Hanging by a Moment (A 1Night Stand Story)

by Juarez, Bella

  “You’re right, Tom. In the scheme of things, what I think is petty.”

  “No, it’s not. But it is misdirected. Believe me, I think you’re amazing and the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen in person.” He took the bowl from the nightstand, picked a strawberry out, and held it against her lips. “Eat, you’ll need the fuel for later.”

  Emily loved the hard edge his voice and eyes took on when he stepped into his role as her Master. She finished off the fruit and a few other things he’d brought for her. She also drained the water her body so desperately craved. They talked while she refueled and recovered then he left her another bottle of water on the nightstand and took the tray away. When he returned, a subtle transformation occurred with every step he gained. She trembled. Gone was his predictability and steadiness. Walking toward her was a man who would own her before the sun rose.

  Tom crawled up the bed, yanking away the protection of the blanket he’d lovingly tucked around her. Emily nervously tugged at the only thing she had left, her denim work shirt. He swept her hands into his.

  “Do I have to tie you down?”

  “No, Sir,” she whispered.

  “Good because I want to be touched.”

  Tom latched onto her throat, licking and nipping at her skin. Emily moaned, catching fire once more at the hardness of his arms and shoulders under her palms. She giggled when he worked his way up to her mouth and sucked in her bottom lip, stealing her breath with a mind-bending kiss.

  When Tom placed his knees between hers, she gladly parted her legs. He rested on his elbows and stared at her while she struggled to work the buttons of his white shirt. Finally she pushed it away, only to be hampered by a T-shirt.

  “Damn it, Tom, do you have any more layers?”

  “Do you need something my little slave?” He chuckled, muffled by the T-shirt she shoved over his head.

  Finally, she caught a glimpse of his sculpted, lightly furred chest. Holy Fuck! He’s fucking beautiful! Tom Ryan was built like a brick house, his large frame covered in a mass of toned muscles—to say he worked out would be an understatement. She flashed him a wicked smile.

  “Nice ink.” Master had a wild streak.

  “Thank you.” he said, before nipping her ear.

  She traced the wavy lines of the tribal tattoo on his upper right arm. The outstanding work fit him so well.

  “That feels so good, baby,” he rasped.

  She shivered. He worked his way down her throat. His big hand closed over one of her breasts while he mouthed the other through the shirt. She arched into him as he played with her. She fumbled to open the damn thing, desperate for his touch against her skin. He stilled her hand with his.

  “Are you sure?”

  “What?” she whispered, frantic with passion.

  “Are you sure you will be comfortable naked? I’m not turning off the lights.” His gray eyes danced with laughter, teasing her.

  Emily stilled. He was fucking with her head. She craved his raw, unfettered caress more than air right now. She didn’t give a damn if the lights were on or off. She wanted his mouth on her skin, not some piece of fabric.

  “Yes, I’m sure.”

  Tom smiled and kissed her then ripped the buttons away, insuring she wouldn’t be able cover herself with it again. She cried out and squirmed when his nimble fingers raked over her hard nipples. Running his tongue around them, he finally drew one into his warm mouth and bit down, holding it between his teeth, flicking it with the tip of his tongue. Her eyes drifted closed, consciousness flickering under the erotic onslaught when he suddenly backed off. Her eyes flew open and caught his intense expression as he followed the path his hands took over her skin, igniting every nerve ending.

  “You’re so soft, baby.” He stroked her smooth mound. “Keep it like this.”

  “Yes, Master.”

  Emily had to be the most perfect creature in the world. He took in the rosy hue of her feverish skin while he unbuckled his belt and tossed it aside. When she sat up and helped him with the fastening to his pants, her lips fluttering over his chest, he closed his eyes. The mastery he maintained was slipping away; he’d never wanted any woman so much, and she was so willing.

  Lucian’s warnings echoed in his head; she needed him to be stable and in control. Iron hand in a velvet glove…. Tom swallowed a groan when she ran her tongue over his nipple. He needed some distance to regain his dominant mind set. Stepping back, he watched confusion cross her face. He fought the urge to to run back to her and reassure her he was all hers, body and soul, Control, Tom, don’t lose control….

  He snapped his fingers and pointed at the floor in front of him.

  “On your knees.”

  Emily crawled like a panther to the foot of the bed and slid down to kneel in front of him. The sexist woman he’d ever seen waited for his next command. Sucking in a deep breath, he willed his rebellious body into obedience. Despite his desire to continue their play, it was all he could do to keep from fucking her into submission right there on the floor. His cock bobbed in front of her face, and she licked her lips.

  His iron will kicked in as he commanded, “Suck my cock, Emily. Nice and easy.” She leaned forward and closed her eyes, the tip of her pink tongue darting out to lap at his shaft. “Eyes on me.”

  Tom groaned and threw his head back when she went to work on the underside of his cock. He fisted her hair and guided his dick past her lips. When he returned his gaze to her, her big brown eyes were focused on his face as he fucked her mouth. Emily reached behind him and grabbed his ass, making restraint nearly impossible. He balled his fist and pulled in a breath when she kneaded his ass with her fingertips. The picture of her down on her knees giving him the blowjob of his life forced him to pull away to maintain his precious control. Taking a deep breath, he helped her stand and led her back to the bed.

  Needing to concentrate on something other than his protesting cock, Tom worked his way over her womanly body once more. He mapped his new prize, starting with her silky, tanned legs. Discovering a mole on her upper thigh, he placed a kiss there then moved his fingers over her smooth pussy. Deciding to give her back what he’d received a few minutes ago, he stroked her clit. Her mewing and sighing told him he was on the right track. He kissed her inner thigh and grinned at her shudder when he kissed her mound and tongued her clit.

  “Tom. Oh my God! Tom!”

  Focusing on her pleasure took his mind off his needs. This small diversion gave him the chance to rediscover the joys of making his woman crazy. When she shoved her pussy into his face, he remembered he had to maintain his control over her to maximize her experience. This was about dominance and submission and even though he was pleasuring her, he was still in charge of everything she felt. Wrapping his arm over her lower hips, Tom pressed firm to reinforce he was still Master. He licked and sucked her clit until she squirmed and cried out then decided to push her limits and test the tolerance of his beautiful prize so he shoved a thick finger inside her pussy and continued his oral assault. At the clenching of her walls, he moved away because he didn’t want her to peak yet.

  “Ahh! You bastard! Make me come!”

  Tom reared back and drilled her with a don’t fuck with me look.

  How dare she? “Come back with that?”

  Emily’s eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. This sort of insubordination couldn’t be tolerated. As her master, he had to rein her in so he roughly flipped her over and dragged her to her knees with her ass in the air and her face buried in the pillows.

  “What was that?” He delivered a swat to her ass.

  “I’m sorry! It was nothing!” she cried in a muffled voice.

  “What was that, slave?” He gave her another swat.

  “Ow! I’m sorry, Sir. It’ll never happen again.”

  “Who the hell do you think you are?” He landed another swat to her upturned ass.

  “Your slave, Sir,” she whimpered.

  “Try again!” Smack.

 
“Your slave, Master.”

  “Again!” Smack.

  “Your slut!”

  Tom reached inside the nightstand for a condom and rested his palms on her warm-pink ass.

  “My marks look good on you.” Savoring the moment, he guided his cock to her pussy, and slid in, stretching her and gritting his teeth for control. She fisted the sheets and moaned. Every muscle in his body tensed and strained when he finally buried himself balls-deep inside her.

  “Tom, please! Fuck me hard! Use your slut’s pussy!”

  At those words, he reared back with a snarl and slammed his hips into her. Her screams urged him on as he hammered her repeatedly. She loved rough. And—to his ferocious delight—so did he. He grabbed her shoulders and jerked her against him.

  “I’m going to fuck you so hard you won’t remember your own name, slut.”

  Tom released her, and she fell forward onto her hands. He slammed into her with renewed vigor and a promise to carry out what he’d threatened.

  “Come for me, slut.” He punctuated the command with a smack to her ass.

  Emily combusted as she obeyed. She bucked against him and screamed her release as he thrust while her pussy clenched and spasmed around his cock. Tom lost all shred of reason. He fucked her harder, rougher than he’d ever thought possible while she thrashed under him. His release hit him like a concrete wall. His body locked. He lunged forward and grabbed the thick wooden headboard in a death grip, shaking uncontrollably. If he’d been holding on to Emily, he would’ve left marks on her perfect skin. When he finally came back to reality, he gasped for air and she whimpered into the pillows. His voice was horse and his throat raw when he managed to speak.

  “Oh my God, Emily. Fuck, baby.”

  Tom braced himself on his elbows over her, but his arms shook with fatigue and he rose onto his knees so he wouldn’t crush her. He rested a hand on her sweat-slicked back.

  “Turn over, baby. Let me hold you.”

  He rolled onto his back and drew her close. She weakly petted his chest. Tom closed his eyes, exhausted. His life had changed so much in just twenty-four hours. Running into Emily had set his life on a new path. The dark desire she’d unleashed in him gave him a new freedom of expression. There would be no secrets between him and his little slave. He tightened his grip and stroked her skin lovingly. She was his to love, protect, and cherish but mostly she was his to tame. He looked into her glazed brown eyes.

  “I think I went to another dimension twice today,” she murmured.

  Tom chuckled, “Was it the one with no oxygen and exploding neon stars?”

  “That was it.”

  “I was with you on that last trip. Whatever dimension that was melted every bone in my body.”

  She giggled and kissed Tom below his ear. They held onto each other for a long time. If someone had told him a week ago he’d fall in love with a woman like her the first time he laid eyes on her, he’d have laughed his ass off. After Karen, he never thought he’d be able to love anyone else. Emily had managed his steal his heart and give him a sense of fulfillment he’d never known. He squeezed her affectionately. Little thief. That’s got to be worthy of another spanking. He looked forward to being her Master.

  He’d recently received some news that—considering his declaration of love—she’d need to know. How would she react to his particular situation? He gripped her a little tighter and kissed her.

  “I need to ask you something, Emie.”

  “What is it?” she mumbled, snuggling closer.

  “If I have to leave, will you wait for me?”

  She lifted her head and stared at him. “What are you saying?”

  “I may have to go to Afghanistan in a few months. My unit is being activated again.”

  She laid her head down and tightened her grip. He held his breath, waiting for her answer.

  “I don’t mind waiting. I’m proud of you.”

  “Would you wait in my home? Can you live with your Master?”

  “I don’t think I can live without him.” She rubbed her cheek against his chest. “But I don’t want to do it in Fair Oaks.”

  “What are you worried about?”

  “I can’t stand the stuck-up people there.”

  He frowned. “Okay, where do you want to live?”

  “I like where I live now. I finally have my studio set up the way I want.”

  “No worries. Do you want me to move in with you?”

  She snuggled into his body. “You’d do that? You’d leave your dream house?”

  “It’s a house, Emily. If it burned down tomorrow, I’d dust off the plans and build it again. I want to make you my home.”

  “Really? Do you think you could be happy with me?”

  “I need you, my little slave.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “So is that a yes? Do you want to keep me around?”

  “Yes, Master. I want to keep you around.”

  Tom found the strength to stand and take care of a few things. He dug out the collar Lucian had given him earlier and curled up to Emily.

  “I have something for you, slave,” he growled in her ear.

  She blinked. He took her left hand and slipped the ruby band onto her finger. The stones were set into ornate gold. The delicate design fit her artistic spirit.

  “Tom, you’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”

  “What made you believe I wasn’t?” Tom asked. Their relationship was moving faster than anything he’d ever done before. He was just as surprised as she was when he slipped the ring on her finger. But her confusion was a good a thing in his mind because she needed to be kept on her toes. He rubbed his nose against hers. “It’s a collar, but it can double as your wedding ring.”

  Emily threw her arms around Tom and kissed him.

  “Yes, Master.”

  Chapter Five

  Tom opened the door, helping Emily into his Jeep. They’d made a brief stop at her mom’s house and his place so they could change clothes. Mrs. Sanchez had greeted him with a hearty embrace, making him feel as if he was one of the family. While Emily left them alone, her mom entertained him with stories of Emily’s childhood.

  They left her with promises of another visit and headed for the IHop. Silence lay between them. He was quiet because guilt ate away at him. He’d treated his one-night stand date badly. That was so unlike him, and even his newfound dominance wasn’t an excuse for bad behavior. He should’ve come clean with Emily right away and told her about his obligation. Instead he’d been fucking her like it was his last day on earth. He justified his actions; there wouldn’t have been a tomorrow with Emily, if he’d gone to meet another woman last night. She was insecure and would’ve never understood. He rebuked himself; he was wrong and needed to make it right, both with Emily and his mystery date.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, taking his hand.

  He smiled at her, glad to be with someone so aware of his moods. He had to come clean because he needed to call the date he’d canceled last night. He was pretty damn confident Madame Eve hadn’t set up a date with a slouch. She was a business woman and probably pretty successful. Rejection was not something a woman like that would be used to.

  “I have a confession to make, Emie,” he said.

  “What’s up?”

  “Last Christmas, my daughter gave me a gift certificate for an exclusive dating service. You know, kind of a high-end matchmaker.com thing.”

  “And?”

  “They found me a match and I was supposed to meet her last night at eight–thirty. Needless to say, I blew her off. But I don’t feel right about the way I did it. I need to call and at least explain I don’t think she’s the one for me.”

  “What did you do, Tom?”

  “I sent her a text. That was a really bad way to blow her off. I should’ve at least called her.”

  They pulled into IHop and Emily withdrew into silence, which worried him. Maybe he shouldn’t have told her about the other woman. It would fire up all her
insecurities. Tom felt as if he were dragging her into the restaurant when they walked up the pathway to the door. Now Emily was silent and distant. Damn, why did I say anything?

  They were seated and she poured them both some coffee when it arrived. Emily glanced at her phone off and on as they sat together over a cup of coffee. He warmed inside; the scene they were living felt as if he’d known her all of his life. He wanted to make everyday life with her a permanent arrangement.

  “Emily, I hope you’re not upset with me. I’ll never lie to you. I wanted you to know because I’m not looking anymore. I was serious last night. I want you now and for as long as you’ll have me.”

  Tom watched Emily toy with the band he’d given her.

  “What exactly did you tell that woman?”

  “It doesn’t matter, honey. I want to make it final and make it right.”

  She looked down at her phone, that mischievous smile playing around the corners of her mouth. Amazing how quickly he’d learned to read her expressions and thoughts.

  “I have a confession to make too, Tom.” She grinned as she showed him the screen on her phone. He peered at the message and his breath caught. “I was never so happy to be stood up in all my life.”

  “Oh my God!” He burst into laughter. “You were my 1Night Stand?”

  “In more ways than one.”

  “You’re no one-night stand, Emie. You’re my perfect woman.” He raised her hand to his lips and kissed her. “Are you going to wait for me? Will you be waiting for me when I get back?”