Ian turned and went in the house, leaving her with her jumbled thoughts. He was a special man, and she wanted to be with him so bad she ached with it. Time would tell how submissive, and adventurous, she really was. She only knew she was finally getting the chance to find out.
* * * *
Tori sat at her kitchen table and bit into the dark-chocolate brownie she would be working off in the gym tomorrow. When Carl had passed away, she’d realized she’d let herself go over the years. She had been about sixty pounds overweight and never bothered with makeup or styling her hair. She’d cast a critical eye at her life and found it wanting. She’d withdrawn from life when taking care of Carl during those last few years. The start of her new life was when she had tentatively walked into her neighborhood gym and signed a year contract. Within months her two sons were cheering her on. It felt good to have them be proud of her. Now she wanted to be proud of herself. It didn’t mean, however, she couldn’t have a damn brownie every now and then.
She picked up the pen and blew out a breath. The paperwork Ian had asked her to fill out was incredibly personal and more than a little embarrassing. It was some small comfort she was filling it out in the privacy of her own home. Eventually, he was going to read it, and it was like stripping herself bare for him, a thought which made her groan. She had no doubt she would be stripping bare for him, and soon. There wasn’t much chance of getting to keep her clothes on while they were having sex.
The soft chimes of her cell phone gave her the excuse she was looking for to take a break. She smiled when she saw the caller, and pressed the accept button.
“Hey, Lisa. What’s up?”
“I called to see how your talk with the Devil, shit, I mean Ian, went. Did you work everything out?”
“We did. He was willing to give up being a Dominant to pursue a relationship with me.”
There was silence on the other end of the phone for a long moment. “Holy crap, that’s big. He must really be attracted to you. He’s really going to give up the lifestyle for you? That can’t be easy for him. I don’t think Conor and I could go vanilla after all these years.”
“He’s not going vanilla. I agreed to try submitting to him.”
Lisa chuckled. “Good for you. I always knew you had it in you. I think you’ll love it, but then I’m biased. I never feel more free than when I’m submitting to Conor.”
“I want to feel that way, too. But first I have to fill out all this paperwork. He gave me homework, Lisa. I have a five-page questionnaire to fill out. Then, I am also to troll the internet looking for things I find intriguing and things I find disgusting. God, what’s next? A pop quiz?”
“Better study up, girlfriend. You’ll get more than a detention if you disobey the Devil Dom. You’ll get your ass warmed up, I’ll bet.”
Tori’s pussy dripped honey at the thought of being bent over Ian’s muscular thighs with his firm hand spanking her bottom. It was an erotic and naughty picture, and it made her even more sure of her decision to try this. She wanted to explore this submissive stuff completely.
“The questions are very personal. He’s asking questions about whether I would consider anal play and anal sex.”
“Keep an open mind. I love anal play and anal sex. I assume you and Carl never did that?”
“Never. He didn’t express an interest and neither did I. In fact, I never gave it much thought until we started reading erotic books. I’ll mark it a ‘maybe.’ I’m supposed to mark each item ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or ‘maybe.’”
“He’s figuring out your hard limits. You can tell a good Dom when he really tries to find out your needs. You’re lucky, Tori. There are so many assholes out there just pretending to be Doms.”
“I told you I felt like I won the lottery. Shit, I need to finish this homework. I’m supposed to put this all in an envelope and put it on his patio by noon tomorrow. I’m guessing this is my first chance to obey him.”
“I don’t want to be the reason you get punished. Finish your homework and I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Listen, have fun with this. Enjoy it. This is an exciting time for you.”
Tori said goodnight and hung up the phone, tapping the pen against her chin. There was a part of her wanting to disobey this first directive just to see what he’d do, but her logic overruled the notion. There was no doubt he was going to have ample opportunities to punish her, and she had a feeling she was going to enjoy it.
* * * *
“Ian, I think you need to see this.” Detective Tim Mills was Ian’s sometime partner. They would work cases together on occasion, although Ian preferred to work alone. Tim was great with victims and perps alike. He had a way with people that Ian admired. Tim was a nice guy and was pleasant to be around, although he seemed to want recognition for every arrest, major or minor. Ian put it down to ambition and didn’t pay it much attention.
“Sure, Tim. What’s up?” Ian hoped it wasn’t something to keep him working late tonight. After last night’s conversation with Tori, Ian was anxious to get home and see if she completed her homework assignment. He’d barely slept last night, his body buzzing with arousal. He had one chance with Tori to show her a D/s lifestyle didn’t mean the end of her independence, and he wasn’t going to screw it up. He wanted to show her the lifestyle was about more than bondage and floggings, although it was certainly a fun part. It was about two people caring for each other, being honest, and communicating their needs.
“The mail room found this in today’s mail. It was addressed to you. Luckily, they’re smart and they called in the forensic guys immediately.”
Tim placed a plastic bag on the desk. Inside was a letter and an envelope with a local postmark. Ian picked it up, and as he read his blood ran cold. He looked up at Tim, who was perched on the edge of the desk.
“This is from The Boyfriend. He knows things we haven’t released to the press.”
They’d kept the detail about a rose being left at each of the crime scenes a secret. The person who wrote this was aware of it.
“Was forensics able to get anything? Fingerprints or DNA?”
Tim shrugged. “No fingerprints. They swabbed for DNA, but it will take weeks for it to come back. You know the drill. It’s not like on television.”
Ian knew only too well. Everyone thought DNA came back in hours and forensic teams worked every crime scene, even small robberies.
“Tampa postmark. The guy could be local.”
Tim stood up and looked out the window. “Maybe. There are an awful lot of little communities around here. He could have driven in from any one of them and mailed that letter.”
Ian shook his head in frustration. “I don’t like this. The guy is taunting us now. Look at what he says.”
So far, I’ve defiled four women. I’ll continue until you catch me. I have dozens of roses to hand out to deserving girls. I’m closer than you think. She’s next.
Tim handed him another plastic bag with a photo in it. “This is the picture he sent. Do you know her? Is that why he sent it to you?”
Ian studied every detail of the picture, his stomach tightening. The guy was stalking the women ahead of time. “No. I wish to hell I did. He probably sent it to me since I was on the news the other night. That damn reporter wouldn’t leave me alone. What are we doing to track her down?”
“We’ve got the FBI doing some facial recognition, but this picture sucks. He gave us just enough information to frustrate us. There’s not a whole hell of a lot we can do. We sure as hell can’t broadcast this out on the evening news and tell the world this is the next victim. Shit, there’d be panic in the streets. Anyone who even slightly resembled this woman would be hysterical.”
“Are they looking at the details in the photo for any clues? Signs, streets, anything?”
“Forensics is on it, but they think he photoshopped her into this background. This guy is smart.”
“Criminals aren’t usually very bright. He’s seen one too many episodes of CSI, that’s all. We’l
l get him.”
“This one is smart. Damn smart. He’s making us cops look like amateurs.”
Ian stood up and paced his office. This case was maddening. “It sounds like he’s saying he’s finding girls in his own neighborhood. Maybe he knows the victims in some way.”
Tim turned toward the bulletin board and pointed. “Four victims, four different areas of Tampa. South Tampa, New Tampa, downtown, and the USF area. All spread out. Not sure how he would know them. Maybe he worked with them or went to school with them?”
Ian grabbed his coffee cup and absently took a sip, almost spitting it out in disgust. The coffee was ice cold. How long had he been in his office looking through police reports to find the one clue that would give them an opening?
He slammed down the cup with a grimace. “We’re still getting the standard questions answered. Their questionnaires should have all we need to see if there are any similarities. Hairdressers, restaurants, cleaning services, or whatever. If there are any commonalities, we’ll find it.”
Tim grinned. “And when we do, we’ll get him.”
Ian headed to the coffee machine. “We need to catch this guy. He’s going to escalate, and someone is going to get killed. I won’t let it happen on my watch.”
Chapter Three
Tori wriggled her toes and stretched her legs with a yawn. It had been a long day. She’d cleaned the house, done two loads of laundry, and worked on the new book in her Tucker the Bear series. Ian had shown up at her door after work as tired as she was. They’d ordered a pizza and were now watching American Pickers.
“That was a big yawn, young lady. Rough day?”
She snuggled closer to his warm body and delicately sniffed the air. “Do you smell that? It’s furniture polish and disinfectant. I cleaned the house from top to bottom today. It’s easier now that it’s only me than when Aaron and Adam were here, but it’s still a job. I need to move to a smaller house.”
It was an idle threat. Her two sons were away at college but would be home at the holidays and during the summers. She needed every bit of space she had in this house and then some. It felt almost too small when her fully grown sons were home.
Ian pulled her onto his lap, nuzzling her neck and making her giggle. “No way, sweetheart. I love having you as a neighbor. I’ve never had a neighbor as gorgeous as you, and you don’t have a loud stereo either.”
“Or a broken truck parked in my front yard.”
Ian had told her about his neighbors in his last house. They were nice people but had driven him crazy with their idiosyncrasies. He was thrilled to be out of a condo complex and into a single-family home.
Ian reached for the remote and muted the television. “I was hoping we could go over your homework tonight. Are you okay with that?”
Tori felt an immediate flush of heat run through her body. It had been embarrassing answering the questions, but it had also been arousing. She’d imagined them doing some of those things together. Her panties had been wet and her nipples tight and painful by the time she’d finished.
She nodded. “Okay. I guess we can do that.”
He lifted her off his lap and went to grab the envelope he’d set on her kitchen counter. She tried to relax. She’d seen him bring the envelope, so she knew this was coming, but she couldn’t suppress a moment of doubt. She wasn’t sure what she would do if he wanted her to do something she really didn’t want to do or was fearful of doing.
He pulled the papers from the envelope and started flipping through them. “I looked through this earlier. First of all, thank you for finishing them and following my instructions. I appreciate it.” He gave her an approving smile, and she felt the glow of accomplishment. It pleased her that she had pleased him. It seemed silly but it was true.
“We’re on the same wavelength, which is good news. Your hard limits match most of my own.”
“You have limits?” She hadn’t expected that.
“Of course. Doms have limits, too. I don’t like to mete out harsh pain or anything which will leave a permanent mark. I don’t want to make you bleed or burn your skin. I also don’t do breath play.”
She nodded vigorously. “That’s good. Really good.”
He turned to the third page. “I see you have a hard limit on humiliation of any kind. Let’s talk about this one. When you think about humiliation, are you thinking about it in a verbal sense or a physical sense?”
Tori frowned. “I’m not sure what you mean. Are you talking about calling me names?”
“Yes. Some subs like it when a Dom calls them ‘slut,’ ‘whore,’ or something like that. They like it when the Dom tells them they’re only good for one thing.”
She didn’t like the sound of any of that. “I don’t want to be called names. That just seems mean, not arousing.”
“Fair enough. Let’s talk about physical. Would you consider kneeling humiliation?”
“No. I expected to kneel for you.” She’d fantasized about it, if the truth be known.
“How about if I spanked you and put you in the corner to think about your transgressions?”
“I guess it would be okay,” Tori said slowly. The spanking idea turned her on. Being put in the corner was neutral. It didn’t arouse her, but it didn’t turn her off either. It was a harmless activity.
“You would be okay if I did that at a play party, in a room full of people? Would you kneel, kiss my feet, and then take your punishment?”
Tori wanted to say no, but her body had other ideas. The image of kneeling, kissing his shoes reverently, and then being punished had sent honey dripping from her pussy. She fidgeted in her seat as her cunt clenched in response.
“In front of other people? Would I be naked?”
“Yes. Although, if it helps, the other slaves would no doubt be naked, or near it, also.”
It didn’t really help. She was naturally modest. He put the papers down. “Would you consider it humiliating to be naked in a room full of people? Would you be humiliated to be gagged and bound in front of others?”
Tori knew Lisa and Conor went to play parties. Brianne and Nate, also. Nudity there was probably no big deal.
“I’m naturally modest. I know this will sound strange, but I’m more worried about being naked in front of people than I am about doing things of a sexual nature in front of them. Crazy, I know.”
Ian stroked his chin. “Are you willing to work on your modesty?”
She nodded. “Yes. I know it’s something I’m going to have to get over.”
“Good. Let’s start now. Take off all your clothes.”
Huh?
“Take off your clothes, Tori.” His voice had deepened, and she felt herself respond instantly. A shiver went down her spine, and more cream dripped from her cunt. His voice compelled her to obey. She popped open the button on her shorts and pulled down the zipper. She shed her shorts quickly and tugged her shirt over her head. All that was left were her bra and panties. She felt a blush crawl up her chest and face. He’s seen her in a bikini, so she wasn’t sure why she was so shy. Maybe it was the heat in his eyes as they roamed over her scantily clad form. He looked like he wanted to make love to her.
Isn’t that what you want?
Her hands trembled slightly as she reached for the butterfly clip between her breasts. She paused for a moment and glanced up at him. He sat quietly, waiting. He didn’t say a word but simply watched her with a calm, controlled expression. He expected her to obey. She swallowed and flicked open the clasp, pushing the bra down her arms and onto the coffee table before she lost her nerve. She pulled her panties down her legs just as quickly, afraid to meet his eyes.
Finally, she was completely nude. She was shaking with the effort of sitting there and not covering herself. She hadn’t been naked with another man since her late husband. It was terrifying.
“Stand up, Tori.”
She didn’t think she’d heard him correctly. He placed his fingers under her chin and made her look into his eyes.
His expression was stern. “I commanded you to stand. I expect my orders to be complied with immediately. I do not want to have to repeat myself over and over. This is twice you have hesitated to obey me. Do you want to call an end to your submission?”
Tori shook her head. She absolutely did not. “No, Ian. I want to do this. I really do.”
“I do not tolerate disobedience. You’ll receive six. On the bare.”
Before she could ask him what she was getting six of, he was pulling her down over his knees. It became clear she was going to be spanked. Her nipples tightened to hard buds, and the honey dripped down her thighs. How many times had she fantasized about being draped over the hard thighs of a sexy man and spanked on her bottom? Too many to count. It was about to come true.
The first smack on her bottom shocked her. It wasn’t a love pat. His rough hand had come down on her ass cheek hard. She jumped with surprise, and one of her hands flew back instinctively to protect herself. He chuckled and caught her wrist, pressing it into the small of her back and using his elbow on her upper back to push her torso lower so her ass thrust up in invitation.
She almost stopped him, but then the heat from her bottom was traveling to her pussy and clit and it was becoming a delicious sensation. She wanted to savor it, but his hand came down again on the other cheek. She was more prepared this time and waited for the pleasure to follow the pain. Four more strikes on her tender flesh followed. He spanked her with measured, slow strokes, pausing in between long enough for her to feel the heat and then the arousal. The spanking was over too soon. She was dripping wet by the time he was done. He lifted her from his lap and stood her on her feet.
Submitting to the Devil Dom [The Martinis and Chocolate Book Club 4] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) Page 3