His to Command

by Carew, Opal

  Part of the training, she assumed. Keeping his sub in line.

  She entered his room, and the sight of his big bed with the masculine black and gray linens tempted her. Maybe she’d lie down on that bed and stroke herself to orgasm. Would Matt be downstairs, doing the same thing? He’d been hard as a rock when he’d pulled away.

  She sat down on the side of the bed, with thoughts of him stroking his hard erection. She glanced toward the dresser where he’d retrieved the butt plug earlier, wondering if he had other interesting devices in there. She stood and walked to the dresser and reached for the handle to pull open the side drawer.

  But she didn’t feel right going through his private stuff. At the thought, her gaze darted to the bedside table. Ileana had told her the engagement ring was still in there and Kate had almost gone searching for it. She drew in a breath and walked to the black armoire—the one Matt had told her to look inside for clothing—and opened the doors. Barely paying attention to what she was doing, she grabbed a pair of black jeans and a red pullover. She shed the leather harness and began to dress, her gaze flicking to the bedside table.

  Damn Ileana for coming here and disrupting this time she had with Matt. Sowing seeds of doubt. Making her face the fact he’d lied to her.

  But she knew he had probably lied about how serious his relationship with Ileana had been because he didn’t want to hurt her. He had hesitated even telling her he’d dated Ileana, but he had owned up to it. The bottom line was that it didn’t really matter. Kate and Matt weren’t in a romantic relationship—and he resisted her attempts to change that—so he had no obligation to tell her anything about his private life.

  Her gaze settled on the drawer. Had he kept the ring? Was he still pining over the woman?

  She walked toward the bedside table as if drawn by a gigantic magnet. She licked her lips, hesitating. Wanting to know, but … not wanting to know.

  She sucked in a deep breath, then grabbed the handle of the drawer and pulled it open, like ripping off a bandage. Inside was a brown leather journal, a pen, a small flashlight, and other sundry things. She glanced farther back in the drawer, and her breath caught. A black velvet box.

  She picked it up with shaking fingers and snapped it open.

  The soft light of the setting sun glittered on the large, solitaire diamond. It was beautiful. Simple. Elegant. Exactly what Kate would have wanted.

  Her heart sank. She pushed herself up on the bed and sat cross-legged, staring at the gem. She ran her fingertip over the hard, smooth surface. She had begun to hope she might win Matt’s heart again, even though he said it was impossible. She feared her own submissive nature, but even more, she feared a future without Matt in her life. She was in love with him. She realized she always had been.

  If only this ring had been for her. Kate’s heart ached and tears welled in her eyes.

  * * *

  Matt’s cock still ached as he pulled the beef bourguignonne dinner from the fridge and put it into the oven to warm. He’d had it sent over from his favorite chef, along with a few other dishes, so he could spend time with Kate rather than cooking.

  She was starting to trust him more, and it filled him with a deep satisfaction. She’d even let him take her to the dungeon and chain her to the punishment bench. He knew this time was helping her heal and he was glad for that.

  He wondered how deep that trust had become. If he revealed what he’d done, would she be willing to forgive him? Would she believe he would never hurt her again, and allow them to move forward?

  He set the timer on the oven, then headed for the stairs. Kate was probably in her room, waiting for his next command. He’d get dressed, then invite her downstairs for a drink by the fire before dinner. He padded down the hall, his bare feet making no sound on the hardwood floors. As he stepped toward the doorway, he noticed Kate sitting cross-legged on his bed, now dressed in jeans and a sweater.

  He smiled, rather wishing she still wore the harness, so he could enjoy the view of her sumptuous body. His cock stirred at the memory of her in the crouched position she’d adopted earlier when he’d come home from the office, her naked folds open to him.

  Her gaze jerked toward him and his heart wrenched at the sight of tears glittering in her eyes.

  “Oh, Matt, I didn’t hear you.”

  Her voice sounded anxious. Almost panicky. It was then he noticed she held something in her hand. Despite her quick movement to try and hide it, the sparkle of the diamond had been unmistakable before she’d closed the box and tucked it beside her knee.

  She’d found the ring. His gut clenched.

  “What are you doing with that, Kate?” He grabbed his robe from the back of the chair and pulled it on.

  Her cheeks were flushed as she stared at him, guilt suffusing her eyes. “I’m sorry, Matt. I shouldn’t have gone through your drawer, but … when Ileana told me—”

  “Ileana? What the fuck were you doing talking to Ileana?”

  Her gaze dropped. “She came by when you were gone this afternoon. I answered the door and she just pushed her way in.”

  “And you two just started chatting calmly and she told you about the ring?”

  He walked toward her and held out his hand. There was no point ignoring what it was. Kate hesitated, then placed the velvet ring box in his hand. He walked to the bedside table and placed it in the drawer, near the back, then closed it.

  Whatever Ileana had told Kate, it wasn’t going to be good. He did not want Kate to know the story behind the ring, but Ileana’s plans rarely matched his. He just couldn’t figure out what Ileana would have to gain by telling Kate about it.

  Kate hadn’t answered his question yet. “So, what did she say?”

  * * *

  Kate shifted under Matt’s intense scrutiny. She pushed herself from the bed and walked toward the window, gathering her wits. Drawing in a breath, she pushed aside the guilt of being caught with the evidence that she’d invaded his private space, drew back her shoulders, and turned to face him.

  “You told me that you only dated Ileana for a short time and that it meant nothing.”

  His expression didn’t change. “That’s right.”

  She’d expected some hint of guilt.

  “But … that’s a lie.”

  “Kate, what did she tell you?”

  Kate wrapped her arms around herself and started to pace. “She knew where everything was. She knew her way around the kitchen and how to work the sound system. She knew about the dungeon.” She stared up at Matt. “She knew this house.”

  Ileana had managed to make Kate feel like the outsider.

  “We were friends before we dated,” Matt said, “and even after we broke up, she was the head of my legal team. She was often over here to discuss contracts, or for social gatherings. She also helped me furnish the place.”

  A tremor crawled along Kate’s spine. Suddenly, Ileana’s presence seemed to surround her. No wonder the furniture felt a little more formal than she would have expected for Matt. Had Ileana picked out all the furniture? Had she picked out this bed? Had she chosen the linens?

  How often had she and Matt made love in that bed? Had Matt spoken soft words of love in her ear?

  “She said you dated a lot longer than a few months.”

  His eyebrows arched. “Really? How long did she say?”

  “She said you were still together when you saw me in the mall a few weeks ago.”

  “And you believed her?”

  She shrugged. “No, not exactly. I mean, I didn’t know what to believe, and she didn’t seem to care if I believed her or not.”

  “Of course. She knows that would work better. Drop a few comments. Lead you where she wants you to go.” He scowled. “Just enough to sow the seeds of doubt.” His lips compressed. “Kate, I thought you’d finally come to trust me again.”

  “I did.” She sucked in a breath. “I do.”

  It was true. She’d even gotten past her hesitation at the dungeon door beca
use, deep inside, she knew Matt would never purposely hurt her.

  “And I understand that if you had a more serious relationship with Ileana,” she said, “you might feel there was no reason to tell me. You and I aren’t in a romantic relationship, so it’s really none of my business, and it would make things awkward between us. You might feel it would hurt me to know about it.”

  “Kate, I’m not hiding anything from you. I was never in a serious relationship with Ileana.”

  Kate’s throat clenched and she forced her gaze to meet his. “Then why did you propose to her?”

  “What? That’s crazy. You can’t actually believe that.”

  Her eyebrows arched. “What about the ring?”

  “The fact I have a ring doesn’t prove—”

  “She showed me pictures of you sliding the ring on her finger.” The look of joy in Matt’s eyes in that picture still haunted her.

  He paused, his brows drawn together in bewilderment. “A picture?” He frowned, then sighed. “Right. I asked her to come with me to pick out a ring because I wanted a woman’s perspective. While we were shopping, she asked the salesman to take some pictures of her trying the ring on. It wasn’t a picture of me proposing.”

  “Oh. So, there’s someone else?” Her heart clenched at the thought. But of course he would have been dating other women over the past two years, so it made sense that he would become serious about one of them.

  His expression closed up. “That’s not important. The point is, I’m not involved with Ileana, and I definitely never proposed to her. Nor do I intend to.” He locked his gaze on hers. “I didn’t lie to you.”

  She stared at him, not sure what to think. Who was this other woman and why didn’t he want to talk about her? And if he had another woman in his life, why was he spending this time with Kate? Having sex with her.

  Unless the woman had turned him down.

  “I believe you,” she said.

  “Good.”

  “Matt, this other woman—”

  “Look, Kate, as you already pointed out, you and I are not in a romantic relationship. What goes on in my personal life has nothing to do with you.”

  A shiver ran through her at his cool, businesslike tone.

  “I would still like to help you come to terms with your submissive side,” he continued, “because I think it will help you in future relationships, but if you don’t want to stay, I’ll understand.” He turned and walked toward the door. “I’ll leave you to think about it. You can find me in my study.”

  * * *

  Matt swirled the drink in his glass, watching the liquid absently. Damn it, he never should have brought Kate here. He’d thought it was helping her, and with respect to her healing over the past events, it probably was, but it wasn’t helping either of them get past what was between them. He didn’t know if she would leave now or not, but it would probably be for the best.

  A tap sounded at the door. Time for the verdict.

  “Come in.”

  He set his glass on the desk as the door opened. Kate stepped inside.

  “Hi.” She glanced around nervously, taking in the hunter-green walls and the dark wood furniture of his masculine den. Her gaze settled on his and she shifted a little, clearly nervous.

  “So what have you decided?” he asked.

  “I want to stay.”

  The knot in his stomach loosened. Maybe it would be better if she left, but he was glad she was staying.

  But he knew he had to keep control of things.

  “Fine. Then I think it’s time we ramp things up.”

  She pushed her fingers in her jeans pockets. “Okay.”

  “This will only work if you trust me totally.”

  She gazed at him solemnly and nodded. “I do.”

  He didn’t believe that was completely true, but they would proceed from here.

  “Good. For the rest of the week, we will stay in role. You will do exactly what I say. When I say. Without question. Without thought. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “Good. Now take off your clothes.”

  She blinked, but then she began stripping away her garments. Her sweater and jeans landed in a heap on the floor, then she reached behind herself and unfastened her bra. His heartbeat increased as she drew the garment away, revealing her perfect breasts. So pert and round. The nipples hardened as his gaze caressed them. She tucked her thumbs under the waistband of her panties and pushed them down, then kicked them away. Now she stood before him totally naked. His cock swelled at the erotic sight.

  “Come over here and kneel in front of me.”

  As she walked toward the desk, he opened the drawer and retrieved the black leather collar with silver spikes he had picked out for her for this week. It was a symbol of the bond between a Dom and his sub. Of trust and obedience on her part. It hadn’t been appropriate to give it to her at the beginning of the week, because she hadn’t been ready. In fact, it probably wasn’t appropriate to give it to her at all, because they would never be true Dom and sub. Eventually, she would bond with someone else in that way. That’s why they were doing this whole thing. So she could eventually find her happiness with someone else.

  Even though the two of them were not meant to be, however, by giving her this collar, he was claiming her on some level. He would always know she had submitted to him and accepted his collar.

  He turned his chair as she rounded the desk and approached him. She sank to her knees in front of him.

  “Lift your hair,” he instructed.

  She gathered her long, auburn hair in her hands and lifted it out of the way. He wrapped the collar around her neck and fastened it. She released her hair and it spilled around her shoulders in soft waves. The black collar looked good against her pale flesh, surrounded by her burnished copper hair, the silver spikes glinting in the light.

  “Now, suck my cock, slave.”

  * * *

  A shiver danced down Kate’s spine. He’d never called her slave before. It made her feel so … controlled.

  “Yes, Mr. Pearce.”

  He still wore his robe, so she reached for the front of the garment below the sash and parted the fabric. His already rising cock popped forward. She gazed in his eyes, as she wrapped her hand around his shaft and brought the tip to her mouth.

  “And don’t make me come.”

  She nodded as she licked him, watching his eyelids flicker as heat suffused his midnight blue eyes. She swirled her tongue over the hot flesh, dabbing at the tiny hole, tasting the salty drop of liquid oozing there. She spiraled downward, then wrapped her lips around him and swallowed the mushroom-shaped head into her mouth. He tucked his hand behind her head as she slid down his shaft, opening her throat to take him deep.

  She glided up and down, his big cock filling her mouth and throat.

  “Now, lick my balls.”

  She drew his shaft from her mouth and tucked her hand under his shaven balls, then lifted them. She licked, then nibbled them with her lips. She drew one in her mouth and bounced it on her tongue, then sucked lightly. Her other hand still grasped his erection, stroking up and down. She licked and cajoled his soft sack in her mouth, until he moaned.

  His fingers forked through her hair. “Now, suck my cock again.”

  She released his balls and pressed his cock to her lips again, then took him inside. He was getting close so she had to be careful. He’d told her not to allow him to come.

  She glided down, his rock-hard flesh filling her mouth as she took him deep. She moved slowly up and swirled her tongue around the underside of his corona.

  “Yes, I like that.” His hand, still wrapped around her head, drew her forward until his cock filled her throat.

  She glided back and he pulled her forward again. He was getting close and she tried to draw away, but he guided her head forward and back, faster and faster. He was controlling her. Forcing her to his will. Excitement skittered through her.

  He arched forward,
groaning. Liquid heat filled her mouth and she swallowed as best she could, but some spilled from her lips.

  He released her and she eased back, allowing his cock to fall from her lips.

  His stern gaze locked onto her. “You disobeyed me. You were not to make me come.”

  “Yes, Sir. I’m sorry.”

  “Stand up.”

  She stood and he turned his chair, guiding her in front of him, facing the desk.

  “Lean over.”

  She leaned over the desk, her breasts resting against the hard, cool mahogany.

  His fingers stroked over her ass, then he smacked. Hard. The tingling danced along her skin, then he smacked again. Then a third time. The stinging increasing with each slap. Heat rushed through her. She gasped as he smacked again.

  Then his fingers stroked over her heated flesh. Lightly.

  “You have a beautiful ass. Especially when it’s glowing red like this.”

  He stroked round and round, then he parted her cheeks and leaned forward. She moaned at the feel of his tongue gliding along her slick folds, then pressing into her and wiggling inside, sending tremors through her.

  His finger found her clit and he teased. Pleasure swamped her senses and she sucked in air. He teased her until she felt the pleasure swell, closing in on an orgasm. Her breathing accelerated as he stroked and licked her. The pleasure swelled and she could feel it … so close.

  Then he stopped.

  He stood up behind her and hooked his finger through a loop on the collar, then pulled her to a standing position. A moment later, she was following him out the door. The collar tugged on her neck as he led her down the hall. He opened the door to the basement.

  “You know where I want you to go.”

  “To the dungeon, Sir.”

  “That’s right.”

  He released the ring on her collar and followed her down the stairs, then opened the door to the dungeon and gestured for her to precede him in. Once inside, he hooked his finger through the collar ring again and led her across the room, passing the punishment bench where he’d made love to her earlier. He stopped at a wide table, with padding on top.