Hurt Me So Good by Joely Sue Burkhart Page A

forced out a laugh, trying to blow off the guilt churning in her stomach. She’d never forget the look on her mother’s face when she’d stopped over unexpectedly and caught her daughter bent over her friend’s lap while he used his belt on her ass. “Needless to say, Mom’s never been real comfortable when I’m around Randall, just in case I have designs on him too. She’d rather come see me. At least that would give us the chance to do things just the two of us. If she ever comes.”
    Eyes softening, Victor pulled her closer so she nestled into his side. “Do you talk often?”
    She pressed her face against his chest, breathed his scent, and some of the pain that had been lodged in her heart all these years fluttered away, disappearing as though he’d truly devoured that old shame. “Oh, every month or so, sure. We’re not feuding or anything.”
    “Sometimes I wish Mama would get remarried and move a few hours—days—away,” Victor said with a rueful laugh. “Maybe our mothers can all move out to California and leave us in peace. A phone call a month would be nice, wouldn’t it? At least then I wouldn’t have to worry about her watching our show this season.”
    “At least she’s not threatening to disown you for dating outside your race.” Mal reached across the table and clinked her glass with Victor’s. “Besides, your Mama might like to see her baby boy stepping out in style with a crop in his hand. Maybe the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”
    “First my little brother and now you.” He shuddered. “Why don’t you show us those storyboards, Shiloh. I think I need the distraction.” Automatically sliding into presentation mode, she started to stand, but he said quickly, “Nothing formal. Just tell us what you’re thinking about for tomorrow’s session.”
    She leaned back to retrieve the storyboards she’d propped against the wall. “In the morning, we’ll be taping interviews, covering the basic preferences questionnaire and going over medical history and blood work. Meanwhile, you three Dominants can be preparing for the first challenge.”
    She propped the first storyboard on the table, angling it so both Victor and Mal could see it. “This first challenge will deal with the basics of bondage. Each of you will have a small cubicle set up where you can array bondage equipment that you prefer to use. Anything from simple clothesline to exotic custom-made chain jewelry—whatever you’d like to see and you think will make an impact on the show. Each one should be slightly different and unique according to the Master or Mistress’s taste.”
    Mal made a disgusted sound. “So Patrick is going to drag out all his pony crap. Those fake tails give me the creeps.”
    Shiloh agreed wholeheartedly. “There are several possibilities for the challenge itself. You could tell us to fetch the cheapest at-home bondage equipment, or the most dangerous equipment for beginners. For the final stage, you should instruct us to find the one type of bond that you specifically wished to use. Of course, we could not easily know what that was unless you give deliberate cues.”
    “Or we could be very devious and not give any clues at all,” Mal drawled. “I like it. Then we can reward—and punish—at will.”
    “Exactly. You each will play with your contestants and choose one to eliminate. Who goes is up to you.”
    Victor’s fingers had stilled on her arm. She felt his muscles tensing along her side, his arm tightening across her shoulders. Unaware of his growing tension, Mal continued to expound on the many ways she’d punish her contestants.
    While the most important person at the table remained ominously silent.

    Léon’s food was as delicious as usual, sending Mal into joyous bliss. Victor thought that Shiloh enjoyed her food, but she didn’t say much. She was too keyed in to his emotions.
    He ached to have a long, open talk with her. He wanted to know her preferences, but more