WRAPPED: The Manhattan Bound Series, Book Two

by Juliet Braddock

  Maxine’s naiveté was actually quite a refreshing change for him. The other women he’d dated were either jaded or seeking solely to impress a wealthy suitor. However, Maxine had no agenda with him, other than her admitted teenage crush. She had no regard for his penthouse above the trees of Central Park and cared even less what was in his bank account. Her protestations of his gifts and fancy dates weren’t merely lip service. Maxine didn’t need to dine at fancy restaurants or spend late evenings in whatever clubs were popular that week. She simply wanted to spend time with him in and out of the bedroom.

  And it was in those often tortured conversations they shared that Drew found his solace. She didn’t turn her back, close her eyes or hurry for the exit. In his life, he’d never known such compassion beyond those he considered to be members of his immediate family…until he met a green-eyed gal named Maxine Kirk.

  Just when he thought he might be softening his ways, though, Drew always managed to catch himself. They were both committed to exploring and building upon his reign of divine discipline. There was always some suffering to be had before he could allow her those pleasures she’d never known until she tumbled into his arms.

  “I think you’re already beginning to comprehend how serious this issue with your woeful little mouth has become…” he said. “But I feel this need to reinforce the importance of manners here with a little bit more than just a gag. In order for you to remember what you’ve done wrong, you need a reference point.”

  “Ubbles!”

  “Bubbles?” he teased, his teeth biting into her earlobe. “Oh…wait…you said fuckballs…”

  “Uhhhhhhhhhhh!” she wailed.

  “Oh, now you’re just making sounds,” he said as his fingers cascaded upward.

  Drifting his palms over her heated skin, he enjoyed the thrust of her body as she bowed against all of her restraints. As his fingers began to strum over her torso, just as lightly as he’d stroked that plume, she struggled to maintain her last sliver of composure.

  Ass scraping over the stiff seat of the chair, Maxine tightened her face to the point where she almost felt pain upon her cheeks. Now, she was beyond uncomfortable. She was just mad as hell. At Ben for telling Drew how much she hated to be tickled. And at Drew, His Masterful Self, for taking up her best friend’s suggestion.

  Faster, Drew’s practiced fingers worked against her. He hadn’t hurt her in the slightest, but he certainly invoked a rather violent response from Maxine.

  “Stomping your feet, Maxine, won’t get you anywhere with me,” he warned her, tickling along the curve of her waist and hips. Had he not cuffed those tiny hands, she would have likely slammed a fist into his face. “What part of punishment are we not understanding here?”

  Purposely, he’d stood very close to the back of the chair, and the second he felt her tiny tap to his knee, he removed his hands to take hers in his own. One steady pulse gripped his fingers. Maxine was done. She’d had enough. She’d called Red.

  And Drew garnered the exact response he wanted that evening.

  “Okay, little one,” His lips swept over her neck while he unknotted the scarf. “You’re safe, Maxine. We’re finished.”

  One deep breath soared from her trembling lips, catapulting her to a state of immobility. Mind erased of any thought, she closed her eyes and attempted to regain some sense of composure. Drew was there, behind her, coddling her…reeling her back to reality. She was indeed safe.

  “You’re alright,” he assured her again, his voice so tender and soft. His lips caressed her shoulder while his fingers worked to free her wrists. “And thank you, little one, for safewording me. That took courage…”

  Allowing her head to drop backward to rest against his shoulder, she repeated, “Courage?”

  He caught her lips in a quick but deliciously sweet kiss. “Courage, little one. That’s something you seem to have a lot of. And that’s also one of the qualities I admire most in you.”

  Against his mouth, she began to murmur, “But how did I—”

  Before he chose to answer her, Drew first made sure that he rubbed her wrists, stimulating the flow of blood, then reached around her to unfasten the belt buckle. “I wanted you to safeword, Maxine,” was all he said. And he was smiling.

  “You…I called Red…and you…this…was this some sort of fucking game, Drew?” she finally spat at him, holding on to his shoulders as she pulled back so that she could look him in the eyes. “This isn’t funny.”

  “No, it’s not funny at all,” he agreed winsomely. “Now, before you get all Sassypants with me again, will you let me explain?”

  Once, Maxine might have allowed her anger to consume her, but as she struggled with patience, she afforded herself a careful reminder to bite her tongue. Closing her eyes, she nodded.

  “I wanted to test you, little one,” he began. “I wanted to make sure that you were comfortable enough—with me, with our play—to tell me that you wanted to stop.”

  “That’s why you tickled me?”

  “Well, I didn’t want to scare the piss out of you with something rougher,” he countered. “Did I not promise that we’d take things slowly?”

  “So…you’re saying that you didn’t want to get too rough with me…just irritate me enough to call Red?” she asked.

  “Maxine, I wanted to make sure that you’re in this for your own pleasure—not just to appease what you think I might want,” he struggled to maintain his own sense of calm. “Yes, it was a test, but a necessary one. I wanted you to learn—up front—that you have a voice here. Go ahead and pout. But maybe you’ll thank me after your anger cools…”

  “Sir,” she whispered. “I’m already thankful…that you care so much…”

  “You know, Maxine, you should consider yourself very lucky,” he told her. “Some men are in this truly to inflict hurt…injury…psychological trauma…”

  “I am very lucky, Sir.” Staring at the floor, she kicked her feet against the chair. “And I appreciate you so very much.”

  “What do you want, Maxine?” he asked and caught her head in his hands. “Right now…tell me what you want?”

  “Please tell me that you’re going to fuck me, Sir?”

  “So hard that you won’t have a clue what hit you,” he threatened—promised? “Panties off…”

  “Panties on…panties off…Sir…” she muttered as she stood to hustle out of that delicate strip of lace, which she retrieved from the floor and placed on top of her growing pile of clothing.

  Once she returned to Drew, she bowed her head in full submission. Standing before him, she wanted nothing more than to reach out and touch him, but she stopped herself. She’d already racked up enough indiscretions for one evening. She didn’t need another round of tickle torture.

  “Now, clearly, we have a little problem,” he said. “Do we move tickling to your hard limits?”

  “Seems silly, Sir, since it doesn’t hurt…”

  “That’s fine, little one…I’ll reserve tickling for harsh punishments,” he said. “Is that what you want?”

  Slowly, she nodded. He was right—she needed something bigger to work toward…or in this case, against. “Yes, Sir. Only for my worst behavior.”

  “Now, tell me, Maxine, have you learned anything tonight?”

  “I have, Sir,” she said with full humility as the dampness between her legs distracted her faculties. “I’ve learned that Red does indeed mean Red—spoken or otherwise.”

  “That’s important. It’s another layer of trust we’ve exposed this evening, little one. No matter how silly you might consider something that we’re doing, I need to know if you can’t stand another second. Always…”

  “May…may I hold your hand, Sir?” she asked rather awkwardly.

  Reaching out to her request, he whispered, “Yes, you may…”

  Giving his fingers a squeeze before entwining them with her own, she said, “I trust you, Sir. Completely.”

  “Thank you.” That night, Maxine p
roved to Drew, too, that she had great faith in him as her Dominant partner to observe, to act quickly…and to comfort her. “What else did you take away from tonight?”

  “I learned that…this store is probably haunted by homeless people, Sir,” she said, fighting her temptation to laugh. “And I learned that I really have to work at my potty mouth—otherwise I’ll face tickle torture again.”

  “Yes, you will,” he said. “Or greater consequences.”

  She hated and loved these inquisitions all at the same time. While Drew pressed her to search deeply within her own soul to discover her true self, she couldn’t deny the pleasure of unease that seemed to sustain her.

  He’d forced her to examine her desires below the surface to unveil the needs she might never have explored on her own. His role as her first lover upheld more prominence than she’d realized initially. Now she understood his fears as they embarked upon this relationship together. He had but one chance to get this right with her. While she could still take some liberties in her submission, Drew had so much more to prove to her in his Domination.

  “What else is on your inquisitive little mind right now, Maxine?”

  “Um…” She crossed one leg over the other, but he was quick to catch her before she fell. “I think, Sir…that I won’t make it another five days ever again…without you…inside me…and…if Sir reasons I’m worthy…I would really love a kiss. Please?”

  “Kisses…kisses…I thought you just wanted to be fucked?” he bemoaned. “Tempting me with those full lips, as she stands there with her bra askew and twisting like she’s ready to pee herself.”

  “Don’t have to pee, Sir,” she assured him, her breath catching. “Other things, though…”

  “Don’t come, Maxine.” He pointed the naughty finger at her. “Or I’ll use that belt in ways you don’t want me to…”

  Wavering in his arms, she murmured, “Mmm…”

  What drove him craziest was the fact that she really wanted to experience more pain than he knew she could tolerate right now. Perhaps he’d underestimated his own game, but she had to understand the necessity for caution.

  “…or just tickle the shit out of you again…”

  “Oh, Sir, please…” Her eyes cascaded downward to focus on the pointed toes of her shoes. “I only want whatever you want for me this evening…”

  “Much better,” he said, his voice curt in its appraisal. “And what I want right now is you.”

  As he leaned in with seeking lips, Maxine gripped his biceps for the strength to stand.

  Kissing, so she was learning, truly was an art. In her moderate, if not lack of, experience, she’d never felt such a connection with anyone she’d drunkenly made out with in some gritty college apartment. It wasn’t just a matter of lips smacking together and gagging each other with tongues. There was a precise skill, if not a bit of theatrical composition, involved in delivering the perfect kiss.

  There was the playful working of the lips, and the posturing that evolved into the seamless blend of mouths joining. But it was always that initial contact—eyes to ears to hands to mouths—that left Maxine breathless and craving more. That longing look. The sighs. The tips of their fingers whisking over each other. The beads of sweat mingling as they touched foreheads. Her fingers crawling through those curls and pulling him as close as she possibly could.

  His mouth sinuating against her, Drew gasped, then bit into Maxine’s lip as she continued to rock against him.

  “I want you on top,” he said, slipping his hands between them to unzip his jeans before hurriedly divesting himself of his shirt. “And I want you right now, Maxine…”

  “But I…we’ve never…with me on top…”

  Truthfully, he wanted to enjoy those tassels at her tits before he ripped them off. And Drew always got his way. “There’s a first time for everything,” he said, lounging backward and settling himself on the table. He allowed his jeans and boxers to drop to his ankles, and then hoisted her up to sit astride him. Clutching her tiny little ass, he smiled in assurance. “I’ve got you, Maxine. I won’t let you fall.”

  “I know you won’t, Kind Sir,” she said and returned his soft grin.

  Glancing down, she’d noticed he’d pulled out a condom from somewhere. Soon, they wouldn’t have to worry about that last little detail, as she had an appointment with a gynecologist that following week.

  Again, she so desperately wanted to reach out and touch him—take his cock into her hands and watch the pleasure effuse in his eyes. Instead, she sat as still as she possibly could upon his thighs, clutching her own legs tightly around him, and waited for her next order.

  “I quite like these, Maxine,” he said, twirling the dangling silk threads of the earrings. “So you’re not in pain?”

  “Not really…”

  “Perhaps you’re a little numb,” he suggested and gave a tug. Her scowl pleased him greatly. He just knew the second that he plucked those clasps away, he’d lose her to orgasm. But he had one final little treat in store for her before the night came to an end. For the moment, though, he enjoyed making her wait.

  “May I come, Sir?”

  “No, not yet.” He passed the condom to her. “Your job. I’m holding you…”

  Maxine was certain that never again could she cover his cock so quickly. Once protected, Drew lifted her once again with a suddenness she hadn’t anticipated and positioned her just above him.

  “Take me in your hand, little one…guide me inside…”

  Slowly, she did just that, filling herself with the fullness of him, then with great hesitation, squatted just a bit more…allowing herself to take him bit by bit until she swathed him completely in her warmth.

  For a moment, though, she stopped and just held on to him as she rolled her shoulders back, offering her breasts for his fancy. All the while, as she adjusted to this new position, she gripped him slowly and steadily, reveling in the pulsing length of him deep within her.

  With one hand on her hips, Drew brought her into his rhythm, easing her up and down and toying with one of the tassels with his other hand. Now, she felt the pinch of the clasp. Coupled with the build of their union, Maxine knew she was nearly down for the count.

  Yet with every prickle of pain, she found herself falling further into her own delight. You must be a masochist, she thought to herself, with a bit of chilly hilarity. Oh, how she longed to feel the burn of agony. These samples and tastes were only baiting her—teasing her with promises she’d hoped Drew would fulfill soon.

  “I need you to listen to me, Maxine, okay?”

  Suddenly, she stilled herself. “Yes, Sir.”

  “This is the part that really hurts, so please hold on to me tightly, okay?”

  “Yes, Sir...”

  “Now, take a deep breath, little one...” How Drew could possibly manage to hold their hips in sync while having a somewhat regular conversation, Maxine had not one clue. She certainly needed to conjure some help from Patience and Fortitude.

  As he removed the first clasp, pain trickled from her nipple throughout her breast, followed by a ripple of pleasure that flooded deep into her belly and between her legs. With a strength she didn't realize she possessed, Maxine gripped his upper arms, squeezing with all her might—aching with the delight that scorched through her body.

  With each release of the clasps, Drew brought her full circle with his dizzying cycle of hurt and ecstasy. There was no point in even trying to stave her orgasm as it claimed her entirely, throttling her into a circuitous round of pleasure. She didn’t care if she came without his permission. She’d face his wrath later. For the moment, the delight was far too powerful—this blend of hurt and titillation—that held her in its sweep.

  At last, his lips were there, licking and pampering over the imprints on her skin from the clasps. His breath was warm, soothing the hurt away, and Maxine moved against him, wanting nothing more than to hold him closer.

  He caught her breasts in his hands then, kneading s
oftly with the utmost care as he checked just to make sure there were no breaks or cuts on her skin. “How are you?”

  “Mmm...” She picked up her already feverish pace, literally coasting from one orgasm into the next.

  “Too much?”

  “No…Sir...” She tossed her head back and took a deep breath. “Just...intense. Oh, Sir…another…”

  Nails clawing into her hips, he knew his own release wasn’t far away, and he just gave up on his control of her pleasure for the night. She was on overload. He’d taught her a great deal. There was no point in attempting to stop her…but she’d pay for her mistakes later.

  “Fuck, Maxine!” he snapped suddenly, losing himself in the sweet but sharp pleasure she brought to him.

  “Sir…” she wailed. “Oh…my Sir…”

  There was simply no way to avoid her emotions. Too soon. Too much. Too…everything. And for once in her life, she simply ignored the magnitude of her own actions. She was falling in love with him.

  He supported her. He called her out on her foibles. He convinced her of her inner-beauty and lavished her with tender words and compliments. He trusted her, he said, and he expected that in return. And now, Maxine refused to deny her emotions, but she couldn’t tell him—not yet. She was sure that he hadn’t reached that point in his own heart and mind with her.

  Sitting up, Drew held her close but didn’t rush off as he usually did after their play. Rather, he allowed them both time to share in those last lingering moments of refuge as they trembled against each other—right on top of that table.

  Lips caressing over her closed eyes, he whispered, “You are such a treasure, Maxine.” Suckling her breast once more before returning his lips to hers, Drew nudged against her, still inside her. “But you know that you came without permission…”

  “Oh, I know, Sir…I can’t control myself…”

  “Well, we shall address that in just a bit. Right now, though, I’m enjoying this quietude.”