by BJ Wane
Pete nodded then surprised her by saying, “He’s a good man, none better. I’d trust him with my life. Nice to meet you, ma’am.”
She’d trusted Dan for years before ever meeting Gerard, maybe it was time she did so again. “Yeah, he is. Have a nice day, Pete. Take care of my baby.” She waved her hand toward the filly and then strode out of the stables, having made her decision.
Pete watched the attractive brunette with the haunted eyes leave the stable, wondering at the grim determination that had settled over her face and what, or who was responsible for the nightmares that must have put that look in her eyes. God knows, there were more evils in the world than what happened during war, and he wasn’t the only one who found the days difficult to get through.
Dan did his best to remain calm and unaffected as Nan entered his house and walked into the den with slow, measured steps and a curve to her mouth that set his pulse to jumping along with his cock. He recognized that brazen, teasing smile, but not the uncertainty in her eyes. The girl he remembered was still in there, wanting to re-emerge. Now, if he could just push the right buttons to help her find her way back, he could get the rest of the story.
Remaining seated in the wide recliner facing the stone fireplace, he let her set the pace, widening his knees as she stood before him. “Are you going to take me up on my offer, then?”
She went to her knees as gracefully as always and looked up at him with that small grin still in place. “It’ll be weird calling you Master here, but,” she trailed those long fingers up his thighs, “this is the same no matter where we are, right?” Cupping her palm over his denim covered cock, she squeezed, her smile spreading to reveal straight, white teeth.
“Right.” Her eyes remained uncertain instead of sparking with pleasure, but those soft lips kept their curved shape. She wasn’t comfortable with the situation, not like she normally would be, but she still didn’t hesitate to lower his zipper and grasp his heated flesh in her hand as she released his cock. The craving for dominance was still there, so Dan let her stroke him for a minute and enjoyed her tight grip moving up and down his rigid length until his blood heated to the boiling point. Aching for the familiar, pleasurable suction of her soft mouth and clinging lips, he fisted his hands to keep from reaching for her and instructed, “Mouth only for right now, Nan. Lace your fingers behind your head. That will help you keep from using your hands without triggering your fear by binding them.”
Nan licked her lips, a slow sweep of her tongue over the lush curves that had him gritting his teeth to keep from climaxing right then. While Dan enjoyed the tease that reminded him of her old self, he didn’t relish waiting for his pleasure. It had been way too long since he’d played with his favorite sub. Edgy arousal hardened the warning behind his one-word growl. “Nan.” She rewarded him with her obedience, lifting her hands behind her head as a noticeable shiver racked her body that didn’t alter her expression.
“Like this, Master Dan?”
With her hands laced behind her head, elbows out, the position pushed her full, unfettered breasts forward, their plump roundness shifting under her thin tee. “Yes, just like that.” Wrapping his right hand around the base of his cock, he held his erection up and called on every ounce of his patience as he waited for her to dip her head.
Nan wanted to taste Master Dan again in the worst way, to feel his smooth crown bumping her throat as she took him deep. There was no fear, or even a hint of anxiety as she bent at the waist and swept her tongue over his seeping slit, savoring his pre-cum sliding down her throat. Without his hands or restraints binding her, she stayed in control. She dipped down and closed her lips around the thick girth, enjoying the way his size stretched her lips and filled her mouth. The memory of how his thick, long cock would burn as he slid inside her pussy, stretching and filling her the same way drew a shiver of remembered pleasure.
When her nose bumped his hand at the base, she pulled slowly back, swirling her tongue around and around, pausing to scrape her teeth over the bulging, pumping veins before traveling back up to his cap as Dan groaned above her. Nan basked in the contentment of pleasing a Dom again, of accomplishing a feat without bad memories intruding.
“You’re as talented as I remember, hon, even without using your hands. Suck a little harder now… ahh, that’s it.”
Bobbing her head up and down put a strain on her neck and upper shoulders, but his approval made the discomfort worth it. The only thing that could make this scene better would be if she were naked, could feel his eyes and hands on her as she pleased him. Unbidden, the memory of the last time she’d been naked in front of a man popped up and drew a shudder of revulsion. Gerard had left her shivering and bleeding after his last visit to her in that dank, dark room before she’d been rescued, her body bruised and cold, her mind raging at him and herself for landing in that predicament.
“What’s wrong, Nan?” Dan asked, the laser-sharp concern and underlying anger in his tone pulling her back to the present.
Nan shook her head, refusing to give up the treat of servicing him to the past. Putting all her efforts into getting him off, she focused on swirling her tongue faster over his hot flesh, stroked with harder pressure where she knew he was most sensitive. She scraped her teeth down the silk-covered shaft, his deep groan adding to the warmth generated from the simple task of seeing to his needs. Keeping her eyes down, she waited for him to grip her face and take over her movements as he usually did. When he didn’t, disappointment swamped her despite the thrill of drawing out his release with hard suctioning pulls of her hollowed cheeks. His cock jerked, the spurt of his cum jetting down her convulsing throat, but she missed the sore throbbing of her warm buttocks from a long spanking beforehand egging her on. The flutters of arousal, tight nipples pulsating from the bite of clamps and a damp pussy aching to be pummeled remained absent, and damn it all to Hell, she wanted those satisfying sensations back.
As Nan swallowed the last of Dan’s orgasm, she lightened up on her draws, loosening her tight lips clinging to his throbbing flesh as she lowered her hands to his tense thighs. She took a few seconds to enjoy licking the satin-smooth crown, removing every pearly drop of cum before lifting her head and gazing up at his flushed face. Fine tremors rippled under her skin as she saw the toll giving up control had taken on him in his clenched fists and rigid jaw. His hands gripped the armrests, the raw scrapes across his knuckles catching her eye.
Frowning, she licked the taste of him off her lips as she traced a finger over the cuts. “What happened here?”
“A purge of anger. Come here.”
Dan reached down and hauled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her. She’d never been a cuddler. Other than a few caresses to help her come down from an exultant high following an intense scene, she didn’t desire comfort. Since she hadn’t achieved that lofty goal, in fact hadn’t experienced that ultimate ecstasy in almost a year, she didn’t understand why his embrace felt so good, why she wanted to sit there longer when she knew she needed to get going.
“Just tell me one thing before I take you home, please.”
With a sigh, Nan lifted her face up to his, knowing she owed him something for giving up his control to her, sensing from his tone and dark gaze he would battle her for an answer. “What?”
“Tell me you filed charges against the son-of-a-bitch.”
That was easy enough. “Not to worry, Dan.” She pushed off his lap before she let herself get too comfortable. “Thanks to his wealth, he’s out on bail, but awaiting trial in August. I open in an hour and have to get to the shop.”
Dan had never struggled so hard against anything as he did to keep from demanding more from Nan. The hunger for him to take over the scene, to exert his dominance, and her disappointing lack of arousal was written all over her face and in the dullness of her golden-eyed gaze. His lap and arms felt empty when she rose, but he would have to look more closely at that new reaction later. Pushing to his feet, he zipped up his jeans, wishing he cou
ld sit and enjoy the final clutches of pleasure she had pulled from him.
“Let’s go, then.” Clasping her hand, he led her out to his truck with one bright, positive thought pushing through his conflicting emotions. She hadn’t cared for his passive role any more than he. That meant he could move a little faster with his plans to get her over the hurdle of her fears, which suited him just fine.
He drove her back to her place in companionable silence, and he was glad that hadn’t changed between them. He couldn’t think of another woman he’d been as comfortable with, either at a kink club or as a vanilla friend, than Nan. Pulling behind the tea shop, he didn’t push her by insisting on walking her upstairs. The more he treated her as usual despite the temporary change in their relationship, the easier it would be for her to stay relaxed.
Leaving the truck idling, he turned in his seat and reached in front of her to unlatch her seatbelt and then open the door. With his face close enough to hers their breaths meshed and his arm brushed her breasts, he stated, “I’ll pick you up for lunch on Wednesday since you’re closed. Fair warning, I intend to up my control as well as pry more information out of you.” She stiffened and narrowed her eyes, her mouth setting in a stubborn pout. “If you intend to balk or argue, call me and we’ll cancel. You have to want this in order for me to help you.”
Dan watched as his words sunk in and her shoulders relaxed, the pinched look around her mouth softening. “I don’t plan to, but if I freak out while having lunch in a public place, I’ll never forgive you.”
He nodded. “Understood. That’s not something I would risk, anyway.”
“Then I’ll see you in a few days.” She hopped out, but before closing the door, turned back toward him and said, “Thank you for last night.”
“I care, Nan, always have. You know that.”
“I know, as do I.” She gave him one of those cheeky, teasing grins he got a kick out of. “And that’s why I’m not telling you to fuck off.”
Slamming the door on his burst of laughter, he waited until she sauntered inside before heading back home in a much better mood.
Chapter 7
The craft fair brought in another good crowd that afternoon, and staying busy kept Nan from obsessing over what Dan meant by upping his control and wondering how far he would go in public. When at the club, she didn’t mind letting go in front of others, in fact, she used to get off on the exhibitionism. Heeding Master Dan’s commands in a public place was a different story. Before Gerard had destroyed her confidence in herself, she would have trusted Dan and herself without reservation. She regretted that loss the most, she thought as she locked the tea shop’s door behind her after closing.
On legs leaden with exhaustion and with the headache she had woken up with starting to creep back in, she glanced around the town square still lined with booths selling everything from home baked goods to hand crafted items. She winced as she took in the milling, last-minute shoppers. The craft fair may have been good for business, but now all she wanted was the peace and quiet of her small hometown back. With a sigh, she wound her way along the sidewalk, the warm afternoon sun splashing down on her face helping to improve her mood. Early summer was a great time of year in Montana, and after months of frigid temperatures and snow, it was no wonder people were looking for reasons to spend more time outdoors.
Nan wondered what activities Greg and Devin offered at their new dude ranch, which is where some of these visitors had come from. She wouldn’t mind checking out their resort, maybe spending a day trail riding and having a picnic in a scenic spot. That was, if she could face the two Doms again after her mortifying behavior the other night. She cringed whenever she thought of going back to the club, but giving up the lifestyle she loved and reaped so many benefits from wasn’t an option. Regardless of her lack of trust in herself, she would rely on Master Dan to get her back to her former happy place.
She’d thought it would be difficult to switch into their Dom/sub roles outside of the club, the only place they’d indulged in them together. But the ease with which she had gone to her knees before Dan in his home surprised her as much as when he’d chosen to come to her last night instead of spending the whole evening at The Barn. Where their relationship would be once she was back to normal, she couldn’t fathom, but at least his offer gave her something else to think about besides the nightmares.
Entering the library, she spotted Avery waving her over to a table. Books were spread out on the long, extra tables set up for the fair and several caught her eye as she padded over to her friend. “Have you been waiting long?” she asked, setting her purse down on the floor next to an empty chair.
“Nope, just got here. This is bigger than I’d imagined. Poor Willa is being run ragged. It’s a good thing she has Alice, and a few other volunteers.”
Nan glanced over at the front counter and saw Alice scowling before her face cleared and she smiled with a wave. “Alice appears a little harried also,” she replied, returning the older woman’s greeting.
“I don’t think they were expecting such a big turnout, which is why we should take our time searching for what we want instead of bugging one of them for help. Okay with you?” Avery nudged her slipping glasses back up as she placed her purse on top of the table.
“Sure. The only thing I have waiting for me at home is a frozen Lean Cuisine dinner.”
Avery eyed Nan’s taller, thinner body with a frown. “Why the heck would you eat anything lean? Now, if you were as round as me, I could understand, but seriously.”
Laughing, Nan started toward the book tables, Avery falling in step with her. “Honestly, I really like the food, it’s that simple. You need to start listening to Grayson. Your figure is fine the way you are.”
A red stain covered Avery’s cheeks. “He said the same thing right before I left and wanted to change out of this dress. He also emphasized his point with the wooden paddle he’s way too fond of using on me.”
Memories, good ones, flitted through Nan’s head as she envied her friend’s good fortune. She would give anything to be on the receiving end of a hard, stimulating spanking again, one that would leave her butt sore and hot, so that when she sat or even walked, the discomfort would cause her pussy to spasm with dampness, a mind-consuming punishment that would erase the abuse Gerard had heaped upon her. The difference in her response to erotic pain as opposed to the excruciating agony she’d experienced those few days wasn’t lost on her and was as unexplainable as her captor’s actions.
“These look to be all suspense,” Avery said as they checked out a few titles on the first table. “Let’s browse here first. This is my favorite genre.”
“Mine too, as long as there are some spicy scenes.”
Avery flipped her a grin. “Don’t we get enough of those in real life?”
She wished, and maybe, with Master Dan’s help, Nan would have that again too. “Can you ever have enough?”
“True.”
Nan was clutching six books in her arms by the time she’d browsed through all the tables and tiredness was seeping into her body and dragging her down. She left Avery to continue shopping and padded back to the table where they’d left their purses. Four books she intended to buy and two to check out, so she would need her card and wallet. Wondering if her library card needed updating, she set the books down and started to reach for her purse on the floor only to encounter an empty space. Swearing under her breath, she looked around and didn’t see it anywhere. No one from Willow Springs would have taken it, but she should have remembered all these people weren’t friendly neighbors.
Anger filled her as she calculated what cards she would have to cancel a.s.a.p. and the inconvenience she didn’t need on top of everything else. She hurried over to the counter where Willa and Alice were ringing up sales and check outs, hoping someone had turned it in to lost and found instead of taking off with it. “Hey, Willa. I can’t find my purse – I left it under a table while we looked around.”
“Oh, d
ear, that’s odd. No one would swipe it, would they?”
Nan could tell the thought distressed the eighty-something librarian as much as it did her. “Let me check the lost and found. Maybe someone thought they were doing a good deed, thinking it was left behind,” Alice suggested as she patted Willa’s shoulder. “What does it look like?”
“Thanks, Alice, that’s what I’m hoping. It’s brown leather, long strap and a front zippered pocket.”
She returned in moments and shook her head in regret. “I didn’t see it in there. I’m sure your credit is good enough we can go ahead and ring you up, isn’t it, Willa?”
“Yes, dear, of course. I’ll take care of it, if you’ll announce closing time in fifteen, Alice.”
“Will do. I’m more than ready to get off my feet.” Alice went into the office behind the counter and as Willa pulled up Nan’s card on the computer, the announcement came through the speakers. She came out balancing a stack of books and nodded with a smile before taking her load out to the shelves.
Nan shifted with impatience as Willa slowly put the information of each book into the computer, trying to keep from prodding her along. She knew how important it was to get those cards cancelled quickly and every minute could mean the hassle of another charge she would have to file against. She reminded herself the woman was doing her a big favor. By the time Willa finished and bagged the books, Nan saw Avery walking over to get her purse, which still sat on top of the table.
She reached for the bag. “Thanks, Willa. I’ll come in this week and get these paid for.”
“I know I can trust you, dear. I do hope your purse shows up, though.”
Worry clouded Willa’s already filmy eyes and Nan hurried to soothe her. “Don’t fret. It’ll just be a matter of cancelling a few cards and getting new ones. Thanks again.”