Onyx let his fingers drift, cupping my cheek. Each fraction of me that he touched turned to butter, burned to life. He whispered, "We have a lot of work to do. Now, kneel."

Then he let go, cold air forming between us. Released from his grip, my strength gave out. I fell weakly to my knees at his feet. My head hung, ears thumping with the drums of my incessant panic.

I was never supposed to be here. I'd just wanted to know more about this world, a place that Seth had tried to hide from me.

Now I was kneeling at the feet of a Master.

What have I gotten myself into?.

- Chapter Eight -.

Naomi.

I walked with the group down a hallway. Like the other passages, it was dimly lit, but I could see where I was going. It was long, curving here and there. I was positive we were traveling deeper.

Behind me and the other girls, a trio of men walked. At the head of our parade was Onyx. He led the group, not speaking a word. The only sounds were our heavy steps, and the blood pounding in my temples.

What am I doing, I can't become a part of this, can I?

I had to admit, there was a slice of me-a small, tingling spark that made my heart pulse-that wanted to know what was going to happen.

And why was I scared?

This whole place was just some kind of sex game. If it got too intense, I could just leave.

If I want to leave, that is. I shuddered. Stop it. This is insane.

I shouldn't have been getting worked up, but I was.

I was thinking about the blonde woman. The gold-masked man had taken her into a realm of pleasure I'd never seen. My belly quivered at the idea of getting to experience being tied down... to be dominated by someone so confident, so powerful...

Someone like Onyx.

Lifting my eyes, I peeked over the shoulder of the woman in front of me, the one in the yellow dress. Her name was Rose or something, Roseli?

Squinting, I focused on the stiff, broad shoulders of the Master at the head of the procession. Studying the back of his skull, the dark hair that the mask couldn't hide, I didn't notice he had stopped moving until I bumped into the other woman.

Roseli shot a scowl my way. Blushing, I tried to communicated an apology without speaking.

Onyx spun, his hand reaching out to touch the handle of a heavy door, this one tan and aged. "Listen to me. When you enter this place, there is no turning back."

Does that mean, if I want to leave, it has to be now? Before we go inside?

The idea was appealing, but I was too terrified to speak up, or to even try and wiggle past the men behind me. No one else was moving, the other women didn't seem ready to bolt.

That's because they were prepared for this, I thought sullenly.

"Your training starts behind here, and from then on, you will be changed," he said. "When you return here, you will never be anything more than a submissive-a slave."

A slave. My lungs shivered.

"Keep that in mind," he went on. "There will be no more cavorting around this dungeon. You will do as you are told, you will become property." His eyes fell on me, then, staring at me through the sharp shadows.

As if he were talking directly to me, he said softly, "This is not something to take lightly. If you stay, I promise you... a part of you will never leave. It will always be tied up in this place."

I hugged myself to control the shaking that had started in my bones. I wonder what that means?

"Now." He smiled. "Let us begin."

The door was opened, and everyone followed Onyx inside. My turn arrived, and my heels dug in. The chance at escape was tempting me.

All I had to do was back away.

Why didn't I back away?

Stepping through, I glanced around, confused by what appeared to be a simple room with couches and chests. There were doors all along the walls, I resisted the urge to ask where they went.

Onyx ushered us girls into the center, then turned and whispered to the three other men. Uneasily, I watched them talking, wishing I could hear the words being exchanged.

"Roseli," Onyx called out, and the woman straightened. "You'll be working with Master Jack." He gestured to a man who wore a grinning wolf mask, his arms folded calmly. She made no argument, though I noticed how her lips curled down at the edges.

Had she wanted to go with someone else?

"Tara, you're with Master Helm."

As he went down the line, I experienced a sense of dread blooming. Who am I going to end up with? I knew who I wanted, but admitting it was shameful. I didn't even dare to bring up his promise to me.

Finally, as the last of the woman were paired off, that dark man in all his devilish glory turned to face me. "And you, my lovely Opal... You'll be with me, of course."

Of course.

The flicker of pleasure hit me hard. I couldn't mute my relieved smile. If I was going to indulge in this, I wanted it to be with Onyx. I wasn't sure why, but a part of me felt like I could trust him.

Like I already knew him, somehow.

He motioned to me, and I came forward, following him to a door in the wall. "You'll all go with your Masters and be sequestered for your training."

I'm going to be alone with him!

That knowledge was overwhelming. I needed something to quench my parched throat, or to soak up the welling arousal in my core. One realization sobered everything.

He called himself my Master. That feels... wrong.

With one more glance over at the other women, their figures vanishing into various exits, I looked back up at Onyx.

The man radiated an aura of command, but I didn't think of him as my Master. I didn't think of anyone like that. This underground world was sexy, and decadent, but as much as he claimed this would change me...

I knew better.

I wasn't a slave. Onyx couldn't break me.

Calmed by my rationalization, I followed him through the door.

Everything was dark, a velvety orange. I gazed around, noting everything, but mostly the silence. I'm really alone with him. To say I was having second thoughts about this was putting it mildly.

The room had soft carpet, smooth walls. It was decorated with various devices, all of which made my heart beat faster.

Chains hung from the ceiling, or were bolted to the floor. In one corner, I saw a glass shower. It disturbed me to see something so normal. Why is that even here? I don't think I want to know.

The furniture was unique; padded and angled in ways that made it clear they were meant for devious purposes. Saw-horses, stocks, things I couldn't identify, they were everywhere.

He moved beside me, making me jump when his soft glove cupped my chin. Forcing my head up, Onyx looked into my face. I was grateful, again, for the mask.

"I'm pleased you decided to become a sub, Opal. Did you decide because of the show the other night?"

The memory of the blonde woman, begging and writhing, had me chewing my tongue.

"Or," he chuckled, "Did you choose after you spoke with me? Did I intrigue you?"

He's perceptive. And god, the way he phrases things!

His fingers tightened, bordering on painful. "Answer me, girl."

"Y-yes, I-" That grip squeezed until I winced.

"No, address me correctly."

Correctly? What does he mean?

My mind churned, fighting the concoction of adrenaline and confusion. Finally, I pulled forth what I thought he wanted. "Yes, Master Onyx."

Calling him that made my stomach flip. It felt weird, the words heavy on my tongue.

Chuckling, he let me go. I rubbed my chin tenderly. "We have a lot of work to do. You've never done anything like this before, have you?"

"No," I admitted reluctantly, my eyes moving to the far wall. I was thrown off already, his flip between seduction and cruelty leaving me dizzy.

"Oh, don't worry." His hand reached out, fingers deftly tracing the line of my throat. That quick touch flared my arousal. He was keeping me on my toes. "I'm a very good teacher. You'll understand your role in no time."

I thought my heart might explode, my attention fixed on those perfect, smiling lips. They parted, and his tone was firm, unyielding. "Now, kneel."

This still felt awkward, but after doing it earlier, my mind didn't battle it. Wordlessly, I knelt, though it wasn't graceful. My legs buckled, I grabbed at the ground to keep myself from landing on my face.

Onyx laughed, shaking his head at the display. "You'll need to get better at that, such a clumsy girl."

Blushing, I stared at his shiny boots, mentally agreeing. Seth told me my movements were beautiful. Guess he was wrong.

Onyx moved around me, a shark circling in the water. I tried not to think about it like that, but this man had so much control over me, I was at his mercy.

For a moment, he said nothing. The only sounds were his footsteps, muffled by the rug.

"You're lovely," he mumbled.

He touched the back of my skull, and I jerked, unable to keep calm at the intimate contact. Gently, he stroked the back of my neck until my skin was vibrating. The glove was luxurious, it sent sparks right into my brain cells.

Already warm, I was getting excited by this powerful man's touch. It was happening rapidly, my muscle coiling, seeking release from the build up I'd endured since the show with the blonde. "I... that..."

"Shh," he hissed, tightening his hold like I was a puppy gripped by the nape. "I didn't ask you anything. Don't talk without permission, or unless I've asked a question. Now, I'd like to see how lovely the rest of you is."

My insides became hard as rocks.

Onyx must have sensed my response, his fingers holding tight on my soft throat. "Stand, Opal."

I wasn't sure if I could, but I tried. Every bit of me was shaking, he ended up assisting me most of the way. Finally, I stood there, his chest grazing my spine. Onyx whispered, lips tickling my ear. "Take off your dress."

I can't, I'm not ready for that!

Trembling, I flexed my hands at my sides, but made no attempt to follow his order.

That was my first mistake, one that my 'new Master' was not keen to overlook.

"One more chance, or I'll do it for you."

I squeezed my eyes shut, willing myself away. I can't, I can't, I thought in a panic.

When Onyx sighed, he sounded disappointed. "So that's how it is."

Rough, fast, he grabbed me by the shoulders and spun me around. Squeaking, I gawked as he held my arms, pulling them over my head. Too stunned to struggle, not that it would have helped, I felt him binding my wrists quickly with something.

Rope, that's rope hanging from the ceiling.

It took seconds, leaving me amazed and distraught at his skill. Tugging at the restraints, fear began bubbling in my center. I was trapped, utterly at the mercy of someone I hardly knew.

What the hell was I thinking, this guy is a complete stranger! He could hurt me, why was I so reckless?

Onyx folded his arms, smiling as he looked me up and down. "There, much better."

"Let me go," I stuttered, knees wobbling. If my legs give out, I guess I won't fall, at least.

"You don't tell me what to do. Don't you understand that? You're here," he hissed, grabbing my jaw and forcing me to look at his scowl, "Because you asked for this. You want this, so don't mistake my commands as suggestions. I said undress, you did not. This..." He smirked, letting me go and gripping my wrists. "Is your punishment."