Ladder 54: Five Firefighter Romances

by Maren Smith

  Turning away, he pulled out the collar and buckled it around her neck, pushing two fingers between her skin and the leather to ensure it wasn’t too tight. He wasn’t sure why he even had it. It had been an impulse purchase, back when he’d thought he might find a sub he wanted to collar. It looked right on Selene, and it was unlikely she would know what it meant.

  Hell, he didn’t know what it meant. He’d never considered using it on any other sub.

  At his urging, she took two steps forward until her chest met the hard wood of the column. He threaded the chain through the ring set just below the finial, binding her solidly and leaving her vulnerable to him.

  “What color, Selene?”

  “Green, Sir.”

  “Good girl.” He backed away and she heard the swish of leather behind her. “Are you ready to get started?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Watching her muscles tense, he knew she wasn’t as ready as she thought. He hooked the flogger handle through a belt loop on his jeans and rubbed her shoulders, smoothing the bunched muscles under his hands until she eased out a breath, relaxing under his touch. He tapped the skin up and down her back with his palms, increasing the flow of blood to warm her up for the flogger, careful to avoid the dangerous areas over her spine and kidneys. No dom worth his flogger would ever strike a sub in those places.

  Running his hands down her sides, he nudged her feet apart a few inches. “Can you hold that position? Is it comfortable?”

  “Yes, Sir. I’m fine.”

  “Good girl. We’ll start off slowly. I’ll ask for a color from you often, so be ready to answer.”

  “Okay.”

  Wrapping a hand around her throat, he lowered his voice to hiss in her ear, “Okay, what, sub?”

  “Sir! Sorry, Sir!”

  Theo loosened his hand and kissed the corner of her mouth. “Good girl.”

  Picking up the flogger, he shook it out to limber up his wrist then let it fly against the bottom curve of her ass. She hissed, but didn’t move. Working his arm in a figure eight pattern, he let the flogger warm the pristine canvas of her back, all the way down to her round ass, then back up until her skin was flushed pink with increased circulation. He didn’t want welts on her velvety skin, just the pink blush of a thorough flogging.

  Her breaths stuttered, settling into a slower, deeper cadence, almost as if she slept. Her head fell forward, touching the column as she spread her thighs further apart.

  “What color, Selene?”

  She didn’t answer at first. Slowly lifting her head, she said, “It’s easy being green. Kermit lied.”

  Choking back a laugh, he let the flogger fall against the sensitive crease between her ass and thigh. She cried out, but it wasn’t a cry of pain. Dropping the flogger, he went to her and ran a fingertip down her spine. She moaned, arching into his touch.

  “Are you wet for me?” he whispered.

  “Why don’t you find out, Sir?” She spread her thighs to expose her beautiful pussy.

  Her voice was low and husky with need, but he had to make sure. He dropped to his knees behind her.

  Oh, hell. The trimmed hair on her pussy was glistening and her clit was swollen with arousal. He watched a tiny droplet of her cream drip down her inner thigh and he didn’t bother stopping himself from taking that sweetness on his tongue. She tasted like honey and salt, and it was delicious.

  And he could not fucking stop. He had to have more of her. Careful of her bound hands, he turned her to face away from the post. He licked at her wet folds, feasting upon her and savoring every cry of pleasure he wrested from her squirming body.

  Thrusting two fingers into her clenching channel, he sucked her clit into his mouth, rasping it with the edges of his teeth. Her muscles clamped down and he softened his touch on her sensitive bud, licking it gently to soothe her away from the edge of orgasm.

  He’d give it to her, but not until he’d eaten his fill of her. And he wasn’t even close to done. To his delight, she wasn’t having it. Spreading her thighs, she pressed against him, rubbing her pussy against his face.

  “Please, Sir!”

  How could he resist such pretty begging? Turning his hand, he curled his fingers to massage her g-spot, redoubling his efforts on her clit. With a scream, she bore down and came, bathing his face with her musky juices.

  When her knees gave out, he stood to hold her up. Quickly unclipping the chain binding her wrists together, he swung her into his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her down on her back.

  “Tell me how you’re doing, Selene. What color are you?”

  “I’m fine.” A small smile bloomed on her face, though she didn’t open her eyes. “Green as rain.”

  And high as a kite. Stoned on endorphins was a good look for her. He kissed her fingers, checking for circulation, though he left the cuffs in place. “Good. We’ll have some food and water, and you can rest for a few minutes before we get to round two.”

  She opened her eyes and blinked. “Round two?”

  He chuckled softly at the squeak in her voice. “You didn’t think we were done, did you? It’s only a few hours after sunset.”

  “I don’t think I can.” She covered her mouth and yawned. “I’m so tired.”

  “You’ll feel better with a little food and water. I promise.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Chapter Six

  He fed her grapes and cubes of cheddar he’d filched from her fridge. She didn’t care that he’d raided her snack stash. It was kind of nice that he’d thought ahead. She hadn’t eaten much of the goodies her mother had sent with him, and though she wasn’t hungry, she knew she needed to eat. The food cleared the last bit of fuzz from her mind.

  What man gave oral, then carried a woman to bed and fed her? Oh, she’d had partners go down on her, but it had always been a quick and easy way to arouse her for sex, not the end game Theo seemed to treat it as.

  Rolling to her side, she watched him pull a few squat pillar candles from a plastic bag, along with a cheap ceramic plate. “I have candles if you want mood lighting,” she said.

  “These aren’t for mood lighting, though I guess they’d work for that. I use them for wax play.” Setting the candles on the plate, he lit them. “Have you heard of that before?”

  “Yes. I’ve seen videos, but I’ve never done it.” Laughing softly, she added, “Well, if you don’t count the time at camp when I tried to make a candle and spilled melted wax everywhere.”

  Arching a brow, he said, “One of these days, you’ll have to tell me where you learned about those naughty things a good Greek girl shouldn’t know.”

  “I read a lot.” Chuckling, she reached over and tugged his nipple. “And I’m not the one wandering around with a suitcase full of whips, Sir.”

  His eyes darkened and flashed as he loomed over her. Cupping her chin, he lowered his lips to hers and whispered, “I need them for a certain disobedient engineer.”

  Letting her eyes fall shut, she waited for him to kiss her, but the damnable man sat up and reached for a candle. Maybe that was better. It was a good reminder that she shouldn’t get attached or too used to his kisses.

  “Hold out your hand.”

  She obeyed and watched in fascination as he blew out the candle. Holding it several inches above her, he allowed a thin stream of wax to fall in her open palm. It was warm, but not uncomfortably so. Within a few seconds, the wax was hard and he scraped it away with a fingernail.

  “That’s not very hot.”

  He smirked at her, making her insides tumble. “Lie on your back and put your arms over your head.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  This was better. When he ordered her to do things, she didn’t have to think. All she had to do was obey. Thinking too hard on this single evening would not be good for her equilibrium. Though she loved what he was doing, Selene was torn between wanting more and wanting it to end so she could go back to real life. Tonight was just a fantasy, after all. There wasn’t g
oing to be any happy ever after.

  Kneeling over her, he grabbed an ice cube from the bowl on the nightstand and let the freezing drops of water land on her exposed stomach. She hissed and sucked in her abdomen, allowing the frigid liquid to pool in the middle of her belly. He brought the ice to her skin, tracing designs in her flesh with the melting ice cube, and she shivered as gooseflesh blossomed on her skin. She tried to squirm away, but he laid a firm hand on her chest, stopping the motion.

  “That’s cold!”

  “I’m going to warm you up very soon.” He popped the last of the ice into his mouth and lowered his head to her furled nipple, sucking on the hardened bud. She squealed and bucked against him, but he didn’t stop torturing her breast until the ice melted.

  “Do you like this?”

  “No!”

  He took her nipple once more, tracing the sweet flesh with his tongue. Her back arched and she moaned low in her throat as she tried to press her breast into his face.

  “Methinks the lady doth protest too much.”

  “Tease.”

  Frowning, he slapped the outer curve of her hip. “That’s Sir to you, Selene.”

  She wriggled away from the sting. “You’re a fucking tease, Sir.”

  He flipped her to her stomach before the words left her mouth. “That saucy mouth is going to get you in trouble, little sub.”

  Holding a short-handled whip with a tapering leather end, he said, “This is a dragon’s tongue. I’m going to give you five for swearing and I want you to count them.”

  He directed his first blow at the lower curve of her ass, just above the sensitive crease between her buttock and thigh.

  “Ouch!” She struggled, trying to get away, but he pinned her wrists behind her back, pressing down until she couldn’t move.

  “Did you forget something?” Using the popper end of the dragon’s tongue, he traced a line over her ass.

  She tried to tug out of his grip once again. “All I remember is how much that hurt!”

  “What color, Selene?”

  Turning her face to the side, Selene chewed her lip, but didn’t answer. He tapped her ass with the dragon’s tongue. “I asked you a question, little sub.”

  “Chartreuse. Can I use that, Sir?”

  Cocking his head to the side, he said, “Okay. We’ll count the first as one. For the next, you’re going to say, ‘two, Sir’ and so forth. Got it?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Tapping her ass once more, he brought the dragon’s tongue down just above the first stinging swat. She flinched and whimpered for a moment, then said, “Two, Sir.”

  “Such a good girl,” he whispered. “You’re taking your punishment so beautifully.”

  He let the dragon’s tongue fall again, leaving another burning mark above the first two.

  “Three, Sir.”

  He delivered the fourth and fifth strokes, waiting for her to collect herself before the next. When he finished, he laid the dragon’s tongue aside and stroked her hot flesh. She quivered under his touch, unable to control her reaction.

  “Thank me for the punishment, little sub.”

  She stiffened and thought about saying yellow. Her punishment had hurt like hell, but as with the flogger, the sting left by the dragon’s tongue turned into warmth. It had been a hell of a lesson, though. She would have to remember to keep her sarcastic comments to herself.

  “Thank you for my punishment, Sir.”

  “No more swearing, little sub?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “That’s my good girl.” He helped her roll over to her back and positioned her hands above her head. “Are you ready for your reward?”

  “I thought we were—”

  Laying a finger over her lips, he said, “I’m just getting warmed up.” He grabbed a lit candle from the bedside table then blew it out. Holding it several inches above her, he let a small stream of wax drip to her belly and she gasped at the heat on her skin.

  He painted her stomach with a spiral of heat, getting closer and closer to her pussy before the melted wax stopped flowing. He set the candle down, and with an evil grin, put a piece of ice in his mouth. She sucked in a breath and cried out as he sucked on the tender flesh of her clit.

  When she put her hands on his head to hold him to her, he said, “Hands down, or I’ll tie them.”

  Selene dropped them to the bed, putting them behind her head, gripping the pillow as Theo played with her clit, moving the ice around with his tongue as she wriggled and squirmed against him.

  “Holy shit!”

  Lifting his mouth from her pussy, Theo grinned and said, “Holy shit, Sir.” He lowered his head and nipped her as his free hand pushed a piece of ice into her wet channel. Her hips lifted and she thrashed, holding tight to the pillow.

  “You taste delicious, Selene. Sweet like salted caramel.” He sat up, his ass resting on his heels. “But now that you’re chilled down, it’s time to bring back the fire.”

  Her fingers clenched in the pillow and she gazed at him. “But I haven’t—”

  Theo reached over to kiss her, his face glistening with her arousal. “Greedy thing, aren’t you?” he whispered against her lips. “Hold that thought.”

  He picked up another lit candle, careful to avoid spilling the pool of wax around the wick. He blew it out and held it over her body, moving the candle back and forth between her breasts and pussy.

  “Where do you think the next drop will go?”

  Closing her eyes, she said, “I don’t know, Sir.”

  She knew where she wanted that drop of wax to go. Would he drop it on her clit or on her breasts?

  “Roll over on your stomach and hold still. I’m not done with you yet.”

  Biting her lip to hold back the begging, she obeyed and whimpered when he moved her thighs apart to expose her pussy. She heard him rummaging in that evil duffel bag once more and shut her eyes. Did she really want to know what he was pulling out? Yes, and no. She wanted to stop the sensual overload and ask him to fuck her, but didn’t dare. He might stop everything and that wasn’t acceptable.

  Theo pushed a hand between her legs and stroked her pussy, his fingers finding every sensitive spot she had as he pushed something hard inside her. A second later, the object buzzed and vibrated inside her, tickling against her g-spot. With a needy whine that should have embarrassed her, she lifted her hips in invitation.

  Whap! The sharp, thudding sting of his whip cracked across her ass and she let out a howl. When she caught her breath, she asked, “What was that for?”

  “I told you to hold still. You’ll take what I decide to give you, understand?”

  The implement crashed against her ass again, the sting waking up nerve endings and sending warmth into her core. “Yes, Sir.”

  Frigid drops of water sprinkled over her bared skin, sending a shiver through her body. She hissed at the sensation, unsure why she’d expected heat from the wax. Hadn’t Theo been holding a candle? The toy in her pussy stole all her thoughts as he turned up the vibrations.

  When she tried to shift away from the torturous cold, he snapped that wicked thing against her bottom.

  “That’s going to happen every time you move, Selene, but I’m going to make it easy on you.”

  “How, Sir?” Yay! She’d remembered to call him Sir, for once. The triumph of success faded when he buckled cuffs around her thighs, just above her knees. “What are you doing?”

  “Helping you stay still.” He pushed an arm under her hips and lifted her from the bed, positioning her on her knees.

  She could only imagine the picture she must give, on her knees with her ass thrust in the air. A perfect target for him. She shivered and her ass clenched.

  His fingers were warm on her hand as he pulled her arm back and hooked the wrist cuff to the one above her knee. After repeating the process on her other side, he pushed a pillow under her chest. The new position wasn’t uncomfortable, and the support provided by the pillow kept her from suffocat
ing in the soft bedding. It also left her almost completely immobile, giving him full access to all her tenderest parts. About all she could do was move her hips, and that didn’t stop him from slapping her ass.

  “I have one more thing to keep your mind on business.”

  She bit her lip when the bed shifted under his weight and he got up. Her trepidation almost got the better of her when she heard the tearing of paper and a rustle of plastic. She didn’t have to wait for long, though. He climbed on the bed behind her and she felt a trickle of liquid stream down between her ass cheeks and she tensed against the sensation.

  He slapped her ass, his palm connecting with the tender flesh where her thigh met the curve of her butt. “Relax,” he muttered as his fingers sought entry between her clenched cheeks.

  “Yes, Sir.” Lowering her head to the mattress, she obeyed. This wasn’t her first rodeo with anal play, and she pushed out to relax her ass as Theo massaged the lube into her rosette. Despite her worry, he was gentle when he pressed the rounded tip of a plug against her, easing it inside.

  “Good girl,” he whispered, his free hand stroking her back as he worked the plug past the clenching muscle.

  “Fuck.” The word was torn from her as her ass burned around the widest part of the plug. It didn’t hurt. Well, not much, anyway. The feeling was more intense than pain. It was hot and dirty, and she let out a soft moan when the toy was fully seated. The vibe in her pussy kept up its maddening work, moving against the plug in her ass. She felt so damned full.

  She almost came when he slapped her ass one more time, jostling the plug and the vibe inside her.

  “Close your eyes, sweetheart.”

  She obeyed, and he covered her eyes with black silk. “Blocking one sense will heighten the others.”

  When he finished tying the fabric at the back of her head, he helped her rest on the pillow. The soft sound of sultry blues filled the room and she felt the bed dip as he laid down beside her.

  “You have the softest skin,” he said, tracing a finger down her ribcage.

  She squirmed, gasping at the tickling sensation. He laughed softly and put a hand on her lower back to hold her still.