by Lili Valente
She looked so beautiful with her hair up, her neck long and graceful. He could amuse himself for at least half an hour just letting his lips play up and down that smooth column of soft flesh.
“There’s a woman selling gear at one of the tables in the corner.” Erin angled her body closer to his, the tips of her breasts brushing against his arm as he ordered them each a snifter of brandy. “I could follow you around on my hands and knees if you’d prefer.”
“I don’t need a collar to feel in control.” Blake glanced down at her, catching the faintest glimpse of her berry-colored nipples through the white fabric of her lacy top.
It had been driving him wild since the second she stepped out of the bathroom and every male jaw in the hotel room had dropped to the floor. Even Rafe, who had done his best to make his dislike for Erin known, had gotten that wolfish look in his eyes. Like he wanted to pounce on Erin and devour her whole.
It had been all Blake could do to keep from teaching them all a lesson about where to keep their eyes when it came to Erin—on her face, nowhere else. Friends or not, he couldn’t stand to see anyone else look at her with desire.
She was his, and no other man should touch her, not even with their eyes.
No, she’s not yours, asshole. She deserves a better man and you’re going to make sure she’s free to find him, remember?
Blake paid the bartender and took a deep pull on his brandy, wincing as the liquid burned a trail down his throat.
He’d seen the way Erin had been looking at him since they’d returned to L.A. She wanted to pick up where they’d left off at the cabin. He did, too, but it wasn’t what was best for either of them. He needed to get his head on straight and she needed the chance to meet a man who wouldn’t do crazy things like kidnap her and try to tattoo her against her will.
He and Erin couldn’t have that second chance he craved with every cell in his body. But they could have tonight.
One last night to last a lifetime.
“All right. But it looks like she’s selling whips, too.” Erin sipped her drink as she traced a trail from his stomach to his chest with her fingertips, making him shiver. Even through the thick leather of his sleeveless shirt, he could feel the heat of her touch. “Are you going to spank me in front of everyone? Is that why the legs on these shorts are so loose?”
“Maybe.” Blake’s hand tightened reflexively on Erin’s hip. He wanted nothing more than to find a bench and make her fantasy a reality, but they needed to take stock of their surroundings before they chose a place to play.
His next words were softer than a whisper. “Do you see him anywhere?”
Erin’s wicked smile faltered. “No. Not in here. But he might be in one of the playrooms.”
“Then let’s take a tour.” Blake tossed back the last of his drink and put a hand on the small of Erin’s back, leading her into the room on their right.
Eyes followed them as they walked, but he wasn’t surprised. Erin was easily the most gorgeous woman in the room, and he wasn’t ignorant of the effect his own imposing bulk had on the average submissive. Together, they were the poster children for every BDSM fantasy—the delicate sub and the large muscled Dom.
They were going to have their share of observers once they settled in to play; there was no doubt about that. It wasn’t the way Blake would have preferred to spend their last night together, but drawing attention was what they were trying to do tonight. If every tongue in the club was wagging about the new kids in town, there was no way Erin’s husband could miss them.
“He’s not here,” she whispered.
It wasn’t a big surprise—there were only four couples active in the large playroom at the moment—but Blake still felt his spirits sink.
What if Scott had decided not to come? Blake wasn’t in any hurry to see the sociopath who’d made Erin’s life a living hell, but after all their planning, it would be infuriating if Scott didn’t show. And Erin would be devastated. She was so thrilled by the thought of seeing her daughter again.
Blake was excited, too. He couldn’t wait to meet the little blonde, brown-eyed girl he’d seen in Erin’s pictures. Abby was the spitting image of her mom, a fact that made him love her before he’d even met her.
Fuck…he was hopeless where this woman was concerned. And probably the world’s sappiest Dom. If Erin knew half the thoughts running through his head, his “big and bad” rep would be out the window in seconds.
“Nope, no Scott, but I like that big bench in the corner.” She ran her tongue lightly over her lips. “I mean really, really like it.”
“It’s called a Black Stallion,” Blake said, letting his hand wander down to cup Erin’s ass through the soft satin of her shorts as he leaned down to murmur his next words into her ear. “They’re made to support a lot of weight. I could position you at one end, spank you until your pussy is dripping down your thighs, and then climb up and fuck you from behind. It would support both of us.”
Erin’s breath came faster, her breasts rising and falling in a way that made Blake ache to get her tits in his mouth. “You think the boys in the van heard that?”
“No. I haven’t switched the mics on yet. The power switch is built into my watch.” His fingers teased under the hem of her shorts, tracing the curve of her ass, making her shiver. “I don’t want any of them hearing or seeing anything but what they need to hear and see. Tonight, you’re mine.”
“Yes.” Her eyes slid closed and her lips parted, an invitation Blake couldn’t resist.
He captured her mouth with his, slipping his tongue between her lips, tasting the brandy she’d sipped and a sweeter, spicier taste that was pure Erin. As his tongue sparred with hers in an erotic dance, his fingers dipped between her legs. Pulling the scrap of fabric masquerading as her panties aside, he plunged first one finger and then a second into the molten heat of her pussy.
“God, you’re so wet already, Erin,” he said, his own breath coming faster.
“Wet and ready,” she whispered, contracting her inner muscles until they gripped his fingers. “And dying to get fucked.”
Blake kissed her again, moaning against her lips as his cock thickened within the tight confines of his leather pants.
God. Damn. How had he managed to go nearly three days without touching her? How had he resisted the overwhelming need to get his fingers, his mouth, his cock inside her sweet little pussy?
“Are you going to fuck me, Blake?” she asked, her breath coming faster as her hands molded to his chest. “Are you going to take me in front of all these people? Show them I’m yours?”
“We agreed, no penetrative sex, Erin. I’m not going to change my mind about that. But I will make sure you’re satisfied.” His drove his fingers in and out of her pussy one last time, making her eyelids flutter and her breath rush out on a moan. “But only if you’re good.”
Erin moaned as he pulled his hand from between her legs and brought his fingers to his lips. Holding her eyes, he sucked the two that had been inside her into his mouth, licking the taste of her from his skin.
Erin’s nipples tightened until they poked through the thin fabric of her top. “Want me to show you how good I can be?” She licked her lips again, making it impossible not to think of that night at the cabin, when she’d sucked him off like she couldn’t get enough of his cock.
“Soon. But not yet.” With no small degree of effort, Blake forced his mind back to the business at hand. “Let’s check out the other room,” he said, running his knuckles over her nipples through the gauzy material as he spoke. “Then we’ll find a place to play for a while.”
“Yes, sir.” Erin’s words were perfectly submissive, but the look she cast up at him through her lashes was tinged with defiance. That look made it clear she wanted more out of tonight than a confrontation with her ex, that she wanted Blake to stake a claim.
He turned back to her, nearly encircling her narrow waist with his hands and squeezing. “I’m going to spank you, Erin. And bind y
ou and make you scream my name when you come while these people watch. Don’t doubt that for a minute.”
Erin’s hands drifted up to cling to his biceps, but he stopped her with a word. “Hands at your sides. Keep your hands to yourself until I tell you otherwise. Show me you can be patient.”
“You know patience isn’t one of my virtues.” She narrowed her eyes, clearly not thrilled with the idea of waiting much longer.
“Give me another look like that one and you’ll be punished.”
“How would you punish me?” she asked, the arousal in her voice enough to make his cock twitch. She knew how to play him, how to dance the edge between obedience and defiance, ramping up his own desire.
“I think nipple torture would be most fitting,” he said, smoothing his hands up to capture her tits in his palms. He pinched her nipples between his fingers as he continued to speak in the same low, soothing voice. “First I’ll touch you like this until you squirm and your pussy drenches those little panties.”
Erin sucked in a ragged breath but didn’t say a word.
“Then, I’d find some nipple clamps. Or, in a classy joint like this, they might have dual electrode attachments for breast play. Have you ever had electricity shooting across your nipples, Erin?”
“I heard that could be dangerous. That it could cause a heart attack,” she said, her hands fisting at her sides as she fought to hold still despite the fact that he’d intensified his attention to her nipples, rolling them in firm circles.
“Above-the-waist electrical play can be completely safe. As long as you know how to do it the right way.”
“And I bet you know how to do it the right way, don’t you?” Erin’s words ended in a gasp as he pinched her nipples—hard—one last time and then pulled away.
“Of course I do.” He smiled down at her, knowing he was walking a dangerous line by demanding a true power exchange from Erin.
It might be their last night together, but they had to make their relationship look like the real thing. But even if they weren’t undercover, he couldn’t seem to treat Erin any other way. He wanted to treat her the way he would if she were really his submissive, his girl, and they were learning how to be a Dom-sub couple for life.
The thought filled him with a longing so fierce he felt like a jolt of electricity had surged into his heart.
“Let’s check out the other room.” He took her hand in his and walked toward the hall connecting the two playrooms.
The passageway was constructed so it appeared to be carved through solid rock and took patrons behind the waterfall located in the main lounge. There were several nooks and crannies along the way, perfect for a couple looking to hide in the shadows, but he and Erin were the only ones in the darkened tunnel.
It was only nine thirty and most of the clientele still seemed to be in the drinking, snacking, and chatting phase. If Under My Thumb were anything like other clubs he’d been to, the real action wouldn’t start up until closer to midnight.
“Look, the backside of water,” Erin said, laughing softly. “I always wondered what that looked like.”
“You’re the goofiest sex symbol I’ve ever met.” Blake smiled at her over his shoulder.
“I know.” She laughed again as she turned back to look at the waterfall. “My jokes are horrible, I just can’t…” She trailed off, her hand going slack in his, and the stricken look on her face making his heart race.
“What’s wrong?” Blake pulled her close, senses on high alert. There was little doubt who had inspired the fear and anxiety in Erin’s eyes. “It’s him, isn’t it?”
“Yes. He’s sitting at the bar.” Her voice was little more than a whisper.
She suddenly sounded so much younger and more unsure than the Erin who had sassed him in the other room or joked with him a few seconds ago.
And the bastard in the other room was responsible. He was the one who had done his best to break her spirit and it made Blake wish more than ever that he could get away with breaking the other man’s face.
CHAPTER NINE
Blake
Blake moved behind Erin, banding his arms around her as he pulled her back against his front. He dropped a soft kiss on top of her head before he spoke. “Which one?”
“The one in the long-sleeved black shirt,” she said, voice still trembling. “With the sandy blond hair.”
Blake didn’t know what he’d expected, but the man seated a dozen feet away wasn’t it.
Scott was amazingly…average-looking. Probably around five feet nine, average weight, average build, average Californian tan and light brown hair. Even an average-looking profile with a slight bump on the bridge of his nose. The only thing unique about the man was that he was sitting with a gorgeous, if rather artificial-looking, blonde with enormous breasts, wearing a white slip so transparent it made Erin’s look modest in comparison.
“He’s with someone. I should have known he’d be with someone,” Erin said, nibbling her bottom lip. It was a nervous habit she’d had since she was a teen, and reminded him that—no matter how average-looking—this was a man capable of inspiring extreme anxiety in the woman he loved. “What if this doesn’t work the way we planned, Blake? What if I can’t get him alone?”
“Don’t worry.” Blake hugged tighter, willing his strength into her slim body. “Just because he’s here with someone else doesn’t mean he won’t be pissed to see you here with another man. Besides, that woman has nothing on you. She’s an imitation, you’re the real thing.”
She laughed, but it was no longer a carefree sound. “Scott likes imitation. He kept trying to convince me to get implants and a tummy tuck after Abby was born.”
“He’s certifiable,” Blake growled. “You’re perfect.”
“Scott didn’t think so. He saw every line, every stretch mark.” Her hands trembled as they moved to grip his forearms, her fingers squeezing gently before abruptly dropping back to her sides. “Sorry, I forgot I wasn’t supposed to touch you.”
“Don’t worry about it, sweetness,” Blake said, feeling like an ass for putting more pressure on Erin.
She didn’t need to be worried about obeying Dom-sub rules when she was getting ready to confront the man who had threatened her daughter’s life.
“No, I want to worry about it.” She turned in his arms and lifted her troubled eyes to his. “I need you, Blake.”
“I’m here. Anything you need,” he promised. “And I’ll be close by when you ask him to go outside. No one is going to hurt you tonight.”
“No, it’s not that.” She sucked in a deep breath. “I mean, don’t back down, or take it easy on me. Make me yours.”
“Erin, I—”
“Please?” She smiled, a sad twist of the lips. “Even if it’s just for tonight.”
So she knew. She could sense that this was the end. “Are you sure?” he asked, brushing a stray curl from her sinfully soft cheek.
“I’ve never been more sure of anything.” The eyes that met his were filled with a longing so intense, Blake felt like he’d been sucker punched in the gut.
“Make me forget he’s here,” she whispered. “Make me forget that he might be watching. Make me forget about everything but you.”
CHAPTER TEN
Erin
Erin could barely breathe as she followed Blake back to the spanking bench she’d had her eye on earlier. Her mouth went dry and her lips buzzed. Her body felt numb except for the place where Blake’s hand squeezed hers, and she figured there was a decent chance she was going to pass out.
She couldn’t do this. Not really. She’d been a fool to think anything about this night would be bearable, let alone enjoyable.
Scott was in the other room. If he swiveled around on his bar stool, he’d be able to see her without even leaving the lounge. There was no way she’d be able to concentrate on obeying Blake, let alone enjoy what he was going to do to her. Not knowing her ex could be watching.
What had seemed like such a fantastic i
dea in theory was proving very disturbing in real life.
She already felt violated by Scott in so many ways. Now she wanted to add this to the list? Let him watch while she submitted to another man, the very thing he’d always wanted her to do when they were first together? No matter how much she’d wanted to please him back in the early days, she’d never been able to bring herself to do as he asked.
She was a one-man girl, always had been. Once she fell for a guy, she didn’t find any other male sexually attractive. And she couldn’t let a man she wasn’t attracted to touch her, not even to please the man she loved. The idea made her skin crawl, and reminded her of those nights back in Carson City, when Blake and Phil’s wife wouldn’t be home from work until late, when she was alone with Phil and the younger kids.
Her foster father’s “attentions” hadn’t crossed the line until she was almost sixteen, and she’d always managed to escape anything worse than a little inappropriate fondling, but she’d known it was only a matter of time before his advances escalated. That’s why she’d run the morning after Blake left the house for good. It was either get out or put out; there’d been no doubt in her mind.
And there was no way she could have told Blake the truth about Phil. He would have gone crazy and gotten himself thrown in jail or worse. Besides¸ she’d been ashamed to tell him Phil sometimes had his hands on her only hours after she and Blake had been together. It made her feel dirty, as if she were the one who had done something wrong.
Even years later, grown up and with psychology courses under her belt that should have taught her otherwise, she still felt shame every time she thought of those last nights in her foster father’s home.
With thoughts of Scott and Phil floating around in her head, there was no way she’d be able to get turned on.
This just wasn’t going to work.
“Blake, wait.” She tugged on the hand he held, but he didn’t slow his stride. “Maybe I should just go talk to him and forget about this. If I tell him I’m with someone else, I’m sure he’ll—”