Empowered [Sexual Magic 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Jennifer August Page A

remained dark and impassive. “I am, at that. You?”
    He shrugged, not ready to discuss what the hell he was since he was still trying to figure that out. “Let’s stick with curious.”
    Kay leaned forward and cupped his fist, stroking the ultrasensitive webbing between his thumb and forefinger.
    “There is no shame in being a submissive, Gabriel. A lot of men are. A lot of men crave the release of control, long to give away all responsibility.”
    Her skin was no longer moist but still retained the slight chill, even in this tropical climate. Damn good air-conditioning.
    “I assume it’s the same for women?”
    “Indeed,” she concurred. “With society’s expectations of women these days—the demand for us to multitask with work, home, and hobbies—quite a few find great comfort in being confined, tied, whipped, disciplined.”
    The southern huskiness in her voice turned each word into an erotic vision in his mind and his mouth went dry. He could clearly see Madelyn being confined and tied and whipped. He wanted to see her that way.
    “You approve, I see.” She winked and lifted her glass. “I love a man after my own heart, though I do prefer them on their knees in front of me.” She laughed again and sipped.
    Though difficult to do, Gabriel shooed Madelyn’s lingering image aside. He focused his attention on Kay. “Do you get many men in that position?” he asked. For whatever idiotic reason, he’d always pictured women as the submissive partner. That a man would gladly enjoy and encourage such domination from another person never entered his mind.
    “Oh yes. More than you would ever expect. I like men because of their abilities to handle more discipline, too. They make my role much more interesting.”
    He frowned. “How?”
    Her long red nail tapped the glass tabletop. “Well, say you have a man and woman. She’s a bit on the small side and hardly bigger than a teenager. The man, however, is built along sturdier lines. He is taller, heavier—not fat, though, I despise out-of-shape people—and a bit surlier. If I had to choose between the two, I would take him. He’s like a blank canvas with which I can work and create.”
    “Huh.” Gabriel considered that for a moment. “So you’re saying less of a chance the guy would be hurt?”
    Her lips twitched and she shrugged. “Or that he could take more punishment than his female counterpart.”
    An image of Madelyn, bent over the sofa, her lean, pristine white back slashed by the deep bleeding wound of the bullwhip, flashed into his mind. He clenched his teeth and breathed out through his nose, trying to quell the sudden urge to puke.
    But he could not help wonder if Noah’s body would have been able to take the whip better and with less damage.
    “Would you like a demonstration?”
    He roused himself. “Sorry, what?”
    Annoyance flicked in her eyes. “Good thing you’re not my sub,” she said, voice tight. “I’d punish you for your inattention.”
    The arrogant words pissed him off, and he nodded. “Good thing, then. Interesting meeting you, Kay,” he said, shoving back his chair and standing.
    She rose as well, her hand clutching at his bare forearm. “Occupational hazard,” she said with a self-deprecating smile. “I asked if you would like to witness a demonstration of what I’m talking about. The difference between disciplining a man and a woman?”
    “I don’t think so, but thank you.”
    Her fingers tightened, the rounded tips of her nails gouging into his skin. He met her eyes.
    “Good thing you’re not my submissive,” he said evenly. “Think of the punishment that little infraction would bring.”
    Her smile widened. “Come on, Gabriel. Live a little. Indulge your curiosity. I see it in your eyes.”
    He wanted to deny the comment, but couldn’t. He really was curious to see how a female dominatrix operated. So far, he’d only watched a handful of men with their female partners.
    “There’s a small gathering