Saving Sara (Masters of the Castle) Read Free Page A

steps of a courtly waltz. A steady stream of people were heading outside while others came in, and everywhere she looked, everyone was in costume—from super heroes and villains to schoolgirls, to Roman slaves and gladiators to Viking warriors, to royalty like Robert and herself, right on down to every niche in the serving class. There was nothing about any of them that stood out in a way for her to tell who might be guests and who actually worked here.
    They passed two servants just outside the ballroom. One, a scantily dressed maid in a barely-there corseted uniform, had sat three seats ahead of them on the bus ride in. The butler, on the other hand, was anybody’s guess. Neat, stern, dressed all in black with a very lethal-looking switch clasped behind his back, he stood frowning down at the chastened maid. When he held out his hand, she heaved a sigh , removed her earbuds and passed him her cellphone, currently playing through her iTunes list.
    “I can see I’m going to have trouble with you,” the butler said, pocketing the device. “Modern conveniences are allowed in the privacy of your room and only one other place within the Castle grounds, and that is where?”
    “The Rainbow Room,” the maid dutifully answered.
    “Are you in the Rainbow Room?”
    “No, sir.”
    “Turn and grab your ankles. If you value your hide, you’ll not let go before I tell you.”
    Sara didn’t know if it was his tone or the actual command, but the butler’s words sent the most delicious shiver dancing down through her.
    “Sounds like someone is going to get her naughty bottom warmed,” Robert said, flashing her a sideways grin.
    In spite of her initial misgivings, those dancing tendrils turned to excitement. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad after all.
    Giving her fingers another squeeze and with the echoing snap of the switch and yelps of the maid growing distant behind them, Robert led her through a maze of stone corridors back to the main entrance hall.
    “Do you feel up to tackling a few stairs?” he asked. “They say there’s an elevator around here somewhere.”
    He paused to fish a map out of his back pocket, but Sara shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I can do a few steps.”
    Anything to see him flash another of those smiles. He even squeezed her hand and gave the backs of her fingers a kiss. “Good girl.”
    Funny, how praise like that had the power to melt her inside.
    He pulled her toward the stairs, a massive curving staircase that led up to an open second-story landing. But instead of taking her up, he drew her into a side alcove to a hidden door and another secret staircase, this one leading down.
    From the moment he opened it, the bass thump and crisp snaps of Adam Lambert’s “For Your Entertainment” filtered up to them. The sound-proofing in this place was nothing short of amazing.
    “Here.” Robert started down first, but turned and offered up his hand for support.
    “Thanks.” She took the stairs slowly, careful both of her skirts, her heels and her hip. She’d do anything for one of Robert’s smiles, but by the fourth step down, she began to feel the tightness in her skin growing painfully tighter. By the time she reached the bottom, it felt as if her scars were tearing open where her hip met her thigh with every step she took. She pressed her hand over the spot, pushing hard until the sensation melted in intensity to a dull throb.
    “You okay?” Robert asked.
    She made herself smile past the pain. “Just a twinge—oh wow—” She broke off, falling silent with awe. Standing at the bottom of the steps, Sara looked around the dungeon play space. It was very open, a series of long rooms that were sectioned off by stone pillars and half walls, and filled with people and the biggest collection of BDSM equipment and paraphernalia that she had ever seen.  It was huge.  It must, she realized, run under most of the castle.
    There was something for everyone. Station after evenly-spaced