Master Richard would never harm her.
He was not Ellis.
He. Was. Not. Ellis.
The first impact left her breathless, the sting of it completely unexpected. The second one connected with the other side of her ass, but she felt the heat of it center right between her legs. Clover moaned, thrusting her ass toward him in a silent plea.
Mate!
Her bunny keened and wriggled within her, desperate to be claimed.
He stroked the heated flesh, teasing her by sliding his fingers closer and closer to the dip between her thighs.
Master Richard spanked her again, this time harder.
“Owww...” Her voice faded off into a sob.
She wasn’t sure she liked this spanking thing much. It hurt.
“Do you think you deserve another swat? For being late?” He popped her once more, square on the burning flesh of her right buttock.
Her ass burned but the sensation had stopped hurting and it became more about the erotic tension building between them.
“Yes.” Her voice was a breathless hiccup and she wiped at the tears spilling down her cheeks. Pleasure and pain became the same thing as his fingers dipped low and teased her silken folds.
“Yes, what?”
Her mind went blank. What was she supposed to say? Unlike the other women here at the club who had been in the lifestyle, she herself didn’t know. What she had done, though, was listen to the women in the main room.
“Sir. Yes, Sir.”
“Stand.”
He released her and she struggled to remain on her feet as her knees buckled beneath her.
“I have you.” He caught her, guiding her toward the desk. “Now, bend over so I can see that rosy, heart-shaped ass.”
The skirt was flipped up, a light breeze trailing across her exposed skin. It was sinful, and she felt heat rise to her cheeks. No one had ever said she had a small ass. It was one of her most troublesome body traits, if she was honest with herself.
But then, she felt his hands on her and the press of his lips against the heated flesh.
Clover gasped. Her nipples tightened beneath the thin cotton shirt and a warm rush of heat slicked the folds between her thighs.
“So beautiful.”
The sound of a zipper filled the room.
“Do you want this?” Master Richard’s voice was ragged, his breath hot against her neck. His hands cupped her around the thin cotton shirt, the buttons straining against the fullness of her breasts.
God, yes.
She craved him like air. Instead of answering, she groaned and arched her body toward him.
“What color are you?”
“Green. Please...”
She hadn’t even gotten a few minutes into the scene and she’d already buckled against him but she didn’t care.
His fingers slid between her legs and inside of her, not wasting any time.
***
Richard felt the warmth of her body close around his fingers and chastised himself for being an impatient bastard. She had practically just walked in the room and he couldn’t even control himself long enough to see the scene play out properly.
She hadn’t even given him a safe word for Christ sakes.
The vanilla scent of her hair reminded him how delicate she was and he stroked her gently, parting her legs so he could explore her in more detail.
“I’m going to fuck you.”
“Please.” She ground herself against him, squirming. Her eyes, when she turned them toward him, bore the excitement of her animal.
His cat felt the same.
Claim our mate. He growled, pawing at Richard impatiently. Now.
Holy mother of all things, he was going to lose himself before he ever got inside of her.
Day after day of watching her and he knew without a doubt that he wanted this woman in his life. The only question was whether she would stay.
He fumbled in the front pocket of his slacks and removed the foil packet, making short work of the packaging. Slicking it over his length, he guided the blunt head of his cock against her slippery opening. With one thrust, he buried himself inside her, filling her to the root of him.
“Oh....” she groaned, laying her head back against him. This wasn’t her world yet and he knew that—just like taking her like this so soon wasn’t in his nature, either. She was like a force in his blood that would not be denied and he had to lay claim to her before it was too late.
Was this the mate bond that Cage spoke of?
“Hold on.” He ground into her, his cock a piston moving in and out of her body. Slick with her arousal, he fucked her hard, slamming into her with breathtaking force.
He and his beast became one, the need to become one with her completely primal in its intensity. Slipping his hand beneath the school girl shirt, he plucked at her nipples, teasing and fondling them until she was wild against him.
The sound of fabric tearing didn’t faze either of them. He had to touch her. To feel his sweet mate as she found her pleasure.
“Harder,” she moaned, almost making his eyes roll back in his head with the request.
So he did. Over and over, he drove himself into her. Reaching in front of her, he found her erect nub and urged her body toward the climax he knew was coming.
Sure enough, she cried out, her pussy clenching around his length with enough strength to wrench his own orgasm from him in wave after wave of hot, molten need. He roared, his teeth extending. They found purchase in the soft flesh of her upper arm and he felt her shudder again as another orgasm hit her. The arm he had wrapped around her tightened and her teeth broke the skin, leaving her own small mark on his skin.
They had marked each other.
Mates.
They were mates.
Holy shit.
He withdrew, moving back. Helping her to her feet, the sight of the soft globes of her breasts made his dick twitch.
God, how he wanted this woman.
“Richard,” she whispered, and placed a kiss along his arm. Her fingers slid up between their bodies and he grew hard immediately.
He withdrew, flipping her over on the desk. Her eyes were dilated in lust and her lips swollen from his kisses. Digging in his pocket, he found the second condom, thanking the gods he’d had enough sense to bring more than one. And he had a feeling that there would never be enough because this woman was nothing like anyone he’d ever met and as he surged within her once more, the ice around his heart melted.
He started to put it on when her hand stilled him.
“No.” She whispered. “I want to feel you.”
He watched the joining of their bodies and when the fire exploded in her eyes, he kissed the tears that slid down her cheeks, pulling her against him as sleep claimed them, not even caring that they were on display should anyone come into the room.
It felt right, and even if she should make the choice to leave, he would abide by it.
Chapter Eight
She was getting ready to go. In Richard’s head, he knew she had a life to get back to but the hollow sensation in his gut was nearly overwhelming. His cat wasn’t speaking to him.
They were mates. Marked and bonded. But how could that work?
How could he ask her to stay? It had only been a week and he’d grown accustomed to seeing her face. He’d brought her into his office and showed her some of the pictures he’d been working on and she’d been thrilled.
“Take them. If you need a reference, I would be happy to give you one.”
The smile reached her lips but it hadn’t resounded in her eyes.
Did she feel the same, he wondered? His days had awakened in the glow of her light, and he never wanted that to end, but he wouldn’t put his own needs in front of hers. She’d already had a man do that to her. All he could do was support her in every way he could, even if that meant he had to let her go.
Yesterday, he’d woken to her in her animal form, the little bunny snuggling next to him. And the
dog. When had she left their bed to go and bring the dog? There they were, the two of them, and the sight of it almost broke his heart.
He wanted them to stay forever, the urge to protect her from the world so strong it physically hurt.
She was a light in the staid everyday of his world and it was only with the danger of losing it, that he saw most clearly.
Richard glanced out in the early morning light to see Clover walking across the lot toward her vehicle, the golden light of the morning sun reflecting in the blonde waves of her hair.
Hair he wanted to gather in his fist and hold while he filled her one more time. God, but he could still smell her vanilla cookie scent on his clothes.
He was lost in the fantasy when his cat scented something and growled.
His stomach twisted when he saw the man approaching her, gun drawn.
“Fuck.”
That could be only one person. He hit the new emergency all hands alarm and started to run, praying to God he could get to her before it was too late.
***
It was Sunday, one day later than she was supposed to stay, but after the heat of being in Richard’s arms, she didn’t care. She wanted to live in that moment and never let it go.
The mark on her upper arm was still a little sore, but as she let her fingers trail over the bite, she couldn’t help but smile.
Their animals had found each other, and, so she thought, had they. He hadn’t asked her to stay, but waking up with Richard and Sylvester and been one of the happiest moments of her life.
She didn’t want it to end.
This world wasn’t for everyone, but here she’d found a home.
He’d shown her some of the pictures he’d taken, a moment here or there, her eyes alight as she watched something just out of camera range.
They were magnificent.
“You...” she said with awe and wrapped her arms around him. “These are stunning.”
And they were. No way the Houston agency would say no with pictures like that.
“They’re yours if you want them.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead and gathered her close.
“I don’t want to leave,” she whispered into his chest.
“So, don’t.” He whispered back. “It’s up to you. What do you want, little cottontail?”
That was the problem. She didn’t know but it was all she could think about.
Little cottontail.
Her heart swelled but then she started thinking about everything in the outside world. Her mother. Megan.
And how could she tell Megan she was staying at a BDSM club? Her phone had already been blowing up with a series of texts.
Where are you, girl?
Thought you were coming early?
Text me or I’m coming for that bastard Ellis. I’ll stomp his coyote ass into roadkill.
Clover wasn’t ready to respond. Not yet. The gears in her head and heart were still churning. And besides, how did she know Master Richard really wanted her to stay?
It would be better for everyone if she just went back to her vanilla cupcake life and left everything else behind.
“I don’t want to go,” she said to Sylvester. The little dog snuggled against her with a snort as if in agreement.
Megan’s apartment wasn’t exactly a peaceful place for him either. Her cat Tippy was a holy terror who’d decided long ago that Sylvester was the perfect victim in her quest for world domination.
She had a lot to think about.
Duncan smiled and handed her the keys. “Your car is finished.”
Miranda grinned and handed her a piece of paper with a number on it. “Just give me your email, girl, and the difference will go to your PayPal.”
“You didn’t charge me enough.”
“Pish, posh.” Miranda gave her a sly wink. “Our Duncan knows a few people. He just charged you for parts.”
“Oh...you guys. Thank you so much.” “She hugged Miranda, tears lingering in her eyes.
How could this club feel more like home than the place she’d lived for a year and a half? And how could a man she’d only known a week have made such a difference in her life that she wanted to stay?
Mate. He’s our mate.
Her bunny stomped her foot, not speaking to her when she stubbornly went out to see what difference the repairs had made.
The morning light was new when she made it out to the car, her body a bundle of nerves. She wanted to check it and make sure it worked before she attempted the trip into the city. Too many places to find herself in trouble.
Or, I could stay.
She nibbled on her lip, torn.
The mate bond tore at her but she respected Richard for not trying to force her decision.
“You should have moved this piece of crap away from the street.” A grating, familiar voice slid over her and she wanted to be sick.
Her bunny thumped her foot, signaling danger and she turned to find herself face to face with a sneering Ellis.
“How did you find me?” She backed up, aware of being completely alone.
“It wasn’t that hard. I put a trace on your cell phone as soon as I got out of jail. That bitch, Helga, in the apartment next door called in a complaint and accused me of killing you. Can you believe that shit?” He chuckled, his expression closing up and his eyes filling with a malignance that truly chilled her.
“My phone?” she responded. “You tracked my phone?”
“If it’s on, then I know exactly where you are. And we’ve been evicted. Not that Helga will be worrying about you anytime soon. Turns out that she didn’t scream too much in the end.”
Oh God.
Helga? He killed her. Her throat burned and everything she’d eaten for breakfast threatened to come back up. Why would he kill a defenseless old woman? She’d only been a sweet little porcupine shifter that had taken an interest in Clover. And now, she paid for it with her life.
Ellis moved closer, an ugly expression across his boyishly handsome face.
“Leave me alone.”
“I don’t think so, sugar puss.”
“You need to leave.”
“Oh, honey,” he tisked, his face a mask of cold fury. “I’m not going anywhere. I told you if you left me, I’d kill you. I should make you change and rip out your throat right here in front of these freaks.” He knocked her to the ground and aimed the gun, firing a shot into her shoulder. It was a blur of motion exploding into a mammoth sensation of pain.
“No!” She clutched her shoulder and willed her body not to react. Her bunny was going into shock and she had to contain her or she would drive them into a shift that would seal both of their fates.
She heard a scuffle of shoes on the pavement and was stunned to see her knight in shining leather appear.
“I have a live shooter. I repeat, a live shooter.” Richard tossed his phone onto the ground and dove toward Ellis. She could hear the tinny voice of the operator through the speaker on the phone.
“Sir, we have units already on the way. Sir? Can you hear me?”
Clover tried to reach it but her body refused to cooperate and she lay there, feeling the warmth leaving her as the pool of blood next to her body grew.
A tear slid from her eye and got lost in her hair. She didn’t want to die. Not when she had just started to live.
Her bunny whimpered and she thought of Sylvester, thankfully still safe up in her room.
The sound of fists hitting flesh and a loud muffled sound met her ears. She couldn’t see but when her ex stepped in front of her, the victory in his eyes told her everything.
He’d hurt Richard.
Ellis aimed the gun at her again, the evil light in his eyes triumphant. He had won.
“Motherfucker!” Richard exploded between them, blocking her body with his own. The gun went off and he grunted in pain, but she had little time to think as another shot hit her in the leg. Richard shifted, his body morphing into a large black panther.
“Shit.” Ellis back
ed away and held the gun out toward the cat. “Back up, asshole, or I’ll shoot.”
Richard snarled, his teeth a brilliant white against the onyx muzzle. He started toward Ellis and the man dropped the gun, shifting into his coyote form. He moved toward Clover, jaws open and before Richard could reach him, he had her gripped by the throat.
Clover cried out as pain sheared through her body, and jumped as the sound of another shot filled the air. Ellis hit the dirt, wide eyes staring as a police car pulled up, lights blazing.
She looked up to find Miranda holding a small gun she’d showed her from the bar. She’d jokingly called it ‘The Equalizer.’
“I got him.” Tears glittered in Miranda’s gaze as she knelt down beside Clover. “You’re going to be okay.”
Natalia darted toward her. “We’ve got you.”
A panther appeared, panting, blood matting his dark fur.
“Richard.”
Hot tears slid from Clover’s eyes and she buried her face in Richard’s fur.
“Richard...no.”
“Stop moving. Both of you,” came Natalia’s exasperated retort.
Cage and Broderick emerged from the building. “Who is he?”
But she wouldn’t say his name. The dead eyes that looked up from the body on the concrete had no more pull over her. He’d shifted back into human form, body splayed out inelegantly in death.
“Richard. The ambulance.”
He purred and sniffed her injury, changing back into his human form.
“Does it hurt?” She asked.
“Like a mother.”
“I’m so tired.”
“Stay with me.” He whispered against her hair, his arms wrapping around her.
“There’s no place else I want to be.” She pressed a kiss against his shirt and sighed, praying they would make it to the hospital in time.
“Ever?”
“Ever.” Her hand clasped his as the paramedics took over, never losing sight that this was where she was meant to be. Through the pain, on the other side, was the man and the mate she’d been waiting for and she wasn’t going to let him go.
Epilogue
Two months later
Clover shifted her weight, the nosebleed heels beginning to pinch her toes. She wanted to shuck them and give her feet a break, but Master Richard had selected her wardrobe for the evening and she had no intention of disappointing him. The more she learned about his lifestyle, the more she embraced it, reveling in the freedom it brought her. And her bunny loved the kinky parts way too much.
Surrendering to Her Mate Page 7