Mercedes Bends

Sitting back in the comfortable leather recliner, The Lady Mercedes took a long drag on her cigarette and checked the time on her cell phone. She'd left- her eyes narrowed as she had to struggle to recall his name-was it Rick? Exhaling she gave a mental shrug, did it really matter? She'd been referring to him as dog for the last hour; that was good enough.

She'd left him alone five minutes ago and her experience told her she had maybe another five minutes before the vibrating cock ring would bring him to the point of no return. The ring was on its lowest setting, barely a tease, but she'd been edging him for close to an hour now.

Taking the final drag from the cigarette, she sighed and crushed it out in the small ashtray next to her. Picking up the bottle of water from the ice bucket on the end table, she took a sip then placed the bottle against her sweaty face. She'd turned the heat up to over ninety in the other room and the cold felt damn good.

Letting her head fall back against the chair, she trailed the bottle down her neck and to her chest, letting it rest between her small perky breasts. Putting down the bottle, Mercedes picked up an ice cube and sliding her black robe and the lingerie she was wearing beneath, to the side; pressed the ice against her nipple and winced at the sudden chill.

Sliding it to her other nipple, she held it there longer, enjoying the mixed sensation of pain and pleasure the cold brought to her sensitive skin. Closing her yes, she pressed the cube hard into her now swollen nipple, pushing the silver spike pierced through it deep into the soft skin of her breast. The increased pain caused a warm sensation to build between her legs, as for the first time since she'd started tonight's game, she began to become aroused. Well on that note, she thought, she may as well go get this over with.

With a grunt of disgust, Mercedes rose from the chair and walked over to the door of the room. She was in a small suite in the upper level of her club; The Velvet Rope and like the other suite's this one had a small cooling off room as she referred to it and the bedroom, or in the case of some of the suites, a small dungeon in the other. The door featured a full length mirror and standing before it, Mercedes untied the long black robe she had been wearing, even in the heat of the room, and let it fall to the floor.

Beneath the robe she was wearing a yellow lace teddy that tied in the middle leaving her hard flat stomach bare. The material over her small firm breasts was transparent, showing off her brown nipples. Below the waist all she had on was a yellow thong, leaving her long well toned legs exposed up to her hips.

Reaching up to remove the clip in her hair, Mercedes rolled her eyes. She was not a fan of the color, but had been told many times it looked amazing on her ebony skin. So being that tonight was all about the over grown teenagers that shared the Circle's table getting a show, the lingerie would work fine.

Mercedes pulled the clip out and with a shake of her head sent her long black hair cascading down her back. She noticed that because of the heat it was starting to curl and knew she'd have to get it straightened yet again. But again, it had been pointed out to her by several of the men how her hair looked better curly and after all, this was the groups night, not hers, so even better to please them with. She reached down to the doorknob, then struck by an idea walked back to the ice bucket and grabbed a couple of cubes.

Mercedes walked back to the door and entering the room, quickly closed it behind her. Turning around she paused to take in the sight of her handy work. Rick, she was pretty sure that was his name, was not in the bed, but a modified reclining chair next to it. His wrists were bound together over his head, the other end of the rope affixed to the bottom of the back of the chair. He'd learned the hard way, that if her pulled forward the leg rest would rise and he definitely didn't want that to happen.

Rick's legs were spread apart with his feet on the floor, straddling the leg rest. The position would not be uncomfortable, but for the fact Mercedes had tied a thin rope around the base of his cock and around his scrotum, separating his balls to the point she was able to tie each one individually as well. The end of the rope was attached to the leg of the chair and if the leg rest rose the rope would tighten on his already painfully swollen balls.

Rick's rather large cock was tied tightly at the base and with the exception of an occasional loosening of the knot, had been for close to an hour. His turgid cock was standing at full attention and attached to it was a vibrating cock ring. Ricks eyes were closed and his breathing was shallow and rapid. Each of his breaths ended in a pathetic whimper and even from across the room she could see his legs shaking.

Walking up to the chair, Mercedes glanced up at the corner of the ceiling and saw the small red light blinking. There were five cameras mounted throughout the room all with a direct feed to a lap top in her suite. When her show was over she would send the videos' to be spliced and edited down to the final product that would be shown at the next meeting. Normally they went to Loki, a surveillance specialist, but this time would be different. Reaching the chair Mercedes stood and watched Rick moaning.

Between the heat of the room and his body's desperate need to reach an orgasm he was no longer completely aware of his surroundings and had no idea she was standing there. Mercedes looked down at his cock and saw it was twitching. As she had calculated in the other room, he would cum, and soon. To confirm that thought, Rick released a louder moan and his hips jerked. He immediately whimpered when the movement tightened the rope around his testicles and Mercedes felt her nipples stiffen at the sound.

Unlike the rest of the Circle, Mercedes had become indifferent to the actual act of sex, for her it was about this. The thrill of watching someone totally helpless, completely at her mercy and at a point they would do anything for the release only she could give them. But tonight she would have to give in and allow Rick to fuck her. The group had rules and although she had bent them repeatedly, Mercedes could tell from Mistress Scarlett's reaction to her last one, and the fact she wanted to see her next video before Loki, she was not pleased.

Looking down at Rick, Mercedes figured the women would be pleased with her choice of sub. Rick was as dark as Mercedes herself and the muscles in his hard body were glistening from sweat and bulging as his body strained to cum. Mercedes eyes once again found the most impressive of those muscles and saw the twitching was becoming more pronounced. She picked up the remote for the cock ring and held it in her hand. She was still holding the ice cubes in the other and put that one behind her back.

"Ohhh, oh yeah." Rick groaned in front of her, his hips moving ever so slightly, trying to urge the orgasm along without tightening the rope.

Mercedes silently counted to ten and when Rick's next moan was longer and higher pitched she shut the ring off.

"Sorry my pet, time's up." She said softly.

Rick's eyes flew open and he moaned, "Oh please Mistress, just a little more I..."

"I gave you plenty of time." She answered as she tossed the remote aside and easing her finger into the rubber cock ring, slid it off.

He groaned at the contact and with a nasty smile, she wrapped her slender fingers around his cock and gave it a couple of slow pumps.

"Please." He moaned.

Mercedes squeezed his cock and could feel her pussy growing wet at the feeling of him throbbing in her hand. His eyes were wide and his entire body shaking as she stroked him. She stopped and when he whimpered shook her head.

"You sound like a dog, a pathetic dog, then again that's what you arte isn't it?"

"Y...yes Mistress." He whispered.

"And you should know that it was best you did not come. By holding back, you're showing me there may be some hope for you yet."

Reaching down between his legs, she picked up the feather that was on the leg rest and began lightly flicking it across the engorged head of his cock. She circled it twice then teased it across the sensitive underside of the tip. His hips moved, yet even as he groaned in pain he gasped.

"Oh, please let me come!"

"Yeah? You all worked up and need it?" she asked sweetly as the feather continued to dance across his straining cock.

"Yes I..."

"Then I guess we should cool you down."

Bringing her hand around, Mercedes pressed the ice cubes directly onto his balls. Rick cried out in surprise and pain and his hips lifted off the chair. His cry turned into a loud groan as the rope tightened around his scrotum. Despite the fact it was causing him more pain, he couldn't control writhing and his groans were like music to her ears.

The sight of his muscular body squirming against her touch and the fact his bound cock was still hard, sent a surge of desire through her and knowing it would play well to the group said, "Let's see how you handle some pleasure with your pain."

Parting her lips, she took the head of his cock between them, sucking on just the tip. Rick moaned and then cried out as he reflexively pumped his hips. The sound of his moan caused her to begin breathing harder around his desperate flesh and she took him deeper into her mouth. She held him there, feeling her pussy moistening at the sensation of him trembling between her lips. Mercedes slowly bobbed her head, her eyes locked on his face. His eyes were bulging and the look of mixed pain and lust on his face was one she knew Loki would use in the video.

Rick started moving his hips, his need to come surpassing the pain, and Mercedes remained still, allowing him very briefly to fuck her mouth. When he arched his back off the chair and a look of relief began to pass across his face, she quickly removed him from her mouth and with a flick of her wrist dealt his cock a slap. He yelped and she snapped,

"No thank you? I suck your worthless cock and get no thank you? You are hopeless aren't you?"

"I...I'm sorry mistress," he was still gasping in pain and was pausing between each word, "Please have..."

"Never mind the fact I wore something special for you as a reward for you not coming and you don't even notice it." Taking her hands she rubbed her tits before sliding them down her exposed stomach and across the crotch of her thong, "I guess you don't find me attractive."

"My...my mistress is v...very desirable."

"Am I now? If I were I wouldn't have had to point out my change of attire." She sighed, "Perhaps I should leave again."

"Mercedes please!" He cried out, "T...this isn't..."

His words turned into a yowl of pain as Mercedes grabbed the rope between his balls and gave it a quick tug.

"Since when are we on a first named basis?" she snapped.

"I...I'm sorry Mistress." He whimpered.

"And were you going to say this isn't fair?" she laughed harshly, "You sought me out did you not? Thought because you'd played with handcuffs a few times with your little sluts you were ready for a true Mistress?"

"But you...you keep"

"Keep what, playing unfair? Are you a man or a boy?" Mercedes grabbed his cock and gave it a hard squeeze, "This does not make you man, all it does is make you pathetic. You're all the same, all you men think about is your cock and what hole you can stick it into next. Tell me arrogant one, do you really think I'm going to let you fuck me?"

"You're supposed to fuck...ow!"

Mercedes released his cock and gave it another slap, "You didn't even thank me for the privilege of my mouth, yet you think you can have my pussy?"

"I...I'm at your mercy, Mistress."

His voice came out in a high pitched whine that caused her desire to wan. There was nothing Mercedes hated more than when a man expected it of her. Had he just continued to beg she would have let the game go on, but now she was done.

She would leave him and have one of her girls come in and untie him, he could jack himself off and leave. Mercedes began to turn when the red light caught her eye. She was expected to fuck tonight and by someone other than this pathetic fool.

Taking a deep breath she told herself to relax and just let it happen. He had been whimpering for quite some time now, she had nothing to prove. Turning back to Rick she ran her fingernail down the length of his cock.

"I'll tell you what," she said, making her way alongside the chair, "I'll give you a chance you don't deserve. You prove that tongue is good for something other than whining like a child, I'll let you cum."

"Thank you, Mistress! I promise I'll..."

"Not only will I let you come, but I'll even let you fuck me if I come hard enough, fair?"

"My Mistress is better than I deserve." He said, and Mercedes noted his eyes were now working their way up and down her body.

"That goes without saying." She said softly.

Leaning over, she pulled the end of the rope through one of the loops between his balls. The knot loosened and Rick's breath hissed between his teeth as the pressure was relieved. Mercedes waited several seconds and smiled as his relief turned into pain as the blood rushed back into his testicles.

"Well?" she asked.

"Th...thank you Mistress," He moaned through clenched teeth.

"This way you'll calm down and maybe enjoy me for more than the thirty seconds you'd last. That is of course, if you impress me."

Turning to face him, Mercedes untied her top. She did so slowly, waiting to see if he'd learned anything. This time he didn't disappoint.

"Mistress, may I see your beautiful tits?"

"Good start," she said as she pulled the string and let the top fall from her shoulders.

Ricky licked his lips at the sight of her breasts and she asked, "Do you like them?"

"They're perfect." He said his eyes locked onto her dark nipples, "Everything about you is."

"Oh, you can learn can't you?" She grabbed his cock and gently stroked it, he moaned this time in simple pleasure. "See, if you behave yourself, you get rewarded."

Leaning over she placed her left tit in his face. She expected him to lick her nipple, instead he whispered, "Mistress, may I?"

"You may." She answered, her hand sliding down his cock to begin massaging his balls.

His tongue flicked across her nipple softly several times, before he sucked it into his mouth. Mercedes released a moan for the benefit of the camera and closed her eyes to hide the indifferent expression she knew would be on her face.

With an exaggerated sigh, she allowed him to suck her tit, before removing it and sliding over so he could suck the other one. She slid her hand back to his cock and after pumping it several times, released it and rubbed her hand along his flat hard stomach.

As his tongue eagerly worked her nipple, Mercedes rubbed his chest and told herself he was attractive, if he could last more than a couple of minutes after all the teasing she would get a decent fuck out of him. Straightening, she turned so that her back was to him and hooking her fingers through the sides of her thong, slipped it halfway down her ass.

"Please let me see your pussy mistress."

His tone wasn't as sincere as it should have been, but at this point it was no longer going to be what she wanted to do, but what she needed to. That thought caused her to frown and for a brief instance Mercedes had the image of herself as an eighteen year old freshmen; nervously opening her legs for a man who had just handed her a roll of bills.

Blinking away that memory, Mercedes slowly shimmied out of the thong. Putting on a show for the camera, she bent over, bracing her hands on the chair and giving Ricky a good view of her smooth pussy peeking out from between her thighs.

Turning back around, she lifted her leg, placing it on the arm of the chair. She spread her pussy open, exposing her pink flesh through her dark lips. Rick's eyes were wide and he was breathing hard as, once again for the benefit of the camera, Mercedes teased her long red nail around her clit.

Bending her leg, she leaned forward until her pussy was directly in front of his face. This time he didn't ask and pressed his tongue against her clit. She thought about pulling away, but she'd already had enough.

"You like that pussy?" she asked in the breathy voice she'd used years ago to make the johns think she was into them. "You want to show me how good you are with that tongue?"

"Oh, yeah." He said, flicking his tongue across her clit.

His words were accompanied by a small smile that made her want to tie his balls again, but instead she lowered her leg to the floor and pushed the recliner back, so he was horizontal.

Turning around, she swung her leg back up onto the chair and over his head. Mercedes brought her other leg up so that she was straddling his chest. She lowered her pussy to just over his face and gave her ass a playful shake, pulling her pussy away from his tongue.

"Please?" he asked, she felt his chest move beneath her and realized he had laughed, he now thought this was just a game.

Even as she lowered her pussy to his eager tongue, Mercedes thought, why wouldn't he? She'd been forced to do a complete three sixty and let him have her. His tongue found her clit and she released a moan that sounded as sincere as his last 'please'.

"Hold still," she told him.

"Yes ma'am." She could feel him smiling.

Still playing her part, Mercedes started rocking, sliding his tongue between the folds of her pussy. He was wiggling his tongue back and forth, rather than keeping it still as she asked, but she faked another moan, trying not to focus on the fact he was disobeying her. Resting her chest on his stomach, she reached back and spread her ass open.

"Tongue my ass." She told him.

"I don't like that." He replied.

Video or no video, she was not going to tolerate that. Grabbing his still tender balls, she gave them a hard squeeze. He cried out in pain and rather than release them, she continued to squeeze until she felt his tongue move to her asshole. She quickly sat back so she was straddling his face and began gyrating on him, shoving his tongue deep into her ass. Facing the camera she knew was behind the mirror she played with her nipples and moaned, "That's right, lick my ass, you do what I tell you to!"

He moaned something and she leaned back down and moving slightly forward, gave him her pussy again. As he began sliding his tongue around her clit, Mercedes grabbed his cock and stroked it. Looking directly at the camera she rubbed his large cock along her face, rolling her eyes back as if she loved it.

Rick was now sucking on her clit. Typical man, she thought as she brought the head of his cock to her lips, he wasn't trying to tease or please at all, just wanted her to get off so he could fuck her.

Closing her eyes she parted her lips and moaned over his cock. She wiggled her hips, moving them up and down as if she were getting close to cumming rather than just going through the motions. Speaking of going through the motions, she took him into her mouth and slowly worked her lips down to the base of his shaft.

"Oh fuck," Rick groaned, "Damn, I knew you loved to suck!"

Resisting the urge to bite down, she bobbed her head, rolling her eyes back and moaning around it. Rick's thighs started to shake and she sighed, figuring he'd last a minute tops once she got on him. She popped his cock from her mouth and made a show of swirling her tongue around the head.

"Oh," she purred, "That's it; show me how much you want it. Make your Mistress come in your face!"

He sucked her harder and she started breathing heavier, pissed or not, she was beginning to feel it. She let herself relax, thinking maybe she could at least let herself get off. That's when he completely ruined it.

"Oh, I'll make you come," he said into her pussy, "Nice and hard, just like you're going to fuck me." A surge of rage swept through her, but nonetheless she stayed where she was and he continued to dig himself a hole. "Yeah, we played your way, now we're going to have some fun."

"Shut up and suck me off." She snapped, and then added, "The faster I come, the faster you come."

He pressed his tongue hard against her clit and swirled it around her swollen flesh. Mercedes barely noticed as she gave his cock a couple of long licks up and down his shaft and made a show of bucking her hips faster. Sitting up, she braced her hands on his thighs, digging her nails hard into his flesh. She heard him moan between her legs and after grinding her hips on his face, threw her head back and as she had done all through college, released a long, loud and completely contrived squeal.

She bucked wildly on his face, closing her eyes and parting her lips while emitting a series of convincing yelps. Looking down she stared at his impressive cock and prepared to slide down and ride him. After another fake cry of ecstasy, she made a show of slumping forward on him and gasping, all the while wondering if any of the women in the group would see she was faking. There was no doubt the guys would think it was real, they were too arrogant to ever think a woman faked one for them.

"Oh, you came hard didn't you?" Rick asked.

"Why yes I did." She said softly, trying to keep the edge out of her voice. "Now I guess you deserve a reward don't you?"

Sliding down his chest she continued until she was grabbing his ankles and his hard cock was pressed against her pussy. Mercedes lifted herself slightly and worked her hips, sliding his cock between her lips and giving the camera behind them a view of her ass and pussy working his hard flesh. Pulling forward a little more, she pushed the head of his cock to the entrance of her pussy and paused for effect. She was getting ready to get it over with and drive down on him when he laughed,

"Oh, you're going to ride that cock aren't you Mercedes, going to love my big dick in that pretty little pussy! Bet you'll come all over it."

Mercedes kept herself still and when he thrust his hips, trying to slide into her, she pulled forward.

"No, Rick you're the one that gets to cum now, after all you deserve it don't you?" she asked.

"Hell yeah, after you teased the shit out of me, but you ain't teasing anymore are you?"

"Oh, no, you're going to cum and nice and hard aren't you?"

"Real hard!" he laughed again.

"I bet after all that teasing it's going to be a nice big load isn't it?"

"And it's all for you!" he told her, "Every drop"

"We'll see about that."

Reaching down alongside the recliner, Mercedes hit the lever that held the chair in its current position. Swinging her leg over him, she hopped off of the chair and turning around grabbed his cock.

"What are you doing?" he asked, and then moaned as she pumped him.

"You don't deserve my pussy dog, you didn't even deserve to taste it, so the only way you're coming is like this." She stroked his cock faster and his hips moved as he was already getting close. "Unless you don't want too." She released his cock with a shrug.

"No, please!" he moaned, "I'll...oh please just make me cum!"

"You want to come Rick; you want to shoot a nice big hot load for me? Show me what a man you are?"

"Yes!" he cried out, "Please stop fucking teasing me!"

"As you wish."

Mercedes began jerking him off again and within seconds his hips were rocking and he was moaning idiotically. She could feel his cock throbbing in her hand and knew he was getting close. She spit on his cock and kept stroking, getting it wet and making her hand feel even better to his desperate cock.

"Oh god," he whimpered, "I...I'm going to come! Here it comes baby! I...No.!"

Just as she felt the cum racing through his cock, she squeezed her fingers around the base of his head, stopping him from cumming, he began jerking his hips and begging, "Please, oh, god it fucking hurts...I need to cum! Please Mistress!"

"Whatever you want,"

She pushed on his chest and the chair swung down, the head rest thumping against the floor. His legs came up, and with his cock now pointing at his face, Mercedes realized her grip. A huge spurt of cum erupted from the tip and hit him in the mouth.

Pumping him with one hand, she grabbed his balls and squeezed hard enough to get him to yell in pain. As soon as his mouth opened he received a spurt of cum directly into it. He jerked his head to the side, spitting it out, but even as he did he was groaning and his hips bucking as the cum that had been building within him for the last hour exploded from his cock.

The next squirts hit him in the side of the face and reaching out; Mercedes grabbed his hair and yanked his head around to face her. He caught another squirt, this time in his eye, and as he tried to jerk his head back she wrapped her hand in his hair and held him there while she painted his face with his sticky fluid. When she could coax no more from his cock, she released it and looked down at his cum covered face.

"How was that stud?" she asked, "Showed me didn't you?" She scooped some of the cum that had pooled on his chest in her fingers and roughly shoved them in his mouth.

"Like that taste? Now you know what the girls you pay to suck your cock feel like." She grunted and smeared his cum all over his lips with her fingers.

He glared at her, but didn't dare open his mouth.

"You could have had me, if you'd behaved, but dogs like you are too stupid to do anything but think you're in control. But you're not are you?"

He shook his head, a whimper escaping him.

"That's right. So you go back and you tell whatever little friend of yours told you about my club that no one controls The Lady Mercedes, think you can manage that?"

He nodded desperately, his eyes wide as she stared down at him.

"Good boy." She told him and turned away from him.

Walking towards the door she called over her shoulder. "You just lay there for awhile and let that dry, if I remember I'll send one of the girls to come up here and untie you."

Without looking back at him, Mercedes closed the door behind her and after putting her black robe back on, made her way out of the suite and down the hallway to the large apartment she stayed in whenever she didn't feel like going home from the club. Going directly to the desk in the living room she sat down and after downloading the videos to her computer, sent them off to The Lady Scarlett.

Sitting back in the chair, Mercedes picked up the pack of cigarettes and lighting one, imagined Scarlett was not going to be pleased. Well that was going to be too bad. Rules be damned, The Lady Mercedes would never whore herself again, not even for The Circle.

*****

"Excuse me miss, this is for you." Mercedes looked up from her I-Pad to see the waiter place an apple martini in front of her. "It's from the gentleman in the white shirt."

"Send it back." She returned to looking at the spreadsheet containing the clubs expenses for the month.

"Are you sure?" The waiter asked, looking nervously over his shoulder at whoever had sent the drink. "Your glass is empty."

"And if I wanted another I would have ordered it, now remove it please."

"But he paid for it."

"Then he can drink it." She answered. She added up a column of figures then, noticing the waiter still standing there, sighed, "Remove it from his tab and put it on mine, is that better?"

"I've never seen anyone turn down a drink,"

"First time for everything." She told him. "Now do your job and clear my table please."

The waiter, who couldn't have been more than twenty, nodded and picking up the drink walked away. Mercedes watched him go over to a tall blonde man dressed in a pair of black Dockers and a white polo shirt and put the drink in front of him. He stared at the waiter then glanced over at her. She met his gaze and held it for a moment. He gave her a practiced lady killer smile and picking up the drink, walked over to her table.

"I have to say I've never seen a lady play hard to get before a drink." Without waiting for an invitation he sat down across from her and extended his hand, "I'm Jack."

"I'm not interested."

"Well not interested, it's nice to meet you," he laughed. "So what's a stunning beauty like you doing sitting out here all alone?"

"Waiting for another stunning beauty." Mercedes replied as she surveyed the crowded patio hoping to see who as always was running late.

"Well maybe I can keep you company until then."

"I have a phone if I want to talk to someone." She told him.

"Wow," he shook his head, "You're a tough one, aren't you?"

Her reply was look back down at the screen in her hands. She could feel his eyes on her and wondered how long he would stay. Without looking up, Mercedes knew his eyes would be on her legs, which were well displayed in the short coral sundress she was wearing. She imagined his gaze wandering up to her chest, which although small was propped up well by the snug fitting dress. It was warm, but not hot and Mercedes had left her hair down and it was currently lying over her right shoulder, leaving her neck exposed.

She heard Jack clear his throat and wondered if it would be her dress, eyes or...

"You know, that dress looks incredible on your skin. I love dark skinned women."

"Oh, do you now?" She was going to have to be rude, but something told her he would make it easy on her.

"Yes, and your features" he made a show of looking at her face, "So exotic."

"Exotic?" she repeated.

"Very, so where are you from, Cape Verde?"

"Close" Mercedes told him, "Louisiana." She gave him a smirk, "Care to keep trying, Romeo?"

"Hey look, you don't have to be a..."

"Bitch?" she finished, "Apparently I do because I've made it pretty clear I'm not interested in you."

"Well excuse me, I just happen to find women of color to be very attractive."

"Women of..." she switched gears and gave him a big smile, "So you like dark meat, Jack?"

"I do." He nodded, "So how about we..."

"Then go fuck a Turkey." She told him, still smiling.

"What are you to good for me? Fine," He scowled, standing "Stuck up woman like you wouldn't know how to handle a man anyway."

"Yup," she nodded, looking back down to the table "That's me, no idea how to handle a man."

She waited until he had stormed off, then with a disgusted sigh, shut the I-pad off and put it on the table. She shouldn't have been that rude to him, but nothing annoyed her more than a pushy man. Still that was no excuse to be that much of a bitch, he was probably a decent guy and at the end of the day was it so bad to be desired?

That all depended on what they desired of her, which was always one thing. She also wasn't in the best of moods to begin with this afternoon. As she had expected, Scarlett must not have been thrilled with her video. The day after her taped affair with Rick, Victoria had called her and not as her friend, but as The Lady Felicia, high lady of the Circle, telling her they needed to talk and soon.

Mercedes agreed to lunch at Cafe Reggio at noon and should have known better than to think that Victoria would be anywhere near on time. As if Victoria knew she was thinking of her, Mercedes phone beeped on the table. Picking it up, she saw it was indeed from the high lady telling her she was sorry, but she may be another fifteen minutes. Mercedes texted her back, that she'd see her in the half hour it would really take her and then continued to stare at her phone.

"Don't get yourself going." She said softly, but already knew she would.

Unable to resist, Mercedes pulled up the picture of her niece Jennifer her sister in law Michelle had sent her early this morning, when she'd still been asleep. Jennifer was in cute red dress, her hair in braids; she was waving at the camera and proudly displaying a Dora the Explorer lunchbox, as well as a missing front tooth. Michelle had sent the picture, with the message "First day of school, thank you for the new clothes, Aunty Tonya!"

Mercedes felt her throat begin to tighten while she stared at the picture, Jennifer looked just like her. Then again seeing Jennifer's father Roger was Mercedes twin brother that was to be expected. At this point Mercedes hadn't spoken to Roger in years and if it weren't for Michelle, whom Mercedes had been best friends with throughout high school, she wouldn't even know she had a niece.

Scrolling through her phone, she found Michelle's number and paused. She wanted nothing more than to speak with her niece, but calling was never easy. She was also sitting in the middle of a crowded patio and didn't want to end up upset. With a sigh, she hit the number and listened to it begin to ring. Being in public might serve to keep her calmer and if nothing else Victoria would be there soon to provide a distraction.

"Hey Tonya," Michelle answered, "How are you?"

"I'm good," she replied, "That picture is adorable; she's beautiful!"

"She should be, she looks just like her aunt."

"Her father as well."

"More you," Michelle told her, "She's going to be a head turner when she gets older."

"That's okay; she'll be a good girl." Mercedes assured her, "You'll see to that, and if nothing else Roger will probably try to see if he can find a chastity belt online."

Michelle laughed, then said, "Tonya, thank you so much for that last check, it really came in handy, bought all her school clothes."

"My pleasure." She paused, before asking, "So Roger's still not working."

"Well he has the church, but..."

"The church as he calls it, is a half dozen people listening to him ramble in your living room," Mercedes pointed out, "He needs to get a job Michelle, you need to push him."

"He believes he's doing God's work Tonya."

"No, he believes in doing no work at all. How long are you going to pull double shifts while he plays preacher?"

"Let's not get into that, okay?" Michelle said with an edge in her voice.

"You're right, so big day today?"

"She loved it!" Michelle exclaimed, sounding relieved to be off the topic of Mercedes useless brother. "She made friends and the teacher read to them, she can't wait to go back." She sighed, "God willing, she'll always love school. I think it's a waste you're the only one in the family that could go to college."

"Could go?" she snorted, "I'm the only one who didn't cave into my parent's backwater mentality that you have to be born, raised and die in the same town. Roger could have gone."

"No, most wouldn't have been able to survive on their own, they would have been eaten alive in the city."

"I survived." She said simply.

"You had a trade they didn't have."

Mercedes response was to begin to remove the phone from her ear, preparing to end the call, she didn't need this shit from a woman whose idea of a future was to be married and raise kids while working to support a hypocrite.

"Tonya I'm sorry!" Michelle said loud enough for her to hear even with the phone away from her.

Mercedes took a deep breath and forced herself to put the phone back to her ear. In the back ground she heard Jennifer laughing and told herself that was what mattered, she hadn't called to speak with Michelle.

"Like you said, let's not get into that."

"You're right, but sometimes you piss me off, you act like you're better than us because you 'got out' I think is the way you say it."

"I don't think I'm better than..."

"Please, you don't even have your accent anymore; you sound just like a city girl." She snorted, "You sure as hell learned how to act like one quick enough."

"So much for letting this be." Mercedes replied coolly.

"I...I'm sorry Tonya, really this time, it's just, well things aren't easy around here."

Mercedes bit back the reply of she wondered why and instead said, "I understand Michelle."

"Anyway, she had a great time and I made sure she knew all her fun new stuff was from her aunty."

"Is Jennifer there Michelle?"

"She's...well right now she's napping."

"Funny, I heard her laughing a minute ago."

"Well..."

"I'd like to speak to my niece Michelle, its bad enough I can't see her."

"Tonya, I...look Jennifer is getting older."

"And that means?"

"It means, well she talks a lot more now, but she's a child and doesn't understand how things are."

Even though she knew where this was going, Mercedes forced her voice to remain calm. "Once again, that means what?"

"It means I really don't trust her to not tell her father she spoke to you."

"Oh, give me a break Michelle!" she snapped, "Are you so beneath his thumb, that you can't let me speak to my own niece?"

"You know how he feels about you Tonya."

"And he can feel that way if he so chooses, but I have never done anything but help you Michelle, and there's nothing I won't do for my niece."

"It's not that simple." Michelle said quietly and Mercedes could hear she was upset. "Whenever your name comes up he...well you know what he calls you. I'd rather not Jennifer hear that."

"So the answer is for me to never speak to her?"

"I'm not saying it's right Tonya, and it's not ever, it's just right now she doesn't understand and..."

"And when will that be?" Mercedes asked, heatedly, "When she's a teenager?"

"Tonya..."

Swallowing her pride, Mercedes asked softly, "Michelle please let me speak to her. Just for a couple of minutes, I just want to hear her voice, hear her call me aunty..." She swallowed hard as she struggled to fight back her emotions. "I want to tell her I love her."

"I..." Michelle paused then started stuttering, "Yeah well I...its good hearing from you Nancy and...hey!"

"I've told you to never call my home again."

Mercedes felt her heart skip a beat at the sound of her brother's voice. It was only the second time he'd spoken to her in ten years.

"I'm not calling you Roger," she kept her voice steady, refusing to give him the satisfaction of hanging up, "I'm calling your wife, you know, my best friend?"

"You don't have any friends Tonya, at least any that aren't paying you to be their friend."

"At least I get paid, when was the last time someone gave you money to do something? A five dollar donation to your church isn't a paycheck. Tell me, my lazy brother; is sloth not one of the seven deadly sins?"

"God has a plan for me, just as he does everyone, even you, but you turned your back on him. You do it every time you turn your back to those men so they can have you in anyway..."

"Enough!" Mercedes snarled, "I am not a prostitute!"

"The hell you aren't! Or did you forget how I found out exactly what my sister did to make ends meet?"

Mercedes had nothing to say to that and took a deep breath, telling herself to give in and hang up.

"No answer? I didn't think so; sin never has an answer when confronted with..."

"A hypocrite." she cut him off. "If you wanted no part of sin your name wouldn't have been on the back of the last check I sent."

She paused and when there was no response, laughed, "No answer? I didn't think so."

"I won't waste my time arguing with a whore."

"This whore is the only chance your daughter will have of ever seeing college because her lazy good for nothing father will never get a job. This whore just clothed your child while you thumped your bible and would have sent her to school in hand me downs, just like our parents did to us!"

"Oh, so you think you can buy the rights to my child, is that it? You think money means everything?"

"I think that if you were truly a man of God you would not deny your sister the right to talk to her beautiful niece."

"I will not allow my daughter to speak to the likes of you." He said quietly, "Just because you sell yourself doesn't mean others are for sale."

"I am no longer a..."

"Really?" he cut in. "You're not?"

"No, I..."

"Sell sex in a club in New York, a club that everyone but the police seem to know sells sex right there on the spot. So what are you now my sister? A pimp? You whore others instead of yourself?"

Mercedes was stunned. How the hell did he know about the Velvet Rope? Back when Roger and her were children they were close and like most twins there were times they seemed to be able to read each other's thoughts, and Roger's next words showed that might still be the case.

"How did I know, is that what you're thinking?" he laughed harshly. "Even us bumpkins have the internet Tonya, or..." he laughed again "Should I call you Mercedes? That's what you go by now isn't it?"

"Roger, what I do has..."

"You arrogant slut." He continued, "So much better than us that you taught yourself not to speak like us, so above us you even changed your name. So ashamed of what you are you straighten your hair so it looks like a white women's. What happened sis, someone tell you Tonya was too black of a name for the Johns?"

"Don't you dare speak to..."

"Don't you dare?" he laughed again, "Is that how you start your, what did that article call them, sessions? A friend went up to New York a few months ago sent me a link and low and behold what comes up, but a picture of my own sister! The Mistress Mercedes, owner of the Velvet Rope and the most expensive whore on the East Coast."

He was getting the better of her and knew it, hang up she told herself, but instead she listened as he continued.

"Fifteen hundred dollars for an hour session. That's what that article said," he whistled, "Damn sis you're pretty, but that's crazy and it said most of the time you don't even have sex with them!"

"I don't." she said, snapping herself out of her stupor and trying to defend herself. "Its just games, they..."

"Most of the time!" he interrupted her. "But sometimes I bet you do, maybe that costs even more! So what do you do Mercedes, make the rich white guys hand you a check to treat you like the poor black girl you really are? Do you use your accent for them, call them massa?"

"Fuck you Roger!" she shouted into the phone.

"Fuck me? Your own brother? I'm sure you would for the right price."

"You..."

"Never call here again Tonya, and don't send any more money. My daughter doesn't need gifts her aunt paid for with her ass."

The phone went dead in her hand and letting it fall to the table; Mercedes put her head in her hands and fought against the tears welling up in her eyes. She should have never called, should have just let it alone. Or at least not argued with Michelle first, Roger couldn't have been there the entire time.

Mercedes took long deep breaths, squeezing her eyes shut and struggling not to let the tears escape down her cheeks. This was nothing new, just the same old pain; she should be able to handle it by now.

"Everything okay?"

Mercedes nodded without looking up.

"Are you sure?"

She paused, using the heels of her hands to wipe at her eyes, and looking up, saw Jack standing in front of her.

"I'm positive." She said softly, not yet trusting her voice.

"Do you need anything?"

"Nothing you'd want to give me," she told him rolling her eyes, leave it to a man to get her back to being angry rather than upset.

"Look, I saw you were upset and came over to..."

"See if you could help?" she asked, "Is this the sensitive man routine?"

"No Miss smart ass, this is the bartender coming over because one of the patrons just shouted an f-bomb and now looks like she's crying. The other customers are looking and I need to make sure you're okay."

"You're the bartender?" she asked dubiously.

"Yeah, I work here." He nodded, and then gesturing to the chair across from her asked, "May I, just for a minute?"

As she nodded, she said, "But you bought me a drink."

"I was on my break and thought I'd spend a few minutes talking to an attractive woman."

"I see. Well..."

"Look, I know you probably thought I was one of those Wall Street assholes that come here all the time and figured I was on the make, but..."

"You weren't?" she raised an eyebrow.

"I...okay, kind of, but I'm not a rich married guy looking to score, I just..." he shrugged, "Think you're pretty damn beautiful and wanted to talk to you. But I guess I came across wrong and anyway now I'm working and you know how this place is, if you'd yelled again they be escorting you out."

"I appreciate your concern." Mercedes told him, "And I'm sorry I was a bitch before. I just..."

"Have some shit going on," he smiled, "I'm a bartender, "I hear it all day long. Sometimes I think I should be a shrink."

"Everything okay Jack?" Her waiter asked as he came over to the table.

"Yup," Jack said standing, "This young lady just received some bad news and got a little upset, everything's okay."

"You're sure ma'am?" he asked, looking from Jack to her.

"I'm just fine." She replied.

"Yeah you are," Jack replied with a wink.

It was an exaggerated one and he gave her a goofy smile to go along with it. Departing from her normally aloof persona, Mercedes smiled at him.

"Nice smile, lights up those eyes."

"Okay, let's not push it." She replied, but laughed.

"Speaking of fine," the waiter said reaching out and tapping Jack's arm. "Look at this."

Jack turned to look and said; "Goddamn!" he appeared to look closer and exclaimed, "Rich I swear that's..."

Mercedes rolled her eyes and sat back to watch the show. The High Lady of The Circle had arrived.

*****

Mercedes watched as, like the Red Sea before Moses, the crowd of well dressed patrons of the cafe parted before Victoria Redding. Admittedly more than a little vain, Mercedes knew there was an air of chaos that surrounded attractive women. However, that chaos was magnified tenfold, when the woman in question was not only attractive, but a well known super model.

As Victoria made her way towards her table, Mercedes rolled her eyes at the reaction around her. Eyes widened, jaws dropped, and men of all ages received dirty looks from their wives and girlfriends as they gawked like teenagers who'd never seen a woman before.

Then again, in their defense, Victoria was far from your typical woman. To say Victoria was gorgeous was like saying Hell was a little warm. Tall and slender, Victoria had legs that seemed to go forever. That look was heightened by a combination of the very short white skirt and matching heeled sandals she was wearing. The sandals had to add four inches to her and featured straps that wrapped her legs to tie just behind her knees. Victoria's top was a modest white blouse, but it was unbuttoned to reveal a red lace shirt beneath that left her flat tanned stomach bare.

There flash of light around her stomach as the sun caught the diamond pendent dangling from her naval. The shirt was tight and low cut, pushing Victoria's breasts up and exposing more than a little cleavage. Like the rest of her, Victoria's tits were perfect, not too large, but far from small. Victoria's perfection wasn't limited to her amazing body. Her long honey blonde hair was down despite the heat and even from several feet away; Mercedes could see her trademark, wide baby blue eyes, beaming as she watched everyone watch her.

She stopped two tables from Mercedes to speak to a woman and a young blonde girl. Victoria said something that was accompanied by a huge practiced smile and a head toss that made Mercedes roll her eyes. Victoria went down to one knee and putting her arm around the young girl flashed another flawless smile as the ecstatic mother snapped a picture of the two of them. She gave the little girl a playful kiss on the cheek and Mercedes was aware of a camera flash off to her left.

Turning, she noticed a man leaning against the edge of the doorway leading into the restaurant. He was dressed in plain jeans and a t-shirt and the camera in his hand was not that of an amateur. No doubt he was a paparazzi, but Mercedes had learned that unlike most celebrities, Victoria embraced them and always made sure to put on a show. Whether that was her marketing scheme or her inherent narcissism showing through or both, it didn't matter, because right now Victoria was in full swing.

After rising to her feet she turned to face two men who looked like kids in a candy store when she stepped between them and put her arms around their waist as a waiter snapped a picture.

"That's Victoria Redding!" Jack told the waiter who was standing next him gawking.

"I told you I was waiting for a stunning beauty." She couldn't help saying.

"You weren't kidding!" Jack whistled, "Wow, I..."

"I guess you couldn't have found me too interesting then." She smirked.

"No, it's not that, I..." Jack stammered.

He was cut off by someone bellowing his name and with a last glance at Victoria who was now posing with two teenage girls, Jack looked down at her. "I have to get back to work, um...maybe you can swing by before you leave and..."

"I'll get you an autograph, okay?" she told him, then made a run along gesture with her fingers.

He reluctantly walked towards the bar located against the wall of the restaurant and Mercedes turned back at the sound of laughter. Victoria was getting her picture taken with a couple of college age boys, but a third one, who with his large glasses looked like the typical geek, was stepping away, nervously. After the waiter snapped the photo, Victoria beckoned to the boy who caused another round of laughter as he shook his head.

The laughter turned to cheers when one of the kid's friends caught him by the arm and dragged him over to Victoria. She put her arm around his shoulders, then quickly turning to the side drew her long leg up draped it across him, as she did she faced the camera and leaned her face against his. In an instant her huge friendly smile turned into a look of pure desire that Mercedes knew so well from the meetings. Her big blue eyes narrowed, her full red lips parted and placing her hand with her long red fingernails on his chest, she stuck her tongue out next to his ear.

The sound of dozens of phones snapping pictures filled the plaza and Mercedes saw the camera go off to her left again. The boy was now blushing furiously and laughing; Victoria grabbed his face and kissed him on the lips. She held the kiss long enough for people to snap away, then giving him hug, stepped away from him. Mercedes had to laugh at the ridiculous smile that had spread across the kids face and wondered how long it would be before pictures of her teasing the poor kid would show up on the net.

Mercedes was one of very few people who knew Victoria specialized in a far darker form of teasing and the Circle would see to it those pictures would never be seen by anyone but the group. Victoria made a show of giving a wave to several of the people watching and turning her back to the crowd finally made it over to the table where she leaned over and gave Mercedes an affectionate kiss on the cheek, before sitting down across from her.

"You know Victoria, sitting down with me in front of a camera may not be the best career move." She pointed out.

"Please dear," she waved her hand at her, "No offense, but you're not that famous. Only a certain crowd would recognize you. Besides," she shrugged, "The guy over there in the jeans is with me, he won't post anything I won't give a green light to. The rest are only going to show their friends the pictures on their phones."

"So he's a plant?" she raised her eyebrows, "You don't get enough exposure?"

"You can never have enough exposure," she laughed, "Or sometimes be exposed enough, no my lady?"

"The Lady Lexi would certainly agree to that." Mercedes nodded as she slid a menu over to Victoria.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I ate already, and I'm just going to have a drink. I should have told you so you wouldn't have waited."

"That's okay." Mercedes said, recalling her phone conversation, "I'm not hungry anyway."

"So...uh...what would you ladies like?" the waiter spoke up nervously.

"I'll have whatever she's been drinking." Victoria pointed at Mercedes empty glass "And she'll have another."

"Y...yes ma'am."

"And try not to drool in them okay?" Mercedes asked.

As he walked away Victoria meowed like a cat and slashed forward with her nails hooked into claws. "Bad day today, my lady?" she laughed.

"Men are idiots." She replied, then looking into Victoria's eyes asked, "So, tell me are you Victoria this afternoon, or shall I be addressing you by your title?"

"Well it has been awhile since we've had some time to speak," Victoria began, than hesitated.

"But..." Mercedes, said softly.

"But I do need to discuss a couple of business matters with you."

"And I will be more than happy to do so my high lady Felicia." Mercedes replied with a slight bow of her head.

"Tonya, we can still be off..."

"Mercedes."

"We don't have too..."

"It is Mercedes regardless of business or pleasure. Remember Felicia, unlike the rest of you I have the same persona in and out of the Circle."

"We've all called you Tonya in the past,"

"Tonya is not what I choose to be called at this time, is that so difficult to understand?"

"A little respect my lady." Victoria said softly, "If I am truly here as your high lady, then mind your tongue, this is not your club."

Mercedes stared hard into Victoria's eyes and saw that they were no longer wide and playful, but had grown as cold as her own gaze.

"My apologies Lady Felicia."

Victoria started to speak, but paused as the waiter placed their drinks in front of them. After almost spilling one because he was staring at her, he walked away and she continued, "That's okay, but you seem a little on edge today my sister, even for you. Is everything alright?"

"I..." she paused as she felt the urge to say something about what had just happened. Taking a deep breath she pushed that urge away, her past was her business and no one needed to know her baggage. "I just have a lot going on right now."

"I think there's more than that." Victoria told her, picking up her drink. "You can..."

"Besides," Mercedes interrupted her, "It's no secret why you're here, I take it Scarlett was not pleased with my performance."

Victoria took a long swallow of the martini and nodded.

"No, Mercedes she was not. But before we go into that, there is another matter I need to discuss."

"Which is?" Mercedes took a sip of her drink, and frowning, put it down, she was too upset to even drink right now.

"The Lady Lexi is in need of a favor from you."

"Then name it and if it's within my power, my sister will have what she needs."

"I believe it is within your power." Victoria nodded, "Is it true that Judge Wilson Bennett is one of your more, shall we say, secretive clients?"

"Apparently not that secretive." Mercedes shook her head and leveled her finger at Victoria, "I have said before that who is entertained at my club is none of even the Circle's business."

"Everything is our business." Victoria told her, "Loki follows who we tell him to. You have no worries Mercedes; we would never expose the Velvet Rope we just want to know who's" she shrugged "Susceptible to some coercion now and then."

"So go on." Mercedes muttered.

"Lexi is trying an important case before Judge Bennett next month. She has the evidence, but they have some people in their pocket and they are going to lean on Bennett. We need someone to lean on him the other way."

"I cannot threaten him, Felicia." Mercedes sat back and crossed her arms over her chest.

"You may not need to, but if..."

"My relationship with Bennett works both ways. Yes he indulges and fairly often in the clubs, back rooms, but he is also a big reason why my club is never bothered or investigated for prostitution." She shrugged. "If I threaten to blow his cover, who is to say he does not blow mine?"

"Because where else would he go to indulge his little kinks?" Victoria smiled, "Whatever he's into, give him more."

"He get's whatever he wants as it is."

"If anything maybe you approaching him would be a show of trust."

"No, he will see it as attempted blackmail." Mercedes put her hands out, "I'm asking him to render a decision in a case for the benefit of a friend. His first thought will be if he refuses..." She trailed off. "I don't need him getting nervous."

"Mercedes, need I remind you, that when you were having difficulty getting around some loopholes when you took over the club, it was Lexi who took care of it for you."

"I am aware..."

"And part of how she took care of that was letting the husband of the city councilwoman who was standing in your way have pretty much anything he wanted from her?"

"Lexis' submissive, she loved every minute of it."

"It's the point Mercedes, Lexi gambled on that asshole not mentioning that your attorney loved it in the ass, and would blackmail his own wife into signing off on your permits"

"Lexi was in no danger of that. He was running for office the following year, it would have destroyed his career before it started. She knew that as well, so although her efforts were appreciated, let's not exaggerate her risk.

"The point is Lexi did what she needed to and even a slight risk is still a risk and now if need be there will be one on your part, but," she reached out and put her hand over Mercedes arm. "I have faith that the top Mistress on the east coast can find something to make this worth his while."

"Perhaps Lexi should offer him that," Mercedes grunted disgustedly.

"Perhaps her sister will do as she is asked." Victoria said, looking her in the eye. "Lexi helped you Mercedes, we all help each other, but nothing in the Circle is free, it is time for you to repay the favor."

"I will do what I need to." Mercedes bowed her head, "I'll find a way."

"I know you will, and Lexi will also then be the one in your debt and eventually you can call on her again."

"I thought we all could anyway."

"We can," Victoria laughed, "But the owing of favors allows for some interesting situations down the line."

"Games."

"Coming from someone who has made a living on those types of games, I would think you wouldn't mind."

"Sometimes, I weary of games." Mercedes told her.

"That has become painfully obvious in your videos the last couple of years my lady."

"Ah, now we get to the real reason for your visit."

"Mercedes you were told once by me and once by Scarlett herself that your videos are lacking the necessary..." She pursed her lips in thought, "Punch so to speak."

"You mean I don't let the dogs fuck me."

"Putting it crudely, yes." Victoria agreed. "The first part of your tapes, are always amazing! Mercedes, you control, tease and downright torment men like no other"

"But..." Mercedes, said with a disgusted wave of her hand.

"But, in the end the group is looking for sex as well, we want to see our sister enjoy and be enjoyed."

"Perhaps I see things differently."

"Obviously, but rules are rules my lady and no one is above them. You're due to entertain at the next meeting and Scarlett has sent me to tell you that your submission won't do. Now you still have over a week to..."

Victoria stopped when she saw Mercedes shaking her head, "This is ridiculous."

"No, it's not, it's..."

"I don't understand what the problem is here, I really don't!" she snapped.

"The problem is that no one wants to just see edging and humiliation, they want to see..."

"They had plenty to see in that tape!"

"Mercedes, lower your voice," Victoria told her, "And again I am your..."

"I don't care what your title is Felicia," she pointed at her, "You have seniority in the Circle, but I have been breaking men and training women to break them far longer than you!"

"Within the Circle, I hold rank and that is all that matters here." Victoria said with an edge to her voice, "And I am here as your High Lady to tell you that your performance is lacking and..."

"How is it lacking?" Mercedes demanded, slapping her palm on the table, "Did you see it, or are you just going by Scarlett?"

"I saw it."

"Then what is the issue? I picked what I felt was a very attractive man and much younger than what I usually go for."

"That part was noted," Victoria sighed, "And appreciated. Damn, he was fine."

"I played my game and edged him until he was practically delirious, until he was all but crying."

"Again, we have no issue with that; it's what happens next, or more accurately what doesn't happen."

"I picked a man specifically with the group in mind, hell, I wore a ridiculous lingerie set that was more befitting of a young lover than a Dominatrix!"

"Again, nice touch and..."

"And when I came back in I didn't keep the pressure on him, instead I made myself look like a fool and started trying to please him!" She grunted disgustedly, "I stripped for him like I was there for his benefit!"

"That was for the groups benefit, not his." Victoria said putting her hands out in a placating gesture

"But he doesn't know that!" she hissed vehemently, "Then after that I played with his cock, did I not?"

"Yes, but..."

"For Christ's sake, I sucked his fucking cock! Not just sucked it, but acted like I loved it! Acted like a horny slut who gets wet at the sight of a hard on!"

"Mercedes, please calm down." Victoria put her hand over hers, "There's no..."

"Don't you dare patronize me!" she replied heatedly, "You sit and let me finish, then tell me what you came to tell me."

Victoria stared hard at her and Mercedes unflinchingly returned the gaze. After a moment, she nodded and gestured for her to continue.

"Thank you my lady." Mercedes said in a more even tone, "As I feigned interest in his cock I sat on his face and let him have the privilege of licking my pussy. He was about as good at it as any man who can only think of his own pleasure is, but I felt I put on a pretty good show of enjoying it."

"I could tell you were faking, but that wasn't the issue, I..." Victoria shrugged, "Mercedes all you had to do was ride him from there and it would have been fine."

"No it...", she began, but Victoria kept speaking.

"Really, my lady how long would he have lasted? You'd teased the shit out of him and he looked like he was straining not to cum in your mouth. You'd ride him hard and he'd go off in two minutes tops, you'd make him cum somewhere and then taunt him for getting off so quick and maybe make him lick his cum off you and that would have been all we needed." ." She spread her hands, "What's the problem?"

"The problem is he didn't deserve to fuck me!" she exclaimed in exasperation.

"So, you tell him that while you're fucking him, threaten to take it away if he..."

"That is not how it works!" she slapped the table again, "That's the problem with these damn tapes, you're all succumbing to..."

"We're all succumbing?" Victoria raised her eyebrows, "You're saying your sisters in the Circle are giving in to..."

"Yes! Look at my tape Felicia!" Mercedes was straining to keep her voice low and reign in her anger, "I played it straight and had him ready to beg for any release I would give him. Left to my devices I would have gotten him off with my hand or feet, perhaps even a tit fuck, but no, the rules," she sneered the word, "Say I have to let him fuck me. I..."

She paused as the waiter came over with two more drinks even though Mercedes was still close to full, "These are from the bartender, he..."

"Tell him he can still fuck a turkey and to leave us the hell alone." Mercedes snapped at him.

"I..."

"Hold on." Victoria, put her hand up, as she dug in her purse.

Pulling out her wallet she handed him a fifty dollar bill.

"I apologize for my friend, she has had a very trying day and not herself, this is for your trouble and tell the bartender, thank you very much."

"Thank you Miss Redding," the waiter said with a slight bow then without a glance at Mercedes walked away.

"What is wrong with you?" Victoria demanded, "Mercedes that was beyond rude, are you really that upset about this?"

"As I was saying," she continued, ignoring Victoria's question. "The rules say I have to fuck him, so I have to switch gears and he loses all respect and turns back into a cocky punk, and why shouldn't he? He was going to get what he wanted. So I still planned on playing along, as you said how long could it last? Then he became arrogant and I decided to give him what he deserved and that was certainly not my pussy."

"So you're saying you don't let them fuck you because they feel they got the better of you?" Victoria asked, "Is that it?"

"Yes."

Leaning across the table, Victoria said softly, "Who the fuck cares?"

"What?"

"You heard me, who cares?" Victoria's voice was strained as if it were now she trying not to let her anger get the better of her. "So this kid thinks you just had to have him. You know otherwise. On top of that you know that Mr. Stud is going to be watched by the group and every one of his whimpers are going to be mocked and laughed at. Everyone at that table knows why you let him fuck you, so why does it..."

"It matters!" Mercedes spoke through her teeth to avoid yelling, "No way will I let a man walk away thinking, oh, yeah I fucked her, she needed it she..."

"Are you serious?" Victoria asked, "Mercedes you should know just as all of us, including the men in the group that just because a man's inside us does not mean they are in control."

"They think it does."

"No, not all the time and again," she shrugged, "For the purpose of the videos let them."

"That's submitting, since when are we submissive?"

"Are you telling me that I'm submitting?" Victoria asked, her eyes wide "Are you saying our own Mistress is submitting?"

"Maybe not submitting, but selling out for..."

"Selling...?" Victoria's eyes flared, but she paused to take a breath before continuing, "I've had enough of this bullshit Mercedes. When I and the other ladies allow our pets to fuck us we are very much in control."

"Perhaps you feel..."

Victoria stopped her with a raised finger and went on, "I decide when they are going to fuck me, for how long and in what position. I can let them keep going or I can take it away. I can use my pussy to tease them the same way I can my mouth or hand. You've seen my videos my lady. These boys are whimpering and begging as they're fucking me! They're pleading for me to let them cum, to please not stop them again. I, not them, am in control."

Sitting back in her chair, she crossed her arms and asked, "Do you dispute that fact Mercedes? Do you want to continue this ridiculous debate?"

"Point taken, my sister." Mercedes said softly, "But why do we need to? I..."

"Need to?" Victoria rolled her eyes, "First of all it's the damn rule, second of all it's not about need to as wanting to."

Leaning forward again, Victoria looked around and Mercedes followed her gaze. Now that it was after one a fair amount of the crowd had dispersed and those remaining seemed to have lost interest in them. She looked back to see Victoria had slid her chair over so she was closer to her. Putting her hand on her shoulder, she began speaking quietly.

"Mercedes when I am controlling these men, it gets me hot, to hear them whimper to hold their trembling cocks in my hand or between my lips, to know they are at my mercy drives me wild. By the time I have them sufficiently broken I am dying to get fucked. Yes, they are getting pleasure out of it, but pleasure I control and I am getting what I need. All the other ladies feel the same way, believe it or not my lady, we enjoy being fucked."

"Well I don't!" Mercedes declared, slipping her arm out from beneath Victoria's hand. "At least not when I am made to perform like a..." she stopped before she said prostitute. Her conversation with Roger had opened up a lot of painful memories.

"Like what? A woman?" Victoria asked.

"Like a trick pony. I do not share your enjoyment of sex and my reasons are my own. Because of that I do not see the need for me to engage in it to give a cheap thrill to people who should be beyond that."

"No one is above the rules Mercedes and you used to do it, maybe never as enthusiastically as some of us, but you did."

"I said I am getting tired of games and have nothing to prove."

"Mercedes we cannot make exceptions."

"Yes you can!" she snapped, finally losing her temper. "I am an elite member of the Circle! Not just ours, but the entire group! My club has serviced every current member nationwide. I have flown my subs to other cities as gifts to masters and Mistresses alike. For the last three conferences Persephone has asked me to provide my best people as entertainment, including a young lady for her."

"I'm not saying we question your place at the table, my lady."

"Every man and woman that work in the club have been handpicked and trained by me personally. They are the best money can buy and I provide them freely as gifts to my brothers and sisters. I am highly regarded and have given the Eastern Circle a strong reputation. Yet apparently that means nothing and I am not allowed even a partial concession to a rule that flies in the face of what I am."

"You're a woman and part of being a woman is enjoying..."

"I enjoy at my leisure, not others." She retorted, "And it is not all about sex, I have several clients who pay me to put them in their place. Many times I leave them unsatisfied and that is part of the game. The Circle has taken true mastery and turned us into porn stars."

"Oh, knock it off." Victoria started to laugh, but stopped when Mercedes glared at her.

"I will not make another video, my mistress can play that one and it will be..."

"Scarlett, not you, runs the Circle Mercedes and she sent me to tell you that you will indeed do what you need to or..."

"Or I am to be punished correct?" Mercedes asked.

"Yes and..."

"You don't need to continue." Mercedes waved her hand disgustedly. "I know Scarlett and how she does things. If I do not obey then at the next meeting my entertainment will be a live performance where I will be forced to bend over the table or lie on my back and let one of the men fuck me." She snorted derisively, "Am I right?"

"It may..."

"And I can hear Scarlett now, 'and if you don't look like you're enjoying the privilege of your brother's cock, then you will fuck the next one then the next one and we will continue until you show how much they are pleasing you, in fact maybe you would like it in the ass more than the pussy?" she laughed without humor, "Won't the group enjoy that?"

"Mercedes, what's wrong? It has to be more than this." Victoria said quietly. "If there's a problem I can go to Scarlett and discuss it, but I need to have a reason."

Mercedes sat back and staring down at the table, again had the urge to tell Victoria the truth. They'd been friends for years and fact was Victoria as well as the rest of the group was more of a family to her than the one that had disowned her for...unbidden an image leaped into her mind. She was in a back room kneeling between two men who were sitting on the couch. She was holding both their cocks and sucking first one then the other. The door had opened and...

"My reasons are my own." She said.

Her words had come out in a hoarse whisper as her emotions began getting the better of her. Victoria looked closely at her and seemed to be wavering. She then turned her head and took a deep breath, when she again faced Mercedes she said,

"My lady if you will not explain why you can't do this, then you will do it or..." she nodded, "Be placed at the mercy of Scarlett and you're correct about the punishment. Our enforcer Lovecraft will be the first to take you and he will be instructed to not be gentle."

"What have you done for me lately, is that it my lady? I could be allowed to be different in my videos as a concession for my good work, yet instead I am to be taken like a common whore by a man who is supposed to be a brother to me?"

"You have punished others when instructed to do so Mercedes." Victoria smirked, "And had no issue doing so if I recall. Fair is fair my lady." She sighed, "Now what will I be telling our Mistress, is she to expect a better performance from you or will it be a live one?"

"Fair" Mercedes repeated, placing her hands on the table in front of her. As she did, she hit her phone and it lit up, displaying the picture of Jennifer. Her inability to see her niece had been the result of her doing what she had felt she had no choice but to do.

Today things were far different and Mercedes had more than enough money to ensure she no longer had to do anything she didn't choose to. Picking up the phone and looking into Jennifer's smiling face she felt the tears she'd fought back before overwhelm her and begin to flow down her face, "There is no such thing as fair." She whispered.

*****

Mercedes sat in the corner of the booth and stared down at the cup of tea the waiter had just left for her. She felt like a complete fool losing control in front of Victoria. She picked up the tea and after taking a sip looked around the restaurant. As soon as she'd begun crying, Victoria had come over to her side of the table and put her arm around her.

They'd remained like that for a couple of minutes, neither saying a word. Mercedes because she was afraid she'd start sobbing like an idiot. On Victoria's end she seemed to sense Mercedes was already embarrassed enough and didn't push the issue, just sat there silently, gently rubbing her back.

Mercedes appreciated the silence and when she'd managed to push back the tears, said quietly, "Thank you, Felicia, but I don't need to be coddled like a child."

"Not a child, but a sister." Victoria replied softly in her ear. "Being high lady is not just about rules and games, but being a big sister to the Ladies of my group and I'm getting the feeling the most stubborn of my little sisters needs me."

"I...don't need to tell anyone of my baggage."

"Just you saying that is the first hint I've gotten that you have any, my lady" Victoria laughed, "You, my dear have been a closed book since day one."

"You mean Loki doesn't have my biography already written?" Mercedes asked, picking up a napkin and dabbing at her eyes.

"We only discover what we need to in the beginning and that is criminal record and some basics information, if we don't need to know, than we don't know."

"Then we shall keep it..."

"No," Victoria told her, "You and I are going to speak of what is bothering you my sister, I think it will be good for you and maybe it will make me understand your issue with the rules as obviously something about that set you off."

"I'm fine Felicia," Mercedes protested, "I..."

"Will wait here for a minute."

Before she could reply, Victoria had slipped her arm from around her and left the table, heading for the entrance to the restaurant. Mercedes had looked around and saw several people look away. Feeling like even more of a fool she thought about just getting up and leaving, but knew Victoria would just hunt her down.

A moment later, Victoria had returned and told her she had secured a booth in the back of the restaurant where they could speak much more privately. Feeling like a child being brought into the living room for a discussion with her parents, Mercedes reluctantly rose and followed her through the restaurant.

They passed Jack on the way through the entrance and out of the corner of her eye, Mercedes saw him staring at her. The look he was giving her was not the contemptuous one she deserved from him at this point, but he looked as if he was trying not to say anything to her.

Mercedes turned her attention to the customers within the restaurant who were all turning their heads as Victoria passed them. She doubted everyone knew who she was, but just her beauty alone made it impossible for her not to be noticed.

Unlike her arrival however, Victoria didn't acknowledge the attention and followed a man in an Armani suit Mercedes assumed was the manager to a booth in a secluded corner of the restaurant. Once she'd been seated, Victoria told her she was going to make a quick call to rearrange her schedule for the afternoon and wandered off. The tea had come a moment later and now she sat there, sipping at it and wondering if she really wanted to go down this path.

Mercedes never discussed Tonya Cooper. To her, Tonya ceased to exist the day she had begun her training as a dominatrix. Tonya was a determined young girl who decided as a child she would not spend her life rotting in a backwoods town. Determined enough to get into a major college and once there, willing to do anything she needed to stay. Those decisions had cost her family and led to the birth of the Mistress Mercedes, who she felt she had now truly become.

Victoria, nor anyone for that matter, needed to know that. On the other hand it might help ease her pain and she had complete faith in Victoria not to repeat anything. It could also help her with the ridiculous video rule within the group. Perhaps if Victoria understood everything she could speak to Scarlett on her behalf. If she couldn't, then perhaps it would be time to consider leaving because there was no way in hell The Lady Mercedes would allow herself to be taken like a common whore.

"Sorry. that took longer than I thought."

Mercedes looked up to see Victoria slide into the booth across from her.

"Busy my lady?"

"Always." She smiled, "But this is big! Big Apple fashion magazine is about to go under and I'm trying to acquire it."

"You want to own a magazine?"

"I do." She laughed and tossing her hair and widening her blue eyes she said in a little girl voice, "I want everyone to know I'm not just a pretty face!"

"No, you have a nice body as well." Mercedes told her, "So when do..."

"Nice try, but you're not getting off the hook my sister, what's wrong?"

"It's a long story."

"I cleared my afternoon." Victoria pointed at her, "Try again."

When she didn't answer right away, Victoria asked, "So who's the little cutie on your cell phone?"

Mercedes looked down at the phone, "She's my niece, her names Jennifer."

"I didn't know you had a niece." Victoria said, "I didn't even know you had siblings."

"Because for all intensive purposes I no longer have a family, but by blood I have a twin brother named Roger I haven't seen in over a decade. If I didn't grow up with his wife I would never have known about Jennifer."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Victoria frowned, "So do you visit when he's not around?"

"He's always around. He's an unemployed deadbeat with no desire to go to the next block never mind travel."

"So you..."

"I have never seen her in person." Mercedes picked up the phone and stared at the picture, "I...Michelle used to put her on the phone with me when she was a baby, but today said she can't do that anymore because she'll let it slip to her father. That's why I was upset; I made the mistake of calling just before you arrived."

"That's bullshit Mercedes!"

"It is what it is."

"No, we have a group in New Orleans, something can be done we..."

She stopped as Mercedes shook her head.

"Not an option, if I force that upon them they will poison her against me, most likely that is happening as we speak. I...my brother was home and took the phone from his wife. We argued as always and...I have no idea if I'll even be able to talk to my friend again never mind Jennifer."

"Pardon me for saying this, but your brother is a piece of work."

"He's worse than that; he thinks he's a man of god."

"Zealot." Victoria nodded. "The worst kind of ignorant."

Mercedes put her phone in her purse so she wouldn't keep looking at it and sat silently. In front of her Victoria was toying with a napkin appearing to be lost in thought. Looking back up at her she said, "That's a tough situation Mercedes and I'm sorry you have been dealing with it, but may I ask what this has to do with our discussion? I mean other than being upset in general?"

"It's all connected in a sense." She told her. "Victoria, I run a sex club and a very profitable one at that. It is not unreasonable to say I owe everything I have to sex and men and women's desire for it. But on the other side, the side that only I know, sex is also the reason I lost all that once was dear to me, including to some extent a big part of myself."

"Many in the group are not close to their families, our lifestyles and personas are not conducive to being close to people and even family can't understand the...shall we say tastes some of us have developed."

"My situation is beyond that. Simply put Felicia..."

"Victoria, please I'm just your friend right now Mercedes and before you go further know this does not leave us."

"I appreciate that," she bowed her head slightly, "My point is that for certain reasons I no longer enjoy sex, at least sex that I feel is thrust upon me."

"But the videos are for fun Mercedes we're supposed to enjoy them."

"I do not and I have reached a point where if Scarlett is going to hold me to this, she can seek out my replacement."

"I don't think it needs to come to that." Victoria put her hands out, "Why don't you tell me the story? You seem to want to. As I said, with a legitimate reason, I can come up with something."

"I suppose I owe you as much, you've always been good to me Victoria and you were one of the reasons I joined the Circle in the first place, but understand it's not my story."

"What do you mean?" Victoria looked confused.

"Well the latter part is, but the beginning is not the story of Mercedes, but a poor, but ambitious teenager named Tonya Cooper."

*****

"I was born and raised in ever so promising Bridge City Louisiana." Mercedes began. "Right from the start I didn't fit in because well..." she shrugged. "My parents were expecting twin boys, but guess they didn't look too closely at the sonogram and got a little girl in the deal."

"My father was never close to me; I think he regretted I wasn't a boy and he was..." she sighed, "A zealot and want to be preacher like my brother is now. My father believed that women more so than men, were sinners because Eve was the one who caused Adam to sin."

"What?" Victoria asked in disbelief, "You were born in this century right?"

"Bridge City may not have gotten the memo yet." Mercedes replied disgustedly. "Women were certainly second class citizens. Roger went with my father all the time and I stayed with mom and baked and cleaned the house and..."

"Wait, you bake?" Victoria laughed, "That's..." she froze when Mercedes gave her a hard stare.

"Sorry." Victoria said, but couldn't cover the small smile still playing about her lips.

"There was one member of my mother's family who left Bridge City. Her oldest sister Mary who married a police officer and moved with him when he got a job in Baton Rouge, everyone else just stayed. They went to school and from high school got a job, married someone local and kept wallowing in the same poverty and dead end life generations of their family had."

"Mary came to visit and spent a lot of time with me. She had gotten out and seen the opportunities for a smart young woman like myself and wanted to help me. Behind my parents back she helped me fill out applications for scholarships and under the pretense of taking me to visit her, took me to several colleges."

"Your parents didn't want you to go to school?"

"My mother felt a woman's place was at home and my father felt a woman's place was somewhere beneath the shit on his shoe. Roger had no interest in college and my father point blank told me that if his boy couldn't go, there was no way his daughter would, just think of the disgrace."

"I..." Victoria searched for the words,

"You can't comprehend," Mercedes finished for her, "And don't try to, you have to be from there to understand it. Just know that was how he felt."

"Incredible that still exists."

"I didn't help my cause any. The first time Mary had spoken to me about being able to do more for myself I was twelve and from that point on I taught myself to speak without my tell tale bumpkin drawl. If I spoke slowly enough I could do it and at one point a member of the church approached my father and asked if I was special needs."

"I was going to say, I always thought you were from the east coast the way you speak."

"If I get angry enough it comes out."

"Can I hear..."

"Absolutely not." Mercedes snapped.

"Lighten up Mercedes, it could be funny some time that's all. "

"There is nothing funny about your father beating you until you spoke proper as he called it. It cost me whippings that would put anything you've done in the Circle to shame, to lose that accent."

"I'm so sorry Mercedes." she reached out and put her hand over hers.

"I don't want your pity Victoria, you asked for this story and you're getting it."

"Careful what you wish for right?"

"I got to a point where I would speak with my accent because whenever he beat me I had to stay home from school because of the marks. I was afraid if I lost too much time my grades would suffer so I pretended I was obeying him, In the meantime every night I would sit out under a tree in the back yard and read out loud from library books and practice not using it."

"Meanwhile Roger could do no wrong and was starting to spout out scripture and chauvinism just like all the cavemen before him. He began dating my best friend Michelle and I discovered through her, he was quite free with his hands. I kicked his ass one day for it and received a beating that sent me to the hospital from my father. There was never an investigation, because around there a disrespectful woman got what they deserved."

"Zealots and women beaters. Note to self, never send Lovecraft down there" Victoria muttered.

"I think it's safe to say you can assume there was also a lot of racism in Bridge City. The blacks and whites were not officially segregated, but it was not far from it. Because of the stellar examples of manhood living with me I had no interest in men."

"That upset my father because to him my sole purpose in life was to get married and give him some grandsons. He fixed me up several times with sons of his friends, several of which seemed to be point blank looking for me to just give up my cherry." She grunted disgustedly. "When I wouldn't I would get classy comments like, "Well, can you just suck it?"

"That is not limited to the rural south." Victoria pointed out to her.

"True. The point here is all of them were the sons of the outstanding members of my father's church. The minister's son referred to me as a stuck up cunt when I wouldn't put out then spread a rumor I was a whore. You know what that got me."

"I don't want to." Victoria said softly.

"In the meantime there was a very sweet young man whom I did like. His name was Robert and he played football and his father owned the hardware store. They were one of the few families that had a little bit of money. The problem was, Robert was white. My brother caught us kissing behind the store and ran to my father."

"Two nights later Robert was jumped by several of my brother's friends and put in the hospital. I was beaten as well and was accused of being a black whore who wanted to be used by white men. After that I never bothered to leave the house, the good thing is since they all thought I'd fucked a white boy, my father stopped trying to get me knocked up by his friends kids."

"I'm seeing where your high opinion of men stems from."

"Well senior year comes around and I get accepted to LSU. I'm thrilled and make the mistake of telling my mother. The family gets together and I'm told I'm not going. I was distraught and late that night called my aunt Mary who said not to worry about it. She said to accept the offer, never bring it up again to my parents and she would call me. Two weeks before the fall semester started she called me and told me to go the post office where they had a package for me. It contained a bus ticket to Baton Rouge and two hundred dollars in cash. A week later, I packed two suitcases and left."

"Did they try to come get you?" Victoria asked,

"Nope, well not right away, but I'll get there. When I got settled onto campus I sent them a letter saying I was okay. I never got a response and called them. My father told me I'd chosen to turn my back on my family so he was turning his back to me."

"No great loss there."

"I was upset, but at the same time, "She smiled at the memory. "It was so amazing, Victoria! The city and all the other students and everyone spoke to me as an equal and my color didn't mean a damn thing. I was out in the real world and it was better than I thought! And the boys?" she laughed, "I was a pretty girl and was getting asked out quite often. I went on a lot of dates and had a good time, but still wouldn't sleep with them."

"Why not?"

"Honestly, I was a little shy. I was a country girl whether I would admit it or not and was afraid of being used. I was also deathly afraid of getting pregnant and losing my chance at an education. But I was having fun and doing well in school, but then a problem arose."

"I had a feeling something would."

"My scholarship covered a lot of things, but the grant it went through ran into money trouble. My tuition was still paid, but I could no longer live on campus unless I could afford to pay for part of school. I was able to find an apartment with another girl and had a job at a coffee shop, but the rent was more than we could handle. More hours would take away from school and..." she shrugged, "I ended up behind on the rent and was a week away from being thrown out. My aunt Mary had taken ill with Cancer and it's not like I could call back home."

"I think I know where this is going."

"And you would be right. A friend knew the situation I was in and told me she worked for an escort service. The company paid you by the hour to go out with a man for the evening, but she said the real money was made afterwards. I was nervous, but desperate. I had nowhere else I could go and would be damned if I would let anything stop my education."

"You know Mercedes, like I said, I get the picture I don't need all the details."

"But you do, if you want to understand me. "

"Then go ahead I just don't want you to get upset."

"Too late. So I agree to a date and it's a man maybe in his forties. He's white, successful, not unattractive. We go to dinner then to a club for some dancing. After that he tells me he'd like me to go back to his hotel. I tell him no thank you and he says don't worry he'll make it worth my while and shows me a hundred dollar bill. I say no again then again. Finally he takes out a money clip and counts out five hundred dollars. He says he doesn't usually go that high, but has a thing for black girls."

"So you took it?"

"Victoria, I am not lying when I say until that point I had never seen five hundred dollars in some one's hand. I went back to his place, but I..." she grunted. "I was still a virgin. I was almost nineteen and the most I'd ever done was let a kid get his hand under my shirt. He asks me to undress and I...my fingers were shaking the entire time. He didn't say anything, but he was smiling. I think my being nervousness was turning him on."

"He sits on the bed and takes his cock out and asks me to come over and show him what my pretty lips could do. I...had no idea what I was doing. I'd seen a porno once in the dorm and took it in my mouth and just," she shrugged. "Moved my head around. I guess I didn't do too badly because the next thing I know he's cumming in my mouth. I hadn't expected it and it was nasty. I tried to swallow it, but gagged and spit a lot of it out. I started telling him I was sorry and he told me it was fine, he liked my innocence."

"I bet he did."

"He asked me to sit back on the couch and he went down on me. I was trembling, but he...it didn't feel bad and I'd never had anyone do that and I came for him. Then he asked me to stand up and..." she paused then finished in a subdued tone. "I lost my virginity bent over a couch. He wasn't all that rough, but he was big and it was my first time and it hurt and I was so ashamed. All I could hear was my father calling me a whore and he was right."

"If he'd been a real father he would have been helping you." Victoria pointed out disgustedly.

"After that I swore I wouldn't so it again, but I not only paid the rent, but I got some new clothes." She shook her head. "I hadn't mentioned that the only thing about school was I did get made fun of by the other girls for my clothes. I really didn't have a lot of nice things and had no clue how to dress. So the clothes made me feel better about things. The agency called again and I...I said okay."

"I went through with it again and this time the guy was a little less patient and very demeaning. He made me blow him twice because I'd done such a shitty job the first time. I stayed and did it and when he fucked me it was doggy and rough. I was sore for two days after that. They called again and well let's just say I never said no. The money was not only paying the bills. But I was buying nice things, better than I'd ever had and was even putting money in the bank."

"Can I ask if, you know since you'd broken the ice so to speak, you were sleeping with guys for fun?"

"I fooled around with a couple of guys who asked me out, but...I never really got into it. I just kept seeing it as I was just doing a job. And speaking of the job I was doing a couple a week at that point and letting them do what they wanted. One paid me two hundred extra to fuck me in the ass. The way I was raised that was of course disgusting, but I was close to being able to buy a car so I let him. It hurt like hell and I could tell he loved hearing me squeal."

"But you can imagine how it went. It got easier and easier. I started to play along with them, flirt at dinner, rub up on them if we went dancing and make them feel like I desired them. Faked orgasms and gave them a good time. I started getting regulars and that wasn't as bad as I got to know them. But a lot were from out of town so I had to keep taking new clients. By then I'd learned to detach myself and there were times I would be sucking cock while thinking about my term paper."

"You never got into it?"

"No, it was a job. I fucked the way my mother would vacuum the floor, just something that needed to be done. So I'm starting to become in higher demand and making more per night. Things were going well at school and I now had a decent car, a nice wardrobe and I justified what I was doing. All in all life wasn't so bad. Then Roger shows up."

"To take you back?" Victoria asked.

"Yes, but that wasn't why he was supposed to be there. A friend of his from school who had gotten a job in Baton Rouge was getting married and invited Roger and some friends up for the wedding. They were staying with him and Roger would be in town a few days. He told me my parents didn't know he was seeing me and it was him asking me to come back, telling me I didn't belong there."

"So a fun visit I take it."

"Honestly Victoria he seemed jealous. I had my own apartment, well with a roommate, but still. I had a car and things that belonged to me that I had paid for. He kept looking around like he couldn't believe it. I told him he should try to stay in town, see if his friend could get him a job, told him there was so much more there for him."

"He got haughty and started telling me there I was being too good for my family, started being a tool and mocking the way I spoke and how I dressed like a slut asked if I was selling it. That was a hard one to ignore, but I just told him to leave me alone."

"A couple of nights later the agency calls and asks if I can do a bachelor party. One of the girls who were supposed to go was sick. I didn't like doing those, but they told me how much it paid and added there would a lot of, shall we say, opportunity there. So I decided to go."

"It was a large party and pretty wild. There were older men there as well and they had money and I...I ended up in the back room with two of them. They were offering me several hundred dollars to let them both take me. I had never done that, but said I would. After all who was I to have standards at that point? I got down in front of them and sucked them both hard. They started degrading me, calling me a good little black whore. I should have left, but didn't."

"When they were ready I got on my knees and let one take me from behind while I sucked the other. I guess they didn't lock the door and it opened and...my brother walked in. It was his friend's bachelor party."

"Jesus." Victoria exhaled loudly.

"For all the ill will I harbor my brother, I still feel for him in that moment. Coming into that room and there's his twin sister between two men like a pig on a spit; a cock in each end of her. He...he just stared and almost fell backwards out of the room closing the door behind him. I sat up, thinking I would follow him, but one of the Johns asked where I was going and I...I stayed."

"You what?"

"What was I going to say to Roger even if I caught up with him? So I let them continue. They'd paid a lot and I let them have whatever they wanted. They took turns lying on their backs with me riding one, while the other fucked my ass. The entire time I was between them, my pussy sore and my ass burning, I was trying not to cry. They saw I was upset, but assumed it was because of them and they got off on it, started calling me names. I...I didn't even care at that point."

Mercedes stopped and looked down at her hands around the tea cup, they were trembling. She took a deep breath and went on. "At the end they whipped their cocks out and both of them came all over my face. While I remained on my knees they got dressed and on the way out one of them threw another fifty at me for being a good little coon as he put it."

"That's in the past my lady," Victoria reached out and put her hand on her arm. "That will never happen to you again. I..."

"Really? Then why am I being told to fuck someone? But we'll come back to that because it did happen again and recently."

"When?" Victoria demanded "And who? I can assure you..."

"Oh, we'll get there." Mercedes nodded.

As she'd told that last part of story she'd recalled the last time she had been degraded like that and not only was it causing anger to replace her sorrow, but she was going to be putting Victoria on the spot very shortly. Even when she was not at her best, The Lady Mercedes could manipulate with the best of them.

"Uh..okay. For now I take it that your brother..."

"Roger couldn't call home fast enough. By the time I'd gotten home my roommate had told me my father had called. I didn't call back right away, I couldn't. I showered, trying to wash away my shame and tell myself I was just doing what I had too. Fact was Victoria I didn't have too. I didn't need their money that bad, I had regulars that were decent to me. But I was caught up in having more than I'd ever had."

" For the first time in my life I didn't feel as if I were poor. I made as much as I could because I was afraid somehow I might lose it. But while I was doing so good old shy Tonya was being replaced by her new persona"

"What do you mean?"

"You think I gave those men my real name? I told them my name was Mercedes." She laughed derisively. "I told them I was like the car, black, sleek and one hell of a ride. Mercedes was the one calling the shots, and Tonya was about to pay the price. I planned on calling my father the next morning, but the phone rang at one am and it was him."

"You can imagine the conversation. How could I do that to my mother, how could I shame him like that? I guess one of Roger's friends found out and called back home, the entire town knew hours after Roger had seen me. My father said I had destroyed his reputation. That everyone knew his daughter was a big city prostitute. He told me I was dead to him. Not to be outdone Roger called me later to say the same thing."

"That's a hard story my lady." Victoria told her. "I'm sorry it turned out so poorly for you."

"Did it?" she shrugged "Depends how you see it I suppose. If Roger had not seen me I might have eventually stopped whoring, but with that over and done with I started doing it more frequently, I figured what the hell, if I was going to be a slut, be a successful one right?"

"You weren't a..."

"True, sluts give it away. I was a whore, I forgot. But then something happened that changed my new found career and my life as well. The woman who ran the agency, my pimp for lack of a better word, called me with a special request. It seemed she had a high paying client from the west coast who was in to being demeaned, specifically by black women. She had a woman who took care of men with those types of tastes, who referred to herself as a dominatrix. Well she had to leave town for a family emergency and I was her next best girl that fit his tastes."

"I told her I have no idea what to do and she laughed and said, 'just tease him and treat him like shit. Don't let him fuck you until the very end and keep taking it away from him. I wasn't sure I would be able to do it, but when she told me it was a thousand dollars I agreed. I met him at the hotel and wasn't sure how to start, but he led me a long a little asking my permission to kiss my cheek, asking if could have the privilege of worshipping my feet."

"A true submissive." Victoria nodded, "Many wealthy powerful men have that trait, they..."

"You're preaching to the choir my lady;" Mercedes allowed herself a small smile, "Who do you think pays the bills at the club?"

"Sorry, I'll stop talking just to talk." Victoria sighed.

"While I sat back and watched him lick and suck my toes I...I began to become aroused. With the exception of my first time I had never cum, nor had I wanted to in any of my other sessions, but the way he was doing it, the way he was looking up at me had me worked up."

"Remembering what I was told I said he was doing a lousy job and to keep going. I made him stop and strip for me, I noticed he was only semi-hard and insulted the size of his cock and told him he should be hard for me," she smirked, "Told him maybe I should leave."

"He starts begging for another try and I let him. Then I demanded him to lick my pussy. I came harder than I ever had before. I tied his hands and using my mouth teased him for over a half hour, he was whimpering, practically crying and that tone..."

"I know that tone." Victoria whispered, her eyes bright, "I live for that tone."

"Well that was the first time I'd heard it and I loved it. I got him off with my mouth then made him start again at my feet. I made him lick me again, but this time from behind and tongue my ass."

"I love a good rimjob." Victoria breathed.

"That's obvious from your videos." Mercedes grunted. "I gave him exactly what he wanted. I did well enough she gave me a similar client except this one really wanted to be degraded and he had left a crop on the bed for me to use. I didn't think I could do it, but as I looked at him I started thinking about my earlier experiences as well as what I felt pushed me to do it."

" I got angry and took it out on him. I whipped the shit out of him all the while telling him how pathetic he was, that he had to pay women to fuck him, that he was a worthless dog that I wouldn't even let fuck me even though he was paying. I made him jerk off on my feet then suck off every drop." She shook her head, "The second we were done, he was asking when I would be available next."

"A star was born!" Victoria exclaimed and despite herself, Mercedes laughed.

"You're right. When the other woman came back she was told to take me under her wing and train me. Her real name I never new, but she went by Katrina and she was as vicious as any woman I have ever seen in the Circle, possibly even Persephone and like our high mistress Katrina preferred the company of women. She had told me it had been three years since she had a let a john fuck her and it had cost the last one ten thousand dollars for the pleasure."

"She must have been a hell of a teacher my lady, because there's many in the Circle who believe you're as hardcore as they come." She paused then asked, "Any interest in women Mercedes?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"Well..." she shrugged, "Many women with your negative experience find women more enjoyable. So I thought..."

"Thought," she smirked, "Or hoped?"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Victoria demanded

"If it means nothing to you, then it means nothing to me," She smiled as her high lady frowned, she'd had suspicions about Victoria's sexuality for awhile now and felt by her defensive reaction she'd just confirmed those suspicions.

"But you're correct," she continued as Victoria sat back with a sour look on her face as she realized she may have just given herself away. "Katrina taught me the ropes and also made note of my angst towards men and taught me to channel it, to use it to be able to be as harsh as necessary, but also what lines to never cross. Within months I was in as high demand as she was. At that point I was approached by a woman who ran a bordello in New Orleans who offered me a staggering amount of money to come work there."

"If I recall you went didn't you?"

"Eventually. The money was tempting, more than I would make at any job upon graduation. But I was a year away from my degree and wanted to graduate. After all the desire to better myself is what led me to enter prostitution in the first place. Upon my graduation, which out of my family only my aunt Mary attended, I traveled to New Orleans and began working for her."

She frowned, "That's when I realized that I was not being forced to do this anymore, it was my choice. I think if I had stayed just a hooker, I would have turned to the world of business, but I...I couldn't get enough of the control being a Mistress provided me."

"I'm sure it was more profitable."

"By far I came there highly regarded and only increased my reputation once there. I was twenty two and getting a thousand dollars per session. I worked there for four years when a man that had come to me once a week for a month made me a very interesting offer. His name was Peter Williams and he'd made a lot of money in the porn industry directing what he called vanilla stroke."

"His fetishes however, ran much darker and he, along with a business partner named Monty, had decided to open a fetish club in New York City. Monty was handling all the business and red tape aspects and Peter was in charge of the entertainment. He was a true submissive and was looking for the best Mistress money could buy to train the staff. He was adamant that he wanted The Velvet Rope to be the real deal and not full of posers."

Mercedes picked up her lukewarm tea and finished it, she was feeling much more relaxed right now. Telling her story had eased some of the pain of her conversation with her brother and just as importantly she had inadvertently stumbled on her out with her video. She remained silent, watching Victoria stare down at the table her eyes lost in thought. Mercedes wondered if she was beginning to see where this was going.

Victoria was no fool and would be racking her brain to try to figure out when Mercedes had been mistreated. The answer was obvious, but many times they were the answers that were overlooked. She had no doubt her high lady was also stewing over the fact she may have given something away about herself. Deciding she'd let her think long enough, Mercedes picked up her story,

"The offer was a large salary and a huge bonus if I could train a staff of a dozen men and women within the six months before they opened. I was also given the incentive that I could keep all the money I charged for any of my own sessions. I'd spent my entire life in the south and between being curious about life in a city like New York and a lucrative opportunity; I accepted and moved to New York."

"I accomplished what he wanted and the club opened and did very well. On the surface it was just a theme club with some demonstrations, but in the back rooms, it was no limits and there was plenty of sex to be had for a price. The club dodged the cops through Peter's partner's connections and also under the guise that what went on in the backroom was about humiliation not sex. The law states no intercourse or oral sex, they say nothing about bondage and hot wax, so we were able to get away with a lot."

"During my time there Peter, who started as my client, began spending more and more time with me and eventually it hit me that he had more than a little affection for me."

"He was falling for you?"

"Understand we spent a lot of time together and most non sexual. I taught him my trade, he taught me the business. I also had an MBA and he did not trust Monty so he allowed me to start looking into the books and other details. I saw an opportunity and admittedly began to play into his feelings for me. We began having sex that was not about control, in fact many nights Peter was quite sweet to me."

"You made love to him?" She clapped her hands, "First baking; now romance, my lady this has been a most informative conversation!"

"That it has." Mercedes answered coolly, "On my end as well." That wiped the smile from Victoria's face and with a satisfied nod, she went on.

"If you need to know, yes there were times it was like that. He never told me he loved me, and even if he did I would have not been so cruel as to lie to him. However, I had more than little affection towards him; it was the closest thing in my life to a relationship, still is. I knew it meant more to him when he started getting upset when I would take a client, but I assured him there no longer any sex, just training."

She shrugged, "That was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. As we grew closer he went against Monty's wishes and put me in charge of all club operations; everything from payroll to ordering food and liquor."

"I ran the club for the next two years and except for some brushes with the law that Monty's connections took care of, all was well. Then something both bad, but for me, ultimately good, happened. One night I woke up to find Peter wasn't in bed."

"You were living together?"

"Yes, in fact in the same suite I stay in now at the club. He had a penthouse in Manhattan, but most nights we stayed there. Anyway I found him in the living room and he said he didn't feel well and as going to watch a movie. Just before I went back to bed he gave me kiss and a hug and told me how happy I made him and he would always take care of me. I thought it was odd, but Peter drank more than his share and would occasionally get a little emotional. "

"I went back to bed and the next morning he wasn't next to me. I found him on the couch; he'd suffered a heart attack during the night."

"I'm sorry" Victoria said, "That must have been hard."

"It was harder than I'd thought. Peter was the only man in my life who'd been decent to me and I realized I did have more feelings for him than I'd thought. At the funeral I met his daughter, who for the record was probably only a couple of years older than me. I expected some shit, but she was very affable."

"She said Peter talked about me quite often and she was glad he was happy. She then told me her father had a history of heart problems. The doctors had warned him to take care of himself, but aside from medication he did what he chose. He ate poorly, drank way too much and his sex life was..." she allowed herself a small smile, "He was living with a dominatrix half his age. He reminded me of our brother Lovecraft in the sense he said he would never abstain from anything, because life as too short he lived his life to the fullest and died happy."

"And you contributed to that happiness."

"I did. I had no regrets. A week later I found out what he meant about taking care of me. I received a call from his lawyer who asked me to come to his office. Peter's daughter was there as well. The lawyer informed us that Peter had left his penthouse and several other properties as well as most of his financial assets to his daughter. To me, he left a fair some of money, but most importantly, I now legally owned half the club."

"Monty was livid and offered to buy me out, but I refused. The two of us began fighting about everything and he was making the day to day operations of the club difficult. One night he told me he would have his connections stop protecting us and allow them to close the club due to prostitution and blame all of that on me, he was, after all, just a money man. He told me I had a week to sign off my half to him for a very small sum of money."

She paused again and gave Victoria a big smile, "That was right about the same time a certain blonde model wandered into the club asking permission to do a photo shoot there."

Victoria smiled back at her and laughed, "If I remember you were not very happy to meet me."

"You were a stuck up bitch." Mercedes told her, "With quite an air of entitlement."

"Bad first impression."

"Nothing's changed my lady, I just know you better now."

"Thanks," Victoria rolled her eyes.

"Well although I was not impressed with your public persona, the Lady Felicia was impressed with me. Impressed enough to send a Dominatrix originally from Ireland named Morrigan to come and tell me about the Circle and invite me to join."

" I initially said no, I lived that lifestyle in public, had money and why did I need them? The fact I would have to submit myself to an initiation was the final reason to say no. I had been through enough shit at the hands of men. I would never submit again."

"Morrigan told me to please think about it and when I didn't call I was visited by Abigail Lefay herself from the notorious Black Flame."

"Persephone came to you?" Victoria's eyes widened, "I never knew that."

"As you said this is quite an enlightening conversation." Mercedes told her with a smug smile, "To say our High Mistress is impressive is an understatement, but I was adamant I would not submit to any man ever again. She asked me to look beyond the sex and think of the power and connections, surely there was something I needed the group could accomplish."

"The club."

"Exactly. After Abigail left, I was approached by Monty who told me I had three days left to decide. I called Abigail and told her I would agree to join, but I needed help. She called back and gave me the address for a hotel in Manhattan where I would meet my initiator. If I went through with it and made it into the group, she would immediately tell the Mistress of our Circle to use their influence to back Monty off. So I agreed and..."

"Your initiation." Victoria said softly, "That's what you were..."

"Oh, yes my initiation." Mercedes sneered the word. "I was not just physically punished, but humiliated and degraded past the point of decency by your brother Mephisto"

"He's our..."

"He's your brother, I lay no claim to that rich piece of shit poser who's never worked for anything in his life including his membership to the Circle."

"Amado did what he had too Mercedes. The rule is the initiate is to be broken, no amount of physicality could accomplish that with you, he found your weakness and..."

"He referred to me as a trailer trash nigger many times amongst other colorful expressions. Made several slave jokes, I felt like I was the center of a Klan meeting."

"He apologized many times my lady."

"With great insincerity. But I let it go for the moment because Morrigan had assured me I would get a payback night the following year, said it was..." she smiled wickedly "A Rule."

Victoria looked away from her, but not before Mercedes could see she was pissed. The game was now going to swing to her favor. Victoria swallowed hard, then turning back to face her said quietly, "Touche, my sister."

"Well seeing I've gone this far, let me just finish by saying that two days after my disgraceful initiation, I was approached by Monty who had such a mysterious change of heart that not only was he not going to force me out, but told me he would sell his half of the club to me for the same paltry sum he had offered for my half."

" It seems the Circle's connections far outweighed his. That was six years ago and I have been an exemplary member ever since and now that we have reached the present, my dear high lady let us discuss the rules of this group."

"You didn't have this planned." Victoria told her, "There was no way you manipulated me into this."

"I'll admit you're right Felicia," she tapped the table, "Because we will be discussing the group now. See I have a habit of trying to bury what upsets me, had I not told you the story you wanted to hear I may not have equated the past with the present."

"Be careful what you wish for." Victoria said for the second time today.

"Yes, so let us discuss why it was okay to break a rule to not allow me my well earned payback against that scum, but I have to adhere to the rule of sex in the videos."

"Mercedes you know that I went to Scarlett on your behalf as did Lovecraft saying that it was wrong for you to be denied a payback. She said she felt there was too much ill will and you would cross the line."

"Like that motherfucker crossed the line?" She hissed. "Fucking me in the ass while telling me he thought that's how spooks like to get fucked?"

"I..." she tossed her hands in the air. "The initiation is about breaking in anyway needed to. I for one did not approve of his method and told him so."

"I'm sure he gave a shit."

"Lovecraft wanted to punish him, but was denied as well. Mercedes, there is nothing we could do. Scarlett knew after your video you would be too vicious in a payback."

"I'm sure a certain sniveling half breed Spaniard went crying to her along with his fellow playboy poser Orion, another weakling whose daddy bought them the world."

"So you want me to tell Scarlett that you refuse to obey because of her decision years ago?"

"I want fair treatment. If Mephisto can be let off the hook so can I. Or," she leveled her finger across the table, "You tell her that when I get my payback I will be more than happy to provide her with a video of her liking."

"I don't think Scarlett will respond well to an ultimatum." Victoria replied, "However, I see some room to maneuver here."

"I knew you would."

"Tell you what Mercedes, I'll tell Scarlett of your frustration. Then you turn in a video and I will get you your payback."

"There is no guarantee you can, she turned you down before. How about I get my payback and that's my next video," she flashed an evil smile, "It will be one to remember."

"Would you let him fuck you?"

Mercedes slammed her palm down on the table causing Victoria to jump. "I will cut that piece of shit's cock off with a rusted knife if he ever brings it anywhere near me again!"

"And that my lady is what Scarlett fears." Victoria spoke softly then began tapping her long fingernails on the table. "Also you know how it works. If I tell Scarlett you want a payback or you won't perform that's too big of a fuck you to her."

"One she deserves on this matter."

"But," she went on, "If I go back to her with your displeasure, then you submit a proper video I can show her that despite your anger you are still loyal and bargain in good faith. I will then tell her you need your rightful payback, it is an important rule the reason it was created was as a warning to initiators to not go too far or you will get it in return."

"All my initiation is showing so far is certain members get away with whatever they want." She muttered.

"Mercedes here is my deal. A good tape from you and you'll get a payback I promise."

"And you speak for Scarlett now?" Mercedes grunted, "You have already tried, Felicia. What will happen is I will jump through the hoop make a nice video for the group and still be denied." She sat back disgustedly, "Lady Felicia I would like to speak about my stepping down."

"Oh, come on Mercedes!"

"I no longer need the group. I enjoy it and you and the others are like family to me, but we can keep in touch. I will not submit again, for anyone."

"It's not submitting!" she exclaimed in exasperation. "Tell you what Mercedes, what about just fun?"

"Fun?"

"Yes, there is no rule everything has to be a session, find a good looking guy and tape yourself playing and enjoying; no control, no rules just a fun fuck."

"I..." her eyes narrowed. "I have no one that..."

"A one night stand for Christ's sake, hell forget Mercedes, when was the last time Tonya had fun?"

"When she sat holding hands with a boy of the wrong color and was beaten for it. That was the last time Tonya had fun. I am not as excited about sex as the rest of you. My pleasure is control and I show that in my videos, but because there is not a cock buried inside me it is not enough. I..."

"Mercedes I...I don't want to lose you my sister." She took a deep breath. "I promise you, you will have your payback, you have the word of the High Lady."

"You don't know that."

"I...I can make it happen."

"How are you so sure?" Mercedes asked, her interest peeked.

"I cannot say."

"Then no deal." Victoria started to speak, but Mercedes cut her off, "I trusted you with a very private story my sister. Now return the favor. Because if indeed you can guarantee me Mephisto for an evening I will turn in a proper performance."

"I can do it through Lovecraft; he can get Scarlett's permission."

"I know that Lovecraft has contempt for Mephisto as I do and know he fought for my payback or to punish him and he was denied. Why should I think he can..."

"Things have changed."

"What has changed my lady?"

Victoria looked away again and shook her head as if she were telling herself no. She closed her eyes then with a resigned sigh, turned back to her.

"You are not to repeat this. If you do there will be hell to pay."

"Trust me as I have trusted you today my lady."

"Okay what's changed is I have discovered that Scarlett has developed a...shall we say soft spot for Lovecraft."

"He's fucking her?" Mercedes eyes widened.

"She has been using our enforcer to entertain herself of late, yes." Victoria told her softly as if she thought she'd be overheard. "I have faith that he can persuade her. End of the day she knows it's the right thing to do and Lovecraft I'm sure can make it worth her while."

She pointed at her, "Now my lady we have bandied about long enough, you have made a fair point and I am offering a deal. You show good faith you get what you desire. But Scarlett is to get your video no later than this Friday. What is your answer?"

Mercedes sat back and tried to think of who she could use for a tape. Lately the idea of fucking because she had to was nothing short of distasteful. Not to mention if she were faking it, Victoria may say it wasn't good enough.

"Your answer my lady?"

"I...I will do what I can."

Victoria rolled her eyes, "Its only sex Mercedes, but fair enough you have to make the first move." She rose from the table and looking down said, "But a video by week's end and you will get what you want Mercedes."

"After the fact and I still have to give something to get something."

"I'm sorry my lady, but remember what the first rule of the Circle is."

Mercedes nodded and said softly, "Nothing in the Circle is Free"

"Exactly, but we repay our debts. Friday is your deadline to have the biggest debt owed to you repaid."

Mercedes grunted, "Black Friday," she muttered.

"Black Friday, white Friday," Victoria shrugged, "Hell, Asian Friday, just pick a guy and fuck him Mercedes, it's not that tough."

No, fucking never is," Mercedes told her, "Just the consequences are."

*****

Mercedes made her way through the main corridor on the upper level of the Velvet Rope and could feel the eyes of both clients and staff on her. Despite knowing she was being watched, she kept her eyes straight ahead, walking past people as if they didn't exist. This was not because she felt she was above any of them, but the deliberate air of aloofness expected of the club's High Mistress.

Mercedes was always accustomed to some stares as for the most part she never entered the upper suites unless there was an issue or she was holding a session. Either of those instances was enough to draw a lot of interest, but today there was more than usual due to her ensemble. Even in the club Mercedes did not dress to flaunt herself. She would sometimes wear something low cut or a shorter skirt or dress, but nothing overly revealing.

She was a Mistress, not one of the working girls and in order to see what she had to offer a client had to be either extremely wealthy or someone she had decided deserved a reward from her. It was the latter in this instance as Judge Wilson Bennett was currently in session with two of her girls and she needed to provide a special treat to him, to try to enlist his aid on The Lady Lexi's behalf. The first part of that treat was her outfit.

Mercedes was dressed only in a black thong and a pair of knee high black boots with stiletto heels. Her upper body was covered with a fishnet robe with a pattern of metal studs throughout the material. She was topless beneath and her small perfectly shaped tits were on full display through the robe. She had allowed the curl to comeback in her hair and had teased it out even more giving her a wilder appearance.

Two of her male employees approached with a woman who looked to be in her forties between them. She was wearing one of the short red robes that represented her being a pledge and led along by a leash attached to a red dog collar around her neck. Mercedes looked over at them and the younger of the two men immediately bowed his head.

The second man was Marcus, her top male and the one she left in charge when she could not be there. Marcus was the best she'd ever trained and had a long list of clients, many of whom were quite affluent and paid a lot of money to be treated poorly by him. Marcus made the Velvet Rope a lot of money and was fiercely loyal to her.

Because of that loyalty six months ago Mercedes had rewarded him with sixty seconds inside of her. Despite not having been teased at all, he had managed to come within that minute and as he had told her he had fantasized about came all over her hard flat stomach. Marcus bowed to her and whispered, "My beautiful Mistress."

Mercedes bowed her head slightly and then took in the woman between them. She was blonde, tall and a little on the curvy side. As her eyes made it to her face, Mercedes saw she was staring directly at her and with an air of pride that told Mercedes\ she was most likely someone who wielded a lot of power, either through work or wealth.

The woman's blue eyes continued to stare into hers and a slight smile played across her lips. Mercedes wouldn't have needed the red robe to know this was her first time here. She lowered her gaze to the woman's shoulders and saw she was holding herself proudly, her back straight and her rather ample chest puffed out.

"And who is this Marcus?"

"My name is Paula, and I'm..."

"You were not whom I was speaking to." Mercedes told her. "Here, you speak when spoken to and only when spoken to, is that understood?"

The woman stared hard at her and reaching out, Mercedes grabbed the leash from Marcus's hand and yanked down hard on it. The blonde gasped and staggered forwards, directly in front of Mercedes, who moving quickly grabbed a handful of her long blonde hair and twisted it in her grip.

"I asked if that was understood."

"Y...yes."

"Yes Mistress."

"Y... yes Mistress."

"Your reply reeks of insincerity, just as your entire demeanor stinks of pride and privilege. That is a smell I can do without."

Looking over at Marcus she took a moment to take in his tall dark muscular form and briefly wondered about using him for her video. It was Friday and her video was due by midnight. No, she couldn't reward him again and she would need to allow him to do too much to satisfy the group.

"Marcus, tell me something."

"What is it Mistress?"

"Why is this proud whore clothed?"

"Well..." he looked at her, trying to gage whether or not he was truly in trouble. "The rules my Mistress has provided state that there is to be no public humiliation."

"That's true." She stared into Paula's eyes, "We're going to break that rule however, remove her robe."

"I will not be stripped in front of all of these..."

"Then you will turn and go." Mercedes told her shifting her grip until she had her hand behind Paula's head and had pulled her face to hers. "You make no demands here. You have come here to find pleasure in submission and that starts here and now. So either allow your clothes to be removed or turn and leave like the rich fraud I sense you to be."

Paula stared at her and Mercedes could see her face begin to flush. She also noticed Paula's breathing had started to pick up. Her chest was heaving and her eyes had widened, there was a look in them that had not been there a moment ago. Mercedes nodded; Paula would truly enjoy her session; she just had to overcome her initial pride.

"Raise your hands above your head." Mercedes said softly, releasing her hair, but still holding the leash.

Paula licked her lips, then slowly raised her arms over her head. Mercedes gave Marcus a nod and stepping behind her, he reached around to grab the tie of the robe.

"Wait." Mercedes said, and then raised her voice. "I would like everyone in this corridor to step over here. It seems we have a woman here who is proud and I would like an audience for her losing that pride."

As the dozen clients and employees came over to form a circle around them, Mercedes looked to her left and spotted Shelia, her top female. "Shelia, fetch me your dowel."

There were several murmurs and Mercedes could sense an air of excitement building. She turned back to Paula who was still holding her arms over her head and she noted with satisfaction her hands were shaking. She felt something brush against her hand and looked down to see Sheila had returned and was pushing a three foot black dowel into her hand. Mercedes nodded then bringing the dowel up held it over her head twirling it around with her fingers.

She began spinning it faster and dropping it down wover it in an intricate pattern in front and alongside her. Like a cheerleader with a baton, Mercedes made a show of twirling the dowel around. She enjoyed the sound of the thin wood hissing through the air and with a flourish whipped it out and just past Paula's ear. She cried out and there was the sound of muffled laughter from around her.

"Take her robe off."

Marcus removed the robe and Mercedes took in Paula's naked body beneath. Her large tits were sagging just a bit, but her stomach was still fairly flat and her exposed pussy completely smooth.

"I would think someone with your money would have those lifted." Mercedes said.

Marcus laughed loudly and Mercedes smiled to herself, he was well trained, he knew the game she was playing. A look of anger flashed across Paula's face, but she said quietly, "I'm sorry you disapprove."

"I disapprove of more than just your sagging tits, slut; I disapprove of your haughty stare and proud stance. You came here for sex. You came here to be treated like the fucking pig you are, yet you stand here with an air of pride like that?" she grunted disgustedly, "Hold up those tits, put them where they should be, you know, above your naval?"

There was now laughter from most of the crowd and Paula turned red with anger and embarrassment. Moving slowly she lifted her large breasts and held them up. Mercedes shook her head, "You're nipples aren't hard. That is an insult, after all didn't you come here to be aroused?"

"Shall I make them hard Mistress?" Marcus asked, already sliding his powerful arms around her waist.

"No, I will."

With a practiced flick of her wrist, Mercedes lashed out with the dowel. The tip caught Paula's nipple and she cried out in pain. Turning her wrist over, she sent the dowel across the other nipple and received another yelp of pain. She stared at Paula's now swollen nipples and after a pause sighed, "Not even a thank you for improving the appearance of your flabby tits."

"I..."

"On your knees, now!" Mercedes snapped.

Paula hesitated and knowing exactly what she wanted, Marcus grabbed Paula's shoulders and roughly spun her to face him. Mercedes stepped closer and sent the dowel across the sensitive skin behind Paula's knee. She yelped in Marcus's face then again as Mercedes struck the other knee.

She hesitated and saw Marcus whispering in her ear. She knew he was telling Paula she could stay and take her punishment or was free to leave; no one here endured anything they didn't want to. Mercedes knew what the answer would be, she'd already seen the tell tale look in her eyes when the dowel had caught her nipple.

Her instincts proved correct when Marcus gave her a barely perceptible nod. Mercedes whipped the dowel around, repeatedly striking the backs of Paula's knees and upper thighs. She went higher and putting more into the swing slashed it across her round and rather plump ass. Mercedes could see everyone around her staring and noticed many were breathing heavier. The air of excitement had increased dramatically as several of the regulars realized what a treat this was.

Paula's ass was covered with long thin welts and she was jerking hard against Marcus who was holding her tightly against him. Mercedes was breathing heavy herself and not from exertion. Her nipples were hard and she noted Marcus's eyes were locked onto them.

She worked the dowel up and down Paula's back, putting some real force into the blows aimed around her shoulders where they were the easiest to withstand. The sound of the dowel followed by Paula's cries were the only sound in the room and after one last strike that caught Paula at the very tip of her ass cheek Mercedes, spoke, "Now, let's try again, on your knees."

Marcus let her go and with a whimper, Paula sank to her knees. She released a high pitched yowl that sent a wave of heat through Mercedes as she struck the soft sole of her foot with the dowel. She spent a few moments going back and forth striking each foot before stopping. She paused and waited, Paula was silent for a moment then realizing what was expected of her blurted out, "Oh, thank you Mistress."

"Better." Mercedes walked around to face her, "So how do you enjoy being naked in front of all these men Paula? Are you enjoying it?"

"I...I don't like it, I...I thought this was private." She whimpered.

"First off, its whatever I want it to be. Second," she laughed, "You're turned on you pig, I know you are."

"No, I..."

"Marcus, check for me please."

Leaning over Marcus, pushed Paula hard in the back causing her to go to her hands and knees. He shoved two fingers between her legs and Mercedes noted with satisfaction how easily they disappeared inside her. Paula moaned loudly and Marcus laughed, "She's soaking wet, the whore!"

"I knew she was." She nodded, "But she does not seem to like public exposure so," she shrugged, "Marcus spread her cheeks open and let's give everyone a look at her pussy."

"As you wish."

Paula cried out and began to squirm, but Shelia stepped up and grabbing her hair, pressed her face to the floor, keeping her ass up as Marcus showed her off.

Mercedes snapped her fingers and gestured for people to come around and stare.

"She's pretty damn wet." One of her male subs declared.

"And take a look at her asshole." Mercedes said, "Looks like she's enjoyed a lot of deliveries in the rear over the years.

There was loud laughter and Mercedes said, "Anyone who wants to give it a feel, help yourself"

She gestured to three of her men and held her palm up to the clients, she would only let her people get involved in something like this, but Paula couldn't see that. She cried out and began moaning and squirming as each of the three took turns sliding their fingers inside her and pumping them several times. Mercedes nodded at Marcus who, with no hesitation, shoved a finger in her ass and held it there while the others fondled her pussy.

As they groped her, Mercedes looked around at the crowd. She saw a woman named Katherine who worked as an aide in the Governor's office leaning against the wall rubbing her pussy through the red panties she was wearing. Her eyes met Mercedes and she mouthed the words "Thank you." Mercedes nodded to her and turned back to watch the last of her men pumping his fingers into Paula's pussy.

She was whimpering pathetically, but her hips were moving and she was no longer struggling against Sheila. Marcus's finger was still in her ass and Mercedes snapped her fingers. Marcus and the other sub removed their fingers and stepping forward; Mercedes reached down and took the leash. Pulling up on it, she said, "Let's go for a walk whore."

Paula rose to her knees, but resisted when Mercedes tugged on the leash.

"Crawl or I will cane you again, this time while it's my men's cocks not their fingers in that loose gash of yours."

Paula was breathing through her mouth and sweating profusely. Her blonde hair was sticking to her face and her blue eyes were wide. Mercedes noted her lip trembling and leaning over, placed her lips to her ear. "Shall we continue with your session, or do you want to go back home and watch porn while playing with yourself?"

Paula took a deep breath and said softly, "I...I'm at your mercy Mistress."

"Then you are in the right place, Paula." Mercedes told her softly, "Here you will learn that complete surrender is better than you ever imagined."

She waited until Paula nodded, then satisfied she was still a willing participant, Mercedes tugged on the leash again. This time Paula reluctantly dropped to her hands and knees and began to crawl as Mercedes led her across the corridor to where one of her subs was standing.

He looked up at her and she gestured to his crotch. He obediently unzipped his jeans and removed his cock which was already well on its way to being hard. Mercedes stopped Paula in front of him and yanked back so that she rose to her knees.

"Suck his cock."

"I...no, please not...oh!"

Mercedes reached around her and pinched both her nipples hard. Still squeezing them she hissed, "Suck his cock like the fucking slut you are, show everyone here how much you want it."

"I...oh." She moaned when Mercedes squeezed harder and reaching out took her subs cock and brought it to her lips.

She paused again, but another squeeze on her swollen flesh caused her to take the cock into her mouth and began sucking it. She was going slowly, barely taking it much past the head and grabbing the sides of her head, Mercedes shoved her face forward.

"Suck it like you mean it, whore."

Paula made a gurgling sound as the cock was shoved down her throat. Mercedes nodded to her sub, who slowly pushed his cock even deeper until it was completely buried in her mouth, Mercedes grabbed Paula's hand and yanked it from his cock. "Just use your mouth, like a good whore would."

As Mercedes held her wrist, she noticed a wedding band and laughed, "So Paula does your husband know you're here? Does he know you like sucking big black cock?"

Paula gurgled something and started to move her head back. Mercedes once again grabbed her hair and moved her head roughly back and forth, forcing her to suck his cock. She moaned and Mercedes could see her eyes watering. She knew something else would be watering and reaching between her legs slid her fingers across her swollen clit. Paula jerked her hips and moaned.

"Oh, you do love it don't you?" Mercedes removed her hand from between her legs and with a yank pulled Paula's face from her sub's cock.

She gestured towards another man who came over already unzipping.

"When there is a cock in front of your face you suck it, understand?"

She'd pulled Paula around to be confronted with the next subs long thick cock. She started to shake her head, but when Mercedes reached towards her tits, quickly took the cock into her mouth. This time she immediately started sucking and Mercedes nodded to the sub. Reaching down he grabbed Paula's hair and Mercedes said, "Fuck her mouth!"

He did as she said and Mercedes snapped her fingers at the first sub who took his place on the other side of Paula. He grabbed her hair and pulling her from the other man's cock shoved his back in her mouth.

"That's it, please them both, suck those cocks. Just pretend you're back in whatever slutty sorority you belonged to." She snapped her fingers, "back to the other."

Paula switched and after a moment, again. Mercedes and the others watched as she went from one cock to the other and Mercedes was becoming as wet as Paula. Both her subs were well hung and the contrast of watching her work a black cock then a white one was getting to her. Turning her head, she caught Sheila's eye and mouthed the word "Wand" she then pointed at Marcus and with wink, indicated Paula.

Marcus walked over, unzipping as he went and removed what Mercedes swore was the largest cock she'd ever had inside her. The other two men backed up slightly and Marcus grabbed Paula's head and shoved his cock deep into her mouth. She made a gagging sound as she tried to take him in and he slowed his thrusting until he was able to work himself down her throat.

"This is what we call a merry go round pig, but you may already know that." She emitted a sharp whistle and Marcus removed his cock which was replaced by one of the others. Mercedes watched for a moment and whistled again for another switch. The crowd around her was silent except for a lot of heavy breathing.

Even her subs were getting worked up and Mercedes knew the submissive clients were wishing they were Paula Right now Paula was alternately moaning and gurgling, her eyes watering as her mouth was being fed first one cock then another.

"She's good at that isn't she?" Mercedes asked, then laughed, "Not so proud now are you whore?"

Paula squealed as at a signal from her, Marcus reached down and shoved his finger in her ass again. He pulled her forward until she was now on all fours and kept his finger in her ass as the next man shoved his cock in her mouth. Sheila returned carrying a Hitachi wand and taking it, Mercedes walked up behind Paula. Leaning over she spoke in her ear, but loud enough for other's to hear.

"Look at you, you fucking pig, trying to pretend you don't like this, squealing like you don't want their cocks in your slutty mouth. But you do, don't you? You love it so much you need to come don't you?"

Paula pulled her head from her sub's cock and moaned, "Oh, please I...I never did this! I..."

"Didn't I say when there is a cock in front of your face to suck it?" Mercedes grabbed her head and shoved her mouth back onto Marcus's cock.

Holding the back of her head with one hand, Mercedes turned the wand on and reaching back shoved the large round head against her pussy. Paula squealed around Marcus's cock and her hips moved rapidly. Her sucking slowed down and Mercedes told Marcus, "Take her mouth, take it the way her rich husband never has."

Marcus nodded and grabbing the sides of Paula's head savagely fucked her mouth. Paula gagged, but at the same time couldn't help moaning or moving her hips as Mercedes turned the wand up another notch. She looked up and took in the sight of Marcus driving the length of his long black cock deep into Paula's mouth.

That mouth no longer seemed unwilling as she was groaning each time Marcus's long shaft slid between her lips. Her hips were moving faster and looking up, Mercedes gestured for Sheila.

Sheila came over and taking the wand from Mercedes pushed it harder into Paula's pussy. Mercedes walked around to stand next to Marcus and watched Paula getting face fucked. Her mascara had run down her face and there were long trails of spit hanging from her lips as she slobbered and drooled, trying to handle his huge cock being driven into her mouth. Next to her, Marcus was starting to breathe heavier, but Mercedes knew if he wanted to he could keep this up for a long time, his control was amazing.

"Come, and quickly." She told him softly.

"Thank you Mistress." He said, using longer faster strokes in Paula's mouth.

"But not in her mouth, pull it out."

Marcus nodded and moaned softly as he continued fucking Paula's mouth.

"You are my best aren't you, Marcus?" Mercedes whispered in his ear.

"I...I strive to be."

"You succeed." She grabbed his hand brought it up under her shirt. "Go ahead, but gently."

Marcus fondled her tit and she noticed several people pointing and whispering at the privilege he was receiving. Marcus rolled her nipple between his fingers and she could feel his strong fingers trembling from the thrill of touching her. With an exaggerated sigh in his ear she whispered, "Perhaps this weekend, I'll allow you a taste."

Marcus squeezed her nipple harder, but she let it go as with a loud cry he gave Paula's face several more pumps then pulled his cock out. He was squeezing it hard so he wouldn't cum and she told him, "On your knees."

Marcus dropped to his knees and pointing down at her boots, she ordered, "Cum all over them."

Marcus released his cock and with a loud moan sprayed his thick white cum all over her boots. As he stroked his cock, Paula was whimpering as Shelia was toying with her with the wand.

"You need to come?" Mercedes asked her.

"Oh, please!" she gasped.

"Then clean my boots."

Mercedes grabbed the back of her head and shoved her face against her boots. "Lick every drop and Shelia will make you cum. Paula struggled and Shelia began to remove the wand. With a whimper that made Mercedes want to give Marcus a reward now, Paula began licking the cum from her boot,

"Gather round." Mercedes spoke to the people watching, "Look at this dirty pig, lapping up cum."

The crowd drew closer and Paula began to rock her hips and yelp as Sheila cranked the wand up.

"That's it, lick it up, you're nothing but a cum slut! Going to go back home to your fancy house and kiss your husband with that mouth? You going to think about all these real cocks while you play with his flaccid one? That's why you're here isn't it? Too be the pig he won't let you be you...

Mercedes stopped as still trying to suck the cum from her boot, Paula released a scream and bucked wildly as the powerful wand brought her to what Mercedes was sure was the strongest orgasm of her life. There were several murmurs and sounds of approval from the crowd as Paula screamed again and again as Shelia expertly played the wand along her convulsing pussy.

Even as she squealed and writhed, Paula was still licking Mercedes boot and she could feel her pussy getting wetter by the minute and thought what a waste it was something like this would never be accepted by the group, this, not fucking, was what it was all about.

Paula released a soft whimper as Shelia removed the wand and slowly slid all the way onto her stomach so she was lying on the floor. Her sweat, drool and cum soaked face was pressed against Mercedes now clean boot and she was staring wide eyed as if she were in shock. Easing her foot from beneath her face, Mercedes knelt down and taking her arm, helped pull her up to a sitting position.

"Th...thank you Mistress." She panted.

Taking her face in her hands, Mercedes placed her lips to her ear once more. "Thank you for joining us Paula, I know you will be back. Now, would you like to clean up and leave or would you like more?"

Paula turned her head to look at her and after a slight pause, whispered, "I want more, but maybe not so..."

"Leave it to me."

She gave her a wink and standing put her arm around Marcus who had zipped up and was leaning tiredly against the wall.

"Take her into the suite and take care of her. Fuck her good and hard. Nothing fancy just give it to her. Then take her to the shower, be good to her in there and make her cum, make her yours Marcus, she's already half way there."

"Thank you Mistress," he bowed his head, "And thank you for that reward. Are...are you really thinking of...?"

"No, I just needed you to finish." She gave him a nasty smirk, "Can't let you get too cocky now can we?"

Turning away from him, Mercedes looked around at the people still watching and as she did employee and client alike bowed to her.

"Thank you my friends, and please take heed to the lesson the new member of our family just learned, that although The Velvet rope is all about sin, pride is not one to be tolerated. The next person to have the audacity to meet my stare and challenge me will not be treated as kindly. Is that understood?"

Everyone either nodded or bowed a second time and turning back towards the end of the corridor where Bennett was, she took Sheila by the arm and told her, "I am going to be with Judge Bennett for awhile. The girls taking care of him now will be leaving shortly and I'm not to be interrupted under any circumstances, understood?"

Shelia looked down at Mercedes tits, a poorly masked look of desire on her face and nodded, "Yes my mistress, I'll see to it you will not be disturbed." She looked as if she were going to say more and Mercedes prodded her, "Something wrong Sheila?"

"No...well...at the risk of over stepping my bounds I wish that someday I could receive a reward from you my mistress. I feel I have earned one."

"I have offered you many things Sheila," Mercedes reminded her, "But if you're looking for something from me personally, I have no interest in the female anatomy. It is not personal."

"I understand." Shelia nodded, but her voice echoed her disappointment. "Perhaps, you may change your mind at some point."

As she turned and walked away Mercedes briefly wondered if her fucking Shelia with a strap on would get her off the hook at a meeting. She shook her head and walked toward the end of the corridor to Bennett's suite; she doubted it would count unless she let Shelia do it to her as well. One thing at a time she told herself. First Lexi, then her dilemma with the tape, how the hell had sex become so complicated?

*****

As she walked down towards the end of the corridor to where the larger suites were, Mercedes passed doors on her left and right. Each one had either a red or green ribbon around the knob which indicated whether or not the room was in use. It was after eight pm and almost every room was occupied. She paused near one of the doors and heard the tell tale sound of a whip cracking. Closing her eyes she heard the sound repeated, followed by a male voice crying out for forgiveness.

She smiled at the mixed sound of pain and pleasure in that voice. Mercedes was still aroused from her breaking of Paula and started thinking of the Circle again. There were cameras in every suite and although the clients never knew, many sessions were taped. Mercedes had the cameras in Bennett's suite on now and began to contemplate using him as her video.

He was older, but attractive and she was already excited. No, she wouldn't let him do that, she was his mistress, she would soften him up with his personal fetish, but beyond that she would not be the one used to repay Bennett for his help unless she had no choice

Mercedes stopped outside the door and took a deep breath. That stupid tape had her head spinning. The thought of Mephisto at her mercy had her now trying to figure out who she could make one with that wouldn't completely sell her out, but could get her what she'd wanted for the last six years, revenge.

But for right now she needed to focus on Bennett. Turning the handle she opened the door and entering the room closed the door behind her. The room was lit by several candles and across from her, sitting in the middle of a long couch, was Judge Wilson Bennett.

Bennett was completely naked and his swollen cock standing straight up in his lap. That cock was currently sandwiched between the feet of the two girls who were sitting on either end of the couch. Both were young, barely out of their teens and also naked.

The one on the left was a beautiful fair haired red head who was on the slender side with small perfect tits and big wide blue eyes that made her appear even younger. The girl at the other end of the couch was the total opposite. As dark as Mercedes herself, she had large firm breasts and was on the curvier side.

They both had a leg up along the edge of the couch, exposing their equally smooth pussies. Most men would have been trying to decide which pussy to lick first, but not Bennett; at least not yet anyway. The part of their bodies Bennett was interested in was their bare feet which were currently sliding up and down his glistening cock.

Each girl had one foot pressed against his cock and the other against his face. As their feet slowly jerked him off his mouth was open and he was taking turns sucking on their toes.

The girls were moaning softy, for his benefit no doubt, and playing with their tits for him as he looked from one to the other. Bennett was so wrapped up in his company he didn't notice Mercedes making her way over to them. Bennett lifted his hands from his lap and slid a hand along each of the girls thighs until he reached their pussies. They groaned in unison as he worked his fingers along their wet flesh before sliding a finger in each one.

"Oh, you little girls are wet aren't you?" he asked, "And so tight! I don't know which one I'm going to fuck first!"

"I wanna be first!" The redhead said in a little girl voice accompanied by a pout that made Mercedes roll her eyes, but it was what Bennett and many men liked and the red head, whose name she was pretty sure was Kim, was in high demand amongst the older men.

"I'll let you, but only if he cums on my feet, not yours." The other woman spoke up, with a playful smile, "You want to see that white cum on my dark skin don't you, sir?"

"I want to see everything, everywhere!" Wilson laughed, his brown eyes lighting up as he looked at first one girl then the other, "But I want to come on both of your sexy little feet."

"But who do you want to fuck more?" Kim asked.

"Tell you what, I want to lick that pretty little girl pussy of yours first, so if you get that it's only fair to fuck Misty first no?"

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, Wilson." Mercedes said softly

"Mistress Mercedes!" Wilson exclaimed, "I...I am so honored!"

"Are my girls pleasing you?" she asked as she stood in front of the couch

"They are perfect!" he said, then moaned as the girls moved their feet faster along his cock. "They always are!"

"Good, I want you to be very happy Wilson." She smiled at him.

"Oh, I don't think I could be happier right now." He said breathing hard as the girls were now showing off for Mercedes and had lowered their other feet so they were now working his cock with both.

His fingers were still busy between their legs and they were rocking their hips and whimpering for him.

"Really? Maybe we could make you happier."

Mercedes had her arms crossed over her chest and now removed them .Wilson's eyes immediately found her tits and he licked his lips, "Damn they're beautiful my Mistress."

"Glad you like them, but of course I know there are other parts you would rather see."

Turning around, Mercedes grabbed the edge of a small recliner and pulling it over in front of the couch sat down. Raising her leg she extended it until her booted foot was in front of Wilson's face.

"Would you like to take my boot off?"

"Oh, yes."

Sliding his hands from between the girl's legs, he cupped her heel in one hand while unzipping her boot with the other.

"Would you like us to leave, Mistress?" Kim asked.

"No, I would like you to stay and continue." She looked down at where Wilson's impressive cock was twitching between their feet.

Wilson slowly pulled her boot off and stared longingly at her small foot in his hands. Mercedes had painted her nails a deep red and wiggling them playfully at him asked, "Do you like my feet Wilson?"

"Like the rest of you, your feet are perfect my Mistress."

"Would you like to taste them?"

"M...may I?" he asked, his eyes wide.

"You may worship them Wilson, show your Mistress how sexy you find her feet."

With a look of lust that caused her nipples to harden, Wilson brought her foot to his face and sucked her big toe into his mouth. He sighed as his tongue swirled around her toe and she began to breathe heavier as his eyes rolled back in his head. He removed her big toe and one by one worked the others with his tongue, before sucking them into his mouth.

"Why don't you play with the girls Wilson, I'll hold my foot there."

He let her foot go and both girls spread their legs, letting him slide his fingers back inside them.

"Put your thumb on their clits, get my girls off nice and hard, show me how good you are to the pretty young girls I hand pick just for you."

Both girls moaned as his thumbs began working their clits. Wilson however seemed more engrossed in Mercedes foot which he was now licking heel to toe. Mercedes felt a shudder go through her as she watched a New York City judge lick her feet the way a dog would.

Wilson's eyes were now open and staring at her tits while his tongue worked along the length of her foot. Raising her other leg straight up, she unzipped her boot and laughed, "Seeing your hands are busy, I'll get this one."

She removed the boot and pulling her foot from his hands spread both her legs out until her feet were in the girls faces.

"Oh. May we?" Kim asked her blue eyes wide with desire. Mercedes wasn't sure if she was that excited or she was a great actress, but all that mattered was the look on Wilson's face as he stared at her foot in Kim's face.

"You may." Mercedes answered, "Both of you deserve something for being so good to my best client."

Kim and Misty both took her toes into their mouths and began sucking. The sensation did nothing for her, however the lust on Wilson's face had her hotter than she'd been even while watching Paula getting face fucked.

Wilson was moving his head rapidly back and forth watching the girls worship her feet. Her eyes focused on Kim enjoying how good her dark foot looked against her ghostly complexion. After a moment she turned back to Wilson and reaching down to where her legs were spread wide open, cleared her throat.

Wilson looked at her then made to look back at Kim, but then did a comical double take when he saw her legs open. Mercedes grabbed the thin strip of the black thong and pulled it to the side, exposing her pussy to him.

"Oh, Goddamn." He said softly.

His words were followed by a moan and Mercedes looked down to see his cock twitching between her girl's feet.

"Stay still ladies, I don't want our guest coming just yet, I have something special in store for him."

They stopped moving and Mercedes looked at Wilson, "Make my girls cum and I'll give you a treat."

"I...I can't think of a much better one," he whispered staring at her pussy.

Mercedes spread it open for him, showing off her pink flesh and rubbed her finger through it. Kim moaned around her foot and Misty followed suit as Wilson began working their pussies faster. Mercedes lowered her feet and pressing them to each of the girl's tits began working their nipples with her toes.

"Oh, fuck that's hot!" he moaned, "Oh, Mistress thank you!"

Mercedes felt her pussy moistening around her finger. This was the proper response. Not the arrogance of some young punk, but the full respect of a powerful man who was completely enslaved to her. Each of the girls had begun moaning and rocking their hips, Misty began playing with her other nipple and Kim quickly followed suit.

She noticed Misty's eyes were focused on her pussy and began wondering if she were the only woman she knew who was not attracted to other women.

On a whim, Mercedes grabbed Misty's ankle and pulled her foot to her pussy. Misty moaned and Mercedes breath caught as she rubbed her toe against her sensitive clit. She worked her hips, sliding Misty's foot through her pussy and getting it nice and wet. She looked over to see Misty's eyes half closed and her lips parted as she worked her foot into Mercedes pussy. Pulling her foot away she said, "Now let our guest have a taste."

Misty obediently brought her foot to Wilson's lips. "Oh, I am truly not worthy," he said, then laughed, "But I'll take it!"

He all but devoured Misty's small foot, his eyes rolling back in pleasure as he tasted her pussy from her flesh. Kim let out a small yelp and started bucking her hips harder and faster. Misty was releasing long loud moans and Mercedes wondered if either or both were faking. Pulling her foot from Misty's tit, Mercedes shoved it back into Wilson's face, looking at Kim she nodded and she did the same.

Wilson let out a loud gasp as he now had three perfect feet in his face and began flicking his tongue across all of their toes. He pumped his hips between the girls feet that were still against his cock and Mercedes chided him, "I said you're not to come yet, Wilson, behave yourself."

"I...I'm sorry Mistress, I..." he was cut off by Mercedes shoving her toe in his mouth, but didn't seem to mind.

Kim threw her head back and released a loud squeal and arching her back off the couch started thrusting her hips hard into Wilson's fingers. Across from her Misty cried out and then began emitting a series of high pitched yelps that sounded like hiccups.

As the two young girls yelped and squealed, Wilson was breathing hard and trying to do his best to get his tongue across the three sets of toes in front of him. Both of the girls sighed and relaxed back into the couch, and Kim cooed, "Oh, thank you sir!"

"Thank you Mistress." Misty added, her eyes locked back between Mercedes legs.

"Are you ready for your treat Wilson," Mercedes asked as she lowered her foot and rubbed the bottom of it across the dripping tip of his cock.

"Oh, yes please." He said softly as he removed his fingers from the girl's pussies and brought them to his lips.

"Ladies, you can sit and watch for now, I'll tell you when I need you."

Both girls nodded and sitting up, put their arms around Wilson who gave first Kim, then Misty a kiss. They giggled simultaneously and turning to the side pressed their tits against his chest and rested their heads on his shoulders. Mercedes rubbed her foot along the length of Wilson's cock and bringing her other foot down, placed it between his legs and wiggled her toes against his balls.

"Oh, Mistress, I..." his words turned into a long moan when, Mercedes caught his cock between her feet and rubbed them back and forth, working his cock against the soft soles.

Mercedes wrapped her toes around the head of his cock and curled them. She was rewarded with both a moan from Wilson as well as a squirt of pre cum across her toes. She started rubbing her feet up and down, getting his cock wet with his sticky fluid.

"Kim, hold his cock please."

Kim did as she asked and pressing her foot against his cock Mercedes was able to get it between her big toe and the one next to it. Kim let go and Mercedes jerked him off with one foot while the other dropped back down to his balls. Wilson was moaning and Mercedes watched as he stared wide eyed as the sight of his Mistress giving him a foot job.

Wilson's salt and pepper hair was hanging in his eyes and his face was red and covered in sweat as she continued to pump his cock with her foot.

Wilson was in good shape for his fifty plus years and lifting her foot Mercedes rubbed it across his still flat stomach and strong chest, she raised it to his lips and he eagerly sucked her toes, not caring they were coated with his pre-cum.

Mercedes still had her pussy exposed and her finger was lightly trailing through her wet flesh. She was breathing hard and already knew she would let Wilson get her off, but not right now, that would be his incentive to help, this was just to soften him up.

Right now there was nothing soft about Wilson as the muscles in his chest and arms were bulging as he strained not to move his cock against her foot and was, she was sure, also fighting the urge to come. Mercedes brought her foot back to his cock and this time placed her feet flat, so that his shaft was cupped between her insteps.

"Misty, get his cock nice and wet."

Misty leaned over and taking the head of his cock between her lips gave him a couple of quick sucks, before opening her mouth wide and allowing her spit to drool down the length of his shaft. She sat up and grabbing the backs of her knees, Mercedes began pumping her legs up and down sliding his cock between her feet,

"Oh shit!" Wilson moaned, "Oh Mistress, that...oh, it looks amazing."

"Just looks amazing?" she laughed, "How do my sexy feet feel, Wilson?"

"Better than I...oh!" he moaned loudly and despite his best efforts, his hips twitched, "I...I'm sorry Mistress, I..."

"Don't be," she told him. "Wilson, would you like to fuck my feet?"

"I...oh, may I?"

"You may. Go ahead and take them."

His eyes lighting up, Wilson grabbed the sides of her feet and pressed them hard around his shaft. Mercedes let herself relax and he pumped his hips, sending his cock thrusting between her soft feet. The girls were now gently kissing his neck and running their long nails down his chest, teasing and adding to his pleasure.

Mercedes hadn't asked them too, but it was a good move and she made a note to reward them at some point. Between them, Wilson was now whimpering and Mercedes could feel his legs trembling as he drove her feet up and down his long hard shaft.

His hands were trembling as well and he was gasping as he strained to hold back for as long as he could. Unable to do so any longer, Wilson released a loud cry and a thick stream of cum shot from his cock and came splashing down on her feet. Wilson gasped and stopped moving.

Mercedes quickly began pumping her feet, jerking him off again and keeping his cock spurting. His hot cum felt good dripping across her feet and looked even better on her dark skin. Wilson was groaning and thrusting his hips, his eyes never leaving the sight of his cock erupting all over her feet.

He let out a long moan and slumped back into the couch breathing hard. Mercedes slid her feet to the tip of his cock and he whimpered as using her toes she wrung a couple of more drops from his cock. Mercedes slowly removed her feet from his cock and said, "Oh, this won't do, girls will you clean this up for me?"

Without a word, both girls slid off the couch onto their knees and while Wilson watched, each took one of her feet and made a show of licking his cum from them.

"Oh my God." He panted as he watched their soft pink tongues clean his cum from her toes and feet.

The girls put on a good show, getting cum on their lips and then kissing over her feet and passing it back and forth with their tongues. Sheila had trained them damn well. When her feet were clean they each thanked her and sat back on their knees looking at her expectantly.

"Ladies, thank you for your help and for your exceptional hospitality you have shown my esteemed guest."

"It was our privilege." Kim said, with her head down.

"Then you will be happy to know you both have earned another privilege. I want you to tell Shelia that you and Misty are to be serviced by the man or woman of your choice tonight."

"Thank you Mistress!" Misty exclaimed.

"Now ladies if you'll excuse me, I would like some time alone with our guest."

Both girls stood and after donning their robes, leaned over and gave Wilson an affectionate kiss. They turned away and holding hands, which Mercedes was sure, was another little treat for Wilson left the room. Turning to look at Wilson, Mercedes smiled, "Did you enjoy your treat your honor?"

"I did." He gave her a tired smile, "Thank you Mercedes, I have fantasized about that for quite some time."

"I'm glad you enjoyed."

"I did, but..." He looked at her nervously, "Not to be ungrateful my Mistress, but I paid for two hours. I won't be able to get back here for quite some time and..."

"No worries, you're not done for the evening."

"Really?" he beamed at her, "What's next?"

"That is up to you." Leaving her bare feet on his thighs, Mercedes sat back in the chair and with a sigh said, "Wilson I need your help in an important matter."

"Is it the law, Mercedes?" he asked as he reached down to the table, removed a cigarette from the pack there and lit it.

"In a manner of speaking, but the trouble is not here and it's a...well it's for a friend."

Wilson took a drag on the cigarette. "How big is this favor?"

"Before I ask, I want you to know that without the friend who needs this favor the Velvet Rope would not have been able to open, let alone thrive as it has."

"Okay," he nodded, "Then I will at least hear you out; just know that I have limits to what I can do."

Mercedes frowned, she was hoping he would be more cooperative after her reward, but then again his was career where every move was scrutinized.

"There is a case that you will be hearing next month. The prosecuting attorney is Alexis Winters."

"I know Alexis, she's a goddamn animal. She'd eat her young, then spit them out and sell them to someone else."

"She's also a dear friend of mine and as I said a big part of how I'm here in the first place."

"And the favor is?"

"She needs to win this case Wilson."

"Mercedes, with all due respect, I can't start rendering verdicts for favors. Looking the other way and asking friends to is one thing, but fixing a trial?"

"I assure you that Alexis plays fair Wilson. I have spoken to her, she has the evidence she should win the case, but the defense..."

"Abrams. Reggie McAlister's former partner. He's damn good."

"And damn dirty and you know that, everyone does, he learned from the best of the worst." Mercedes put her hands out, "He can't win clean, but he can stall and stall, all the while using his political connections to try to force the city to get involved where it shouldn't."

Wilson remained silent and sat smoking his cigarette, his eyes lost in thought. He was still naked and Mercedes stared down at his semi hard cock which was dripping down his leg. Would she need to fuck him, she wondered.

"Mercedes, you're right in what you say, but Alexis will win in the end. I'm pretty well connected myself and know she's good friends with Mark Phillips from Rhode Island, the only attorney to ever defeat Reggie McCallister. If she's keeping that company she can prevail."

"I also know Mark." Mercedes said and holding his gaze added, "Quite well, he is a client here."

"I'm not surprised. The bad boy attorney" Wilson laughed, "So does that mean that Alexis..."

"Yes." Mercedes nodded. "She is one of us so to speak Wilson; her games in the courthouse are just the tip of the games she plays. We're all family here and again without her we would not be sitting here."

"You would still be flying out of town to try to line up call girls hoping you don't get caught. But because of her you come here and have every fantasy indulged by the best of my girls. Surely that is worth you granting the verdict you would anyway, only much quicker."

"Abrams has the mayor behind him. I've had this conversation already and was asked to render in Abrams favor." He sighed, "Talk about damned if you do and damned if..."

"The Mayor can't hold you to the verdict Wilson, what is he going to do, tell the city he was asking something unethical of you?"

"True, but..."

"And can you get a foot job from him? Can the mayor secure you girls of barely legal age that you can play with, or domme's that can both punish and reward you?"

"Are you saying if I don't do this, I will be banned from here?" he asked.

"No, I'm asking you to remember who takes care of you, Wilson. I think you need to know at the end of the day who holds more sway."

"Holds more..." His eyes widened, "You're going to blackmail me aren't you?"

"No, Wilson, that is not what I..."

"The hell it isn't!" He snapped, "I should have known this would happen! Well I'll tell you right now Mercedes, I can bring you down as easily as you can..."

"Enough!" she snapped.

Wilson had been submitting to her for years and the sound of her voice caused him to immediately fall silent. He looked down and she began speaking softly,

"Wilson we're not just sub and Mistress, we have a business relationship and I would like to think a friendship. I would never do that to you. In the end we would both fall. However, what I am asking is that you take care of my friend as she has taken care of me which has allowed me to take care of you."

"I'm sorry I..." he put the cigarette out and shook his head. "I guess I just get nervous about this sometimes."

"Understandable. But Wilson I'm also not asking you to do anything unethical, but rather stop someone who is. This is cut and dried, does the city need to spend tax dollars and there be a circus while this asshole digs and digs? And," she pointed at him, "If he keeps digging maybe he traces you here, so end it quickly no?"

"He may dig anyway."

"I have people that can handle him. I have connections that make his look like a joke, but I have no one else who can render a verdict."

"You're saying you could protect me?" he rolled his eyes.

"My friends can. But it won't come to that. You render your verdict and you deny an appeal. Case closed."

"I don't know Mercedes; I just don't like feeling as if I'm being forced. I'm submissive here, but my career is different."

"You will not go unrewarded Wilson." She said softly.

He looked at her for a moment then asked, "What will be my payment for this rather large favor?"

"What do you desire it to be?" she asked. "You can have anything you desire upon your word you will help Alexis."

Wilson stared at her and repeated "Anything I desire."

"Yes." She nodded and dropping her feet from his thighs slowly opened her legs.

His eyes widened and he shook his head, "I...I can't let my cock start deciding how I rule and..."

His voice trailed off when Mercedes untied the robe and sitting up, slid it from her shoulders. She sat back in the chair and watched him stare at her exposed tits.

"I...I can have...you?"

"Within reason." She said quietly. "You may have me, but you cannot take me, is that understood?"

"I would never. "

He stopped when she lifted her hips and sliding her thong over them lifted her legs and worked it down them. Her pussy was showing between her thighs and he licked his lips. Mercedes knew she had him.

She also knew she was going to have to let him fuck her and was not too happy about it. This was for the Circle not for her, but she had been worked up and Wilson would know enough to stay within his limits.

"I'll do it." He said quickly.

"I have your word," she asked, "Because Wilson if you don't come through you will not be allowed back here and in that case you may just learn what connections I have."

"You are threatening me!"

"Only if you break your word." She pointed out as she raised her legs and draped them over the arms of the chair leaving her pussy wide open for him. "If your word is good then you're going to get what you've always wanted and I get what my friend needs."

"You have my word, Mistress."

Mercedes saw that his cock was once again hard and pointing at the floor before the chair, she said, "Then come claim your reward Wilson."

Wilson slid off the couch onto his knees and placing his hands on her thighs looked longingly at her pussy. "May I?"

Mercedes relaxed at his words. Even though she was giving him something he was still going to play his part.

"You may and as you want to, you do not need to keep asking."

Wilson nodded and she could feel his fingers trembling on her thighs. Wilson lowered his face between her legs and blew lightly on her clit. He brought his hands higher up her thighs and spreading her open, flicked his tongue across her swollen button.

She released a soft moan for him, then a real one as he sucked her clit hard into his mouth and swirled his tongue around it. Mercedes reached down and ran her finger nails through his sweat dampened hair as he continued to tongue her clit.

Wilson lowered his tongue and after slowly working it through her wet lips, plunged it inside of her. She gasped when sucked hard, slurping her juices into his mouth. Wilson rocked his head, tongue fucking her pussy and closing her eyes, she sighed and let herself relax and enjoy his eager tongue.

Wilson removed his tongue from inside her and took his time flicking it around the soft folds of her wet pussy. She felt him place a finger at the entrance to her pussy and whispered, "You may."

Wilson pushed his finger deep inside her and she heard him moan into her flesh as he pumped it back and forth. His tongue made its way back to her clit and traced slow teasing circles around it. She moaned louder and started rocking her hips in his face.

She'd been worked up several times in the last half hour and was genuinely enjoying his tongue. Wilson was also licking and sucking slowly, his respect for her outweighing his eagerness. He was well trained no doubt. Mercedes opened her eyes and stared at the corner of the room she knew contained a camera.

She felt a surge of excitement as she realized this could be her video! She'd given him a foot job, the other girls would add to the fun and now he was going down on her. She would come and it would be for real and then she would let him fuck her, maybe she would even let him have her from behind! Then she would have her payback. She envisioned Amado strapped to a Saint Andrews cross, naked, whimpering, his genitals contained in a cock cage and...

"Oh!" she moaned and grabbed Wilson's shoulders, "Right there." She told him.

Wilson added a second finger inside her and she groaned with pleasure. His tongue continued to circle her clit and she whispered, "Faster."

Wilson obeyed, not only moving his tongue faster, but pumping his fingers harder into her pussy. She was so wet she could hear his fingers entering her and began to look forward to his cock. Oh, she was going to make that arrogant piece of shit scream for her! Wilson pressed his tongue harder against her swollen clit and she grabbed his wrist and pulled his hand to her tit.

Wilson obediently rolled her nipple between his fingers as she grabbed the spike in the other nipple and twisted it. She pumped her hips, pushing his fingers deeper inside her and released a long high pitched moan as she felt an orgasm beginning to race through her.

"Oh, suck that clit!" she demanded, "Suck it hard! Yes!" she cried out, "like that, just like..."

Mercedes let her head fall back as a long loud howl erupted from her throat. Lowering her legs, she clamped them around Wilson's head and bucked her hips wildly, grinding her convulsing pussy into his face. His tongue began to slow and she cried out. "Don't you dare stop! Lick my fucking pussy! It's what you wanted, now enjoy it!"

She squeezed her legs tighter and let loose with another loud scream as a second, but just as powerful orgasm slammed through her. Mercedes dug her hand hard into Wilson's scalp and she felt him moaning in to her pussy as she continued to cum for him. In her mind's eye she saw Amado in a queen's chair, licking the ass and pussy of every one of her girls.

He would be the night's entertainment. She gasped and arched her back so far off the chair she felt it crack. Her body seemed to hesitate then pussy contracted and she screamed again as a warm wet wave of fluid flowed between her legs.

She slumped back into the chair trying to catch her breath and letting her legs slide from Wilson's head. He sat back; gasping for air himself and Mercedes saw his entire face was drenched from her. Goddamn she hadn't squirted like that in years.

"My...my Mistress cums hard." He managed to get out.

Mercedes gave him a smile and with a deliberate glance at the camera, said, "Speaking of hard, are you going to just sit there or are you going to take your reward?"

"I..." he looked down at his swollen cock and she snapped, "Get up here and fuck me Wilson, don't make me regret giving you what you can't handle!"

Once again she threw her legs over the chair and grabbing him by the hair pulled him up. Wilson stood and leaning over the chair started to slide his cock up and down her sopping pussy.

"I said fuck me, not tease me!" Mercedes thrust her hips as she spoke and pushed the head of his cock inside her.

Wilson gasped and started to ease himself inside of her. She groaned as his sizable cock sank deep inside of her, but frowned as he slowly pumped her.

"What are you making love to me?" she demanded, "Fuck me! Come on your honor, show me what a bad boy you really are!"

Wilson gave her a smile and fucked her harder. Part of Mercedes loved that he was holding back, that even with her telling him to cut loose he was hesitating.

"Do I have to do it myself?" she asked and wrapping her powerful legs around his waist drew him deep inside her.

Mercedes pumped her hips and grabbing his head shoved his face down into her tit.

"I don't care if this is your reward or not, Wilson you'll fuck me the way I need it!" Another image of Amado formed in her mind, this time he was on his knees howling in pain and indignation as she fucked him with a strap on. "And oh, how I need it!"

Wilson took the hint and began driving his cock hard into her saturated pussy. She was so wet she could feel her sticky juice squirting from inside her every time he plunged his cock into her. He began sucking on her nipple and holding the back of his head she arched her back, shoving it deeper into his mouth.

Mercedes let her legs drop from around his waist and pulling her knees up to her chest placed her feet on his shoulders. This move lifted her hips off the chair and she cried out as his cock began plunging even deeper inside of her.

Mercedes bit down hard on his shoulder and her eyes rolled back as he yelped in pain around her nipple. She would be biting Amado and in more sensitive places than his shoulders, she would bite his nipples hard enough to draw blood and perhaps take him into her mouth just to nip the sensitive head and scrape him raw as she sucked him without using her lips to cover her teeth.

She released Wilson's shoulder in order to cry out again. She was bent in half at this point and he'd finally seemed to get the message she wanted it and was hammering away at her.

Mercedes looked up at the camera and gave a very real squeal as he removed his lips from her tit and shifted his arms until they were behind her knees and her ankles were now behind her ears. She looked up into Wilson's face and saw his eyes were closed and his face covered in sweat. He was breathing hard and so was she, Mercedes could feel the sweat pouring down her own face and couldn't remember the last time she had fucked like this.

"Suck on my toes." She moaned at him.

Wilson opened his eyes and turning his head smiled. Catching her toe in his mouth began to suck on it as he continued his pounding of her pussy. Wilson's cock was longer than average and at the angle he was fucking her, his shaft was sliding across her sensitive clit and with a start she realized she could cum again.

Cumming was something Amado wouldn't be doing. She would edge him for the entire night; have him so close he would be in pain! Mercedes laughed as Wilson hammered away at her and he looked at her oddly.

"I'm just loving you fucking me!" she told him, "Now make me cum again! Please your Mistress Wilson, make me want you again!"

"Again?" he gasped.

"You keep giving it to me like this your honor and there may have to be a retrial!" she whispered as she grabbed his head and drew him down to her.

Wilson's eyes widened and he fucked her even harder. He was driving into hard enough to cause his balls to slap against her ass and with her sweaty cheek pressed against his and her lips inches from his ear, Mercedes screamed at the top of her lungs as another orgasm slammed through her.

In her current position she couldn't move her hips and began moaning and squealing as she tried to squirm beneath his thrusting cock. She could feel her pussy convulsing around him and Wilson whimpered as he fucked her.

"Oh, you going to come for me your honor?" she asked, "You going to paint my little black pussy with your hot white cum?"

She was using the sweet little girl voice she used back when she was a college escort and Wilson's eyes widened as she continued, "Come for me your honor, oh, give me my prize for being your sweet reward!"

Wilson gasped and standing up, slid his cock from inside her and as she spread her legs and held her pussy open, he cried out and started jerking off. Mercedes moaned as the first hot spurts struck her clit and dripped through her wet lips. Despite having come not too long ago, Wilson was painting her pussy with a tremendous amount of cum.

Spreading her lips open further to expose her pink flesh, Mercedes looked up at the camera and released a long groan as the hot cum flowed down her pussy and into the crack of her ass. Mercedes closed her eyes and thought perhaps she would let Amado come, but it would be all over her or another woman's asshole and she would make him...

Mercedes sat up and placing her hands on Wilson's chest gave him a shove that sent him back onto the couch. He landed on the edge of the cushion and slid off onto the floor with a grunt. Standing up, Mercedes looked down at the cum dripping down her thighs and stepping up to him, hissed, "Lay on your back!"

Wilson looked into her wild eyes and immediately lay on his back. Mercedes quickly turned around and straddling him, dropped down on her hands and knees. She quickly rocked backwards, shoving her cum covered pussy into his face. Wilson made a gurgling sound of protest and Mercedes called out, "You made a mess of your Mistress's pussy your honor, please clean it up!"

Feeling more playful than she had since her days with Peter, Mercedes gave the camera a wink and using the little girl voice again continued, "If you do a good job, you'll get a treat!"

Wilson hesitated for just a moment, and then Mercedes felt his tongue beginning to swirl around her slippery clit. She moaned and wiggled her hips, sliding her oozing pussy across his tongue. Mercedes had to give him credit, Wilson was lapping up his own cum with no complaint and the fact he was sent a shiver through her.

Victoria had been right; she was calling the shots here. Wilson had just fucked the shit out of her, but she had loved it and he was doing anything she wanted. Looking down at his softening cock she bent her head and without using her hands, scooped it up with her mouth and swirled her tongue around it.

Wilson's hips jerked and from between her legs he moaned, "Mistress please, I...I can't." His begging caused her to again imagine her treat; the treat of getting her payback. This incredible fuck was going to be the most memorable of her life, because it was going to ensure her disgrace of an initiator got everything he deserved.

Wilson moaned and cock twitched in her mouth. Removing it, she said, "Oh, you'll get hard for your Mistress your honor, oh, yes you will. I'm not done with you yet!"

She went back to his cock with a vengeance. Wilson was whimpering into her pussy, but his cock was hardening and within seconds it was almost as hard as it had been. Mercedes was facing the camera and she made a show of taking him all the way down to his shaft and sliding her tongue out, licked his balls.

Wilson's hands were trembling as he had her cheeks spread and his tongue was desperately moving across her clit. She could feel herself getting ready to explode for the fourth time and began to wonder if she really might give Wilson another shot. No, he was a sub and...she shook her head back and forth on his cock and let herself get lost in the feeling of his hard flesh between her lips.

Wilson's legs were shaking beneath her hands as she forced his body to perform for her. Now that his cum had been cleaned off his tongue was making better contact with her clit and Mercedes breath caught as she felt her thighs shaking and her body prepared to climax. She pushed up and sat back and began driving her face down into Wilson's flickering tongue.

Staring at the camera she squealed and began grinding her hips, riding his face. For the benefit of the group, Mercedes grabbed her tits and played with her nipples while another orgasm flowed though her. This one wasn't as strong, but she could feel her legs shaking and her pussy was quivering against Wilson's tongue.

She released a sound that was close to a whimper and falling forward caught herself on her hands an sucked on his cock again. He was exhausted and had already softened, but she took him down to the balls again and sucked with all her skill. Wilson was between her legs pleading with her to stop, that he was too tired.

Mercedes smiled around his cock as she thought of someone else begging. But she wouldn't be sucking his cock, perhaps she would blindfold Amado and let a male sub blow him, let him get hard and ready to cum then remove the blindfold. That was going too far, but so had he.

Wilson's cock was now as hard as she could get it and swinging her leg over him, she reversed herself, grabbed his cock and guided it into her pussy. She drove down hard, and they both cried out as she impaled herself on his tired cock. She looked down to see Wilson was gasping for breath and staring up at her with a desperate look on his face.

"Please..." he moaned, "Mistress, please..."

"You don't have to beg your honor!' she gave him the little girl laugh, "I said you could fuck me!"

He released a loud moan and let his head fall back to the floor as Mercedes rode him fast and hard. She bucked her hips as hard as she could, then getting her legs under her, braced her hands on his chest and began bouncing up and down on his cock.

She was gasping herself and could feel the sweat pouring down her back and chest. Mercedes gave her head a toss sending her long sweat soaked hair over her shoulder and staring straight at the camera began riding Wilson like he was prize bull in a rodeo.

"Oh fuck!" she cried out. "Grab my tits, play with them!" she demanded.

Wilson groaned, but began to fondle her sweat slicked tits. Mercedes moved faster and harder, driving down so hard Wilson's hips bounced off the floor. Beneath her Wilson had his eyes closed and was moaning pathetically. Leaning over him, Mercedes said, "Grab onto me and fuck me as hard as you can. Because you don't stop until you come for me, understood?"

"Oh...oh God." He moaned.

Mercedes pulled him from inside her and getting on her knees next to him put her ass in the air. Wilson lay there gasping for a few seconds, then with a grunt of effort got to his knees behind her. Grabbing her slender hips he drove his cock deep inside her and she cried out, "Oh, just like that! Fuck me Wilson, fuck me like no one's fucked me in years!"

She kept her face up towards the camera and yelped each time Wilson buried himself deep inside her. Her sweat soaked hair was hanging in her face and she threw her head back, tossing it onto her back.

"Grab it!" she hissed at him. She felt Wilson take her hair in one hand while still holding her hip with the other. He was pulling on her hair, but not too hard, still showing some respect for her. Mercedes moaned as he continued fucking her, but behind her Wilson was gasping for breath and she wondered if he could get off. Looking for another way to get him there, she turned her head and told him, "Put your finger in my ass! Feel yourself fucking me!"

Wilson's eyes grew even wider and he slowly shoved his finger into her tight ass. She released a squeal for him and slammed her hips back into his plunging cock. She could feel his finger pressing against his cock through the thin skin between her ass and pussy and rolled her eyes back as he began fucking her even harder.

"Come for me." She called out "You wanted me, you got me! Now show me you're man enough to handle me!"

"I...I...oh, I can't!" he whimpered and stopped moving his hips.

Mercedes, spun around and roughly pushing him into a sitting position against the couch grabbed his cock and jerked it off. Wilson cried out and his hips bucked wildly as she tried to coax one more load from him. Mercedes smiled at the camera all the while thinking of torturing Amado's cock and the things she would make him say!

Bringing her head down, Mercedes took Wilson's straining cock into her mouth and sucked him while jerking him off. Wilson groaned then gasped, "Oh! Oh yes I...Oh, please don't stop please don't stop I...oh God!"

Wilson's cock twitched and a small amount of cum squirted into her mouth. Mercedes continued to suck, but more gently, milking every drop she could from him. When Wilson released a whimper so pathetic it sent a thrill through her, she removed her mouth from his cock and facing the camera, stuck her tongue out and let the cum drip from her mouth down onto her tits.

Mercedes then slumped back against the couch and sat there panting as her adrenalin rush began to fade. She looked over at Wilson who was staring at the ceiling, his chest heaving as he fought to catch his breath.

"Well, your honor," she gave him a tired smile. "Do you feel I have made your sacrifice worth it."

"Any more worth it and..." he paused and took a couple of deep breaths, "And you would have had to find another judge." He gave a tired laugh. "Remind me to be careful about asking you to repay any more favors."

Looking past Wilson and at the camera, Mercedes swept her hair from her face and with a cold smile said, "Well you know what they say, payback can be a real bitch."

*****

Mercedes looked up at a knock on her office door and called out, "Come in."

Shelia popped her head in and said, "My Mistress, there's a Mark Phillips here to see you."

"Send him in," Mercedes replied, feeling a sense of excitement running through her. "I've been expecting him, I guess I lost track of time."

"Forgetting a man that fine is coming to see you?" Sheila smiled, "I'd be counting the damn minutes."

"Careful what you wish for Sheila. Mark's reputation is well earned."

"I'd suffer nobly." She winked and stepped out of the office.

A moment later she came back and stepped aside to let Mark enter. Mercedes shook her head as, Shelia made a show of biting her hand behind him and when she'd closed the door Mercedes said, "Why hello Lovecraft, I take it you bring me good news?"

"I may in fact have come bearing gifts." Mark replied as he walked over to her desk.

As he approached, Mercedes couldn't blame Shelia's reaction to him. Mark was by far the best looking man Mercedes had ever met. He wasn't that tall, just short of six feet and was less than two hundred pounds, but not an ounce of that weight was anything but solid muscle.

That powerful build was on display in the black sleeveless shirt he was currently wearing, Even with the enormous demonic tattoos that covered both arms shoulder to elbow, Mercedes could make out the definition of the muscles beneath them.

Despite his physique Mark's face was still what caught most women's attention. Although he was sporting a heavy five o'clock shadow it did little to disguise his high cheekbones and flawless borderline pretty features. His thick black hair was tousled, but Mercedes knew that was as deliberate as if he had brushed it perfectly.

He came around her desk, and as she stood up and embraced him, he kissed her on the cheek and she found herself staring in the strangest eyes she'd ever seen. Mark's eyes were not one color, but several, a light golden brown mixed with green and even a few flecks of blue.

No one was sure how he did it, but Mark's eyes changed colors on occasion darkening to the point of being close to black. He had a heavy occult background and rumor was that was a sign of power. Mercedes however assumed it was a genetic fluke that he played into to go along with the persona that had earned him the nick name "The Dark Prince" throughout the Circle.

Mark made his way back around her desk and sitting down flashed a perfect smile.

"This club never ceases to amaze me Mercedes, it's just one big candy store."

"And does my brother have a sweet tooth tonight? She asked, "I'm sure I could find something to your liking."

"Hmm," his smile widened "I do have some time before I meet up with Alex."

Mercedes nodded and immediately thought of Sheila. She did owe her a reward and Mark had certainly caught her eye.

"Tell you what dear Lovecraft. I have a girl whom I would like to take care of as she is one of my best. If I were to give her to you, would you promise to be good to her?"

"You have my word."

"I'm serious, she does like it on the rougher side, but I can't have her being unable to work for several days."

"Oh, come on, I'm not that bad!" he laughed.

"Don't forget I've seen your video's and that snake between your legs you call a cock should be a registered weapon."

"Hey, not all men were created equally." He shrugged.

"Just be a good boy, she'll make it worth your while."

"Is she really young?"

"No, it's my assistant who just let you in." Mercedes smiled, "She's quite taken with you."

"Then she shall be taken by me." He smirked, "Been awhile since I've been with a woman of darker persuasion."

"Good." She nodded, "I need to keep my subs happy," she gave him a wink, "All of them."

"Oh, spare me, you couldn't turn a doorknob, never mind me."

"Oh, but I could because unlike your other girls I'm old enough to legally drink and know what I'm doing."

Mark laughed and rolled his eyes and she asked, "Would you like a drink?"

"Not right now, I'll get something at the bar with my company."

"So." Mercedes said with an expectant smile. "Not that I mind seeing you, but I'm hoping you are here as Lovecraft the enforcer and not Mark the bad boy attorney."

Mark flashed another killer smile.

"I bring good news my lady. Three days ago Felicia called me and told me your latest submission was amazing, that we're all going to love it."

"I figured you would," she pointed at him, "Now dear brother, tell me my efforts were not wasted."

"They were not!" he told her. "I spoke with Mistress Scarlett and by tomorrow a certain very nervous poser is going to be calling you asking where and when you want him."

Mercedes sat back in her chair and closed her eyes, savoring what she'd just heard. After a moment she opened them and saw Mark smirking at her. "I like that look my sister, I really do."

"But Amado is your brother, Lovecraft!" she laughed.

"One that never paid a fair price for his misbehavior."

"So, tell me Mark," Mercedes asked, unable to resist, "How did you get Scarlett to change her mind, she denied both you and Felicia previously."

"Oh, well." He shrugged, "It's the right thing Mercedes, rules are rules and..."

"That wasn't the case before." She sighed and said, "I guess maybe you were more persuasive this time out."

She was looking into his eyes when she said it and saw him blink, before he gave her a small smile and another shrug. "I guess."

"Bet it was a long conversation." She added. Then let him off the hook with the question she was dreading the answer to, "So what are my restrictions, I know Scarlett fears what I will do."

"She does, but she has left that to my discretion. I'm to tell you that if I feel you exceed the limits, I punish you."

"It might be worth it." She said quietly, "So tell me, what are the limits?"

"My lady." Mark began softly, "What he put you through was uncalled for and his getting away with it added to what was already a ridiculous air of entitlement even amongst the group. As enforcer it is my job to make sure rules are adhered to, but also to protect my sisters, even from their brothers. In his case I was unable to do so until now."

Leaning forward and crossing his arms on the table he said quietly, "The limit is there are no limits, I don't care what you do to him."

Mercedes felt a wave of excitement, but tried to reign it in. "The video will be seen, Scarlett will..."

"The video will be seen by Loki and he and I will edit out what should not be seen. If he tells Scarlett you did more, then I guess he's just lying isn't he?"

"You're serious?"

"No one hurts my sister's Mercedes, not even my brother. But I will set one rule upon you."

"What's that?"

"That if I don't think he's suffered enough, I will punish you."

"There will be no danger of that happening, I can assure you."

"Good." Mark nodded as he glanced at his watch, "I am greatly looking forward to your show," he smirked, "The unedited one."

While he spoke he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small rather cheap looking cell phone.

"Lose your phone, Mark?"

"No, this is for you, I did say I came bearing gifts no?"

"I have a phone," she told him "And I dare say a better than that one."

"Nope." He told her. "This one is special at least for the moment." He glanced at his watch again, "So I do need to get going if I'm going to you know, suffer through a favor for you and entertain your attractive assistant."

He was sitting there smiling like the cat that ate the Canary and with shrug, Mercedes picked up the phone on her desk and called Sheila's suite. It was barely seven pm and Mercedes new she wouldn't start taking clients until later.

"Yes my mistress."

"Sheila, are you busy?"

"Not at the moment why?"

"Because it seems that my friend Mark is feeling a bit lonely and could use some company. Do you think..."

"It would be my pleasure!" Sheila exclaimed.

"It will be your pleasure, my loyal friend." Mercedes said softly, "Mark is going to take very good care of you."

"But its for me to please..."

"No, Mark is my gift to you for all that you do, so enjoy as you wish. Meet him at the bar in five minutes okay?"

"Thank you Mistress!"

"Thank you Sheila."

Mercedes hung up the phone to see Mark holding the cheap phone to his ear.

"You can't stay off the phone for a ten minute visit?" She asked.

Mark shook his head and asked, "This a good time for you? Seven on Tuesdays?"

"I...time for what? What the hell are you doing?"

"Hello?" He spoke into the phone. "Yes, its Mark, we all set?" he listened for a minute then nodded, "Great, so once a week at this time will be good? Okay, I'll hold on..."

Mercedes rolled her eyes and sat back in the chair waiting for him to get off the phone.

"Hi!" He exclaimed in an odd tone, "Um, no, but hold on..." he frowned, "Um...yeah that's great...but hold on one second."

Mark removed the phone from his ear and held it out to her.

"Who is it?" she asked, taking it from him, "Someone from the group?"

"Just answer the phone Mercedes." Mark told her as he stood up, "But before you do remember, nothing in the Circle is free. For years you've made our group strong and for that I owe you." He leaned over and kissed her forehead, "This is how I've decided to pay that debt, now say hello."

Mark turned around and quickly walked towards her door. Mercedes lifted the phone to her ear and said, "Hello, this is..."

"Hi aunty!" Jennifer's voice chirped in her ear.

"I..." Mercedes, felt her throat tighten and looking up she saw Mark turn just as he was leaving and wink at her.

"Aunty?"

"I...I'm here." She whispered, "How are you honey?"

"I'm really good! School's really good!"

"Its good to hear your voice." Mercedes told her, "And I saw your picture, you're a beautiful young lady!"

"Mommy says I look like you!"

"I...I think you do."

"I do, I saw your picture, you're reeeelly pretty."

"Why thank you!" Mercedes could feel tears running down her face, but at the same time she was smiling so hard her cheeks were beginning to hurt.

"Thank you for my school stuff!" Jennifer exclaimed, "I got fun stuff too"

For the next few minutes Mercedes sat and listened to Jennifer ramble on from one subject to the next. She heard all about her teacher, the hamster her class had for mascot and how they had snack time and mommy kept sending her with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches' even though according to Jennifer peanut butter 'kind of sucks'.

The entire time she spoke Mercedes sat there smiling, she couldn't remember the last time she'd been this happy. At one point Jennifer mentioned going to the playground with daddy and started talking about Roger.

Mercedes let her mind drift a little at that point and wondered how the hell Mark had done this. Victoria had obviously told him the story and she would not have put it past him to fly down there and make some insane threat to her brother. Then again, maybe he just contacted the New Orleans group, their Mistress Aphrodite had visited The Velvet Rope several times and knew Mercedes well.

With a sigh she decided to not worry about it and just enjoyed listening to Jennifer talk excitedly about anything and everything. Every time Jennifer came to an S it came out in a lisp and Mercedes thought it was the cutest thing she'd ever heard.

Jennifer kept coming back to school and Mercedes said, "I'm glad you enjoy school honey, its important."

"That's what mommy says!" she told her in that insanely cheery voice, "she says you were really good in school."

"I was." Mercedes nodded, "And you will be too."

"You're really smart huh, aunty?"

"I suppose I am, but only because of school."

"Mommy says I'm real smart too." Jennifer giggled and added, "I'm going to just like you aunty!"

Mercedes closed her eyes and with a sigh said, "No honey, you're going to be much different than me."

*****

At three in the afternoon between lunch and dinner Café' Reggio was far less crowded than it had been when Mercedes had met Victoria for lunch last week. This what she'd been hoping for when she arrived and as she made her way through the maze of tables on the patio she saw Jack at the far end of the bar speaking with the customers sitting there.

Going over to the other end of the long bar, Mercedes sat down and placed the gift bag she'd brought with her in front of her and gestured to the other bartender.

"Yes ma'am, what can I get for you today?"

"I'd like two apple martinis please."

He looked at her strangely, probably wondering if they were both for her and she added, "One's for a friend."

With a shrug he began to mix the drinks and Mercedes watched Jack's back, hoping he wouldn't turn around. As she watched him gesturing with his hands, the men and women in front of him were laughing and Mercedes caught herself smiling. She'd been smiling a lot lately, her conversation with Jennifer two nights ago had been one of the best moments of her life over the last few years. After Jennifer had chatted herself into repeating things, Michelle had taken the phone and promised Mercedes she would have Jennifer call once a week.

Mercedes asked her why there was a sudden change of heart and Michelle told her all she knew was that Roger had told her he felt he was wrong to keep Jennifer from speaking with her aunt and to have her call once a week.

Before she'd hung up, Michelle had made her night even better by saying that Roger had told her to pass it onto her that as long as she was paying he would allow Mercedes to fly Michelle and Jennifer up to New York for a few days during Christmas vacation.

Mercedes had been unable to hold back from catching Mark as he'd left Shelia's suite and after practically throwing herself into his arms, a scene that garnered more than few odd looks from the people around her, asked him what the hell he'd done.

Mark was evasive, then finally admitted to flying down to Louisiana the previous weekend and taking a trip to Bridge City where he had a long talk with her brother. When she pressed him for details Mark just gave her the smug smile that always made the people who knew him want to smack him, and uttered his trademark phrase "Dirty little secrets are best when they're kept secret."

She'd let it go at that and told him she owed him anything he wanted. Marks eyes widened when she said that offer included a night with her, if he so chose, telling him she would ask Scarlet for the granted time, but with a smile he declined, saying his sister being happy was enough for him. Mercedes nodded and wondered if it were truly that or would Scarlett not be willing to share her pet?

Compared to the idea that she was going to meet Jennifer in a few months her payback with Amado was just going to be icing on the cake. As Mark had promised, Amado had called and Mercedes had told him it wouldn't be for two weeks. As bad as she wanted him she wanted him to squirm and worry about what was in store for him, before he got there.

All in all Mercedes was feeling quite good and she'd found herself replaying her session with Wilson over and over. To her surprise she was feeling pretty horny the last couple of days, but fact remained Wilson was a sub who had received the night of a lifetime and she couldn't give in to him again.

She'd thought of Marcus, but again she could not play that game. As she'd lied there in bed, a silver bullet vibrator between her legs she'd recalled Victoria's comment about just fun and had been reminded of Jack.

"Here you go ma'am." The bartender placed the two drinks in front of her, "Will that be all?"

"No, what I'd like you to do is give one of these to Jack down there."

"You want to give the bartender a drink?" he asked, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes."

"We're not supposed to accept..." he stopped, when withdrawing a fifty from her wallet she handed it to him, "Keep the change of course."

"Thank you!" he gave her a big smile and picking up one of the martinis headed over to Jack.

Mercedes took a sip of hers as she watched the bartender approach Jack, who turned to him and looked down at the drink he was being offered. Jack looked over the bartender's shoulder over to where she was sitting.

Mercedes lifted her drink in a cheers gesture and gave him a wave. Jack looked at her, a slight smile on his face, and then said something to the bartender who returned still holding the drink.

"He...he said he wasn't interested." He said nervously, "Um...sorry ma'am."

"That's okay." She said still looking at Jack who now made a shooing gesture with his fingers as she had done to him. "I understand." She took another swallow of her martini and putting it down grabbed the gift bag and sliding off the seat began to walk away.

"Hey hold on!" she heard Jack call out behind her. Turning around she saw he was now at her end of the bar, "Wow. You give up easy!"

She turned back and returning to her seat, shrugged as she sat back down. "I figured you were serious, not like I wouldn't deserve it."

"Well yeah, you would actually." He gave her wink, "But maybe I like the abuse."

"Careful with that." She said softly.

"What was that?"

"Never mind, private joke. But I'm glad you came over."

"Me too." He said with a big smile that Mercedes found far more engaging than she had last week. "Nice trick with the drink, but you could have made it better."

"How so?" she asked

"You should have sent me a glass of Wild Turkey."

"Wild Turkey?"

"Yeah, because you told me too.."

"Oh yes!" Mercedes clapped her hands delightedly and laughed, "Oh that would have been perfect!"

"That's a great sound." He told her, "Last week you looked like someone who forgot how to laugh."

"You know, I think you're right about that, but I'm trying to remember how." She gave him a wink, "I'm trying to remember all the things I used to do for fun."

"Really?" he turned serious and made a show of stroking his chin. "I might just know someone who can help with that."

"Yeah? Okay, but make sure he moves slowly, I was told I probably couldn't handle it if it was in front of me so..." she trailed off.

"Sorry about that." He told her. "I was having a bit of bad day myself, trust me you look like you could handle anything you wanted too."

"You don't know the half of it." She laughed.

"Is that another private joke?"

"Maybe, but maybe one I'll share with you another time, but for now." She pushed the bag over to him, "This is for you, a small way of saying I'm sorry."

Jack gave her another smile and Mercedes noticed the smile also touched his blue eyes and found herself smiling back as he reached into the bag. He un-wrapped the tissue paper and whistled at the sight of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue Victoria had appeared on several years ago.

"Damn,I...hey its autographed!"

"I told you I'd get you one."

"Jack held up the magazine and read the inscription, "To Jack, New York's hottest bartender, keep pouring it on, love Victoria." He laughed, "I'm going to frame this and put it up behind the bar! Damn, Victoria Redding."

"Well I hope that makes us even then." She nodded, "Victoria wearing very little can make men forget pretty much anything."

"Well she is fine, but, well..." he gave her a mischievous smile, "I think I'd rather see you in a nice bikini."

"Yeah?" she shook her head. "Sorry, not much of beach person," she sighed, "I burn too easily."

"Oh, well..." he stopped and seeing her smiling broke out laughing, "Oh, I get it! But okay, no bikini for me, my loss."

"Perhaps lingerie would suffice?" she asked, "maybe something white or yellow to enhance my," she laughed, "Exotic skin tone?"

"Lingerie?" he whistled, "Wow you really know how to apologize."

"Jack you would be amazed at what I know how to do." She reached out and put her hand on his arm, "But seriously, I work most nights, but tomorrow's Friday and I took it off, do you like to dance?"

"I like to do whatever you like to do." He told her.

"Again, watch your words Jack."

"Am I ever going to get these jokes?"

"That's up to you, because trust me, there's a hell of a punch line to them."

"I'll take my chances."

"Hmmm" she made a show of thinking, "Well, we'll see, but for tomorrow what I need is to laugh and have some fun."

"Hopefully you won't be laughing during the fun."

"No, hopefully I'll be moaning, but that's up to you." She laughed at the look on his face then sliding off the stool handed him her number written on a piece of paper, she'd thought of giving him one of her business cards, but wanted to keep this separate from that part of her life, very separate. "Give me a call after five tomorrow."

"I will," he nodded, "But um...one thing?"

"What's that?"

"What's your name?" he held up the paper where she had just written her number.

"You don't know?"

"Well unless your name really is "not interested" I never caught it."

"Oh." Mercedes laughed, "That's right!"

"So, let's start over." Reaching out Jack took her hand and bringing it to his lips said, "Why hello beautiful, I'm Jack!"

Leaning over the bar, Mercedes put her arm around his neck and drawing him close to her gave him quick kiss, then pressing her cheek to his, whispered in his ear, "Nice to meet you Jack, you can call me...Tonya."