Crusader (Impossible #9)

by Julia Sykes

  “Later, love,” Hugh said sternly. “I want to watch what you can do with a whip.”

  I turned and took the flogger he offered me. I gave it a flick, testing the weight of it. Power flooded me, making me drunk.

  “Watch and learn,” I said huskily.

  Hugh chuckled, and his hand closed around the back of my neck, pulling me up against his hard body. “Cocky. You’ll pay for that, pet.”

  Warmth pulsed at my core in response to his erotic threat. God, I’d missed this. The push and pull. Hugh’s power flowed over me, and I channeled it into my own control over Dex. Layers of desire built upon one another, promising an ecstatic crescendo.

  My chest rose and fell in hungry pants by the time Hugh finally stepped away, releasing me from his power. He nodded toward the flogger that now hung limply at my side.

  “Go on, Mistress,” he ordered, his eyes sparkling.

  A wide, almost silly grin broke out on my face as I turned my attention back to Dex. His sculpted ass was a thing of near-perfection. All it needed was some reddening.

  I swung the flogger in a slow arc, letting the falls slap across his flesh with the first hit. He tensed in surprise, but made no other show that he was affected. He could obviously take a lot more. It crossed my mind that my arm might get tired before I managed to bruise that hunk of muscle, but that wasn’t going to stop me from trying. Dex had asked me to help him feel something, and I fully intended to take care of him.

  I put more power behind the second swing. He rocked forward on his toes, arching away from the hit with a grunt. I hooked my arm around his waist and guided him back into place.

  “Don’t move, or this might land somewhere I don’t want it to,” I warned.

  He nodded stiffly in acknowledgement. Worry teased at the edges of my happiness.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good. It’s just… different.”

  My hand left his waist to check lower down. His stiff cock told me that different wasn’t a bad thing. I gave him an experimental stroke from base to head.

  “No teasing, pet,” Hugh commanded. “Not yet.”

  I withdrew my touch, and Dex let out a small groan of protest that made my pussy tighten.

  “Later,” I whispered in his ear, nipping at his lobe. His powerful body shuddered. My nipples peaked, rubbing against the inside of my bra. I longed for Hugh to pinch and play with them.

  Later, I reminded myself, too.

  I whipped out the flogger, straightening the falls before I set to work. With the ease of long practice, I started up a rapid figure-of-eight pattern, landing twin hits on Dex’s perfect ass with every completed turn. His low hisses at each blow quickly escalated to soft grunts of pain. His fingers curled around the cross, and I knew he was holding in a shout. I wanted that sound of release. I wanted to savor it for myself, but I wanted it for him as well. He needed to let go of all the furious tension he held in his muscles. They bulged and shook as he tried to hold back.

  My arm was beginning to ache, but I increased my tempo and force. Finally, he threw back his head with a rough shout. I gave him two more. He roared out his pain.

  I stopped. Hugh took the flogger from me without a word, knowing what I needed to do.

  Dex’s tanned skin had turned a deep, garnet red. When I tenderly touched him, heat washed over my hand. I rested my cheek against his shoulder as I lightly rubbed his abused flesh. I knew it would be throbbing and stinging like a bitch. The touch would both comfort and torment.

  “How are you?” I asked softly.

  “Good.” He sighed. “Better.”

  “I think you’ve earned a reward,” I said huskily, reaching around him to touch his cock again. I smiled when I found him still hard for me.

  “Let’s get him down,” Hugh prompted. “I’m ready to fuck you, pet.”

  “What do you think?” I mused, fingering the underside of Dex’s dick. “Are you ready to fuck, caveman?”

  “Don’t keep me waiting,” Hugh warned.

  “My Dom is very impatient,” I whispered conspiratorially. “We’d better get you down.”

  Dex let out a low curse when I took my hand off him again. I grinned evilly, loving the power I held over him. It only took me a few seconds to unclip his cuffs from the cross and lead him over to the massive bed. It was built for bondage, so it wasn’t difficult to secure Dex’s cuffs to the iron bedposts at either side of the headboard. He went easily, his eyes glassy with lust and the endorphin high that came along with a good flogging.

  As soon as he was tied down, Hugh grabbed me and pulled me in for a fierce kiss. His mouth devoured mine, and his hands jerked at my clothes. He tugged my sweater over my head and deftly unzipped my jeans. I returned the favor, tearing at his shirt in an effort to undo the buttons faster. We undressed one another in a frenzy, never breaking our kiss. His hands cupped my ass, pulling my naked body up against his erection.

  “You’re gorgeous when you’re topping, love,” he said across my lips. “But now you’re all mine.”

  “Am I?” I challenged breathily, still high from whipping Dex.

  His fingers bit into my ass cheeks. “Oh yes, pet. You’re going to do as I say.”

  “I don’t know about that.” I tried to sound flippant.

  “Well, I do. You’re going to get on your hands and knees and suck his cock. When I feel like you’ve earned it, I’ll fuck your pretty pussy. The longer you wait to comply, the longer your spanking will go on.”

  “What spanking?”

  “The one I’m about to give you so you’ll be screaming around his dick. I think he’s earned that.”

  He gave me one hard smack and then released me. I hesitated, but his eyes hardened. My body moved to comply before I thought, and I found myself on my knees between Dex’s thighs. Hugh’s palm settled between my shoulder blades, pushing me until my hands came down on either side of Dex’s hips for balance.

  “I already saw how skilled you are with a flogger,” he told me. “Now I want to see how good you are at sucking cock.”

  He wanted me to show off? Oh, I was good at showing off. My eyes found his, and I lowered my mouth to Dex. I traced the length of his dick with my tongue, never breaking eye contact with Hugh as I took the head into my mouth and swirled my tongue around it. Dex groaned and lifted his hips. I pulled back with a teasing smile.

  Hugh’s hand cracked across my thigh, and I let out a surprised squeak.

  “Cocky,” he accused. “Don’t tease the man.”

  “Yeah, don’t tease,” Dex huffed.

  I turned my gaze on him. “Don’t get all Domly on me,” I said, cupping his balls gently. “I’m still your Top. I warned you once about sassing me.”

  He pressed his lips together in a show of compliance. I gave him a sharp smile. Hugh’s fingers twined in my hair, tugging my attention back to him.

  “It’s time for you to stop talking, pet. I gave you your orders.” His hand came down on my other thigh hard enough to make me cry out. He grinned. “Yes, like that, but with his dick in your mouth.”

  “Don’t you dare bite down,” Dex ground out.

  I swatted his inner thigh. “I know what I’m doing,” I informed him over his shocked shout. “Stop trying to top me.”

  Something cold squirted onto my asshole, and I squealed. “Hey!” I looked around to find an all-too-pleased Hugh rubbing lube around my back entrance. Without invitation, he eased his thumb inside. I gasped and went utterly still. He spanked me once more.

  “That got your attention,” he remarked. He pumped his thumb in and out. I whimpered. Anal play always had this effect on me. It brought out my submissive side fast and hard. No one had touched me there in years.

  “Wait!” I cried. “I don’t know if I’m ready…” I trailed off on a moan when his long index finger replaced his thumb in a slow slide.

  “Look how wet you’re getting,” he said with heat, staring in fascination at my pussy. “I should have tried this a long ti
me ago.” He pulled out and teased around my hole. I whined and pushed back against him, my body craving more. I had forgotten how sinfully blissful this darkest pleasure could be.

  He stared at me, and then a slow smile spread across his face as he realized the new power he held over me. The sight of his smug satisfaction only got me hotter.

  “Be a good girl and suck his cock, and I’ll play with your ass more,” he told me with a savage grin. He already knew I would comply.

  I dipped my head toward Dex’s cock and took him into my mouth, wrapping my lips around him and sliding all the way down until he hit the back of my throat. I swallowed and took him deeper.

  Dex groaned.

  Hugh’s forefinger penetrated me again, and I arched back into him, silently begging for more. He laughed in delight. The arrogant sound combined with the feel of him invading my ass to turn brain to mush. My tongue began to dance hungrily around Dex’s cock as I continued to move my mouth over him. Hugh’s hand stung my flesh as he spanked me, but the heat only added to my desire. I clenched around him as pleasure rolled through me.

  “Are you going to come?” Hugh asked, incredulous. I released an unintelligible sound around Dex’s dick, but Hugh seemed to understand. He pumped faster, and his other hand stopped spanking me to touch my swollen clit. Ecstasy shot through me, and my entire body shuddered.

  His delighted laugh rippled across my skin, heightening my pleasure.

  “Stop,” he ordered. “I don’t want Dex to come just yet.”

  Dex snarled, but I did as my Dom commanded. He pressed a condom into my hand.

  “Put it on him and climb on.”

  My fingers trembled with residual bliss, but I managed to roll the condom onto Dex’s hard length. I repositioned my knees on either side of his hips and lowered myself onto him. He stretched and filled me, and even though I knew what Hugh planned, I wasn’t at all sure it would be possible. The two men were surely far too big for me to take at the same time.

  Hugh’s hands closed around my hips, guiding me to bend forward so my asshole was offered up to him. I barely breathed when he pressed against my tight entrance. He spanked my sore thigh.

  “Relax. Let me in.”

  I took a breath and let it out slowly, forcing my tense body to accommodate him. He pushed in, his cockhead breaching me. I tried to pull away. It was too much.

  “Am I hurting you, love?” he asked, his voice rough with restraint.

  “No,” I panted. “It’s just… I don’t know if I can take it. It feels too good.”

  “You can take us,” he told me, resuming his progress. “You’ll do it because I’m ordering you to. And you’ll do as you’re told, won’t you pet?”

  “Yes!” I shouted as his cock popped past my tight ring of muscles.

  “Such a good girl,” he praised, nuzzling my neck. He bit down on my shoulder, holding me in place as he continued pressing forward, entering me in a slow slide. My hands scrabbled against the sheets, searching for purchase.

  “Hold on to me, Clara,” Dex urged, his deep voice grounding me.

  My palms pressed against his where they were bound above his head, and our fingers twined together.

  Then Hugh pumped his hips, and I was lost. The world fell away around me, and there was only the overwhelming sensation of the two of them inside me, stimulating me in every way possible. Hugh’s hold on my waist allowed him to guide my body to fuck them in the way he wanted. His cock penetrated my sensitive ass while Dex’s rubbed against my g-spot. I came apart with a scream, but they didn’t stop. Hugh continued to move my hips against theirs, continued to thrust into me while my pussy clenched around Dex. Everything turned hazy and beautiful, as though the world had been repainted in soft focus. Harsh breaths, sharp cries; all sound receded to a blissful hum. My pleasure sang through my veins, and I hovered at the peak of ecstasy for an interminable time. Just when I thought I might drop back down, another thrust sent me straight back up.

  Dex broke first, coming with an almost pained howl. Seconds later, Hugh released as well, his fingers curling into my hips as he shouted out his pleasure.

  When he had ridden out the last of his orgasm, Hugh carefully withdrew from me and guided my limp body up off Dex as well. He laid me down gently so I was resting on top of my caveman, and he unbuckled Dex’s cuffs.

  My friend rubbed his wrists, then shifted me off him and sat up.

  “Where are you going?” I slurred.

  “It’s time for aftercare,” he said. “I’ll leave you two to it.”

  I snagged his arm and pulled him back down. His legs were shaky enough that it actually worked, and his ass hit the mattress with a soft thud.

  “You get aftercare too, dummy,” I told him.

  He stiffened. “I’d rather not.”

  “I don’t care what you’d rather. I’m your Top, and I say you need a hug.”

  He snatched his hand away from mine with a glare. “You’re not my Domme. Our scene is over. I’m leaving now. I’ll meet up with you two at the safe house later.”

  “Dex, wait.”

  Hugh pulled me back into his arms. “Let him go, love,” he said. “This has nothing to do with you. It was one of his conditions. No aftercare.”

  “You mean no intimacy,” I said. “Dex, we’re friends. You don’t have to worry about being vulnerable around me. Hell, after what we just did-”

  “Goodbye, Clara,” he barked and stormed out of the dungeon.

  I blinked back tears. Now I was feeling vulnerable.

  “Hey,” Hugh said softly. “It’s okay. There’s no need to be upset.”

  “I know.” I hastily wiped at my eyes. “I’m just emotional because of the scene. That was really intense.”

  He chuckled, and the sound warmed away the chill Dex had left in the air. “That’s one word for it. You are a magnificent Top, pet.”

  “You’re not so bad yourself,” I teased.

  “I bet you’d be more polite if I plugged your arse.”

  I sighed. “You figured that out, huh?”

  “It wasn’t exactly difficult. Your entire body softened the second I started fingering you.” He grinned in triumph. “Now I know what to do when you’re misbehaving.”

  “I guess I’ll just have to be good from now on.”

  His brows rose. “I don’t think you’re capable of being good for very long.” He leaned in and nibbled at my ear. “But that’s what I like about you. I’ll never get bored.”

  He kissed me tenderly, and I kissed him back. In my blissed-out state, it didn’t even register that he was talking as though we might spend forever together.

  Chapter 17

  Two more days passed with no new leads. I might have gone crazy if Hugh hadn’t kept me thoroughly distracted. Every time I started to get antsy, the Dom would give me something else to occupy my thoughts. And that something else usually involved his cock. When I was with him, I was happy. Just a week earlier, I wouldn’t have thought it was possible for me to feel that kind of blissful peace.

  My relationship with Dex, however, wasn’t nearly so blissful. He hadn’t been quite the same since our threesome. It made my heart hurt to see him so closed-off. I knew his new cold demeanor simply masked a deeper pain.

  Hugh and I stepped out of the bedroom, and Dex stiffened when I approached him in the living room. He had been doing that every time I neared him.

  “Dex,” I began carefully. “Please talk to me.”

  “I was just about to call for you,” he said before I could get started. “Sam has a lead for us.”

  Excitement buzzed through me, making me forget my concern over the damage I might have done to our relationship.

  “What did she find?”

  “Let me get her on speakerphone. We can all talk to her.” He was already dialing.

  Finlay waved us over to where he sat at the breakfast table. Dex remained standing, but he set the phone down in the center of the table. I pushed my worry for him to the backgr
ound of my mind and settled down in a chair. Hugh followed me.

  Dex’s cell didn’t have time to ring twice before a feminine voice answered.

  “Hi, handsome. This is your genius-on-call. How can I help you?” she asked with exaggerated brightness.

  “Sam. You’re on speakerphone.”

  There was an embarrassed pause. “Oh. Hi, MI5 people! And Clara. You’re there too, right? Of course you are. Why wouldn’t you be?” She babbled to cover her awkwardness.

  “Yeah, I’m here,” I said. “Nice to finally talk to you, Sam. Dex said you found us a lead.”

  “Indeed I did. Your creepy Russian dudes are camping out in Chobham. It’s a village in Surrey, about a forty-five minute drive outside London.”

  “Great. What’s the address?” I stood, ready to act. Hugh grasped my arm, tugging me back down into my seat.

  “Hold on a tic,” he interrupted. “How do you know this?”

  “Oh, I just ran my facial recognition program through the CCTV network. It took a while because I didn’t have a starting point and I had to work my way out from the city center – there wasn’t anything in central London. That Dimitri is sexy and smart.”

  “He’s not sexy,” I said angrily. “He’s a sick bastard.”

  “Whoa. Okay, sorry. I’ve just seen pictures, and hottie!” She cleared her throat. “But an evil hottie. Right. Totally bad. We hate him, obviously.”

  “Sam,” Dex prompted sternly.

  “Back to business,” she chattered on. “Cool. Thanks. So this big baddie is pretty smart, as I was saying. I can’t get him on camera anywhere. It’s like he’s in a permanent blind spot. Or the blind spots follow him, really. Anyway, like I was saying. I caught one of his men on a networked camera at a gas station in Chobham. I tagged his car, and it turned out it was stolen. Well, it didn’t pop up as stolen, but I’m pretty sure this guy isn’t a forty-eight year old woman who’s had too many Botox treatments. It looks like he lifted the car from Heathrow airport. No one would have even missed it until Mrs. Baxter comes back from Majorca in ten days.”

  “Focus, Sam,” Dex directed, using his Dom voice.