Every Which Way

by Sasha White

  “Just thinking about tonight,” Kaden said.

  Tate put his hand on Kaden’s shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me what’s really bothering you?”

  Kaden laughed. “You know me too well.” He turned back toward the view, and after a long moment said, “She’s holding back.”

  “I know.”

  “I don’t want her to hold back. Not with me.”

  Tate angled his head, his eyes moving over Kaden’s face in a careful assessment. “She’s scared.”

  That made Kaden think of Simon again, of the guys she dated, and how, when she was around men, she acted more like her vivacious, flamboyant character, Samantha, from Devious Women. The only time he ever saw her drop her guard and show any kind of vulnerability was when she was with her friends. Her actions told him so much about her—who she was and what she really needed from him.

  Kaden turned to Tate, then checked his watch. “I’m going to push harder tonight.”

  “I’ll be there to catch her if she falls, but I know she won’t because I have full trust in you. No matter what, we’re a team. We’re in this together.” He went quiet for a moment, as though remembering something from the past, then said, “We’ve always been in it together.”

  “Tate,” Kaden began giving a slow shake of his head. “I don’t know what I’d do—”

  Tate squeezed Kaden’s shoulder. “Save it. The feeling is mutual.”

  Kaden checked his watch again. “I’ll go get her.”

  Less than a half hour later, he guided Janie into the mansion. He watched her greet Tate in the den, and a sudden streak of jealousy hit like a sonic boom. Whoa. Where the hell had that come from? Tate was his brother, his best friend, a man he trusted with his life and shared everything with, yet suddenly, the overwhelming need to drag Janie away from him and keep her for himself hit so hard he stumbled backward.

  “You okay?” Tate asked, his eyes narrowing, like he could see into Kaden’s soul and read his every thought. Kaden’s heart thumped and guilt moved through him. He’d never do anything to hurt the man by excluding him from their play.

  “It’s just been a long week,” Kaden said as he stepped up to Janie, his hand gripping hers a little too possessively. He took in her sexy, curve-hugging coral dress, the anticipation dancing in her eyes. God, she looked more beautiful each time he saw her.

  She smiled at him. “Too long.”

  He needed her naked, to touch her, kiss her, make love to her. Make love to her? Holy fuck. He gripped her tighter and worked to get his shit together. “Are you ready?”

  He watched her pulse jump in her throat. “Yes.”

  Kaden paused and drew her closer, noting the way Tate watched him with those all-knowing eyes of his. He exhaled slowly and worked to get himself together as he took her purse, set it aside, and struggled to step into the role he played with his friend.

  “You did good last week,” he began as he cupped her chin. “But tonight I’m going to push you to your limits, and you’re going to give yourself to me. Completely.” He pitched his voice lower and asked, “Do you understand?”

  For a brief moment, her guard dropped. “I… I…”

  “You have your safe word, but you must trust that I know what I’m doing.”

  Tate stepped up behind her and put his hand on her arm, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

  She looked at him quickly, then said, “Okay.”

  They guided her downstairs, where scenes were already taking place. Kaden’s cock ached, and while he couldn’t wait to be inside her, he knew he couldn’t give her what she really needed until she freely opened herself to him, until she bared her soul and put all her worries in his hands. He shouldn’t need that so badly, of that he was certain. But he did, and that scared the hell out of him.

  He led her back into the same room as before, and she visibly relaxed, no doubt thinking they would simply be recreating their last scene. In parts, he would, to give her the comfort she needed, but this time he was going to show her just how strong she really was.

  He nodded to Tate, who guided her to the platform. He watched her chest heave as his glance moved over her dress, a slow caress from top to bottom.

  “Have you followed my instructions from last time?”

  “Yes,” she answered.

  He nodded and rocked on his heels. “Obedience is always rewarded.”

  Tate unzipped her dress and let it fall to the floor. As it pooled around her ankles, he slipped a hand between her legs and lightly brushed her clit. Every muscle in Kaden’s body tightened, because suddenly, he wanted to be the one touching her. The only man to ever touch her again.

  Jesus…

  He clenched down on his jaw hard and struggled to get it together. “Tate?” he asked. “Has she followed all my instruction?”

  The two exchanged a long look. After a minute, Tate said, “Why don’t you check for yourself?”

  With his heart racing, Kaden stepped up to her. He pushed a finger between her legs to find her clit hot and swollen. “It’s doesn’t appear your pussy has been touched since I last took it into my mouth.”

  A tremble moved through Janie’s body, and he could tell the reminder excited her.

  He nodded toward the manacles on the floor. He moved her dress, stepped back, and Tate secured her legs.

  “Janie,” he began and glanced at the chains overhead. He waited for a long moment, then asked, “Tell me, why do you date men who fold to your commands?”

  Her mouth opened and closed, his question clearly taking her by surprise. She blinked rapidly and shook her head. “I just… I don’t…”

  “Why is it that when you’re with these men, you act differently?”

  A flush moved over her face, and she folded her arms across her chest, closing herself off to him.

  “Drop your arms,” he commanded.

  Standing to her right, Tate aided him and said, “Drop your arms and answer the question.”

  She dropped her arms but straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin a bit higher. “I don’t act differently.”

  He took in her body language, the discomfort in her eyes. “You’re doing it right now, with me. You’re hiding behind your character. It’s not Samantha I want in this room with me, it’s Janie.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she shot back quickly.

  Kaden stepped closer and ran his fingers down her arm. Goosebumps broke out on her flesh, and she leaned into his touch. He pulled his hand back, but he was desperate, so damn desperate for her to open up to him. He needed it more than he should have. “Are you afraid I won’t like what I see?”

  The frightened look on her face told him he’d hit deep. A bevy of emotions flashed in her eyes, and she moved her legs but couldn’t escape.

  “I’m not sure what kind of game you’re playing, but—”

  “Are you afraid I won’t like what I see?” he asked again, putting more force in his words.

  “Kaden—”

  “Answer the question,” he said.

  Anger flashed in her eyes, and it pleased Kaden. If he wanted her to let go, he needed to draw the emotions from her. “You have no idea what you’re talking about,” she bit out harshly.

  “I think I do.”

  She looked away briefly, but not before he caught the pain in her expression.

  “Eyes to me.”

  Her hair flared as she turned back to him, brushing over her face but not quite covering the slight quiver of her chin. He wanted to go to her, to hold her and tell her everything would be okay, but if he did, he’d never get her to where she so desperately needed her to go.

  “If I’m going to take care of you, then you need to put everything in my hands, including past hurts,” Kaden explained. He gave her a moment to chew on that before adding, “Just so you know, I will get what we want from you. One way or another.”

  “What exactly is it that you want from me?” she lashed out, her glance going to her dres
s, like she wanted to climb back into it and flee. But Kaden would have none of that.

  “Everything,” he said. He sucked in a quick breath. He really did want everything from her. After Sondra had left them, he’d sworn off relationships, but everything about Janie made him want to try again. He’d thought he loved Sondra, but now, he wasn’t so sure. Maybe he loved Tate more than Sondra, which had made him willing to share her. The fact that he wanted Janie all to himself, was conflicted about sharing her with the man he loved more than life, said so much about what was going on inside of him.

  “Do you think I won’t like what I see?” he pressed, taking note of the way Tate was watching him, not Janie. His stomach clenched. The last thing he wanted to do was hurt his friend.

  “What do you want me to say?” she asked, her armor cracking. “That I’m a nothing, a nobody? A simple mountain girl whose father and brother abused her? No one likes that girl, Kaden.”

  Kaden’s gut clenched, his heart pounding hard in his chest. He fisted his hands to hide his emotions, to hide the fact that he wanted to end this scene right now and go beat the shit out of the men who’d hurt her.

  “What if I said I liked that girl?” He watched her face, understanding he needed to push a little more to take her to where she needed to go…to set her free. “Why do you date men you can control?”

  “I like to be in charge,” she blurted out, her eyes flaring hot. “There, I said it. Are you happy?”

  “Being in charge makes you feel safe.”

  “Yes,” she answered. “Now unchain me. I want to go.”

  He looked over her face again, his heart aching for the girl who had been abused, for the woman who continued to deny her own pleasure because of it. “You have been let down far too many times.”

  She shook her head. “What do you know about being let down?” she shot back, her hands crossing over her chest again. “You live in a beautiful mansion and have everything you’ve ever wanted. We’re different, and I don’t fit in here. Unhook me, I want to go.”

  With that, Kaden tore off his shirt, and she gasped when she saw the deep, purple knife wound on his side.

  “We come from the same place, Janie. You and me, we’re more alike than you know.”

  She reached out, then pulled her hand back like she was waiting for permission to touch him. “What…what happened?”

  “There was a man in my life who let me down, too.”

  He reached for her hand and put it on his chest. She traced his scars and blinked at him. “Your father?”

  Kaden nodded and softened his voice, but kept enough power behind his words so she knew he meant business. “I won’t let you down, Janie. You have my word on that. I’m going to take good care of you.”

  A sound gurgled in her throat, and moisture gathered in her eyes. “I just… I never… Why are you doing this to me?”

  “Because it’s what you need. Even you know that.” Kaden said.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You didn’t use your safe word,” Kaden explained.

  “I’m upset,” she said. “I didn’t think to.”

  “No. It’s because you want to put everything in my hands, your body, your fears, and your safety. You’re just too afraid to do it.” He looked at the chains dangling above her head. “I want you to give me everything, Janie. All of you.”

  Her glance went from him to the shackles above her head and back to him again. He could almost hear the wheels spinning as she came to terms with what he was asking.

  The changes in her as everything he’d been saying fell into place were subtle, but they were there, nonetheless. An untrained eye wouldn’t see them, but to an experienced Dom like him, one who was in tune with his sub, he was well aware of the shift.

  Her eyes locked with his for the briefest of seconds, then lowered. “How do you want me?”

  The breath he’d been holding left his lungs in a whoosh, and he worked not to show a reaction.

  “Hands above your head.”

  Pushing past her fears like he knew she could, she lifted her arms, and Kaden secured them in place. She gave a tug that told her she was at his mercy.

  With her body and soul exposed, Kaden touched her cheek. “I’m going to take care of you.”

  His mouth found hers. He kissed her deeply, and she opened to him, her tongue tangling with his. God, she tasted so damn good…she tasted like forever. His cock ached as he put a finger between her legs, and it thrilled him to find her so wet, so ready for him.

  His mouth left hers and went to her breasts, and her breath rushed. He sucked in a hard nipple and thrust a finger inside her. When she moved her hips, he growled.

  “Stay still,” he warned.

  Kaden’s lips crashed down on hers again, his body aching to join with hers. He needed her on her knees. Now. His hands shook as he loosened the chains overhead and released the crank to give her room to move around while still remaining in shackles.

  “To your knees,” he said.

  She kneeled before him in typical sub fashion, knees parted, hands on thighs, head bowed, even though she’d not been instructed on how to do so. His heart nearly burst from his chest, because she’d clearly done her research—for him. He choked on the emotions tightening his throat and looked at the sweet girl before him. She was damaged, afraid, and vulnerable yet found the strength and courage to give herself to him. It meant more to him than she’d ever know.

  Her dark lashes fluttered, awaiting his next command. Kaden made quick work of his clothes, shedding his pants, standing before her completely naked.

  “Look at me.” Her eyes opened wide as she looked him over. “Do you want to take me into your mouth, Janie?”

  She nodded and opened her plump lips. Fuck. Kaden’s body burned in anticipation as he stepped up to her.

  He wrapped his hands around her head, fisting her hair as he put his cock into her luscious mouth. A riot of emotions rushed through him as he watched her take him deep. A movement near the door caught his attention, and some small working part of his brain remembered Tate wasn’t playing. He forced his gaze away from her to see Tate standing at the door.

  They looked at each other, then Tate glanced at Janie, then back at Kaden. He gave a silent smile of understanding, a nod of approval, then left.

  Janie greedily drew Kaden deeper into her mouth, and he clenched down on his jaw. Every muscle in his body spasmed as she sucked him in. His balls ached, but no way would he allow himself to come, not in her mouth.

  Needing to give her pleasure, he said, “Enough.” She moaned as he pulled his cock out and stepped back. “I need to taste you again. I need to bury my face between your legs and feast on you.”

  Desire flashed in her eyes as he flattened himself on the platform and slid between her legs so she could ride his face. He pulled her onto his tongue, the chains clanging as he repositioned her. She whimpered as he lapped at her and pressed against him harder, her muscles clenching. Jesus, she was so close.

  “Not yet,” he warned, from deep between her thighs. God, her pussy was the sweetest thing he’d ever tasted, and he never, ever wanted to taste another. He heard the chains rattle as she moved against him, and his heart soared. It meant the world to him that she was opening to him, putting herself completely in his hands.

  She moved her hips, rubbing her pussy on his face. As he worked her into a state of aroused euphoria, his cock jerked, desperate to be inside her. Janie’s body began to shake, but he held off on giving the command, wanting to send her higher and higher until nothing mattered but this moment.

  She rocked her hips, grinding her pussy on his face, riding him furiously. She went wild, filling his body with heat. Her broken gasp of pleasure moved through Kaden because he knew she was there…lost in sub space, right where he wanted her.

  “Come for me, Janie. Come in my mouth.”

  A violent shudder overtook her, and a moment later, a cry lodged in her throat. He stayed between her l
egs, prolonging her pleasure and letting her ride out the waves.

  When she finally stopped trembling, Kaden slipped out from between her legs and went to the corner to grab a padded chair, as well as a condom, from the stocked cabinet. This time he needed to see her face when she came for him. He carried it across the room and placed it in front of her. He looked at her pussy, which glistened so damn invitingly.

  He bent down and released her ankles, then he once again adjusted the overhead chains until she was positioned just right. With flushed cheeks and eyes alive with curiosity, Janie watched Kaden take a seat. He grabbed her hips and pulled her to him.

  “I’m going to fuck you, baby. I’m going to fuck you so hard, and when I do, I don’t want you to take your eyes off me. I need to see you when you come.”

  Her mouth opened and closed, and Kaden loved the way she reacted. There was no denying that this all felt so intimate, so right—with her. He slid his chair closer and suited up before he positioned her body over his cock.

  Janie looked down at his hard cock. “Eyes to me,” he demanded.

  The second their gazes collided, Kaden pulled her down, ramming his cock all the way inside her. Pressing his mouth to hers, he swallowed her gasp and kissed her with all the passion inside him.

  Kaden dug his fingers into her hips as her warm heat squeezed his cock like a hot, tight fist. He trembled with need, urgency, as he powered his hips upward, driving his raging shaft in and out of her tight sheath, the friction and heat pushing him to the brink quickly. He looked at her face, and it took his breath away to see the way she was offering herself to him.

  As her body welcomed every inch of him, he ran his thumb over her clit, slowly bringing her higher. Need pulled at him as his orgasm mounted, but no way in hell was he going to stop.

  With his need for dominance overriding his need to climax, Kaden drew a breath to center himself, and when he felt her pussy muscles spasm, he said, “Come for me, sweetheart. Come all over my cock.” He applied more pressure to her clit and slid himself in deeper. She sucked in air and moved her hips faster. He wrapped his arm around her waist to keep her still, closing his eyes as pleasure forked through him.