’s throat as his deep voice and wicked words pushed her over the edge, and she sagged weakly into his hold as she felt waves of pleasure wash over her again and again.

“That’s my good girl,” Everett whispered. He nipped her earlobe, her neck. “So very sweet and good for me. You want more?”

Rose tried to speak through her panting breaths, but she could not find her voice. So she nodded vehemently.

Everett gripped her chin and turned her head, meeting her for another passionate kiss that left her in whimpers.

“Crawl on the bed. Go to the head of it, and put your hands on the wall,” Everett commanded as he moved away from her.

Without his hold, Rose’s body felt weak, and she nearly stumbled as she walked on trembling legs to the edge of the bed and pulled herself up onto it.