“You’re not turned off by…that?” She pointed to the photo.
Right now, whipping was clearly a hard no for her, and that made him want to howl. On the other hand, a good Dom’s job was to push his sub’s limits to help her find her truest submission. Maybe in time…
But maybe not. If he wanted her for his own, he might have to live without wielding a whip.
“I find a unique beauty in it. But remember, I’m a physician, so I know she’ll heal up fine in a few days.”
“But whoever did this to her is abusing her.”
Beck gave a sharp shake of his head. “My understanding of the lifestyle is that the people who practice it do so willingly. She always has the power to say no.”
“Really?” She sounded almost skeptical. Understandable, given her innocence.
When the time was right, he’d provide her a thorough explanation of safe words and boundaries. But for now, Beck let her wander around the next corner. “Ready to see what’s over there?”
“Please.” She finished the last of her liquid courage and set the empty glass on the tray held by a passing waiter.
Since he’d worried she would demand they leave the gallery altogether, her acquiescence filled him with relief. Maybe the wine had done its job.
As he cupped her elbow, he led her into the next open space. It held more photos and paintings, as well as several pedestals displaying bronze statues. Instead of methodically perusing each piece, Heavenly skimmed a discriminating eye over them, showing neither aversion nor excitement.
Finally, one particular photo caught her eye. She strode straight to it, transfixed. When Beck saw the image, he wanted to cheer. He’d brought her here hoping some of the pieces would call to her. One finally had.
A blindfolded woman wearing a black demi-bra, panties, and a garter straddled a chair with her stockinged thighs. Her hands had been tied helplessly behind her back. She listened raptly, head cocked to one side, while her fully dressed Master whispered in her ear.
“Oh…” Her murmur was so soft he almost missed it.
“Do you like it?”
“It’s powerful. Evocative. There’s a sense of…anticipation.”
Fuck yes! Beck’s head filled with all the wicked things he could say to Heavenly once he had her bound for his mercy. Clandestinely, he adjusted his aching fly.
As they continued through the gallery, Heavenly steered clear of the hardcore fetish or masochistic pieces, but works containing bondage almost always made her linger, a soft yearning filling her face.
Winding their way deeper into the exhibit, they found a narrow rectangular board mounted to a door frame with a protruding vertical line of a half-dozen penis sculptures, each in various stages of arousal.
When Heavenly caught sight of the protrusions, she giggled. “Really?”
“Any of those, um…stand out for you?”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re incorrigible. I’m not answering that.”
“C’mon. The limp one at the top is pretty pointless, but this one…” He pointed to the most sizable erection, complete with copious veins raised along the shaft. It resembled the one now throbbing against his zipper. “Have any thoughts on it?”
Heavenly darted a curious gaze at the particular cock and lowered her lashes. “That one looks capable of…whatever.” She glanced into the next room. “So what’s over there?”
Holding in a laugh at her abrupt change of subject, he followed her as she moved to investigate a particular bronze sculpture illuminated by a spotlight in an otherwise shadowy room. A naked woman lay across a pedestal with her dangling legs spread wide, breasts thrust up in ecstasy. She cupped one, thumbing the nipple, as a man gripped her hips and knelt between her thighs, burying his face in between.
Heavenly froze, stared, lips parted, not breathing for long moments. Finally, she let out a shuddering breath. The musky scent of her arousal rose in the air.
Saliva pooled in Beck’s mouth. He closed his eyes to savor her for a guilty moment. Then he bit back the promise that he’d eat her pretty pussy until she came hard and often. It would be so easy to whisper that against her ear and let the chips fall…
But he said nothing. Not in public, not before he’d had time to analyze tonight’s findings. Not until he was certain they could be as compatible in bed as the date at Disney had convinced him they were out of it.
Another shiver rippled through her. His blood pumped hotter and harder, further testing his control. His brain burned with images of tumbling her into his bed, sliding his tongue up her thighs, and teasing every slick fold. Then he’d suckle her swollen nub for the sheer pleasure of hearing her keen his name just before he latched his mouth over her untouched pussy and drank in all her hot virgin cream.
Beck opened his mouth to break the tension between them—no idea what to say since his hunger to claim this girl was quickly approaching desperate. Instead, Heavenly’s stare remained riveted on the statue and she let out a soft, wistful sigh.