I watch as a shiver runs through her body at my words, causing her to shake against the harsh wooden beams. I stride forward, unbuttoning my shirt and dropping it to the floor before I reach her.
I slowly run my hand down her spine, her alabaster skin reacting to the lightest touch. I enjoy her sharp intake of breath as I continue to run my fingers down over her tight little ass, before making my way lower until I reach her ankle. I quickly fasten the brown leather cuffs that will render her helpless to escape. First one and then the other, before standing to repeat the process for her wrists.
When I’m satisfied that she is completely at my mercy, I stand back to admire the view.
I love the freedom that I have in here. To be myself. To cast off the shackles and restrictions of my life outside of this club.
“You look stunning tonight, angel. Are you ready for me?”
Her gaze remains firmly fixed on the wall in front of her.
“Yes, Master Fitzgerald.”
“Good girl.”
I slip my hand between her legs, firmly grasping her pussy, feeling the evidence of her arousal dripping onto my palm.
“You certainly are. I’m going to taste you now, but do not come without my permission. Understood?”
“Yes, Master.”
I drop down to my knees, nestling myself between her legs before taking a long, languorous lick from the tip of her clit, through her folds and around her entrance, dipping my tongue in for a proper taste; her pussy clenching around me.
I continue my ministrations, swirling my tongue in sweeping circles over and around her clit. Feeling her thighs trying to tighten around my face. She is helpless to curb her own desire. Spread open for my pleasure alone. I can feel her orgasm building. The sheen of sweat on her naked flesh. The almost imperceptible shaking of her limbs against the restraints. It’s a glorious feeling, pushing her to the edge of ecstasy, before reeling her back in.
A whimper escapes her at the loss of my warm tongue against her folds.
“Please, Master.”
“Did I give you permission to speak?”
“No.”
I slap her ass, hard.
“You will address me properly.”
“Yes, Master.”
I leave her smarting from my hand and make my way over to the door, to the cabinet that contains everything I need. I enjoy the sting of my palm from a single hit, but tonight I am in the mood for something… harder. I search until I find my black riding crop. Perfect. It has just the right tension, just enough bite to make her nerve endings sing with every lash, enhancing the euphoria that will inevitably follow.
“You will receive ten lashes of this crop, angel, and maybe you will remember to address me appropriately in future. You will stay silent throughout. If you make a single noise, you will get ten more. Do you understand me?”
She is quick to answer me, her vulnerability and arousal evident in the quiver of her voice.
“Yes, Master Fitzgerald.”
I love the feel of the crop connecting with her skin. The sharp sound as it whips through the air and lands across her ass. My dick is getting harder with every hit, straining against my pants, aching to be inside of her, but the growing anticipation is what really turns me on. Knowing that I can’t chase my own release until I have seen to her every need and desire.
With the last lash, I stand back and admire the imprint of my crop, a crimson flush on her skin - stunning in its simplicity.
“Good girl. You did as you were told and remained quiet. Now you will be rewarded.”
I tilt her chin around to face me, but her gaze is lowered.
“You may look at me.”
When our eyes connect, the lust I see reflected back at me is absolutely breathtaking. I dip two fingers into her pussy, drenched from the arousal of her lashes, before lifting them to her lips and spreading her juices for her to taste.
“Oh you liked that, angel. You’re more than ready for me now.”
Our lips meet in a deliberately torturous kiss, our tongues twisting and tangling, her sweet juices mingling with the taste of mint on her breath, and when I step back she is breathless with anticipation.
I slowly unzip my pants, letting my erection spring free, watching as her eyes widen at the sight of my impressive length. I take myself in hand and start pumping my fist. She loves to watch, and I love to see the desire spiral out of control in her eyes.
“You’ve seen enough. Eyes back on the wall.” She’s a compliant little sub in training. I might keep this one for myself, for a while at least.
I love the way her body trembles at the sound of me ripping open the foil packet with my teeth, her anticipation growing as she waits for me to slowly roll the condom over my now rock-solid cock.
I position myself behind her, still shackled to the cross, and thrust just the tip inside. Her satisfied moan is so sexy, spurring me on to give her more of what she craves. My dick pounding into her, driving her toward an explosive release.
“That’s it, angel. Let me hear how much you want me.”
I seat myself to the hilt, filling her, stretching her, enjoying the clench of her muscles around me.
“Oh God… Yes… Master… Yes…”
I snake my hands around to cup her pert voluptuous breasts, her nipples tight and puckered, desperate for my attention. I knead them, flick them, pull them, rocking into her in measured strokes, nibbling on her neck as she struggles against the restraints, against the intense onslaught of sensations bombarding her body. I circle her clit with my thumb, taking her to the brink and holding her there until I’m ready to let her come.
As I hammer into her over and over, I can feel my own release building, a warmth spreading throughout my body, and with one last brush of my finger, I send her over the edge.
“Come for me, angel.” I feel the tension leave her body as she gives in to the euphoria, letting the restraints hold her as I set a punishing rhythm to find my own release. I come hard and long, thrusting into her over and over again as I ride out the waves of ecstasy that are coursing through my body.
When I’m fully sated, I take the time to dress before loosening her restraints and lifting her languid, exhausted body over to the chaise, laying her down gently, kissing her with a tenderness they all crave after such an intense session.
“You did well tonight. I think your training is almost complete.” I turn to grab her clothes from the back of the door when she speaks.
“May I ask you a question, Master Fitzgerald?” I return to her side, wrapping her in a black silk robe.
“Of course. You can ask me anything.”
Her voice is quiet and reserved as she speaks.
“Would you consider… keeping me… after my training is finished?” I cup her face in my hands, pressing a tender kiss to her sexy red lips.
“I will be honest with you. It’s something I’ve considered, but I have not yet come to a decision. We will discuss the matter further at a later date.”
I stand to leave, her eyes begging me to stay.
“Be here on Sunday at 5 p.m. I want you naked, blindfolded, and sitting on this chaise with your legs spread wide for me. Understand?”
She nods her head, before remembering her training.
“Yes, Master Fitzgerald.”
“Good girl. Now get cleaned up and go straight home. I need to go, I have an appointment that I can’t miss. I’ve arranged for a car to take you back to your apartment. I’ll see you on Sunday.”
With that I turn and leave, eager not to miss my prior engagement.
As I walk through the club, the sights and sounds that surround me are so familiar, tantalizing my senses as I make my way to the exit, but when I step out into the night air, a weight descends on me. My public persona needs to be firmly in place, the uninhibited freedom I just experienced locked tightly away. I hail a cab and focus on my destination.
I’m going to see a performance of Swan Lake at Lincoln Center tonight.
>
I’m going to see Vittoria…
VITTORIA
That was so exhilarating. I’ve always loved the feeling I get when I lose myself in the music; when I let my body take over and my heart soar. It doesn’t matter whether I’m in a theatre full of people, or whether I’m alone and rehearsing. When I give myself over completely to the music, it takes me to a different planet, another dimension. I can let go of everything that I am, and just… be.
There has never been a better feeling on earth… until tonight.
Tonight was different.
The moment I saw him in the crowd beside my family, something inside of me ignited in a way that it never has before. The look in his eyes as he took in the sight of me. I felt naked, exposed, and completely turned on by the heat behind that dark and brooding gaze. Logan Fitzgerald sets my body on fire.
Every move I made was for him, and only him. When I dance, I dance for me, but the elation I felt tonight, was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. By the time the show finished and the curtain dropped, I found myself panting. Not from physical exertion, but a reaction to his eyes on me.
It takes me longer than usual to shower and get ready to meet my family for dinner. When I do a show here in New York, at least one of them tries to come, and afterwards we go for dinner and catch up. Tonight, my parents, Carter, and Logan, are waiting for me outside of my dressing room. I can hear them talking, but as I stare at myself in the mirror, I don’t know how I’m going to hide the flush in my cheeks, and the arousal that I feel when he looks at me.
I’ve been hiding it for years, since the day Carter brought him home for Thanksgiving all those years ago, but the way I feel right now, I don’t know if I’ll be able to play the friendly little sister role. I want him, and if I open this door and he looks at me the same way he did from the crowd tonight, I might just crack. Carter would kill me if I ever pursued his best friend, but God, he does something to me. Something I can’t control, ignore, or temper.
I smooth my hair down my back, fix my dress, and take one last look in the mirror before I finally work up the courage to open the door. I slowly turn the lock and twist the knob; the rush of cold air from the hallway causing goose bumps on my flesh.
I can’t speak. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. My heart hammers in my chest, slamming against my ribcage, fighting to burst free.
“Hey, sis. That was amazing!” Carter pulls me into his arms, lifting me off the ground, twirling me around as if we were kids again. “I’ve missed you.”
I hold him tight, his familiar scent making me feel safe and loved. “I’ve missed you, too, Carter. It’s been too long.”
As my parents congratulate me on my performance, and smother me with affection, their words are lost on me. All I can focus on is the man standing before me. I can’t take my eyes off him.
His blond hair is messed to perfection. His stunning blue eyes are smoldering. His hands are firmly in his pockets, which only draws my attention. He’s trying to hide his arousal, but I can see how he’s straining against his pants, and it sends a jolt straight to my core. His eyes find mine, a moment of recognition passing between us, and when my mom lets go of me, I watch, in what feels like slow motion, as he takes his hands out of his pockets, runs them though his hair and lets out a long, drawn out breath as he strides toward me.
“Hello, Vittoria. You were… phenomenal, tonight. Truly inspiring.” He runs the pad of his thumb over his bottom lip, his eyes trained on me, dark and dangerous, before pulling me into his arms. “It’s good to see you again.”
The warmth of his chest against mine, and the press of his crotch against my thigh, has me struggling to catch a breath. His strong masculine frame enveloping me as his delicious scent invades my senses. Logan is the one to break our embrace, pulling away without taking his eyes off me.
Oh my God.
He feels it, too. Not just a physical reaction, but a connection that can’t be ignored. I watch his breath hitch, the rise and fall of his broad, firm chest quicken, and I know he feels it, too.
He closes his eyes for a split second, before leaning down and giving me a chaste kiss on my cheek, lingering a little longer than he should. His hand resting on the small of my back, burns my skin, fanning the flame inside of me that I’ve tried for so long to extinguish.
“Mmmm.” I bite down on my lip to stop myself from groaning again.
He pulls away, his gaze holding mine, as if he’s trying to tell me something with this one look. I feel like he’s staring into my soul and I’m fighting the urge to bridge the gap. The spark between us is a tangible entity, and I want so badly to feel his lips on mine. It could be hours or seconds, I’m not sure, but when he breaks the connection, I’m disappointed. His eyes drop to the floor before glancing in Carter’s direction to see him studying us with a frown on his face.
“You done?” There’s a hint of annoyance in Carter’s voice, but I just ignore it.
“I’m not allowed to say hello to your friends anymore?”
“Of course. Just make it brief!”
“Shut up, Carter!”
My mom saves me any further embarrassment, and suggests that we make our way back to the house for a late dinner together. Her knowing look telling me that she didn’t miss a moment of my interaction with Logan.
“I’ll get going and leave you all to catch up. It was lovely seeing you again, Vittoria, Mr. and Mrs. de Rossi.” My stomach churns at the thought of him leaving, but thankfully my mom isn’t taking no for an answer.
“Don’t be so silly, Logan. You’re family. I insist that you join us for dinner.” My mom has this way about her. She’s impossible to resist, and she always gets her own way.
“Well, how can I say no? I would love to join you, as long as you’re sure I won’t be imposing.”
She pulls him into her arms, a true Italian mama at work. “My dear sweet boy. You are never an imposition. You know I love you like you’re one of my own. Now let’s get back to the house so I can feed you properly. You all look like you could use a good meal.”
Logan laughs at my mom’s never ending mission to feed us all into an early grave, while Carter and I roll our eyes at each other. He gives me a wink before kissing mom on the cheek. “I need to go and check on a few things at Cube. I’ll meet you guys at the house in an hour.”
“I’ll just ride with you. I don’t mind hanging around for a while.” Logan’s looking for an out, and I don’t like the way it makes me feel.
My mom speaks up, irritated that the boys seem to be abandoning her. “You will do no such thing. You can ride with us. Vittoria can keep you company until he arrives. An hour is all you get, Carter. You make sure you’re at the house and ready to eat by then. No excuses.”
He nods, and laughs before slapping Logan on the shoulder. “Sorry, bro. My mother is the one woman I don’t mess with. You’re on your own.”
Logan looks in my direction, and my heart stops. “I’ll survive.” There’s a deeper meaning to his words. An unsettling truth. “Don’t be late though, or your mom will make me eat your dinner, too.”
“Deal.” Carter leans in and gives me a kiss on the cheek. “You really were fantastic tonight, sis. I’ll be as quick as I can and then I’m all yours. You can fill me in on what you’ve been up to for the past three months.”
As we all make our way outside, I can feel the tension building. Carter leaves in a cab to check on one of his clubs, mom and dad go to pick up the car, and that leaves Logan and me. It’s cold tonight, and I didn’t anticipate having to wait on the sidewalk for any length of time.
“Are you cold?” He takes off his jacket, wrapping it around my shoulders. “Here, this should heat you up.” His scent surrounds me like a warm blanket, enveloping me; his hands resting on my arms, causing my stomach to somersault. “Better?”
I can barely manage to speak, taking a deep breath to try and calm myself. “Much… b… better.” We stand, drinking in our proximity to one another,
until the moment is broken by my parents’ car pulling up beside us.
He opens the door, helping me climb into the backseat before closing the door and making his way round to the other side. As soon as he sits next to me, my whole body begins to buzz; the car seeming claustrophobic all of a sudden.
My mom and dad start grilling Logan about what he’s been doing since they saw him last; what band is he working with; is he dating anyone? He is so polite, answering every question they throw at him, and I wait with baited breath to hear if he’s seeing someone.
He turns to me as he gives them an answer. “No, I’m not dating anyone.” My heart skips a beat and I find myself relaxing back into the seat, resting my hands on the warm leather. When I feel Logan’s hand resting beside mine, barely touching, but just enough to make me painfully aware of him, a jolt of electricity coursing from my fingertips to my toes. I daren’t move. I don’t want to lose this feeling. So I sit, completely still, my gaze occasionally finding his for a split second every so often, before I can’t take it any longer and I have to look away.
I’ve been in love with Logan since the moment I met him, but I’ve never once gotten the impression that he was interested in me in any way, other than as his best friend’s little sister. Until now. I know that I can’t act on whatever this is… a fleeting moment, shared in the back of a car. Carter would never let it happen, but I can dream, just for a little while. I can let myself imagine what it would be like to lose myself in Logan Fitzgerald, to give myself over to him completely, and let him take me wherever he wants to go.
But, like Cinderella at midnight, the spell will be broken. As soon as my big brother sets foot in my parents’ living room, the reality of our situation will come crashing down on me. It doesn’t matter how I feel; Logan is the one man that I can never have…
Three Years Later
Fuck. I have the worst hangover. Last night was my friend Xander’s “bachelor party.” I use the term loosely because he wimped out on having a real, traditional, strippers and ending up naked tied to a pole kind of party. Instead, Xander, Carter and I ended up playing pool, and drinking our own body weight in alcohol.
Relentless - Manhattan Knights Series Book Two Page 31