by Kells, India
Her voice echoed in the small shop, and even if the police came barging in, there was no way she could stop.
Splayed on the counter, her knees wide open toward the window.
Lost in the aftermath, it was a scratchy caress that brought her back to the present.
Langdon was peppering her skin with bites in between abrading it with his cheek. Swallowing hard, she could finally speak. “Was that the kind of communication you wanted to have with me? Me screaming at the town to come and see me orgasm?”
“Did it arouse you? Was the risk of being found out worth it?”
Lani forced herself to look at him. “Was that what you wanted from me? Display my body, my pleasure for the world to see. Was it worth the risk for you?”
He stopped his ministrations to answer her. “I would never put you at risk. Do you trust me?”
And in the deep blue of his eyes, she knew it. The honest and unsettling truth. “Yes, I do.”
* * *
“Blue. Blue is my favorite color.”
Langdon nodded. “I would have guessed that with your hair.”
Lani rolled her eyes at him. “You are the one who told me that the next task is communication. So, I’m communicating. You have something against it?”
He handed her a cup of coffee as they returned to the street. In the most perfect timing there was, Langdon had barely had time to finish buttoning her cardigan when the shopkeeper returned. Flushed with the smell of her filling the air, Lani couldn’t string two sentences together. Luckily, Langdon stepped in and paid before leading her outside with their purchases. Once everything was in the car, they decided to grab a coffee and take a walk. The sun was still shining for at least another hour, and this time, Lani was determined to get this communication segment right, whatever it may be.
“So, you want me to tell you my favorite color too?”
“If it gets you to talk, I don’t mind it.”
The man not only avoided her question but started to head toward where he had parked the car.
Lani got in the car and took a sip of coffee. Max was one stubborn man. And set in his ways and vision of the world. All that needed to be shaken off.
Behind the wheel, Langdon made the way to the cabin as the sun was slowly dipping behind the pine trees.
He took another curve before he spoke. “I don’t know why your uncle wanted that communication thing.”
“Because all the previous stuff has made sense to you?”
“More than you think. But you’ve made it so far… What would you like to know?” Lani had no intention of letting the opportunity pass.
“You said my uncle was your mentor when you left the Marines. Was it the reason you became a dominant? Because he was one too?”
“When I left the Marines, I knew I wanted to do something with my life. I was still young, and instead of going back to school, I jumped at an opportunity of an internship at one of Emile’s start-up companies. He was already a big shot back then, but this was an ideal entry point. A way of making my mark before he saw me coming.”
“And I guess you did.”
Her comment made him smile. “You could say that. I climbed the company’s ladder quickly, way too quickly. I lacked experience for the position I had and lost a major client. I was certain that he would kick me to the curb. Instead, he gave me a chance to repair the damage I caused. He offered to let me keep my job if I got the client back and doubled my losses as profit.”
“Which you certainly did.”
“And I doubled it again. He couldn’t deny my value after that as I turned his start-up into one of the most profitable branches of his company. He made me a partner, but I wanted more. Nothing that I’d achieved with him or alone afterward, none of the money I’d accumulated brought me any sense of satisfaction. Your uncle saw it and offered me a solution.”
Lani nodded, but part of her didn’t completely understand his motivations. “How did becoming a dominant, as you say, help you?”
Langdon continued to focus forward, but it wasn’t only the road ahead that was darkening. There was a definite gloom coming from the man, as if a shadow was trying to break free. “Enough questions for now.”
Langdon turned into the driveway.
“I’m not judging your reasons. I’m just trying to understand why my uncle sent me to you.”
The house appeared, illuminating the surrounding forest, as the shadow stretched thicker inside the car.
“Your uncle used people for his own profit. Me included. He wouldn’t have helped me if he hadn’t acknowledged my talent to make him richer. I was always presented as the heir apparent, but I knew that it could change. And it did. If he wanted to give you that money from the kindness of his heart, he would have. If he sent you to me, it’s because he wanted to manipulate you beyond the grave.”
Langdon parked and got out the car without waiting for her.
Lani scrambled out, running after him as he unlocked the door and entered. “Max, wait!” She caught up with him in the kitchen, where Emile Mackay’s box was.
“I want you to leave.” He grabbed her bag containing her phone and keys from a cupboard and threw it on the table.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on.”
He stood on the other end of the table. “You made me realize why your uncle wanted you here. Why he wanted me to help you. I want none of it. And if you are as smart as I think you are, you will too. I will sign whatever you want me to sign so you can get your inheritance. You will get your money and pursue your dream. You have my word. Now leave.”
There it was. What she’d come here for, why she’d met Max. Right now, she could get the money and leave, but something was too wrong to follow those orders.
“I want to know what this epiphany is. What you suddenly understood and why you want me gone.”
“Why do you care? You have the money, now leave.” He turned and headed for the hallway.
“Max, answer me.” She grabbed his arm to stop him, but he shrugged her off.
“You are a good person. Take my advice and just go, dammit!”
“No, you are a good person too, and I want to know what set you off.”
The way he moved was like a blur and before Lani could react, she was plastered against the wall, his rough hand tightening against her neck. It wasn’t that that frightened her, but the expression on his face. This wasn’t the man who’d agreed to help her, or even the dominant who made her submit her body and see stars repeatedly. There was a wildness in him, something she hadn’t seen before, and her entire being was screaming at her to run.
“You are so damn wrong. You know nothing about me, about my past or what I went through. You are too young to understand who I am. The veneer is cracking so I’m telling you for the last time. For your own sake. Go away!”
His voice had transformed into a shout, but no way would she move. He was less of a stranger to her than he thought. “No.” That simple word from her was like a trigger for him. Deep down she knew that Max was wrong, that the monster he thought himself was only a memory to which he clung. A false truth of himself. If there was only ugliness in him, she would have had the proof by now. “I know you are a good man.”
At her words, his grip tightened, and the words hissed from his clenched teeth.
“I’m going to prove you wrong.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lani had agreed to cross to the other side of the mirror, and there was no way she would back down now. Her deep personality wasn’t one of a submissive. However, for this moment, on a strong gut feeling, she would be one for the man before her. Max wasn’t there anymore. For the first time since she had arrived, Lani was in front of a man she didn’t recognize.
Holding her to her word, he led her to his play chamber, but only turned on one light in the center of the room. It was an empty stage, one she would undoubtedly take.
“Undress and step on the platform.” Langdon’s voice made her jump, but she didn�
��t look at him. If he wanted a submissive to prove to him that whatever he had done in the past didn’t define the man she saw, so be it.
One by one, her clothing fell until there was none. Gathering her courage, Lani went into the light, bowed her head and waited.
He moved in the shadows, opening and closing things, but she didn’t dare look. It was his naked feet that first appeared in her line of vision. Langdon grabbed a fistful of her hair to make her look up. A shiver ran down her spine, both of fear and desire when her eyes met his. He was naked from the waist up, and a sight to behold. Muscles rolled under his golden skin and artful ink.
“I thought you were a smart girl, it seemed that you will learn otherwise.” He forced her head even more backward and scraped his teeth alongside her neck. The touch was less a caress than a threat. “I long to mark you, to blemish your perfect skin until every inch of you is mine.”
And when he reached her collarbone, his tongue swirled over a sensitive spot before his teeth bit and made her wince and her knees buckled a little.
“Ah, I see that you continue in your stubbornness … if you are so determined to prove me right, I will indulge you. Turn around.”
Lani did as he said and waited. Part of her expected more whipping. She had heard of other torture devices and implements but preferred to keep her mind blank. Anticipation would make her stray from her goal, and they would both fail.
Again, her body jumped when he touched her, but this time it was only his hands, and something else, something soft. Rope. She felt him weave an intricate pattern over her body. He started under her breasts. He was so close behind her, she could feel his torso against her and for the first time, longed to touch him. Only, it wasn’t the time.
Binding her tight, his touch was arousing, making her restless for more, even though she feared what more would entail.
Langdon took one rope for each of her legs, spreading them wide, and when he was done, he dipped his fingers between her dripping fold, exploring and teasing her.
“Wet, ready … it seems that fear turns you on, pet. And you have seen nothing yet.” With a small tap on her mound, he got back to his feet behind her. Draping a red rope on her shoulders, he cupped her breasts hard. “I feel your mind turning, but it will do you no good.” His fingers lessened only to pinch her nipples tight, pulling and twisting. Before she could emit a single sound, he released them, resuming his task.
Over and over the rope circled her torso, trapping her breasts between them. One last rope pulled her arms back and together, making her totally, absolutely helpless.
Lani felt him doing something with the rope on her back before stepping away. Her mind was having trouble coming to grips with what was happening to her. Blanking her mind like he’d said, Lani tried to slow down her thundering heart. The next time his hands came to her, she stayed still. His fingers grabbed her long blue strands of hair and it took her a moment to notice that he wasn’t tugging, but instead, braiding it. Surprisingly, it was much more of an intimate and comforting gesture than she’d expected, and she leaned back into his touch. Her sway warranted her a hard slap on the back of her already bruised thigh, making her cry out.
Without a single word, he finished his task. More fabric rustled, and he put a blindfold on her. The loss of vision made her swallow hard, tempted her to call out to him, but she bit her lip instead as a metallic sound resonated above her. When a low rumbling sound of a motor running and her feet left the ground she realized what was happening. The roped tightened from where she was linked to the hoist in the middle of her back.
As Lani was trying not to panic and get a sense of where she was in space, Langdon bent each of her knees and attached her ankles to the small of her back. In her head, she saw herself as a broken butterfly suspended from the ceiling.
Another whir of the machine resonated, and she was lifted once more. Weightless, she was surprised by the feeling of peace invading her. She’d expected anything else but that.
“You are at my mercy now. You had the chance to leave, but you only wanted to see the beast. Only when you say the words, when you admit that you want out of this, will I stop.”
His hands went to her ass and pinched the reddened skin. “I could draw blood from your flesh, and maybe I will. It would be music to my ears to hear you scream, did you know that?”
Lani was tempted to react but didn’t until he moved between her knees. From what she could feel, her knees touched his shoulders.
Without preamble, she felt him spread her labia wide. Air seized in her lungs, knowing she was unable to prevent anything he might do.
“Did you know that your clitoris has more nerve endings than my entire cock? So much pleasure could be drawn from it … and so much pain.”
There was wickedness in his tone that made her tense, made her want to close her legs to protect herself, but his ties didn’t allow any leeway.
“No escape, my pet. Although I am tempted to gag you, I will leave your pretty mouth free. I want you to admit that you are wrong. I want to hear those sweet words as you are begging me to stop, and tears are streaming down your face. When your entire body is shutting down with fear and I see disgust of who I am in your eyes.”
The menace was tangible, but Lani was determined. There were no doubts in her mind.
Keeping her open, his fingers traced her entrance before pinching her clit. Lani bowed and cried out.
“Already a sound? Your voice will be hoarse when I’m done with you. So wet, so ready for pleasure. Or is it for pain?” With another slap on her thigh, he abandoned her sex and ran his fingers over her already sensitive skin making her squirm.
“You are making me curious as to how aroused you are right now, and how far I can push you. Wouldn’t it be interesting to know, my sweet Lani? Do you want to cum now? Or save it for later?”
As she opened her mouth to answer, Langdon pulled her swinging body toward him, and his mouth latched onto her clit. The sensation was mind-blowing. The surge of pleasure so sudden and intense, it dissolved all she was about to say into a throaty moan. His tongue flicked her a few times before his lips started to suck again until she was on the verge of orgasm. Only then did he remove his touch, denying her.
“You should see how you look. Your clit is standing out of its hood pulsing. If I touch it, if I suck on it, would you come?
“Yes! Yes, please.”
Her sudden outburst made him chuckle. “That close? Too bad I own you right now. You wanted to see the domineering side of me, you won’t only see it, but experience it. I own your body, I own your orgasms. You are my possession, and I will not allow you release until I say so. Disobey me, and you will know my wrath.”
Lani tried to slow her breathing, deny her fever until she could get back under control. It was short lived when she felt something cold bite onto her hard clit. The pain made her yelp, but it soon faded to a tolerable pressure.
Another whir and she was lowered this time. Langdon dragged his knuckles over her skin until he obviously stood before her. He tugged hard at her braid, making her wince. As she opened her lips, Lani felt something trace her mouth. Langdon tightened his grip even harder, a clear indication of what he wanted her to do, so she opened her lips to let his cock slide in.
It was a strained position, but with his hold on her hair helping to keep her head still, she started to swirl her tongue over his head before taking him deeper and deeper down her throat.
“Not good enough. But I know what to do to help this little slut of mine.”
Whatever he had attached to her clit started buzzing and her sudden reaction and scream to the intense sensation allowed him to reach even farther down her throat. Unable to breathe, overwhelmed by cresting pleasure and the sound of his deep satisfaction, Lani thought she would pass out, but at the last moment, he withdrew and released her head.
Gasping for air, and dangerously close to an impending orgasm, she was about to let herself fall when the buzzing stopped.
There was clear amusement in his voice when he spoke. “Is there a problem, pet?” He was once again between her legs. Lani tried to sway her hips or close her legs, but nothing helped. Whatever was clipped on her tugged a little, but it was far from enough. His rough fingers were again on her, this time easily accessing her slick, twitching pussy. They explored her, stretching her, rubbing on her walls. As soon as they produced a reaction in her, a gasp or a wail, they remained in place, heightening the sensations until she begged him to fuck her. Once she’d said the words, Lani was denied again, and the fingers explored some more.
Her g-spot was the last stop they made. In her constant state of arousal, one single press made her head jerk up. Her core tried to close around his digits, gripping at the increasing pleasure they were giving her.
“Have you ever squirted, Lani? Have you ever orgasmed so hard that you ejaculated? I’ve been told it’s the kind of pleasure that turns your world upside down, that makes you crave for it over and over again.”
As he spoke, he not only pressed harder, but started moving his fingers in a small circle. Despite being blindfolded, Lani started seeing stars.
“And what if I turned on that little toy attached to your clit? Would that be too much? I guess it would be.”
Langdon removed his fingers just as she was about to step off the edge.
Her heart about to burst, her lungs burning from the effort of staying sane and conscious, Lani didn’t know how long she could keep this up. She’d expected pain and suffering, what he gave her was much worse. The kind of pain he procured by repeatedly sending her to the edge wasn’t only a strain on her body, but on her very soul. As he’d told her, tears were soaking the fabric covering her eyes and involuntary tremors shook her body.
Lani knew her strength, but at his hands, helpless and tied, she may have overestimated her capabilities. Or the strength of her own sanity.