by Sam Crescent
“If you did it for Gracie’s life, then you needn’t worry. She’s doing very well at rehab, away from you.”
“But I’m your daughter.”
Trevor laughed. “Please, Cecilia. Gracie is my daughter. You are Barbara’s daughter or burden, depending how you looked at it. Now, well, you’re Sven’s problem. Though who knows why the ass decided to marry you. If it had been me, I would have called the police on you.”
A heavy feeling settled in Cecilia’s stomach.
“I thought—”
“You thought wrong, besides, I did warn you, repeatedly, of what would happen if you crossed the line again.” Trevor shrugged. “You chose not to listen. Now, get out or I’ll do what Sven should have done and call the police.”
Cecilia shuffled back a few steps. Clutching at her chest to keep the pain within from spilling out, she watched the gate open and Trevor drive into what had once been her home.
Gone. It was all gone. She’d married a stranger to protect her sister and this was how her family paid her back. Kicking her out. Shaking, she returned to the car that had been waiting for her.
“Where to?” the driver asked as if he hadn’t just witnessed her demise.
“I don’t know,” she whispered. “Just drive around.”
He nodded and without further comment, hit the road. Cecilia covered her face with her hands. Tears streamed down her face until her throat became sore from sobbing. She’d lost everything. Her family, her home, her future. She was alone now. No money, no home, no place to go. Curling into herself, she rocked back and forth, her thoughts turning darker with each passing moment. What did she have left in this life?
Suddenly, the vehicle stopped, and the door opened.
She glanced up in a daze. Through the haze, she recognized the man entering the car.
“Sven.”
Chapter Thirteen
Sven took in the young woman. Her eyes were puffy and red, her lips set into a sad line. A mantel of grief covered her, and he wished he could yank it away and see her dazzling smile instead. He yearned to draw her into his arms, but he was aware that before doing so, they needed to speak. He sighed.
“I told you not to go home,” he said softly.
Her lips parted in shock. She scooted backward, slamming her back against the door.
“You knew.” Her voice trembled as much as the accusatory finger pointed at him.
“Yes,” he admitted. “When I saw you and Gracie at the casino, I called Trevor. I told him the situation. He, well, he paid for Gracie’s debt, but he refused to take care of yours. He said you were officially disowned, and he wanted nothing to do with you.”
Cecilia’s chin trembled and her jaw tightened.
“Why did you marry me? Trevor has disowned me. I’m not part of the Handel family. Gosh.” She furiously swept at the tears streaming down her face. “I don’t think I ever was. You’ve gotten nothing by marrying me. I’m a charity case.”
Sven shook his head.
“You’re wrong. Cecilia, I’ve gotten you.” He hesitated. “And I’ve gotten your rage against the Handel family.”
“My rage?” Her eyes lit up as comprehension dawned on her. “Vengeance. You want me to hate them so you can destroy them.”
Sven nodded slowly.
“It was my original plan. Your hate for them and your inner knowledge would help me extinguish the Handel business.” Sven took a deep breath. “However, things have changed. I have become aware of my own selfishness and the futility of my plan if you’re not willing to participate. I cannot ask you to aid me because you’re worth more than the whole lot of them together, Cecilia.”
Sven offered her his hand. He wanted to say more. To let her know what he’d just become conscious of. He was in love with Cecilia. Had probably been in love with her from the moment he’d spotted her at the party. Lord, in his original plan, he’d always gone after the eldest Handel daughter and it had nothing to do with business. He had to wait it out, though. If he told her how he felt now, she wouldn’t believe him. All he could do was offer himself to her.
He held his breath, hoping she’d take his hand but fearful she’d reject him. He wouldn’t be surprised if she did, after all, he hadn’t been completely honest with her, but he hoped the time they’d spent together and the fact he was here were enough to show her he hadn’t married her just to cast revenge on the Handel family. He was also willing to work on them. A series of emotions seemed to cross her face, but finally, her palm slid into his. He pulled her into his arms, and she burst into tears, her face buried in the crook of his chest.
“Hush, pet, you’re mine now and I will take care of you. Remember our wedding vows: I promise to cherish, protect, and love you.”
Chapter Fourteen
Cecilia woke up and tiptoed to the window. She glanced out. This was her life now. Staring out a window from the top of a building, without a family, without love. She pressed her nose to the glass. She was being too emotional. Her family had shown her time and time again they had never really cared about her. Heck, at the first chance, they’d gotten rid of her. Even her mother. That had hurt the most and the truth was she probably would never recover from it. She clenched her fists. Anger slammed into her. She still didn’t know how she wanted to retaliate, but Sven’s idea of payback appealed to her. He had shown her more kindness in the little time they’d spent together than her family ever had.
She glanced back at the bedroom. Sven. He was sound asleep. Her husband had put her to bed as soon as they’d got home. He’d tried to get her to eat, but she hadn’t been hungry, so he’d drawn her into his arms and settled at her side until they’d both dozed off.
Remember our wedding vows: I promise to cherish, protect, and love you.
Love you. He’d whispered the words in her ear as if they were too fragile to utter aloud. Her heart jolted. Did he love her? Probably not. She was just a tool to be used against the Handels. Yet, she couldn’t help wondering if there was something more. If she was nothing but a pawn in a game, why did he treat her so gently?
She padded to the bedroom doorway and watched him. Her body warmed from head to toe, an indescribable feeling of peace settling over her. The butterflies that made their appearance every time he smiled at her shook her core. Was she in love?
She thought back to a year prior when she’d spotted him at the party. Even then, she couldn’t take her eyes off him, and she’d spent quite some time thinking about him, fantasizing about meeting him. Now, he was hers. Her pulse raced. He belonged to her as much as she belonged to him. Her nerve endings tingled and her entire being ached to be closer to him. Dear Lord. She had fallen in love with him. Her throat grew thick and her mouth dried. She didn’t want to be only a piece on the chessboard. She wanted to be the queen next to the king. She yearned to be his wife, his pet, and his submissive. Yes, giving in to him sexually, allowing him to take control felt right. It gave her a sense of purpose and a peace of mind little else in life gave her. She ached for more and there was only one way to do it. Mind made up, she returned to his side. His arms wrapped around her.
“Everything okay? I could sense your unease.”
“I want to be your submissive,” she blurted.
Sven’s gaze met hers in the gloomy bedroom. Their intensity made her breathless. “Are you sure? Is that really what you wanted to say?” he asked.
“Yes,” she lied, fearful if she told him the array of emotions circling in her heart, he wouldn’t reciprocate.
His lips lifted into a smile. “Then let me properly introduce you to my world, pet.”
Chapter Fifteen
Sven’s heart was going to jump out of his chest. Out of the scenarios he’d painted in his head to show Cecilia what BDSM was like, he’d never envisioned this. He’d never imagined her coming to him and asking to submit. It honored him and humbled him that she would trust him enough to come to him and ask for it. He turned on the bedroom light.
“One of the f
irst things you have to know is safewords,” he said. “When we start to play my game, you will always have the upper hand. You will have a set of words. They can be anything you like, but I believe the colors of a traffic light are the easiest to remember and use the first time. With them, you are in charge. I will stop at your command and you will recover your power.”
“Recover my power?”
Sven smiled.
“In BDSM, as strange as it might seem, the submissive is the boss. By submitting to me, pet, you’re giving me full control over you as a choice, not as an obligation.”
Cecilia pressed her palms to her cheeks and snapped her mouth shut.
“Are you sure you want to try tonight?” Sven asked.
She looked at him. Her brown eyes were bright, no hint of fear or uncertainty in them. She let out a throaty laugh. “Yes. I am certain. I trust you.”
Sven’s heart swelled, the pang spreading through him from his vital organ, stealing his breath. “Very well. We will use the color red for when you want me to stop, yellow for slower, and green for continue.”
“Okay.”
“Please tell me what each color means, pet,” he demanded.
“Green is go, yellow is slow down, and red is stop.” Cecilia hesitated. She licked her lips and met his gaze. “Sir.” She seemed to relish the word, her cheeks growing rosy and her gaze becoming devilish.
“Good girl,” he praised her, and in response, she beamed. Bouncing on her haunches, she seemed eager for further instruction.
“I want you to take off your clothes and kneel at the foot of the bed. Place your hands on your thighs and close your eyes, pet.”
Her gaze darted to the spot he’d pointed to. Her brows drew together, and she pulled in an audible deep breath. She glanced at him. His heartbeat drummed with excitement.
“Okay, Sir.”
Standing, she quickly removed the baby-doll set he’d bought for her and dumped it on the bed. Though she was unceremoniously quick about it, there was no embarrassment in her actions. Her posture, shoulders back and chin high, denoted the confidence of a woman who knew exactly what she was doing. Locking on to his gaze, she lowered herself to her knees.
Sven’s cock jerked with excitement. He clenched his jaw and swallowed. This was the moment he had been waiting for. Cecilia’s willing submission. Their past forgotten, their future ahead of them.
“That’s it,” Sven encouraged her. “Palms up and eyes closed. Thrust your chest forward. Perfect. I want you to focus on your breathing. Tune into your breaths and empty your mind.”
“Like meditation?”
“In a way, yes. One breath through your nose and out your mouth. Good girl,” he complimented her. He stood up and went to the chest of drawers at the back of his closet. His BDSM equipment stared back at him. From paddles, to floggers, cuffs, rope, and a set of plugs. Tonight, he wanted to start off slow with Cecilia and build up her pain tolerance. He didn’t know how much she could take, and he didn’t want to frighten her with something too extreme. He picked out a set of handcuffs.
“Cecilia,” he said softly, returning to the bedroom. His heart soared at the sight of her. Goosebumps dotted her skin and her toes wiggled, but she had remained in place, attempting to steady her breathing and keeping her eyes shut. “Have you ever received a spanking?”
She visibly tensed but didn’t change her position. “No, Sir,” she said. She licked her lips and swallowed. A blush spread across her cheeks. “But I have fantasized about it.”
Adrenaline rushed through Sven and he couldn’t help grinning. Cecilia was made for him, and he couldn’t be happier Handel had cast her in his path.
“Thank you for your honesty, pet,” he said. “I was going to spank you as a punishment, but you might like it.”
“A punishment?” She cocked her head and tucked in her lips. “For running off to my house,” she said quietly.
It wasn’t a question.
“Yes, pet. I told you to give me time to think and to not go yet. You went anyway and as a result, you ended up getting very hurt. I wanted to avoid your pain.”
She dropped her chin to her chest. “I see that now, Sir. I’m sorry.”
Sven tucked her chin, lifting her gaze.
“Open your eyes,” he said. She did, and for a brief instant, the world stopped turning. This young woman had stolen his heart and soul. When he’d first caught sight of her at the party over a year ago, he’d been attracted to her, but getting to really know her over the past few weeks had cemented a love he had never thought he’d be able to give anyone. The original plan to best Trevor Handel by pitting Cecilia against him had long stopped becoming relevant. He sucked in his cheeks, tempted for once to just kiss her and fuck her, but he couldn’t do that to her, not yet.
“Thank you for apologizing, pet. It’s more than I could ask. I will not punish you this time. We have ground rules we need to establish, and we hadn’t communicated properly before. I will never want you to fail, Cecilia. I do want you to trust me enough so when I tell you to do something or not, to know it’s for your own good.”
“I understand, Sir. I will try my best.”
“That’s a good girl, and for your honesty, I’m going to reward you by spanking you.”
“I don’t see how that can be a reward.” She smirked.
“Well, if you like it, as I suspect you will, you’ll find out soon enough. Stand and lean over the bed.”
Sven quickly accommodated some pillows below her hips to give her some height and comfort.
“I’m on my tiptoes,” she said.
“Good,” he replied, grasping her bottom and squeezing. She gasped.
“Now, the first thing to do before a good spanking is to warm up your ass.” He kneaded the flesh, alternating between massaging it and caressing it. Cecilia’s breathing deepened, becoming faster.
“How are you feeling, pet?”
“Oh, I’m green, Sir,” she said.
Sven slid his hands to the apex between her legs. Wetness coated her inner thighs.
“I can see that.” He chuckled. “I’m going to spank you twelve times. I want you to count with me.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Tell me your safewords again.”
“Green is go, yellow pause, and red stop.” She glanced back at him. “I’m very green,” she said, raising her eyebrows.
“But I’m not.”
Taking hold of the leather cuffs he’d placed to one side, he went to her and took her hands in his.
“What are those?”
“To keep you from trying to cover your butt.”
Her eyes widened.
“Don’t worry, pet. I won’t go hard on you. Now, keep your hands in front of you and stay very still. What color are you again?”
She took in a deep breath and shifted her weight. Finally, she adjusted her position and answered him. “Green, Sir.”
Without giving her time to doubt herself, he slapped his palm against her right cheek. Cecilia’s gasp tore through the room.
“One,” he said. “Two,” he called out, striking her again. “Three. Four.”
Her cries of surprise turned into whimpers and mewls as he increased the strength behind his hits.
“Eleven. Twelve.”
Chapter Sixteen
Cecilia took in a deep breath. She was on fire. Every cell within her burned bright with unspent sexual energy. She wanted everything. More pain. More pleasure. “Sir,” she said. “What color do I use if I want more?”
She twisted her head to look at Sven. He grinned. His eyes gleamed. Her mouth watered at the sight of him. He was shirtless, his muscles rippling beneath the bedroom light and the bulge between his legs denoting his excitement rivaled hers.
“You just did. Face forward, pet. Count with me.”
“Thirteen.”
Spank.
Her ass tingled, sparks of desire spreading through her.
“Fourteen,” she echoed.
&nb
sp; She curved her back, aiming to reach the peak of paradise that seemed to be coiling within her.
“Fifteen. Sixteen. Seventeen.”
They came in quick succession, blazing brighter each time. Her core throbbed and liquid dribbled between her thighs. Her nipples brushed against the bed, sensitive and yearning for a sterner touch.
“Twenty.”
“Sir,” she cried out. Pain and pleasure became one, swirling inside, obliterating all rational thoughts completely. All she could do was feel and take each hit with the desperation of a person devoid of water steadily climbing a desert mountain. Suddenly, it all stopped. Sven palmed her ass, both soothing and igniting the burn. She moaned, rotating her hips in search of friction. Sven slid a digit into her pussy.
“You’re primed for fucking.” He added another finger, and she tilted her pelvis.
“Please, Sir. I want your cock,” she said, her voice coming out hoarse, her desperation shining through.
Sven laughed.
“Next time we fuck, I’ll take you from behind, but not this time.” He rolled her over and spread her legs, lifting them over his shoulders. “I want to look into your eyes the first time I fuck you.”
His gaze locked with hers. His green eyes had darkened, his pupils dilating and showcasing his lust that mirrored hers. Slowly, he inched into her, settling inside of her. Sven groaned, the primal sound making her clench her muscles and drawing another strangled moan from him.
“Stop it,” he said.
Lowering himself to his forearms, he thrust back and forth, devilishly slowly. Cecilia arched her spine.
“It feels so good,” she said. “So full.”
“Tell me it was worth the wait,” he said, grinding into her.
“It was,” she replied.
Grasping her wrists, he pulled himself up and began pumping into her faster.
“Now, tell me what you really wanted to say earlier.”
“What?” Her eyes snapped open and met Sven’s gaze. She didn’t miss the knowing glint in them. Her heart skipped a beat, and she froze. Did he know? Threading his fingers through her hair, he tugged, sending pinpricks racing through her.