by L. A. Witt
“Karen, we’ve talked about this. Yeah, it’s tough paying for them to go to school, but if paying for it myself means you’re out from under that asshole’s thumb?” I put a hand on her arm. “Then I’ll happily pay it.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. “But they need to come first. Not me.”
“It’s not a hierarchy. We’re still family. We’ll figure it all out.”
Karen smiled halfheartedly. “Well. I should get ready for work.”
I withdrew my hand. “Yeah, me too.”
She pushed her chair back. “Sorry for ruining your good mood.”
“Don’t be.” I paused to put some milk on my cereal. “It’s expensive, but there are worse things than having to figure out how to get all three kids through good schools.”
Her eyes unfocused for a second. “Good point.”
“We’ll make it work. I promise.”
We exchanged looks, and then she headed upstairs.
Alone in the kitchen, I ate my breakfast in silence. She hadn’t ruined my good mood, but the thought of my kids’ education was sobering. Two of them wanted to go to grad school, and the third was still on the fence about it. This was going to get expensive as fuck. It was already expensive as fuck.
But I’d find a way. No way in hell was any kid of mine losing a single night of sleep over student loans. I would come up with the money.
I just wasn’t sure how.
Chapter Ten
While I waited for Rick to arrive, I went through the cabinets in my dungeon to pick out exactly what I wanted to use on him tonight. So many options. So many ways I could overload his senses.
I definitely wanted him tied. Inflicting pain was fun to a point, and sensory overload was amazing, but bondage was where my passion lay. Nothing turned me on like an immobile submissive. Anything I did to him after that was a bonus. Like different sexual positions—they all had their perks, and they all stimulated in their own ways, but whether I had him up against a wall or bent over a bed or even if he was fucking me, it was the penetration itself that inevitably got me off.
So there was no doubt in my mind that I’d have him tied up tonight. Probably bent over something at some point too, but first…tied. Question was, what to do with him once he was bound? Flogging was an option, but we both had to work tomorrow, and I already had something up my sleeve for later that guaranteed Rick wouldn’t be able to get comfortable at the office. No point in overdoing it.
We didn’t know each other well enough to indulge in his hot-wax fantasy quite yet. Some of my other toys—particularly the mechanical variety—would be fun, but why break out the big guns this early in the game? I’d save those until we’d done this a few times.
A few times.
The thought brought a grin to my face. I still couldn’t believe we were doing this, never mind that there might be more repeat performances. Assuming he enjoyed tonight enough to come back for more, that is.
I scanned my collection of implements, and when my gaze landed on a small, latched box, the grin got bigger. Oh yes. I knew how I was going to fuck with him tonight.
I pulled out the box and four pairs of handcuffs, which I took to the twin bed that was set up in the corner of the dungeon. The bed was bolted to the floor, and it had eye bolts and metal rings all over the steel frame, not to mention up and down the walls and even on the ceiling. The sky was the limit for tying someone here.
After I’d put a fitted sheet over the mattress, I left the box and cuffs on the bed and went back upstairs to wait for Rick.
In the kitchen, Karen had on her jacket and was gathering her purse and keys.
“Hey,” I said. “Taking off already?”
“Yeah, we figured we should get there early so we can find a place to park. Sounds like the concert is sold out, and you know how parking is by the coliseum.”
I wrinkled my nose. “Ugh. I think I’d walk.”
“I would too, but after what your kids did to my hip…” She shot me a good-natured glare.
Shrugging, I chuckled. “They’ll make up for it by putting you in a good nursing home.”
“Damn right they will,” she muttered. “All right. I’m off. Don’t have too much fun tonight.”
“Likewise.”
Our eyes met, and we both laughed.
Then she came around the kitchen island, arms outstretched. As she hugged me tight, she said, “Thank you again for the tickets. This means a lot.”
“You’re welcome.” I kissed her cheek. “I hope you all have an amazing time.”
“We will.” She let me go, and we exchanged smiles. Then she gathered her things and left.
As I listened to her car head down the street, I smiled. It was good to see her getting out and having a good time. This was her favorite band, and she’d been looking forward to this concert for weeks. When the tickets had gone on sale a few months ago, we’d both been tight on cash—she’d just coughed up a retainer for her attorney, and the kids had all needed textbooks that must’ve been printed on endangered yak flesh in ink made from the tears of angels. But it was something her asshole ex would have forbidden her from doing. He hated the band, he hated her friends, and he hated her going anywhere without him. Now that she was out from under his thumb, she didn’t have any reason not to go except the cost of the tickets.
Over my dead body was she missing that show because of him, though, so I’d made a deal with Marie to let me work a few hours of overtime that week, and bought the tickets for her. They weren’t exactly front row with backstage access, but they weren’t nosebleed either, and Karen had been thrilled.
I hoped she had a blast tonight.
Meanwhile, I intended to have a blast as well, especially since a certain gorgeous submissive was going to be here any minute.
A car engine raised the hairs on the back of my neck. Speak of the devil…
I opened the front door as he closed his car door, and my whole body broke out in goose bumps. He was dressed down, of course—jeans and a green golf shirt—but he could’ve been wearing anything and still looked hot. It was his eyes, though, that made my heart go crazy. Even more than his hurried gait, his eyes said I can’t fucking wait.
Neither could I, so without a word, I stood aside and gestured for him to come in. And just like that, we were in the foyer, with my dungeon beneath our feet and the whole night ahead of us. My pulse sped up even more, especially as I wrapped my arms around him and gazed up at him. It was weird—we’d been together last night and the night before, and yet it felt like it had been ages since we’d been in the same room. Like it was an enormous relief to find ourselves in the same place again.
I cupped his face and kissed him. “It’s good to see you.”
“You too.”
I moved my hand up into his hair and claimed another kiss, sliding my tongue between his willing lips as everything about him—his presence, his body heat, his hands on my waist—turned my knees to water. I was still in control, but damn, kissing him was a good way to warm up to the idea of losing control.
But that wasn’t why he was here, and it wasn’t why we were doing this. I was a Dom, for God’s sake, and I would stay in control.
I broke the kiss and forced myself not to show that I was out of breath. “We should go downstairs and get started. Or else I’m going to fuck you right here in this foyer instead of tying you up downstairs.”
“Lead the way,” he said quietly, breathing hard.
I did, taking him down into the basement.
At the dungeon door, he paused. “Am I… Is this where you want me to undress?”
“Did I tell you to undress?”
“N-no.” He gulped. “Just…uh…”
“I’ll tell you when it’s time.” I pushed open the door and waved him in.
“Sorry,” he murmured, and stepped into the room.
In the middle of the floor, I halted, and nodded downward. Immediately, and with only the slightest wince, he went to his knees.
�
�Good.” I stroked his cheek. “You’re ready for this, aren’t you?”
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
“Ready to play around with a few toys and some bondage?”
He swept his tongue across his lips. “Absolutely.”
That kind of enthusiasm—as if he were this close to trembling with excitement—turned me on like nothing else.
“Before we go too far,” I went on, “tell me the safe word.”
“Red.”
“Good,” I whispered. “Stand up.”
His eyes never leaving mine, he rose, and once he was on his feet, I slid my arm around his waist and kissed him. He didn’t put his arms around me, but he returned my kiss. No, that wasn’t right. He welcomed my kiss, his mouth surrendering to the gentle demands of my own. Even his kiss was made of submission. My God. I couldn’t believe this man was mine for tonight.
And if we kept kissing like this, I’d wind up fucking him right here in the middle of the floor again. Which was hot. Ridiculously hot. But I had other plans for him tonight.
I pried myself off him and forced my voice to stay even despite the fact that I was out of breath. “This way.”
I led him across the room to the bed. His eyes darted toward the cuffs, but then went right to the box.
I pulled it to the edge of the mattress, unsnapped the latches and lifted the lid. “Pick your poison.”
He gazed into the box, and his eyebrows climbed.
I was a big fan of Wartenberg wheels and had several variations of them laid out on the gold satin liner. They were all roughly the same—a pencil-sized handle with a spiny wheel attached to one end—but some were sharper than others, and some had multiple wheels while others only had one.
“You ever experienced one of these?”
Eyes still fixed on the box, he shook his head.
I pulled one of the single wheels free and held out my other hand. “Give me your arm.”
He extended his arm. I grasped his wrist and turned it so his forearm was up. Gently, I touched the wheel to his skin, gave him a couple of seconds to get used to the idea and then rolled it across his forearm.
“Hmm.” He curled and straightened his fingers, the muscles rippling beneath the skin. “Doesn’t seem too bad.”
“Well. Not on your arm.”
Rick blinked. “Where else exactly—” His eyes darted to the wheel in my hand. Then to me.
I grinned. “You game?”
He shot the wheel another wary glance. “I’m…yeah. Yeah, I’m game.”
“I thought so.” I laid the wheel back in the box. “Which one do you want me to use?”
He looked them over again. Eventually, he selected another single wheel, this one with slightly duller spikes than the one I’d used on him. “How about this one?”
“All right.” I took it from him and slid it into my back pocket. Then I cleared the cuffs and box from the bed. “Now you’re going to strip, and then I want you to lie down on your back.”
Without hesitation, he peeled off his shirt. I had everything set up and ready to go, so I stood back and watched, enjoying every second of this man getting naked against the backdrop of my home dungeon. I almost wished those painted-on windows were real, if only so someone might walk past and see Rick Pierce stepping out of those snug jeans or sliding his boxers over his hips.
He folded his clothes and stacked them neatly on the floor by the footboard. Fully naked, he faced me, but then jumped as if he’d suddenly remember there was one more step he hadn’t yet completed. He lay back on the bed as ordered and gazed up at me.
From my other pocket, I withdrew a black satin blindfold and handed it to him. “Put this on.”
He gave it an uncertain glance, but then slid it down over his eyes.
“I’m going to cuff your wrists and ankles,” I said. “Safe word again?”
“Red.”
“Good.” I patted his thigh, and he tensed, sucking in a sharp breath. “You all right?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Just, uh, never know where you’re going to touch me.”
“That’s the idea.” I drew a fingertip alongside his cock, prompting a delicious gasp. “Keeps you guessing.”
He bit his lip.
I picked up the first pair of cuffs. As much as I loved using ropes—there were few things sexier than a man wrapped up in rope—tonight was a night for cuffs. With a toy like this, I wanted as much of his skin exposed as possible. More room for me to play, and more room for him to wonder where the wheel would come down next.
I closed one cuff around his wrist, and secured the other to the bedpost. “These have a quick release tab. Make sure you can open that.”
He twisted his arm slightly and found the tab with his thumb. The bracelet fell open, letting his hand fall to the bed.
“Good,” I said, and fastened it to the bed again. “You can use your safe word at any time, but you can also get loose if you need to.”
He nodded but didn’t speak. As I cuffed first his hands, then his ankles, to their respective corners of the bed, he didn’t make a sound.
Once he was secured, I stepped back to admire my handiwork for a moment. Though silver bracelets weren’t nearly as sexy as ropes, this was still hot. Just like how Rick was jaw-droppingly sexy in a suit but still made my knees weak in jeans and a golf shirt, the way he wore cuffs was enough to make my heart skip. Especially in this spread-eagle position.
I pulled the Wartenberg wheel from my pocket and sat down on the edge of the mattress. Rick shifted a little, the cuffs clinking against the metal frame.
For the longest time, I did nothing. He had to have known I was there since he hadn’t heard me leave and he’d apparently felt the mattress dip, but with the blindfold in place and no sounds to give away my next move, he had no way of knowing what was next.
I touched the Wartenberg wheel to the middle of his abs. Instantly, every muscle in his body tensed, his abs pulling tight as he gasped. As I rolled it up the center toward his chest and onto his breastbone, his spine lifted off the bed, pushing his skin against the spikes.
“You like that, don’t you?”
“It’s…” He shivered. “Different.”
“Mmhmm.” I lifted the wheel off, then brought it down on his pec and circled his nipple.
“Shit.” He tilted his head back, probably trying to channel some nervous energy but afraid to move while the wheel was against such a sensitive area.
Oh yes. This was going to be fun.
Every inch of his body was a different place to be mercilessly teased, and he rewarded every spiky taunt with the most delicious responses. Rolling the wheel along the inside of his upper arm brought out a groan that he almost tamped down, but soft fingertips down his rib cage killed whatever attempt he made to silence himself. Drawing ever-smaller circles on his abs and hips, inching closer and closer to his cock and balls, made the muscles quiver and contract. Teasing one nipple with the wheel and one with my fingertip made him thrash, as if his body couldn’t comprehend those two sensations at the same time.
How many times had I surreptitiously gazed at him in meetings, wishing I had a shot at him? Wishing I could see what he kept hidden beneath those flawlessly tailored suits?
And now…
Now here we were.
His lean, beautiful body stretched out in front of me, tied down and turned on. Fuck. I didn’t always incorporate sex into a scene like this, but I didn’t usually have a submissive who aroused me quite as much as he did. My erection was starting to get annoying, and what better way to relieve that tension than driving Rick a little further out of his mind?
Without a word, I unfastened the cuffs around his ankles.
“Lift your hips.”
He pushed himself up, and I slid a pillow under him.
“Back down.”
He sank down onto the pillow, and the handcuffs creaked and jingled as he opened and closed his fists. He must’ve known what I had in mind, especially as I got up,
undressed and rummaged around in a nearby drawer. If not, between the tearing foil, the soft crinkling of the condom as I rolled it on, and the click of the lube bottle, he was probably catching on by now.
Oh, if he only knew.
I joined him on the bed again. “Legs apart.”
He spread them obediently, and I knelt between them.
“I’m going to fuck you,” I said, “but you’re not going to come.”
His hands tightened into fists and stayed that way.
“Understand?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Understand?”
“Yes.” He took a deep breath, and as he released it, his hands slowly relaxed. “I won’t… I won’t come.”
“Good.” I poured some lube on my fingers, and started teasing his ass with one. As I slid it inside him, working it in a little at a time so I wouldn’t hurt him, he moaned. His legs were shaky, toes curling into the sheets. The second finger prompted a longer, lower moan, one that reverberated down my spine and made me thankful as fuck he was blindfolded. His eyes were probably squeezed shut anyway, judging by the tension in his forehead and cheeks, but he didn’t need to see me struggling to keep my breathing slow and even. I was beyond ready to be balls-deep inside him, and he was ready to take me—both fingers moved easily in and out of his tight hole—but I wanted to draw this out. Tease him. Torture him.
With one hand, I finger-fucked him, and with the other, I ran the Wartenberg wheel over his skin. Hips. Thighs. Inner thighs. Each time I rolled it anywhere near his cock and balls, he clenched around my fingers, and each time I crooked my fingers inside him, he arched into the Wartenberg wheel’s spikes.
Carefully, as gently as possible, I rolled the tiny wheel across his balls.
He tensed but didn’t move, and tightened so hard I couldn’t move my fingers at all for a second. “Fuck. That’s…”
“Breathe,” I said.
He exhaled slowly. Then he took in a deep breath through his nose. As he let that out, I ran the spines over his balls again, and he shuddered as the most amazing, helpless, strangled cry escaped his lips.
“What’s wrong?” I taunted, rolling it back and forth over that sensitive area. “I’m not hurting you, am I?”