“Yes, it is.” Duke raised his arms above his head, and she heard his back crack.
“Did you tell anyone about what happened to you?”
“Fuck, no. I never did, but I’m not what you’d call an example or anythin’. And I’ve royally fucked up my life several times along the way.”
“Like how?”
“Hmm, let’s see. I gotta lot of options to choose from. We’ll go with a simple one. At eighteen, I had my first assault charge and a jail sentence to boot.”
Rose had no trouble picturing him assaulting someone. Duke had rage as she did, only he was much more comfortable expressing it, and he had it under tight control.
“What happened?”
He rolled on his side to face her, propped his head up on one elbow.
“This douchebag I roomed with in college, Sam Pierce. He had a thing for the girl in my chem class. Sam wouldn’t leave her alone until she said yes to a date. The asshole took her to a bar, got her drunk. Then he brought her back to our room so he could date-rape her.”
Even now, she could see the anger drawing his features tight.
“Oh, my God.”
“Yeah, I found them when I got back from the library. He hadn’t remembered to put a sock on the doorknob. When I walked in, Sam was on top of her. She was trying to scream, but he had a hand over her mouth. I didn’t even think, I grabbed him and knocked his ass out.”
“And what happened to you?” She brought one of her knees up to her chest and hugged it. “I’m sure the school was pissed.”
“I got suspended for a semester, had to move into off-campus housing.” He snorted. “My stepfather bought a new student center for the college. Universities can be very forgivin’ if you’ve got enough cash. I did thirty days jail time, had to take some anger management classes, probation for a year.” Duke grinned. “And you know how well that worked out for me.”
“What happened to your roommate?”
“Not a fucking clue. Never heard from him again. His family had money too, and I’m bettin’ they fixed it for him. He’s probably a senator or somethin’—spends his days sexually harassing interns and sitting on his ass.”
“So that was the first time you had a run-in with the law. And you just got out of prison?”
“That’s right—another assault charge.”
“What happened?”
“It’s club business,” he said evasively. “Not much I can say about it, but the bastard had it coming.”
Five years was a long time—it must have been bad.
“It was a guy who made and sold kiddie porn.” He’d answered the question in her eyes.
Her stomach roiled. “That’s disgusting.”
“Yeah, and you didn’t even see the pictures he had. I fucked that one up… shoulda covered my tracks better. I can’t complain too much, though. In jail, I was a fuckin’ hero for going after a pedophile—made the time go by faster.”
Rose had heard that prisoners didn’t tolerate child molesters, rapists, and the like.
“What about the three strikes law?” Texas punished ‘habitual offenders’ more harshly.
“If I get caught again, I could get twenty-five to life next time.” His face clouded.
“Aren’t you worried?”
Duke shook his head. “I do what I gotta do for the club, Firecracker. No sense worryin’ about it until it happens.”
“You said you had a special skill set you used for the club,” she said, piecing it all together. “You work as an enforcer or something, right?”
“More or less. What do you know about enforcing?”
“Only what I’ve seen in movies.”
“Now that we’ve gone over my resumé and rap sheet, what do you say we bring it back to you? Wanna talk about Kent?”
Rose swallowed. “What’s to tell? He raped me, daily.”
“And Rock?”
“He took my virginity, and it was horrible. He and I were both drunk, and it hurt. I don’t think I was ready—he just jammed himself inside me.” Rose shut her eyes, shivering at the memory. “I used to fantasize about my first time when I was in high school. I always assumed it’d be romantic—music, candles, and wine. The reality was on a sofa after too much beer.”
“Not exactly perfect, huh?”
“Nope, but at least it was over fast.” Rose sighed.
Duke tensed. “Sounds like your first time was about as good as mine.”
“What was yours like?”
“We’re talkin’ about you.”
Rose thought a second. “This is going to sound crazy, but I preferred Kent to be rough with me. Sometimes when he was nice, it messed with my head. Once in a while, he’d try to cuddle with me or hold me. Like in his mind, we’d made love.”
Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, and she hastily wiped them away. “You know what? No one has ever made love to me.” Her throat felt raw. “I mean, after all, I’ve been through, why would it matter? But it does. How sad is that?”
Duke reached for her and then dropped his hand. He made a low, pained noise, but she didn’t look at him.
“What about you?”
“I’ve never made love to anyone.”
“Has anyone made love to you?” she asked.
For a long moment, he was silent.
She thought he might not answer, but then his words came in a rush.
“Fuck, no. I was sodomized hundreds of time, usually until I bled. Now I fuck whom I choose, when I choose. It can be wild and sometimes tender, but I don’t make love to anyone. I don’t even know how to.”
Yeah, they were both screwed up.
Duke sprung up from the floor, dusted himself off. “Well, I think we’ve both picked at our wounds enough for one night, don’t you?” His tone was light, joking, trying to distance himself from the emotional conversation they’d had.
Share time had come to an end. He’d still held a lot back, but she got a peek behind the curtain. It was enough for now.
“Yeah.”
“What do you say we go down to The Vault? Play a little? This time, I think we should try something a lot kinkier.”
Rose shoved all of those hateful memories away and focused on the man in front of her. “Sounds good to me.”
It was time to make some new memories.
***
“Do you trust me?”
Duke always asked the question, assessing their bond. She nodded, and this time, there were no caveats. He’d earned it time and time again.
Duke had ordered her to strip when they entered The Vault. He’d also tugged his shirt over his head, leaving his chest bare.
He guided her to the St. Andrew’s cross and hit a lever which lowered the top portion of the cross until it created a horizontal surface. She knew he intended to strap her to it, and the anticipation rushed through her body like a drug.
“Of course, I do.”
“You do?” A broad smile lit up his handsome face. “Excellent. Then I say we take this to the next level. No safety word tonight.”
Woah.
She bit her lower lip as a flare of uncertainty sparked to life. “No safety word?” Yeah, that was playing without a net.
Duke met her gaze. “Yes. Can you handle it? If not, that’s fine. No harm, no foul. You do what feels comfortable for you.”
She was tempted to say no but wanted to reclaim her life. Would giving herself over to him completely and experiencing a positive bondage scene with Duke erase or lessen those bad memories? Maybe.
She was willing to try. “I think so.”
“Well, we’ll take it slow. Lay down.”
His intense gaze swept over her, and she shivered. She loved the heated, hooded look of his eyes when he was aroused. Rose was starting to get wet— talking to him got her ready sometimes. Rose could see his erection pressing against the fabric of his athletic pants. Even while he maintained an aura of calm control, he wasn’t immune to her either.
Rose cautious
ly sat on the cross. The vinyl padding beneath her was cool, and it raised goose bumps on her arms and legs. And it made her nipples harden.
He pulled several lengths of rope from the trunk along with a red ball gag, a pair of nipple clamps, and a pink vibrator still in the box.
“I have some fun games planned. I want to see how far we can go tonight.”
She loved the way he said we. Kent had always done things to her while Duke did things with her—it was a small distinction, but it made a huge difference.
“The gag will be the last thing I use, okay?”
“Okay.” She relaxed, lying back on the cross.
“Part your legs for me.”
Rose did, placing them far away from each other on either side of the cross. Duke stepped between her thighs, and she bit her lower lip. God, she wanted him inside her now, and she knew it wouldn’t happen for a good, long while. Duke loved to tease.
He patiently wound the rope around the tops of her thighs as well as the surface beneath her. The rope felt slightly scratchy against her skin, but it didn’t bother her the way metal did.
Then he wrapped the rope around her wrists and attached them to the apex of the cross, pulling them up and over her head, leaving her in a vulnerable position. She could hardly move her arms at all, and she couldn’t close her thighs.
It made her a little edgy, but Duke soothingly stroked her cheek, and she shut her eyes, leaning into his touch.
“Okay?”
Rose reminded herself this was Duke touching her. No one else. After a moment, she nodded.
“Good.” With a growl, he ran a hand down her body. “Damn, I used to imagine you like this. Naked and bound for me, ready to be fucked.”
God, she loved the word fuck. So earthy. That’s what she wanted him to do. Fuck her.
Duke tweaked her nipples, and she bit her lower lip, wanting his mouth on them. Instead, he attached the plastic nipple clamps. She had no breasts to speak of, but her nipples were intensely sensitive. The clamps pinched making them both throb. It wasn’t painful, only uncomfortable. She shivered in her bonds, feeling helpless.
With this man in control, it was unbearably arousing.
Duke pulled up a wooden chair and situated it between her thighs. He straddled it from behind, and he stared at her sex.
Missing nothing.
“Fuck, you’re wet.” He rubbed her lips.
Sighing, she closed her eyes, completely focused on his fingers. Wanting more. Then he teased her clit, leisurely stroking it until she undulated against his fingers. Rose moaned, pulling at her bonds. It was stimulating, not being able to move. Particularly, with someone you knew. Someone you liked, someone you maybe even loved… well, she wouldn’t go there. Not right now.
I can do this.
She raised up as far as she could. “Will you gag me?”
Dark eyes met hers. “Are you sure?”
“Please.”
A grin lit up his face. “I’m proud of you.”
Duke rounded the cross so he could cup her cheek. He bent and captured her lips in a ferocious kiss. She loved the way he used his mouth with a carnal intensity that made her toes curl.
When he pulled his mouth from hers, he placed the gag between her lips and then buckled the clasp behind her head. There were tiny holes in the ball that allowed her to get air—but it kept her mouth open, prevented her from speaking.
Duke tugged at the nipple clamps, and she whimpered in aching pleasure. Then he reclaimed his position between her thighs and leaned forward to taste her, consuming her like a ravenous man. He lapped at her slowly at first, making her strain towards him. Duke traced the entire length of her lips with his tongue before delving into the center of her, drinking her in.
Rose keened, rocking into him.
With the pad of his thumb, he rubbed her clit while she trembled, her hips moving with involuntary urgency. Rose wanted to hold his head, keep him tight against her, but all she could do was lie there and take whatever he chose to offer.
Duke drove her towards an orgasm with his persistent tongue. He sucked on her clit while his fingers slid in and out of her pussy. Rose cried out behind the gag, struggling in her bonds.
God, she was almost there… a few more seconds.
Duke pulled away, and she groaned in desperation.
“Please.”
He ignored her. Instead, he took out the vibrator and switched it on. She strained to see what he was doing. With an unholy grin, he teased her, buzzing the lips, her inner thighs, but refused to put the toy where she wanted most.
“Pleeeeaaaase!” she managed around the gag.
“Do you want me to put it on your clit?”
“Oh, God, yes,” she said, voice muffled.
He did, making her thighs quiver. Then he pulled it away.
Frustrated, she fought against the rope, trying to get close to him. Duke tasted her once more, his tongue sliding in deep. Her eyes fell shut, rolling back in her head, and she gave herself over to him.
Rose let go and focused on his mouth between her legs, lost herself in the pleasure. It was a heady experience, basking in that bond… that trust between them.
And then the bastard pulled away before she could orgasm.
Duke repeated the process until she was nearly mindless. She pleaded with her eyes, unable to even form words.
“I know what you need, Firecracker. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you hangin’.” He pressed the toy hard against her clit—sending her into oblivion.
Then Duke drove into her, his cock plunging in deep. She wailed at the thick feel of him, the friction he created. He pumped furiously, and the sensation of his dick inside her along with the unyielding vibration of the wicked pink toy he kept on her clit sent her over the edge yet again.
“Mine.” He ran a possessive hand down her stomach, her thighs.
“Yours,” she muttered. Rose blearily opened her eyes and focused on him.
He finished with a roar, spilling himself into her endlessly.
When it was over, he released the ropes, the clamps, the gag, and carried her to the couch. He stoked up a fire and then cradled her in his lap, pressing kisses to her cheeks, her mouth, and his hands roving over her body greedily. She closed her eyes, relishing the touch.
They didn’t speak for a long time—no words seemed necessary.
Rose was exhausted but content. Duke had given her a delicious new memory. It pieced together a couple of jagged parts she’d never thought would fit together again.
He’d mended her a little tonight.
“I’m gonna head up to my room. I think you wore me out.” Duke kissed her forehead. “You can stay the night here.”
That was their deal, right? This was supposed to be fun, kinky sexy. It shouldn’t have hurt, but somehow it did. Her eyes strayed to the cold, lonely bed.
She felt something for him—and being in the bed alone while he went to an entirely different floor to sleep made her feel isolated.
Chilled to the bone, she got to her feet and padded over to the pile of clothes she’d discarded. She began to methodically put them back on.
“I’m gonna head back to Hades.” Her tone was offhand.
“You can stay if you want.”
“Nope, I’m good, thanks.” She slid the shirt over her head.
“I’d like it if you stayed.”
For a moment, she hesitated.
No.
Staying here wasn’t an option. She and Duke both had issues. They were both damaged, broken people. He didn’t get emotionally close to the women he slept with, and he’d told her that up front. She shouldn’t have expected more. Rose pulled on the rest of her clothing.
“I’m sorry. I can’t.” She turned and headed up the stairs.
Rose refused to look back.
Chapter Sixteen
Another week passed in a blur.
Fighting exhaustion, Rose drove back to Hades after yet another training session with Duke follo
wed by mind-blowing sex.
It was taking a lovely toll on her body—and it was getting harder and harder to leave him.
After they had sex, fucked, whatever the hell it was, she hated the part where she dressed and went back to the hotel. Yet that’s what they’d done every damn day this week. She wanted to stay in bed next to him, sleep beside him. Maybe even wake up in his arms, but Duke resisted the intimacy. He always implored her to stay in The Vault, but she never would.
Duke preoccupied her thoughts. When she wasn’t with him, she wished she was. And she also got the impression he wanted more from her, even if he didn’t ask for it or know how to ask for it.
Something was going on between them.
They had another relationship talk coming in the very near future. They needed to sort this out before one of them got hurt. The problem was she wasn’t sure how to bring it up or what to say. Not like she’d had much practice.
She decided to worry about this tomorrow. Right now, she was bone-tired.
Rose parked the truck behind Hades and walked along the sidewalk. It was beginning to sprinkle outside, and she wished she’d brought an umbrella with her. Voodoo was grabbing something out of his saddlebags and nodded to her as she passed. She idly noticed some broken glass on the pavement, and the floodlights hadn’t come on. Maybe some of the neighborhood kids smashed them?
She keyed into her darkened room, tossed her bag on the table, and headed to the bathroom. Rose needed a long, hot shower. Her muscles were aching from the strain—but it was a good twinge, an ache which came from making herself stronger and more powerful.
She turned the spigot in the shower, letting the water heat before she climbed in. The water heater was old and took its sweet time coming up to temperature. After she began to strip, she padded back into the bedroom, flicked on the light switch, and then froze in her tracks.
White lingerie had been arranged artfully on the bed.
Oh, my God.
Someone had been in her room.
Kent? But how?
How many times had Duke warned her to be aware of her surroundings? How often had he told her to scan an area, get the lay of the land?
Joy Ride: A Virgin Romance (Let it Ride Book 3) Page 29