Page 154 of Enthrall Climax

I used the handrail as we descended into the lowest chambers. “Booth, you’ve gone quiet?”

“I’m trying to work out where your head is.”

“I may have lost Mia.”

He stopped suddenly and stared up at me from the lowest step. “What makes you say that?”

“Since Hillenbrand…”

“What happened to her?”

“She says nothing. But the experience was traumatic. Still, Chastain didn’t touch her, apparently.”

“You believe her?”

“Yes.”

“You have to talk with her.” He tilted his head to get me to follow him. “What the hell are you doing here?”

We strolled down the darkened hallway that led off to numerous dungeons. I heard the snap of a whip, telling me that a session was underway.

“How can you not miss this place?” asked Richard, as he turned the knob of a deep burgundy door.

“New York has my full attention.”

“You’re always welcome here.”

I strolled into the lavish seating area that faced a long wall of glass. It wasn’t unlike the two-way window back at Hillenbrand.

The luxury viewing booth allowed for an excellent angle to observe the BDSM session that was being led by Master De Sade, the ex-NFL player who had been knocked out of his profession when he’d sustained a neck injury. He’d come out of rehab with a renewed sense of life and penchant for pain.

“He teaches football to college students now.” Richard approached the glass window.

“That’s interesting.”

“Apparently he’s great at it.”

He’d earned himself a reputation during our Harvard days for pushing subs too far. That jock attitude had gone to his head.

Watching De Sade, the way he stroked his sub’s cock with panache, the way he spoke softly to him to ease him into the play, it was hard to imagine him ever turning violent, and yet this was what his clients yearned for.

The sub’s thighs were shaking as he squeezed his eyes shut to focus on not coming in De Sade’s hand, his squirming hinting he was close.

Back in the day, De Sade had helped me wrangle Scarlet to get her to France so I could match-make her with Danton. But after he’d left a scar on her thigh, I’d refused to talk to him.

“De Sade is single,” said Richard.

“If Shay falls for him, I want there to be an emotional connection.”

“You’ve changed your tune.”

“If I can change, so can De Sade. Everyone deserves a second chance.”

De Sade had his submissive crawling around on his hands and knees. Then his focus lifted off the man at his feet and his gaze rose to the window. He studied his reflection intently—and for a second it looked like he was holding my stare.

In a smooth and yet aggressive manner, De Sade pulled the sub up and positioned him to lie on his back upon a table. He stood between his legs and thrust his cock deep inside the man’s ass, at the same time owning that man’s erection with long, sleek glides. His hips edged him on like a savage piston. It was a visually spectacular, erotic showpiece to prove this master owned his sub. De Sade’s captive groaned, writhing in bliss, soaring closer. His heavy-lidded gaze turned our way and again came that uncanny feeling.

“He needs to slow it down,” I said firmly.