Striking a Balance (Thalia Book 2) (The Thalia Series)

by Jennifer Bene

  “No one has ever called me that before, Thalia, it’s always been sir.” His lips brushed along her neck as he pushed her hair out of his way. Her body hummed in response, her muscles relaxed and warm.

  “Would you rather me call you sir?” She asked it quietly, wondering why he hadn’t corrected her earlier if it bothered him. Her body arched as his hand slid down her side. That tingling heat starting to coil again between her thighs.

  “It’s always been sir, but...” he paused and she lifted her head to look up at him, and like at the party their lips were barely an inch apart. This time he didn’t pull back though he kissed her hard and she moaned against his mouth. His hand on her hip as he rolled her to her back until he was above her, she moaned and pressed her mouth to his but he held himself back and pulled away. Her head spun, what had he been saying?

  “But?” She asked, her breaths coming harder as she looked up at him. His green eyes were darkened by arousal and she could see the tension in his shoulders as he kept himself away from her.

  He leaned back from her more and chuckled bitterly, “I’ve never been in this situation before, I’ve never been the Dominant to someone like you, and I’ve definitely never bought someone.”

  “And?” She asked, wanting to pull him down over her after all of his gentle touches, his liquefying massage, and then his kiss which had ramped up the pulse of need between her thighs; taking her back to that moment in the car when he’d stared at her hungrily.

  “It has to be your choice, pet. What will you call me - Sir or Master?” His voice was still low and direct, but it was a choice. He was giving her another choice, but this one made her stomach twist with anxiety. She didn’t want to choose, she just wanted him to tell her what to say so she couldn’t choose incorrectly. It felt like a test she could fail even though he seemed more focused on her mouth than her answer. And what if she failed? Would his whole demeanor change?

  Anxiety and indecision made her shake a little as her body urged her to run. That futile fight or flight instinct that had caused so much trouble over the last week. She had to remind herself she was relatively safe, that James had not done anything without her permission, and she made herself think about his question. She kind of wanted to call him sir, because Master had been something Marcus forced out of her.

  But that would mean Marcus was the only one she’d really called Master.

  She couldn’t handle that.

  Just like she wanted to take ‘chair’ back from Anthony, she could take ‘Master’ back from Marcus.

  “Master.” She spoke her answer softly, and he groaned above her and then quickly gripped the back of her neck to pull her up to his lips. His tongue swept into her mouth and she moaned against him, pushing her hands into his hair again. His fist tightened in her hair at the back of her head, and he held her back when he lifted his head again.

  “I didn’t think that was the answer I wanted until I heard you say it.” His eyes moved down her body greedily and she wanted to complain that his clothes were still on, that he wasn’t against her. Her skin was humming and he’d barely touched her.

  “Why, Master?” She murmured, and he groaned again. His hand slid between her legs and she bucked her hips and gasped loudly as his fingers moved over her clit and he found her soaking wet. Pleasure tightened around the base of her spine and tore her breath from her lungs.

  “Because you’re mine now, not his.” James growled the words out as his fingers slid inside her and she arched off the bed as his thumb rolled over her clit, her voice shouting something unintelligible. “And I have never wanted someone twenty-four seven like Marcus demands, but I wanted you, and we will find a balance.” Thalia twisted her hands in the sheets as he moved his fingers inside her again. “I promise, in time we’ll find a balance.”

  “Okay... yes... okay, Master.” She didn’t know what balance he was talking about; she just wanted to feel him against her skin. Thalia had lifted her back and her hips off the bed, so her front was brushing against James’ shirt and pants. He was torturing her by staying suspended above her. She didn’t want to focus on the future, it was too much to absorb at once. What she wanted was him to help her lose herself after this insane day. “Please, Master...”

  “Please, what, pet?” He grinned down at her. That wicked smile sneaking back across his lips, his thumb rolled her clit again and she whimpered. “Tell me.”

  She bit her lip sharply. His fingers moved inside her as she felt herself moving closer and closer to the edge, his thumb rolling her clit sending sharp shots of pleasure up her spine to rebound back down between her thighs. She let her hips fall back to the bed, squirming against his hand as he drove her need higher, and higher, until she finally caved. “Please... please fuck me, Master!”

  He growled and kissed her hard, “Of course, whatever you want, pet.” He was off the bed in a moment, and she stared openly as he unbuttoned his shirt and then tugged off his undershirt. His skin was even, a dusting of blond curls across his broad chest. He was fit, his arms looked strong, and her eyes fell to the V of his hips that disappeared below his belt line. She swallowed as he hooked his thumb into his pants and she looked up into a grin on his face. Her blush heated her cheeks, but he didn’t call her out for staring. When his pants were off she was surprised at the size of the bulge in his boxers for a moment before his cock was out and his hand gripped it. Thick and already hard as steel, the head dark and shiny with precum.

  Thalia had propped herself up on her elbows while he tore a foil packet and then slid the condom down. As he stepped back towards the bed she reached for his cock but he grabbed her wrist and she flinched. His touch immediately gentled, his thumb rubbing across the fine bones there. “While I would love to know what your touch would feel like, I’m afraid after everything this evening I know I couldn’t handle it.” He turned her hand over and placed a small kiss across her knuckles, as she realized he’d complimented her. “Especially if you still want me to fuck you.”

  She nodded and held her breath as he climbed onto the bed, his fingers tracing from her shoulders, down the sides of her breasts, across her ribs and down to her hipbones. His palms pressed her hips into the bed and his mouth closed over her nipple, and she cried out at the pleasurable tugging. The break in his touch hadn’t mattered, it had shoved her right back to the edge and she whined as his hand moved over her pussy again, the wetness that had gathered had flooded her upper thighs and his fingers swept it up to smooth it over her lips and clit.

  “Please...” She felt herself say it as his knees pushed hers farther apart. He slid his fingers from her and she felt the head of his cock press against her, and she tried to lift her hips but he held her still.

  “Last chance, Thalia. Are you okay?” His own breathing was harsh, but he was still asking her. She didn’t just want him, she needed this right now. She nodded, her hands lightly touching his sides as she was suddenly unsure of what she should do with them. He groaned, “Thank god.” Then he pressed inside her, part of the way and waited as she adjusted. He stretched her and she moaned softly against his shoulder as his body lowered against hers. His elbows were braced close to her body, his arms under her shoulders so he could hold her there. He gripped her shoulders a little harder as he withdrew and thrust forward again. Her body arched against his as he filled her, and she heard him mumble a curse and he pressed her to the bed with his hips. One of his hands moved up into her hair to hold her still, and she obeyed the unspoken request to let him set the pace.

  As much as she wanted just a little more, she waited for him to start moving. The pending orgasm sending her teetering closer to the edge as he really started to move inside her. Pulling back and thrusting hard. She moaned as she felt herself sliding ever nearer to that glorious abyss, his cock fueling her need, and she could feel his muscles tense and bunch beneath her hands. His hand gripped the back of her neck and she moaned louder. He shifted his hips and the new angle rubbed against that bundle of nerves insid
e her and she screamed out her request, “PLEASE, Master, please may I?” He groaned against her ear as his forehead pressed into the pillow.

  “Wait. Breathe through it.” The command made her whine, but she took a breath to push back the orgasm as it threatened to overwhelm her. His hand slid back into her hair and when he tugged, it almost sent her over. She screamed and bucked against him and he growled and stilled inside her. Their breaths were harsh as they mingled between them, and she was moments from begging him again to let her come. Then she slowly felt herself move a little back from the dangerous edge she’d been on, and he pulled back and thrust inside her slowly. She was wrong, the abyss was still there and he was stroking her deep inside to keep her there. Her hips lifted against his in time to his patient thrusts, her fingers clenched into his hips and he groaned. She was soon arching against him, twisting beneath him as he kept the pace just slow enough to keep her from shattering.

  She gritted her teeth as another whine escaped her lips, “Please, please, please!” The orgasm had crested even higher now, the urge to fall over the edge uncomfortable in the tension in her lower belly. The pulse in her clit was intense, but he kept pushing her further. His steady movements inside her making her pant and whimper.

  “Come for me, pet.” His growling voice in her ear was almost enough to send her over on its own, but then he thrust hard inside her and she fell apart. Light burst behind her eyes and she screamed out her pleasure as the orgasm rebounded when she heard him groan and thrust deep inside her. She felt his cock swell and then jerk as he came, his fist tight in her hair as he pressed her into the bed.

  “Thank you... thank you, Master.” Thalia half-moaned it as her muscles shivered under him. She realized she had hooked her ankles behind his thighs and her fingers were pressed into his hips. Consciously she released her hold on him, but he sighed against her neck and placed a kiss there, inching his way back to her mouth. The heat in his kiss wasn’t dimmed by the orgasm; he still kissed her like he wanted to take her again and again. She found herself moaning and she shifted her hips, but he broke the kiss and pressed her hips back to the bed.

  “Thank you for trusting me, pet.” He placed a soft kiss against her lips before sliding out of her while holding the condom in place. His hand brushed over her stomach before he slid off the bed and moved to the bathroom.

  She sat up, surprised for a moment.

  He’d never restrained her. Never pinned her. He’d even asked her if she was sure. Tears burned the edges of her eyes, but she swept them away not wanting to explain they were from relief – he wasn’t like Marcus or Anthony. He was something new. He fell back onto the bed next to her, running his hand through her hair as he looked into her eyes. “Are you alright?” He asked with more than a touch of concern in his voice.

  “What?” She shook her head and made herself look over at him confidently, “I mean, yes, Master, I’m alright.” She lay back down and he pulled the sheets up over them both.

  “You should sleep, pet. Today has been intense, and we leave tomorrow as soon as your documents arrive.”

  “Documents?” She asked, turning on her side to look into his green eyes, her eyes tracing the edge of light along his jaw that left part of his face in shadow.

  “After Anthony receives the payment, he’ll send over your license, your passport, et cetera.” He said it clearly but it was a reminder of the situation she was in. She could only nod. “Then we leave.”

  “May I ask where, Master?” She whispered the question, and his hand reached across the inches between them to brush his fingers down her arm and hold her fingers in his. A smile tugged at his lips.

  “London, pet. Home.” Her eyes widened, she’d only had the passport for a weekend trip to Mexico once after she’d won a free two-night stay at some cheesy resort. She’d never traveled more than that. Deep inside she was excited. No matter what, she’d see more of the world starting tomorrow than she’d ever had a chance to before.

  “I’ve never -” she started but he shushed her, holding her fingers a little tighter.

  “Sleep, pet, I promise we’ll talk more in the morning.” His voice had regained the edge of a command and her head calmed down. She nodded and inched closer to him. He pressed a kiss on her lips. “Close your eyes.” She did, and at some point she fell asleep feeling the soft exhale of his breath across her forehead.

  Chapter Two

  Leaving the country had been an insane whirlwind. She’d flown first class for the only time in her entire life, and the plane had seats that basically became beds for the long transatlantic flight.

  The airport before the flight had been… difficult. James watched her like she was wearing a giant “FRAGILE” label across her forehead. He wheeled his suitcase and kept her hand in his as they had moved through the airport. They’d only been separated at security, and he’d had to pull her against him near a wall after she’d almost had a panic attack when a TSA agent had wanted to wave a wand over her. When the agent had pointed to the floor in front of him, James had to call her name to keep her from dropping into a kneel. Her reaction had made James nervous, she could tell, but he played it off. He’d held her until she’d stopped shaking, whispering over and over that it was okay, he wasn’t upset with her, assuring her that no one had noticed.

  He had given her a sleeping pill to take for the flight and kept her by the window so no one could reach her without moving by him. At one point on the flight she’d woken up drowsy and confused about where she was, panic rising fast and she had made some noise that had him gently covering her mouth and whispering soothing words to her. James had been sitting up working on his laptop but he leaned down by her, telling her it was okay, reminding her where she was, saying he was watching over her. He continued to talk until the effects of the pill took her back under.

  The airport in London was massive and confusing, but they were out relatively quickly and in a car and on their way to James’ apartment; except he called it a flat. It was surrounded by beautiful older buildings, near several parks, and his flat seemed to take up the entire floor it was on; he’d had to insert a key in the elevator control panel to even get floor four to light up.

  Thalia had been awed by the size of it. It felt like the floorplan of a house, not an apartment, and it was inside the city and near everything. He had given her a tour and then put her in bed to sleep, blackout blinds blocking out the sunlight as she slipped back into unconsciousness.

  Their first three weeks together were all about trust.

  That’s what James told her. He talked about what it meant to be Dominant or submissive. He explained limits and what they were and why they were important. He promised to never violate them, and then he helped her make their list. Her first was easy: No electricity. He had kissed her and promised it wouldn’t happen. The others became easier after his assurance: he would never strike her face, he would endeavor to only leave marks she could easily cover and never any permanent marks, he would not draw blood, no bathroom play. She asked for him not to take pictures or video without permission. He’d agreed that if he wanted them, they’d discuss it. Then she’d asked him through tears not to sell her, and he had cursed, and told her it would never happen. Together they listed each of the limits, and reread them. They agreed and he kissed her wrists where the faint green and yellow bruises were almost gone.

  She asked about his rules in their first few days, and he had seemed surprised, casually listing a few about honesty and respect. Then mentioned that they’d discuss ones specific to their play when they had their first session. Thalia had panicked. She had too many questions, she didn’t know what she could do and couldn’t do. The openness of his design made her feel like the floor was sliding out from under her, the pending threat of some great and terrible error that she could make causing her anxiety to skyrocket. He could see it. Could hear it in her rapid breaths and her concerned whine as she asked for more clarification, more details, more rules. James had sighed and said
that, for her, he would change the scope and was going to add rules to his normal list, but that they could change as they found the balance that worked for them. For their beginning, the rules would always be in place inside his flat. Never when they were outside of the flat; and he made her promise to act as normally as possible when they were out, and she had even though she wasn’t quite sure what that meant anymore. Inside the flat she would kneel when he entered a room, but would not crawl after him. She would always call him Master in the house, and she would use ‘sir’ or nothing outside of it. She would keep the flat clean, and herself fit in the small home gym he had for himself. When they had sex she would still ask permission to come, she would still obey him. She would always be respectful, but he reminded her that he wanted her to speak to him. Just expressing an opinion would not be punished. Things that would warrant discipline: dishonesty, disrespect, defiance, breaking a rule, or endangering herself by not using the safe word. Punishments could be paused using the safe word to address why she needed to use it, but it wouldn’t cancel the punishment she’d earned.

  And with that, she had clear boundaries. She had limits. She had a Dominant and a Master.