Chapter 3

"I don't think that was a request," Edward's dark voice whispered as I watched the magnetic sway of her hips as she walked away and towards the front of the cavernous room.

I stood tentatively, my legs unsure as a newborn colt's and waited for Edward to lead me into the sea of bodies that congregated before a raised platform. Desire such as I had never known coursed through my veins as I tried to steady myself. It was unnerving, really, that this woman, this painfully beautiful and inhumanly erotic woman, could elicit such an overwhelming response from me with nothing more than her stare.

When she'd offered me her hand, I had been compelled to kiss her. To taste the skin and feel the texture of her fingers. I'd lingered, perhaps inappropriately, as visions of those fingers gliding over my neck assaulted me. It was only the approach of the man dressed as Cupid's pornographic alter ego that pulled me from my display. I'd looked up with a fair amount of embarrassment into her eyes, intent on speaking to her, only to find myself drowning in the maelstrom of her eyes.

There was an ancient secret hidden behind her eyes of centuries past and loves lost. There was the knowledge of the ages in her gaze and I was, in an instant, a helpless student that would have gladly begged to be taught those secrets of her past lives. I had never had such a violent reaction to any one person, male or female but I was almost desperate to earn the praise of the glorious woman that had shifted my world on its axis with a single look.

I followed Edward through the crowd with my eyes trained on the figures high above the crowd. Two girls were bound and kneeling, their faces flush with unreleased desire as an impressive man in a Gestapo uniform strode about impatiently as he waited for Laura to join him. The crowd knew her. Whispers of reverence and fear tore through mass of people as they clambered for a better view of the Domme that seemed to own everyone in the room with the arch of her eyebrow.

"Stand here," Edward barked as we took our position directly in front of the bench on the stage. Bosie, as Cupid had introduced himself to me, was releasing the tiny fabric of the skirt that hid Lady Laura from the crowd. I gasped as I saw the harness already fastened about her hips.

I could feel Edward standing behind me, close enough to feel his warm breath on my bare shoulder but not touching any part of me. He had leaned his head in so that his mouth was by my ear. He had obviously noticed my reaction to the harness and I could tell from the dark chuckle that ghosted across my chest that he was enjoying watching me falter.

"Do you see the beautiful pattern of pink across the slave's ass? That same ass will soon have the exquisite torture of Mistress Lola pounding into her," he hissed under his breath.

"Sir? Mistress Lola?" My voice sounded foreign to my own ears as I watched Bosie slowly coat the blood red dildo in lube with his experienced hands. I was stunned to feel the pricks of jealousy at my spine as I watched him lovingly adjust the Laura's weapon of choice.

"I introduced you to Lady Laura," he growled seductively. "And now, she is introducing you to Mistress Lola."

The very moment he said the name, she turned her head as if she'd heard him and seemed to leer at me. It was a heart-stopping smile that both terrified and excited me. With a loud slap to the slave's already inflamed rear, the man pushed himself into the girl's mouth. She had been lead to a bench that provided both aggressors with the perfect angle with which to punish her.

As she slowly pushed the hard dildo into the struggling girl, I felt my own breath hitched my throat. The very air around me seemed heated to the point of inferno as I watched Mistress Lola fuck the slave agonizingly slow.

"Can you feel her?" Edward teased, his lips just barely touching the rim of my ear. "Can you feel her thighs rubbing against you? Filling you. Claiming you. You can, can't you Rose?"

I couldn't help it. I moaned at his words. I could feel my own body reacting to the scene before me. My nipples were stiff below the fabric of the corset and I wondered if they would push their way out of their restraints if I inhaled deeper. But most prominent was the slick fire that I could feel growing steadily higher between my legs.

I slid my right hand over my thigh as Mistress Lola picked up her pace and pushed the slave higher onto the bench with each well placed thrust. My fingertips grazed the very edge of my skirt, intent on exploring my own arousal, when Edward broke through my lust induced haze.

"No," he said sharply. "You will not touch yourself. Clasp your arms behind your back and lock your wrists."

With no hesitation, I followed his orders, wishing desperately that it was the jewel toned voice of Lola directing me. The arch of my back to accommodate his orders pulled the skin of my breasts higher, releasing the barest tip of my nipple into the cool air. I moaned again at the feeling and closed my eyes briefly to revel in the new sensation.

"Open your eyes Rose. Watch her. You would very much like to be her slave, wouldn't you? I can see your skin flushing and I know if I reached my hand between your legs, you would be dripping."

He was killing me. Because he was right. I wanted to be the body that brought her the pleasure that was evident on her face as she drove harder into the faceless slave. I could almost feel her hammering into me as I watched a silent communication pass between the punishers on stage. Remarkably, both the man and Lola pushed harder against the slave, driving themselves toward release.

"Cum for her," he purred in my ear as her eyes narrowed in delight on the stage. "Give in to what your body is telling you. Cum for her."

I cried out as the ripples of my orgasm ran down my spine and hips. At the same moment, Lola called out loudly from the stage and locked her eyes on me. The force of her gaze and Edward's hot breath surrounding me prolonged the disembodied feeling that always accompanied my orgasm.

I swayed on my feet and felt Edward lean his body against me, his hand resting on my hip to steady my wavering balance. With my hands still locked behind my back, I felt his enormous erection pressing against hand but I did not move to grasp it. I was so intent on watching Mistress Lola that I could not focus on anything else.

The crowd was delighted in the scene they had been privileged enough to watch and were cheering loudly. With another beautiful sneer, Mistress Lola turned to face the crowd as Bosie reached around from behind her and removed the dildo from her harness. With the utmost care, he wrapped her skirt back around her waist, much to my and the crowd's disappointment. Her eyes had not left mine but now that the scene was over, it felt wrong to stare so blatantly at her. I dropped my eyes and bowed my head to my chin, hoping she would see I meant no disrespect.

I wanted her approval.

I wanted her desire.

I wanted her dominance.

God help me, I wanted her.

It was as if I'd fallen down the rabbit hole and into an alternate universe. I'd never been attracted to another woman until tonight and I had no idea how to process the new development. I'd never been insecure enough not to be able to appreciate a beautiful woman but this was a completely foreign experience. I wanted her eyes on me. Her hands. Her lips.

With my hands still secured behind my back and my eyes down, I felt vulnerable. Exposed. Edward's hand gripped my hip tighter as the crowd around us began to disperse. With more effort than I thought imaginable, I worked to steady my breathing and calm my thundering heartbeat. I had almost managed to right myself when the air around me seemed to become charged with sensual energy. With only the slightest glimpse of her feet as she made her way towards us, I dropped to my knees in front of her.

"And to what do I owe this beautiful display," the piercing voice of Mistress Lola said from above me, amusement evident in her tone.

I leaned forward and placed a respectful kiss on the top of each of her feet. When I straightened back to sit on my heels once again, I felt the calming thread of her fingers as she lightly stroked them through my hair. Every pass sent a wave of blissful torture from my scalp to my core, reigniting my desire to a height I'd never experienced.

"It seems our Rose here wishes to show her thanks to you Mistress Lola," Edward laughed kindly from close behind me. "I do believe she enjoyed the show. In fact, that enjoyment seems to still be running down her inner thigh."

With an orchestral laugh, Mistress Lola stepped closer to me and pulled my head so that my cheek was resting against the smooth coolness of her skirt. I inhaled deeply, taking in the maddening combination of latex and arousal. A flash of want erupted inside of me as I imagined turning my head and burying my nose in the enticing scent before me and I shuddered as I fought my urge. She stroked my hair lovingly for the briefest moment, comforting me and beckoning me at the same time.

"What do you wish to say to me Rosalie Hale," she purred as she tugged harshly on my hair, tilting my head back until I could see her stunning face.

"Thank you for my release Madame," I said as respectfully as possible. She held my head forcefully back but I knew that I was not to make eye contact once I'd obeyed her command. Every nerve in my body was on edge as I closed my eyes in anticipation of her reaction.

"No need for thanks. The pleasure was all mine, I assure you," Lady Laura purred. The sound of her voice as she spoke to me combined with the salacious aroma that enveloped me was almost too much to bear. "Cullen," she said in a much lighter tone "you and I need to talk."

"On your feet Rose," Edward said sweetly but with little room for disagreement. I took his out stretched hand tentatively. Not because I was unable to stand or because I was hesitant in my reaction but because I desperately wanted to stay in such close proximity to the siren in front of me.

It was only as I rose to my feet that I realized Cupid had joined us. I could barely restrain the smirk that tried to burst forth as I once again took in his appearance. He was so over the top it was comical but yet, it suited him. This was clearly a man more comfortable with his sexuality than any other I'd ever met. He was so at ease with himself that he simply seemed oblivious to the thoughts, negative or otherwise, of anyone around him.

"Bosie, will you take our Rose here for a drink?" Edward asked smoothly as he placed my hand into the glittered palm of the twisted angel. I looked into the eyes of the older man and was struck by the warmth and comfort they afforded me.

"It would be my pleasure Cullen," he replied in his thick accent. His voice reminded me of a long forgotten time when women wore crinolines and men wore silken trousers. He gracefully tucked my hand in the crook of his arm and turned us away from the stunning couple. With each step I took away from her, the colder I felt. It was unnerving that such a physical sensation was even possible.

"Had I known that such a creature as you could be found in the States, I might have traveled there long ago," Bosie said in an amused tone. He looked at me out of the corner of his eye when I didn't respond, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Sweet girl, let's get one thing straight," he said turning to face me, the smile now fully engulfing his soft features. "Please don't be anything less than yourself with me. I am neither Dom nor sub, I am in a class all of my own. And I get the distinct impression that you and I are going to be seeing rather a lot of each other over the coming weeks."

I relaxed my posture for the first time since walking into the club. Bosie exuded comfortablility. It was virtually impossible not to feel completely at ease in his presence. I smiled widely at him as he leaned against the bar, one finger motioning wildly to the bartender. I choked out a laugh as I realized the bartender was dressed in nothing more than a red leather loin cloth and devil's horns.

"Bosie, tell me about Lady Laura," I said as I took a sip of the pungent red liquid in the champagne flute he'd handed me. He laughed loudly as he downed his own drink in a single gulp.

"My dear, we don't have enough time for me to tell you about Lady Laura tonight as I do believe we will all be leaving this fine establishment very soon. But I will tell you this. She has the sensibilities and taste befitting her noble bloodline but the will and desires of the strongest of men. She's exactly what she appears to be and nothing at all what you expect her to be. She's genuine and caring above all else. And can drink any man I've ever met under the table," he finished with wide smirk.

We both turned back toward the floor where we'd left Edward and Lady Laura to see them in a tense conversation. Neither seemed angry or irritated. It was almost as if we were watching a negotiation of sorts. They stood very close to each other, occasionally touching in intimate ways. The brush of her fingers down his forearm, his hand on her waist as they laughed at some unheard statement, their heads leaned toward each other almost as if leaning into a kiss.

I stood mesmerized watching them, the noise of the masses around us fading into the background. With a painful slap I didn't understand, I dropped my glass to the ground, shattering it into a thousand pieces. It was startling when I realized that I was jealous again.

Not of her familiarity with Edward.

But of his intimacy with her.

"Rose, are you alright?" Bosie asked, concern lacing his voice as I stepped away from the glass.

"I'm fine. I'm sorry," I said as I stared unabashedly at the two of them. I watched as Edward lifted her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of her hand. She smiled predatorily at him and flipped their still intertwined hands. With a force that made me wince from across the room, she took his finger in her mouth and bit down. I saw the shiver run down his spine as her teeth sank into his pale skin and I would have sworn that he groaned.

She released his hand from her mouth with another wicked grin and they both turned to face us at the bar. I had the distinct impression that they knew I'd been watching the conversation from nothing more than the small wink that Edward gave me. He stalked across the room in four long strides and pulled me against his chest tightly.

"Feel like playing a little?" he said in a voice I knew all too well.

I dropped my eyes again and simply nodded. With a sharp swat to my rear, he laughed darkly. I could still feel the heat of the palm print that I knew was now on my ass when I felt the silken fingertips of Lady Laura's hand rubbing soothingly over the same area. I arched my back into her fingertips as they caressed down the back of my thighs lightly.

"Bosie will take you and I will go with Laura," Edward said against my ear. His warm tongue traced a small line down my neck as I nodded my compliance once again.

With another quick rap, they both turned to leave without another word. I stood, dumbfounded, for a moment before I took the manicured hand of Bosie and let him lead me out the door.

We drove for a little under half an hour through the teaming streets of London. The entire ride was filled with polite small talk, masking the incredible excitement that I knew we both felt. How was my flight? What was I doing in London? The talk of my work settled my nerves as we drove. When we pulled into the underground garage of the beautiful townhouse however, my adrenaline shot through the roof.

Bosie helped me out of the car and lead me to a small elevator with no hint of what I might expect to find when the doors opened. I had noticed Edward's Volvo was already here as we pulled up, adding another layer to my increasing excitement. After an incredibly quiet ride up, we stepped into an opulent foyer. Everything in the room screamed of old world charm and deep rooted bank accounts.

"Now, when we are called, enter the room with your head up and eyes forward. Lady Laura will instruct you further from there," Bosie said in a tone of voice that was surely meant to calm me but did nothing but further flame my rapidly increasing desire. It was only a few minutes later that her lilting voice called down the dramatic staircase, bidding us to join them.

I thought, as I climbed the stairs, that I had some measure of what to expect. I was not new to playrooms or scenes. I had experience with many different forms of play and was generally open to any new ones that didn't fall directly into the category of my hard limits. But when Bosie opened the door, the sight that met me literally took my breath away.

Lady Laura, Mistress Lola in role, stood in the middle of the most decadent playrooms I'd ever seen, still dressed in her attire from the club. She had already taken the skirt off, exposing the harness about her hips once again. Directly in front of her, on his knees with his hands bound behind his back was Edward. It took only a second for me to realize that he was wearing a thick black cock ring around his raging hard on.

And his head was bowed.

Edward, the man that had introduced me to the world of submission, who had been my first and best Dom, who commanded the respect and attention of everyone he met, was the submissive to Mistress Lola's dominant.