Power play, p.1
Power Play, page 1
Table of Contents
Power Play
Copyright
Blurb
TO MY READERS:
ACKNOWLEGMENTS
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Epilogue
OTHER BOOKS BY MARIE TUHART
POWER PLAY
By Marie Tuhart
https://www.marietuhart.com/
Power Play Copyright © 2023 Marie Tuhart
All rights reserved
Digital ISBN: 978-1-954847-19-4
Cover design by Designed by D
Editing by Red Quill Editing LLC
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, opinions, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual events is entirely coincidental.
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Thank you!
Wicked Sanctuary: Surrender your inhibitions.
Nurse Regina Davis finds herself entangled with Dane Morgan, who has opened a new art gallery in town. When the two embark on a wild relationship, including some fun at Wicked Sanctuary, things get serious between this friends-to-lovers couple. But will his wealthy family accept her?
TO MY READERS:
This book contains elements of the BDSM lifestyle that are only true to life in this book. There are various relationship dynamics in the lifestyle, which are decided between the people involved. While I have researched and talked with people in the lifestyle, this is my take on how my characters choose to live.
If you decide to explore the lifestyle yourself, please remember to always be safe. Never go home with someone you don’t know. Attend a munch or a small get-together first to see if this is something you want in your life. Reading and living are very different.
This novella originally published in: Zodiac Encounters - Aries
Enjoy.
ACKNOWLEGMENTS
There are several people I want to thank for supporting me through this book:
Red Quill Editing team, you are the best team to work with.
Publisher’s Note: This book contains a dominant male, spunky heroine, and sexy situations.
Chapter One
Regina Davis smiled at the man in a suit, standing by the door of the art gallery as her turn in line arrived.
“Invitation, please,” the man said.
She handed him the little white card. He looked at it and handed it back to her. “Enjoy your evening.”
Interesting to have such security. Regina didn’t mind since this was for Anthony. It was the first showing of his art. It was also the grand opening of The Morgan Gallery. She was thrilled Anthony had found a gallery that would display his art. He was a masterful artist, and she’d been lucky enough to see some of his sketches.
She smoothed her hands down her black cocktail dress. Walking farther into the gallery, Regina noted the high polished floors and the way others were dressed. Thank goodness she’d had time to shower and change into her dress before coming to the gallery. Hospital scrubs wouldn’t have gone over well with this crowd.
Everyone was dressed for an evening out with the men in suits and the women either in cocktail dresses or fancy evening dresses. This was not Regina’s typical crowd. No, she was more of the jeans-and-let’s-relax-at-the-local-bar kind of person.
“Drink, ma’am?” a waiter asked.
She wanted to take one of the flutes of champagne, but she did have to work tomorrow. “Do you have anything nonalcoholic?”
“Of course.” He waved another waiter over and plucked a glass from his tray and handed it to Regina. “Sparkling cider. Please enjoy.”
Regina took the flute, and the waiter walked away. She spied Anthony across the room with a group of people. It would be better to walk around for a few minutes and then see if he was free. She didn’t want to interrupt him. This was Anthony’s night.
Walking through the gallery, she enjoyed seeing his work on display. Many of his drawings were exotic. The women were in the style of old pin up girls but with his own flair. Admittedly, the woman had big breasts, but they were displayed tastefully. Anthony was an equal opportunity artist. He drew men as well. Regina couldn’t suppress her grin at the exaggerated size of the man’s penis in the drawing she was currently studying.
If a woman saw that in real life, she’d run screaming. Regina rounded the corner to see two women standing in front of another painting. Oh my, Anthony had caught the flavor of the club on bondage night. The eroticism in the painting had Regina holding her breath.
She shivered as if the Dom’s fingers trailing down the sub’s arms were against her skin, the sub’s little breaths of anticipation, and the overall sensuality and love in the drawing.
“Why are we here, Frances?” a white-haired woman asked.
“Now, Ellen, you know I support the arts.” Frances patted her coiffed hair.
“This isn’t art.” The woman called Ellen shifted on her feet. “It’s porn.” She spoke softly, but Regina still heard her.
Regina’s back stiffened. How many times had she been told she was reading porn because she liked extra spicy romance novels? The judgment in the woman’s voice put Regina’s hackles up.
“Excuse me,” she said. “But how is this different from some Greek statues? Or drawings of pin up girls?”
Ellen turned around and glared at Regina. “Really? That’s art.”
Regina lifted her head. “That’s what this is. Art. Beautiful art depicting two people who care about each other and enjoy being sexy together.”
“This isn’t art; it’s trash.”
“Enough, Ellen,” Frances said.
Regina barely held on to her temper. Intolerant people were a hot button for her. No surprise since her family had kicked her out because she wanted to be a nurse. How could anyone object to a desire to go into nursing? Intolerance was her family’s middle name, and these women acted just like them. “Maybe you shouldn’t be here since you view it as trash. I’m sure you can find better things to do with your time.”
Ellen huffed out a breath and marched away. Frances gave Regina a sad smile before following. Regina stared at the painting. She didn’t see anything wrong with it, and it sure as heck wasn’t trash.
“You just scared two potential customers away,” a husky male voice commented.
Regina spun around, almost tripping herself.
Masculine hands gripped her shoulders until she was steady, then let go.
She stared at the man in the dark suit; he filled it out so well, her breath caught. Her skin tingled from the brief contact of his hands on her bare shoulders. Who was he? There was something familiar about him.
“I’m not going to apologize. I doubt they’d have bought anything.” She was done being sorry for what she thought and what she felt. She’d done too much apologizing to her family, and nothing ever changed.
His hazel eyes regarded her. “You’re probably right.” He gestured to the painting. “Will you tell me what you see?”
Regina swallowed. She wasn’t used to spilling her feelings to someone she didn’t know. Yes, she did show her emotions at Wicked Sanctuary when she played, but she knew most of those in the club. The man crossed his arms over his chest, causing his suit jacket to strain over his shoulders as he stared at her. Oh, she knew that stance. He was challenging her.
She lifted her chin and returned her attention to the painting. “I see a man sensually stroking his companion’s arm, and she’s looking up at him with desire in her eyes. There is a connection between them. One that very few people achieve.” There. Let him make of that what he would.
“Interesting.” His voice was soft and close to her ear.
Regina’s breath caught in her throat. He was right behind her, and while he wasn’t touching her, she could feel his body heat.
“Does it bother you that they’re naked and that the artist has emphasized their private bits?”
The giggle escaped before she could sto p. “Private bits?”
“Would you prefer”—his breath brushed against her ear as he spoke—“that I said tits and cock?”
“That would be appropriate. After all, the artist is a fetish artist. But there’s nothing wrong with the emphasis.”
“Not everyone feels that way.”
Regina turned her head and gave him one of her stares. The one the other nurses called her annoyed-with-the-doctor glare. “They shouldn’t be here tonight. Tonight is about this artist.”
He opened his mouth but turned when someone called from across the room. A flash of annoyance skimmed over his face. “You’ll have to excuse me for a moment, but I want to continue this conversation.” He walked away, and Regina shivered. What was it about him that made her heart speed up?
She watched him, searching for the reason. There it was. In his stride. Heck, in his attitude. That man was a Dom. Disappointment filled Regina. She played in the club, but outside of it, she didn’t date. Men weren’t worth the trouble. She’d be wise to steer clear of him.
“Regina,” a female voice said.
“Hi, Sierra.” Max and Sierra, friends from the club, walked toward her.
“I’m so glad you were able to make it.” Sierra gave her a hug and a kiss. Max leaned over and brushed a kiss on cheek.
“I’m guessing at least most of the people from the club will be wandering in and out all night,” Regina said. “Sierra, I love your outfit.” Sierra was wearing an off the shoulder blue wrap-around dress that fit her figure perfectly.
“Thank you,” Max said. “It took me over an hour to get her to wear it.” His fingers trailed over Sierra’s bare shoulder.
“Behave, Max. We’re in public,” Sierra said, swatting his arm.
Max’s eyebrows rose, and Regina found herself biting her lip. Max grinned and shook his head. “Should I remind you to behave, my dear?”
Max’s deep, husky voice sent a shiver through Regina. The Dom voice.
“Yes, Sir,” Sierra whispered as she lowered her gaze.
Regina glanced around. Nobody was watching them, and probably, no one had even noticed the exchange.
“I’ve been trying to get over here,” Anthony declared in an exasperated voice. His blue eyes were bright with excitement, and his black hair spiked in all directions, as if he’d been running his hand through it. “Regina, thank you for coming.” He pulled her in for a hug.
“Your work is fantastic, Anthony. I’m so glad to be here tonight.” She hugged him back. While she hadn’t played with Anthony in the club, the two of them had sat and talked many times.
“Thanks.” He adjusted his jacket. “I hate dressing up.”
“At least you’re not wearing a tie,” said Max.
“True. I couldn’t stand to put one on tonight.”
Regina let the conversation flow over her as she assessed the crowd. One of the things about being a nurse, at least for her, meant keeping her eye on everyone. One never knew when a medical emergency might arise.
After a few minutes, Anthony was called away, and Max and Sierra wandered off. Regina continued to wander around the gallery. She caught glimpses of the man who’d talked to her earlier.
Once in a while, their gazes would connect, and she’d forget to breathe. Shaking her head, she glanced at her dainty watch. It was getting late, and she did have the early shift tomorrow. She found Anthony in a crowd of people, so she motioned at him that she was leaving. He held up a hand in reply.
Regina stepped outside the gallery and took a deep breath of cool air. Wow. She hadn’t realized how hot it had been in there. All those bodies, including the one body that interested her. Casting her glance to the night sky, she told herself to forget him. Opening her phone, she hit the app for a ride share service. While it was a nice night, she wasn’t going to walk home in heels.
Within minutes, a car arrived, and Regina slipped inside, but she couldn’t stop herself from glancing around one last time for the man she’d talked to earlier. He was deep in conversation with Anthony near the doorway to the gallery. She wondered what that was about as the car pulled away.
* * * *
Dane Morgan smiled as he walked around the gallery. He enjoyed taking chances on new artists, and Anthony was great. Some people might not consider fetish art, art. But it was so much more than that. Now that things had calmed down, Dane looked for the redhead he’d talked to earlier. The feisty little thing who’d told those two old biddies off and not too politely.
There was something familiar about her, but he couldn’t put his finger on it. Had they met before? He hadn’t been in Pleasant Valley that long, just a few months, getting the gallery ready for opening. He hadn’t detected an accent in her voice to indicate she was from the Chicago area.
He grinned, thinking back to how she’d stood up to him. His fingers itched to touch her skin, to see if it was as soft as it looked, but not only that. He wanted to see if she was interested in kink. The way she described the painting made him think she at least had knowledge of the lifestyle.
After his third time around the gallery and not seeing her, he walked to where one of his workers was by the front door. “Jasper, did you see a redhead in a black and silver dress leave?”
“Yes, boss. About an hour ago.”
“Thank you.” Dane walked away in disappointment. Unless she happened to come back into the gallery, it would be almost impossible to track her down. But Dane wasn’t one to give up. He’d make some quiet inquiries and see what he could find out.
Because his redhead wasn’t going to get away. She’d intrigued him like no one else in quite a while. No, he wasn’t going to let her disappear.
Chapter Two
Regina shut the door on the locker and walked out of the ladies’ room and into the club. Thank goodness it was Friday. She needed tonight. Anthony’s gallery opening had been on Tuesday, and after that, her work week had gone to hell.
She normally worked four ten-hour days, but the last two days, she’d worked twelve to fourteen hours each day. Her boss had wanted her to come in today, but she told her no. Friday was her day off. Her day to do things around her apartment. Plus, it was her club time, something she looked forward to and liked taking time to prepare for.
It didn’t matter how late she stayed at the club on Friday and Saturday nights because she was off, and that’s how she wanted it. She fingered her green and white bracelet after she walked into the club. Pretty full house tonight and it was early. Regina glanced around before she walked into the subs’ area and sat down. Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to wait long for one of the Doms to approach her.
Regina hoped for someone good with a flogger, paddle, or some other impact implement. She needed the release. She tried to relax, but it was difficult. Her mind was going in circles from a stressful week, and that was why she needed to play. She needed to get out of her head.
Regina glanced around the club. She didn’t see anyone she normally played with right now, but it was early.
“Hi, Regina.” Lara smiled
“Hey, Lara,” Regina said as Lara, who dated one of the monitors, sat down next to her.
“Colby asked me to talk with you about being a demo sub for him tonight.”
Regina’s eyes widened. “I thought you were his demo sub now.” While Lara’d had some issues in the beginning about playing at the club, Regina thought those were all worked out.
“Usually, but tonight, he wants to give a demo using some of the heavier floggers I’m not comfortable with yet.”
Regina nodded. “I can do it, if you’re sure.”
Lara grinned. “You’re one of the few single subs I trust not to go after Colby.”
“Thanks.” Regina didn’t mind Lara’s words. Truth was, Regina wasn’t interested in a relationship. She liked playing with different Doms, and tonight, a good flogging from Colby would help her. “Why are you asking me rather than Colby asking?”
“He thought it might be better coming from me.” Lara raised her hand and motioned Colby over.
Colby was grinning as he approached them. “Thank you for agreeing, Regina.”
