by Lexi Blake
“You have a safe word.”
They had decided on it during their contract negotiations. “I won’t need it for thirty, I promise, Joshua.”
“I’ll remember that, too.”
His hand came down and he proved once again that he didn’t play. Fire licked along her skin and she held on to his ankles for support. He counted out loud, his strong voice ringing through the room. Over and over he slapped her ass, not stopping to give her time to breathe or to allow the heat to sink in. This was a disciplinary spanking.
This was something to survive. She gritted her teeth against the pain, breathing it in and letting it flow back out. After the first few strokes, she managed to relax her muscles and let herself get loose. The pain couldn’t touch her here. Here she could float and the pain became nothing more than a wave that swept her along.
Here the pain shifted and she could feel herself coming alive.
Before she knew it, his hand came down one last time.
He kept her over his lap, his hands smoothing across her heated flesh. “You handled that well. I was worried you might not have as much experience as you claimed, but that was quite lovely.”
Her body had tons of experience. Her body could take anything he dished out. The emotional stuff, not so much, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.
He shifted her and she found herself on her knees in front of him. Between his knees. It was a deeply submissive position to be in, and she let herself sink further into the place where she didn’t have to make decisions or think past her Master’s latest command.
Joshua looked down at her, his hands coming out and brushing back her hair. “I don’t want you to question my commands or my actions when we’re playing. It’s perfectly fine for you to stop the play if you find it disturbing. My point isn’t to upset you, but I am the Dominant partner and you will obey. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, Joshua.”
“Excellent. Now carefully open the fly of my jeans.” His voice was deeper, tighter than it had been before.
Which was good because she was starting to worry that she was the only one genuinely affected by this scene they were playing out. It was easy to see his body responding, but the tone of his voice proved he wasn’t cold to her. His jaw hardened, forming what she liked to think of as a superhero line, as she brought her hands up and eased the button open before gently starting to work the zipper. She had to be damn careful because she didn’t want to stop and take another spanking because she’d gotten Master’s cock stuck in his zipper. Nope. She wanted to move on from the disciplinary portion of the evening to the part where he made her scream.
Taking her time, she eased the zipper down, revealing the black fabric of his boxers. When she had them down, she smoothed the sides out and sat back because he hadn’t commanded her past opening his fly.
“Now the boxers. Pull them down and take my cock in hand.”
She prayed she wasn’t drooling. Her ass ached and she knew her pussy was soaking wet and ready, and yet the anticipation was heady.
She let her nails skim his cut abs before delving under the waistband of his boxers and easing them over his erection. His cock sprang free, proving he was as perfect as she’d known he would be. Big and thick, his cock barely fit in her hand.
It had been so long since she’d had sex. He was going to be huge and hot inside her. It should have made her wary, but all she could think about was getting that hard cock inside her, riding this massive, perfect male to completion.
“Stroke me. I won’t break. You can get rough with me. I’ll tell you when to stop.” He leaned back, resting against the bench, and his eyes closed.
She gripped him in one hand and stroked, watching his cock lengthen before her eyes. His chest moved with each breath, but he was perfectly calm. She let her thumb swipe over the head of his cock with each stroke and he chuckled.
“Yes, that’s what I want. Now suck the head, pet.”
She leaned over and let the flat of her tongue find his cock. She licked him before gently taking him into her mouth. He smelled of soap and arousal, the mixture sending her deeper into her submissive state. She kept stroking him with a firm hand, but she sucked lightly, teasing him with little licks and brushes of her lips.
She got lost in the rhythm, in service. Her body warmed, every bit of her energy focused on bringing him pleasure.
“Take more of me.”
No questions. No decisions. There was only the sound of his voice, telling her what she should do. Taking more of his cock was a damn fine thing to do. She sucked the head fully into her mouth, whirling her tongue around.
A pulse of pre-come hit her tongue and she lapped it up. More. She wanted more, her tongue worrying the slit on the head of his cock.
A shudder went through his body. “Cup my balls, pet. Roll them in that soft hand of yours.”
She brought her hand up and palmed his heavy balls. They were already tight, readying themselves to shoot off, and she couldn’t come up with why that would be a bad idea. The thought of sucking him down made her nipples hard.
The rhythm took over, carrying her along with it. His cock pulsed in her hand, pre-come flowing freely now.
“Stop. Turn around. Hands and knees,” he ordered.
She wanted to finish, but immediately removed her hands, holding them up as though to show him she was obeying. She turned and saw herself in the mirror there. It was ornate, with a gilded frame surrounding it. It took her a moment to recognize herself. Her eyes were cloudy with desire, her body loose and willing. Her breasts swung gently as she moved into the position he required.
He stood up, rising behind her like a dark, hungry god.
He shoved out of his jeans and boxers, kicking them across the room. He grabbed a condom and slid it on, working his dick with his big hand. He stared down at her while he stroked himself, every muscle of that perfect body of his drawn and taut. She got the sudden feeling that this was what a rabbit felt like right before the tiger struck, but she couldn’t move even if she’d wanted to. She was caught by his eyes and she wasn’t going anywhere until he’d had her.
He dropped to his knees behind her and gripped her hips. His cock nuzzled her pussy and it took everything she had to not shove back against him.
“Don’t move,” he growled. “I’m in charge. You can come when you like, but you won’t fight me or try to take control. Am I understood?”
“Yes.”
He slapped her ass. “Yes?”
“Yes, Joshua.” She was close to where she wanted to be, right on the precipice. It wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge.
He used his left hand to reach for her hair, fisting it. “Watch us in the mirror. Don’t take your eyes off that mirror or your discipline won’t be through for the evening.”
“Yes, Joshua.” That was the last thing she wanted. She watched him in the mirror, taking in his predatory gaze. His eyes held hers as he thrust hard inside.
She couldn’t hold back the cry that came from her throat. She was stretched wide. Despite how wet she was, he was still too big, too much, and he wasn’t going easy with her.
He thrust in savagely, forcing his way in until she could feel his balls slap against her.
He pulled back out and then used her hair and the grip on her hips to force her to move, impaling her on his cock.
Her scalp lit up, the sensation sizzling down her spine and straight to her pussy. He set a punishing pace, thrusting deep and lighting her up from the inside. He was in control and there wasn’t anything she wanted to do to change that. She wanted him in charge, wanted to find this place where nothing mattered but what he was doing to her body. He manhandled her, making her feel tiny and petite and delicate in a way she hadn’t for years.
She watched him even as he pushed her higher. He stroked her with his cock, finding that place inside and riding that spot until she couldn’t hold out a second longer. The orgasm was a flash fire, burning through her and maki
ng her scream out his name. She didn’t hold back because he seemed to want her primal, want the deep sensuality she’d always kept under control.
Joshua pounded into her, riding her orgasm even as he controlled every movement of her body.
Another orgasm took her by surprise, this one stronger than the first.
He hissed behind her and let go of her hair, using both hands to hold her body fast against his. He ground against her, his body pumping hard into hers.
One last thrust and he let go, sending her forward without the strength of his hands to hold her up.
He chuckled and stood up, slipping the condom off and disposing of it.
She couldn’t find her breath. Every inch of her body felt pleasantly used. Perfectly used. Her blood pounded through her system, pleasure thrumming like a song played at a low level. It was there in the background, still humming along.
“That was a good first session. Let me help you up.”
He didn’t seem anywhere close to as shaken as she’d been. He held out a hand and she struggled to shove her emotions down. She wasn’t supposed to have emotions.
She allowed him to help her to her feet, her body brushing up against his. She tilted her head up. Kissing would help. Kissing would give her a second to center. It would be proof that he was affected, too.
His gorgeous lips quirked up in a smirk. “Okay, now I believe you that it’s been a long dry spell. You were quite tight. You’ll probably be sore in the morning. There’s a soaking tub in the bathroom. Feel free to use it.”
He stepped back and reached for his jeans.
She stood there. Yeah, not how she expected to feel. Her body happy. Her brain used.
But she’d signed up for this. If she’d been paying him, she would have happily tipped the man because he knew what he was doing. It was sex. It didn’t have to be meaningful. She wasn’t some star-struck teenager with a crush.
She was fucking the man so he would do what her CIA handlers needed him to do.
She’d been out of the game for way too long. The Garden had softened her up, made her useless.
“There’s a robe behind you if you want it.”
She turned and forced herself to put the robe on, her limbs moving in a mechanical fashion. Arm in. Other arm in. Tie the sash. Smile. “Thank you, Joshua. It was a wonderful first session.”
He stared at her for a moment like he didn’t believe her.
A crack split the air and then the alarm went off, the sound making the walls shake. Kayla didn’t think. There was a window to their left. It had a blackout curtain over it, but all someone would need was heat signature goggles to see through that and shoot Joshua.
“Get down,” she shouted.
He turned toward the window and she tackled him, forcing him to the floor.
His response was immediate and unexpected.
Josh screamed, louder than the fucking alarm. She was so shocked, she found herself thrown off him. He bucked up and she went flying, knocking into the spanking bench. She groaned, finding herself on her back, looking up at the ceiling.
And then she was looking into Joshua’s handsome face. He covered her with his body, chaos all around them. His eyes were glassy and she was sure in that moment that he wasn’t seeing her. His hands went around her throat, closing with intent.
Shit. She had a fucked-up PTSD client who she couldn’t kill and couldn’t let kill her. She started to bring her knee up. He was going to hate her for this.
“Back off, Mr. Hunt.” Dec was standing over them, his Colt 1911 pointed straight at Joshua Hunt’s head. “Do it. Right fucking now. I will not allow you to strangle her. I will put a bullet through your head before that happens.”
Something about the word her seemed to get to Josh, and Kay breathed a sigh of relief that she wasn’t going to have to knee his balls into his body cavity. His eyes cleared and his hands came up, palms toward the man with the gun.
Josh shook his head. “I…I didn’t mean to hurt her.”
Kay scrambled out from under him. “You didn’t.” She got to her feet, nodding to Dec. “He got triggered. I was ready to handle it, but thank you for the save. What’s happening? Do we need to get him out of here?”
“I’m not sure.” Dec’s gun came down, but he didn’t relax. “Shane saw someone on the cameras and then the alarms went off. He’s already outside trying to chase down the asshole. PD’s on its way. I think we should meet them in a room that isn’t full of sex toys, and perhaps more clothing would be helpful.”
“Mr. Hunt, I need you to get ready to move.” She shook her head when she realized her SIG was in her damn purse. Shit. What a fucking rookie move.
Dec reached behind him and pulled his backup out of its holster, handing it to her with a frown. “Don’t fucking forget why you’re here ever again, Kay.”
“Hey, don’t you talk to her like that.” Josh stepped in front of her.
But Dec was right. She clicked the safety off. She’d briefly forgotten why she was here, what she was doing. It wasn’t a mistake she intended to make again. “He has every right. I was up here without any way to protect you. Let’s move. We need to get dressed. Mr. Hunt, follow me. Dec, take his six.”
She started out into the house, all intimacy gone.
This was a job and it had started now. There was no going back.
Chapter Five
What the fuck had he done? He forced a T-shirt over his head, glancing back at the big guy with the gun standing in the doorway.
Kayla had run across the hall to the room where he’d placed her luggage. She’d seemed surprised that her suitcase wasn’t in his room, but then he’d been good at disappointing her tonight.
“Could I get a minute alone?” He needed to close the doors and breathe, to bash his fucking head against the wall until the images left his brain and he was fully in the present again.
The minute she’d put him on his belly, he’d been transported. He’d been fourteen again and utterly helpless. Bile had risen to his throat, but it had been a scream that emerged. He’d screamed like he hadn’t been able to back then. He’d screamed and then his hands had been around her delicate throat before he’d even realized where he was.
Declan Burke slowly shook his head, his eyes cold. “Nope. Not until the threat’s past. If you want to change, feel free man. It’s nothing I haven’t seen before.”
Well, hadn’t everyone seen it? He’d done nudity in a couple of movies, so he figured the bodyguard could be speaking quite literally. He shoved his feet into a pair of Ferragamos. The loafers were easy and he didn’t need socks. Between the loafers, his jeans, and a clean T-shirt, he’d be presentable to the police. He glanced in the mirror. He needed a shave, but otherwise he didn’t look like a man who’d recently topped, fucked, and then tried to kill his submissive.
At least someone had turned off the alarm so that sound wasn’t blaring through his head like a hammer.
He could have killed her. One minute he’d been damn near pulsing with pleasure, and it hadn’t merely been about the sex. No. There had been something triumphant about the way she’d responded to him. He’d found himself ready to pull her up into his arms and haul her to his bedroom.
Which was a thing he didn’t do. Ever. Not with a submissive. It was best to keep things with clear boundaries. Sex was for playing. His bedroom was for sleeping and privacy.
Sex was a biological function that kept him sane and somewhat happy when done with the proper attention to detail.
One minute he’d found that perfect balance and the next he’d been ready to snap her neck. He could have done it easily. She was small. Delicate, like a doe.
“You know I saved your dick, right?” Dec said, his eyes staring out into the hallway.
“Excuse me?” His hands were on the dresser, but he turned to look at Dec.
The bodyguard’s cold eyes were steady. If the man’s pulse had gone up a fraction because of the threat, Josh couldn’t tell. “You think I s
aved her when I came into that room, and that’s playing through your head right now. You think you had a freak-out moment and almost killed a woman you have some responsibility for, but the truth is you had a freak-out moment and nearly lost your ability to have children.”
“I was strangling her. I had my hands around her throat.” And he’d been squeezing. He hadn’t seen her at all. He’d seen…he could have killed her. He could have snapped her neck, and then where would they be? She would be dead and he would get a one-way ticket to jail because going to jail would be far better than explaining why he’d attacked the woman he’d recently had sex with.
He pushed off the dresser and made his way into the bathroom, realizing that he would have gone to jail rather than pursuing his other option.
Anything was better than telling someone what had happened to him.
“She was three seconds from shoving your balls through your body and out your damn mouth,” Dec explained, his voice flat. “You see her and you see something sweet and soft, and don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot about Kay that’s soft and sweet. Her heart, for example. She gives too much of a shit if you ask me. That’s probably why she hesitated in the first place. But there’s nothing soft about her physically. You’re feeling guilty, but she can handle you.”
He turned on the hot water in the sink, washing his hands and running it over his face to calm down. “I’m bigger than she is. I know she’s more trained, but she froze. She was shocked.”
“I explained that. She’s a softie at heart. Or she was worried that you would fire her if she was the reason you could no longer reproduce.” Dec glanced down at his phone, easily maneuvering it with the hand not holding the massive gun. “Shane’s got the guy and the cops are here. He says it’s a new crazy. He’s going to take a picture, see if you recognize him.”
“I’ll go out and see if I can ID him.” He wasn’t afraid of some asshole who’d tried to throw a rock through his windows. He also wasn’t stupid. Those windows were hurricane proof, even though they didn’t get storms like that on the West Coast. They were bulletproof. A rock was only going to cause the alarm to go off. Nothing more.