Dark Citadel

Chapter Eight

Dan's hands fisted as possessiveness burned through him in a red-tinged wave. One more word and he'd knock his fucking friend across the room. “Don't push me.”

Cullen grinned.

Dan moved closer. When Kari's big blue eyes lifted to meet his, his breath was sucked away. He couldn't keep from touching her long, wavy hair, running his fingers down her soft cheek. She trembled. He'd scared her, dammit.

Cullen cleared his throat. “Dan, I think—”

Dan kept his eyes on Kari. “Go away, Cullen. Playtime's over. She's mine.” He sucked in a breath and corrected himself. “Mine for this evening.”

“I should make you work a little harder, but okay.” Cullen dropped his arm. “Kari, I'll be here if you need me.” He moved away.

Dan held out his hand. How badly had he damaged her trust? She couldn't possibly understand his behavior, considering he didn't understand it himself. “Let's talk.”

Her eyes wary, she chewed on her lip, and he hardened at the memory of how soft those lips had been. She shook her head, and his mouth tightened. He'd never forgive himself for—

“I must be crazy,” she muttered and set her hand in his.

The relief almost swamped him. He led her to a nearby couch and pulled her down beside him. She wore another long dress, but this one was silky and a true blue color that matched her eyes. The top dipped low enough to display the beginning curve of her breasts, and with her full figure, it was provocative as hell.

His plans had definitely changed for the night, from wanting to avoid her to wanting to strip her naked. If he could talk her into it.

Having regained her composure, she tapped a finger on his arm. “I got the impression that you were a one-night stand sort of guy.”

“I am.” He laid his hand over her delicate fingers, realized her hands were chilled, and clasped them in his. “To be honest, Kari, I don't get involved with anyone. I've found that if I keep encounters to one night, there're no hurt feelings.”

“Then why did you take me from—” She glanced toward the bar and Cullen.

A flare of jealousy bit into his stomach like acid for the second time in five minutes. Dammit. “I'm here; you're here,” he said, keeping his tone light.

He paused. Honesty was essential between a Dom and sub; if he wasn't willing to bare his thoughts, how could he demand the same from her?

“No, it's more than that,” he said. He pulled her closer, slid an arm behind her back. “I don't know what's going on between you and me, but it's not finished yet.” He looked away from her, and Marion's face rose in his mind, more shadowy than normal. “When I lost my wife, I lost everything. I don't have anything to give. Only sex for a night.” He didn't have more. He didn't deserve more. “So I can't offer you a commitment other than I want you tonight.”

“That's no commitment at all.” She stared across the room, her gaze on someone using the bondage table. After a minute, she shook her head like a dog shedding water. “But it's enough. That's all I want too. Just sex.”

“Well, that I can give.”

“I know,” she said under her breath, then looked at him with a smile. “I was looking forward to exploring more of this BDSM stuff, but the other beginners…” She frowned, obviously searching for the right words. “It seemed too much like the blind leading the blind.”

“Now that would be frightening.” He took her chin, looked into her eyes. “Are you afraid of me?”

She tilted her head. “Not…exactly. I trust you, but I'm a little scared of what you might do.”

“Well, little sub, that is the point. Do you remember your safe word?”

“Red.”

“Good.” He unclipped something from a metal ring on his left side. “I almost forgot your jewelry. Give me your wrists.”

She hesitated, then laid her wrists into his hand.

He buckled on fleece-lined leather cuffs. “What the well-dressed sub wears in the Shadowlands. Master Z would have been displeased if he'd seen your wrists naked.”

As she frowned at them, he pulled her onto his lap, his arms holding her against his big chest. She felt just right. “Now, let's run through what might happen here tonight.”

“Okay.” Dropping her cuffed wrists to her lap, Kari leaned her head against his shoulder. Cullen probably would have been nice, but he wasn't Master Dan. She really did trust Sir to keep her safe. His solid arms felt good—just right—around her.

At least until his fingers pulled down the zipper on the front of her dress. His hand slid under her bra and closed over her left breast.

“Wait.” She tried to pull away, but his other hand gripped her hip, holding her in place. God, she'd forgotten how strong he was, how big. Her insides quivered as her breathing increased.

“The restrictions for a beginner's first night are gone, Kari,” he murmured, his thumb stroking her nipple to a hard peak, the controlled power of his grip making her shake. “Tonight, I can—and I will—take you, with my hands. My mouth. My cock. Any way I want. As many times as I want.”

With his hand on her breast, he could undoubtedly feel her breathing increase, her pulse speed up. “Your body likes that idea,” he whispered. “Your body is mine to play with, to restrain, to show off. Your only response to anything I want will be, 'yes, Sir.'”

Need clawed into her as her insides turned liquid. She dampened.

As if he could tell—and he probably could, the jerk—he whispered, “Are you wet for me now, little sub?”

Her body didn't feel like her own anymore. Yes, she'd wanted to explore sex here, but this was too fast. Too much.

When she didn't answer, he removed his hand from her hip and tilted her head to meet his gaze. His eyes crinkled as he studied her face. “You're flushed. Your pulse is hammering. Your breathing is fast. Kari, either answer my question, or I will check for myself. Right here.”

She gasped and closed her legs tightly at the thought of his hand under her skirt, right in the center of the room. This wasn't at all like that isolated spot he'd found for them last time. Didn't he understand anything about privacy? Discretion? Politeness? She pushed at his hand and gritted out, “Fine. I'm wet. Okay?”

The minute the words left her mouth, she remembered his response the last time she'd snapped at him, and her world tipped sideways.

His eyes went cold. “No, that answer is as far from okay as it can get. Open your legs for me now.”

“I will not.” She tried to move from his lap, and his grip tightened.

“Since you like multiple choice, here you go. A: You can be an example for the other subs when I drag you to the bondage table, strap you down, and let everyone see how wet you are.”

Her breath choked in her throat as horror filled her.

“Or B: You may apologize for your tone, and I'll let you open your legs for me here.” He gave her a hard look, and she knew he'd do just what he said. “Which is it, little sub?”

“Here,” she whispered. “I'm sorry, Sir. Please stay here.”

He pulled her dress up to her knees, set a hand on her bare leg, and waited.

She tried to look around, to see if anyone could see her.

“Do it now, sub, and keep your eyes on me,” he ordered in a glacial voice. His command sent disconcerting heat washing through her.

Biting her lips, she eased her legs apart. His right hand stroked up between her thighs, forcing her to open farther until his palm pressed against her mound. She glanced down and turned red. Her dress was pushed up, barely covering her, and anyone could see the location of his hand.

People walked past the couch. A woman in a black bustier, fishnet stockings, and high heels glanced over and grinned. Over by the spanking bench, Buck stared at Sir, his mouth twisting into an ugly line. Then there were Master Raoul and Master Cullen at the bar…

With a low moan, Kari shoved at her skirt.

Master Dan sighed, lifted his left hand from her hip. “Give me that hand.”

Darn it, she knew what he planned—one arm pinned against his chest, the other in his grip. She'd have no choice but to let him do what he wanted.

He chuckled. “And that just made you wetter.” Oh, God, he had his fingers pressed into her crotch.

“Hand, Kari.”

Giving up, she set her hand in his. He closed his fingers around her wrist and set both their hands against her hip, holding her wedged in one place. She had a moment to feel her helplessness, and then he slid under the edge of her panties and pushed a finger inside her. Her hips jerked at the suddenness of the entry, at the flaring arousal that soared through her.

“Yes, you're very wet.” His finger moved inside her, sent jolts of sensation through her. “Makes me want to bend you over the couch and bury myself in you.”

He could undoubtedly feel the way her vagina clamped down as well as she could. Oh, God.

“But I think we'll go upstairs so I can take my time exploring your body.” His eyes crinkled. “You like that idea too, don't you? Answer me, sub.”

“Yes, Sir.” His finger moved, stroked the walls of her vagina in erotic circles.

“Afterwards, I'll bring you back down here.” He glanced at the St. Andrew's cross. “I could strip you and bind you up there.”

She stiffened, the thought exciting. Appalling.

“Ah, not quite ready for that yet, are you?” He nibbled on her ear. “Even if I left your clothes on, I could put you in the stockade, lift your skirt, and take you there.”

His finger moved within her. “Not that yet, either, although the interest is there, isn't it?”

She had no answer for him, confusion and fear and arousal so mingled inside her that she couldn't think at all. The way he had her restrained with just his body, his hands, made her feel so strange. So needy. She looked at him, unable to speak.

His smile was hard, satisfied. “I like that look on your face.” He bent his head and took her lips ruthlessly, satisfying himself. His finger thrust in and out of her below, the twin assaults swamping her mind in desire. She trembled as urgent need coursed through her.

When he pulled away, his eyes were heavy lidded with passion, dark with promise. “Let's go, sub. I have things I want to do to you.”

He gave a low laugh, and she knew he'd felt the clench of her insides around his finger.

He removed his finger, making her jerk, leaving her throbbing. Pushing her to her feet, he wrapped a hard arm around her waist. “If you talk fast, I'll let you choose the room.”

He kept her hand firmly in his as he led her up the spiral stairs in the front corner of the room. At the top, at the sight of doors running down a long hallway, she pulled back. Sex. She was going to have sex this time. This was—

“Little sub, you worry so much your head must ache.” He pulled her into his arms, and his embrace turned comforting. Warm. “You're aroused. And scared.” He nibbled on her neck, then kissed her until her knees sagged and the world spun.

Pulling back, he looked at her. “Blue is definitely your color. Let's go with that.”

Halfway down the hall, he opened a door to a small room. Candles in sconces on the gray-blue walls provided a soft, flickering light. Classical music came from speakers somewhere in the room. The room had a bed with a dark red velvet cover and a big armoire. Velvet ropes dangled from the headboard; more ropes with leather cuffs were tied to the foot of the bed. A chill crept up Kari's spine, followed by excitement. Would he really use those on her?

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he steered her to stand beside the bed. Running a hand down her front, he chuckled, realizing she'd raised the zipper. With a firm hand, he pulled it all the way down. As her dress gaped open and the air hit her overheated skin, she shivered and her nipples peaked, showing through her thin lacy bra.

He touched one breast, stroking over the hard bud. His gentle finger sent little ripples of need through her.

After a second, he nudged her dress off, letting it pool at her feet, leaving her in her white bra and panties.

“Your underwear is very much like you,” he said. “The white for sweet, sheer lace for sexy.” One hard hand held her upper arm as he ran a finger across the top of her bra, his finger warm, slightly abrasive, the touch sensitizing her skin. There was something erotic about being forced to stand still, not being able to move as a man played with her body, pleasing himself.

“Remove your bra, Kari,” he said, stepping back and watching her with narrowed eyes.

She fumbled with the catch, embarrassed, yet wanting his hands on her so badly her mouth was dry. The flickering lights weren't bright, but she still felt awfully exposed as her breasts spilled free. He cupped his hands under them, squeezing slightly, enough to make her suck in a breath. Enough for heat to flow through her. “Now the panties can go.”

Feeling awkward, she pushed them off and let them slide to the floor. His eyes on her felt hot. He smiled slowly. “You're a lovely woman, Kari. I'm going to enjoy taking you.”

The blunt words, so openly carnal, thrilled her. Confused her.

Gripping her upper arms, he raised her onto her toes and took her lips in a hot, wet kiss, exploring her mouth until her hands fisted with the need to touch him. He drew back and traced her swollen lips with his finger.

“Up on the bed with you.” He patted behind him.

Oh, God, she really was going to do this.

As she crawled up onto the bed and turned to sit, he tossed his vest on the ground, opened his leathers. Oh heavens, he was even more muscled than she'd realized, and he was…huge, his erection past his belly button. Thick and hard and… “I don't—um—You're awfully big,” she ventured.

He grinned as he sheathed himself in a condom. “We'll fit, sweetie.” Joining her on the bed, he pressed her down onto her back and covered her with his body, his heat unbelievable. She ran her hands over his shoulders, amazed at the contoured muscles of his back, how they tightened to rock hard with each movement.

He bit her neck, licked the spot, bit again, the pain sharp and erotic.

“Open your legs for me.”

She hesitated despite the arousal urging her on. He was so big…

He chuckled. “Don't worry, by the time I enter that sweet pussy, you'll be begging me.” He kissed her hard, forcefully. “Open your legs, Kari.”

She parted her legs, and he slid between them. She could feel his penis against her entrance, the feeling exciting. Making her shiver.

“You know, I wasn't planning to do this until later, but I tire of repeating each command,” he murmured, and he kissed her again, taking her mouth deeply. When he pulled back, she realized her right arm was fastened above her head, a thick rope securing her cuff to the headboard.

“Hey!”

He lifted her other arm and secured the wrist cuff to a rope before she'd gotten past the surprise of the first.

“Wait. I don't—”

One knee on each side of her hips, he sat up. His balls bumped against her pussy, making her jump. As his weight on her legs pinned her to the bed, she pulled on the ropes; her breathing increased. She was tied to the bed. Tied. Before, she could at least move; now her cuffs were fastened to something. She couldn't even run.

He tilted his head, studied her as she pulled at the ropes. Leaning forward, he held her face between his two hands, his eyes a rich brown. She stilled, feeling like a trapped animal, a shivering mouse held in someone's grip.

His rough voice was quiet. “Are you in pain, Kari?”

“No, but…”

“No, what?”

He wasn't serious, was he? She was tied up, and he was sitting on her. And yet, she was horrified to feel herself getting wetter and wetter.

His hands left her face to stroke her breasts, circling the sensitive nipples until she pressed up for his touch. “No, what?”

His hands lifted, waited.

She was breathing hard and her answer huffed between her lips. “No, Sir.”

“Very good.” His fingers closed on her nipples, pulling, rolling, each movement just one tiny step short of real pain, each squeeze sending zings of sensation straight to her groin. “Such sensitive breasts.” He bent to suck one nipple into his mouth, working it, the feeling so intensely pleasurable, she cried out. He switched to the other.

“Look, Kari,” he said, his fingers pulling gently. “See how beautiful.”

Her breasts were swollen, tight with the nipples darkened to deep rose and spiking upward like tiny pencils. “Say, 'My breasts are beautiful.'”

“My breasts are beautiful.” And they were too.

His eyes warmed with approval before he slid down her body, pressing kisses to the undersides of her breasts, nuzzling her stomach. He nipped next to her belly button, making her squeak with surprise. And then he was there. Just looking at her most private of places. Her pussy.

Totally embarrassed, she tried to close her legs.

He pushed back to lean on his heels and narrowed a gaze at her. “My body to play with,” he repeated. “Open your legs for me.”

She slid them out, feeling the flush working its way up her chest. She was so wet, he'd see, know she was—

“Farther.” And he just sat there, waiting. In charge. Dominant.

She slid her legs farther apart, feeling her…her everything open. Totally exposed.

“Very nice. You have a lovely pussy, no matter how you try to conceal it. And I'm going to enjoy it in so many ways.” He pressed his hand to her there, right between her legs. “I'm going to lick it all over.”

She could feel herself dampen and so could he. “Maybe I'll use a vibrator, pushing it deep inside you.” Her vagina actually clenched, and he grinned wickedly, his eyes crinkling. He felt every little involuntary movement she made.

He positioned himself between her legs, his shoulders between her knees. She could feel his breath on her inner thighs, and her legs started to close against the intimacy.

“Keep them open, Kari, or I will tie them open.” And they both felt her wetness increase.

“You are a surprising woman, little sub.” He chuckled as he rolled off the bed, one ankle already in his hand. Grabbing the fleece-lined cuff roped to the footboard, he buckled it on and tightened the rope, imprisoning her leg at an angle. He snatched her other ankle as she was trying to decide if she should fight, and there she was, spread-eagled. Just like her fantasies, only this was real. Maybe too real.

The instinctive need to be free had her pulling at the ropes holding her wrists. Her chest squeezed with fear as she tried to kick her legs, and the restraints held. He stood at the foot of the bed and watched silently. Waited until she stopped.

He lay down between her legs. With her legs pulled outward, everything was open for him.

“You have a pretty, pretty pussy, Kari. Hidden within those little brown curls”—he pulled her pubic hair lightly, tantalizingly—“everything is pink.” One finger slowly slid down the outer labia. “You're very wet for me, can you tell?” He touched her right over the entrance, swirled a finger inside just long enough to make her squirm with pleasure.

When he took his fingers away, leaving her aching, she whined like a child.

“We have time, sweetheart, and I'm going to take my time.”

She almost blurted out a protest. Take me now; put your hands on me now. She managed to close her lips.

He stroked down her thigh, his hand so big that his fingers could curl underneath. His knuckles traced the path back up, across her tender, sensitive inner thigh, lightly over her pubis, and down the other leg. Almost to the right spot. Exquisite torture. Her fingernails dug into her palms as he stroked her legs, the curls on her pubis, the soft crease where her hip met her leg.

Her clitoris throbbed more with each pass, with each time he didn't touch her where she so needed to be touched. “Please,” she whispered, aching with longing.

“What do you call me?” he asked, touching her with just one finger, so close, edging so close.

She arched up. “Please, Sir, please.”

“Nicely said, sweetheart,” he murmured approval. And he slid the finger right into her.

“Aaah.” The nerves inside her vagina flared to life with the intimate invasion.

He lowered his mouth to her clit, a touch like butterfly wings. She arched again, tightening around his finger, needing more than the light flicks on her clit. She was so close. The world narrowed to just the feel of his hands, his mouth. One more touch…

He pulled his finger out, emptying her, and lifted his head.

Nooo. She whimpered a protest.

“You don't have permission to come.”

“What?” she whispered shakily.

“You come when I say, not before.”

“You can't—”

“Kari,” he warned in a hard voice. “I've been patient, but my patience is at an end. Did you get taught about punishment in your class?”

Not really. But the way he'd sent Sally off to be punished… She didn't want anything like that to happen to her. Her thighs shook with her need. “Sir, I'm sorry.”

“Very nice.” He lowered his head, licked up her labia, sucking one into his mouth, then the other, the sensation like hot velvet. His tongue laved right there in the center. Oh God, almost. Not far enough, she needed more.

Then one finger opened her, sliding in ever so slowly and back out. She tightened around him, her legs quivering uncontrollably. In again, his finger large, pressing down to add friction, out.

Two fingers. She moaned at the added sensation as his fingers drove into her, faster, harder. Her whole pussy was afire, wanton hunger burning through her. She strained against the restraints as his mouth came down on her. His tongue slid over her clitoris and around it, swirling and rubbing as his fingers plunged in and out.

She panted, her bottom pushing off the bed, closer, closer. “Ah, ah—”

And he stopped, took his hands away. “Not yet.”

“But—”

“Silence.”

Her groan came from deep within her, her entire lower half too tight. Throbbing with need. She'd never felt so out of control. Never begged before. She hurt.

He licked the tender skin of her inner thigh, and she shuddered. His shoulders rubbed against her legs, and she trembled against the restraints.

She pulled at her wrists, wanting to touch him, to force him to touch her; she'd even touch herself if she had to. Over her head, her hands closed into fists as the feeling of helplessness roused her further, making everything worse.

He slid a finger into her again, shooting urgency through her, her arousal higher and harder than before. She moaned, her head rolling from side to side. When her hips lifted, he ruthlessly pressed her back down, holding her for his use.

He pushed his finger in, pulled out, and added another finger. Her tissues were so swollen each thrust shoved her closer and closer. His tongue flicked across her clit, and she went rigid as her muscles tightened, as her vagina clenched around his fingers. She neared the peak, held there…

“Come now, Kari,” he ordered, his voice deep. Sucking her clitoris into his mouth, his tongue rubbed it hard and fast.

Her world flashed white, splintering around her, and she shattered with it. Spasms in her vagina rippled against the hard fingers impaling her, and her hips jerked uncontrollably. Her legs thrashed against the restraints, her arms pulled against the ropes, and the sensations went on and on.

When her climax started to slow, he'd move his fingers, slide his tongue across her again, and she'd arch back up as the exquisite tremors shuddered through her again. And again.

Finally, she lay limp, drenched in sweat, her heart pounding so hard her ribs must be bruised. “My God, no wonder people like being tied up,” she murmured.

His hand slapped her thigh hard enough to sting.

She jumped. “Hey!”

“Did you speak, little sub?” He lifted his head, his stern eyes holding a warning.

She started to say something, thought better of it. “Sir. I'm sorry, Sir. I thought we were done. Sir.”

He chuckled. Then he rose onto his knees, his big hands roved up her thighs, massaging the cramped muscles. He slid his hands up her stomach, and with a smile, cupped her breasts, squeezing just hard enough to make her breath hitch. His fingers lightly pinched her softening nipples back into attention.

“Kari, sweet, we're just getting started. In fact, I think you should come again before we move on.”

No. Wait.

And he slid back down. With fingers and mouth and tongue—and teeth this time—he brought her to another orgasm. A screaming one.

Oh God, oh God, oh God. Her heart was thudding so fast it felt like a galloping horse, and her lungs labored to find enough air.

He moved back and unfastened her ankles. “Kari.”

She blinked at him.

He gently pushed the sweaty strands of hair off her face and then moved on top of her, holding his weight on his elbows. “Bring your legs up,” he whispered before he took her mouth, plunging his tongue in.

She could taste herself, another shock in itself. Managed—eventually—to remember what he'd said. Legs up. Her legs were free, and she slid them up to settle beside his hips. His penis slid in the wetness of her folds; each brush against the swollen, sensitive tissues sent tremors through her.

When his hand dropped down and pressed the head of his penis to her entrance, she moaned, shivered.

Without any more warning, he drove into her, all the way to the hilt.

“Oh!” Impaled on him, she tried to jerk away. “Oooh…” Her insides pulsed around his intrusion, and her arms futilely yanked at the restraints.