Reid leaned forward and whispered against her ear, “That’s Grant. The owner.”

Oh.

Grant glanced in her direction and gave her an encouraging smile. “Ladies and gentleman, our next initiation will be given by a new member. Please welcome Master Reid to our ranks.”

Reid rose and clasped Brynn’s elbow. “Up.”

A quiet smattering of applause followed them as she and Reid made their way to the front. Brynn’s arms ached and her legs had trouble remembering how to work. She stumbled slightly before reaching their destination, and Reid drew her closer to his side. Grant shook Reid’s free hand.

“Welcome to The Ranch, we’re glad to have ya,” he said, the now familiar deep West Texas drawl coloring his words.

Reid nodded. “Pleased to join.”

“You have a lovely sub there. What do you think she needs for an initiation?”

Brynn kept her eyes on the polished wood floors and began counting. If she looked up or thought about what was about to happen, she’d tip over the edge. Already, her heart was pounding hard enough to splinter a rib. Please let Reid pick something simple. A blow job. A quick, unrestrained spanking. She could maybe handle something basic. But blindfolds and handcuffs or helplessness would guarantee flashbacks and panic. She inhaled deeply through her nose and blew the breath out her mouth. In. Out. In. Out.

She didn’t want to have to use the safe word, knew from Grant’s concerned words earlier that if she broke down, he’d probably send her home—for her own mental health.

Reid ran a knuckle along her cheek. “Well, I think my sub is feeling feisty. She’s talked back to me multiple times since I chose her, so a punishment is in order.”

Brynn dared a glance up. Talked back? When?

Grant eyed her, evaluating her reaction. “I see.”

Reid continued, “I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with this sub in the past, and I know she’s big on the exhibitionism. So I refuse to grant her the pleasure of displaying herself in front of the group. She hasn’t earned such a privilege yet.”

Brynn bit her lip. What was he doing? Was he actually going to save her from having to deal with this? Oh, please, maybe she had misjudged his earlier behavior.

“But I still want her to demonstrate her submission. So, I’m going to get the one thing that will make sure she knows she’s giving herself to me personally and not just any random master.” Reid pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger and forced her to meet his gaze. “A kiss.”

Her eyes widened. What?

Reid’s mouth curved upward. “Release her bindings.”

One of the attendants standing near the back of the room stepped up and started unfastening the leather straps as the reality of Reid’s request sliced through her. She should’ve been happy. A kiss was as simple an act as you could get… but also the most intimate. If he’d have forced her to her knees and made her get him off, she would’ve had the outside chance of blocking out what was happening—thought of numbers or England or her grocery list. But how could she zone out with his lips against hers?

Her tingling arms fell to her sides and she balled her fists. Reid was doing this to punish her. What had he said? To make sure she knows she’s submitting to me personally. God, hadn’t ten years been long enough for him to get over her supposed infidelity? She narrowed her eyes at him. Nope, not with an ego the size of his.

Once all the leather had been removed, the attendant and Grant moved away, leaving her alone with Reid. He hooked an arm around her waist and dragged her against him, wickedness glinting in his eyes. “Let’s see if this is better than a stranger.”

She shot him her best I-hate-you look before he brought his lips down on hers.

Despite his firm grip, his kiss was teasing. His lips moved against hers—nibbling, tasting, drawing her in like a moth to light. The tension in her muscles softened in his grasp, and something white hot and long dormant unfurled inside her. As if on their own volition, her lips parted and granted his tongue access. The taste of mint and Reid danced in her mouth, and her arms looped around his neck. When she pressed her breasts against his solid chest, she couldn’t tell if the groan that reached her ears was his or her own.

Reid groaned as Brynn’s half-naked body molded against his. Shit. He’d thought a kiss would be the safest route to go since he wasn’t sure he’d be able to control himself if he’d chosen something more sexual. He sure as hell didn’t want to fuck her when she had no option to say no. But he’d forgotten that a kiss with Brynn had never been just a kiss. The moment his lips had touched hers, he’d wanted to strip her down and take her in front of all these goddamned people.

Her superior acting skills weren’t helping matters either. She was kissing him back with the fervor of a sub set on pleasing her master. His cock swelled against his dress pants. Fuck, how was he going to make it through the weekend? Regretfully, he slipped a hand into her hair and tugged gently to separate her from their kiss. He sucked in a haggard breath, trying to reclaim his cool control. She stared at him with question marks in her eyes.

He had to clear his throat twice before he was able to speak. “Who’s your master?”

As if snapping out of a daze, she straightened her shoulders. “You are, sir.”

He tightened his grip on her hair. “Use my name, sub. I don’t want you confused on who you’re supposed to please.”

She narrowed her eyes, defiance flaring in them. “You are, Master Reid.”

Reid didn’t miss the cocked eyebrow Grant gave him at Brynn’s snarky tone. He palmed the back of Brynn’s skull, drawing her face closer. “You need to drop the smart mouth or you’ll force me to gag you.”

She didn’t drop her gaze.

Dammit. Why couldn’t she play by the rules for a change? He couldn’t show weakness in front of this group or Grant. “I think you need to learn some manners, sub. You get off on being defiant, don’t you? Dip your fingers in that tight pussy of yours and show everyone how wet you are.”

Shock crossed her features, and he could hear her silent plea, but he couldn’t back off. “Don’t make me wait. It displeases me.”

Her eyes darted toward the crowd, then to the floor. With a shaking hand, she slipped her palm beneath the band of her panties and dipped her fingers inside. The visual alone sent all his blood rushing to his groin, his cock turning to steel. She removed her hand and raised it to him, shame coloring her cheeks.

The evidence of her arousal glistened along her fingers, the sweet scent of her juices tickling his nose. His zipper pressed into his sensitive skin as his erection flexed against it, begging for relief. Without thinking, he circled her wrist and lifted it to his mouth, sucking the honey from her fingers. He closed his eyes, savoring her flavor and the fact that he could still turn her on even through all that ire.

His eyelids lifted slowly, and he found Brynn’s attention riveted on his mouth. He lowered her hand. “Who made you so wet, sugar?”

Her gaze dropped to his feet. “You did, Master Reid.”

“That’s right. Don’t forget who you belong to.” Reid pulled a strip of leather from his back pocket and slipped the collar around Brynn’s neck. Once it was secured, he grabbed a chain off a nearby supply table and hooked the leash to the loop on the collar. “There, maybe this will remind you of your role. Now let’s go.”

He led her from the open area to the table Grant was sitting at. Grant gave Brynn a long look, then gave Reid a knowing smile. “I think you’ve found a good pairing.”

Some of the tension in Reid’s shoulders eased. They’d fooled the most important person—at least for now. “We’ll see. I think she may need some time in my room before I allow her to participate in any club fun, though.”

Grant nodded. “I think you’re right. Have her sign the waiver then feel free to use your private room however you like. Activities will be going on in the common areas all evening.”

“Thanks, I’m sure we’ll be around later,” Reid said, and tugged at Brynn’s chain. “Come on, sugar.”

Reid could see the tight set in her jaw, but he knew Brynn wouldn’t break character now. She ducked her head in deference and played sub, following him through the crowd of onlookers. Even though he knew it was all an act, seeing the beautiful blonde under his command flipped all his erotic switches.

During his four-year marriage to Vanessa, he’d tried to shut the dominant part of himself off so he could be the man she and his family had wanted him to be. His wife had found the whole idea of D/s abhorrent and hadn’t been open to doing anything but once-a-week vanilla sex. The minute he’d even suggested trying anything kinky she’d thrown his father’s history in his face, knowing exactly how to make him feel like shit. The whole thing had been miserable for them both.

The only moments of indulgence he had allowed himself was the occasional jerk-off session when he’d let his mind travel back to those few glorious months with Brynn before the bottom had fallen out. Transport himself back to the only time in his life he ever remembered being truly happy.

And now, here she was, right next to him—wet and wanting—a ripe fruit waiting to be plucked. Too bad she despised him. And if she found out he was here to get information from her sister for the appeal and not simply out of chivalry, she’d really be ready to castrate him.

They exited the main room and entered a wide hallway with chocolate brown walls and soft sconce lighting. All noise except the gentle padding of their feet on the plush carpet ceased. He eyed the red lights of the strategically placed security cameras and drew Brynn next to him.

“Why the hell did you make me do that?” she demanded in a hoarse whisper.

“You can’t challenge me as a dom in front of everyone. If I hadn’t punished you, they would’ve gotten suspicious. And I tried to pick something that was as… non-intrusive as possible. I could’ve done anything I wanted to you.”

Her shoulder sagged against him, the reality of his words settling in. They walked in silence for a few moments before she spoke again, her tone decidedly less hostile this time. “It’s like a tomb in here.”

“The rooms are soundproof so no one interrupts anyone else’s scene. Although, those things that look like mirrors can actually be lifted if the people inside want to allow people to watch.”

She shook her head. “Jesus, they’re not messing around here.”

“Keep your eyes down, sugar. The cameras can’t hear us, but they can see us. Make sure you look like a sub.”

She followed his instructions, but didn’t stop talking. “Why are you here, Reid?”

He sighed and guided her around a corner, guilt about his real reason gnawing at him. “Because I knew you were full of shit when you said you were okay submitting to some stranger. And I figured it’d be easier to find your sister if you didn’t have to pretend with someone twenty-four seven. You could’ve gotten a guy who wanted to lock you in his room for the whole weekend, and you wouldn’t have even had a chance to look.”

She shuddered at the thought. “But why do you care?”

The muscles in his neck tightened. “Because despite what you may think, I’m not heartless, Brynn. You’ve been through a lot. I don’t want to see you or your sister go through any more tragedy.”

At least that much was true.

She glanced up at him, and for a moment, the mask dropped, revealing the stark fear beneath it. The worry in her big green eyes stirred up a fierce protectiveness deep within him. He had the urge to reach out and pull her in for an embrace.

He peeked over his shoulder and dipped his head next to her ear just in case anyone was listening. “It’s going to be okay, sugar. I was going to wait to tell you until we got to our room, but I’ve already confirmed that Kelsey is here.”