Bind (19 page)

“Ankles next.”

That made her much more nervous.

He crouched to fasten her into the second set of cuffs.

“What are your safe words?”

“Crap and oh fuck?”

“Lara,” he warned.

Judging from the near-growl in his voice, he obviously had little appreciation for her sense of fear-based humor. “Yellow and red, Sir.”

She waited for him to pick up the whip but he didn’t. Instead he rubbed her thighs and buttocks, starting slowly then becoming more vigorous.

He spanked her then, and with each touch, tension left her body.

“How are you doing?”

“Good.” Unbelievably, she started to settle in. Just days ago, she wouldn’t have believed this to be possible.

“I wish you could see yourself as I see you. I adore the sight of you, tied in your submission.”

His words made her damp.

After a few more targeted hits, he crouched next to her.

She turned her head toward him.

“This won’t be like last night. More intense. More prolonged.”

She nodded.

“I’ll be watching you the whole time. And I want you to stay with me. Count it out.”

“Is there a number we’re going to?”

“Twenty, if you can tolerate it.” He picked up the whip and stood.

Instinctively she pulled on the restraints and tried to get more comfortable.

“I’d tell you to stay still, but you look so hot like that. Feel free to move. I want to see you dance for my single tail.”

The first few were a sensual feast. His pressure was light, like a leather caress.

“How many is that?”

“Four,” she replied. Two on each of her ass cheeks.

He brought the whip forward and let it snap against her right thigh. She swallowed a scream.
This is for beginners?

“How many?” he demanded.

“Five.” Then she remembered… “Sir.”

“Much better.”

She heard him take a step, then he stroked a hand between her legs.

“I might have lied when I said I only want you in here once a week,” he said. “I love beating you.”

He moved away and struck each of her upper thighs.

They were somewhat harder, and she swayed a little. “Six and seven, Sir.”

“Beautiful. Come back to neutral when you can.”

She realized he was giving her time to absorb each stroke, to be lost in her thoughts. Once the pain receded, a warm glow replaced it. And she felt ready to continue. A few seconds later, she got back into position.

The next three were dizzying, this time somewhat lower on her legs, alternating sides, and the third landed somewhere in the middle. “W-w-ow.” She forced out a jagged breath. “Eight, nine, ten,” she said, eventually remembering.

He dragged a thumb across each tiny bite, reigniting the pain.

“Cruel and unusual, Sir.”

“You’ll remember them more.”

As if she’d ever forget anything they shared. She was responding to Connor more than she had any man, ever. The idea of finding another lover after him was daunting.

“Ask me to continue.”

In that moment, she realized what was happening. She wasn’t simply enduring this. She wanted it. Him. His whip. “Please. I want more. Sir.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

He marked her, just above the area he’d scorched. “Eleven.” She gasped. Then he moved to the other side. “Twelve, Sir.”

Methodically, he continued, placing each about an inch above the last. They were biting, burning. “Thirteen. Fourteen.” She’d lost count. “Fifteen? Sir?”

“Stop counting,” he told her. “Simply surrender.”

The next stole her breath.

Then he caught the inside of her thigh and she screamed.

“I’m waiting to hear you say yellow if you don’t want me to continue,” he said.

She didn’t give it to him. She wanted this. Instead, she struggled back into the correct position.

She felt him at her pussy, his fingers, his mouth.

The pain drove the arousal to stunning new heights. Combined with the way he’d denied her earlier, she wanted to crawl out of her own skin.

She pulled against the restraints, trying to push her hips back so she could force him to lick more of her pussy.

With a small laugh, he moved away.

The ankle cuffs made it impossible for her to close her legs to assuage the throbbing demand.

He continued the beating. Sensations merged, desire and anguish becoming one. His stripes went higher, until he’d covered her ass. He was no longer gentle, and she loved it.

When she knew she could take no more, he tossed the whip onto the bench.

Then he fingered her pussy, and she felt his fingers get slicker. Before she realized what was happening, he withdrew, moved back and slowly pushed one of them into her ass.

She froze.

“Go with it,” he suggested.

He fondled her with his other hand, sliding a thumb against her clit. He overwhelmed her, slipping in and out of her pussy while he simultaneously finger-fucked her ass.

She trembled, fighting against the restraints and needing them for reassurance and balance. “This…”

“The reward.”

“I’d do anything for this,” she confessed.

He continued the relentless drive. Then she felt him turn a finger slightly to find her G-spot.

“Fuck.”

“Yes.”

He pushed against that sensitive spot inside her and her whole body convulsed in response. She screamed his name.

Connor continued his assault until she collapsed forward and dropped her head.

He placed a light kiss on her bare shoulder then eased his fingers out of her, “Give me one second. I’m not going away.”

She heard him wiping his hands. She’d barely noticed that he’d gone before he returned to her and unfastened her wrists.

Her legs were slightly cramped, and he rubbed them gently after he released them. “Tell me you brought a miniskirt or short dress for dinner tonight?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“We can go buy you something. I want to see those bite marks from my whip.”

He helped her to sit on the top platform of the bench. Against the vinyl, she felt the marks. A chill went through her, and she rubbed her arms.

Connor unbuttoned his shirt and stripped it off so he could put it around her shoulders. She snuggled into its comfort. The feeling didn’t just come from the warmth, she realized. It was also because the shirt bore his scent.

The sight of him half-naked made her mouth water. She knew he worked out, but she hadn’t expected his abs to be so well defined. There wasn’t a trace of excess weight on him, reminding her of how disciplined he was in every area of his life.

It terrified her how much she was attracted to him, how much she wanted his possession. She wasn’t sure why he was waiting to take her to bed. Maybe to build her anticipation, making sure she didn’t feel rushed? At any rate, she was getting restless. She couldn’t take her gaze off him. “Tell me you’re not saving yourself for marriage,” she said.

He grinned. “No chance. I fully intend to fuck you tonight, Lara. Be thinking about it.”

Now she wasn’t sure she could think about anything else.

“Can you walk in the shoes you brought?”

“Not far. But I have a pair of sandals, too.”

“Let’s get cleaned up and head out. There’s a boutique just down the street.”

She scowled. “You were serious about something short?”

“I always mean what I say.” He looked at her purposefully.

She’d never gone shopping with a man before. Then again, she hadn’t done a lot of the things that he demanded from her.

He wiped down the bench then the hilt of the whip before putting it away. “Shall we?”

Connor stepped aside and allowed her to pass. As she was walking, he pinched her butt.

She squealed, stopped, turned and glared. “You may not joke, but you’re an awful torment. I bet your siblings have stories about you.”

“I couldn’t have been a better big brother. They nominated me for awards.”

“I bet.”

He grinned beatifically.

In the master suite, she cleaned up then dressed again before slipping into sandals.

He dressed in khakis and a golf shirt with the Donovan Worldwide logo on it.

“I’m not sure whether you look like we’re going on a yacht or whether you’re going to quote a moving job for someone.”

“I’m warning you, Lara,” he said. But he shook his head. “You know, maybe it’s not a bad idea. We should have Nathan look at acquiring a moving company. You can be our first client and make Mrs. Fuhrman look like a psychic.”

“I’m not moving.”

“Soaker tub,” he said, adjusting his collar in the mirror.

She met his gaze in the glass. His eyes were frosty, serious. Mesmerizing.

“I’ve already told you I intend to have your total submissive surrender. I will do anything to ensure I get it.”

Chapter Eight

“Try it on.”

“It will barely cover my ass,” Lara protested.

“My point entirely.” He smiled. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”

She walked over to a nearby mirror and held the tiny dress in front of her.

It was black, clingy, plunging, skimpy. The triumvirate of cock-swelling perfection.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

He merely lifted an eyebrow.

“Connor, there’s no way that this will work for me.”

He said nothing. Over the years, he’d found that to be a solid technique. But with her, it was even more effective. She sorted through options quicker than average people. In his experience, she arrived at the right decisions.

“Fine.” She turned back to face him. “I’ll try it on, but I’m already telling you it will look terrible. My butt…”

“A lot of women would pay for a world-class behind like that.”

“I think you’re just horny.”

“You’ve got me there. Doesn’t mean I’m wrong, though.”

“I want a couple of other things, too.”

“That’s fine.” He moved to another section of the rack.

“You could sit on that chair over there. It’s for aggrieved husbands and…friends.” She pointed to a plush chair cleverly situated near some jewelry.

“Which I’m neither. I’m a highly sexed almost-fiancé. They help with the shopping.”

“Is it possible for you to be more annoying?”

“Lara, darling, I haven’t started yet.” He selected a slinky thing in red. “Reminds me of your suit that first day.”

“It’s nothing like it,” she protested.

“I want to see it on you.”

She glowered but accepted the garment. Then she went to a rack and picked out something that looked like it would hit her below the knee. It was a putrid light brown. “My future wife is not wearing puce.”

“It’s taupe.”

He said nothing.

With a sigh, she returned it and pulled out a purple dress that was more than adequate for the office. It was sleeveless and had a square neckline. In short it was classy and elegant, her signature style. No doubt it was also figure flattering. “You can have that in addition to something else. That will be good for tomorrow’s gathering with my family.”

“I can’t afford two new dresses,” she protested.

“You don’t need to.”

“You’re not buying my clothes.”

“Then maybe you can arrange for some overtime at the office. Or just buy one.”

The clerk who’d just finished ringing up a sale came over. “Can I start a dressing room for you?”

“Thank you.” Lara gave the three outfits to the woman.

The clerk unlocked a wooden door, hung up the dresses, then said, “Let me know if I can do anything to help.”

After Lara promised to do so, the clerk wandered off to greet a new customer.

“Go ahead and try them on,” he encouraged. Unless you want to buy new shoes as well, the black is probably the best choice.” Those red heels with that dress? He wondered if he’d survive it. “And we do have reservations.”

She entered the dressing room and closed the door. Since it didn’t go all the way to the floor, he saw her place her purse on the carpet. Next he heard the sound of her pulling off her dress. He gave her about sixty seconds before saying, “Show me.”

A few seconds later, she did. She’d put on the purple dress. As always, she knew exactly what was right for her. “Elegant.” He’d be so damn proud to have her at his side as his bride and partner.

She surveyed herself critically in the mirror, smoothing out an imaginary wrinkle. “I love it,” she said.

A few minutes later, she returned wearing the red dress. “I don’t like it,” she said.

He shook his head.

“What? You’re not going to tell me everything I put on is wonderful?”

“Why would I do that? I want you to feel confident. And it bunches around the hip. Your body is perfect. The dress isn’t.”

She sighed.

“Honesty,” he reminded her. “It’s the only way to build trust. So admit it. You like the black dress.”

“It’s nice. But it’s not my style.”

“It could be if you’re brave enough.” He enjoyed the thrust and parry with Lara. This woman wasn’t just steamily sexy, she was savvy. Brains and beauty were a combination he was finding delicious.

After the way she’d responded yesterday in the playroom, he’d suspected she would enjoy this afternoon’s scene. Then, he’d trained her how to greet him. When he’d smacked her cunt, her reaction had astounded him. She’d come hard, fast, wet. It had cost him plenty in terms of restraint to be polite and hold a conversation in the car. His blood had blazed in his brain, demanding he take her. He’d left her on the verge of a climax at her house. But he hadn’t told her that all her suffering made his dick ache.

Then she’d presented herself in the playroom. Her innocence and nudity would undo the hardest heart.

The way she’d taken his single tail had given him immense satisfaction, a feeling of pride, even. He’d intended to go slowly, but he’d listened to her moans. He’d allowed her to drive the scene, and he’d given her what she asked for.

That she was willing to please him caused a mad demand and protective need to collide in him. He’d wanted to fuck her then, when she was striped, burning, on the edge. It’d been days since he’d jacked off, and thoughts of taking her were beginning to consume him. It would no doubt blow his mind. But a quick joining wouldn’t do it for him. He wanted time to explore her and learn more about her. Which meant he had to wait. “Quit stalling. Or I’m coming in.”