Home News Books Coming Soon Stories & Excerpts Behind the Scenes Newsletter Contest About me Contact Blog Links The Daughters of CirceExcerpts from Torrid Teasers Vol. 46
“Are you following me?” Chloe asked archly.
“Who, me? No. You’re just being paranoid,” he replied, trailing his fingers up the length of her spine until he reached the single hook that kept the collar, along with the entire front of the dress, in place. “Nice frock,” he added.
“Thank you.” This time her voice shook slightly as Luc’s hand, warm, knowing and teasing, slid back down, tracing butterfly patterns over her skin as he went lower, down to the swell of her buttocks.
“Very nice frock,” he amended, allowing his hand to rest possessively on the curve of her bottom, fingering the tail of her spine lightly until she gave an involuntary shiver in response.
“Luc…” Chloe swayed a little on her heels as he suddenly leaned forward and pressed his lips to the back of her neck. “Stop it. People will talk.”
His tongue darted out and ran up into her hairline, and then he nuzzled at the glossy upswept mane of her hair. “Let them talk. What do I care?”
“You might not, but I do.” Chloe stepped away from him, and his hand shot out to grab her about the waist.
“You had a fight with Ross? I saw him arrive on his own.”
She glanced around. “Where did he go?”
Luc shrugged. “You’ll find him when you want to. It’s not like you to chase after a guy, anyway. As far as I recall, you’re the one that likes being chased.”
Chloe smiled and relaxed. “Yeah.”
“And honey,” he added with a lazy smile, “just because you made your bed, it doesn’t mean you have to lie in it.”
She paused, turned so that she went half into his embrace, and then she looked into his eyes. Simple mischief and the desire to get even with Ross were uppermost in her mind, but memory and desire warred for second place.
“I suppose,” she said carefully, “you’re suggesting that I lie in your bed?”
His gaze dropped from her face to her breasts, pushed up and thrust tight against the satin bodice of her dress. He stared at her quite deliberately for a moment before letting his gaze travel back up to her face. “You never complained before.”
“Maybe I have more to lose now,” Chloe returned, pulling free of his grasp.
“Only if you’re caught,” Luc said softly.
“Then I’ll make sure I’m not.”
“I’ll be discreet.”
She gave him a quelling look. “I’m not interested.”
He took a step towards her, his hand brushing over her hip. “I could make you interested. I know what you like...”
“I said no,” she said, but she didn’t move away.
“Let’s play a game, hmm?” Luc suggested, his eyes bright. “A big old place like this must have lots of dark corners, yes? So, we play tag. You will go and hide, and I will come looking for you…”
“That’s stupid,” said Chloe, her voice feeble as his hand stroked from her hip to her waist and then inwards and upward.
“I haven’t finished explaining the rules,” Luc replied, the backs of his fingers brushing over her breasts lightly. “You can run, if you like, when I find you. But you can’t let on to anyone else what’s going on. Because then… people will talk.”
The last comment was said slyly, and she gave him a sharp look that faded into troubled desire as he reached up to touch her face.
“So run and hide, Chloe, and I will catch you.”
“If you can!” she retorted, and she saw a flash of humour light his eyes.
“And if I catch you…” he murmured, tailing off.
She held her breath. “Then?”
“Then I’ll fuck you.”
“Madame, it is your turn,” Si Hao prompted her, indicating the mess of tiles upon the table.
Louise blushed and picked one out, turning it and pairing it with one already in her rows. “I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“You seem distracted.”
“I am a bad loser.”
“Then I hope you can learn to lose gracefully.” Si Hao said blandly. He turned over his tiles to prove his victory.
She stared down at the tiles and wondered if this was a sign. For a moment, she felt the urge to run. Never mind that she wanted him: this had not gone the way she’d expected. This was all supposed to be on her terms. She thought she hated him for turning the tables, but at the same time she knew she wanted him all the more, because he had bettered her.
And it had been a long time since a man had claimed total mastery over her. Just the thought of bending her will to his demands made her wet with longing, and she clamped her thighs together, feeling the delicious tremors go through her body.
Si Hao sat back in his chair and folded his arms. For a moment, she thought that he was going to renege on their deal; that he would send her home empty-handed; and then he said, softly, “Take off your dress.”
Louise stared at him. “Pardon?”
“Your dress, Madame. Take it off.”
“But… here?” She glanced around at the brothel, at the whores sitting at the tables with their clients, all of them drinking, smoking, or playing mah jonng. They had lost interest in her while the game had been in progress, but she knew that as soon as she stood up and began to strip, they would all turn to watch.
“For the last time: take off your dress.” Si Hao’s good-natured tone had vanished, to be replaced by that cold, haughty timbre she so craved to hear.
She lifted her chin. “I would like to do this elsewhere, Si Hao.”
He banged his fist on the table, making the tiles jump. The buzz of conversation slipped away, and heads turned in their direction. Well aware of the scene he was causing, Si Hao said clearly, “This is not open for discussion, Madame. You will do as I say, or you will walk out of here alone. Now – obey me.”
Louise felt weak with desire. On shaky legs, she pushed back her chair and rose to her feet. As she’d thought, the movement drew the attention of the people seated nearby; but her focus was not on their curious looks but on Si Hao’s glittering dark eyes.
As soon as she stood upright, she reached behind her to unzip the black satin gown. In Colin’s home, she had a maid to help her with such things. Here she had to struggle a little, leaning forwards so that her breasts thrust out towards him as she fought to catch hold of the zip.
His expression told her that he found her quite amusing. His gaze lingered on the creamy pale skin of her breasts as they spilled over the front of her dress. He smiled, but that smile slipped a notch when she managed to unzip the gown to her waist, and the dress peeled away from her. Then, when she was standing half naked in front of him, her black brassiere supporting the full weight of her breasts, he looked at her with hungry, dark, desire.
Now the entire room was watching as she drew the zip down over the small of her back to stop just above her coccyx. Pink with shame and humiliation, her emotions rioting within her, Louise pushed the dress off her hips and stepped out of it as it crumpled to the floor.
There was an audible gasp. She felt an odd sort of pride as she stood there in her underwear. Her black satin knickers were damp with excitement. She knew that the whores and their clients were looking at her, judging her; but she did not care, as long as she pleased Si Hao.
His expression was impassive, his eyes shuttered as he examined her. He let his gaze sweep over her, up and down, from her patent leather high-heeled shoes up over her silk stockings, the lace-trimmed suspender belt and her satin knickers, up to her breasts, trembling with each breath she took, bound within the low-cut brassiere.
He looked at her dispassionately, at the jewellery she wore and then up to her face, her pale skin and lips red not from artifice but from the way she’d bitten them during their game of mah jonng.
Louise held her breath as he turned his gaze away and slowly, deliberately, began to collect up the tiles. He replaced them in their box, and then he stood up and walked around her. She was sure he could see her shivers; she was sure he could smell how much she wanted him.
She did not dare to turn her head as he stepped behind her. She kept her gaze on the table, on the box of tiles; and then she gave a little cry of shock as something warm, ticklish and heavy settled around her shoulders. Louise looked down and raised her hands as he wrapped her in the fur coat.
Si Hao came back into her line of vision and held out his hand.
“But,” Louise said, “my dress…”
“You won’t need it,” he told her. “Come with me.”
reviews
"There’s something so exciting about ‘bad boys’ and Louise obviously isn’t immune to the draw despite her position in society. I loved her self confident attitude and how Si Hao seems to delight in showing her the pleasures in submitting - without ‘breaking’ her. [A Game of Chance] is far from your typical Dom/sub happily ever after story but definitely well worth reading.
"Olivia Lorenz gives readers two exciting tales to whet your appetite for the extraordinary with her contribution to Whiskey Creek Press Torrid’s Torrid Teasers line. I loved the female heroines self confidence in both stories and how their men seem to know exactly what they need. There’s no shortage of plot or sexual tension in either of these tales and that’s what makes them both excellent reads. Ms. Lorenz has several books published through various publishers but this is the first time I’ve read anything by her and I have to say this definitely won’t be the last."
- Chrissy Dionne, for Romance Junkies - 4.5 Blue Ribbons!
Available now from Whiskey Creek Press Torrid.