Dark Lessons

by Julia Sykes

  “Please,” she begged. “Please fuck me, Master.”

  “Soon, kitten,” I promised. “But I’m not going to fuck that pretty pussy. Do you want me to claim your virgin ass?”

  “Yes, please. I want it. I want you.”

  “I don’t think you’re ready just yet,” I said, drawing out the moment, tormenting her with sensual anticipation. “I want that perfect ass nice and red. I want to mark you so you know you’re owned. You’ll feel it every time I thrust into you. Do you want that? To be owned by me?”

  “Yes,” she moaned. “Yes, I’m yours. Please.”

  I touched the collar at her nape, satisfaction settling deep in my chest. “That’s right, kitten. You are mine. Always.”

  I stroked her hair a few times, petting her until she calmed and relaxed against the bench, no longer trying to seek pleasure without my permission. When she surrendered fully, I left her briefly to retrieve the item I’d requested to be left in the room for my use: a new black leather paddle.

  Natalie had felt the sting of my hand and my belt, but this was my first opportunity to introduce her to kinkier forms of impact play. We’d discovered that she enjoyed a bite of pain to send her into subspace, and I fully intended to take her to that place of complete abandon before I fucked her tight little ass for the first time.

  I lifted the paddle from where it hung on a peg on the wall and returned to Natalie. She studied it with keen interest. I slapped it against my palm a few times, allowing her to savor the sharp snap of leather hitting flesh. Her tongue snaked out to lick her lips, and my mouth twisted in a knowing smirk. My kitten wanted me to paddle her pretty ass.

  I was more than happy to oblige.

  I stepped beside her, positioning myself at her hip. I touched the cool leather to her skin, tracing the line of her spine from her nape to her ass. She shivered and whined, thrusting her ass out in wanton invitation of the first strike.

  “Greedy kitten,” I chuckled.

  She let out a sharp cry at the first hit, but it was more a sound of surprise than pain. I gave her a second hit on the opposite cheek, and she gasped. She jerked against her restraints, as though she could alleviate the sting if she wiggled enough. I allowed her to struggle for a few seconds, enjoying watching her beautiful body writhe helplessly against the bench. After a while, she took several deep breaths and stilled.

  “Good girl,” I praised before raining down sharp, rapid blows. I spread the sting around her flesh, heating her skin until her ass glowed bright red. She moaned and whined, but she didn’t cry out again until I slapped her sensitive upper thighs. She threw back her head with a shriek, and I stopped tormenting her. I dropped the paddle and ran my fingernails over her enflamed skin. A low groan left her chest, and her head dropped forward as her muscles relaxed. I continued to pet her until her breathing turned deep and even, her eyes sliding out of focus.

  She was ready for me.

  I gently gripped the base of the red plug and slowly worked it out of her ass. She whimpered when it slid free, a wordless protest at being left empty. Her pussy glistened with arousal, her labia puffy and pink with desire. I was careful not to touch her there. I didn’t want to make her come until I was pushing inside her.

  I set the plug aside and retrieved some lube from a pump by the bench. After ensuring my cock was slick enough to ease into her without causing her too much discomfort, I lined my dick up with her puckered entrance.

  She’d be relaxed in her current headspace, and the plug had prepared her for me. Still, she’d never taken my cock in her ass before, and there was some resistance when I pressed against her. She whined and wriggled, her mind in a primal place of pure need and carnal instinct.

  My fingers curved into her hip, steadying her. At the same time, I reached beneath her with my free hand and stroked her clit. A sharp cry left her lips, and my cockhead eased past her tight ring of muscles. She contracted around me, her body torn between pushing me out and welcoming me in. I groaned through gritted teeth, staving off my own impending orgasm. She was so tight it made stars dance around the edges of my vision, and the intensity of claiming her in this way for the first time sent me into my own animal headspace.

  I continued to play with her clit, but the movements of my fingers were less refined than usual. It was all I could do to keep myself from gripping her hips in both hands and driving all the way into her tight heat.

  I sucked in deep, desperate breaths as I slowly worked my way in, her body ceding to mine, even as she squeezed my cock.

  “Don’t come,” I warned. “Not yet. Not until I give permission.”

  She whimpered, but she didn’t orgasm, even though I knew her body was right on the edge.

  “Good kitten,” I praised as sweat beaded on my brow. If she came, it would trigger my own release, and I wasn’t anywhere near ready for this exquisite torture to end.

  Finally, my balls pressed against her hot pussy, and I entered her fully. I held myself there for several seconds, breathing hard and savoring the feel of her inner muscles fluttering around me. Then I withdrew slowly, a long drag until only my cockhead remained inside her. A purely animal sound left her lips, a ragged, helpless cry.

  I couldn’t hold back any longer. I began to pump in and out of her, going a little deeper with each thrust. She continued to make impossibly sexy, primal sounds as I took her harder, faster. Finally, I slammed all the way into her. She pushed back to meet my thrust, welcoming my harsh claiming. I increased my pace to something raw and almost punishing.

  “Come for me,” I commanded. The words were barely intelligible, but she understood.

  She threw her head back on a scream, and her muscles clamped down on my cock as her body spasmed in pleasure. I roared out in tormented ecstasy as my cum began to lash into her, marking her deep inside. I thrust in one last time, keeping us connected through the final wracking tremors of our mutual bliss.

  My body was weak and shaking in the aftermath, but I wasn’t willing to leave her yet. I stayed inside her as I leaned over her, pressing a kiss against the collar at her nape. She purred and twisted her head to the side, offering her neck to me. I licked and nibbled and kissed the sensitive spot beneath her ear. She shivered and sighed, floating in her blissful headspace.

  “I love you, sweet kitten,” I murmured against her soft skin.

  “I love you, my Master,” she said in a lust-drunk slur.

  She was innocently adorable and achingly erotic. Her perfection drove me to the edge of sanity. I’d do anything for her, go anywhere she led. In a few days, I’d follow her to wherever the Bureau assigned her, and we’d make a life together. We wouldn’t have to hide our love anymore.

  I could hardly wait to have her in my bed and in my heart forever.

  Chapter 13

  Jason

  “I don’t like it,” I struggled to remain calm as I challenged Director Parkinson. “I don’t want Natalie Simmons in the field with Trent McMahon. Not even for a test run.”

  The Director’s brows rose. “Are you questioning my judgment? Let me remind you that it’s within my power to keep you here at Quantico. Dr. Larson might have cleared you to go back in the field, but ultimately, it’s up to me.”

  My fists clenched, and I forced my fingers to unfurl. “With all due respect, I don’t trust McMahon. I know this is a test mission, but the team could still get into trouble if they don’t support each other properly.”

  “And that’s exactly why I’m pairing them together,” she replied pointedly. “I’m well aware that Simmons and McMahon don’t like each other. There have been rumors among the recruits since the first week. The way I hear it, she nearly broke his jaw twice.”

  “He deserved it,” I said, before I could stop myself. I was coming dangerously close to revealing Trent’s abusive nature. And if I did, he’d go public with the video he had of Natalie and me in my car. I couldn’t allow that to happen. Not when we were so close to being together, away from Quantico.


  “Yes, I wouldn’t be surprised if he did,” Parkinson responded coolly. “I’m also aware of McMahon’s relationship with Elena Briggs. She’ll be on the same team, as will Simmons’ friend, Nathaniel Cross. The point of this exercise is to prove to me that they can work together, regardless of their personal feelings. Once they’re assigned to a field office, they might not like everyone they work with. That can’t interfere with their ability to do their jobs. If the four recruits can make it through this op without turning on each other, they’ll all graduate. If not, I’ll have to reconsider my assessments. That’s my final judgment on this situation, Harper. You’re dismissed.”

  I gnashed my teeth together, but I turned stiffly and strode out of her office. I couldn’t argue with her, or I’d risk Natalie’s career, and my chances of getting to be with her outside Quantico. If Parkinson decided to keep me here rather than putting me back in the field, I’d be separated from my sweet kitten. I didn’t know if I could maintain my sanity without her. I’d become shockingly dependent on her in the span of a few months, but I didn’t even care. I refused to be parted from her, and I’d do everything in my power to ensure we were together, even if that meant allowing her out on an op with McMahon.

  Parkinson might have forbidden me from putting a stop to it, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t have a hand in the proceedings. As an instructor, I had every right to monitor their movements, and I’d make sure I was on one of the comm units as they were tested. I’d be with Natalie every step of the way, even if I couldn’t be there with her physically.

  I hated the distance between us. I hadn’t even been able to say a proper goodbye before she was shipped off earlier this morning. The entire class had been sent away on various missions, separated into smaller groups, as they would be in a real scenario once they were part of a field office. This was their final test. And while the ops were fairly routine and would each be overseen by a senior agent, I still worried for Natalie, knowing that she’d have McMahon at her back.

  I made my way to the room where the tech geeks would be gathered around their computers, monitoring the recruits’ progress. When I entered, a few of my fellow instructors nodded at me in acknowledgement. I hadn’t bothered to make friends while at Quantico, but we all respected one another. They wouldn’t be nearly so respectful if they were aware of the addiction that had brought me here, but Parkinson had kept my secret.

  The room was filled with large monitors that displayed the feed from the body cams worn by each recruit. I spotted Natalie on one of the screens, caught from three different angles: McMahon, Cross, and Briggs were all within view of her. She led their small group, one step behind the agent in charge.

  I strode over to the monitor and towered over the analyst who was watching them. Feeling my presence, he looked up at me. I held out my hand.

  “Give me your comm unit.” I imbued my tone with the ring of command.

  The man didn’t hesitate to take off his headset and hand it over to me. When I stared at him for a few seconds longer, he hurriedly vacated his chair, and I took his place.

  “Give me an update,” I said into the receiver attached to the headset.

  “Ja— Agent Harper?” Natalie questioned.

  “I’m here,” I reassured her. “I want a status report.”

  “We’re moving in now,” McMahon said in an angry undertone. “We don’t have time to chat.”

  “I gave you an order, McMahon,” I said, a steely warning.

  “We came to case this building because there have been rumors that the Latin Kings have dealers set up here,” Cross supplied quickly. “We’re moving up one floor at a time. Almost on floor three now.”

  I could see from their body cams that they were in a brick-lined stairwell in what appeared to be a dilapidated apartment block. My chest tightened with worry. I didn’t like the thought of Natalie confronting dealers affiliated with the Kings. I took a breath and tried to calm myself. This was what she had trained for, and she was going to be a damn good agent. I had to trust in her abilities.

  This is routine, I reminded myself. They’re just asking the residents some questions.

  I’d barely finished my internal reassurance when the pop of gunfire exploded through the comm unit. The senior agent leading the group went down, leaving the recruits exposed. Natalie went for her gun. Her hand was on it when gunfire sprayed into the stairwell, echoing in a horrific, staccato rhythm. Her body jerked, and she fell back against Cross.

  “Natalie!” My shout mingled with the panicked curses of the recruits that rang in my ears.

  I watched as Cross dragged her back into cover. Briggs and McMahon had their weapons drawn and were returning fire, but they were shooting blind. The turn in the stairs only allowed them to pepper the air with bullets rather than aiming true. There was no way they could see their assailants without stepping out and exposing themselves.

  I was peripherally aware of this, and I only took note of it so I could assess Natalie’s chances of getting out.

  “Get a team there now!” I barked out at anyone who would listen, keeping my eyes trained on the monitor.

  “Cross, what’s going on?” I demanded as gunfire continued to deafen me.

  “Natalie!” he shouted. “Oh fuck, oh fuck.”

  Horrible, wet, choking noises bored into my brain, but I couldn’t accept that they were coming from her. Cross cradled her in his arms, shielding her body with his own. A gory stain spread across her crisp white shirt.

  “Shit, shit!” Cross pressed his hand against the wound, and a strangled cry left her lips.

  “Trent!” Briggs screamed in the chaos. “Get up, get up! Nathaniel, help him!”

  “I’m not leaving you,” Cross promised Natalie.

  Blood trickled from the corner of her perfect lips. She reached up and gripped Cross’ shirt. “Run,” she gasped out. “You have to run.”

  “Get her out of there, Cross,” I snarled through my panic.

  “No,” Natalie groaned. “I’m sorry, Jason. I’m so sorry.”

  “Don’t you say you’re sorry,” I shouted. “Say you’re coming back to me. Cross, move!”

  He grunted, and I watched as his body jerked. “I’m hit.”

  “Nathaniel!” Briggs screamed. “I need cover!”

  “Don’t you dare leave her, Cross,” I ground out.

  “I won’t,” he promised.

  “You have to go,” Natalie insisted raggedly. She coughed, and blood sprayed from her lips, leaving dark droplets on Cross’ body cam. “Jason, I need you to promise me. Promise me you’ll be okay.”

  “Stop it.” I tried to command her, but it came out as a ragged plea. “I’m not promising you anything until you come back to me.”

  “You’re so strong,” she said, her eyes sliding out of focus. “Don’t let your father…” Her chest convulsed. Cross pressed down harder on her wound. Crimson streams spilled over his fingers, but she didn’t seem to feel the pain. “Promise me. Jason…” A horrible rattle sounded in the back of her throat. Her eyelids drooped, and she stared up at nothing.

  “Natalie!” I yelled out, willing her to wake up. “Don’t you leave me. Don’t you dare. I love you. Do you hear me? I fucking love you.”

  The monitor went black. “Someone get them back online!” I shouted, searching the room for help. A few analysts were scrambling at their computers, trying to recover the feed. The rest of the instructors were staring at me, some with pity, others with open disgust.

  I could still hear Cross.

  “She’s gone,” he said, his voice weak. “Fuck. Her heartbeat. I can’t feel it. I can’t—”

  The gunfire stopped. White noise filled my ears.

  “Natalie! Natalie!” Wet heat streamed down my cheeks.

  She’s gone.

  A terrible, anguished roar echoed throughout the room. I didn’t recognize that the sound was ripped from my own chest.

  Part II

  Breaking

  Chapter 1
4

  Jason

  “They’re dead, Harper. Cross, Briggs, McMahon, and Simmons. As well as Agent Thurman, who was the senior agent assigned to their group. They’re all gone.”

  “That’s not true!” I railed, my raw voice booming through Parkinson’s office. “The body cams cut out. We don’t know—”

  “They’re dead,” she said again, more sharply. There was no pity in her expression. She regarded me with contempt, her thin lips twisted in disgust. “The families have been notified. There will be funeral arrangements if you—”

  “There won’t be a fucking funeral,” I snarled. “She’s not dead. She can’t be.”

  “You watched the footage yourself before the cameras malfunctioned,” she said coldly. “Simmons died. You watched while she died. Cross confirmed it before he was killed, too.”

  Jason… I could still hear her voice in my head, and the horrible rattle in her throat that I refused to acknowledge. Her eyes had gone blank, her expression slack.

  “We didn’t get footage of the shooters,” Parkinson continued, “but we believe the Latin Kings are behind it. The team was investigating their activities when they went in.”

  “They never should have been sent in the first place,” I shouted. “They weren’t prepared for a shootout. You told them it would be routine questions. Maybe call in the local PD for an arrest. That was all you said it would be. You were wrong!”

  “Yes,” she said bitterly. “I was wrong. We went in on the information we had to work with. But even if they had been established field agents, they would have faced the same scenario. It’s regrettable that—”

  “Regrettable?” I flung at her. “You got five people killed, and you’re saying it’s regrettable?”

  Her eyes narrowed. “I won’t be judged by you. This is a dangerous job. They chose it. They took an oath and made a sacrifice that—”

  “A sacrifice?” I cut her off again, raging at her. “What did they sacrifice for? What did we achieve from this? Nothing! She died for nothing.” My voice gave out on the last as I admitted the truth aloud.