All Thorns Eve

Her friends shared a look of disbelief.

"There are steps between you know Lynxie. Power plays and the finesse of wrestling for control." Fox laughed, eyes shining behind the sapphire lupine mask.

"Not for me." Nina replied firmly. "Never, ever for me. I'm not a vessel for someone to use for their pleasure."

"Well, it's a shame. He seems just your type. Well, since you're not going after him, who are you going to chase?"

That question cooled Nina's desire several more degrees than she expected. Who indeed. "Maybe Lark will be free." She turned to look but saw that he was already kneeling at the feet of Swan. That was disappointing. Somehow knowing that she was going to have her dirty hands all over her former toy made her feel a strange pang. It wasn't jealousy really, she had no propriety to Lark. She thought of the big Jackal in the same spot and heat filled her chest. The jealousy lit her up like a spark to gasoline.

Whoa. Easy kitty. Dial it down several notches!

"Alright girls. The mission, as always, is to find the most delicious playmate, and bring them to breakfast to report." Bear, in her emerald silks adjusted her glossy enamel mask with a slanted smile. They stood in the foyer which was still busy with mingling party goers. "Strike first. Strike hard. Show no mercy." She flashed a grin of teeth.

Fox kissed Nina's cheek wetly. "Find someone sweet to take your aggression on!"

But Fox knew Nina wasn't into this right now.

Nina wasn't even going to accept the invitation for this event but Sapphire Fox convinced her. House Mistress made changes. Things were going to be better. Besides, Foxy and her sweetie broke up recently and her friend needed the distraction as much as her support. Being with her friends was top on her priority list.

And Opal Owl was there. The small woman was full of an unfathomable joy. Nina could power a city block off the delight radiating from her. If Owl could get over the attack she was involved in, why shouldn't Nina get back on the horse?

She went in search of a drink first, annoyed by her internal nuclear setting. Never had that thing been trigged before. It didn't make any sense, but neither did the reality that she was now afraid to risk a new playmate.

The response and cooled lust put her off offering her token to anyone. That's how she found herself with a scotch in hand, sprawled over the piano, singing.

It wasn't like she never went partner-less before. Her friends would get a good giggle about her being alone at breakfast. In fact, she rather liked the idea of being stag this time. Right. The party had other activities to enjoy.

Tonight she was the entertainer she dreamed she could be if her obligations did not tether her. Behind her mask she was safe to follow the dream, just for a few hours. She could be fearless! The net would catch her!

From her perch, she watched the couples play and enjoy themselves. She, meanwhile took requests, sang and got stinking drunk off the drinks the guests fed her in payment for her warbling. The pianist teased and tormented her, flirting outrageously between the songs and inspired her to sing the bawdiest lyrics she could dredge up.

It had been awhile since she fully enjoyed being a voyeur. House Mistress and her outlaw consort were enjoying the public display in the room. Gleaming gold and indigo, there was something so erotic and primal about the pair of them. Nina had never seen anything like it. She had never witness House Mistress play in public before. Not only was it sexy but also sweet and endearing.

Nina wondered how House Mistress earned the scars on her back. Marks like that came with a story, usually a deliciously epic one. Maybe it had something to do with her new lover. She wanted to ask how she met this tattooed savage. After watching them play, she needed to find out if he had a brother!

She was flirting outrageously with the musician between songs. Caught in laughter, she looked up and nearly choked on the sound as she realized that the dark corner of the room was filled by the masked Jackal. It was impossible to tell if he was looking at her, the gleam of the glass lenses flickered in the candle light. He was alone, massive legs spread and his gloved hand rested very comfortably in his lap.

It was one of the least lewd acts happening in the room and the most evocative. She felt like she was singing for him, particularly when he rubbed himself. She sang the raunchiest song she could remember. He might be stroking himself watching the brazen sex all around him. It didn't matter. He didn't take out his cock and present it to the room or satisfy himself in such a vulgar manner. Nina imagined he was teasing her, a silent display of how he was affected by her voice and the songs.

She let the yellow silks of her dress ride up her thighs. Exposing the garters, she almost flashed her panties before stopping just short of a full display. Across the room, Jackal leaned forward over his thighs. Iw was as though he were braced to stand and come to her. As if he wanted to rescue her from exposing herself so wantonly.

Nina might have imagined it. The pianist appeared to take her songs and grinding against the top of the instrument as inspiration for him. Clearly he assumed she was all but throwing herself at him. Perhaps she was as deluded about Jackal as the musician was about her.

The singing took the edge off. She was really enjoying herself, caught up in a joke the man behind the keys was telling her. Then she glanced back to the shadowy alcove and found it empty. The simmering attention had built up to a rolling boil under her skin. Her panties were completely soaked and she desperately tried to hide her slick thighs in the darkness. The wake of the Jackal's departure sent a cool draft down the back of her neck.

It wasn't as though the guy was made of stone. He probably got tired of watching her flirt and went off in search of someone to ease the discomfort in his groin. She definitely needed to do that herself. Try as she might, she couldn't relax back into the music and comfortable teasing.

It was just her, the musician and a few cuddling and sleeping guests when the server behind the bar announced that they were shutting down. She blinked around a nearly vacant room in surprise.

"Guess that means it's time to turn into a pumpkin." Nina sighed as she sat up, peering into the empty glass to make sure there was nothing left.

"Don't tell me you're going to go alone," the pretty man teased her. He closed down the keys and flexing his hands. Long, nimble fingers, Nina thought before looking back into eyes shadowed by his mask. His hair was light brown, gleaming and glossy where it fell over the simple black domino mask. His full mouth curled into a promising smile.

"Yeah," she admitted, pushing out her lower lip. "That is the plan. I am way too drunk to be any fun." She paused and then giggled. "I bet you are so good with your fingers too. I saw you showing off."

"I'm good with other things too," he assured her, grinning wider as he continued their game of cat and mouse.

"I'm sorry," she said, letting her shoulders fall forward. "Tomorrow? I will be so much better awake and after some sobering. I swear."

His smile didn't fade but there was something about the eyes that didn't soften. No, she was imagining it. His tone was as light and playful as ever as he purred, "Sure, baby. I will look for your little Golden-Pussy tomorrow." All softness and smooth reassurance.

Hairs along Nina's neck prickled. Was it a thrill of expectation? Or fear? Sometimes at these parties, she couldn't tell the difference. Fear, pain, thrill and pleasure were so tightly balled together.

The net would catch her!

She blew him a kiss and licked her upper lip before winking and rolling bonelessly from the piano and onto her feet. Giving him a pretty view of her pert backside wrapped in the simmering topaz silks as she sauntered from the room. At least, she hoped that was a saunter. At least let it be more of a swagger than a stagger.

It might have been too much scotch.

Her head was swirling. That meant way too much to drink. The halls were empty as she walked along, feeling light and happy. That sexy piano-man would be all hers tomorrow. That was worth being alone tonight. Except that she wasn't alone. She got to sing and watch the most erotic sex she's seen in months. Somehow, the fully dressed lord of the dead rubbing his cock through his fine woolen slacks all night was almost as erotic as the naked people.

Although she had to admit that house mistress had been on fire. She wondered if that little leather-daddy was going to be able to walk in the morning. She'd put a bet on no.

Nina went up the stairs without running across anyone. She couldn't remember the last time she went to her suite this late. She forgot how the public display used to be an important part of the parties for her. Sure, the wild secret sex was great but she'd allowed herself to hide away in her comfortable room with a playmate too long. She was missing the good stuff.

She went around the corner and pursed her lips. The lights were all dimmed along this stretch of hall. It was always like that. In fact, she'd had some fairly epic sex in the alcove there last year. Tonight though, it made her think of Tahoe. Her mind was filled with details of the various attacks. Maybe it wasn't a good idea for the halls to be so dim and secluded. Unlike the other public play rooms, there were no ears to hear if something went wrong.

Because it was trusted the rules were steel.

The net would not break. They were safe.

Rolling her eyes, she sighed. Only a few doors down and she would have her suite. She was already fumbling for her card for the door. First thing in the morning, after properly tormenting her friend's selection at breakfast, she would hunt down the musician.

Did Piano-man like rough play? Or would he be vanilla? He didn't flirt like someone who-

"Hey Golden Pussy."

The voice sent a stab of thrill through her. Panic. Fear. Lust. Hunger. The threats both imagined and real created a drunken slosh of adrenaline in her belly.

"Hey," she called as she turned. The pianist had come ambling along behind her, soundless up the stairs. Then again, she was so pickled, he might have been marching and clanging cymbals for all she would have noticed.

Dressed in the classy tux and tails, he looked just as stylish and polished as he had when he was tickling the keys with her singing across the instrument. She could still feel the vibration of the sound in her bones and thrumming over her skin. But he wasn't smiling as he prowled towards her.

"I thought I would make sure you were safe," he said, bright and cheerful in contrast to his expression. "What's your room number? You look pretty drunk honey. I didn't want you to pass out on your way." His voice pitched with friendliness.

Friendly. Right? She must be misreading the posture because of her intoxication.

"Thank you," she replied. "I'm good. Just up here at the end." Why did she lie? Her room was just a few doors down. She shouldn't need to trick this guy. Right?

His eyes glittered behind the mask. "Oh good. Come on, Goldie-puss. I've got such devious things to do with you. What's your safe word huh?"

"What?" she asked. The question came like a gut-punch and she stumbled back a step. Only years of dance saved her from falling on her ass.

"Safe word. What is it?" he demanded. It wasn't a negotiation as much as theft. "Give me your fucking word! Then, tell me your room number." Piano-man pushed his lean, tall body against her, wrestling for her key-card.

"Lady, are you alright?" A low, growling voice snarled from the far side of the hall. Low, assertive and so cold. So utterly frosty.

The man started and whirled towards the unexpected voice. "Holly shit! Man, you scared the fuck out of me."

The shadow separated from the darkness, huge and silent, the voice utterly calm and relaxed, but the threat was there as he closed on the smaller man. "Are you safe, lady?" The voice lowering several octaves, slipping into something soothing as he came closer.

He dwarfed the musician, Anubis was not laughing now. That slightly gaped smile was a leer of white fangs in the dark steel and bronze mask.

The pianist gawked up at the man. "Fuck dude! I didn't even see you. I...fucking shit!"

"I just want to get to my room," she said, hating how her voice quavered. Adrenaline pounded hard through her.

"Very good," Anubis purred to her. His head tipped and the lenses in the mask gleamed in the darkness. Azure and topaz twinkled over the facets and she could feel the intensity of his focus behind the elaborate black mask. He held himself with a hunter's poise. She guessed he might be ex-military or law enforcement. Not only the stance but his silent walk but the stillness now that he stood guard for her.

Maybe she was just that drunk!

This is what the doorman should be like. Part of the shadows and always there! In her experience the doormen, the hired guard were little more than pretty boys in fancy suits. They carried clubs and tasers when they came to the rescue after a cry went up. She didn't think the jackal masked man needed anything to be a deterrent.

The handsome pianist ignored the man and grabbed for her arm. "We're all good here man. She just had a little too much to..." Piano-man's voice was torn from him in a raspy grunt.

Anubis didn't pull out a weapon, he just lunged forward in a pair of long, graceful strides. He grabbed the pianist by the throat and slammed him to the floor. Hard.

She yelped and danced back, sluggish and awkward in her intoxication. But it was over before she could even respond. The floor shivered under her heels withe the impact of the man coming to ground.

Jackal looked up at her, expression hidden by mask and shadow. "I didn't mean to frighten you. I will handle this. Do you need anything?" he whispered softly, all the while holding the musician to the floor by his throat, ignoring his frantic writhing.

Her throat closed around the words she wanted to say. Dear God! He was so fucking strong. Her stomach did a crazy swirling, tightening grasp down to her sex.

A gloved hand offered her key card up to her as his head bowed away from her, turning his attention to the squirming man. "Sssshhhh...." he whispered. "Guests are discouraged from propositioning key-holders." His words were a very quiet rasp. "Is this discouraging enough for you, boy?"

The musician let out a strangled sound.

She plucked the key card that was offered up to her. Nina thought her legs were going to fail her. Apparently House Mistress was taking her security to the next level.

Anubis turned his full attention to hauling the pianist to his feet.

"Please. Wait..." she called as Jackal started off with his quarry.

Her voice stopped him but he didn't turn around. "Is there any other service I can offer, lady?"

She wanted him to turn to face her. Her heart was still thumping so hard it shivered her whole body. The big man kept his massive back to her, not even looking towards her. When she continued to stand there silent, his head tipped, slightly canting towards her, enough to peer out from the side of his eye.

"Lady? I will send someone to you."

"No." She frowned down into her hands and the room key there. Then, on impulse she moved forward and tucked her token into his breast pocket.

He started at her touch and jerked a look down at her. He smelled sharp and clean with an underlying scent she couldn't quite pinpoint. Something so mild, she wanted to lean in closer and press her nose in to savor it. He stayed very still, as though he thought if he moved he might trigger her flight.

"You should have that. For saving me. Um...Thank you."

She couldn't read his expression behind the full headed bronze mask and again she longed to strip it off. She wanted him to leave the stupid musician there and come to her room and guard her. Repeatedly.

Before he could say anything, the musician thrashed hard enough in his grip to require his attention. "It is my honor," he said, so solemn and quiet it was only a rough burr of dark sound. "Be well Lady. I am sorry I wasn't here faster." He swept away from her, down the hall, half dragging, half carrying her would-be-attacker away.

Left alone in the hall, she waited, listening to their progress down the stairs and through the lower house, the musician babbling apologies and excuses that were not answered by his captor.

Nina waited a moment longer and then used the key with trembling hands and slipped into her room.

Chapter Three

Soft music woke her.

Nina woke slowly, like swimming through paste. She was so far from waking and everything felt sluggish. The first thought that came into focus was she was so hung over.

Oh god. So hung over.

How much scotch had she consumed anyway?

Groaning, she swatted down the music coming from the alarm clock. The time shocked her. It was almost time for breakfast.

She curled back into the bed, hugging the pillow and let herself slowly come up and into wakefulness. She groaned when she shifted though. The fuzzy memories came crashing back in on her.

She was attacked. Well, the man had tried to get her....

She jerked fully awake and sat up, pulling the blankets around her. No one was there. Right, because the bad ass, enforcer came to rescue her.

Nina had never, ever been the damsel in distress. She was all about dishing out consensual violence. Fuck, that had been hot.

She slumped back down and stared into the dark as she replayed the events. Things were blurry thanks to the scotch but she could not have imagined him throat-slamming that guy. Pulling the blankets up to her nose, she breathed in the fresh scent of them, struggling to put a name to the scent of him.

He was sexy as fuck. And earlier that night he'd stroked himself while she sang. Except he had told her what he wanted. He wanted to blindfold her and treat her like a subby kitten.

"Oh, Nina. Get real." Pushing thoughts away, she rolled out of bed and shuffled to the shower to clean, dress and get to breakfast. Her friends would help her sort all this out. They'd put this into a reasonable light.

Breakfast

Details of the previous night spread fast. Lynx was met just inside the dining room by her four friends. She could see the worried expressions behind their colorful masks. They begged her for details and she had to talk while they pulled her along, filling in information between their machine-gun questions.

Their new playmates even seemed concerned for her.

"My goodness! Lynxie, are you hurt?" "I heard the guy broke his neck." "Who was it?" "Why didn't you come get us?"

Hugging onto Fox, Nina let them whisk her along, threading a path through the dining room, hunting for a table they could all fit. "I don't know how bad he was hurt. I just know he wanted my room number and my safe word and all the sudden Jackal was there."

"That guy you were flirting with last night? Oh god! Meow!"

"Yeah." Nina felt a silly flutter in her chest. Red-hot-lust arrowed directly to her sex.

"So, did you invite him back to your room and give him a great big 'thanks big guy?' with the back of your hand?" Emerald Bear asked with a huge smile.

"No. He just left with the guy. He's not submissive." No question about that. The way he'd handled himself and took care of her problem left no question in her mind. She knew the type. Her father had more than a few on the payroll. Glancing around the room, she tried to find. He was a completely different type of man than the usual invitee, not one of those gym-guys with a body built off machines. That guy was made through real life experiences, she knew it instinctively.