Master of the Abyss

Chapter Two

“Uh.” Kallie’s face heated. Why couldn’t those floorboards crack open and let her disappear? Where was a good earthquake when you needed one? How much had he heard?

“Yes, Kallie, you do resemble her,” he said in an even tone. He’d definitely caught Simon’s comment. Her face was probably red enough to light the room.

“Oh. Well.” I look like an old girlfriend. Reassuring at first, then rather uncomfortable.

He set his foot on the couch beside her hip and leaned forward, his forearms braced on his knee, studying her until she had to force herself not to squirm. His masculine scent had the tang of a high mountain forest, clean and compelling, but he was intimidatingly close. She edged back against the couch cushions, realizing that after flinging her to the wolves, to Jake, Simon had abandoned her without a word. Her heart thudded inside her chest, more loudly than any spanking or whipping going on.

“I had planned to leave you alone,” he said, half under his breath.

Well, that hurt. “Then go.” She made a shooing motion with her fingers.

“But then you planted yourself in here. Asked questions.”

“I won’t ask any more.” If her heart would only slow down, she’d be able to think. “I don’t want to know anything at all about you or your girlfriend, okay?”

“She was also my submissive,” he said, his voice deep. Rough as a talus slope and as dangerous. “I was her master. Do you know what that means, sprite?”

Mouth too dry to answer, Kallie shook her head. Master?

He stroked one finger along her jaw, slowly enough that she could feel the warmth, the uneven skin of a man who worked with his hands. The strength. “I like the way you heat under my touch,” he murmured, then looked Kallie right in the eyes. “It means she did what I ordered her to do. Always. If I told her to strip and bend over the bed so I could take her from behind, that’s what she did.”

She could feel how his hands would hold her in place, his cock hard between her legs, demanding entry and… The air had completely disappeared from the room.

He gripped her chin, keeping her head tilted up, revealing her face. “I could tell her to lie on the bed with her legs spread, and no matter what I did, no matter how long, she wasn’t allowed to come.”

Kallie felt a burn start in her nether regions. And couldn’t help wondering what he had done. How had he touched her?

His eyes crinkled, and he rubbed his knuckles over her cheek. “You’re flushed, little Kallie.”

“I…” She put up a hand to push his away.

“Don’t. Move.” The command swept over her like a strong gale bending the trees in its path, pinning her into stillness. Her body froze…and yet grew even more sensitive. Awake. In fact, she’d never felt like this before…and he’d not even done anything.

He chuckled. “Little submissive.” With both hands, he grasped the front of her shirt and pulled her to her feet. “Simon was right. You do want to play.” It wasn’t a question.

Her heart pounding, her eyes captured by his, she tried to back away, shaking her head. “No. No, really.”

“Don’t lie to me, Kallie,” he said ever so softly, yet all the spit in her mouth dried up.

She averted her gaze and tried to think. She’d wanted him since the first time she saw him. Now she might have him. But here? How brave was she?

She’d never deliberately done anything really outrageous in her whole life, always tried to fit in and not rock the boat. But right now she wanted to swamp the boat completely. If she did some “you know” with Jake this one time, her cousins would never find out. Her lips curved up. And my dreams will be very interesting. God, yes, I want to try it. But when she looked back at him, at his level gaze, the words stuck in her throat, and she managed only a firm nod.

“Good enough.” His sky blue eyes darkened as if storm clouds had rolled in. “We’re playing together only this one time. Only tonight.”

“I know.” Jake Hunt’s infamous “one night only” rule. With the women he dated, months would go by before he’d call again, and everyone knew he wanted physical intimacy without emotional commitment. But at least he didn’t try to lie about it like some guys. She could handle it. “Not a problem.”

He studied her for a long moment, as if to judge her sincerity. “All right then.” One corner of his mouth turned up, his dark five-o’clock shadow making the half smile look dangerous. “Let’s start with this.” He grasped her country-western shirt, and the snaps spatted like gunfire as he yanked it open.

“Hey!” The air brushed against her hot skin, and she grabbed at the shirtfront.

“Leave it open, sprite. Happens that I like skin.” His devastating grin flashed, halting every single protest. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? “Now let’s find out what you like.” He turned, pulling her in front of him so that her back rested against his chest.

Kallie gulped when she realized he’d turned her to face the woman on the coffee table.

The redhead was still restrained, stomach down. One of the dom’s hands was between her legs, his fingers obviously inside her, thrusting in and out. With his other hand, he alternated swats on her butt cheeks. Hips bucking, she pulled against the restraints.

Kallie’s heart started to pound. She could almost feel the fingers pressing inside her, the stinging of the spanking, and she shook her head. This was way too…too…something. She tried to turn away.

Jake clamped his arm around her waist, an iron bar holding her pinned against him. “Watch, Kallie.” His warm breath brushed her ear.

The woman’s voice kept getting higher-“Oh, Sir. Oh, oh, oh.”-until she climaxed with a scream, her head back and spine arching.

Kallie realized she was panting, and heat pulsed through her with every inhalation. “Let me go.” Her voice came out husky.

“Nope.” He closed his teeth on the muscle between her shoulder and neck, and she gasped as electricity streaked to her groin.

“You’re just full of surprises,” Jake murmured.

No, he was the surprising one. Despite her hot, erotic dreams of him, she’d figured he’d never see her as a woman. He didn’t like her-he hadn’t liked her-so why had he changed his mind? Worry niggled in her stomach like hungry lake trout. “I’m not your old girlfriend.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, his voice a deep, warm rumble in her ear. He splayed his hand, hot and hard, against her bare stomach.

Every bone in her body dissolved.

But did he understand what she was saying? She tried again. “I’m not her.” And I don’t want to be a substitute for some old girlfriend.

He huffed a laugh. “You sure don’t have her personality.”

That didn’t sound like a compliment.

“Don’t worry. I know you’re Kallie ‘Macho’ Masterson.”

Despite the insulting term, warmth bloomed in her. He had actually, finally, seen her.

He slid his hand beneath her jeans waistband until his fingers rested at the top of her mound, and as with a match held to dry grass, flames erupted inside her. He pressed her back against him, and she could feel the bulge of his erection. Hard. He wanted her. Pleasure warmed her heart. He really did.

Her breath caught as his other hand slid under her bra, settling right over her breast. Her very small breast. She stiffened and tried to pull away, expecting the usual stupid guy’s comment: “Why do you bother with a bra?”

Instead he tightened his arms. “Don’t move, sub.”

The firm command sent heat streaking across her skin. She tried to move-couldn’t-and with the feeling of being immobilized came the realization that he could do…anything. Her insides melted into warm liquid.

He chuckled and bit her earlobe. The sharp, unexpected pain sheared straight to her pussy, and a moan escaped her.

“I think I’ll enjoy tonight after all,” he murmured. “So, short stuff, have you tried anything like this before?”

She barely kept from rubbing against him like a cat. Touch me. Why did he keep talking? Asking a question she didn’t want to answer. But his expectant silence forced a reply. “A few times. But I never liked it.” She’d known this was too good to be true. Be fair to him, Kallie. She added reluctantly, “I’m not submissive or anything, so it’s okay if you find someone else.”

“Sure you’re not.” He slid his hand another inch, one finger on each side of her labia. So close to her clit that she had trouble paying attention to anything but the throbbing bundle of nerves.

“Tell me about those times. What did you do?”

Her brain didn’t want to work. “I… One wanted to handcuff me to the bed, and I wouldn’t let him…although it had sounded exciting at first. Another tried to spank me, and I couldn’t stop giggling.” What else? “Um, pretty much that kind of stuff.”

“Uh-huh. Sounds like no trust and no true submission.” He turned her around.

The removal of his warm hands left behind cold places on her skin, and she ached down below like she’d wrenched something in a place where things didn’t get sprained. He’ll tell me to go home now; I should have lied.

He closed his hands on her shoulders. “How much do you trust me, Kallie?”

The question was unexpected, and she had to shift directions. Want, yes. But trust? “I-”

“Let me rephrase that. Can you trust me in here, surrounded by other people, to restrain you, spank you, and give you pleasure?”

Her mouth went dry. The thought of him-Jake-his hands on her, tying her, touching her… She frowned. But spanking?

His eyes crinkled. “You wear your emotions right out there on your face, don’t you, sugar?”

She thought of the dom and his sub, how he’d brought her to climax with his fingers. “Does pleasure mean us both or just me?”

“Well, now”-he slowly stroked his finger down her cheek, his gaze intent on her face-“I figured on just you, using my hands.”

The words welled up like a balloon expanding in her chest. “I want more; I want you in-” Couldn’t say it; just couldn’t… “Um.”

“You want my cock inside you. Is that what you mean?”

Heat rolled up into her face until she felt as if she’d poked her head in a sauna. “Yes,” she whispered, swallowed, and gave him a firm, “Yes.”

He cupped her cheek in his calloused hand. “All right, sugar.” He smiled. “But that’s the last request you’re allowed tonight. Now, did any of those boyfriends give you a safe word when you played?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t remember a one of them.

“Must have been real memorable. How about ‘Barney,’ since I doubt you’ll forget his aim.” With a thumb under her chin, he tilted her head up, and the laughter faded from his face. “Kallie, listen closely here. If anything I do bothers you too much or hurts too much, use ‘Barney,’ and everything will stop, right then and there. And just to make sure you feel safe, ‘red’ is a popular safe word, so if you shouted it out, people-including Simon-would come over to check on what was wrong. Around here, any dom who doesn’t honor a safe word gets flattened.”

“Barney. Or red. Okay.” Good. Fine. She could stop everything if she wanted. As she stared into his intense eyes and felt the sheer power radiating from him, somehow that little safe word didn’t decrease her anxiety. Or her arousal.

“Now the rules.” He moved closer, so big that he loomed over her, like her Maine coon cat with its six-toed paw on a mouse. Even the marrow of her bones seemed to quiver.

A flicker of a smile touched his lips, creased his left cheek, and faded. “You have only one thing you may control tonight-whether to use your safe word or not. Otherwise, all the decisions, all the choices, are mine. Everything is in my hands.”

She nodded. Why did that sound so wrong and yet feel oddly like freedom?

“You will do what I say. Immediately. No backtalk, no questions, no argument. I want to hear only, ‘Yes, Jake,’ or ‘Yes, Sir.’ from you. Am I clear?”

When she nodded silently, his eyes hardened. She hurriedly said, “Uh, right. Yes, Jake.” Maybe add a salute?

“Much better.” He released her. Stepped back. “Strip.”

“Excuse me?”

He didn’t answer, but when he raised his chin an infinitesimal amount, heat curled through her and melted her insides into compliance. Her shirt dropped onto the floor.

He nodded, and she could breathe again. She unlaced her boots and toed them off, added her socks, sheathed knife, and jeans to the pile. Hesitating, she stood in her cheap white bra and cotton panties, knowing there were others around, but unable to look away from his face. Almost naked, her body there for him to see-or reject. Anxiety made her fingers curl.

“You are consistent in your choice of attire, at least,” he murmured. “Come here.”

She took two steps forward. He ran his hand over her underwear, and the noise he made sounded very much like disgust. And then he pulled her panties down.

Oh Lord. Trying to keep the unease off her face, she stepped out of them. He reached around her, undid her bra, and slid it off her arms.

She was naked. In a roomful of people. This was absolutely insane-and she wanted him to touch her so badly she almost screamed.

When his big hands engulfed her breasts, fire liquefied her lower half. “Under all those clothes, you’re definitely a girl. And these feel as pretty as they look,” he commented. He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples, and her knees almost buckled with the searing need.

“I’m little,” she whispered. He dated C-cups, not-

He pinched one peak, a startling bite of pain, and a cry escaped her. Her clit throbbed as if he’d pinched her down there too.

“You have gorgeous breasts, sprite, and I’ll take responsiveness over size any day.”

Really? A weight lifted from her shoulders, knowing that he’d seen all of her and had liked what he saw. There could be no compliment more potent than that huge erection in his jeans. All for her. Her lips curved up.

He walked over to the couch and, from a big leather bag on the floor, pulled out a set of wrist cuffs. “Turn around, little sub.”

Her heart started pounding again. Surely all these changes in speed weren’t good for it. Very unhealthy. She stared at the restraints. “But…”

“Your answer to me is what?” He didn’t wait for her response but turned her so her back was to him, and fastened a cuff snugly around her left wrist. He ran a finger under it. “Kallie?”

“Yes, Sir.” It came out sounding as if she were a strangled cat, and he chuckled.

“Relax, sweetheart.”

The second cuff went on. Then she heard a snick. She tried to move, but he’d fastened the cuffs to each other, keeping her hands behind her back. Very fancy handcuffs. Virgil, her cop cousin, would be so impressed.

I’m not feeling real relaxed here.

Jake walked in front of her and looked down at her naked body. The knowledge that she couldn’t protect herself, that he-anyone-could touch her, could handle her bare breasts, sent a quiver through her. And yet her nipples bunched into aching nubs.

With a faint smile, he did exactly what she’d been worrying about. Watching her face, he ran his hand over her breasts, one then the other, the slight scrape of his calloused hands intensely erotic. When his finger circled one nipple, she jumped and her arms jerked…and got nowhere. The floor seemed to roll under her, and she swayed. Even as her breathing sped up, she tugged harder, each tug emphasizing her helplessness. And how totally arousing it was.

How could that be? And why in the world had she agreed to this: handcuffs, naked, sex. This isn’t who I am.

He ruffled her short hair, then grasped it and pulled her head back to kiss her. Teasingly, brushing his lips across hers until her mouth opened, and then sweeping inside. She wanted to hold him, to run her fingers through his thick brown hair, to… She couldn’t raise her hands. That rolling floor dropped right out from under her, and then he took possession of her mouth, deep and thorough, permitting no withdrawal.

With one hand on Kallie’s shoulder, Jake felt her try to move and her quivering, excited response when she couldn’t. The instinctive submission from her ripped right through his long-held detachment and brought a strong dominant’s needs roaring to the surface.

He’d enjoyed submissive women in the two years since Mimi’s death but had kept the interactions to light play, not trying to breach a sub’s deeper defenses or reach any emotional core. Serious play-mental play-exposed a dom’s soul as fully as his submissive’s and created a tie between them.

He didn’t want a bond with anyone. Considering how badly he’d misread Mimi, he didn’t deserve or trust himself with more.

Yet Kallie pulled at him. Vulnerable. Challenging. Joyously alive.

And very, very female without those ugly clothes serving as a barrier. Just as well this was for only one night. He pulled back to tease her soft lips and moved his thumb to cover the racing pulse in her neck. She was definitely aroused and excited and probably expecting him to start beating on her pretty ass. He hardened at the thought of those round cheeks under his hand. The slap and quivering response…

But a submissive’s expectations were met at a dom’s inclination. He was inclined to take her for a walk. At the moment, she saw only him. What would happen when she remembered everyone else in the room?

He smiled at the thought. Although watching a submissive’s face turn pink with embarrassment was one of a dom’s small pleasures, he also must determine how public he should make the upcoming scene.

“Come, pet; let’s take a tour.” She’d learn about the types of play, and he’d observe her reactions. In his first few years as a sexual dominant, he’d learned that many subs hid fears, old land mines buried until something triggered them. Sometimes the sub didn’t even realize they were there. Honest communication and their body language revealed most of them.

Not all. Mimi had taught him that. With an effort, he pushed aside his guilt. He grasped Kallie’s upper arm, enjoying her toned muscles underneath the soft female padding. Tough little sub.

About five feet out of the small sitting area, she halted as if running into a wall. Jake smothered a laugh as he noted what had stopped her.

Rebecca and Rona had been manacled side by side to the log wall, both clad in corsets and garter belts. Both with their legs held open by spreader bars. Standing in front of them, their doms, Logan and Simon, turned to smile at Kallie.

And Kallie obviously remembered she was naked in a room filled with people. She tried to retreat.

Jake tightened his grasp and deliberately ran his hand up her torso to caress a firm breast. “This is my body for tonight, little sub,” he said for her ears only. “Mine to display as I wish.”

He answered the fear budding in her eyes before it could bloom. “Display only, sugar. Tonight I will be the only one to touch you.” As often happened, the knowledge that more might be asked somehow diminished a sub’s fear of what he required right now.

She stopped trying to pull away.

“Very pretty sub, Jake,” Logan said as if he hadn’t talked to Kallie earlier. He glanced at Jake, speculation obvious in his eyes. Jake remembered telling Logan that he’d drag his toy bag down and help out with the party, but he wasn’t bringing a sub and didn’t intend to play.

Simon studied Kallie for a moment and smiled in satisfaction. Yep, he’d deliberately steered his conversation with Kallie, hoping to pique Jake’s interest. Jake had known it at the time and still could not resist. Manipulative bastard.

Eyes closed, Rona gave a low moan of frustration, and Simon and Logan both turned as if waiting for something. A few seconds later, a chime sounded from Logan’s watch. He nodded at Simon, who thumbed a remote device in his hand until the buzzing became audible.

Jake glanced at Simon’s sub and the vibrator harnessed between her legs. Tremors rocked the woman, and her full breasts quivered. She was on the verge of coming.

“Time,” Logan murmured, and Simon flipped the remote off. The hum stopped. Rona whimpered and squirmed as if she could turn it back on.

“You’re an evil bastard, Simon. How long have you been torturing them?” Jake asked and glanced down at his little sub, who was staring at the women, at the breast clamps and harnessed vibrators. Simon’s Rona had a rabbit strapped to her, giving vaginal and clitoral stimulation; Logan’s sub appeared to have a double dildo, penetrating the vagina and the anus.

“Oh, a bit. Your turn,” he told Logan. Logan turned the remote in his hand, and Rebecca’s back arched as her vibrator hummed to life. Now Simon was timing while Logan enjoyed watching his sub.

“Time,” Simon said, and Logan flipped the remote off. Rebecca whined, sweat trickling between her lush breasts. Her hips tilted out. “Oh, please, pleeeease, Sir…”

“Hell.” Logan pulled a five dollar bill from his pocket and handed it to Simon. “You win.”

Simon laughed and slapped Logan’s back. “She didn’t have a chance. My Rona is incredibly stubborn. After years of hospital administration and dealing with doctors, she can hold her tongue under any torment we can devise.”

“A sucker bet, huh?” Logan studied the two subs and smiled. “So how about another bet. Whichever sub comes last on a-let’s see-a mid setting.”

“You’re on.” Simon turned. “Rona, you may not come without my permission. Do you understand?”

The woman opened her eyes, glazed with need. “Yes, Master.”

Logan gave the same instruction to Rebecca.

Jake shook his head and moved Kallie away. Rona was going to lose this one, no matter how much discipline she had. With the rabbit’s tiny ears flickering right on her clit, she didn’t have a chance.

He glanced down. From the way Kallie had stared at the toys, she hadn’t experimented much on her own. Yes, she seemed like a no-frills vibrator type, if she owned one at all. He smiled. A beginner’s introduction to toys was definitely in order. And maybe something else… He ran his hand over her ass, pleasantly round and soft. “By the way, sprite…”

She looked up at him, sexual energy virtually streaming from her. Damned if he didn’t want to bend her over a bench and… He took a slow breath and ran a thumb along her soft lower lip. There would be time.

First he’d teach her a little more of the joys of submission. And that brought him back to another thought. “Later tonight, I will require you to not come until I give you permission. Is that going to be difficult for you?”

After she shook her head, a frown crossed her face, and she bit her lip.

He smothered a grin. Probably didn’t usually come without a lot of work, but in a steamy atmosphere like this party and with the sexual dynamic between them off the charts, she obviously realized holding off an orgasm wouldn’t be easy. Excellent. One more thing for a little submissive to worry about.

It was a fine balance with new submissives-they needed to feel comfortable enough to give themselves, but they also wanted to know they really didn’t have any control. Halfway domination just didn’t cut it.

Close to the front door, he halted. Angela had covered her girlfriend’s breasts with wax and, from the drops of water here and there, had varied it with ice play. Now she held the candle, working her way, drop by drop, down the sub’s stomach toward her pussy. With each tiny, hot impact, the sub’s stomach quivered and her hips tilted away, then up. Pain and arousal, intimately mingled.

Jake studied Kallie’s face and kept his arm around her waist. Every time Angela tipped the candle to let the wax fall, Kallie flinched. Nope, this wouldn’t be her play, at least not tonight.

As he started to turn toward the other side of the room, Angela dropped wax right onto the woman’s clit. The sub let out a high-pitched “ahhh” of pain, and then escalating shrieks as she came hard and long. Jake smothered a grin at the horrified…fascinated…look in Kallie’s wide eyes.

“Come along, sub,” he said, guiding her toward the other end of the room where Caron was using a single-tail on a new male sub.

A few minutes later, he could tell from Kallie’s reaction to the long streaks crisscrossing the man’s back, she wasn’t into serious pain. Then again, tastes changed. For now, toys and spanking, exhibitionism, dominance. It added up to a nice beginning. For tonight only-and the regret he felt at that limitation increased his resolve.

Speaking of toys… He led Kallie over to his bag and pulled out one of his favorites.

Still trying to process the different things people had been doing, Kallie took a minute to react to the object Jake had picked up. Only about two inches around, it appeared to be an amber butterfly tethered by four black straps. It even had tiny antennae. Oh God. Nerves ran up her spine like spider feet. “What’s that?”

Her question earned her a frown that silenced her again. He went down on one knee in front of her. With firm hands, he set the squishy-soft butterfly part directly over her clit.

A sex toy. He was putting a sex toy on her. In public. Her face scorched from embarrassment, and so did her whole body. As he secured the straps around her thighs and hips, her clit was so sensitive that each heartbeat made it pulse against the light pressure. I want sex now.

“Patience, pet,” he murmured, obviously catching her thought. He taped a small controller to her outer thigh. Hellfire, this was as bad as what Logan and Simon had been doing. She wanted Jake, not weird games. If he tried to tie her to a wall, she’d belt him…only her wrists were still cuffed behind her.

And then he flicked the switch. The thing started vibrating, right over her clit. She froze as she was swamped by the surging need, the contracting of her muscles, the-

Jake gave a low laugh, and the vibrations stopped. “Well, I can see the challenge won’t be in getting you off, but in keeping you from it.” He still knelt, and his breath brushed her thigh. So very close to her sex. Oh, God. More. But all she could do was stand and wait. Let him play with her. Touch her when and how he wanted. She closed her eyes at the erotic thought-he could do anything to her that he chose.

“Spread your legs,” he murmured, and she did. He touched her then-oh, finally-stroking her calves. She jumped and tried to move closer, but a stern “Be still” stopped her. When his calloused hands skated across the soft inner flesh of her thighs, her toes curled. Higher, touch me higher.

She bit back a whimper. If he didn’t do something, she’d end up begging just like Rebecca had. No, I won’t. Absolutely not. But her pussy felt swollen, and her clit throbbed painfully. Everything she’d seen tonight, every time Jake had touched her, had increased her need. And then he’d teased her with that too-short vibration.

“Poor sprite,” he murmured. He slid his hands up farther and traced the crease between her hip and pussy. She stilled, barely breathing, legs apart, her pussy open in front of him. His finger glided around the edges of the little butterfly, over her mound, and down to stroke through her swollen folds. She was very wet, and she wanted more so badly that she shook. And that stupid thing covering her clit blocked him from touching her there.

When she opened her eyes, she realized he was watching her, his blue gaze intent. Suddenly he pushed a finger up into her, a thick, shocking intrusion.

“Ah!” She shuddered as the pleasure ballooned so hard and fast that her knees wobbled. Biting her lip, she steadied her legs. Movement caught her gaze and she realized Logan and Simon were watching. Hell. She was naked, her legs spread, a man’s finger up inside her. Heat rushed into her face. Oh, no, she really couldn’t do this. “Jake, I don’t-”

The butterfly thing turned on, vibrating right against her swollen clit, and everything inside her clamped down. Pressure built within her, coiling tighter with every second that passed. She panted, needing…needing…

When the vibrator stopped, she stood, paralyzed for a moment, totally unable to breathe. He slid his finger out and closed his hands on her hips, holding her as her legs buckled. His chuckle seemed to shake her bones.

As her heart raced, everything down there hurt, burned, throbbed with need. She barely kept from yelling at him, managed to hiss only a simple: “You bastard!”-and even then her words came out too loud, too angry.

His laugh was deep. Strong. Melting her bones like chocolate in the sun. “Such language. Now you’ve earned that spanking I’ve been wanting to give you.” He rose to his feet, his eyes crinkling with amusement. “Of course, if you hadn’t earned one, I’ve have given you one anyway. Just because I feel like it.”

Her mouth opened.

“Yes, and you would have taken it.” He gripped her arm as she tried to catch her breath. A spanking. Yes, he’d mentioned that before. But…but what about sex? When he’d stood up, she’d thought…

A tremor shook her as his intent registered. A spanking, here, in public, not in his room. And not a boyfriend she didn’t take seriously, but Jake. How hard was he going to hit her? Her stomach sank as her anxiety ratcheted up. This was Jake, who she already knew wouldn’t just slap her butt a couple of times, wouldn’t stop if she was uncomfortable, wouldn’t stop if she yelled. Only if she used the ‘Barney’ word. Her breathing increased to that of a terrified Pomeranian.

Ignoring the way she dragged her feet, he tugged her to a leather couch in front of the fireplace and stopped behind the back. After removing her cuffs, he spun her to face the couch. “Bend over it, sub.”

She eyed it. Her bottom would be toward the room…the people. She tried to turn, to check who was watching.

“They’re not your problem. I am.” He set his hand between her shoulder blades and steered her firmly into position. “Don’t worry. Everyone will admire your pretty ass, especially when it’s glowing pink from my hand.”

Oh dear God. Embarrassment surged through her and, disconcertingly, a little thrill at being so exposed, especially in front of men she now knew. Logan and Simon-what would they see? What would they think?

Not waiting for her compliance, he pushed her shoulders down. The top of the couch hit her right at her stomach, cool and smooth, and she inhaled the scent of leather. As she bent farther, he ruthlessly pulled her hips upward until she was bowed in a V, with her bottom high in the air and her legs dangling. Her mound lay against the couch, pressing the butterfly into her clit.

She braced her hands on the seat cushions to keep from sliding right off. “Jake!”

He casually slapped her butt. “Silence, sub.” Just the mild sting and the feel of his hand sent more anticipation curling inside her. She closed her eyes and rested her forearms on the cushions as need swamped her embarrassment. From farther back in the room came the sounds of a whip, each crack accompanied by a man’s groan. A woman begged in a high voice near the front. The low hum of conversation rose above the moody music.

Something closed around her left ankle-a cuff-and he drew her leg toward the end of the couch. A metallic clatter and a click. When her leg wouldn’t move, she realized he’d restrained it-with a chain? He cuffed her other ankle and pulled outward, tethering it to the opposite end of the couch. Her butt in the air and now her pussy wide open.

She wiggled, trying to move her legs. No give. Fear tensed her muscles.

He stood, and his jeans brushed against the back of her thigh. “Very pretty, sugar,” he said, his voice a dark caress that slid her fear into heat. “I like seeing your ass high and open. I can play just how I want…as long as I want.”

Her breath shuddered out.

He kneaded her bottom with strong hands, then teased the crease at the top of her thighs. The butterfly pressed on her clit, and she wanted it back on, dammit.

His finger brushed between her legs, sliding through her folds-oh so wet-around and around her entrance until her entire pussy swelled with need. Each time he nudged the butterfly, a jolt of exquisite pleasure pierced her clit. She wiggled helplessly, trying to get more.

“A squirming little sub, nicely positioned for my enjoyment.” His rumbling voice seemed to fill the air around her. “Ten strokes, I think, for mouthing off to your dom.”

“What?” she gasped.

“Eleven.” He swatted her bottom like she’d bat at a mosquito, a mild slap. It didn’t hurt but sent her nerves to zinging. Suddenly he pushed a finger into her, a fast, merciless intrusion, and his other hand slapped her lightly again. Her attention, every nerve inside her focused on how his finger slid in and out of her swollen tissues, ever so slowly. Oh, she needed more.

She pushed up with her arms, trying to raise her butt, and received a stronger slap, a bite of pain. “Be still or I’ll tie your hands too, Kallie.”

She stopped, afraid to move. His finger thrust in, out, never stopping. Her breathing turned to shallow panting. And then the butterfly thing turned on.

“Aaah!” She quivered as it drove her higher, until all she could feel were the vibrations.

His hand came down on her bottom, hard this time, the stinging overwhelming the sensations on her clit. Amplifying them. He pushed another finger inside her, stretching her, pumping in and out. And then the vibrations increased.

Her back tried to arch; her hands closed into fists. She was going to come, needed to come, just a little more…

He spanked her harder, and each blow alternated with the forceful thrusts of his fingers. Burning pain on her skin, followed each time by sizzling pleasure from inside. The vibrations seemed to grip her clit, and she tightened around his fingers, the pressure inside her growing to an explosive point, waiting for one little…

He stopped the spanking and slowed the vibrations-damn him. The sensation of his fingers inside her became everything, and each slow slide flooded her senses with exquisite, overwhelming pleasure, keeping her right on the precipice. Her legs strained against the cuffs as every muscle in her body grew taut with the wait.

Slap. Her bottom burned from the severe blow, and even as the harsh bite of pain ripped into her and tears filled her eyes, his fingers plunged deeper and she plummeted off the precipice as sheer pleasure blew outward-fierce, bright waves of sensation exploding through her until the world itself seemed to move. And move. And move.

Eventually, her brain turned back on, although her heart still tried to pound out of her chest.

The vibrations had stopped.

He stood between her gaping legs and massaged her burning bottom until her pain tangled itself with pleasure. She heard herself moan and choked at the powerless sound. This is not me. The spasms still reverberated far inside her. I don’t want this to be me.

“Let me go,” she demanded. Her attempt to make her voice strong failed utterly.

“Oh, I don’t think so, pet,” he said, and she heard something. A zip. A crinkling of a wrapper.

“Jake?” Her pulse that had finally slowed picked up the pace, and her muscles tensed.

He gripped her hip with his hard hand, and then she felt him, huge, pressing into her at a snail’s pace, stretching her painfully despite how wet she was. He eased deeply into her. Her breathing had barely slowed, and now she gasped for air. She felt overfilled.

She squirmed against the sensation, and his strong hands flexed on her hips, keeping her immobile. “Hold up, sprite.”

As the feeling of being overpowered swept through her like an avalanche, she tensed, then relaxed. He was in charge. She wanted him in charge.

“That’s right, sweetheart.” His low, rumbling voice stroked her like a warm, comforting hand. “That’s a good girl.”

Her insides throbbed, and then, as if a switch had been flipped, he felt shockingly good, as if every nerve inside her blazed awake-even before he started to move. Oh dear God.

Slow. Faster. Each slide of his cock was thrilling; each new thrust stretched her again, and spasms of pleasure rocked her. As her need built higher and higher, the sensations began to overwhelm her. She clutched the edge of the couch cushion, the only thing she could control in this universe. The restraints kept her open for him, with her bottom placed just right for his penetration, and his powerful grip immobilized her. The feeling of helplessness rocked her, returning like the tide with even more arousal.

Each thrust shoved her mound against the soft little butterfly. And suddenly it came to life, vibrating against her still-engorged clit.

“Oh, fuck…”

Jake grinned when the little sub muttered the curse, and her hips started wiggling uncontrollably. He anchored her well and drove in hard and deep. Damn, she felt good: hot and tight around him. And despite being new to submission and being embarrassed, she responded honestly.

Joyously. The wonder wrenched at his heart. And then she came, her voice raised in husky cries.

He flicked the remote off and bent to cup her breasts as he took his own pleasure. Like a hot fist, the powerful contractions of her vagina milked his cock, and soon all the willpower in the world couldn’t stave off his own climax. The bulldozer rolled over him, starting at his feet, squeezing all the blood into his balls until they drew up to his body. He groaned as his cock jerked, as the white lightning of incredible pleasure ripped through him with each one. He sagged against her back for a second and realized her hand was rubbing his wrist.

Damn, she was sweet. Tough little Kallie. According to her family and friends, she’d been the terror of the high school, trying to outmacho her big cousins and every other male also. But here? She was all woman. He kneaded her breast gently and felt the quiver shoot through her body and her cunt spasm around him. Smiling, he nuzzled her neck, stroking her gently, not ready to break the connection yet.

What connection? He closed his eyes and sucked in a breath. There is no connection.

And yet energy flowed between them. As her surrender and response heightened his own pleasure and increased his ability to read her, he could play her better, which increased her response, and on and on, spiraling upward into the instinctive dance linking a dominant and submissive.

“Stay put for a minute, sugar,” he murmured and pulled out. After disposing of the condom, he untied her, removed the butterfly, and stood her on her feet. Her eyes looked dazed, her mouth soft and swollen. Come to think of it, he hadn’t sampled her pretty breasts yet.

Those ugly clothes she always wore had definitely concealed her body and the very responsive female inside them. He might have felt foolish for not looking closer, except that she’d had the attitude to go with it. Why the attitude and the unfitted clothes?

“Come here, Kallie. Let’s sit a bit.” He scooped her up, the size of her giving him a pang of memory-Mimi-that disappeared at the wholehearted way Kallie snuggled against him. Mimi had always held something back, her reserve rarely broached except during a scene. From what he saw, Kallie’s nature was hold nothing back, full speed ahead.

As he took a seat on the couch they’d fucked on, he noticed Simon. Leaning against a table and talking with his sub, the dom had obviously been watching.

Jake freed one hand and pantomimed drinking. Simon nodded, and a minute later, Rona carried over two bottled waters. Her heavy-lidded eyes spoke of recent satisfaction, and he grinned. “Thank you, blondie. By the way, can I assume you lost the second battle against Becca?”

She flushed.

“Is Simon going to make you suffer for your lack of control?” Jake raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I should offer him a few suggestions. Perhaps a good flogging?”

The crackling sound from one bottle indicated she was tempted to dump the water on him even though she knew he was teasing. A glance at her master-yes, Simon was still watching-evidently changed her mind. She glared at him for a second before giving up and laughing. “You’re such a jerk.”

When he chuckled, Kallie stirred. “Here, little one.” He curled her fingers around the bottle and spotted an annoyed look on her face. Two glares in two minutes. Doing well, Hunt.

“I am not little,” she muttered and sipped the water, then drank thirstily.

“I’m sorry to tell you this, sprite, but you are definitely little.”

The bum. Kallie sighed. So far the evening had been…magnificent. Why did he have to ruin it by calling her little?

His eyes gleamed with amusement. When one half of his mouth turned up in a smile, a crease appeared in one cheek. Unable to help herself, she reached up and ran her finger down the line, and it deepened. Because she’d touched him.

Her gaze lingered on his lips. He’d possessed her mouth and taken her, spanked her. Her butt burned, and her insides still shook.

And God, she wanted him to do it all over again.

He raised an eyebrow, making a line through the long, white scar on his forehead. After setting his drink down, he ran his fingers along her jawline. His thumb rubbed her lips. “That looked like an interesting thought,” he murmured. Without asking, he leaned her back on one arm. She expected a kiss. Instead he dipped his head lower to brush his lips over one breast. She stiffened as a whole new set of nerves leaped into the action.

He closed his mouth around her nipple, and his tongue, so incredibly hot and wet, played over the peak. Her back arched, pushing her breast against him. Men had fondled her breasts before, but never when she’d been so sensitive already. This was…almost too much. Almost.

He sucked hard.

She inhaled sharply as each unrelenting suck shot electricity straight to her clit. Hellfire, if he kept this up, she’d be as aroused as if she hadn’t come at all. He tongued the peak against the roof of his mouth and bit down gently, not releasing, and the edgy pain only made her soar higher.

She whimpered and couldn’t believe the sound had come from her. She tried to pull away, and the arm behind her back was unyielding, holding her still for his mouth.

He switched to the other breast, and suddenly his hand touched her mound. God, she wanted that, and yet…

“Open your legs, little sub.” He tapped his fingers against her thighs. “Now.”

When she parted her knees, he slid his hand down into her wetness, stroking her folds and then moving to her clit. He firmly rubbed just one side of it, over and over, until she could actually feel it swell and the coiling of approaching climax, and then the bastard moved his finger to the other half of the nub, toying with the hood, occasionally grazing across the top. Lightning shot through her body as her whole clit swelled and pulsed with need.

Oh, God. Her hips lifted.

He chuckled, his breath warm on her breast, and then switched breasts again and sucked that nipple fiercely. A finger slid into her-two fingers-and his thumb pressed down right on her clit. Pain, pressure, penetration-everything in her spasmed uncontrollably. A blast of white filled her vision, turning to a roaring in her ears. Waves of pleasure broke over her again and again as her hips bucked against his hand.

When it all stopped-and somehow he’d kept her going longer than she’d ever thought possible-she lay like wilted grass in his arms, staring at his lean, hard face. How did he make her feel so safe with him that she’d just let him do…anything?

He nuzzled his cheek over hers, and she felt…cherished. She set her hand on his face and lost herself in the blue, blue eyes. After a minute, he sighed. “Little sub, you could worry a man.” His kiss was gentle. Sweet.

When he sat up, she realized his hand was still between her legs. He moved his fingers, and her insides spasmed around him, sending more pleasure fizzing through her veins.

He chuckled and withdrew. Keeping his gaze on hers, he licked her wetness from his fingers. His cheek creased again, and he said softly, “Next time I’ll taste you there.” He tilted his head. “Tie you open…maybe even gag you so only I will hear your whimpers.”

A sound escaped her, and the sun lines at the corners of his eyes deepened with his smile. “Yes. Like that.”

God, he made her feel helpless. And yet, his control filled a…a need inside her that she hadn’t realized was there, a longing to be treated like this.

He stroked her, petting her like a cat; then turned his hand over and rubbed his knuckles over her pebbling nipples. “Did being restrained bother you?”

He waited for his answer, and she realized his patience was something else she wasn’t used to, his total focus on her. He watched her so closely, her eyes, her face, noticing every time she tensed or took a breath. It made her feel…special…and somehow exposed also.

“Kallie. I asked you a question.”

He wouldn’t permit secrets, she realized uneasily. But she didn’t have secrets, really, so… “Bother me? No.” She hesitated, searching for the right words. “I liked…knowing I didn’t have the reins. Sometimes during sex, I feel like I have to decide what happens, how far to go, all that. You didn’t give me any control at all.”

He nodded, unsurprised by her answer.

“Did you enjoy your spanking?” He slid his hand under her bottom, and the unexpected pain from her tender skin made her squeak and try to lift her hips away. He grinned. “A little sore, pet?”

She glared at him. The skin there still felt hot and swollen, and his abrasive fingers didn’t help any. “No, of course not.”

He squeezed and made her yelp. “Now try again, and be honest.”

“Damn you.”

His second squeeze was just plain mean. “Ow!” And she could feel herself getting wetter, not just from the pain, but from the way he made her bend to his will. The world shifted around her like she’d strayed off the trail into an unfamiliar forest.

“Kallie?”

“The spanking hurt…and it made…made me come harder.” And part of that had been because he’d controlled her, that he could make her take the pain.

“Better.” He brushed a kiss over her lips, whispered low, “Next time I’ll use a paddle.”

The flush of heat that went through her worried the hell out of her. She tilted her head. “Next time? I thought…”

“One night only. But the night’s not over yet.”