by BJ Wane
“Let me worry about the what if’s,” Grayson interrupted her as he skimmed his fingertips across her butt, Avery’s cheeks clenching in automatic response to the light, stimulating touch. Setting the beads on the desk in front of her face, he trailed his other hand up her inner thigh and traced the damp seam of her pussy with his fingers.
“Sheesh!” she exclaimed in a whispered huff, shocked at her instant, fiery response to the ‘barely there’ grazes. “Grayson… ow!” The pinch he delivered to her right buttock stung but, just like other erotic pain he’d introduced her to, the small throbbing burn it left behind worked in her favor instead of against it.
“We’re in a scene, so it’s Sir, or Master Grayson, even though we’re not in the club. And, I suggest you keep your voice down,” he warned.
Avery swore under her breath, noticing his lack of remorse over causing her outcry. Just like at The Barn, his touch stripped her of all willpower and tossed her into a heightened state of unfulfilled ecstasy. Praying for relief and enough composure to keep silent with it, she laid her head down and bit her lip as he explored her pussy and inched into her rectum with slow finger jabs that ignited the sensitive nerve endings along her inner walls. She could feel her cream seeping down her thighs, hear the damp slurp of his now three fingers moving in and out of her sheath as he worked a second digit into her ass. Discomfort gave way to pleasure as he initiated a tandem rhythm between the two orifices that drove her crazy.
“Sir, please.” She quivered as he scraped her swollen clit with a nail then slid away too soon for the small contractions that touch produced to burst into an orgasm.
“I think you’re ready for the beads,” he drawled, withdrawing his fingers to pick up the toy. “I brought two sets and want you to wear them home, and then for thirty minutes every day between now and Friday night without climaxing.” He tugged on a few curls of pubic hair. “And I want this gone. Understand?”
He pushed the beads inside her pussy, nestling them deep. Avery shifted her hips, moaning as they rolled around, teasing the already inflamed tissues anew, the strange sensations racking her body with shivers of arousal and distracting her from that last dictate. “I… what if I can’t?”
“Then I won’t finish what I’ve started.” Grayson’s hard, implacable tone revealed how serious he was. Spreading her buttocks, he pushed two greased balls into her rectum with a soft warning. “And Avery? I’ll know.”
As he refastened her jeans and helped her upright, Avery looked up into his chiseled face and didn’t doubt he could take one look at her and know if she’d indulged in an orgasm. Taking her elbow, he relieved part of her unease when he said, “You can come back another time to work on the rest of the computers. In the meantime, I’ll have Rebecca cut you a check…”
Avery stumbled against him, her knees almost buckling when walking stirred the toys into small vibrations, both his offer of payment and quick steadying reflexes jarring her into responding in a rush. “No… I mean, thank you, but I don’t want payment.” She wouldn’t risk cashing a check until she talked to him, so there would be no point in taking payment. He must have read something about her dilemma on her face, his look reminding her how astute he was.
“This is something else we need to discuss, but it can wait as I have to get back to work. I’ll pick you up on Friday.”
Grayson didn’t give her time to argue as he ushered her out of his office and it took all of her concentration to keep from groaning against the warmth spreading from her crotch up to her face. Afraid of what Rebecca and the one deputy still at his desk might see, and think, she waved while keeping her face averted.
Out on the sidewalk, he gripped her nape, holding her head still for his kiss before releasing her with a pat on the butt. “Remember my instructions.”
Grayson pivoted, and as Avery stood in bemused stupefaction, watching him go back inside while leaving her a jumbled mess of frustrating sensation, she again missed seeing Cassie’s frigid look as the other girl came out of the beauty shop across the street.
Cassie clenched her hands into fists as soon as she recognized the look on Avery’s face. It wasn’t bad enough the bitch continued to monopolize Master Grayson’s attention at The Barn, but now he was welcoming her at work, and from her red-faced appearance, he’d lavished his dominance on her. Since she’d never known him to do that outside of the club, her jealousy and anger toward the interloping newcomer escalated several more notches. Vowing revenge, she stalked off, her dallying making her late in returning to work.
It was a good thing the military had taught Grayson discipline, he mused as he returned to his office and the mountain of paperwork he could now deal with a lot easier with his smooth running computer. Otherwise, he would have found himself ruled by his dick right now and risking his position as sheriff by fucking Avery over his desk. Her slick heat still coated his fingers, a reminder of how her snug pussy gripped him and of the little ripples along her damp inner walls he could produce with just a few strokes. He hadn’t been with anyone in the past two weeks, not since he’d first invited her to the club, and if he didn’t get relief soon, he would combust.
Why those rapid responses added to his suspicions of knowing her from somewhere, Grayson couldn’t imagine. He sure as hell had never fucked her before; that experience and her expressive face would have been unforgettable. After discovering how much he’d enjoyed spending the afternoon with her at Caden’s ranch, he’d decided to push faster and stronger for more answers. If any other woman would have been so evasive with him, continued to hold him at arm’s length and revealing nothing personal about herself, he would have walked away long before this.
Grayson insisted on honesty from the subs he spent time with, and from himself. If he could admit it was more than his concern as sheriff for Avery’s welfare that had him itching to drag everything there was to learn about her from her stubborn, wary head, she could damn well come clean with a few suspicious issues. And he was prepared to do whatever was necessary to get the answers he needed.
Chapter 9
Chicago
Detective Darren Lancaster spotted his partner at the corner table in the popular cop hangout a block from their precinct. Gritting his teeth, he maneuvered through the Friday night crowd, irritated with Chad for his constant harping over Avery’s whereabouts. Yeah, her abrupt disappearance after Chad had discovered her snooping was suspicious and both miffed and concerned him. While he wouldn’t hesitate to arrange an accident if she proved to be a risk, as he’d mentioned when Chad had first alerted him to the girl’s computer searches, he wasn’t about to gamble calling more attention on either of them with the tragic death of a city employee he had ties with unless it became necessary. Now, if he could just get Chad to chill, maybe he could enjoy the fruits of his illegal endeavors.
Dropping into the vacant chair, Darren frowned at his irritating friend from across the table. “Now what?” he growled, not bothering to hide his annoyance at this summons.
Chad leaned forward, bracing his arms on the table, his eyes darting around before he snapped in a low voice, “Did you know Avery hasn’t contacted her guardian in Florida since the day she walked off the job and disappeared even though her supervisor told me she left because of a family crisis?”
Closing his eyes, Darren counted to ten to get his anger under control. Opening them again, he whispered back in disbelief, “Please tell me you weren’t stupid enough to call Marci Devers again. I told you to let me handle her.”
“It wasn’t so stupid since I found that out, now was it? We both know Avery is hiding, just as you must realize she’s smart enough to hack any information she might go looking for, info that could send us to jail for a long fucking time, partner.” Chad leaned back and grabbed his drink, tossing back the half-full glass of scotch in one gulp.
Darren shook his head. “Look, just chill until after the sting goes down tomorrow night. We’ve busted our asses to take down this ring, and the stash we might
grab from it will add a nice cushion to our accounts. Then we can talk about hunting her down. Until then, let her lie low a little longer. She’s such a fucking coward over everything, I’m not worried in the least she’ll do an about face and get up the nerve to turn to an illegal activity like hacking just because of one anomaly between a witness and the evidence we turned in.” His tone turned smug as he stated with confidence, “Odds are, as I’ve said, she’s probably more upset over the possibility I was using her than by anything illegal she thinks I may have done. She fell for every line I fed her without questioning my sudden interest or even considering I may have an ulterior motive for sleeping with her.”
“I’m not a risk taker, partner. After tomorrow night, we go after her.” Tossing down a few bills, Chad stood and stalked out without another word or a backward glance, leaving Darren to wonder if it was time to end their lucrative thefts, and their friendship.
Willow Springs
Avery made it through her busy shift on Friday with just one clumsy stumble and one tray mishap that resulted in a spilled glass of water. That was quite a feat, she surmised, given her frustration level and the unaccustomed sensations teasing the bare flesh of her labia every time her panties brushed against the newly exposed skin. She had no idea why she had obeyed Grayson’s order to insert the beads for thirty minutes each day the past four days and shaved her pubic hair that morning, or why she’d held back from getting herself off and relieving the constant ache his devious commands had resulted in. It wasn’t like it would be the first time she’d resorted to attaining her own pleasure due to a lack of other options. But something inside her stilled her hand every night as she’d lain in bed quivering after removing the tormenting objects. Grayson’s face etched with disappointment kept popping up, his deep voice laced with disapproval intruding on the dark silence.
He’d done her a huge favor weeks ago, when she’d been so desperate, afraid and alone. That favor had led her here, to him and the other wonderful people whose friendship now brightened her days. But this new, contented feeling couldn’t last, she knew that. When Grayson had asked her what she’d been thinking as she’d sat in front of the fireplace at the ranch following their ride, she’d been remembering the rent payment coming due at her apartment, wondering about who had taken over her job and if anyone missed her, and desperately wishing she wasn’t such a coward.
There had been something about the way he’d gazed down at her from where she’d been kneeling, as well as the way he’d taken her over the minute she stepped into his office the other day that settled something inside Avery she hadn’t been aware needed calming before she could reveal both how he knew her and her troubles. Whatever the unnamed emotion was, it opened her up to taking that final step toward giving him her complete trust. Tonight, when they left the club, she would reveal who she was, and enlist his advice on how to get back home safely.
“No broken dishes tonight. There’s hope for you yet, girl.” Gertie’s gruff voice coming up behind Avery made her jump. “Even with your head in the clouds,” she grumbled as she reached for an order.
“I’m not a total lost cause,” Avery returned with a smile. She’d grown fond of her brusque employer who kept her on her toes.
“I would say not.” Ed winked at her as he set another steaming plate on the ledge separating them. “At least Gertie is giving credit where it’s due. That’s a plus.”
“You.” Gertie pointed at Avery. “Clock out. I saw the sheriff pull up and I’m assuming he’s here for you and not my food. And you.” She glared at Ed. “Get me that fried chicken order. We’ve got a line forming.”
Guilt forced Avery to offer, “I can stay, if you need me. It’s no problem.”
“Shoo, girl. I’ve got all the help I need. It’s just a matter of keepin’ ‘em goin’.”
Grayson walked in just then, sealing her fate with one look at his face. Dressed in his usual black shirt, jeans, Stetson and coat, he looked every inch the rugged, cowboy lawman as well as the dominant Master ready to put her through her paces. As usual, a warm rush traveled through Avery just from one glance out of those piercing eyes. She only prayed he still regarded her with such intense promise after tonight.
“Hi.” Coming around the counter, she said, “All I need to do is grab a change of clothes and I’ll be ready.”
“Don’t bother,” he replied, taking her elbow with one hand and snatching her jacket off the coat rack with the other as he steered her toward the door. “You won’t stay dressed for long once we get to the club, so I can excuse your jeans.”
She looked up at him as he held open the passenger side door of his SUV. “I honestly don’t know what to say to that.”
“Good. Get in.”
The man knew how to rattle her while at the same time putting her in a state of heated anticipation. He spoke of mundane topics, such as their continued search for the rustlers and how well his office and staff were functioning with the updates she’d done; and distracting her from where they were headed and what they would be doing by placing one large hand on her thigh, close enough to her crotch to keep her focused on his not-so-innocent touch.
As he pulled to a stop at The Barn and turned off the engine, Grayson turned to her with a complete change in conversation and demeanor. “Did you insert the beads every day, as I instructed?”
Grateful for the darkened interior, Avery flushed and nodded. “Yes, and that wasn’t very nice of you.”
“No, but necessary.”
She followed him inside, wondering at the dark edge to his tone, the one that sent a shiver of unease trickling down her spine while her pussy clenched in a spasm of damp awareness. As soon as they entered, Cassie waylaid them before they could reach the bar and Avery didn’t understand the cold glare the other woman gave her before a sly look came into her eyes as she shifted them to Grayson.
“I see the newbie still hasn’t learned the dress code. I guess you’ll be delivering her punishment, won’t you, Master Grayson?”
“Since my guest is dressed as I instructed, no. Excuse us, Cassie.” Grayson’s frown and the icy bite in his voice sent Cassie back a step.
Avery couldn’t remember when a man had ever stood up for her, and the warm glow she experienced as Master Grayson escorted her away from the disgruntled shrew had nothing to do with arousal and everything to do with a pop of pure happiness. When they reached the bar, he lifted her by the waist onto a stool next to Sydney and ordered a light beer for her from Caden, who was bartending.
“Visit with Sydney for five minutes. I’ll be right back.”
He didn’t give her time to question him before trotting upstairs and disappearing from view. Shaking her head at his abrupt departure, Avery clasped the cold bottle Caden set in front of her and sighed. “I swear, that man keeps sending out mixed signals until I don’t know what to think.”
“Then I’d say he’s doing his job well,” Caden drawled before shifting down to take another order.
“Caden did that when we met. I knew he wanted me. He was just too stubborn and rigid with his rule of not mixing his pleasures with his employees to admit it or act on it,” Sydney said with a twinkle in her eyes as she watched her fiancé.
Avery took a sip before asking, “And how long did it take you to wear him down?”
Her friend’s smile turned wicked. “Not long after Connor volunteered to help.”
Looking around, Avery didn’t see Sydney’s soon-to-be brother-in-law. “Is he not here tonight?”
A look of worry crossed her face. “No. All he said at dinner was he had something else he needed to do. He’s been distant since having to put that calf down last week and Caden’s worried he’ll do something rash. He’s always been one to stick up for the underdog, including animals it seems.”
“That’s an admirable trait but I hope he’s careful,” Avery replied, concern coloring her tone.
“Who?” Nan asked, inserting herself between their seats.
“C
onnor.” Sydney sighed and scooted over.
“Yeah, I noticed his distraction the last time we played, and that is so not like him. It’s these rustlers, isn’t it? I don’t know why they can’t find the bastards.”
Avery frowned at Nan. “Grayson is trying. He and his deputies are out every night looking.”
Nan flicked her a teasing grin. “Sticking up for our sheriff, are we? Relax, I know that. I was just saying.”
“Who was sticking up for me, and why?” Grayson demanded from behind Avery, startling her with his sudden reappearance.
She jumped, swiveled and lost her balance, sloshing beer on the bar top as he reached out a hand to keep her from toppling off. “Me, but I won’t do it again if you sneak up on me like that again,” she groused, pushing her glasses back up.
There wasn’t a hint of repentance in the curl of his lips as he plucked her off the stool and took the half-empty beer from her hand. “I’ll remember that. Come with me.”
Stumbling behind him, Avery responded to Grayson’s urgency with a thrill of expectation. Between the tormenting use of the beads and her craving for more of what he’d introduced her to already, and of him, she vowed not to hesitate at whatever he had planned.
That promise lasted until he led her upstairs and over to a secluded corner and a dangling chain bearing two cuffs on the end, tossing over his shoulder one word, “Strip,” with a backward wave of his hand.
Avery cast a quick glance around the loft and saw no one not engaged in their own scene. Okay, I can do this. Keeping one wary eye on Master Grayson as he padded over to a cabinet against the wall, she pulled her long-sleeved tee over her head. Her stomach muscles contracted when he turned holding several objects that sent her pulse leaping. Her hands flew to the waist of her jeans as he eyed her clothes and approached her with a scowl.