Reluctant Surrender

by Riley Murphy

“Beautiful.” When she heard his husky reply she knew in that moment to him she was and the thought gave her unshakable strength.

  He brought her to the spanking horse. The one that he’d let her test out that day when they did tapas, but this time, after he helped her on, he strapped her in. Her wrists and ankles where tightly tied. Not too tight, but tight enough that she knew he meant business.

  “Relax.” He bent down and spoke in her ear, “I love how your ass looks in that netting, but I want to see more of it.” He shifted and bit her right cheek enough to sting. Then he murmured, “Don’t move, baby girl. This will only take a moment.”

  He pulled the band of her thong to one side and she felt the coldness of metal against her hip. He better not be…

  Yes, he was. He was cutting off her new thong. Men! She stiffened as she fumed until he smacked her predominately displayed bottom with the flat of his palm. “Get over it.”

  He cut the other side and then reached between her legs and accessed the fabric of her ruined panties through a break in netting. Purposely, he took his time getting hold of the bit of lingerie, touching and rubbing his fingers against her core until she moaned.

  “That’s better.” He tugged on the thong and pulled it off her. “Now, pick a color. Black, brown or pink?”

  She was drowning in a sea of sensations. It was only the two of them. Everything and everyone else was forgotten. A color. She needed to choose a color. Again, the day they did tapas came to her and she heard the voice in her head. Choose black or brown. Definitely black or brown, so when she answered, “Pink” she wanted to smack herself, but then it was kind of hard to do that, tied down as she was. Dammit.

  “Impulsive,” he clipped.

  “Mysterious,” she accused and then thought about it. Lame. Lame.

  “Let’s clear up the mystery.”

  He didn’t need to say the “shall we” because she’d already mentally repeated it twice before he snapped the belt hard to make a threatening whap.

  Expecting him to start landing blows any second, she tried to relax and attempted to breathe.

  “I must say I love this outfit. If you could see your ass the way I see it right now?” He sighed. “It’s screaming for me to spread it open and fuck it.”

  What was he doing? The belt she thought he’d use to land blows wound up wrapped high around her right thigh. Cinched and tight so that the metal buckle was pressed against the intimate flesh that swelled and bulged through the fishnet.

  “Let’s make this more interesting.” He bit her shoulder, her back and hip before he reached between her legs and slid her open. Without a word he place something small, round and thrumming against her clit, rearranging the net so it was held in tight. Almost too tight. She nearly came, but he smacked her ass, refocusing her attention. “No coming, Colin. You can flex and moan. Scream if you have to, but I don’t want you coming until I say you can.”

  “Yes Sir.”

  At this point it was up to God, because she was so close, but then she heard someone cough and all of a sudden she remembered where she was and who was there and—

  Smack.

  “Focus.” He moved away she could tell, not that she looked because of a sudden she was wishing she had a blindfold. She didn’t want to see people. She wanted to forget. Ethan would make her forget. Ethan.

  She must have said his name out loud because he returned and said, “I’m right here baby girl. Let’s show everyone what a lucky bastard I am. Open your mouth.”

  She did, fully expecting it to be his flesh, the hard warmth of him, so when she was met with ice she tried to snap her head back.

  “Shh, easy, Colin, it’s an ice dildo. Open your mouth. Pretend this is me and take it. Take it all the way down your throat. It’s cold I know…”

  Colin tried but it wasn’t the same. She wanted to please him. Wanted to do this. It just wasn’t the same.

  Ethan watched as Colin tried to do his bidding. She strained and pushed and yet she couldn’t get the proper rhythm going. Reaching down, he took the small vibrator away from the flesh it tortured and took the ice dildo out of her mouth.

  “Fuck it.” He undid the belt and held on to it. He’d never. Never. Exposed himself in a public scene before. This was all about control. Not about getting off, or being an exhibitionist. But seeing how hard Colin was trying with an audience looking on? And knowing this to be a monumental and life-changing experience for her? He wasn’t going to set her up to fail. He knew that would be how she’d view this if he didn’t do something fast. “Let’s get rid of this ice and the vibrator too. Let’s go old school. You like raw heat.” He unbuttoned his leathers and lifted the hardest part of him out. “Look how hot I am for you.”

  The second he fed his cock to her it was game over. She sank into her zone and he could only imagine what the spectators who were paying attention thought. She deep-throated better than any woman he knew. It was effortless, a joy to her. Every time she took him deep he snapped the strap across her ass. She’d moan and tried harder. The vibrations she made in her throat that barreled over his length with each smack encouraged him to up the force. To quicken the pace. God, the effort she made, the sight of her ass rippling after each stoke of the belt that landed on the fleshiest part of her cheek had him sweating. Until he threw the belt to the floor and changed tack. He anchored his hands in her hair and fucked that mouth of hers, sawing deeply into her, pushing down her throat until her nose was squashed against his abdomen. Over and over he pumped into her, encouraging her as he moved.

  “You have a fine mouth. Your throat. Goddamn, your throat hugs the fucking hell out of me. That’s right. Take it all.” He slowed his pace and let her do her thing until he couldn’t stop himself. He pushed all the way in and violently came. She moaned and licked until the last of his spasms passed.

  He waited a few seconds and then gently pulled out of her mouth, caressing her cheek as he bent down to whisper, “Did you hold off for me, Colin? Did you do as you were told?”

  “Yes Sir.” She was shaking with the need to come and he couldn’t have been any more proud of her at the moment.

  “Very good. Will you be my brave girl?”

  “Please.”

  “Old school, Colin.” He loved how she hissed in a gasp when he slid two fingers inside her. “No electronics.” Pressing his thumb against her clit, he rubbed in slow circles. Drawing out heavy moans, breathy gasps and the occasional cry when he retreated. “God, you’re so wet and hot. Too hot.”

  Working her good, he moved and pushed three fingers in. Pressing against her G-spot, gently rocking. Slow and thorough until she was almost there. That’s when he picked up the ice dildo and whispered, “Brave girl.” Slowly he eased out of her. He brought the dildo between her legs but was careful not to touch her with it just yet. “I want you to relax, Colin. Your feet, your legs, your hips, you’re like jelly. Totally relaxed.” He pushed the ice inside her, not stopping until it was fully inserted.

  She cried out from the shock of it and tried to buck when he pressed the vibrator against her clit. It was fast and furious. Agonizingly beautiful as her whole body convulsed once, twice and then stiffened for a suspended moment before her release came—hard. And the second her contractions eased, he took the ice out of her, cupping her with the warmth of his palm, while he waited for her to return to the moment. Without a word he gently undid the restraints, peeled her off the horse and hauled her up into his arms. With her head tucked under his chin and her soft-as-silk body against him, he carried her out of the theater.

  His only thought was getting her to the boathouse, cutting her out of her luscious outfit. Truthfully he would have done it sooner but he was a jealous bastard and didn’t want prying eyes to have an unobstructed view of her satin skin. Later there’d be plenty of time for talk about this possessiveness she stirred within him. Right now, as he made his way out the back entrance with her, all he wanted was the peace and comfort of their home. That’s the way he t
hought of the boathouse, would he think the same way when they moved?

  “I knew I should have shot you when I had the chance.”

  Jade sprang at them out of the shadows, brandishing something that glinted in the security lighting. Ethan feared it was a knife. She came close, fast. So fast the most Ethan could do to shield Colin was to twist and curl protectively over her. He braced himself for the hit he knew was coming.

  “You’re a wily fucker, I’ll give you that.”

  Ethan heard Colin’s friend and chanced a look over his shoulder. Jo had Jade by the hair with one hand and managed to catch hold of her arm with the other. They struggled for a few seconds and Ethan would have put Colin down to help, but Jo was a scrappy thing. She got a good hold of Jade in a headlock and managed to yank the weapon from the screaming woman’s hand. When she did Ethan realized it wasn’t a knife she’d been holding, it was one of the heavy sterling candlesticks the designer had insisted they place on the baby grand in the lobby. When he saw it he was totally relieved. Jo held it up, grinning, and he grinned back.

  “Jo? Is that you?”

  Colin squirmed and tried to push away from his chest. He wasn’t having that. “She’s fine. Stop moving. I’m not letting you down while you’re dressed like this. I’ve done enough sharing the sight of you for one night.”

  “What the hell?” Ted came around the corner and scowled. “I thought I told you to stay put?”

  Jo snorted. “If I had, your buddy would have been dead. You’re not the boss of me.”

  Ted reached over Jo’s head and wrestled the candlestick from her. “You can let go now, I’ve got her.”

  “Yeah, only after I saved the day. Some Dom you are.”

  Ted growled. He got hold of Jade and wrapped his hand over her mouth to silence her before he turned to Jo. “Stay right there, mera pyar.”

  “Quit calling me that. I’m not your love. I’m from Philadelphia, fuckwad. I may look East Indian but my native tongue is English.”

  “That’s debatable.”

  Although Ethan was enjoying the odd exchange, he wanted to make sure Ted knew what they were dealing with now. “I think Jade was the one with gun at the preopening and if I’m not mistaken she just threatened my life.”

  “Huh.” Ted shifted his hand.

  Jade yelled, “Get your hands off me. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. Posting the riot on YouTube was supposed to guarantee you’d fail.” She fought against Ted’s hold to no avail. “You were supposed to fail, but then she got involved and she’s making it a success with that blogging. This wasn’t supposed to happen. You were supposed to Top me so I could find a Do—”

  Ted clamped his hand back over her mouth, managing to get her under control again and was about to speak to Ethan, when he stopped. “Mera pyar, what are you doing?”

  Jo didn’t look up as she continued dialing and spoke between her clenched teeth. “Don’t fucking call me that. I’m warning you. I’m calling the police.”

  “No,” both Ethan and Ted said in unison.

  Jo looked at Ethan. “No?”

  “Don’t look at him, look at me.”

  She did, but only to say, “Fuck you.”

  “Jo.” Ethan adjusted Colin in his arms. If he weren’t mistaken she was laughing her ass off. “Trust us on this. No police here. We’ll have her taken to the station.”

  By now Ted was fighting to keep his hand over Jade’s mouth because she had plenty more to say, but apparently he figured she’d said enough. And Jo? She was fuming. Ethan had to give it to Colin’s friend. She didn’t argue with him. “Is Collie okay?”

  “She sure is, but she and I have some unfinished business. Ted?”

  “I’ll take care of her.” When he said this he nodded toward Jo and Ethan had to do the hard stare at the more important issue that needed taking care of. Namely Jade. When Ted saw it he assured, “Oh, and her too.”

  “You’re not taking care of me. I take care of myself. Just stay the fuck away from…”

  That’s the last Ethan heard as he descended the steps and strode across the dew-dampened lawns toward the boathouse. When Colin wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed, he asked, “What’s the matter, baby girl?”

  “I’m worried.”

  He gave her a reassuring pat and said, “Don’t be. Ted will take care of Jade.”

  “Oh, I know that.”

  “Well, don’t worry about Jo either. Ted has a way with the ladies. Especially exotic beauties like Jo.”

  She snuggled in deeper and grumbled. “Jo? I’m not worried about Jo. Did you see the way she cleared that sub to tackle Jade? She’s got a way with the guys too and none of it’s good. I’m actually worried about Ted.”

  Ethan laughed, but recalling Jo’s grin as she held the candlestick with one hand and Jade hostage with the other? His laughter died. “We’ll call him in twenty minutes and make sure he’s still alive.”

  “Why don’t you call him now?” Colin breathed the second they were inside the boathouse and he let her slide down the length of his body.

  “Because I’m busy.”

  “I’m not,” she taunted and backed up until she hit the wall.

  He stepped forward to cage her in, dropping his forehead down to hers, he whispered, “But you will be. I’m going to make sure of that. Give me your mouth.”

  And she did.

  Epilogue

  Colin was happier than she’d ever been in her life. So when Ethan pulled his fancy sports car into Wakefield’s drive she didn’t panic. She only felt a small twinge of disappointment because she guessed what was coming next. Another open-you-up lesson. Although recalling the night when she was in front of the window with the boat horn sounding, she had to admit the guy really was Steven Hawking-esque. Just a few days ago he’d admitted that it was his boat honking that night. That he’d had a remote in his pocket and used it to sound off the horn and lights that she would have seen if she’d been brave enough to take off the blindfold. The other lights, she’d learned were security buoys that cordoned off a section of the lake that Ethan owned the exclusive boating rights to. That night, just like the night he’d fed her dinner in the bedroom, there were no boaters there. They couldn’t get close enough. She knew that now, but she also knew Ethan was always looking for ways to allow her to grow and safely explore her fears. She loved that best about him.

  When the car stopped she asked, “Why are we here?”

  “Because I have a surprise for you.”

  He made it sound sinful. “I’m sure we aren’t supposed to be here.” She got out of the car and looked across the roof at him. “What kind of surprise?”

  His smile was killer. “A good one. Are you game?”

  With him? Most definitely. “Yes.”

  He walked around the vehicle and held out his hand. “Come on then.”

  When he pulled out a key to the main house she whispered, “Where did you get that?”

  He whispered back without looking at her, “From my pocket.”

  She rolled her eyes and would have grilled him, but then the door to her past opened up and she was mesmerized. She walked through the main house, surprised at how small the rooms were. In her mind they were always so much bigger. She went to the mud room—a small space off to one side that was surrounded by slatted windows. Yep, right there were the notches. The ones her mom made every year before they moved to mark Colin’s height. She reached out and the memories were bitter, but sweet. Her parents, no matter how bad they were together, had loved her.

  “Are you doing okay, baby girl?”

  She took one look at him, so strong and self-possessed, and knew she’d be okay. From now on she’d be just fine. No more hiding or making excuses. He dared her to live in truth and to be honest and it was a whole lot less stressful this way. “Yes.”

  He let her explore the house on her own while he waited in the backyard. It was nice, but suddenly not as nice as being with him. At some point the single gla
ss door leading to the yard had been changed out to double French doors. She went through them, crossed the weed-covered patio stones and went to him. It wasn’t until she sank in his arms, hooking her chin over his shoulder that she noticed the newly planted hedging and arbor at the back of the property. No wonder she didn’t see her rock or the expanse of three acres where the grapevines lay fallow.

  “Thank you for bringing me here. I don’t know how you managed it, but it’s great. After seeing it I think I can let go now. I think that’s why we’re here.”

  He was quiet for a few seconds and then he said, “No, that’s not why we’re here. Just the opposite and I want to ask you something besides. So,” he pushed her off his shoulder, forcing her look at him, “even though I would have liked to have waited until they had this place in better shape, I couldn’t. You mean that much to me.”

  She gulped. “I do?”

  “Oh yeah. I want you in my life 24/7.”

  “You do?” She did the nose scrunch, she couldn’t help it. “What about Casper?”

  Ethan frowned. “What about him?”

  “If I’m in your life 24/7 what happens to him and Twinkles?”

  She felt him stiffen. “Twinkles? Who the hell is Twinkles?”

  “My cat.”

  He shook his head. “Look, this is all small stuff we can work out later.”

  She practically tripped over her own tongue. “Small stuff? They happen to be two of the most precious things in the world to me.” She was fighting to get out of his arms but he held her firm.

  “Don’t you think I know that? That’s why we don’t need to discuss them. They’ll be taken care of. Twinkles will live with us and Casper? I think Casper needs to be around people his own age. I knew this was going to be an issue so I had David check a few places out. There’s an assisted living facility not far from here.”

  Colin leaned back. “Regency Oaks? I know, but Casper doesn’t have the funds. He lost his savings in the real estate crash and for the last four years he’s been living on his social security with me.”