Masters of the Castle: Witness Protection Program

by Maren Smith

  “Say it,” he ordered.

  Say what? What did he want? She didn’t know; she couldn’t think. All she was was keyed into the rhythm of the flogger. Every wanton inch of her was trembling and shaking, dancing in the grips of the cuffs that held her upright. Say fucking what?

  She never saw him switch his stance, but she sure as hell felt the difference when instead of swinging that next mighty stroke across her buttocks, her partner of four years swung the flogger falls up and around, bringing them whipping straight up between her shaking legs.

  Terri shouted. The watchers cheered. Master Marshall grinned on his throne, and it was a good thing her hands were tied and her legs were useless, or she’d have leapt up onto that dais and choked him to death with his own fucking flogger.

  “Say it!” Nick demanded, over her mindless gasps and mewling pants, every single one of which was sucked up into her already tainted by the perfume of her own flowing arousal.

  Terri blurted the only thing she could think of. “This is how bad girls are punished!”

  The length of Nick’s hard body was suddenly at her back, pressing to all the wounded, throbbing parts of her. Even between her legs where his hand reached around her to cup, no longer gentle, no longer caressing. He gripped her as if he owned her, every slick fold and drop of silken moisture. “Say it again,” he ordered.

  His hold was absolute. His body was jerking. It wasn’t until she heard the unmistakable clink of his belt buckle coming undone that Terri’s unfocused mind realized what he was doing.

  “This is how bad girls are punished,” she sighed, then gasped when she felt the pull and pinch of the butt plug as he took it out of her. It made the loudest clatter when he dropped it right there on the stones between their feet. The burning heat of Nick’s naked cock angled to get up between her buttocks, poised now at the rim of her ass.

  His free hand locked in her hair, holding her head up high.

  “One more time,” he murmured in her ear. “Say it, little girl. Loud and proud.”

  “This is how bad girls are punished!” Terri shouted, first for Master Marshall and his stupid guests at the front table, and then again, her pitch higher as, in a single strong thrust, Nick took her in the only way he hadn’t yet, releasing the shuddering waves of an orgasm so strong she damn near blacked out.

  Terri lost track of everything, vaguely aware of the pumping of his hips, the commanding claim he made on her body as he rode her to his own completion.

  The cheers of the crowd and her partner’s murmurs of encouragement rang in her ears as he worked to unhook her from the hoist that held her and scooped her into his protective embrace.

  Her cheeks were heated with embarrassment, but also from the physical strain of being suspended, and her body’s reaction to the earth-shattering orgasm she had just experienced. Her entire body felt as if she had just been airdropped into a fire pit.

  The sensation was unpleasant and oddly arousing at the same time. Leaning against Nick’s broad chest, she closed her eyes and allowed herself to be carried from the room, and back to their suite.

  Chapter 14

  “C’mon, brat,” Nick cajoled, giving Terri’s arm a tug as they hurried down to Wardrobe for the day. “I want to check out some other options, see if I can find something a little less penguin like.”

  “It’s too early,” she whined, lagging behind him. “We were up late. I’m sore. Like, everywhere. And you try to hurry with a piece of peeled ginger stuck up your ass.”

  Nick had no sympathy. The sweet, submissive, willing participant from last night had been replaced with a mouthy, reluctant brat, who seemed determined to make his day as difficult as possible. Let her, he thought. He could take whatever she threw his way and give back a thousand percent. “If I had known you were going to be this slow, I would have brought the leash. Stop whining and beat feet. If there is time, I’ll stop at the café and get you a coffee, but if we run out of time, you’re gonna be shit out of luck.”

  “Why do we have to start work so early? Look, even Champ is still tired.”

  The pup showed zero signs of fatigue. Nick had already taken him out for a morning walk and fed him breakfast, while Terri had lounged in bed, whining about her sore ass. Champ was primed and ready to work. As if to argue her point, the dog gave a loud and excited bark, and jogged beside Nick.

  “Suck up.” Terri pouted. “When did he become more your dog than mine?”

  “He’s very much your dog, he just doesn’t like when you pout and call him names.”

  “Whatever. What are we doing today, anyway?” She tightened the fluffy white robe around her waist. “I can’t believe you didn’t even let me get dressed.”

  “I woke you up twice and told you to get dressed. You decided to ignore me, so this is what you get until we make it down to Wardrobe. Maybe next time you won’t lollygag.”

  “I wasn’t lollygagging. I was engaging in silent protest.”

  “Hmph,” Nick scoffed. “Protest of what? Doing your job? We have to meet the porter down at arrivals. Champ can check all the incoming luggage, and then, barring any upset, the rest of the day is ours to do with as we please. And by we, I mean me. We will do as I please, because I’m the Dom, and what I say goes.”

  Terri stopped dead in her tracks. “What, now? I thought we were over all that. I don’t need a Dom, Nick. I don’t know if you have noticed or not, but I’m not exactly submissive.”

  “Oh, trust me, I’ve noticed.” He spoke dryly, before pulling her close to him and whispering in her ear, “I’ve noticed that you, my little brat, cannot give your submission freely. I’ve also noticed how wet it makes you when I take it from you by force.”

  Her jaw worked like a fish as she stared up at him, speechless. He simply shrugged, daring her to deny it.

  “The agreement was for the duration of our time here at the Castle. Last I checked we were still here. Now your slate is all clean and your trespasses forgiven, so as long as you do as I say and stay out of trouble, we won’t have to have a repeat of last night.”

  There were parts of last night she wouldn’t mind having a replay of. The sex was running through her brain on an endless loop, her brand new fantasy reel. The sex had never been this good when they were together. Not by a long shot.

  There were other parts she couldn’t get off her mind either, her legs spread high in the air while he punished her pussy with the cup of his hand. The falls of the flogger against her back and ass, leaving a trail of pain and pleasure that was excruciatingly exquisite. The feeling she got knowing that everyone had been watching as Nick spanked her long and hard, and then fucked her ass right there in the dining room.

  But just because the memory felt like it would be forever engraved on the forefront of her brain didn’t mean that she’d liked it, or ever wanted it to happen again.

  Whap! A bolt of pain shot through her tender backside, and she jumped. The memory was so strong she could still feel the sting of his hand.

  “Terri, c’mon, let’s get moving.” The pain repeated itself on the opposite side and only then did she realize it was much more than a memory.

  “Dammit, Ni—Nate!” She caught herself just in time to make it sound like she had simply stuttered.

  Nick just grinned at her, and lifted her over his shoulder, carrying her down the rest of the long hall and into Wardrobe before he finally plopped her down on her feet in front of him.

  “I didn’t think it was possible to hate you this much before coffee,” she grumbled, adjusting her robe again.

  “Keep it up, and you’ll hate me even more later. Now get changed. I love the way you look in your sexy Little Maid’s uniform.”

  “Good Morning, Mr. and Mrs. O’Connor. How can I help you today?” Janice, the Wardrobe assistant asked, coming out to meet them.

  “Good morning. We just came for our uniforms for the day.”

  “Sure thing, who’s first?”

  “Tara is, and if she’s a good g
irl, she gets to have coffee when she’s done.” He winked and Janice smiled warmly.

  Terri was less amused, turning to him and hissing through her teeth. “Oh my God, I hate you.”

  “I know, darling.” Nick stayed in the character of a happily married, patient Dom, kissing her on the forehead. “She’s not a morning person.”

  “I’m sure we will be just fine, Sir. Any specific requests?”

  Terri gaped at both of them when she realized Janice was addressing Nick and not herself about her outfit for the day. Nick couldn’t resist the opportunity to rile her further, winking, and scooting out of arm’s reach before he answered Janice. “Yesterday was amazing, let’s go for that, but sexier.”

  Terri glowered at Nick’s retreating form and cursed at herself for the fact that she was wet from just a few betraying words. His take charge attitude was hot as fuck, but that didn’t mean she was going to become a doormat of a woman and blindly obey him on everything. Work and the mission was one thing, but if he honestly thought he was going to control what she wore, he had another think coming.

  Turning to Janice, she made a snap decision to turn the tables on him.

  “Ignore my husband. I’ll make my own choices today.”

  Janice raised her eyebrows and shook her head. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

  “I’m not sure of anything at this point.”

  Janice looked like she was about to say something, but thought better of it, setting her lips in a tight line. “Okay, then, let’s see what we can do.” She snapped her fingers and headed into the dressing area with Terri and Champ right behind her.

  “Holy shit,” Terri muttered, taking in the wall-to-wall racks of clothing. The unlimited amount of options was almost overwhelming, but she had a plan. Nick wanted sexier? She would give him the opposite. “I want the frumpiest costume that still passes for a maid outfit.”

  “Oh boy.” Janice sighed. “Sexy undergarments, at least?”

  “Less sexy, more granny, if you have it.”

  Janice’s brow furrowed as she turned toward the bins of undergarments and frowned. “A lot of the Littles are not permitted to wear sexy underthings, so I have juvenile, but granny might be a stretch.”

  “Whatever you have will work.”

  “I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, Mrs. O’Connor,” Janice sang as she collected the costume pieces.

  She didn’t have any clue what she was getting herself into. This new version of Nick was a mystery, albeit a fun and sexy one that her status quo loving predictable self was quite enjoying. After last night, she didn’t need any more of that particular brand of attention, but she couldn’t stop herself. He was fun to fuck with. The ginger juice burned her from the inside out and for a hot minute she considered backing out and getting the regular costume or something even sexier like Nick had asked for, but then Janice handed her a pile of clothing, and it was too late. In for a penny, in for a pound, she thought as she accepted the frumpy offerings.

  “How about our boy here, does Champ need a new bowtie?”

  Lost in the fantasies of last night, Terri had completely forgotten that Champ was even sitting next to her. It was Castle policy that he wear a leash, but she hadn’t found it necessary to keep a hold of him when they weren’t in a crowd and she knew he wouldn’t go anywhere. His presence reminded her that they were on a job and this sexy and playful fun was not where her attention should be focused.

  “Knock knock!” Nick’s voice rang through the door, announcing that he was back, hopefully with coffee in hand. Shit. He had been fast. Terri looked at Janice with wide eyes, and then at the pile of clothing still in her hand.

  “I’ll be right with you!” Janice answered, turning to her with a deer in the headlights expression. “We’d better get you dressed.”

  She moved like a flash, divesting Terri of her robe and dressing her in the frumpy frock. Once the plain black tennis shoes were tied, Terri stood and regarded herself in the full-length mirror. The dress was awful and couldn’t have been less sexy. The high neck, long sleeves, and ankle-length skirt were impossibly uncomfortable. More so than the sexified uniform of the day before. Served her right for being a brat.

  “Shit,” she cursed under her breath. “I probably don’t have time to change my—”

  “Well, that is definitely not what I requested.” Nick was no longer in the waiting area, but right behind her. She looked over her shoulder and saw the stony expression on his face. Her stomach sank, but it wasn’t fear or excitement. Maybe a mixture of both. She really couldn’t explain the feeling if she tried, but it was not necessarily unpleasant. At any rate, her pussy ached and clenched, from the mere expression on his face.

  “I apologize, Sir,” Janice stammered, standing next to him, fiddling with the front of her apron.

  Normally, Terri would find her kowtowing to be quite disgusting, but at the moment, she completely understood what the young woman was feeling. She had put Janice in a compromising position as a Castle employee, and Nick looked more than a little intimidating at the moment.

  “Trust me, I know my wife and I know this was her doing.” Nick was quick to let Janice off the hook, putting her at ease. “You wouldn’t happen to know anyone who wants a delicious frozen mocha coffee with extra whipped cream and chocolate syrup, would you? Because the girl it was meant for has just lost the privilege of drinking it.”

  “What?” Terri couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Keeping a girl from her coffee was beyond cruel and unusual punishment. She’d rather be flogged in front of all the Masters again. “Don’t you dare!”

  Nick crossed his arms over his chest. “Did I or did I not say I was getting coffee for you if you behaved?”

  If Janice wasn’t there, she would have slugged him. The temptation was fierce, but she still wanted her coffee and if she didn’t punch him, there might be a glimmer of hope still. “I got up and let you drag me down here under the pretense that I was getting my coffee. I earned it.”

  He tilted his head and his eyes squinted slightly. He ignored her, turning his attention instead to the young woman blushing and stammering beside him. “Janice, what do you suppose might happen to a submissive who did the opposite of what her Dominant requested?”

  “Ummm…” Janice was full-on red-faced now, as if her own ass was the one in question. Poor girl.

  “Leave her out of this; you are just being a big bully. Will you excuse us for a minute, Janice?”

  Janice looked relieved, scurrying from the room as fast as her feet would carry her. Terri felt a pang of guilt knowing submissives most likely did not challenge their Doms like she currently was, but fuck she wanted that coffee.

  Nick never took his eyes off hers and she felt like she was under a microscope.

  “Did I or did I not tell you, I would not let you make me look bad? We are supposed to be married, I am the Dominant and you are the submissive. How hard is it to follow that?”

  His voice was a low growl and even though the words were harsh, she lost her fight. She was so wrapped up in the play she had forgotten about the mission again. The Castle was going to kill her professional career if she couldn’t get her act together. And in spite of everything, the lure to this kind of relationship with Nick really was appealing.

  “I don’t think dressing sexy is a good idea, we have a job to focus on.” She grasped at the only straw available. “I made my decision based on that and you need to respect it.”

  “Respect is a two-way street and you are lying through your teeth right now.”

  Dammit. New approach. “Aren’t we going to be late for your meeting with the porter to check the luggage?”

  “Oh, probably. One of us couldn’t seem to get it together this morning to get out of bed or out the door, or hell, even dressed properly. And then, of course, there is the little fact that I’m going to have to spank you now.”

  He advanced on her quickly. Before she could even think to protest, he seized
her arm and dragged her over to a straight back chair that sat conveniently against a back wall. Terri glared at it, silently cursing whoever had the forethought to put it there. Probably that damn Master Marshall.

  “Now, who’s making us late?” Terri squealed, fighting him with all she was worth. “Tsk tsk, Nate, so unprofessional.” She was joking and attempting to sway him with humor, but in reality, she was livid and scared. After last night’s performance her ass was multi-colored and tender to the touch. One swat would have her screaming, she knew. As usual, Nick seemed to be able to read her mind, as he grabbed her firmly by the shoulders.

  “There is no way we are leaving this room without you taking a spanking. Any sub who acted the way you did would not be sitting pretty. So just remember, you asked for this.”

  He tossed her unceremoniously over his lap and she threw her hands in front of her to keep from toppling off.

  It was on the tip of her tongue to remind him that she wasn’t actually a sub, but that argument hadn’t worked for her thus far, so she changed direction and switched to bargaining. What had she been thinking with the wardrobe malfunction anyway? She had to have known the outcome, even subconsciously. Nick seemed to be looking for any excuse to Dom her, and unfortunately, she was giving him plenty.

  “Seriously, Nate, you don’t have to do this. I’ll change. I’ll wear what you want. I was just thinking about the job and trying to keep us focused. I was trying to do the right thing!”

  His hand crashed down hard on the crown of her ass, pushing the air from her lungs. The noise she let out was half-shriek of indignation and half-groan of pain.

  “Lying is a terrible idea, especially when you are already over my knee about to get a spanking. Care to try again?”

  He didn’t wait for an answer, but just continued to pepper her clothed backside with hard swats. She didn’t want to try again. She couldn’t tell him that she was baiting him. She wouldn’t admit that she wanted to get a reaction from him. That would ruin everything. Squirming and kicking her legs got her nowhere as Nick shifted her slightly and wrapped a leg around hers. How the hell was he so good at this? How had she not known that this was what he liked? She felt stupid for missing something that was obviously a huge and important part of him.