by Lea Bronsen
The pressure on her arm increased, but his words had their own effect. Her chest tightened, and a ball of heat unfurled in her stomach, spiraling outward until her whole body bathed in its warmth. Her cheeks flushed when she realized he’d notice the uptick in her pulse.
Mark released the tiny metal valve and the compression on her arm slowly decreased. He watched the gauge. “You were the only one who ever tested my resolve to avoid relationships with students. The only one I imagined bending over the arm of the sofa in my office.” He nodded at the dial before removing the stethoscope from his ears. “Anyway. I saw you on campus last month and the light in those beautiful blue eyes was gone. Instead, dark circles sat beneath them. You were” —his expression clouded— “are a specter, just a skeleton of who you were. You reminded me so much of my sister. And I admit, it terrified me.” He removed the cuff from her arm and returned it to the bag along with the stethoscope. “One sixteen over sixty. About perfect.” He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. They still churned like a brewing storm.
Terrified?
Lexi swallowed the lump in her throat. “Your sister?”
“Yes. The light in her eyes died, too. About two months before she did. She was twenty when she overdosed. I was only twelve. Too young to understand what really happened to her. Why she changed so much when she went away to school. Why she withdrew from us. From me.” He took Lexi’s hand in his. “The moment I saw you in the campus center, I knew I had to do something. I wasn’t prepared to watch drugs destroy someone I care for again. Not when I actually had the power to help this time.”
Holy fuck. He really was Superman.
And he thinks of me like a sister.
But he’d said he was attracted to her earlier. Confusion muddled her thoughts.
Past tense. Before the pills destroyed her.
“So you kidnapped me just to save me from ending up like your sister?” It explained why he hadn’t screwed her earlier, but didn’t explain the teasing…the exquisite torture. “Then what was this morning about?”
Mark released her hand and got up from the bed. He pointed at the tray. “You need to eat your breakfast before it gets any colder.” He faced her. “This morning was about therapy, just like I said. About you and only you, and showing you new ways to find the highs your body has grown accustomed to. It had nothing at all to do with my needs, or how badly I wanted to bury my cock in that delectable pussy of yours. And trust me, sweet Alexis, that is exactly what I wanted to do.”
Lexi gaped at him, mesmerized, his words setting loose a swarm of butterflies in her stomach. She marveled at how they managed to survive the inferno blazing in her core, swallowed her fear, and met his gaze. “I’m not sure I believe you.” She got to her feet and stepped closer, lifting her chin to keep eye contact. Her next words were barely more than a whisper. “Prove it.”
He startled her with the force he used to pull her to him, but his low growl urged her on. She slipped her arms around his neck and her mouth sought his, her lips challenging him to deny her.
It seemed he had no intention of doing so. Vicelike hands wrapped around her wrists and jerked, drawing Lexi’s arms down and pinning them behind her back. His sharp white teeth bit down on her lower lip, eliciting a squeal.
He trailed hot kisses down the side of her neck.
Lexi let her head fall back, giving him full access to her throat. Her fingers curled to fists and her nails dug into her palms, useless, frustrated in their need to touch.
With a groan and a suddenness that startled her, Mark released his hold, spun around and stalked from the room without uttering a single word, slamming the door so hard the walls shook. The click of a lock followed.
Lexi slumped down onto the bed, breath coming in gasps. Her lips tingled where’d he’d ravaged them. She let out a deep sigh. “That went well.”
* * * *
The day ticked by in agonizingly slow minutes. Mark didn’t return to remove the breakfast tray Lexi had long since occupied with emptying. Anything to keep her from obsessing over the cause of his hasty departure. If he wanted her as badly as he professed, why didn’t he take what she had so obviously offered?
She forced her idle fingers to stop picking at the mattress and cast a quick glance at the ever-watchful camera in the corner. Was he watching? Did he enjoy toying with her?
Over the course of the past hour, the dull ache in her head had returned, and the room’s temperature seemed to have increased at least ten degrees. A beaded line of sweat insisted on returning to her upper lip each time she swiped it away.
She glanced at the door. He would have to come with her methadone soon. Wouldn’t he? Maybe he would punish her by withholding the medication she needed. Let her feel the full effects of withdrawal to keep her beholden to him. Was that his end game? To make her dependent on him for relief?
No. She reminded him of his sister. He’d said as much. From what she knew of Professor Foster, he’d not make her suffer needlessly.
The longer the door separating them remained intact, the less confident Lexi became with that assessment of her situation. She glared at the camera, annoyed with his game. Her skull pounded in time with her pulse.
Before Lexi could unload her opinions on the unsuspecting mechanical voyeur in the corner, the door to her prison unlocked and swung wide.
Mark swept inside, all smiles, another tray in his hands. “Time for your next dose.” He looked her over from toe to tip. “How are you feeling? Any symptoms?”
The concern in his tone took the edge from Lexi’s anger. “Headache for sure. And either I’m having a hot flash, or this room is about eighty degrees right now.”
His chuckle sparked a fire in her belly. “Not bad as withdrawal goes.” He set the tray down and withdrew the methadone from his pocket. “We’ll stick with the same dosage as yesterday. Do you want some ibuprofen for the headache?”
She shook her head and grabbed the water from the tray. “I’m okay. Thanks.” She scooped the pill from his palm and tossed it back, washing it down with a long gulp of water. Lexi returned the glass to its place on the tray. “About earlier…” She pivoted toward Mark.
“I owe you an apology,” he said, his expression blank. “I shouldn’t have lost control the way I did. Lost focus. I’m sorry.”
Lost focus? She frowned.
He’s sorry he kissed you. The knife of reality slashed at her insides. “Oh, uhm, apology accepted, I guess.” She glanced at the floor. “But I don’t really understand what you are apologizing for. I was glad you lost control, or whatever you want to call what happened.” She forced herself to look at him. “I liked kissing you. And…” Her voice trailed off and heat flamed her cheeks.
“And?” he asked, his voice soft, like a gentle caress.
“And…” She wasn’t sure what had transpired between them earlier. “My therapy.” Her heart thudded against her rib cage, threatening to expose her need for him. “Even though I’m not entirely sure what it was supposed to teach me.”
Mark grinned, awarding her with the briefest glimpse of his delicious dimples. “Ever the blunt one. I’ve always like that about you. I’m glad to know you enjoyed yourself, although your orgasm sort of gave you away there.”
The fire returned to her cheeks. “Funny.”
“In all seriousness, I explained the point of the session this morning, and what it was meant to show you.” He tilted his head and a smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “What still has you confused, sweet Alexis?”
“That’s all it was then, really? Just therapy? Clinical, emotionless, and detached therapy.” She sighed. “It didn’t feel like any therapy I’ve ever had before.”
“I can understand that. It’s not like you’ll find any studies on using the Dom sub lifestyle in addiction recovery.” He pushed his hands into his pockets, appeared pensive. ”For this to work, I have to remain detached. Clinical, as you call it. It’s important our time together is focused on your recovery
, and teaching you new ways to cope with stressors.”
She swallowed hard. “You stress me.” She waved an arm and gave her leg a wiggle, bringing the chain to life. “This stresses me. What happened this morning was anything but stressful. Quite the opposite in fact.”
His smiled warmed her. “That’s good. Your body will learn to crave those sensations as much as it does your Vicodin.” He stepped closer, his overwhelming presence stealing the air from her lungs. She had nowhere to go, her back pressed against the dresser. He reached up and brushed a lock of hair from her face.
She sighed. “I crave you.” Her gaze dropped from his. “I…really thought you wanted me, too.”
He grabbed hold of her arms as a growl rumbled from him. “You just don’t get it. Do you?”
She hesitated, fear and excitement churning her insides. “No, I guess not. Make me understand.” Lexi wasn’t sure she was truly ready for what she asked for, but she didn’t care. She wanted him.
He released her abruptly and stepped back. “Obviously, we are not going to be able to move forward until we put this point to rest.” He inclined his head toward the bed. “Get over there. Hands on the bed and spread your feet.”
Breathless, Lexi did as told. Her palms pressed into the mattress. She moved her feet wider apart.
The sound of his zipper echoed in her skull, followed quickly by a condom wrapper being torn. His warm hands caressed her hips, and she moaned in anxious anticipation.
“It’s time we put the whole desire debate to rest once and for all.” Mark stepped closer, his hard cock pressing against her wet opening. Without further fanfare, he drove himself deep inside her. His fingers sunk into the soft flesh of her hips, holding her in place. He didn’t withdraw, but remained buried inside as he bent over her back. His heated breath caressed her nape. “Don’t for one second doubt my desire for you.” His hips rolled against hers, fanning the flames of her need. He pulled his hips away, stopping just short of a full withdrawal. “Ever.” He slammed back against her ass, earning a whimper of sheer pleasure from her. “You’re mine.”
She arched her back, giving him better access to her already throbbing center. “Oh, yes, Mark, yes. All yours.”
His hips pumped against hers while his hands found her breasts. He kneaded the tender flesh, and pinched the tight nipples, driving into her again and again, setting Lexi’s entire body aflame. He drew her up against his hard chest, palms molding and teasing her tender flesh while he plunged into her at a faster pace. His heated exhales kissed her shoulder, driving her wild with desire.
Her pussy throbbed and pulsed in time with his thrusts. “Oh, yes, please.” Her thigh muscles quivered. “Please can I come?”
His grip on her breasts tightened and his pace quickened. “With me, sweet Alexis, with me.” His voice arrived thick with desire, sending Lexi into a swirling chasm of bliss. Her nails dug into the flesh of his hips as he held her in place and drove into her again and again. “Now, baby girl,” he cried out, pumping his throbbing shaft into her. He growled his climax into her hair.
The blinding white light of orgasm overtook her, sending Lexi over the chasm behind him. Her pussy contracted around his throbbing cock as she spun out of control, blind to everything but the soaring pleasure electrifying every beat of her racing heart.
With one last thrust, Mark bent her over the mattress once more and released his tight grip on her breasts. His fingertips slowly traced along the sides of her waist to her hips as he withdrew from her. “So beautiful…so hard to resist.” He sighed and stepped back. “Now stop fucking around and eat your lunch, Alexis.”
Without another word, he pulled up his pants, fastened his belt, and left the room. His departure was followed, as usual, by the sound of the door lock clicking into place.
Lexi ate her lunch, not tasting any of it. She was too preoccupied with what had just occurred to care. When she’d finished everything on the tray, she settled on the bed and stared a hole into the ceiling.
Her body ached from the vigor of Mark’s not so gentle fucking, a constant reminder of his proven desire for her. But why had he left so abruptly? Was he angry with her? Or with himself for wanting her?
The more she tried to untangle her thoughts, the more jumbled they became. Finally, she gave up, and turned her concentration to the tranquility swimming through her limbs. Contentment washed over her as she recalled his soft words as he’d driven inside her, making it impossible for her to deny their truth, even if she’d wanted to.
You’re mine.
* * * *
Lexi woke and stretched languidly, not quite willing to emerge from the bliss bubble the dreams of Mark’s strong arms had offered. She sat up and tried to determine how long she’d dozed. Without windows, her small prison made it impossible to mark the passage of time. She could have slept fifteen minutes or fifteen hours. Improbable, since Mark hadn’t yet returned to collect the meal trays. Had he?
She glanced at the dresser. The empty trays were gone, and a pile of folded clothing sat in their place.
Lexi glanced at the camera perched in the corner. He must have taken them away while she slept. She pushed up from the bed and crossed to the dresser.
Sitting atop the clothing—her clothing, was a folded piece of paper.
Lexi snatched it up and unfolded it.
Get dressed. Meet me upstairs.
~M
The clouds of confusion returned. Lexi put on her clothes and headed for the door. Hesitantly, she tried the knob. The door popped open.
She eyed the opening, her teeth worrying her lower lip. Was this some kind of test? More odd therapy?
Determined to find out, Lexi dressed in a hurry and ran nervous fingers through her sleep tangled hair. She cast a quick glance at the camera perched in the corner and took a deep breath. “Ready or not, here I come.” She squared her shoulders and went in search of Mark.
Finding the stairs leading up from the basement was easy, but when she pushed through the door at the top, Lexi glanced around, unsure. Which way to go?
She’d emerged through a door at the back of a massive, well appointed country kitchen, but a long hallway stretched to the right, a closed door waited to the left, and across from her, an archway led to what appeared to be a formal dining room.
Mark’s brief note didn’t tell her where to find him and the idea of wandering aimlessly about his home held no appeal.
“Hello?” she called out, taking a few tentative steps into the kitchen.
“In the library.” Mark’s reply floated to her from the corridor on her right.
The coolness of his tone sent a shiver of apprehension down her spine. Why did he seem angry? What had she done wrong?
She scoffed at the thought. Because she allowed herself to be captured? Let him tease and torment her. Fuck her.
Oh, the horror.
If anyone should be angry about anything, it was her.
With defiance blooming in her chest, Lexi headed in the direction his voice. She found him behind the third open doorway on the left, sitting at a large mahogany desk, surrounded by shelves upon shelves of books, his hands folded on the desk’s smooth, surface.
“Come in.” Mark indicated the empty chair across from him. “Make yourself comfortable.”
Her apprehension spiked as Lexi stepped into the library and planted herself in the seat. She glanced at his intertwined fingers, and thoughts of how his hands felt on her flesh swarmed her mind. Her gaze shot to the shelves behind him, to the watercolor painting on the wall behind him. Safe places to look. Unlike the stormy, intense eyes that seemed to be able to see her very soul. She gnawed at the inside of her cheek.
“I guess you’re probably wondering why I’ve allowed you out of your room,” Mark began.
The corner of her mouth quirked. “The thought crossed my mind.”
He leaned back in his seat, his expression unreadable. “I made a mistake bringing you here the way I did, Alexis, and I’ve decided i
t is best if I allow you to leave.”
Lexi frowned. She should be thrilled to hear of her impending freedom, but she wasn’t. Not at all. Despite the odd circumstances that brought her here, she genuinely enjoyed Mark’s company, and wasn’t ready for their time to end. She liked that he seemed to give a shit about what she’d been doing, and wanted to help cure her of an addiction she knew she had no chance of beating on her own. Then, there was the sex. Her body warmed, driving home the sense of loss growing within her chest. “Why the sudden change of heart? I don’t understand. Did I do something wrong?”
Mark awarded her with a paternal smile, one reserved for a pouting child. “No, not at all. In fact, it’s me. I did something wrong. Something I promised myself I wouldn’t do even before I brought you here.”
She still didn’t understand and opened her mouth to say so, but the words stalled in her throat as lifted a delaying hand.
“Let me explain. I will answer any questions you have once I’ve done so, I swear.”
Lexi clamped her jaw shut and nodded.
His slight smirk revealed the elusive, heart stopping dimple. “Thank you.” He took a deep breath, expanding his already broad chest to distracting proportions.
“You know by now that I brought you here to help, and, that is and always will be, the complete truth. My intentions were infinitely more honorable than my methods, granted, but I have always had your best interests at heart.”
“Yes.” She kept her response to one word, her curiosity almost overwhelming.
“Before I made the decision to take you, I promised myself I would remain clinical in my approach to you. That despite my unorthodox therapies, and my admitted desire, I would keep myself distant, and not allow my needs to factor into our interactions. In that effort, I have failed miserably.”
“Bu—”
“Let me finish.” Mark admonished.
“Sorry.”
“What happened this morning was a big wake up for me. And a humbling one. No matter how much you asked for it and how much you wanted it.” His gaze took on a devilish glint. “Wanted me. I never should have lost control like that. I gave in to my own desires and forgot what we’re both here for. I forgot all of this is about, and for you. Or maybe I just didn’t care. Either way, I’ve lost my objectivity when it comes to you, Alexis, and I’ve come to the realization that not only do I have no desire to remain detached and clinical with you, I am fairly certain it would be impossible to do so after...” He hesitated, and for the first time since she met Professor Foster in her Western Civilization class freshman year, he appeared unsure of himself. “After I experienced the mindless bliss associated with your pussy contracting around my cock.”