Handling Cynthia: A Second Chances Novella

by Dalling, Andrea

  She breathed to center herself, to remind herself of her safe word. She wasn't in danger. Trent would take good care of her.

  "No, sir."

  His lips brushed her shoulder. "That's my good girl." His hand left her back. He raised his arm, and she closed her eyes, bracing for the blow. The leather lashed her left buttock, smooth as butter, but with a biting sting. Her breath stuttered in her throat.

  He ran his hand across the blazing stripe of flesh. "Whose ass is this?"

  She swallowed the fear sitting in her throat. "Yours, sir."

  "Good girl."

  Another lash fell, across both cheeks this time. She cried out, and her body clenched.

  He caressed her shoulder. "You're doing great, baby. I want you to take more. Can you do that for me?"

  She trembled, her head light, the sensual feel of leather intoxicating. "Yes, sir."

  The blows struck at a leisurely pace, so she could feel each sting bloom. They varied from a whisper to a scream. Tears rimmed her eyes. Her safe word sat on her lips, but she never felt the need to speak it.

  Each stripe brought her nerve endings to life, the delicious sensations drowning out her misgivings. Trent was taking command, shutting out her fears and forcing her into that small, submissive place she desired.

  The lashes increased in speed and intensity, Trent learning her body and her reactions. It was too much, yet she wanted more. With her hands and forehead pressed to the wall, she steadied herself, absorbing each sharp fall of the strap.

  The beating slowed before stopping altogether. Behind her, Trent panted from the exertion. He took her into his arms, and she crumpled, shivering.

  "I'm sorry, sir, for displeasing you." She swallowed to steady her voice.

  "That's my good girl." He caressed her back and whispered into her ear, "I'm proud of you. You accepted your punishment well." He kissed her temple.

  She raised her bound arms and wiped the tears from her eyes. "Will it always be like that?"

  He untied her and dropped the rope back into the bag. His fingers traced the marks on her wrists, rubbing to get the blood flowing again. "If I think you need it."

  She nodded. Yes, that's how it ought to be.

  He wrapped his arms around her, and she sank into his welcoming heat. He kissed her, but she couldn't stop shaking. He helped her to the bed and under the covers. He undressed and lay beside her, enveloping her in his arms.

  His mouth on hers calmed and soothed her. Their tongues tangled together, and he combed his fingers through her hair. "Are you warm enough, baby?"

  "Mmm hmm." Her mind drifted, her body glowing with the comfort of his tenderness.

  "Do you belong to me completely?" His hot, hard cock lay thick against her belly.

  "Yes, sir."

  "And will you do everything I ask?"

  She breathed, squeezing her thighs together to stop the thrumming in her sex. "Yes, sir."

  "I want you to prove that I mean more to you than Rick." He kissed her, rutting lightly against her hipbone. "I want you to accept me into your body in a way he never had you."

  Her mouth went dry. Oh no, not now. Not with her skin raw and throbbing. She just wanted him to hold her. She didn't want him to push her anymore.

  Her breathing slowed. Could she give herself to him that way? She had known it was coming at some point, but not so soon. You can safeword. You don't have to do anything you don't want.

  Her head fell forward. You promised to obey him.

  He lifted her chin and kissed her lips. "I'll be gentle, baby. We'll go slow, and stop if it gets to be too much. I want you to try this for me."

  She breathed to center herself, but the sound was raspy and too loud. Fear bubbled through her desire. She wanted to give herself utterly to him, to feel his power, but some part of her resisted.

  "This is for you, Cyn, even if it doesn't feel that way. Becoming vulnerable builds your trust and strengthens the bond between us. You have to want to submit, to surrender your will and be guided by me, without letting fear get in the way."

  She touched his rough cheek and gazed into his clear green eyes. She could see the need in him. She remembered back to those times in high school when they'd been alone and she'd sensed his desire, and his struggle to be true to his friend despite his feelings for her. She wanted to give him the reassurance he was asking for, that she belonged to him now. She wanted that for herself, too, to give him her complete submission, to overcome the fears that held her back. With submission came freedom—freedom from selfish desire, freedom from struggle, the freedom of committing her body to his care.

  She nuzzled his neck and said in his ear. "If it pleases you."

  A tentative smile crossed his lips. He sucked and nibbled her lips before turning his ministrations to her breasts and torso. Finally, he turned her over and kissed a trail up her spine. His touch radiated heat into her body. "So beautiful, my obedient girl."

  A floaty feeling overtook her, like her spirit was leaving her body and she was flying. His hands and mouth on her skin were pure bliss.

  He pressed a tender kiss onto the round flesh of her ass. "Get up on all fours so I can slide a pillow underneath you."

  She did as he said, still drifting but pulling herself back into the moment.

  He knelt behind her and spread her legs, exposing every part of her. The thought excited her, wakening her desire. With his tongue, her circled her clit, then parted her folds.

  He took out some lube and massaged it over her pucker with one finger while he continued to lick her. Being touched in that decadent way made her feel oddly powerful—like the world had no hold on her. She was free to live as she chose.

  "Don't forget to breathe. Take a deep breath, and exhale it for me."

  She did, and the tip of his finger slid inside. The pressure evoked a soft moan. The easy in-and-out motion aroused her in ways she'd never felt before. "Nice."

  A second digit entered her, working its way in with each breath, increasing the stretch. It was the perfect complement to the sweet feel of his mouth on her clit. Could she do this? Could she let him take her this way?

  He worked her open, fitting a third finger inside. She pumped against him, tension building as she teetered on the edge of orgasm. She didn't dare come without his permission. Trent had shown he wasn't an utter newb at this, and he had a talent for punishment, inflicting the right level of pain to get her attention without pushing her into safewording.

  His mouth left her, and she whimpered. He continued to pump his fingers into her, twisting and scissoring, softening the muscles.

  He pulled out, and an icy chill tickled her belly. The desire to please him silenced her apprehension. She focused on his wants, and her promise to obey. With Trent making the decisions, all she had to do was relax and enjoy.

  Lying on the bed beside her, he wiped the lube off his fingers and ripped open a condom. She trembled. He rolled onto his side and laid a hand at the small of her back. "We'll take this as slow as you need to, sweetheart. I don't want to hurt you. I want you to come harder than you ever have in your life." He gave her a little smile, and she smiled back.

  With the condom rolled onto that hot, thick cock, he knelt behind her and rubbed against her entrance, teasing. To fight the instinctive fear, she filled her lungs and let the breath go, her muscles relaxing. The cap nudged inside. He drew back, then pushed forward again. She gasped, adjusting to the odd sensation. His playful strokes ground a hard edge onto her desire.

  "Keep breathing, baby. If anything hurts, tell me."

  Each time she exhaled, her body took more of him inside. He was as patient as he had promised. Instead of the pain she had expected, he was mastering her with the most delicious fullness.

  Her apprehension gave way and her body opened. He slid inside. She cried out, and he stilled, letting her get used to the feeling. His hands massaged the sides of her hips and thighs. "You okay?"

  "Yes…" The word rumbled low in her throat, barel
y more than a grunt as she fought to center herself. Her body adjusted to him, got used to the stretch.

  He moved inside her, drawing back before slowly gliding deeper into the well-slicked passage. "You're doing great, babe."

  The arousal in his voice flooded her with a strange rush of power. His thrusts bordered on too much, yet she ached with a feral desire to surrender her will entirely to his pleasure.

  ***

  Trent wrapped his left arm around her waist and stroked her back with the other. He was close, so close, and it took all he had not to thrust hard into her and shoot his load. If he came now, if it ended before she had a chance to enjoy it, she would be nervous again the next time.

  He gritted his teeth and forced his mind to go blank. The urge for orgasm passed. He refocused on Cyn, pushing in slowly and pulling out in long, gentle strokes. Her muscles loosened, and the tension in her body eased.

  She was beautiful beneath him, narrow waist, flared hips, white skin flushed with arousal. The sight of his marks on her heightened his lust. She had held so still, accepted the whipping so meekly, he couldn't get the thought of it out of his mind. He rubbed the red stripes and scraped his fingernails across them.

  She cried out, a surprised mewl that faded to a whimper.

  "That pain is a reminder." He pulled out and thrust deep again. "You belong to me."

  Those words intensified the writhing of her body. He slid his right hand between her thighs, finding the hard nub. He teased and pinched it, and her body shuddered. "Don't come yet," he warned. She moaned.

  He pumped into her, seating himself in that tight ass up to his balls. He fingered her soft folds, gliding her honey over the clit. Every nerve ending in his body was on the verge of exploding. He slid the pads of two fingers over her labia while rubbing her sweet spot with his thumb. "Come for me, baby," he ordered, and she did, her body shuddering, her ass clamping down.

  He went off like a Falcon 9 rocket, hot fluid shooting through him. He squeezed her cheeks. She gasped, and he leaned forward, his chest to her back. He kissed the nape of her neck. "So good, Cyn." Her body shuddered beneath him.

  Once she stilled, he pulled out and tossed the condom into the trash. With a handful of tissues, he wiped the lube from her before washing his hands in the bathroom.

  He lay beside her in bed and drew her close. He kissed her earlobe, and she accepted his caresses, but her body was lax. "You okay?"

  "Mmm."

  Icy fingers crushed him. "Did I hurt you?"

  "It was intense, but…you didn't hurt me."

  "The sex was okay?"

  "Trent, it was incredible. Not that I want to do it every day, but for times you think I need it…" She grew silent.

  He stroked her hair. "What's wrong?"

  "It's weird, this desire to be dominated. To skate the line between pain and pleasure, and give someone else control over those powerful feelings. It still terrifies me, but I've never felt this free."

  He smiled and kissed the tip of her nose. "And the belt was okay?"

  "I loved the belt. I would do whatever it takes to avoid that punishment in the future, but at the same time, I can't wait for you to do it again. It was scary and humiliating and sensual. Nothing has ever made me feel so alive."

  "I hope I didn't push you too far."

  "You were right—I need a challenge, or I'll get bored."

  A laugh rumbled in his throat. "I promise I'll never bore you."

  She traced a finger across his lips and kissed him.

  ***

  Cyn lay quietly in Trent's arms. One more night with him, and it was back to New York—the cold, barren city—with nothing to keep her company but a remote-controlled vibrator.

  "My apartment will seem empty without you," she said.

  "You're set on staying there?"

  She sighed. The ache in her heart at being without Trent warred with the fear in her stomach at leaving behind the life she had built. They could start slowly, like he had said, with her visiting him for short stints until she was ready to commit.

  "I hear Delaware is a nice place to live."

  "No sales tax," he said.

  "What's the cost of living in Newark?"

  "Cheaper than Manhattan."

  She smiled. "My place is rent-controlled. I should have no trouble subletting it."

  "A new condo complex is opening a couple of miles from me. Convenient location, nice views…I was thinking of buying a place there myself, but I can't afford the down payment."

  "Sounds nice. For a place in a quiet college town."

  "It is nice. You can't hop into a cab to go to a Broadway show, but you can drive two hours and take the ferry. Maybe stay overnight at the Four Seasons."

  "Sounds romantic." She laid her chin on his chest, her mouth drooping into a frown.

  "What's wrong?"

  "You're asking me to change my whole life for you."

  "I'm not asking you to."

  "No, I suppose you're not. But you want me to."

  "Because you can, and I can't. I want us to be together."

  "You want us to be a couple."

  He sat up. "What have we been discussing all day? Yes, I want you to be my girlfriend. Isn't that what you want?"

  "I won't feel like your girlfriend until I get to know you better. We've spent a long time living on memories. We need to figure out what's real."

  "This is real." He pressed his mouth to hers. The soft sweep of his tongue silenced her thoughts. He drew her legs across his lap and she leaned into him, wanting more, more, more. Strong arms held her, but the glide of a fingertip on her arm was as gentle as a falling leaf. The kiss held no urgency but instead a promise. The vista of her future opened behind her closed eyes.

  She broke the kiss, the emotions stealing her breath. The joy and longing in her breast had outstripped her head. "It's too soon to say I love you."

  "It's not too soon for me. I love you, Cyn. I've always loved you."

  She brushed her fingertips against his cheek, unable to stop a smile from splitting her face. "I feel that way, too. I just…we're being reckless, aren't we? Giving our hearts so easily?"

  "The characters in your books…are they all heartbroken people who are afraid to love again?"

  "No, they're hopeful people who believe in the power of love."

  "We've got a strong foundation. Maybe that's all we have, but think how much fun it will be putting up the framing and installing the fixtures. If the foundation is strong, we can build whatever we want."

  She nodded.

  "I'll take good care of you, Cyn. I want you to be happy. Whether that means 24/7 submission, or a little bondage once a week. I can't wait to get to know you again."

  She sighed, and her shoulders relaxed. She didn't know where this relationship would take them, but she knew it would be someplace safe. Someplace that felt like home.

  THE END

  About the Author

  Andrea Dalling lives in the sexy Southeast, where the summers are hot and the romance hotter. During the day, she’s an award-winning technical writer, but at night, she writes steamy stories. She loves to torture her characters but eventually rewards them with a happily-ever-after. Married to her college sweetheart, she’s a progressive Christian and an advocate for LGBT rights.

  Learn more about Andrea Dalling’s books.

  Visit Andrea Dalling’s website.

  Become a beta reader.

  Leave a review.

  First in the Second Chances series by Andrea Dalling:

  Seducing Jordan

  Princeton-bound Jordan Callahan is done with pining over his straight best friend Rick. He can’t wait for college so he can find a man to drive away his pointless crush. Alone on a camping trip just weeks before the semester starts, Rick confesses he’s been fantasizing about Jordan. With his secret wish within his grasp, Jordan is torn between lust and good judgment. Sex will change their relationship forever, and giving in could cost him his oldest friend.<
br />
  Rick Ferguson can’t escape his obsession. To get Jordan out of his system, he plans a weekend away together without revealing that the mountain cabin has only one bed. Curiosity gives way to deeper feelings, forcing Rick to choose between his best friend and his own identity. Seducing Jordan could be the biggest mistake of his life.

  This gay erotic romance novella is intended for an adult audience. It contains scenes of groping, fumbling, wet kisses, angst, shirtless volleyball, sex toys, and two-man showers.