“Is this too tight?”
“No, Sir. Feels sweet.”
He kissed the middle of her chest, descended a little, and kissed her stomach, continued farther down, and kissed her mons.
“Mine,” he murmured as he grabbed her ankles, pushed them closer to her buttocks, and spread her legs apart. “Comfortable?”
“Yes, Sir.” She smiled.
Damn. She was magnificent, tied, blindfolded, hips lifted and open for him. Her splayed denuded pussy and her swollen red clit made his mouth water. He had to taste her, now. He licked from the rim of her anal rosette to her clit, taking along the way her liquid arousal. At the top, he nibbled and sucked her clit. She raised her hips, trying to get closer to his mouth. He pressed a hand on her belly.
“Relax, kitten. Enjoy the pleasure I’m giving you, but don’t move. I need you to stay still.”
She nodded in silent obedience.
With his eyes glued to her pussy, he grabbed the bottle of oil and the vibrator, bringing both within close reach.
Let the games begin.
Joe drizzled a few drops of oil on her clit, a few more on his fingertips, and began to spread the slick liquid all over her. He massaged her inner thighs, relaxing her, then pushed her bent legs down on the bed as he continued toward the center of her sex. He spread her labia carefully, touched her, examined every inch of her flesh, pinched her clit, then bit lightly.
Desire mounted and maddened him.
What could he possibly do that would satisfy his insane need for her?
He thrust two fingers into her channel. “Let’s see how wet you are.” His voice sounded strange to him. He’d arrived at the limit. Primal man rose to the surface, demanding his mate—every inch of her.
“Fuck yes, you’re soaking wet.” He flicked his fingers back and forth, pleasuring the ridged area inside her sheath.
Hunter gasped, but she didn’t move.
“Breathe in, kitten.” He slipped his fingers out. “Now, let it out.” As she exhaled, he inserted two lubricated fingers in her back channel. “That’s it. Do it again, and bear down.” He widened his fingers around her rim, relaxing and stretching her. “Does anything pinch? Hurt?”
“No, Sir. I want more, please.”
“You got it.” Removing his fingers, Joe slathered the thin vibrator with oil, and held the round tip next to her anal opening. “Again. Breath in, out, and bear down.”
As she bore down, the vibrator slipped easily inside.
He turned it on.
Hunter yelped.
“Pain?” he asked.
“Surprise, Sir.”
“How does it feel?” He pressed the toy a little farther inside.
She wiggled her hips. “Oh, my. Different. So good…so, so good.”
“Hold on,” he murmured as he massaged oil onto his cock. He crawled closer. Guiding the head of his penis to her sheath, he held on to her luscious hips, and in a single thrust, he impaled her all the way to the hilt.
“Ah,” Hunter yelled.
“Mine.” Joe followed with his own growl. Damn she was so hot, tight, and delicious. The stimulation from the vibrating toy drove him mad. “Fuck…tell me.”
“I’m so full. So full,” She panted, grinding her clit against him. “More, more, more.”
“This pussy’s mine, all mine.” He pumped so hard, her breasts jiggled and he dislodged her from the pillow. Tossing it out of his way, he anchored her legs on his shoulders as he continued pistoning harder and deeper.
“You’re fucking mine, do you hear me?” He tilted his hips to hit different angles inside her, but the dildo didn’t give him much room. Her internal heat and the unrelenting vibration against his cock were irresistible. Soon, holding his climax back would be impossible.
He had no choice; he had to take her over. He pinched her slippery clit, teased and moved it side to side. Hunter jerked. Despite the ties, her arms and head thrashed desperately. Wild internal spasms began. She arched up. “I c-can’t stop.”
“Don’t. Let it go. Come with me,” he demanded as he exploded inside her.
Climax throttled her, wave upon wave. She bucked against him, extracting every bit of pleasure. When her last spasm ceased, a faint whisper escaped her lips. “I love you, Sir.”
He bent to kiss her belly. “And I you, kitten.”
The murmured confession removed the heavy burden from his soul. Speaking the truth liberated him. Fully at peace and content, Joe collapsed his chest on the body of the woman who’d taken his heart.
The morning sunshine streamed unimpeded through Joe’s house. The scant puffy clouds in an aqua-blue sky promised a lovely April day, comfortable and fairly dry. With a mug of coffee and pruning shears in hand, Joe stepped out to his front porch. As Hunter fiddled inside doing whatever women do before a shopping expedition, he came out to clip the bougainvillea. He hated cutting back the long branches filled with vibrant flowers, but the plant had grown too much and the needles were dangerous to anyone entering the house. Even he had to duck to avoid being stuck.
Meanwhile as he looked around his yard, he marveled at the sense of wellness permeating him.
It felt good to be Joe Reid and alive.
Yes. Alive.
He took another sip, musing on the most stunning discovery of all: he’d carried survivor’s guilt since he woke up in triage—he should have died with Billy—and hadn’t realized it.
Today, he felt ten pounds lighter. Only one matter remained unsolved and he was going to take care of it right away: a long conference with Soledad Cuevas at Costa del Sol. He intended to grill her until she coughed up everything she knew about Hunter’s past.
Joe placed the mug on the wood railing and began to cut, making a pile of branches. Soft footsteps approaching the screen door stopped his work.
“Hey, babe.” Hunter pressed her palms and lovely forehead against the netting.
“Hi, kitten. Ready for your trip?”
“Yep. I’m all ready.” She sighed as she opened the door and slid around it. Lacing her arms around his neck, she dropped a kiss on his cheek.
“Hmm, that’s not enough.” He slipped his arm around her waist, moving her more to his front. When her mouth came within reach, he took it, savored it with slow strokes of his tongue. “Love your taste,” he murmured, releasing her.
Blinking in an apparent daze, Hunter wobbled. A gleaming lock of her gorgeous auburn hair fell forward, blocking his view of her seductive profile. He tucked the impertinent tress behind her ear, and she raised her eyes. Her emerald irises sparkled in the sun. His chest tightened. And to think that just a few days ago, he was going to leave her.
Ludicrous.
Stupid.
Insane.
“Would you like a snack before you go?” he murmured.
“I’m okay, thanks.” She shook her head. “Kelly should be here soon. She’s been driving me nuts with her nonstop texts. This brand-new grandmother thing has her in a tizzy. We’ll grab a bite at the Florida Mall. That’s where she wants to go. It has the most shops.”
“Okay. While you’re gone, I’ll be busy finishing my designs. Will Kelly drive you to work later?”
“Oh, yeah. In fact, we’re stopping by my studio first so I can change. We’ll go straight to the bar when we’re done at the mall.”
“All right, as long as you’re not driving around alone. Yesterday, I didn’t like Aaron’s and Dan’s body language.”
Her full mouth formed a circle. “You noticed?”
“I see everything.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’ll pick you up after last call. We need to talk.”
Hunter blushed. “I’m sorry. Last night, I said too much.”
“No, sweetheart. You were braver than me. You voiced what I feel for you and didn’t have the nerve to confess.” He ran his knuckle down her cheek, enjoying the silky feeling of her skin. “I intend to say it and show you, all through the night and in every possible way.” Suddenly aroused, he e
xhaled. “How much time do we have?”
“Knowing Kelly…” She pouted. “Five minutes, tops.”
“That’s not enough time for what I want to do. I’ll save it all for later.” Chuckling, he noticed her bare feet. “And where the heck are your shoes? You’re not going out like that.”
“No, no.” In a whirl, she opened the screen door. Echoes of laughter followed her as she disappeared.
He wiped his palm over his face. Dumbfounded, he was still coming to terms with the changes a small tornado called Hunter Giordano had made in his life. She filled his home with laughter and joy. She was a perfect fit. He’d never believed such happiness existed. He’d listened with great skepticism and a note of disdain to dominants in the club talking about finding their ideal sub, the mate who completed them.
Look at you now.
The sound of big heavy tires crushing the gravel and sandy road stopped his musings. Kelly had arrived.
“Hey, there,” he yelled as she climbed down.
Smiling, Kelly waved back.
“Would you like some coffee before you go?” Joe asked as he opened the screen door and stood aside, allowing Kelly inside.
She entered without hesitation. One would think she owned the place.
“I’ve already had three cups.” She held up a hand. “I just wanna come in and check out your place.” Kelly advanced as she examined every piece in his rather sparse living room. “Looks comfy. A bachelor pad. There’s room for improvement.” Pressing with her palm, she tested the cushions of his sofa. “Not bad. Firm. Good quality.”
“Glad you approve, Kelly.” Amused, Joe crossed his arms. He followed her as she went about her inspection.
She glanced over her shoulder. “Can’t blame me, dude. I need to know my girl’s well taken care of.” She swiped a fingertip over an end table, checking for dust. It came up clean. “Not bad.”
Standing next to Joe, Hunter smiled at her friend.
“Joe keeps a good house, Kelly. And he treats me like a princess.”
“Well, in that case…can we get a move on? Traffic on I4’s gonna be nuts.” Kelly turned to Joe. “You don’t mind me whisking her away, do you?”
“We’re cool if…” He shrugged. “You bring her back to me safe and sound.”
“I’ll watch her like a hawk.” Kelly walked to the door. “Kiss him already, Hunter, and let’s go. I’ll wait for you in the Tahoe.”
Hunter walked up to him. “Sir?” She circled her arms around his neck.
“Yes, kitten.”
She kissed him softly. He resisted the temptation to throw her onto the sofa and take her right there and then, Kelly be damned.
“Go.” He gave her a gentle push. “Have fun.”
Smiling, she jogged out. Before she got into Kelly’s SUV, she waved once more.
An eerie frisson chilled him. Ignoring the sense of foreboding, he waved back. He was behaving like a possessive parent allowing his little girl to go out with her friends for the first time.
Ridiculous.
Kelly’s Tahoe lifted a cloud of tiny pebbles and dust on its way to the main road. Joe closed the door when they disappeared from view. As he walked inside his home, he rubbed the skin of his arms, warming the icy sensation away.
Next stop, Costa del Sol.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
JOE’S TIRES SCREECHED to a full stop in front of Costa del Sol. In one breath, he slid down to the sidewalk and slammed the door of his truck shut with the back of his arm.
At first glance, the store seemed deserted. He checked his watch. It was nine forty-five in the morning. Soledad should be inside, prepping for the day. He leaned closer for a better look. A shadow moved in the storage room. Must be Soledad going back and forth, or maybe it was Yanira opening the shop for her lover. He didn’t care. He wanted in. If Soledad hadn’t come yet, he would wait hours to talk to her. He pounded on the front door hard enough to be heard in Kissimmee.
A female form rushed out of the storage room. As she came closer, he recognized Soledad by the ankle-length skirt she wore practically every time he visited the store. He knocked again, this time with rapid taps. She waved a metal holder full of keys, and he stopped.
Chill, he reminded himself.
“I’m coming. Jesus. I’m coming.” Clinking sounds followed her voice from inside the shop. A moment later, Soledad opened the door. “In a rush or something?”
Joe shoved his hands into his pockets and walked in. “Sorry to bug you. I need to talk to you. It’s important.”
“Sounds serious.” She shut the door, flipped the Open sign to Closed, and drew all the shades down. “There. That will keep the curious and the insistent away.”
The dig got him. Embarrassed, he stood in place, scratching his forehead.
“Wow. I’ve never seen cool and collected Joe Reid flustered. This is huge.” Soledad pointed at her chocolate-leather armchairs. “Sit. Get comfy.” She followed her own instructions. “What can I do for you?”
“I don’t know where to begin,” he murmured, sitting, then leaning his elbows on his knees.
“Let me guess. It has to do with Hunter. Yes?”
“Yes.” He nodded, head down. “I don’t mean to pry, Soledad. Forgive my bluntness, please. Are you and Yanira in the dom/sub lifestyle?”
She exhaled, folding her hands on her lap. “We are.”
He glanced up. “I’ve noticed, because I am too. Have been for years.”
“Uh-huh.” She raised an eyebrow.
“Then what I need to discuss won’t sound foreign to you. Hunter had a strange reaction during impact play. I think an event from her past surfaced. I’ve asked her, but she refuses to go there. It’s like she’s locked the memory deep in her mind.” He glanced up. “I need to unravel the mystery. Will you help me?”
Her sudden pallor told him, he’d come to the right person. Soledad knew much about Hunter’s life. He had to press her.
“Will you?”
“It all depends, Joe.” Soledad stiffened. Her expression darkened. “Hunter is my friend. I’m very protective of her. She’s gone through enough. I’m not going to release information simply because you’re curious or your play didn’t come out right. If you don’t have her best interest at heart, you’re getting nothing. Hear me?”
“Loud and clear.”
Joe leaned against the backrest. A feeling of guilt settled over him. If Soledad got wind of his original intent with Hunter, she’d boot him out of her shop and never speak to him—Brenda or no Brenda. Worse, his mother would side with Soledad. She’d basically said as much.
But he’d turned that misguided corner and could now speak with the truth in his voice. He loved Hunter and wanted her and her son by his side. He wanted them to make a happy life together. Yes, he had the right to ask.
“I’m in love with Hunter. I’m going to ask her to wear my collar and marry me.” He enunciated clearly, avoiding any pauses. It was important she understood his feelings for Hunter. When he mentioned presenting her with his collar, her eyelids flickered with awareness.
Good, she got it.
This was a damned serious proposal—a huge commitment on his part, as good as a marriage proposal in the vanilla world.
“First, tell me what happened.” She curled one leg under her bottom. “What brought you to me?”
“Tuesday, we had our first impact play. An introduction to floggers, not the casual spanking she enjoys.” He exhaled hard. “She was in full agreement.”
Soledad didn’t react. Her gaze remained steady on him.
“I don’t mean to brag.” He held her stare. Boasting was not his thing. “I say this only to confirm my abilities. I handle floggers and whips well. I’m highly in tune with the sub’s needs, I know the different levels, and I’m never in a rush.” He rubbed his palms to remain calm, but Hunter’s screams still echoed in his mind.
“I started out softly, warming her up at a slow pace…” Joe continued explaining the pla
y as it developed. As he approached the critical moment, Soledad paled. By the time he described Hunter wailing and yelling at some unseen person, tears were rolling down Soledad’s colorless cheeks.
“Enough.” She held up one palm as she wiped her face dry with the other. She stood, eyeing him. “Want a drink?”
“A drink, drink?” he asked bewildered. “It’s a little early for me.”
“Well, I’m getting one. If I’m gonna talk about this crap, I need something strong.” She walked to the storage room. A minute later, she came out holding a brandy snifter. The golden liquid swished inside. As she passed by him, the liquor’s aroma hit his nostrils. She took a sip and sat again. “Tell me what you know about her.”
Joe shrugged. “Other than that she’s a sub, not much. She’s talked about Kevin. I don’t think she gets along with her mother. She wants to bring her boy down. She’s studying for Florida’s court translator exam in the fall.” He circled his fingers, imitating a small vortex. “Somewhere in the middle, a painful memory lurks. That’s what I’m guessing.”
Soledad sipped again. “Hmm, nice brandy. Sure you don’t want some?”
“I’m sure.”
“Then hang on to your seat.” She settled back. “Hunter was born in Brooklyn, Canarsie to be exact. Her father is first-generation Italian, and her mother, Carmen, was born in Chile. Hunter grew up speaking Spanish.” Soledad shrugged one shoulder. “Anyway, the family moved from Canarsie to Marine Park. That’s where she met her ex-fiancé, Marco. They were high school sweethearts, blah, blah, blah. Got engaged. Life was wonderful.”
She paused. Joe’s stomach tightened. The information he sought was coming, and he feared it would be rough.
“Days before the wedding, Marco’s brother made an inappropriate pass at Hunter. She rejected him, and he didn’t take it well. He brutally raped and beat her.” Soledad paused again. Her jaw muscles tensed and relaxed. “The asshole sent her flying through a glass door.”
Joe tried to swallow, but his mouth felt like the Sahara.
Glancing at her lap, she pressed the area between her eyebrows. “I’m sure you’ve seen the scar on her hip. That’s a reminder of Antonio’s violence. It was a mess. At the ER, Carmen berated Hunter. She accused her of behaving like a floozy…she was the cause of her troubles, deserved what she got, on and on. Uptight, nasty woman, that Carmen.”
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