Page 109 of House of Cards

“The fuck do you think you’re doing?” I rasp.

“Using my belt.” He yanks it out of his belt loops as Zoey yells into her gag. Folding it in half, he makes it snap.

I struggle to restrain myself as I lean over and gently pull the belt from the guy’s hands. Then I toss it over my shoulder. “No.”

The guy frowns and opens his mouth.

I hold out a finger, tutting him. “No.”

He pouts like the adolescent fuck he is.

I take a deep breath and start rubbing my palm over Zoey’s ass. “After you’ve discussed their safe word, hard limits, and anything in particular you’d like to do to them, or have done to you, during a session, it’s crucial that you prepare your sub’s body.”

“Sub, yeah,” Chad murmurs absently, his eyes now locked on Zoey’s backside. “Fuck, what a sweet ass.”

Air billows into my lungs as I take a slow breath. “You’re talking again.”

Chad holds up his hands. “Sorry, sorry.” Then he tucks them under his armpits, grinning at Zoey’s backside like he doesn’t trust himself not to grab her.

Christ, I don’t trust him either. I move between them, forcing him to take a step back as I massage Zoey’s other ass cheek.

“Massaging brings more blood to the area. It’ll ensure the sub feels more pleasure and more pain.”

Chad grins like the fucking idiot he is, but thankfully, remains silent. Guess I’m putting on a good enough show to keep him entertained.

“When your sub is warmed up, you can start with the flat of your hand.” I demonstrate by giving Zoey a solid thump on her ass. She huffs against the gag, but otherwise doesn’t react. “Different surfaces and rigidity provide distinct sensations for the sub. You can feel their body’s response through most toys, but when you’re starting off, I’d suggest using your hand.”

“What about a paddle? Or a flogger?”

I don’t know what disturbs me more. That this idiot—I can’t remember if his name is Chad, or Thad, or Brad—might have done some research and he’sstillan idiot, or that he watched enough fetish porn to have picked up a few words, and now thinks he’s capable of handling a session of impact play without harming his sub.

Physicallyandpsychologically.

“Not today.”

“Can I at least fuck her after?” he whines.

“Not. Today.”

Not fuckingever.

I shove away that silent promise and deliver a few more solid thumps to Zoey’s ass. When she moans into the gag, my cock comes out of its slumber and starts paying way too much attention to what’s happening.

Christ, this is a first.

I’ve never gotten a hard-on during training before.

“Don’t land on the same area repeatedly. Spread the load?—”

Chad giggles.

“—so she doesn’t bruise as easily.”

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” Chad steps forward, working his hand like he’s about to start arm wrestling someone. “Let me have a turn.”

The sudden intense pressure in my chest makes it impossible to reply. I fight the urge to grab him when he pulls back his arm and have to school my face when he lands a blow on Zoey’s plump backside.

She grunts angrily into the gag, throwing her head around like she wishes she could see the idiot who just dared to touch her.