Master of the Dark Side: A Novella Read online

  He’d said, “I learned a harsh lesson this year that I should never assume someone knows how I feel.” That applied to her too. “I love you, Virgil.”

  “Now that’s exactly what I wanted to hear,” he said softly. He cupped her cheek. “I will always do my best to fill your needs.” It sounded like a vow. The sun lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled, and his voice deepened with controlled power. “Since it appears I’m a fucking pervert…a dom”—his smile flickered—“that means you will fill all of mine.”

  At the undeniable command, a wave of heat surged over her, melting every single bone. He lifted an eyebrow, waiting for her answer.

  “Yes, Sir,” she whispered. Then she raised her chin. “But I’m still going to have my own place. At least six months.” Surely she could hold out for that long, just to make sure they really were suited.

  As he studied her face, she realized he was reading her like an open book…and he’d only been a dom a little while. The memory of last night came to her—his powerful hands and hard voice controlling her. A tremor ran through her. What would happen as he grew more experienced? She lifted her gaze.

  Watchful intelligence burned in his level eyes…and then he gave her a slow, utterly confident smile.

  Oh God, she’d be lucky to last a month.

  ~ The End ~

  Reviews

  I adore getting reviews for my books. And as a reader, I rely on y’all’s opinions to help me decide which story I should buy next. So…if you get a chance, I’d love if you left a review for Master of the Dark Side.

  Dark Haven: 3

  My Liege of Dark Haven

  MY LIEGE OF DARK HAVEN exceeded my expectations. It takes a lot of talent and hard work to maintain such high consistency in a series but Cherise Sinclair seems to hit it right every time. It’s no wonder why she’s at the very top of my auto buy list for this genre! Simply put, Sinclair will thrill and excite you. Master Xavier is so hot, he’ll leave you breathing fire!

  ~ Under the Covers Reviews

  Threatened by university cutbacks, Professor Abigail Bern’s only hope is to publish a provocative research paper—soon. Planning to covertly observe behavior in the notorious Dark Haven BDSM club, she takes a receptionist job. When the owner calls upon her to assist in a demonstration, she’s appalled. Then fascinated. Under the unyielding hands of the master known as my Liege, she discovers a need to be more than an observer.

  His late wife had been the center of his life, and Xavier Leduc wants no other. But when his new receptionist does her utmost to keep an emotional distance from him, he’s intrigued and digs deeper. She’s adorable. Intriguingly intelligent, beautifully submissive, sweetly vulnerable. He soon realizes her defenses are keeping her on the fringe of her sexuality—and her life. As he draws her into fuller participation, she unconsciously does the same for him. She begins to fill his world.

  Ever since the night she met my Liege Xavier, Abby has questioned everything she believes about herself. She’s falling for the stern owner of Dark Haven and thinks he’s beginning to care for her…until the day he learns why she’s in his club.

  Excerpt from

  My Liege of Dark Haven

  “Abby, since we’ve not played together before, you tell me if something is getting to be too much.”

  It’s already too much. Abby looked over her shoulder at the owner of the club. White dress shirt, black silk vest, black jeans, black boots. Definitely in the tall, dark, and handsome category, only the words seemed insipid compared to the reality. The wide muscular shoulders turned tall into dangerous. His skin held the darkness of Native American ancestry, and the long black braid down his back was a definite statement. Very handsome, with European chiseled features that went well into hard-edged.

  And scary. But she couldn’t back out. She doubted the man had a benevolent bone in his body. Quite obviously if she didn’t “assist,” she’d be out the door. She sure hadn’t thought her participant observations would include real participation. Unease tickled the back of her throat.

  He glanced up, and the sun lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled with amusement. “Easy, Abby. The club safe word is red, and if you use it, play stops immediately. Say it loudly, and a dungeon monitor will show up to make sure you’re all right.” Holding her arm firmly, he wrapped what looked like wide packing tape around her right wrist a couple of times, and she realized the material wasn’t sticky.

  “Red. Got it.”

  “Abby,” he said. “I daresay you know how to address a Dominant in this setting, especially the one working with you.”

  The uninflected reprimand made her flush as if she’d been caught cheating off someone’s test paper. “Yes, my liege.”

  He didn’t rant but nodded acceptance.

  Despite her relief that he hadn’t lost his temper, anxiety thrummed in her ears as he pulled her other arm behind her back and secured both wrists together. She closed her eyes and tried to pretend nothing was happening. She’d never been able to let Nathan put her in handcuffs. Why in the world was she allowing this stranger to restrain her arms?

  But she needed this place for her fieldwork. Needed to keep her job. Publish or perish. If she ever met the academic who’d invented that phrase, she’d shove his papers down his throat until he choked.

  “Abby.”

  She opened her eyes.

  Xavier stood in front of her, looking down. Why did he have to be so tall? His warm hands massaged her bare shoulders. “Any strain in your joints?”

  “No, sir.”

  He studied her silently.

  She shifted her weight, trying not to think about her lack of mobility. If she didn’t move, she wouldn’t know—much like closing her eyes during gory movie scenes.

  “Pull on the tape, Abby. How does it feel?”

  Her arms jerked involuntarily, and just like that she knew she was restrained. Couldn’t defend herself. That her body was available to the impassive-faced Master. Alternating waves of heat and cold rushed over her as if she stood in front of a rotating fan. She pulled harder, and panic squeezed her throat.

  “Easy, pet.” He cupped her chin with one firm hand. His fingers curled around her arm, creating a warm place on her skin. His movements showed how easily he could touch her…yet the contact was comforting. Settling. “Eyes on me.”

  Panting, she looked up and into eyes the color of darkness, but the specks of golden brown made them warm, not cold.

  “Good girl. You know you can’t escape, but I’m not going to do anything you won’t enjoy. We’re here in a public place, and you have a safe word that will summon every monitor in the dungeon. Now slow your breathing down before you hyperventilate.”

  Oops. His gaze never left hers as she pulled in a measured breath and let it out.

  “Better. Another.” His grip on her upper arm was unyielding but not painful. A man’s hand.

  Why did his touch seem different from Nathan’s? Why didn’t she get that horrible dread?

  “Little fluff, I want you to remember how you’re breathing now. When I tighten a clamp, it will hurt for a few seconds. I want you to inhale through the pain like you did with your fear.”

  “Pain? But—”

  “Do you get flu shots?”

  “Yes.” When his eyebrows pulled together, she added a hasty, “My liege.”

  “This is the same level of pain, although people rarely get turned on by vaccinations. Whereas nipple clamps…” A crease appeared and disappeared in his cheek.

  She nodded to say she could handle that much pain. But could she handle these disconcerting flares of heat? Her nipples actually tingled as if anticipating the touch of those powerful fingers.

  Was this the kind of thing Nathan had wanted to do with her? Guilt pressed on her chest. Considering he had dumped her, she shouldn’t feel as if she were betraying him. But she did. And she’d let a complete stranger restrain her. Alice had fallen down a hole into Wonderland; Abby had fallen into quicksan
d and was sinking fast. What am I doing here?

  Xavier hadn’t moved, was simply watching her. “What’s the matter, Abby?”

  “I don’t know you at all. You’re talking about…” Nipple clamps. “I don’t know you.”

  “I see.” His hand was still curved around her upper arm as he moved closer. With his fingers under her chin, he lifted her face and gave her a light kiss. His lips were firm but velvety. Gentle. How could someone with such a merciless face kiss so sweetly?

  When he lifted his head, she whispered, “Why did you do that?”

  His aftershave was totally masculine with a hint of the exotic, like a pirate who’d visited India. He rubbed his thumb in a circle over her cheek, his lips only an inch from hers. “Because I can,” he whispered back. Then he smiled. “Because I’m going to be touching you much more intimately in a moment.”

  Heat roared through her at the thought of his hands…elsewhere.

  “Think of this as an introduction. I’m Xavier.” He covered her mouth with his, and it wasn’t a gentle, sweet kiss any longer. He took her lips, demanding a response. When she pulled at the restraints and gasped, his tongue swept in. She couldn’t move, couldn’t escape, and…

  He stepped back, grasping her arms to keep her steady. Ravished by only a kiss, she stared at him. Her lips felt swollen, and she ran her tongue over them.

  A flicker of heat lit his eyes, followed by amusement. “Are we better acquainted now?”

  Her voice came out sounding as if he’d strangled her instead of kissing her. “Yes, my liege.” If he introduced himself like that at a faculty party, the floor would be littered with swooning academics.

  “Very good.” With far-too-competent hands, he undid the first hook on her corset. As he worked his way down, his long fingers slid between her full breasts, brushing the insides. Each undone fastening exposed more of her body, and coolness wafted over her damp flesh. When he finished, he set the corset to one side, leaving her bare from the waist up.

  She bit her lip. Really, this is nothing. In France, beaches were filled with women wearing no tops. Not that she had joined them, but… She took a mental step back. Observe. With a determined breath, she checked out a noisy spanking in the center of the room.

  A warm hand cupped her breast.

  She jumped, tried to pull away. “What are you doing?”

  He grasped her arm with his other hand, holding her in place. “Did you think you could get clamps without being touched by the Dom?” Even as he spoke, he stroked her breasts, one then the other. His palm was calloused, slightly abrasive. His thumb circled the areola, and her nipple bunched hard enough to create an ache.

  She tried to dissociate, to observe the other scene.

  “Eyes on me, Abby.” The softness of his voice didn’t negate the command.

  Also from Cherise Sinclair

  Click to purchase

  Masters of the Shadowlands (contemporary)

  Club Shadowlands

  Dark Citadel

  Breaking Free

  Lean on Me

  Make Me, Sir

  To Command and Collar

  This Is Who I Am

  If Only

  Show Me, Baby

  Servicing the Target

  Mountain Masters and Dark Haven (contemporary)

  Master of the Mountain

  Simon Says: Mine (novella)

  Master of the Abyss

  Master of the Dark Side (novella)

  My Liege of Dark Haven

  Edge of the Enforcer

  Master of Freedom

  The Wild Hunt Legacy (paranormal)

  Hour of the Lion

  Winter of the Wolf

  Standalone books

  The Starlight Rite (Sci-Fi Romance)

  The Dom’s Dungeon (contemporary)

  About Cherise Sinclair

  Authors often say their characters argue with them. Unfortunately, since Cherise Sinclair’s heroes are Doms, she never, ever wins.

  A USA Today Bestselling Author, she’s renowned for writing heart-wrenching romances with devastating Dominants, laugh-out-loud dialogue, and absolutely sizzling sex. And did I mention the BDSM? Her numerous awards include a National Leather Award, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nomination, and Best Author of the Year from the Goodreads BDSM group.

  Fledglings having flown the nest, Cherise, her beloved husband, and one fussy feline live in the Pacific Northwest where nothing is cozier than a rainy day spent writing.

  Connect with Cherise in the following places:

  Website:

  http://CheriseSinclair.com

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  www.facebook.com/CheriseSinclairAuthor

  Facebook Discussion Group:

  CheriseSinclair.com/Facebook-Discussion-Group

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  Table of Contents

  About the Book

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Author’s Note

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  About My Liege of Dark Haven

  Excerpt from My Liege of Dark Haven

  Also from Cherise Sinclair

  About Cherise Sinclair