by Jenna Jacob
A dizzying wave of demand ripped through me. Every cell in my body pulsed in a kaleidoscope of heat and need. Making love to me with his tongue, teeth, and lips, Sam zapped all my control as he dragged me toward the stars.
Driving two fingers inside me, he circled my pebbled clit with his thumb, forcing me higher and higher. As I reached the brink of no return, Sam lifted his head. His mouth and chin glistened in my juices as he held my gaze with his blistering stare.
“Shatter for me.” His raspy, feral command raked my flesh. “I want to feel that sweet explosion building inside you…taste your pleasure pouring over my tongue as it swallows you whole.”
A rippling whimper slid off my lips.
“Just imagine how this would feel if I had you tied to the table,” Sam taunted before lashing at me again with his maddening tongue. “Bound in soft, silky rope so tight you can’t move…can’t squirm.”
Pausing, he flicked another wicked lick over my aching nub.
“Helpless to escape the tingling torment I give you. Pinned to this table…my sweet submissive prisoner. And the only salvation you’ll find is at my mercy. Would you beg for me, Allisinda? Beg loud and long, my beautiful girl? Plead for me to set you free, both inside and out?”
His words sent a fire of intrigue igniting through me. Lost in the visuals assaulting my brain and the sensation of being defenseless against his dark desires, I felt a naughty thrill slide down my spine. Though I loathed admitting it, even to myself, Sam’s suggestion unlocked something primal deep inside me. An unexplainable yearning to hand over my entire being and submit to him in every way.
Bewilderment and fear slammed through me. This couldn’t be… I was as sick and twisted as Sam…as the other members of the club. Panic swelled, numbing from my toes as it spread through my limbs, twisting my stomach, and finally strangling my heart.
“Sam,” I cried, unable to hide the terror consuming me.
Jerking his head up, he lurched to his feet. I tried to snap my legs shut, but Sam’s sturdy body stood wedged in the V of the table. Wanting to bolt from the table, I sat up. Sam wrapped his arms around me, holding my trembling body as panic roared within.
His expression was marred with guilt as he studied me with a piercing gaze. I tried desperately to mask my unnerving revelation but knew I’d failed when understanding softened his features. The flicker of hope that danced in his eyes told me that Sam clearly saw through the frenzy of turmoil churning inside me.
I suddenly felt as if I’d unleashed a beast bent on destroying my life. I couldn’t seem to slap a defensive wall up around me fast enough, so I simply dropped my head and held him more tightly.
“Sam. I-I’m scared.” A fat tear slid down my cheek as my voice cracked.
Without a word, Sam tightened his grip, clutching me to his chest as if I might fragment and flutter apart. Then he placed a sweet kiss on top of my head. “It’s all right, baby. Everything is going to be fine.”
CHAPTER SIX
No. Everything was not fine. I was sinking into a sludge-filled pool of quicksand. Trembling in Sam’s arms, I inwardly called myself a million kinds of stupid.
“Easy,” he whispered before inching back to look at me. As he cupped his hands around my cheeks, his fingers rested on the thundering pulse points at my neck. I couldn’t hide the crazy staccato of my heartbeat anymore than I could shield the fears clawing at me. “Take a deep breath and relax for me, sweetheart.”
“I-I can’t,” I sputtered on a desperate sob. “What the hell is wrong with me?”
A sad smile tugged his lips. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Cin. Not a damn thing in the world. You’re perfect…at least you are to me.”
“But why? Why did I… God, I can’t even say the words.”
“Say what? That the idea of me tying you down excited you?”
“Yes,” I wailed.
Embarrassed by my confession, I buried my face in his chest and wept. With soft, soothing reassurance, Sam tried to bring me back from the depths of despair. Nothing he could say…not even the heat of his erection pressed against my pussy could mitigate the chaos consuming me.
“Sweetheart, you may not want to hear this, but I suspected there was a bit of submissive in you before I ever asked you out. What do you think attracted me to you?”
“You’re right, I don’t want to hear it.” I sniffed. “Besides, you’re wrong. I’m not a submissive. I’m an indepen—”
“An independent, self-sufficient, woman. Yes, I know,” he drawled with a hint of humor in his voice. “It will surprise you to know that most submissives are just as headstrong and independent as you.”
“I doubt that. If they were secure with their own identity, they wouldn’t feel the need to lower themselves in such demeaning ways.”
“There is nothing demeaning about submission, unless one delves into humiliation scenes, but that’s a different topic. Submission isn’t about stooping to some lower level or giving up your identity. It takes a mighty strong person to hand over their control. But once they do, they usually find a new level of confidence and freedom. They ascend to a higher plane.”
Pulling back, I sent him a scowl. “That makes no sense at all, Sam.”
“No, I suppose it doesn’t, at least not yet. I can help you Cin. Help you gain a better understanding. If you set aside your preconceived notions, I can unlock something magical within you. But it has to be something you truly want. It can’t be for me; it has to be for you.”
Silly man. Didn’t he realize the only reason I set foot inside this club again was for him? Still, I couldn’t ignore the visceral reaction that had assaulted me when Sam suggested tying me up. Nothing within me, not even a molecule, was ready to embark on this bizarre journey.
“I’m not sure I want to examine myself that deeply.”
Sam’s expression softened with understanding. “Don’t be afraid, Cin. Bring your shadows into the light. Let me prove that the woman inside you is just as substantial and vital as the reflection you see every day in the mirror.”
But fear was my only ally. The only power capable of supporting the walls around my soul. The walls that deflected the whispers and sympathetic looks from family and friends after Darnell left me in the lurch. They’d provided me strength to hold my head high and project an air of dignity when inside I felt crushed and defeated. I never had the luxury of visibly mourning my heartbreak. I was a Noland. I could attain anything I set my mind to…anything but indulging outward emotion. God forbid a slip of that social etiquette might make me human. The only time I allowed my impenetrable fortress to crack was alone in my room, where the only witness to such unacceptable weakness was my pillow.
But now, my iron-clad resolve felt more like a marshmallow fortress. Sam’s claim that a submissive was hiding inside me brought every unacceptable weakness to light. I had to reach down deep and shore up my steel walls if I wanted to stay sane and strong.
As if sensing my retreat, Sam scowled, then lifted me off the table. His strong hand cupped the cheeks of my ass.
“What are you doing?”
“Taking you someplace private. You need some pampering.”
Pressing his mouth to mine with an indulgent kiss, Sam carried me down the hall. His stiff arousal pressed against my folds, dismantling my attempt to rebuild my walls. When we reached his private room, Sam eased me to my feet. With trembling legs, I watched him unlock the door. Inside, the covers on the bed still lay in a tangled heap. Memories of the ecstasy we’d shared last night poured over me, reigniting the lingering lust he’d conjured in the dungeon.
As he moved in behind me, the heat of his body and heady masculine scent made me want to turn and crawl into his arms. Instead, I summoned patience, waiting to see what he intended next. Anticipation hummed through me, increasing when Sam raked his knuckles down the length of my arms. Settling his fingertips on the pulse points on my wrists, he trailed indiscriminate patterns on my skin while leisurely lifting my arms abo
ve my head. His moist breath wafted over the side of my neck before he pressed a soft kiss there, sending shocks of pleasure to zap through me. In silent invitation, I tilted my head to the side. Sam accepted my offer by scraping his teeth down the sensitive column before laving the same path with his tongue.
“I want you…want your surrender,” he whispered in a husky, hungry drawl. “But most of all, I want you.”
“You already have me, Sam,” I moaned. Thrusting my hips back, I savored his hardness burrowed between my butt cheeks.
“Not all the pieces I crave, but I will…one day. One day soon.”
Leaving his words to hang in the air, Sam plucked the hem of my shirt up and over my head. With his body pressed in close against my back, he couldn’t see the sexy bra I’d worn to seduce him. But then clearly, I wasn’t the one in charge—and probably never would be.
Gripping both my wrists in one hand, Sam kept my arms suspended as he nipped my neck, then wiped away the prickles of pain with his skillful tongue. Using his other hand, he reached around my body and captured one taut nipple, then the next, rolling and plucking my aching peaks between his finger and thumb. Arching my back as the sublime burn engulfed my breasts, I ached to feel the sweet sting once more. My psyche reminded me that pain wasn’t supposed to feel good, and a ripple of confusion slid through me. Parting my lips to drag a protest off my tongue, I whimpered instead when Sam eased down the zipper of my skirt. He shoved it off my hips and sent it puddling around my ankles.
“Your skin tastes as sweet as cotton candy. And you smell like fields of lavender after a summer storm,” he murmured against my flesh.
A strange, enticing sensation surrounded me. I felt small. Fragile. As if the slightest bump would shatter me like fine bone china. Yet, wrapped in the security of Sam’s benevolent adoration, I couldn’t help but remember his analogy of the baby bird. I suddenly realized that I was that baby bird. Sam had me cradled in the palm of his hand, and while I knew how effortlessly he could destroy me, I knew in my heart that he wouldn’t. I’d given him that sliver of trust he’d asked for. And every touch, every stroke, every mind-bending caress he bestowed held a promise of protection. Safety. Sanctuary.
I closed my eyes, savoring each sensation he granted.
Only semi-aware as Sam eased from behind me, I lifted my heavy eyelids and found him standing in front of me. A hungry, feral expression lined his face as he stared at the skimpy bra barely covering my breasts. Lowering my gaze, I, too, stared at my caramel-colored nipples, swollen and drawn tight, framed by delicate red lace.
Sam sucked in a ragged breath. “Jesus,” he exhaled as he reached up and stroked his thumb over each erect peak.
The adoration and approval swimming in his eyes was all but blinding. And for the briefest of moments, I wondered if Sam loved me…loved me as much as I did him. I didn’t want to think the only thread holding us together was this blistering filament of lust.
“Keep your arms where they are, Allisinda.” His gravelly command sent more wetness to slide from my core.
Sam removed his hand from my wrist. The void of his control seemed somehow unsettling. Missing his dominant touch sent a rush of alarm to zip up my spine. I was a split second from lowering my arms to regain my power when Sam reached behind my back and unclasped my bra. As he brushed the lace away, the cool air caused my nipples to crinkle tighter. Cupping each breast in the palms of his hands, Sam stared at the orbs. A subtle tremor quaked his body.
Silent seconds ticked by. Anticipation crested higher as I waited for him to open his mouth and draw my aching nubs into his heated slickness. Instead, Sam clenched his jaw and eased onto his knees in front of me.
His submissive posture stunned me. I stood mutely watching as he cradled my calf in his palm before lifting my leg to slide off one stiletto, then the other. Using strong, capable fingers and the perfect amount of pressure, Sam massaged the toes, instep, and ankle of each foot. I was lost in each luxurious squeeze and sensual rub, and a moan of appreciation slid off my lips. He flashed me a mischievous grin, then bent and placed a tender kiss on top of my feet.
Threading my fingers through his hair while he kneaded at the tiny bones, I rubbed his scalp while I purred in pleasure. Sam rendered me boneless in a matter of seconds. I’d have no trouble at all becoming addicted to this kind of pampering.
Without a word, he stood, then lifted me into his arms before striding across the room. After lowering me onto the bed, he raked a hungry stare over my naked body while he tugged the shirttails from his pants. After working the buttons free, he shucked off the garment, sending it fluttering to the floor. I lay watching, mesmerized at the sight of his glowing white skin and his muscles as they rippled and bunched. The light overhead caught the splattering of hair on his chest and cast a golden hue over his sculpted flesh. I couldn’t keep from gazing at the shimmering trail that disappeared beneath his trousers. My stare stalled and fixed on the tented fabric hiding his straining erection. And when I unconsciously licked my lips, Sam let out a low, rumbling chuckle.
“Don’t invite trouble, sweetheart. It’s taking more control than you know to keep from seizing your supple body and fucking you into oblivion.”
“So what’s stopping you?” I asked coyly.
“You.” He arched his brows, released his zipper, and kicked off his pants.
Gripping his cock, Sam fisted his swollen, dripping erection. My mouth watered as a new bead of pre-come blossomed atop his wide crest. I ached to crawl to the edge of the bed, cup his sac, and suck him to the back of my throat.
“I’m not stopping you. You’re just being mean…standing there looking all good and shit. You haven’t even touched me, you big tease.” I moaned with a playful smirk.
“And you’re not just as big a tease?” he asked, quirking a brow.
“I wasn’t the one enticing you with a little striptease, mister,” I quipped with a saucy grin.
“I simply removed my clothes,” he explained in the same clinical tone he used at work.
“Oh? So you weren’t trying to seduce me, Dr. Brooks?” I taunted.
“For a girl who claims she wants nothing to do with the lifestyle, you’re all but begging for a spanking. You know that, right?”
“I-I… No,” I stammered. My body tensed. My cheeks grew hot.
Shaking his head, Sam slid onto the bed beside me. “Relax, my frightened little sparrow. No spankings, no sex, just you…in my arms, right here.”
No sex? What the hell? Why not?
Tucking me under his arm, Sam drew me in against his side. I curled one arm over him and tangled my leg up with his, then rested my head on his chest. Scraping my nails over the coarse hair covering his pecs, I listened to the steady beat of his heart. Sam wordlessly massaged the back of my neck. His methodical kneading at the tendrils of stress that knotted my muscles worked better than any drug on the market. My eyes grew heavy, and I exhaled a kitten-like moan as he began scratching my scalp.
“I’ve got you, Allisinda. I’ll never let you fall,” he murmured as he kissed me softly.
His reassurance suffused me in safety, as did the heat of his body. I issued a soft hum in response, then drifted off to sleep.
Waking to Sam’s soft snores and a bladder screaming for relief, I carefully inched out from beneath the arm banded around my waist. After climbing off the bed, I crept toward the bathroom.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Sam asked in a voice thick with sleep.
“The bathroom.”
“Mmm, I’ll allow it,” he mumbled, peeking at me with one eye open.
I snorted. “I wasn’t asking permission.”
“Not yet.”
“Oh, good god,” I drawled sarcastically. Rolling my eyes, I closed the door behind me.
If the man thought I was going to ask his permission to go pee, he was buckets full of crazy.
Hearing his laughter beyond the door, I scowled. The butthead was messing with me. Well, two could pla
y that game and paybacks were hell. After washing my hands, I paraded back into the room. Flashing him a shy smile, I dropped my gaze to the floor, then lowered myself to my knees.
The air in his lungs exploded in a whoosh. “Holy fuck,” he growled. Launching off the bed, Sam skidded to a halt in front of me.
Staring at his long, perfectly sculpted toes, I watched his cock jerk and grow hard in my peripheral vision. If I were a real submissive, pulling a prank like this would probably get me a bright red ass, but since I wasn’t one, I knew I had nothing to fear.
“Cin,” Sam exhaled on a reverent whisper. “You look… Christ, girl. You look fucking gorgeous.”
Jerking my head up, I flashed him a triumphant grin. “Gotcha back.”
Giggling, I hopped up to my feet. A desolate look replaced his pride. His nostrils flared and Sam clenched his jaw.
I stopped laughing.
“Yes. You got me good,” he replied in a detached and icy tone. “Get dressed. I’ll take you to get something to eat.”
Without waiting for my reply, Sam turned and gathered his clothes from the floor. Guilt pummeled me as my heart sank to the pit of my stomach. The tension in the room was as crisp and cold as Alaska in December.
“Sam, I’m sorry,” I began. “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I was just playing.”
Spinning around, he glared at me. “I don’t play at Dominance and submission.”
His low, controlled tone sent a wintry blast of dread up my spine. My little prank had royally backfired. Before I could open my mouth and offer up another apology, I found myself facedown over Sam’s knees. He wrapped his arm firmly around my waist. Shock and indignation tore through me at the realization of what he was about to do.
“Okay, you’ve proven your point. Let me up.”
“Your safe word is red,” he whispered an instant before landing a brutal open-handed slap to my bare ass cheeks.
“My what?” I screamed. “Stop. That hurts.”
“I aimed it to.” He softly chuckled. “Safe word. Red. Use it if you can’t take anymore.”