by Leah Brooke
Chapter Ten
She was driving him out of his mind.
Sitting forward at his desk, he glanced at Royce, who frowned in concentration as he matched Dominants with the submissives that had been accepted for the training classes.
Getting to his feet, Blade left the room and went into the hallway for more privacy, switching his cell phone to his other ear. “What did you say?”
“I said that I found everything in the attic. After I put Hawke down for his nap, I’m going to go up and bring it all down so I can set up the playroom again.”
He clenched his hand, fisting it at his side, the need to turn her over his lap and paddle her ass making his palm itch.
“What the hell were you doing up in the attic?”
“Looking for toys, of course.”
Gritting his teeth against the stirring in his groin, Blade injected a cold edge of command in his voice. “The attic is out of bounds for you. Stay out of there, and stay out of my things.”
Her voice lowered. “But Blade, they’re our things.” Her giggle tightened his balls. “I want to play with them.”
“No.” In the past, just telling her no would have been enough, but he had a feeling that this time it wouldn’t.
“I’m not sure how you had everything arranged before, so I’ll just arrange them the way I want them.”
She’d blithely ignored his command.
Ignored him!
His cock lengthened, pressing uncomfortably against his jeans. “You. Will. Not.” Smiling, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his key ring, staring down at it. His smile fell, the blood rushing to his cock so fast it made him dizzy. “The key for the playroom was on my key ring, and now it’s gone.”
“Yeah. I took it and made a copy. You can have yours back when you get home.”
Closing his eyes, he braced a hand on the wall, struggling for control. “What, exactly, do you think you’re doing?”
“You’re a smart man, Blade. You know exactly what I’m doing.”
Blade jerked upright, his eyes flying open. “Kelly?”
She’d hung up on him!
“You okay?”
Blade looked up to find Royce scowling at him. “Yeah. Fine. Great.”
Storming past him, he tossed his phone and keys onto his desk before he gave in to the urge to throw them against the wall. He dropped into his seat, only to bounce back up again. “She’s driving me crazy. She knows how to push every fucking button. I’m a Dominant, damn it. I can control myself. A Dom without control is worthless, and my darling wife is stretching my control to the breaking point.”
Royce closed the door and approached, propping himself on the corner of his desk. “Want to talk about it?”
“No.” Blade paced to the window and looked out toward his house. “She’s so damned delicate. Fragile.”
Turning, he paced back the other way. “You saw her. You saw the way she looked. Pale and helpless.”
Royce frowned. “She’s okay, isn’t she? I thought the doctor said that he was delighted by how well she was doing, and that she’d made a complete recovery.”
“Yeah.” Blade shifted his shoulders, hoping to relieve the tension there. “She went on a diet and has been exercising like crazy.”
“Is she overdoing it?”
Blade snapped his head up and strode back to the window. “The doctor said she wasn’t, but I think she is. She’s been losing weight like crazy. Why the hell would she want to do that? I would think she would know by now that I wanted her like hell just the way she was.”
Royce shrugged. “Brenna said she stopped in to see Kelly and Hawke the other day. Kelly was so happy with how the baby weight was coming off, that she wanted to see if she could lose a few more pounds, but she didn’t want to lose the curves you loved so much. Brenna was concerned, but she said that Kelly checks with the doctor and promises that she’s not going to go crazy with losing weight.”
Smiling, Royce leaned back. “Seems Kelly has something she’s trying to fit into—a surprise for you.”
Blade turned and began pacing again. “I liked her the way she was. She didn’t have to lose weight for me—but that’s not even the worst part.”
Scraping a hand through his hair, he turned again, meeting Royce’s gaze. “Having a baby and losing weight has given her a confidence she never had before. She’s constantly challenging me. Daring me to spank her. She wants to go back into the playroom again, for God’s sake!”
Frowning again, Royce shook his head. “What’s wrong with that?”
Whirling from the window, Blade glared at Royce, wondering if his friend had lost his mind. “Are you crazy? I dismantled the whole fucking thing when I brought her home. You can’t possibly think I’d ever take her back in there after what she’d been through!”
Closing his eyes, Royce scrubbed a hand over his face. “Oh, hell, Blade. No wonder Kelly’s so determined to lose weight and is doing things to temp you. You’re not treating her the way you did before.”
Blade gaped at him. “She just had a baby! She was in a fucking coma! You were there. You saw her.”
Royce nodded. “And I saw your reaction. You’re scared. That’s understandable.” Shaking his head, he sighed. “I can only imagine what that felt like. King and I have put off trying to get Brenna pregnant because Kelly scared us so much. I don’t know what we’d do if we had to go through that with Brenna.”
Blade nodded, relieved that someone else understood. “Exactly.” Blowing out a breath, he began pacing again. “Kelly doesn’t see it that way, though. I’m trying to appease her, but it’s not working. Christ, the last thing I want to do is hurt her.”
“I understand the position you’re in, but it sounds like she wants to get back to the way things were before. She’s insecure about your relationship. I’m sure she’s afraid that you won’t see her the same way again, and she needs that. She needs you.”
With a sigh, Blade dropped back into his chair, his stomach in knots. “I know all about a woman’s need to feel desirable. She should know how much I want her. I can barely keep my hands off of her. I realize that after having a baby, and the problems she had that kept us from making love for months that she’d need to feel better about herself.”
With a furious swipe of his hand, he sent the papers on his desk flying. “Fuck!” He jumped to his feet again. “I love her more than my own fucking life! I’d do anything for her.”
Blowing out a breath, he reached for the control that Kelly had all but shattered, and went to the window again, looking in the direction of the house he’d built for her. From this angle, he could see part of the roof, and knew that if he didn’t get home within the next hour, she’d be climbing back into the attic. “I couldn’t live with myself if I hurt her.”
“And you won’t.” Getting to his feet again, Royce laid a hand on Blade’s shoulder. “You know that. I know that, and more importantly, Kelly knows that. Neither one of you will be happy if you hold back. Go to her, Blade. Go to your wife and give her what you both need.”
With a smile, he went to Blade’s desk and tossed his keys and phone to him. “I won’t expect you back today.”
* * * *
Kelly bent to kiss Hawke’s head. “Are you sure, Jesse?”
Jesse cooed at the kicking baby in her arms. “Are you kidding? I’m looking forward to this very much.” Glancing up at Kelly through her lashes, Jesse grinned. “I’m probably not supposed to tell you this, but Clay and Rio have already started training a horse for Hawke. They’re impatient to teach him to ride.”
Giggling, Kelly finished packing the bottles of breast milk. “I think he’s a little young for that.”
“Yeah, but they want to be ready.” Shifting Hawke to her shoulder, Jesse accepted the overnight bag. “I think they have plans to spoil Hawke rotten.” Jesse grinned impishly. “So do I. Have fun with Blade tonight and don’t worry about Hawke. Clay and Rio will probably have him watching a Western tonigh
t and explaining everything to him.”
Holding the door open for her best friend, she dropped another kiss on Hawke’s head. “Jesse, thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome.” Turning on the front steps, Jesse grinned. “Go put that sexy thing on. If I know Blade, he’ll be pulling into the driveway any minute.”
A shiver of anticipation washed over Kelly as she looked down the street toward the club. “I’m counting on it.”
Chapter Eleven
Kelly pressed a hand to her stomach and turned again to look at herself in the mirror. She’d shopped at Logan’s Leathers and bought something guaranteed to get Blade’s attention.
The form-fitting leather hugged her curves, the strategic cutouts leaving her breasts, bottom, and slit exposed.
She couldn’t wait to see Blade’s reaction to the sight of her in the one-piece suit of buttery leather, smiling as she pulled her hair into a ponytail to keep it out of the way. The action lifted her breasts, and gave her the opportunity to see what she would look like if Blade fastened her hands above her head.
He might, especially when he learned that she’d finished setting up the playroom days ago.
She slipped on the leather boots that she needed for height, and that, along with the whip that Blade had used on her countless times, would complete her look.
Snapping the whip against her palm, she winced, shaking her hand against the sharp sting.
Damn, she’d have to be careful with that. How the hell did Blade make it make that sound without hurting that much?
Throwing it on the counter, she checked herself in the mirror again, grimacing when she saw that she’d chewed most of her lipstick off. After smoothing on another coat of “Passion Red,” Kelly tossed the tube back onto the counter, stilling at the sound of a car door closing.
Blade was home!
She ran halfway to the playroom when she realized she’d forgotten the whip.
She ran back, grabbed the whip, and just made it to the playroom when the front door opened. Struggling to slow her breathing, she tightened her sweaty palm on the whip.
And waited.
* * * *
Storming into the house, Blade paused to close the door quietly behind him, not wanting to wake Hawke.
He didn’t want any interruptions, not even from his beloved son, while he dealt with his darling wife.
Not hearing anything, he shrugged off his leather jacket, hanging it in the closet before going in search of Kelly.
Climbing the stairs, he listened for any sign of movement, but heard nothing.
She was home, though. He felt her.
He went first to the attic access, relieved to find it still closed.
Pleased that he’d gotten there in time, and assuming that the absolute silence meant that Kelly must be feeding Hawke, he went down the hall to their bedroom, pausing at the doorway.
Frowning to find it empty, he went to the bassinette, surprised to find it empty, too.
He turned away with the intention of searching the rest of the house, his gaze automatically going to the door to his playroom. Seeing the door partially open, he came to an abrupt halt, every muscle in his body tightening with anticipation.
Hunger.
His cock stirred, his blood boiling with the need to earn his wife’s submission.
With slow stealth, he crossed the room, listening for any sounds that would give him a clue to what she was doing.
Hearing nothing, he paused at the doorway, pressing a hand against the heavy steel door to open it wider.
Expecting to find Kelly rummaging through boxes and putting items away in the cabinets, he froze in stunned stupefaction at the sight that greeted him.
He almost swallowed his tongue.
Careful to keep his expression hard and cold, he gritted his teeth and allowed his gaze to rake over her.
Standing in front of the leather table that he’d dismantled and stored in the attic, his wife apparently waited, slapping a whip against her palm. Her arms, breasts, and slit were exposed and framed by the leather that covered every other delectable inch of her.
Her red lips curved in a smile that could only be construed as devious.
“Hello, Blade. I’ve been expecting you.”
Afraid that his voice would give away the sexual tension as the Dom inside him roared to life, he had to swallow heavily before speaking. Keeping his voice as cold and calm as possible, he stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. “So I see. Would you care to tell me what you think you’re doing?”
His hands itched to cup her breasts, his palms tingling with the need to feel her beaded nipples press into them.
Her bare mound glistened with the moisturizer she used, and the knowledge of how soft and smooth she would be made his cock throb even harder.
Seeing her in leather, and by the sight of the soft, dewy skin revealed by the cutouts, it took every ounce of self-control Blade possessed to remain in place. Planting his feet, he crossed his arms over his chest and raised a brow expectantly.
Apparently not realizing the tight rein he held on his control, Kelly sauntered toward him, tapping the soft whip he’d used on her many times against her palm. “Waiting for you, of course.”
His cock throbbed unbearably, so hard that he expected it to break through the zipper of his jeans at any moment. His entire body shook with need for her, the Dominant inside him demanding her submission.
Her surrender to whatever he wanted from her.
“Where’s Hawke?”
Kelly smiled and licked her lips, making his balls tighten. “He’s spending the night with Jesse.”
The knowledge that he had her all to himself for the night forced a bead of moisture from his cock and made his balls so tight, they ached.
Imagining her on her knees before him, her painted lips wrapped around his cock, Blade forced himself to remain still as she circled him. “You’ve broken several rules, haven’t you, love?”
Kelly had the audacity to run the whip over his back, something she would pay for in spades. “I don’t think the rules apply any longer, now do they?”
Recognizing the trap she baited for him, Blade nevertheless allowed her to lead him in, confident that he would have the upper hand before they left the room.
He waited until she came around him again, holding her gaze. “Why would you think that?”
Moving to stand directly in front of him, Kelly began to unbutton his shirt. “Since you no longer dominate me, those rules are no longer in effect. As a matter of fact, I think it’s time for me to lay down my own rules.”
Forcing himself to remain still while she unbuttoned his shirt and ran the tip of the whip over his chest, Blade fisted his hands at his sides. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” The sound of his shirt ripping was like pouring gasoline on a flame. As she pushed the edges of it aside, Blade came to the realization that this could only end one way.
Only years of practice, and the knowledge that he was only allowing her to dig a bigger hole for herself kept him from reaching for her.
Tracing the tip of the whip over one of his nipples, Kelly grinned up at him, her eyes alight with challenge.
“You’ve been a bad boy. You got a vasectomy without talking to me first.” Narrowing her eyes, she reached out to cup his cock. “This cock is mine. You have to have my permission to do anything like that.”
Blade allowed a small smile, anger causing a chink in his control. “Your doctor told me that getting pregnant again would be dangerous for you.” Pleased with her look of uncertainty, Blade took a step forward, the Dominant inside him delighting when she took a nervous step back. “You didn’t tell me that, did you, love? Did you really think I would do anything to endanger your health or safety by selfishly demanding that you give me another child?”
Kelly’s eyes lowered, pleasing him immensely. “Well, no. That’s why I didn’t tell you. We wanted at least two.”
“I want my
wife. I won’t risk having another child. Not even for you.”
She lifted her chin, making his cock jump. “Okay. You’re right. I have to admit it’s a relief not to have to worry about it anymore. I wanted more children, but I want to be with you more.”
“Good. Then that’s settled.” He started forward, only to have Kelly slap a hand to his chest.
Her infractions, especially while in the playroom, kept piling up.
“Wait.” She dug a short nail into his chest, her eyes flashing. “That doesn’t excuse the rest. Just because I can’t have more children doesn’t mean that I’m too fragile to have a sex life.”
Blade raised a brow at that, delaying the inevitable. “You have a sex life.”
“I don’t have the sex life I had before, and neither do you. So, I’ve made a decision.”
The knots in Blade’s stomach turned to ice. “What kind of decision?” His tone, just as icy, made Kelly’s eyes widen in alarm, and she turned away, affording him a view of her leather-framed ass.
Inwardly smiling at the plans he had for that ass tonight, he watched her hips sway as she walked away,
“Well, since you don’t plan to dominate me—” Spinning, she tapped the whip against her hand again, her eyes now full of challenge. “I’ve decided that I’ll just have to dominate you.” Her words and her saucy smile had the Dominant inside him clamoring to get free.
Adding insult to injury, she reached out with the whip, tapping the bulge at the front of his jeans and making his cock jump again. “You’re going to submit to me. Now, be a good boy and stand over here. I want you to raise your arms so I can attach those cuffs.”
She pointed to the cuffs hanging down from the ceiling, one elegant brow going up. “I’m waiting.”
With the challenge still ringing in his ears, Blade smiled coldly as the Dominant inside him broke free.
He reached her in two strides.
* * * *
Kelly had counted on a reaction from Blade, but the one she got turned out to be more than she’d bargained for.