A little unnerved by him seeing that so clearly, she looked down.

He raised her chin. “Unlike you, for Deborah, the pain is the arousal. A lot of pain.” His intent eyes kept her from looking away. “Sugar, can you trust me to know the difference between you?”

“Yes, Sir,” she whispered, and relaxed as she realized she hadn’t been wrong about him. And that she could trust him. She did.

“Good.” After setting her on her feet, he pressed something on the remote control at her waist. The vibrations inside her became stronger, then increased in speed, slowed…sped up again. The feeling was no longer something she could ignore.

“Next round,” Nolan called, slapping her butt, making her jump.

She hurried back to the other side of the pool, the jewelry swinging from her breasts and dragging at her nipples. The feeling was a little painful, a lot exciting.

The other two waited for her to pick up the first cup before taking theirs in order. She had dark brown liquid with the malty scent of beer so it went to Cullen. The three lined up and started off, Deborah much slower this time, Kari faster. Beth ignored them and concentrated on moving steadily until she realized she was behind. Oh, God. She hurried faster, and the beer sloshed over the top, wetting her fingers. Damn, damn, damn.

Okay. Moving much quicker—what was there to lose after all—she went past the other two and heard an exclamation from Kari as she also spilled. And they both left Deborah behind.

Beth walked up to Cullen, skirting his long legs. His green eyes crinkled at her. “Little Beth, what did you bring me?”

She handed him the paper cup, and he sucked it down. A tiny hope rose in her. Maybe he hadn’t noticed she’d spilled. Then he turned her hand over, raised his eyebrows at her beer-dampened fingers, and patted his lap. “Bottoms up, love.”

She couldn’t do this, let him hurt her. Heart pounding, she took a step back and shook her head. He didn’t move, just watched her, the stern expression in his eyes so much like Sir’s that her mouth went dry. He held his hand out, and she set her fingers in his before she could stop herself.

He pulled her forward gently, positioned her beside his legs, and pulled her down over his knees. She went rigid, her breathing fast and shallow.

“Relax, sweetie. It’s only my hand, nothing else,” he said, his hand pressing her shoulders down until her palms pressed flat on the concrete. The nipple clamps swung freely, bobbing against her face. To her surprise, he didn’t start spanking her. Instead he played with her bottom, running his finger along the crack and across the crease of her thighs until she relaxed.

“Good girl. I want to hear you count and thank me for each stroke.”

She remembered her first master had asked that. The memory had been buried under the horrible intervening years. A hand hit her butt, lightly, the mildest slap. “One. Um, thank you. Sir,” she said breathlessly.

Another. “Two. Thank you, sir.” Another and then he was hitting her hard enough to sting, alternating buttocks. Her bottom began to burn. Between each smack, she became aware of the vibrator humming inside her, and the pain made the vibrations stronger… She was very wet. Her clit started to throb, and she squirmed a little.

He stopped suddenly. She gasped when his thick fingers slid between her legs, through the folds, and pressed against her clit. The burn in her bottom and his finger on her clit joined somehow, and her hips moved involuntarily, wanting more of…something.

He chuckled. “I think you’ve had enough, little Beth.” As easily as Sir, he set her on her feet, pinning her between his knees until her mind cleared, and her eyes could focus. She looked up to see Master Nolan’s gaze on her. He’d been keeping an eye on her, and somehow she wasn’t embarrassed. She just felt safe.

His eyes crinkled at her, and then he returned to the sub, Kari, lying across his lap. He swatted her two times, not very hard.

Beth turned back to Master Cullen. He smiled at her, his eyes very green in the sunlight. “Okay, love, my hand is tired. Head on back to your master.”

This time Deborah had a stripe on her ass, so she must have lost the race. As Beth reached Master Nolan, Kari was climbing off his lap, rubbing her butt, tears teetering in her eyes. Her face was flushed and nipples erect. Sir held her for a moment and checked her steadiness. “Back to Master Dan with you.”

As Kari hurried away, he held his hand out to Beth and pulled her to him. Turning her, he checked her bottom, running his fingers gently over the burning skin. His voice sounded amused as he said, “Well, Master Cullen must like you; he went very light.”

He picked up another toy from the basket and opened it. More jewels dangling from a long narrow Y-shaped object which had a long, thin chain. Another breast clamp? She already had two…

“Lay on your back,” he said.

“What? Wait—”

He gave her a look that sent her onto her back. He worked the bend in the clamp to loosen it before kneeling between her legs. When his fingers grasped her clit, she jumped. No! “No, Sir. Please. I—”

His raised eyebrows and silence stopped her tongue. As if she hadn’t spoken, he continued and slid the bend over the top of her clit, the long sides pushing her labia together. She smothered a groan. The pressure was painful…thrilling…painful. He watched her for a moment and then nodded. “Good. Up you go.”

She started to sit up and squeaked when pressure hit her squished clit. She rolled over instead and pushed to her feet. Master’s eyes gleamed with laughter although he didn’t smile.

He pulled her closer. When he picked up the tiny chain, she saw it ended in a Y shape. He secured each end to one of her nipple clamps, then tightened the tension until it was pulling up slightly on her clit and down on her breasts. Until each movement sent a shock through her.

He sat back in his chair, looked her over, and nodded. “Very nice. Breathe, sugar.”

She inhaled, and the chain tightened, making her jump. Her scowl increased the laughter in his eyes. He turned her sideways and changed the settings on the remote. This time the vibrations came in long surges, reaching an intense peak that sent her close…too close to coming. Pulled chain or not, she couldn’t keep from panting.

“Don’t come, sugar,” he cautioned her, a crease appearing in his cheek. Damn him.

“No, Sir,” she said, trying not to moan as her insides vibrated and heat swelled through her. The thing on her clit made it worse, as if someone’s fingers were pulling on her. Her knees felt like melted rubber as she walked back to the drink table.

Deborah had acquired nipple clamps. From the way Kari walked, she had a butt plug. Stepping up to the table, Beth picked up the next drink in the line. Brown—Cullen again. Something nearby hummed loudly, and Kari moaned, her face reddening.

When the other two picked up their drinks, Beth said, “Let’s go.”

Halfway to the men, her vibrator surged inside her, and she stopped dead, her insides coiling tighter and tighter. No, she couldn’t. The others were almost to the Doms. Beth tried to move and stumbled. Her breasts bounced, pulling her clit and… Oh, God! The orgasm rushed over her as unstoppable as a breaking wave. Her surroundings blurred, disappearing entirely as her body shook…and shook.

After what seemed forever, she opened her eyes. She didn’t remember closing them. She was still on her feet. All three Doms were watching, she realized, and felt herself turning red. Redder. If that was even possible. When she managed to start walking again, each little movement sent aftershocks through her.

When she finally got to Cullen and held out his drink, his laugh boomed across the patio. She looked down. She’d crushed the little cup completely. Cullen tossed the cup on the ground, and then shut off her vibrator. “Time to give you a rest from this.”

“Thank you, Sir,” she whispered, glancing at Master Nolan.

He had Kari in front of him and was lifting one of her feet to rest on the chair beside him. As if he felt Beth’s gaze, he met her eyes and shook his head. “Little rabbit. You came without permission. You spilled Master Cullen’s drink. And you were last. You’re in for it, sugar.”

He glanced at Cullen. “Toss Dan a package from the basket. He can put it on Deborah and adjust her settings. You’ll be busy with Beth, I think.”

Beth’s legs started to tremble, and she barely managed to suppress a whimper.

Master Cullen leaned forward and took her hands, engulfing them entirely between his. He massaged her cold fingers. “Do I really look like such an ogre?” he asked, his eyes gentle.

She shook her head, realizing he wouldn’t hurt her, yet still feeling the firmness in his grip, seeing the determination in his face. Nice or not, he was still a Dom.

“You may choose what to do first.” His green eyes crinkled. “Choose now.”

Pain, pain, or no pain. That was an easy choice. She dropped to her knees and started unfastening his jeans.

Chapter Ten

Cullen felt the little sub’s hot mouth close over the head of his cock. He leaned back in the chair, pinning her between his legs, enjoying the feel of her trim little body. Her head moved as she slid up and down his cock, her delicate hands holding him firmly at the base and moving in counterpoint to her mouth. Damn, she was really good at this.