Essence of Time by Liz Crowe Page B

that shot between them made even the tall suave club owner gasp. Jack smiled. “Yeah. Okay. You boys behave. I have some work to do.”
    “Don’t be cocky Gordon or I’ll pull you.” Kyle took a step away from Rob, putting well-needed space between them.  Jack shrugged, shot his cuffs and walked through a huge, wooden set of double doors. Rob took a deep breath, tried to recover some equilibrium. “Come,” the single word from the other man’s mouth made his entire body pebble with anticipation, “with me. Can I offer you water? Juice? Tea?”
    Rob shook his head. Swallowing hard, he followed Kyle’s impossibly large back down a softly lit corridor. Subtle music oozed around them. He was aware of several attractive, well-dressed men and a couple of women milling about. Kyle greeted them all by name, shared a few jokes, slapped shoulders and hugged the two very attractive, older looking women before guiding Rob through another door. Rob wanted to ask him to please remove his hand from the small of his back. He needed no guidance. But the heat there pleased him, and terrified him at the same time.
    He opened a door to a small room with a large, what Rob assumed was one-way glass. There were several sweating bottles of water on the low glass table, a bowl of fresh fruit, and some expensive chocolates. Rob took a deep, cleansing breath.  “I don’t like to be tied up.” He blurted out, apropos of absolutely nothing. Kyle sat, stuck a chocolate in his mouth and stared at him. Rob felt his face flush red. “I mean, just trying to make conversation here.”
    “No, I don’t think you are actually.” Kyle picked up an apple, tossed in the air and caught it without looking, over and over again. “Have a seat Rob. Relax. I don’t bite.”
    Rob shut his eyes a second, opened them, shocked to see a deep well of desire in the unique gray-green stare of the man seated in front of him.  Oh fuck. He sank into the luxurious leather chair on the other side of the table and tried to relax, but the extreme hardness under his zipper would not allow it.  He watched the five women and two men enter the front of the room, all in some form of restraining get up. The were all blindfolded and led by someone, guided down to their knees and all of them kept their faces trained down to the floor.  Rob caught sight of Jack and his friend Evan and about ten other men and the two women enter the opposite end of the room.
    “Why…I mean…”
    “Submissives have all the power.” The man’s casual attitude irritated Rob for some reason. He leaned forward and watched as one by one, the “Doms” made their way to the front, stood in front of one or two of the kneeling “subs.” Then, they would abruptly walk away and take their seats.  Puzzled, he turned to look at Kyle.
    Big mistake.
    The man’s gaze was locked in on Rob like a laser. He gulped. “So, um, what now?” He pointed to the window, grabbed a water bottle for something to do with his shaking hands. Dear god if he could just taste those lips. He shook his head to clear it.
    “The subs choose. They can look down and see enough to see the color or make of footwear in front of them. Then…oh look big surprise, your friend is chosen first. Happens a lot.” He pointed and Rob watched, mesmerized as Jack made his way down to the front. He stood in front of a slight, black-haired beauty in a bustier and choker collar. Put his hand on her head. “Now, he gets to make a call. He’ll ask her to do one thing, in public. The public display is a big step for many subs. Some aren’t up to it, which is fine. But…” he nodded toward the window again. “Our man Gordon can convince anyone of anything it seems.”
    Rob watched as Jack helped the woman to her feet. She was all leg, something Rob knew Jack preferred. Her nearly flawless hourglass shape enhanced by the tight leather get up she wore. He watched as Jack leaned in, lifted her blindfold and kissed her with such