Bound to Please

by Lilli Feisty

  She had no desire to hesitate. Electric energy coursed through her; anticipation ruled her. She wanted this, wanted it with him.

  After she’d removed the rest of her clothing, a woman in a leather skirt and underbust corset appeared, and Mark handed her the dress before she scurried away, taking Ruby’s clothing with her.

  Ruby stood then, naked except for her nipple clamps, for anyone to see. Her blood ran hot through her veins, and her nipples were hard peaks in the metal, her pussy moist. She realized she liked this, liked being his pet to show off.

  “Hands behind your back.”

  She clasped her hands at the base of her spine, causing her chest to jut forward; the chain swinging between the valley of her breasts.

  “Good girl.” With a possessive hand on the back of her neck, he moved her along.

  There was a floor-to-ceiling chain-link fence around the center of the room, and they stopped at a gate. A short, stocky man dressed in leather pants came forward, nodded at Mark, and let them inside.

  She followed Mark to a table where an array of leather gear was displayed. Just looking at the floggers and whips and paddles released something in her, something that made her nipples swell within the clamps and then turned that sting into lust.

  Mark nodded toward a large X-shaped wooden cross, similar to the one she’d seen at the fetish party. “That’s a Saint Andrew’s cross. I want you to go over there, stand facing the cross, and wait for me.”

  Nodding, she went to that part of the room. This close, the cross seemed huge, overbearing. But the endorphins had been released, and she felt juice from her pussy on the inside of her thighs.

  They were the only ones in the chained-off area, but she felt eyes on her. Knowing she was being watched only turned her on more. When Mark came to her holding four sets of leather cuffs, she shook her hair back off her face as if she was proud.

  Maybe she was. Maybe, just tonight, she could be proud that he’d chosen her. She felt young, beautiful, as he spread her feet wide and encircled both her ankles with the thick leather cuffs. He secured the cuffs to the O-rings bolted on the cross near her feet, then did the same with each of her arms. Soon she was spread wide, revealed, for all the world to see. Once again, open.

  Looking over her shoulder, she saw Mark grinning at her. “You’ll do. Now look forward.”

  She did, and it was then that she felt the leather on her back. The strands of a soft leather flogger, dragging over her back, soothing her. The tautness in her shoulders started to subside, and she hung her head as he continued to caress her, draining any remnant of nervousness out of her body.

  He increased the pressure, the light strokes becoming harder, more forceful. But she was beyond feeling any pain. All she felt was pleasure, pure and hot. And when the strands of the flogger hit her with a loud smack she cried out. It stung, but in the best way possible.

  He came around once and took her chin in his hand, kissed her lips.

  “You’re smiling,” he said, and she nodded. She was too high to speak.

  Tenderness flashed in his eyes as he held her gaze, and it seemed there was no one in the room but them. But then he was gone, and she felt the strands of the flogger again, landing on her everywhere: her shoulder blades, the middle of her upper back, her thighs, her ass. The inside of her legs. She was spread so wide he could whip her there, and she felt the wind of the flogger on her damp sex.

  Yes, she thought, leaning into the restraints. Hit me there, touch me there, please…

  He pressed against her back, his body hard and hot against her naked flesh. She felt his breath on her neck when he pulled her hair aside. “Everyone in this place is watching you. Everyone is watching the way I turn you on, the way you squirm under my touch. Does it make you wet? To be watched?”

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  His hand came around her and spanned her belly. If her feet weren’t bound, she would have clamped her thighs shut to ease the ache within.

  But he moved his hand, lower and lower… was he really going to touch her here? In public?

  He was.

  She gasped when she felt his thumb on her clit, rubbing her in tight circles, making her so wet, so needy, she bit her lip to keep from crying out.

  “It’s okay, I want to hear you. Everyone wants to hear you.” His thumb still on her clit, he slid across her pussy with the rest of his hand. Opening her up, pushing into her. Fingering her right there, in front of a crowd.

  Her back burned lusciously from the flogging he’d given her, and her nipples stung in the clamps. Her body was trembling everywhere from lust. “Mark… Oh, God! It’s so good,” she cried, her voice husky.

  “I know, sweetheart.” With his free hand he reached around and gave the chain hanging between her breasts a sharp tug.

  She screamed. She cried out, again and again, knowing people could see her, hear her. Mark pulled the chain at her nipples again, and this time he didn’t let up, the pleasure searing through her in a rush. His hand between her legs worked her faster, harder, deeper, and he whispered into her ear, “That’s it, baby; come for me. Come now.”

  An enormous shudder tore through her as she climaxed, for everyone to see.

  Mark released her quickly. His heart hammered as he carried her trembling body. She clung to him, silent. He’d found a small but private room with a sofa and once seated, he held her, rocked her as if he were calming a child. Finally, she looked up, her eyes such a deep shade of blue they were almost black. She smiled. “That was amazing.”

  He gently unscrewed the clamps on her nipples. She gave a light moan as he released her, and he massaged flesh he knew would be sore. She sighed against his chest, and his cock immediately started throbbing.

  Fuck, how he wanted her. Touching her like this, seeing her sink into her world of pleasure, made his cock so fucking hard. Made him shift underneath her and take deep breaths to try to control himself.

  He kissed her forehead. “You were beautiful out there. Everyone envied me.”

  “Really? I made you happy?”

  “Of course.”

  Sliding out of his lap, she knelt in front of him. “I want to make you even happier.”

  He nodded. She was irresistible, unlike any woman he’d ever met. His blood rushed through him as she unbuttoned his jeans and boxers and slid them down his legs, and then she took his cock in her hands, drew him into her wet, warm mouth so deep, he groaned out her name. She sucked him, stroked his balls, and didn’t seem to mind the palm of his hand on her hair; tugging, guiding.

  “That’s perfect, Ruby, just like that…” But when he was about to come she stopped and looked up. “I want to feel you inside me, Mark.”

  “Then come here, baby.”

  She pulled a condom out of a bowl next to the sofa and opened it, slid it onto his cock. Then she straddled him, guiding his dick into her pussy in one smooth, sure motion. She threw her head back as she rocked against him, her eyes dark, her mouth open as her breathing came faster and faster.

  He gripped her thighs, her body tense under his hands as she used the muscles in her legs to ride him. This she did with total freedom; pinching her own nipples, working her own clit. It was as if the earlier public display had released her somehow, as if she had no inhibitions left in her at all.

  He watched her face as she came. Her eyes closed, her mouth spread in a wide smile. It was so beautiful he followed quickly, jerking her to him so he could pump into her body, letting the little contractions of her inner walls milk every last drop from him.

  She collapsed on top of him and he held her like that, until both of their breathing returned to normal.

  He had to convince her that they could make this work. Suddenly his career, the band, seemed so much less important than keeping this connection with the girl in his arms.

  “Listen, Ruby. We have to talk.”

  She said against his chest, “I’m exhausted, I can’t think.”

  “But there are thing
s—”

  She yawned. “It’s been a tiring night. Can we just go home?” She snuggled deeper against him. “I know we need to talk. After tonight, I can’t ignore my feelings for you any longer…”

  She went quiet, and after a minute he realized she’d dozed off. He kissed her forehead and picked her up. They could talk later, in the morning. Really, he just needed to assure her that he could balance his career and a relationship with her. And he needed to reassure her that she was a strong enough person to deal with it.

  She was barely conscious as he got her clothes, dressed her, led her to the limo and took her home. And she was still asleep when they arrived, so he dug the keys out of her bag and carried her into the apartment. In her room, he stripped off her clothes and laid her under the covers. She murmured a thank-you but was snoring softly within seconds.

  He stifled a laugh. He’d just discovered one of her imperfections.

  Pulling off his clothes, he undressed and climbed in beside her, pulled her into his arms. Soon he joined her in a deep, dreamless sleep. But when the bright rays of the sun woke him in the morning, Ruby was gone.

  Chapter

  Twenty-Four

  This place looks amazing.”

  Ruby looked up from where she’d been arranging a bunch of twigs. She wore one of her typical prim dresses—this time in a soft blue—and her hair was pulled back. The only thing that gave away her sensual side was the sexy shoes on her dainty feet.

  Hugging the clipboard to her chest, she beamed at him.

  It was the day of the Spring Fling, and Mark had stopped by to check the stage. That, and he wanted an excuse to see Ruby. She’d been out the door before he’d dragged his ass out of bed, so this was the first time he’d seen her since last night.

  The event was being held in an old theater, a building originally built as a movie theater in the 1930s. There was a small stage, behind which red velvet draped from the floor to the ceiling. Round tables had been set up on the floor, and each table had been decorated with gold twigs and leaves. With the brightly colored linens and china, the place looked like something out of a movie.

  She placed her clipboard on the stage and began arranging a vase of iridescent feathers. “So. Are you ready for tonight?” she asked as she played with the feathers.

  “Yeah.” He was ready for the show; it was afterward he was having trouble wrapping his head around. “Listen, I have some bad news.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “What is it?”

  He ran a hand over his face. This was even harder than he’d thought. “You know the band January Blues?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Um, yeah. Even I’ve heard of them. They’re huge.”

  “Yeah. They just dropped out of a European tour they’re doing with two other bands, and we’ve been asked to replace them.”

  Her smile faltered but only for a second. “That’s wonderful.” She turned back to her arrangement. “When do you leave?”

  “Tomorrow.”

  She froze but didn’t look up. “Wow. Tomorrow. That’s so… soon.”

  He put his hand on her shoulder. “I know.” He squeezed her shoulder and felt how small she was, how fragile. “We can talk on the phone. E-mail. We can make it work.”

  Her body went tight under his hand. “Okay, sure.”

  He turned her around and met her watery gaze. “You remember how much you trusted me last night?”

  She nodded.

  “You need to do that now. You need to trust me. I won’t let you down.”

  “Mr. St. Crow?”

  It took him a minute to drag his gaze from hers. A man was jogging toward them. He looked a few years older than Mark. His brown hair was cut neatly, and he wore khaki pants and a blue button-down shirt. When he reached them, he held out his hand. “I’m James Cleaver.”

  Mark shook it. “Nice to meet you.”

  The man bounced on the balls of his feet. “My employees are ecstatic about tonight! We can’t wait.”

  “Thanks for asking us to do the show,” Mark managed.

  “When I found out Ruby knew you personally, I just couldn’t resist asking her if you’d play for us.”

  Mark glanced at Ruby. “I just can’t say no to her. Her wish is my command.”

  “And, I’m looking forward to the cocktail party,” James said. “And so are five of my most important clients.” He turned to Mark. “God, she is really something, isn’t she? I swear, she can pull off magic. I had CEOs begging to get an invite to this preparty!”

  “What?” Mark shook his head. “What preparty?”

  Smiling, Ruby stepped on the top of his foot with her heel. Hard.

  “Mark’s kidding. The band is going to be at your place at six sharp.” She glared at him. “Right?”

  Fuck. He’d totally forgotten he’d obligated the band to a schmooze fest before the show. He nodded. “Yeah, right. Of course we’ll be there.”

  She glowered at him for another moment before giving James a huge smile. “Everything seems to be running smoothly, James. It’s going to be a fabulous event.”

  James beamed at Ruby, and something in Mark went tight. He didn’t like the way this guy was looking at Ruby, not one bit.

  “Of course it’s going smoothly,” James said. “With you running the show, everything goes exactly as planned. Always does, gorgeous.”

  A pink flush tinged her cheeks. “Thank you.”

  Mark’s gaze darted back and forth between the two: Ruby in her retro outfit; James in his neatly pressed pants and preppy shirt.

  Mark’s gut clenched as he realized this Cleaver guy epitomized everything Ruby had wanted her entire life; he could give her what she’d always wanted.

  Because the one thing Mark knew without a doubt was that no other man could ever love Ruby the way Mark knew he could, if she would just give him the chance.

  Now, she smiled at Mark but her eyes were cold. “You probably need to go pack for your tour. I’ll see you tonight, Mark. At the show.” She turned away to show the Cleaver guy something on her clipboard.

  And just like that, Mark was dismissed.

  Mark slammed the door behind him, causing Yvette to look up from her bowl of cereal. Jake paused his perusal of the issue of Rolling Stone he was reading and said, “’sup.” He was lounging on the sofa, wearing Mickey Mouse pajama bottoms and not much else.

  Mark stepped around their packed luggage, sitting in the living room of the loft they’d been living in for the past two weeks. He’d hardly seen the place. Most of his time had been spent at the studio or with Ruby. And now they were leaving.

  Twenty-four hours from now they’d be in London. Far away from San Francisco, far away from Ruby.

  “What’s up, Doc?” Yvette asked and spooned in a mouthful of Lucky Charms. She wore a white tank top and boxers and looked like she had just woken up, even though it was past three.

  He dropped into a chair opposite her. “Nothing. I’m just ready to split.”

  “Everything okay?” she asked as she chewed.

  “I don’t fucking know.”

  “It’s that chick, isn’t it?” Jake called from his spot on the couch. He shook his head. “I knew it was a love song.”

  “We never did hear it,” Yvette said.

  “And you never will.”

  “My, my. Someone’s got his Underoos in a wad.”

  Mark grunted.

  “Seriously,” she said, her voice softer. “What’s up?”

  “I went to talk to Ruby today, to tell her that I wanted to try and give things a go.”

  Yvette gave a low whistle. “Wow. That’s pretty serious.”

  “She was less than enthusiastic, especially when I told her we were leaving tomorrow.”

  “Really?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “Now, why would a healthy, red-blooded, hetero woman go and push away a hot guy like yourself?” She leaned forward. “Maybe she’s gay.”

  “She’s not gay. She ha
s a crush on Mr. Cleaver.” Mark cringed.

  Yvette jerked back. “The Beaver’s dad?”

  “No, the dude who’s putting on this gig tonight, but he may as well be the guy from the show.”

  “And so what did you do?” Yvette said between bites.

  He shrugged. “What was I supposed to do? I left.”

  Yvette threw herself back in her chair. “You’re kidding.”

  “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

  “No, not really.” She pushed away her empty bowl, sat back and rubbed her belly. “Mmm mmm good. Anyway, what are you going to do now?”

  “I think she wants me to leave.”

  “That’s mighty pussy of you, dude,” Jake put in and went back to reading.

  If looks could kill, Jake would be DOA.

  Yvette drilled him with her gaze. “So, can you talk to her again before we leave?”

  “Hell yeah, I am. But I’m not sure what to say to convince her, especially with Mr. Fucking Perfect sniffing around.” And calling her gorgeous. Mark felt like he’d been sucker-punched.

  “Listen,” Yvette said. “You gotta try something. As it is, you’re pretty useless.”

  “What are you talking about?” he demanded.

  “Have you eaten today? Did you sleep last night?”

  “What’s that got to do with anything?” he muttered even as his stomach growled.

  “We’re about to embark on our first European tour. I can’t go see Big Ben with a lovesick zombie! Now, we need to do something to woo this girl, at least long enough to get you through our crazy upcoming schedule.”

  “I told you, I’m going to talk to her later, when she’s not so busy getting ready for tonight.”

  Yvette shook her head sadly. “Men,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I respect any woman with the patience to put up with one of you. Now listen to me. I have a plan.”

  Chapter

  Twenty-Five

  Ruby punched the button to dial Mark’s cell phone number again, and just like the twenty-three other times, he didn’t answer.