by Marie Tuhart
She sighed. “Do we have to?”
“Open, honest communication. Remember?”
“Damn Dom,” she whispered. Her tone was playful, and her body language suggested she was relaxed and calm.
Cameron smiled at her.
“I just froze up,” she said in a rush.
“You seem to think I wasn’t moving too fast.”
“You weren’t. I honestly don’t know why I froze up. I tried to relax, but I couldn’t. Something held me back.”
“You mentioned old fears. Any ideas?”
“Maybe it’s because of what happened the time I was tied up, and someone took pictures.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Is this going to ruin things for us?” She tucked her chin against her chest.
“Absolutely not.” He reached over the breakfast bar, and using two fingers, he lifted her chin. “I still want to explore this with you.”
“And I with you.”
“Then we will. For now, finish up your coffee, and we’ll go for a walk.”
“Sounds good, but…”
“What is it?”
“Don’t you think you should put a shirt on before we go outside?” Laughter lit her eyes.
“Yes, smart ass.” He tapped her on the nose with his fingers before going in search of his shirt.
****
Later that evening after having pizza delivered, they curled up on the sofa, watching a science fiction movie. Cameron glanced down to see Kristen had fallen asleep in his arms.
He wasn’t surprised. She’d told him she’d been up since four that morning. She really did need help baking, but he’d keep that comment to himself.
What had happened earlier in the playroom still grated on his nerves, but he was glad Kristen trusted him enough to relax and sleep in his embrace. Kristen’s reaction to being tied up had lulled him into a sense of compliancy. She’d been so open and excited about everything up until the end.
He ran his schedule through his head, trying to figure out how much time they could have together in the next week. Because he wanted to spend more time with her, to wipe out any worries about what had happened today. His classes started on Wednesday, and he had most of his semester curriculum already done. A plan began to form for the week. He shifted on the sofa, putting both of them into a more comfortable position while he plotted.
****
Kristen didn’t want to wake up. She was warm and cozy. She shifted her hand, trying to find her pillow. Instead, she found…her eyes popped open. Cameron? She was touching his stubbled face. But not only that, she was lying on top of him.
The last thing she remembered was the campy science fiction film they were watching on TV, then nothing. She’d fallen asleep on him. How embarrassing. She lifted her head.
How was she going to get out of this? She was wedged between him and the back of the sofa.
“I can hear you thinking; go back to sleep,” Cameron muttered.
“I need to get home.” She started to push herself up.
“No, you don’t.” His arms tightened around her. “Still sleepy.”
Kristen sighed as he let out a snore. She had no idea what time it was. The room was dark except for the flickering of the TV screen. How long had she’d been asleep? With a sigh, she laid her head on his chest.
This was nice, Cameron cradling her against his body. She could hear his heart beating and the rhythm of his breathing. A sense of peace invaded her body. She was becoming comfortable with Cameron, and a relationship with him no longer scared her. Maybe she was finally getting over her past.
Chapter Nine
“Should we wake them?”
“Mom is going to have a field day.”
Male voices penetrated Kristen’s sleep-fogged brain.
“They do make a good couple.”
She started to smile…she was still in Cameron’s arms from last night. Kristen opened her eyes and saw two of his brothers standing in front of the coffee table, staring at them.
“Ah… Hi, this isn’t what it looks like.” She pushed against Cameron’s chest. “Cameron, wake up.” She fought against panicking.
“He can be a pretty deep sleeper,” Graham said, his dark blue eyes twinkling and a wide grin on his face. He was the second to the youngest.
“I’ll wake him.” Alec gave a loud whistle.
“What the hell.” Cameron jerked awake, and his arms tightened around her.
“Good morning, brother.” The two chorused.
“Oh, crap,” Cameron muttered.
“Good thing it was us and not Mom.” Graham gave her a wink.
She pushed against Cameron again. “I need to get up,” she whispered.
“Go away, you two. Can’t you see I’m busy?” Cameron nuzzled her neck.
“Cameron!” She wiggled in his embrace.
“All right.” Cameron shifted.
Kristen scrambled to her feet. She stared at his brothers, her face growing warm. “Ah, excuse me.” She ran for the bathroom and slammed the door behind her.
Cameron’s gaze followed Kristen as she ran down the hallway. Poor thing, she wasn’t used to his crazy family.
Alec chuckled. “She’ll need to toughen up a bit to be around us, brother.”
“Yeah.” Cameron ran a hand through his hair. “What are you two doing here?”
“You didn’t show up for Sunday breakfast,” Graham said.
“So we volunteered to come and fetch you,” Alec said. “Who knew you’d be busy with the delectable café owner.”
“Back off.” Cameron surged to his feet.
“Easy.” Alec put his hands up.
“If you two are through, tell Mom I’m sorry, but I won’t be having breakfast this morning.”
“Oh.” Alec’s eyebrows rose. “And what do I tell her?”
“Tell her I’m helping Kristen today, and I’m treating her to breakfast. Now shoo.” Cameron waved his arms. “You’ve embarrassed my lady quite enough.”
“Your lady?” Graham’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Oh how the mighty have fallen.”
“Just go.”
His brothers’ laughter lingered as they closed the front door. Cameron took a deep breath then marched over to the bathroom door.
“Kristen.” He knocked. “They’re gone.”
“I’m so embarrassed.” Her faint words barely carried past the door.
“There’s no need.” He braced his arm against the door frame. He wouldn’t test to see if she locked the door. He wanted her to come out on her own.
“But they saw us together.”
“Honey, they’re going to see a lot more of us together.”
“What?” The door opened. Kristen’s cheeks were pink.
“If we’re going to be seeing each other, the whole town is going to know we’re together.”
She groaned. “I really didn’t think this through.”
“Is people seeing us together a problem?” He didn’t like that she wanted to keep their relationship quiet.
“Yes and no.” She pushed past him. “I need coffee.”
Cameron followed her into his kitchen, satisfaction hitting him in the gut at how good she looked there. She opened several cabinets before finding the coffee and filters and pulling them out. She was making herself at home. “Want to explain the ‘yes and no’?” He pulled two mugs from the cabinet as she filled the coffee maker with water.
“No, it’s not a problem people know we’re together, but also yes, there is a problem.” She scooped the coffee into the filter and turned it on. “Some people won’t approve.” She crossed to the fridge and grabbed the creamer.
“Who cares?” He frowned. “It’s no one’s business but ours.” He watched her pace around the kitchen as the coffee percolated.
“Except you don’t run a public business.” The coffee gave a gurgle and finished. She filled a mug and handed it to him after putting in just a splash of milk.
“I’m missing something.” He wasn’t sure
he followed her train of thought.
“It’s like the pastry school all over again. People aren’t going to like what we’re doing together, and there will be repercussions to my business.”
“Sweetheart.”
“Cameron, I’m afraid people will stop coming to the café. I’ll lose my business, my home, and my dream fails. I can’t live through losing my dreams again.”
He set his mug down before cupping her cheeks between his palms. “We’re consenting adults. If someone stops coming to your café because we’re seeing each other, then they aren’t people you want to have in your place of business.”
“You don’t understand.” Her eyes dulled.
He took her cup from her hands and set it on the counter before slipping his arms around her waist. “Why don’t you explain it to me?”
“Appearances are everything.” She let out a sigh.
Her past was making her leery. He did understand. “Let me ask you a question. Do you think any less of me knowing I’m into kink?”
“Of course not.”
“Then why do you think people will think less of you for dating me?”
“But we’ll be doing more than just dating.”
“Sweetheart, half the town sleeps with the other half. No one should look down on you for your private life, and if they do, then that’s their problem.” He watched her eyes brighten and wondered why she needed such reassurances.
“What about the kink?”
“What about it?” He leaned down and brushed a kiss across her lips. “What’s between us behind closed doors is no one’s business but ours.”
She let out another sigh, but her muscles relaxed, and she leaned against him. “I guess I’m worrying for nothing.”
“Not for nothing.” He wouldn’t belittle her concerns. “Your past has shaped you into what you are today.”
“That’s not reassuring.” She gave a little laugh and pushed away from him.
It pleased him to see her smiling. Their road ahead wasn’t going to be smooth, but if they talked things out, it wouldn’t be so rocky. “You are a beautiful, talented woman, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.” He picked his mug up and took a fortifying drink.
“Flatterer.”
He grinned. “So, how do you feel about trying the playroom again? No restraints this time.”
Kristen’s hands fluttered to her chest before she grabbed her coffee off the counter and cradled it in her hands. “You won’t tie me up?”
“No. You were uncomfortable with it, so we’ll take it one step at a time. Today, I’d like to explore your body more and see how you react to my touch and also to my toys.”
“Toys?” Her voice went up an octave, but her cheeks flushed with desire.
“Before we do that, we both need to eat, and then, we’ll go play.” Cameron strode over to the fridge and opened it. He pulled out a box and set it on the counter.
“And when did you pick up breakfast from the café?”
“The advantage of having a sister who works there.” He pulled down two plates from the cabinet then opened the box. “Let’s see here. Two blueberry scones…those are mine. Oh, this looks like some sort of quiche.”
“Mine.” She snatched the plate off the counter the second he put the slice of quiche on it. “Ham and spinach quiche. Skye must have snuck a piece away yesterday when I wasn’t looking.”
“That she did.” Cameron grinned. He was happy to see Kristen relaxed and playful. “Heat it up in the microwave so we can eat.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Not yet, but soon.”
Cameron watched Kristen closely as they entered the playroom thirty minutes later. Her eyes were bright with excitement, and her skin flushed. He surveyed the room, trying to decide where he wanted her since restraining her was out of the question.
“Undress,” he ordered as he crossed over to the toy cabinets.
He opened the first one, grabbed a vibrator, vibrating egg, and harness before shutting the drawer and opening another one. He grabbed a feather tickler and a small rabbit flogger. Those would all be good for today. He carried the items over to the small table next to one of his flogging benches.
Cameron checked on Kristen, who stood silently next to the chair where she’d put her clothes. “Come over here,” he said, motioning to her.
Her gaze bounced between him and the bench as she walked over to him. “How is this going to work, Sir?” she asked.
“The restrains will remain undone.” He undid the Velcro restraints, allowing the ends to hang loose. “Come, climb on.” He patted the leather.
Kristen let out a breath and went to the end of the bench. Cameron cupped her chin and turned her face to his. The excitement still shone in her eyes, but her muscles were stiff. “Talk to me. Are you afraid?”
“No, Sir.” Her lips twitched. “Not afraid, just unsure how to get onto the bench.”
“Ah.” He hadn’t thought about that, although he should have. She wasn’t used to the different dungeon equipment. “I can help you with that.” He maneuvered her until she was facing the bench and placed his hands on her waist. “This is a split spanking bench. Your knees go on the lower portion, then you lay down on your stomach with arms on the upper arm rests. You can rest your head in the donut just like a massage table.”
She let out a laugh. “No massage table I’ve ever seen looks like this, Sir.”
“Ready?”
Kristen nodded, and he lifted her up. She placed her knees on the rests, and he kept his hands on her waist until she lay on the bench.
“Okay?” he asked, making minor adjustments to her legs and arms.
“Good, Sir.” Her reply was muffled. “I feel very exposed, Sir.”
“I can imagine.” He loved this split bench. It allowed for a sub to be comfortable, but also left one open to being played with.
He ran his hands over her back, pushing her hair to the side so it was out of the way. “You have such fair skin.” His fingers traced her spine then caressed her pert ass. “I’m going to use a feather tickler on you then we’ll play with the vibrator and egg, and then finally, the rabbit flogger.”
“Yes, Sir.” Her voice was strong and steady.
Cameron stepped back from her tantalizing body. He stripped off his shirt and set it on the chair before returning to her. He picked up the purple tickler and drew it across her lower back.
A giggle reached his ears, and he couldn’t help but smile. He continued up and down her back and over the back of her arms. She started to rise up.
“Stay still.” He placed his palm in the middle of her back, pressing her down. “I promised not to restrain you, but you need to hold your position.”
“Sorry, Sir.” Her body relaxed under his hand.
He stepped back. Time to take things to the next level. He picked up the vibrator. “Let’s see if you need more of a warm up.” He dipped his finger between her legs, drawing the digit through her parted pussy lips. She was wet, but not quite ready yet. He set the vibrator down and smacked her ass.
Kristen squealed.
“You need a little more warming up,” he said as he gave her three more swats before soothing his hands over her pink ass. The rest of her skin was flushing. He dipped his finger between her legs. She was drenched. Keeping one hand, caressing her outer pussy lips, he reached over and picked up the vibrator.
He pressed the tip to her wet opening and pushed it in. A groan left Kristen’s lips.
Kristen’s breath caught in her throat as he coaxed the vibrator into her pussy. Every nerve in her body was already on alert, waiting for more. When he had used the tickler on her body it had been nice, but when Cameron spanked her ass…the delicious sensations vibrated through her body, making her hot.
Cameron didn’t hit her hard. She clenched her ass slightly when he smacked her, but the sound of his palm hitting her ass had her taking a deep breath in pleasure. Now, he shifted the vibrator farther into her pussy. S
he clenched her inner muscles. It had been so long since she’d pleasured herself. The vibrator stopped.
“Don’t stop, Sir.” Thank goodness, she remembered at the last second to address him right. “Please, Sir.”
The vibrator slipped into her pussy deeper but stopped again. Cameron rested his palm on her ass then the vibration came to life. Oh God, the sensations. Her pussy clenched around the toy, and her breath hiccupped in her throat.
“Ah.” She started to rise up, but he slipped his palm up her spine, holding her in place. Kristen settled back down, trying to let the vibrations flow through her body. Her core muscles clenched again as if trying to draw the vibrator into her more.
“So pretty,” Cameron’s voice was soft.
She couldn’t see him, but she heard his soft footfalls, and she imagined him pacing around her as she lay on the bench. A shiver of anticipation swept over her.
“Now, my sweet, I’m going to use a harness to hold the vibrator and another toy against your pussy, so don’t panic. I will have to secure it around your waist.”
“Yes, Sir.” Another toy? The vibrator was on low, but its gentle vibrations were starting to create a delicious need inside her. Kristen waited as fabric encircled her waist. She fought against squirming when his fingers caressed her clit, but then something round and cool replaced his hand on her swollen bud.
His thumb pressed against the vibrator, making sure it was fully inserted in her pussy. Kristen sucked in a breath as Cameron removed his fingers, but she stiffened when the harness was pulled tight. The smooth fabric ran up the crease of her ass and was attached to the band at her waist.
“Ready?” he asked.
“For what, Sir?”
His chuckle reached her ears as he pressed his hand against her back and…
“Fuck.” He’d turned on the egg, and it was a good thing his hand was on her back to hold her down. She’d almost come right off the spanking bench at the sensation coursing through her clit. Her nipples hardened to tight buds.
“Are you ready for the next phase?” he asked.
Kristen swallowed as her mouth went dry. “Next phase, Sir?” She could barely concentrate with the vibrator and egg making her pussy tighten with each vibration.