“That doesn’t guarantee they’ll buy it from me.”
“They will if they want it tomorrow morning,” Pablo said. “He’s not talking to anyone else.”
“The men who were chasing us?”
“In the hospital, banged up but still breathing. Damnit. Not talking, but they will be when they realize they’re in deep, deep trouble.”
Shasta launched herself at Pablo. He caught her and hugged her close, both of them laughing.
“But what about Tony?” She pushed back slightly.
“I’m working on that, baby. But I can’t promise anything.”
“But he helped. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t…” She closed her mouth when Pablo held up a finger.
“I know that. Give me time.”
“Yes, Sir.”
She yelped when he moved aside the skirt and smacked her bottom.
“It’s perfect that Vince and Lucia showed up. She brought food, fresh bread, and a delicious-smelling casserole with eggs and chorizo.”
“Where is it?”
“In the fridge. First, we’re going to play, and you’re going to be punished.”
“Punished. For what?”
“Has mi juguete forgotten the twenty-five minutes she owes me in the chair? Or her other offenses, like coming without permission, moaning without permission, and there was the other little thing two nights ago?”
Shasta sucked in air as she remembered pounding her fists against Pablo’s chest.
“No, Sir. I haven’t forgotten.”
“Good. I decided one punishment would fit the crimes. At first, I thought about a good flogging, ’cause I haven’t done that to you yet. But I thought, too cliché. I was thinking of other things when Vince called and said they were almost here.”
“The phone rang?”
“Almost an hour ago. I was about to wake you up when I heard you. Now, back to your punishment. We’ve had a few hard days, and I thought about postponing it. But now that we have guests, it’s too good an opportunity to pass up.”
Shasta wanted to scream at him. She didn’t want to be punished. She’d been good. She’d helped him when men intent on killing them were chasing them. But she knew that was a separate thing.
“Do you want to know what your punishment is?”
“Yes, my liege.”
“I’m going to bind you to the St. Andrew’s cross in the dungeon. I’m going to tease and torture you while we watch Vince and Lucia have sex. When they’re done, you’ll suck me off. I’m going to leave you hanging. No orgasm for you today. At all. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be begging me for it.”
“My liege, please…”
“See, you’re begging already. My sweet toy is an exhibitionist, Vince. She doesn’t like to admit it, but she loves being on display. We’ll see how much she loves watching.”
He pushed her away slightly, then lifted each breast through the slit in the blouse.
“Perfect.” He turned to Vince. “Shall we?”
* * *
Pablo fastened the last manacle onto her wrist, and Shasta was firmly fastened to the cross. She clenched her fists and tried to relax. It was hard to do so. He’d pushed the skirt up above her thighs, so her private areas were totally on display. What bothered her the most, though, was he was right. She liked it.
Vince studied her as Lucia knelt in front of him, her hands clasped behind her back. She was totally naked, and Shasta admired her body, which was slightly slimmer than her own. She turned her gaze back to Pablo when he ground the handle of a flogger into her bellybutton.
“You said no flogger, my liege.”
“No, I didn’t. I said I wasn’t going to do a big flogging scene. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to use one. Or two. Or three.”
He leaned in so his mouth was inches away from hers. “Whom do you belong to?”
“You, Master Pablo.”
“Will you ever come again without my permission?” He pushed the flogger harder into her belly.
“No, my liege.”
“What about moaning?”
“Never. Not without your permission, Master.”
The handle of the flogger moved to her pussy. He pressed it hard against her, grinding it against her clit.
“What about the little hissy fit you threw the other night?”
“I’m sorry, Master. So sorry. Forgive me.”
“I do. This punishment will wipe your slate clean. It’ll be hard to go without an orgasm for an entire day, but it will leave an impression on you.” He moved back and held the flogger in front of her face.
“Open.”
He placed the handle inside her mouth. “Hold that for me.”
She clenched her teeth around the leather when he pinched her nipples; he quickly stepped back and nodded to Vince.
Pablo moved to a table, hopping on, his gaze focused on Shasta. “Watch them. Don’t let your eyes leave their bodies, no matter what I say or do.”
“Stand up, Apuro.” Lucia stood. “Would you like to fuck?”
“Yes, Master Vince.”
“Suck those titties.”
Shasta tensed. Pablo never said anything about Lucia being able to play with her body. She’d never done anything like that and wasn’t sure she liked the idea. She wanted to look at him, plead with her eyes to not let it happen. Instead, she obeyed and kept her eyes trained on the couple in front of her.
When Lucia lifted her own nipple to her mouth, Shasta relaxed against the cross. Her loud sucking noises filled the room.
“Don’t forget the other one,” Vince said. “You don’t want her to feel left out.”
Lucia quickly obeyed and Vince stroked her hair. “My beautiful Lucia. Do you want to come?”
“Yes, Master.” He tipped her mouth to his and kissed her. He sat a chair in front of the cross and motioned her over. “Sit down and masturbate for Shasta. Come as many times as you like.”
Shasta’s breathing intensified as she watched Lucia sit and spread her legs. Her fingers went to her pussy and Shasta wanted to look away, but she was fascinated, truly fascinated. Lucia stroked her soft folds as Vince kneaded her shoulders. Her fingers tugged on the ring that rested near her clit and Shasta wondered what it would feel like to be pierced—pierced for Pablo. Lucia’s fingers began to move faster, and Shasta thought she would die from the need.
“Oh, Master, oh, I’m coming. Master. Master. Yes.”
“Good girl. That’s it; come for us. Come hard. Keep playing.”
Lucia came again and Shasta lifted her eyes to the ceiling.
“Watch her.” Pablo’s bark was sharp. She turned her eyes back to the woman, who was taking a dildo from Vince and placing it at her pussy entrance.
Pablo stood and walked behind Shasta. She could feel his heat, the hotness of his breath against her neck.
“You thought I was going to physically torture you, didn’t you?”
She nodded.
“Sometimes torture is mental. It’s being forced to remain still and silent, wanting something so badly you could taste it, but knowing you can’t have it.”
Lucia began to fuck herself with the dildo, sliding it back and forth as Vince’s fingers worked her clit. She screamed out another orgasm and Shasta thought she would die from the need raging in her own body.
“Please, my liege,” she whispered around the handle of the flogger. Shasta’s body was on fire. Flames of need flickered around her nipples and clit, tightening them both to a degree that was almost painful.
“Please!” She wanted to spit the flogger out, to scream with desire. She wanted to come.
“No. You’ll watch. And stay still.” Lucia’s breathing was labored as Vince removed the dildo from her hands and helped her to stand.
“What would you like me to do, Apuro?’
“Fuck me, Master. Fuck me hard. Nothing feels as good as your cock.”
Vince led her to a table where she bent over. He released his cock, grasped her hips,
and entered her in one swift stroke. She cried out in pleasure and Shasta wanted to weep. Her own body clenched as if Vince had slammed himself into her. No, not Vince. Pablo. She wanted Pablo’s cock, wanted to feel that ring hitting her G-spot again as he ground himself into her.
She hissed when he gently touched her shoulder. “Never throw a fit on me again, mi juguete. Do you understand?” He took the flogger from her mouth.
The sounds of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room.
“Yes, my liege.”
“You’ll learn discipline. If you’re angry about something, you tell me. Don’t ever, ever go off on me again. And I promise you the same thing. I don’t get angry like that, and if I do, we’ll talk about it. Understand?”
“Yes, my liege.”
“Promise me.”
“I promise, Pablo. I promise.”
He turned her head toward him and their gazes locked, he nodded. They both turned to Vince and Lucia. Their fucking turned frantic, hard thrusts pushing Lucia against the table as she cried out for more. When Vince came, he grabbed her shoulders and thrust so hard Shasta thought Lucia might break in two. Instead, she screamed out his name, begging him to fuck her harder.
Pablo still stood behind her. When Vince’s thrusts had stopped, he leaned in.
“Did you like that, baby?”
“Yes, my liege.”
“Would you like it to be you?”
“Yes, my liege.”
“Maybe tomorrow.” He moved away, sitting back down on the table he’d sat on earlier. He took out his cock and started to stroke it.
“I thought? Master?”
He slid his hand up and down his shaft, an evil glint in his eyes. “Beg me.”
“Master, please. I want to suck you. You said I could.” Shasta fought against her bonds. She knew she sounded like a petulant child, but she didn’t care. She wanted his cock. Now. If she couldn’t have an orgasm, at least she could suck him, taste his cum.
“Master.” This time the word sounded more needy than the last. “Please?”
He continued to stroke himself, his gaze not leaving her face. “Vince? Will you undo my sub?”
Shasta glanced at him. He was still lying across Lucia’s back, both of them panting. He gently pushed himself away and put his cock back in his pants, then slowly walked toward Shasta. Each step was torture. He slowly undid her bonds and she wanted to scream at him to hurry.
Pablo continued to stroke his cock. Would he come before she could get there? Would she be denied even that pleasure? When she was finally free, she stepped off the platform and hurried to Pablo. She knelt in front of him.
“Please?” Excitement surged through her. Even though she knew she would be denied, she still wanted him. Needed him. “Master?”
“Scoot back.” When she was in the position he wanted, he stepped in front of her. “Swallow me whole.”
Shasta moaned softly as she tilted her head and took him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the head of his cock. She toyed with the ring and sucked him deeper. His hands fisted in her hair and his groan made her feel powerful, made her feel his need as deeply as she felt her own.
She tipped her head back, flattened her tongue, and sucked him down her throat.
“Oh, man. She’s got your whole dick in her mouth. You don’t see that very often.” Vince’s groan made Pablo laugh as Shasta worked her muscles around his cock. She took him in and out several times, always making sure to lash her tongue around his balls when he was fully ensconced in her throat. It didn’t take long for Pablo to go over the edge. He shot down her throat, his hands fisted in her hair.
She released him quickly, coughing and bending over, putting her head against his thigh.
“Feeling all right?”
“Yes, my liege.”
He helped her to stand and patted her hip. “Horny?”
“Very.”
“You’ll make it. It’ll be a hard day, but you’ll love tomorrow, I guarantee it.”
Vince held up his hand and Pablo turned to him.
“Does she give lessons?”
Lucia laughed and walked to Vince’s side. “There’s no way I could do that. Sorry.”
“Sure there is,” Pablo said. “Learning is always a good thing.”
Chapter 14
Shasta bit her thumbnail and jiggled her leg up and down, finally putting her hands on it to stop the movement. She sat in the offices of the Trib, waiting to talk to the news editor, Jacob Martinez.
The day had been long, and it had been stressful. The grand jury had returned a quick indictment. Pablo, Ward, and Vince had arrested Jaymes, who now sat in jail with his previous bond revoked, and bond denied on the new charge.
She’d been pissed Pablo hadn’t allowed her to go along on the bust. It wasn’t fair, really. She’d helped to bring him down; she deserved to be there when he was arrested. But he’d refused, saying she’d faced enough danger in the last few days. She knew he’d been right.
While he’d been gone, she’d done a lot of thinking. Getting a job through blackmail, and that’s basically what the Jaymes story amounted to, wasn’t something she was proud of. She was more professional than that.
She’d lost her job because she’d been less than professional. Now, she was trying to force them to take her back, by offering them an exclusive on the biggest story in the area. It would probably work, true, but she would feel like garbage for the tactics she was using. Plus, how could she ever work here again? She needed the job, but didn’t she need her self-esteem more? She could move, find a smaller paper and work there.
But what about Pablo? Now that she’d found him there was no way she could leave him. And he was firmly entrenched in his job as a cop. She knew it would be best if she just tried to find work somewhere else.
Pablo had said she would be moving in with him, but she couldn’t allow him to pay all the bills. She wasn’t the type of person who could mooch off another, and that’s what it would feel like to her.
She’d have to see if she could find a different job, in a different profession. Giving up reporting would kill her, because she loved it, but she couldn’t continue to write for lesser publications, with screaming headlines and sensationalized stories, and cringe when she picked them up.
She thought about Pablo, and the fantastic way she felt when they were together. Would he support her if she made a decision that went against what she’d been fighting for? She knew he would.
He’d been supportive today, when she’d interviewed Ward, taken the information, and written the story. He’d stood by her, offering help and trying to read over her shoulder, laughing when she pushed him away. She knew he would support her in whatever she did.
The day had been long, and hard. But now she sat with a memory stick clutched in her hands, her future as a journalist resting on what was inside that stick.
“Shasta? Always a pleasure. Well, not always.”
She stood and shook hands with Jacob Martinez, the news editor. “What do you have there?”
“Well, it’s an exclusive I was going to use to try and blackmail you into giving me a job. Instead, I’ve decided that I can work with your reporter on it. But I want a byline, to prove that I know what I’m doing. We can talk to Ward McGovern at the state offices. He’ll confirm it all.”
Martinez took the stick and frowned at her.
“Marks!” A young man walked to him and he handed him the memory stick. “Open the file on here, print it out, and bring it back to me.”
The young man was back in minutes, his eyes gleaming with interest as he handed the papers to his boss and looked at Shasta. Jacob read the lead, his eyes widening.
“Holy shit.” He moved quickly, calling names and telling the copy desk to scrap what was above the fold. He turned to Shasta. “This is verifiable, right?”
“I told you, call Ward McGovern. Oh, wait. Let me call him.”
She pulled out Pablo’s cell phone and hit the spe
ed dial. When Ward came on, she cleared her throat.
“I’m breaking our deal. I’m giving the story to the Trib, no holds barred. I want you to talk to their reporter.”
“You’re kidding? After all the crap you pulled? Geez, woman. How many personalities do you have? Are you going to change your mind again tomorrow?”
“Screw you, Ward. Talk to the reporter.”
“Fine, fine. Tell them to call me.” He disconnected and Shasta nodded at Martinez. Martinez gave her a look of approval and introduced her to Randy Pino, the police reporter.
Several hours later, Shasta walked away from the building, still unemployed but with her ethics intact. She hadn’t blackmailed anyone for a job. She hadn’t done something she would regret for the rest of her life. And she’d proven to herself she could get a huge story, and get it done right.
Plus, she’d found a Dom. Not just any Dom, but Pablo Acosta, bondage expert and fantastic lover. All in all, she figured she’d come out the winner.
* * *
She parked the car in Pablo’s driveway. When she’d left the newspaper office, she’d stopped by her apartment to pick up her clothing. She wouldn’t be sorry to say goodbye to the small apartment.
Pablo had told her that when she returned from the newspaper office they would talk about their future together: jobs, money and living arrangements. She would miss Santa Fe, for sure. Albuquerque was nice, but Santa Fe had always been her home.
She wondered if she could talk him into finding them a house on land in between the two. It would be nice. That way they would have equal traveling distance to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. And Jaguars. And, knowing his penchant for outdoor sex, it would give them plenty of space for fucking. And bondage.
She got out of the car and gathered a bundle of clothes in her hands, heading for the front door. She kicked the screen with her foot.
“Pablo? Open the door, please.”
She got no answer, and she wondered where he was. His truck sat next to the house, so she knew he was home. Unless he’d gone out with Ward. But if he had, he wouldn’t have left the front door open.
Dark Redemption Page 46