Simon Says: Mine: A novella (Mountain Masters & Dark Haven Book 2) by Sinclair Cherise Page B

frowned. “Whatever you’re thinking looks ugly.”
    “Painful as hell,” Simon muttered. “Probably not ugly.”
    He nodded at Logan and his sub and went to secure the St. Andrew’s cross. This needed to be as public as possible.
    *
    Needing a moment to recover, Rona visited the kitchen and downed a glass of wine. On the way out, she spotted Master Simon wiping down the St. Andrew’s cross. Obviously he planned to do a scene with one of the subs, and…why that mattered to her… Well, it didn’t.
    A place deep in her chest started to ache. Probably not a heart attack. Unfortunately. I really need to go home now.
    Once in the powder room, Rona started getting out her street clothes.
    The door opened behind her, and Logan’s collared sub walked in. The redhead grinned and said, “There you are. I’ve been looking for you.”
    “Is something wrong?”
    “Well.” The sub’s brows drew together. “Not exactly, but… Come on. I’ll show you.” Without waiting for Rona’s answer, she shoved Rona’s clothing back in the bag and led the way out. For a submissive, she seemed awfully assertive.
    “Is it about that poor girl?” Rona hurried to catch up. The redhead moved amazingly fast, through the foyer and into the great room.
    At the sight of Master Simon standing by the cross—with no other sub there—Rona halted and spun to retreat.
    “Rona,” Master Simon snapped out.
    Her feet stopped dead, her hands grew damp, and her heart did that annoying jump-up-and-down-it’s-Master-Simon dance. She turned.
    He crooked a finger at her. Come here.
    A wave of longing ran through her, but she shook her head. “I’m not going to do a scene with you.”
    “Not with me. Come here .” His chin lifted just that infinitesimal amount that melted every bone and ounce of resistance in her body. How did he do that?
    Feeling like a condemned prisoner heading for the gallows, she walked forward.
    “Good.” He smiled at her, but the look in his eyes was…different. No smile lurked in the depths.
    “What’s wrong?” she whispered.
    Hands on her shoulders, he pushed her back against the wooden frame and lifted her arm over her head.
    Snap.
    “Hey!” She yanked at the wrist he’d just restrained to the upper arm of the X. Damn, she’d forgotten she still wore cuffs. Ignoring her struggles, he secured her other arm. “What are you doing?”
    “Rona, you insist you want an assortment of men, not just one, but you haven’t followed through. I’m going to let you experience the variety you wanted.”
    The floor seemed to drop out from under her. Men? Other men?
    Before she could react, he pulled her left leg outward and clipped the ankle cuff to the X-frame’s lower leg. The feel of his callous hands sent heat rushing through her.
    “Master Simon… No.” Her voice came out weak. Totally ineffective, considering he didn’t stop.
    Without speaking, he anchored her other leg, then tightened the restraints until she couldn’t move anything, couldn’t do anything except wiggle her hips. He didn’t notice as he turned and raised his voice loud enough to echo through the house. “Unattached doms. I’ve placed a sub on the cross for your pleasure. Her safe word is ‘Houston.’ Each dom will have three minutes to get an interested response from her, using hands or mouth—no toys. Whoever succeeds may remove her restraints and take her. After that, she goes back on the cross.”
    “Simon,” she hissed. “You can’t—”
    “Is this not what you said you wanted?” The uncompromising look he gave her said put up or shut up.
    But…
    He touched her cheek with his fingertips. “Remain calm, pet. I’ll be off to one side to ensure nothing gets out of hand. You’re perfectly safe to enjoy your variety of men.”
    But…
    And he walked away.
    Rona’s breath hitched inside her throat until it felt as if she’d choke. The room had gone silent, leaving only the harsh swishing of her heartbeat in her ears. She