As if they were alone, he slowly took in her white leather chaps.
She knew he wouldn’t be able to appreciate the sexy pair of heeled boots that completed her outfit. But his slow smile told her he found plenty he liked.
He’d taken his time looking at her, considering her. Suddenly she wanted nothing more than to be his sub and have his complete attention on her.
His gaze left her body, and he looked directly at David. “Do we have a bet?”
“This is an outrage,” David said. He slumped in his chair.
“Does that mean you’re not confident in that next card?” Master Trevor asked.
David sat up straighter and then leaned forward, glaring. “I accept your terms.”
Shelby gave up all pretense of minding her business.
“Let’s ask the sub if she agrees, as well,” Master Trevor said to Master Xavier. “I’m not willing to force the woman to do anything she doesn’t want to. But I think she’ll be willing.”
Was she that transparent?
Master Xavier folded his arms across his chest and nodded toward her. “Excellent suggestion.”
All eyes were on her. Her heart thundered. How the hell was she supposed to deal with this?
Instinctively she looked to David for guidance. He’d already agreed she’d be his stakes, but she had the opportunity to call off this ridiculousness.
She and David had been friends since college. They’d hooked up a few times in the last decade, but they hadn’t been exclusive for at least eight years. Despite their best efforts, their relationship was closer to companionship than spark and sizzle.
Still, she liked him, and she knew Janine’s defection had burned, at least a little. She felt torn. She didn’t want to cause his bruised ego any more damage, and her leaving tonight with Master Trevor would definitely batter David. On the other hand, the law center needed serious work. “Sir?” she asked David softly.
David drummed his fingers along his thigh. After a few seconds, he nodded without looking at her.
Master Xavier took control.
He walked over to her. He placed his finger under her chin and gently tipped her head back. “I don’t know you.”
“No, My Liege,” she said quietly. She could hardly hear above the racing of her heart, and her tongue didn’t want to form around any words. Now, of all times, she wanted to look at the floor.
“Tell me about yourself.”
“I…” She blinked. “I’m afraid I don’t understand the question.” Belatedly she added, “My Liege.”
“Your name.”
“Shelby. Shelby Salazar, My Liege.”
“And Shelby Salazar, I don’t see a collar around your neck.”
“No, My Liege. I don’t belong to anyone. I mean, I’m not a lifestyle sub. I…” She sought for the best explanation.
“She’s more of a dabbler,” David supplied.
“But she’s been here before,” Destiny said, walking over with a digital pad.
Shelby had been introduced to the club’s receptionist before. Destiny. Always outrageous, always welcoming, always on top of things. Nothing happened at Dark Haven that Destiny didn’t know about.
“Tonight is the sub’s fifth visit, My Liege,” Destiny said. “Always with Master David.”
Shelby nodded, confirming what Destiny said. “I live in Denver, My Liege, and I’m visiting San Francisco for the week.”
“Are you staying with Master David?”
“No, My Liege. I have a hotel,” she said.
“Do you know Master Trevor?”
“Only by reputation, My Liege.”
“I’ll amend my bet to say I’ll take the sub for the week she’s in town,” Master Trevor said.
“Generous bastard,” David muttered.
Master Xavier shot David a quelling glance. The other man shrugged and played with the few chips on the table. “Do you understand the stakes as Master Trevor has outlined them?”
She nodded.
“Tell me what you understand the stakes to be,” Master Xavier said.
“I understand that Master Trevor…” She trailed off and looked over at the dom. This was the opportunity of a lifetime. He was unyielding, uncompromising, and attractive as sin in a pair of jeans. This was the opportunity she’d dreamed of, with a man she had a crush on.
Hormones flooded her body. She wanted him, but suddenly nerves swamped her. Was she really going to agree to this? She looked back at Master Xavier. “Master Trevor wants me to be his sub for the week that I’m in town.”
“That means staying at my place,” he added.
Being cut off from her regular life, from David?
“Are you willing to agree to the terms, Shelby?” Master Xavier asked.
“If Master David says so, My Liege.”
“She does know how to behave,” Master Trevor said. “I’d wondered.”
Heat chased across her face. She wanted to show this man she could behave like a proper sub.
“I’ve already said I agree,” David said.
“Winner take all,” Master Trevor said.
“You’re not being coerced, sub?” Master Xavier asked.
“No, Sir.”
Master Xavier released her chin and stood. He nodded toward the dealer, and the man reached for the deck of cards.
The pot of money now a moot point, the dealer burned the next card before turning over the river, the fifth and final community card.
She held her breath, torn.
The jack of spades.
Several people in the room whispered. There were three spades showing. Definitely the potential for a flush. With the jack, a straight was a possibility.
She looked at David. His eyes were wide, and he nodded. Her friend definitely didn’t have a poker face. He squeezed her shoulder. She released her breath. As much as she wanted the opportunity to play with Master Trevor, she wanted David to win. His work meant everything to him.
His thinking had been brilliant. He’d spent six months fundraising, and he was at least another year away from being able to afford the much-needed building renovations.
Time for the showdown.
The dealer nodded to David. He turned over his pocket cards. The eight and nine of spades.
She schooled herself not to smile. But that flush was likely unbeatable.
She looked at Master Trevor. Unlike David, his face was set in unreadable lines.
The dealer signaled for Master Trevor to show his pocket cards. He turned over the two cards lying facedown on the felt.
Ace and queen of spades.
Royal flush.
David shoved back from the table and stood. Then, seeming to draw on the same reserve he used in the courtroom, he extended his hand toward Master Trevor.
The other man stood.
She was aware of the contrast between them. Master Trevor was a couple of inches taller than David. The other man’s shoulders were broader, his arms much more muscular, his thighs more powerful.
Soon, she would be alone with him.
Her heart beat impossibly fast in her chest.
“Congratulations,” David said as the two shook hands. His tone held no warmth. “I’ll leave you two to get to know each other.”
“She’s in safe hands,” Master Trevor promised.
“She means a lot to me,” David said.
Master Trevor nodded. As if she were a true sub, he didn’t address his comments to her. She was alternately thrilled and annoyed.
David crouched in front of her. “Behave yourself, sub.”
“Yes, Sir.” There was so much she wanted to say, needed to say. She ached to touch him, to reassure him.
“You’ve wanted something like this,” he said quietly.
“But—”
“We both know you weren’t getting what you wanted. Try to enjoy it. I’ll see you at the end of the week. I’ll take you back to the airport.”