by Dace Everan
For fuck’s sake! A woman who hadn’t had sex in probably forever, if ever, lecturing him on how to handle his own sexual dysfunctions, wasn’t that great. And of course he had listened to every word she had spouted. He gripped the glass and took a deep swig of the whiskey, eyes closing as it burned down his throat. He didn’t like whiskey on second thought, either. He turned his attention back to the rest of the bar and spied the younger man. His target. He was surrounded by three rough-looking men. Small mining town. The crew in here had just come up from underground. All were preparing for a night of booze and then grabbing the first pretty in sight and going home for a good romp. Cal watched a tall, regal-looking woman followed by a goliath of a man and an imp of a woman cross the room. Shit, that dude made him feel small. The regal one glanced at him and blessed him with a beautiful smile. He returned it and turned his attention back to babying his whiskey.
“So Cal, are you new to town?” Jenna asked, wiping the condensation stain from his glass from the shining bar top.
“Just passing through. Needed to take a break and have some time alone.”
“Oh you’re on one of those.” Her lips pursed and the blank look in her eyes made him want to smile. “Sab…sabat….” she grunted, stuttering on the word. “Sabbatical,” he finished for her. Jenna nodded.
Cal would go with that. He nodded. “Yup, things got too intense for me back home, so I thought I would come north and check out the majestic scenes I’ve heard about.”
Jenna grinned, not understanding a thing he had just said. She’d lived here her entire life and there sure as hell wasn’t anything majestic about being stuck in the middle of the bush. Now, to go south and see all the big bright cities and their glories, that was where her heart lay.
* * * *
Lania grunted as the burly fellow nearly ran her over. Just her luck, she came to get away from it all and now the town was overrun with manly miners and all sorts of strange people that were never here the last time she was out this way. She harrumphed when she mashed into the back of a blue jean jacket.
“Whoa, sweetheart,” came a familiar voice, way too familiar. Her heart accelerated and her head shot up and met sparkling blue eyes. Her heart melted and her body blazed to life.
“Well hello, Lania.”
Lania’s jaw fell and she stared in awe. He was wearing a god damn cowboy hat and the things it did to her insides threw her for a loop. “Cal?” She stuttered his name and he grinned at what she assumed was the stupidest look he had ever seen on her face.
“Lania…You look—” He looked her up and down real slow, and his grin grew with what he saw. Tight blue jeans hugged her lush thighs and tightened around her narrow waist, and the plaid shirt hugged and enveloped her breasts nicely. Shit, he would take this outfit over any of her latex outfits any day…okay, that was crazy talk. He loved her towering over him, whip in hand, her shiny latex waiting to be licked. “Gorgeous.” It was all he could say. No other word came to mind but simply gorgeous.
Lania blushed and found her eyes looking away from him.
Cal raised a sceptical brow at the blush crossing her pale cheeks. That was definitely something Mistress Lania never did. He reached out without thought and caressed her cheek, savoring the warmth radiating from her. Would this be what her ass would feel like after he spanked her? Would this beautiful radiant heat come from her pale flesh?
“I’m on a job here for a few weeks. You know the area?”
Lania nodded without thought and her heart jittered in her chest like some prepubescent teenage girl getting to talk to her crush for the first time.
“Good, maybe you could show me around. I didn’t realize it would be so busy up here.”
Lania shook her head, tucking an unruly wisp of hair behind her ear. “I can’t. I’m here to be alone, Cal.” What in the hell was she thinking, or not thinking, in telling him she knew her way around the area? She couldn’t spend time with him. She came here to get the hell away from him, not happen upon him and escort him around.
Cal snorted. “That sounds like a sad excuse to avoid me, Lania,” he purred, hooking a finger under her chin and making her look at him. “I miss you.”
Lania teared up. How the hell did he manage to turn her into this simpering fool? “I can’t do this, Cal,” she mumbled, stepping away from him.
Cal took hold of her hand. “Not asking you to do anything but show me around Lania, a walk. I don’t need to know where you’re staying. Although, if you’d like to know where I’m at, I’m up at the Wolf Lodge on the west end.”
Lania looked at him. He didn’t want to know where she was staying, but he wanted her to know where he was staying. Was he in need of her? She looked him over, assessing his stature. He looked rather relaxed, not something she was used to with him. His nights with her, the last three years, he’d been tense and anxious, up until she had her way with him of course. She gave a slight nod. “You will have to settle with whatever I can find. I didn’t bring any of my gear,” she replied, straightening her shoulders, her chin notching in a regal manner.
Cal narrowed his eyes. “I didn’t say I wanted that from you, although if that’s on the table I won’t decline it either.”
Lania shook her head. “You don’t need it, that’s evident.”
Cal studied her for a minute, trying to figure out where her head was at. Did she want to play with him? He sure as hell wanted to play with her. After the few tips he’d picked up on in his rush courses, his eyes had been opened. He’d spent his last hours in the city talking to other Doms, trying to figure out their end of the relationship and learned a new aspect of the bond between sub and Master. He would go out of his way to get Lania to where it was she had longed to go years ago. She deserved nothing less than his full hundred and ten percent!
“Supper at eight o’clock—meet in the lobby of my lodge and we can talk,” he ordered, turning on his heel and leaving her before she could put up a fight.
Lania stared after his broad shoulders as he eased his way through the mill of people who seemed to be in a rush to get nowhere in no time. She lowered her gaze and a smile crept to her lips at the sight of the tight-fitting jeans hugging his ass. She could always cut a switch from the bush behind the chalet. She did have a few belts. It was easy enough to go by supplies and make some of his favorite tools. Rope was easy enough to obtain in this town.
Her smile broadened as she headed the opposite way from him toward the hardware store at the other end of the street. Yes, she would gift her little sub for treating her to dinner. Damn, maybe a little intricate knotting and some whipping would do her nerves some good. It had always calmed her overthinking mind to pound on him the way he yearned for her to do. Yes, she needed this distraction and she would take it.
Chapter Seven
Cal glanced at the large bag hanging off her shoulder in question. “I thought we would have dinner here. Although if you have a late-night picnic planned, I’m more than willing.”
Lania smiled. “Sorry, Cal, you will be buying me dinner then afterward you will be taking me to your room and I will gag you so you do not scare your neighbors.”
Cal raised a brow and his cock jerked to life. He’d not expected this. He had hoped to talk her up to his room and had yet to think of that part, but thanks to her obviously brilliant mind she’d already done the hard part for him. He grinned and held his arm out to her. “Should we drop that off first or are you okay with it?”
“I’m good. Famished. Lead me to the restaurant. I heard their pie is to die for.” Cal chuckled. He was never going to live down the pie.
Dinner was relaxed and familiar for both of them. Comfort surrounded them, both at ease, knowing what was to come afterward.
Cal couldn’t wait to get her to his room. She would take the lead in everything he offered but they would not be playing with her in the lead.
Lania beamed. She couldn’t wait to get to his room, to have him strip down. She would make him keep the h
at on of course, maybe even the boots. Then she would have her ever-loving way with him, and like a good little boy he would listen to every word she said.
* * * *
Lania stopped in the middle of the rather large room. She scanned the rustic-looking furniture, her mind already pinpointing the areas she could use to her advantage. The bed was four posters and could easily be used. Cal had always liked being spread out for her to enjoy his body. She set her bag on a nearby chair and looked over her shoulder at Cal, who stood at the door, his arms crossed over his chest and his feet shoulder-width apart. She straightened out as doubt filtered through her. Something was up. What was he doing standing there? He knew better.
Cal hoped the stern look on his face wasn’t in any way intimidating to her. He licked his lips and looked over her attire. “You know safe words, Lania. We will use our usual. ‘Turtle’ for slow down, ‘rabbit’ for more, and ‘fox’ for done.”
Lania shook her head. This again! Was he not getting this wasn’t something she wanted anymore? She was happy topping him, not him trying to do her job! She was here to please him, and taking over and control of the situation was what pleased him!
Cal lowered his arms, resting his hands on his hips. “You will listen and you will allow me this one time, Lania.”
Lania shook her head, remembering to close her gaping mouth. Her knees trembled and her gut fluttered. It wasn’t that sick feeling she’d had for the last few weeks. This was something else altogether, the stupid prepubescent feeling she had developed.
Cal took a step closer, his baby blues softening as he approached her. “Lania, remove your sunhat.” His heart accelerated as her delicate hand raised and she removed it from her head. He watched her closely. Her hand trembled as she set it on her bag. He turned his attention to her face and watched as her little pink tongue darted out and wet her soft pink lips.
“You’re top next,” he ordered, stopping a few feet away from her and letting her have her personal space but close enough that he could catch the way her fingers fumbled over the tiny buttons of her top. Shit. It was a dress. He’d thought it was a top and skirt. He didn’t want her lower half bared to him. He wanted her to know nothing would be done to her. Her hands began to shake after the fourth tiny button and tears rimmed her eyes.
“I said only the top part, Lania, nothing about your skirt leaving your body.”
Lania inhaled a sharp breath and struggled to get her arms from her sleeves.
Tears spilled from her eyes, and hurt filled Cal at the struggle she was having with herself. His normally smooth, sleek woman was a simpering mess and it was his entire fault. Guilt filled him and he itched to step forward and take her in his arms and hold her, assure her they didn’t have to do this. Something deep in him said no and refused to let his body listen. He watched as she let the top half of her dress hang over her hips. No bra. Fuck she had beautiful tits. Her nipples were a pale pink and so tiny. His dick jerked at the thought of sucking those nipples till they were cherry red.
Lania inhaled sharp breaths, trying to keep on her feet. What in the hell was she doing? Why had she listened? Why had she not turned the tables on him and said, “hell no, get the fuck on your knees and listen to your Mistress”? She swore her knees were knocking, and damn if her nipples didn’t bunch when his gaze crossed over them, sending shivers through her.
Cal licked his lips. Shit, this was harder than he thought. That night in his apartment he had been ready for this, but standing here watching her tremble and the tears slide down her cheeks? He shook his head. Could he do this to his Lania? He straightened out and gave her an approving nod. “Beautiful, Lania,” he whispered. Joy rang through him as her green eyes lit at the tiny compliment, and tiny it was. He was used to being on the other end on his knees, bowing to her, telling her what a goddess she was. He needed to get his head out of that pattern. This was about Lania, not him. He needed to give her not what she wanted, but what she needed. He needed to push her past this first step. “To the couch, Lania. Stand behind it and bend over and grip the front of the cushion,” he ordered, waiting for her body to move.
Lania froze and her heart nearly burst from her chest. He was going to do it. He was going to flip up her skirt and do things to her she didn’t want! Did he not understand all she wanted was to be restrained? Wait, what the damn hell was she thinking? She didn’t want any of this!
Pride filled Cal as she turned, then faltered, but with slow steps made her way to the couch. He passed in front of her and pulled out the bag he had placed under the coffee table, opening it so she could see what he was doing. He pulled out the soft rope, the butt plug, and dildo.
“Cal.”
“Shh, I didn’t say you could talk,” he ordered, laying everything out on the table in an orderly manner. He’d always gotten a thrill from her when she put what she was going to use on him on display. Like him, she didn’t like surprises. He had always wanted to see what was to come. The surprise he liked was the order she would use them on him.
Lania couldn’t tear her eyes away from the plug and from the dildo. Both were smaller than what she had ever used on herself, but it had been a while since she’d used anything. Her eyes widened at the panties he pulled out and lay neatly on the table. She’d seen them enough times to know there was a vibrator in there. Then he would put the dildo and plug in and then put those panties on to hold everything neatly in place. Her legs quivered and she tightened her grip on the cushion as her cunt and ass clenched in trepidation, or perhaps anticipation.
Cal took note of her hard breathing, and of her fingers gripping the cushion. Shit, he was sure he saw her skirt sway from the side of the couch. Her body wanted these things even if her mind screamed no. He pushed the bag back under the table, keeping his other treats hidden from her sight.
He straightened out, removing his shirt slowly and watching as her eyes devoured him. He liked that. He went to remove his hat. Her mouth opened to speak and he stalled his movement. “Permission to speak,” he murmured.
“Hat on,” she ordered.
Cal raised a questioning brow and waited for the polite request he was due.
Lania grunted. He was seriously going to make her ask! She rolled her eyes and slapped her lips closed. Cal grinned, removing the hat. “Please keep the hat on,” she uttered before he set it on the table.
“Is that the proper way to ask, sweetheart?”
Lania’s insides tingled at the name. It was twice today he had called her sweetheart, and damn if that didn’t do things to her. “May you please keep the hat on, Sir?” she murmured softly, eyes on the buckle of his jeans. Shiny, and damn if she didn’t want the imprint blazed on her ass.
“Yes, sweetheart. For you I will keep the hat on.” He ran his hand through his hair before settling the hat back on his head.
Lania melted right then and there, watching the way his muscles rippled as he did the simple movement of running his hands through his hair and placing the hat back on his head. His eight-pack even rippled with the movement, and goodness she wanted to lick him right up the middle to feel his muscles constrict beneath her tongue.
Her pussy dampened, and a whimper escaped her. Being aroused by this man had never been a problem with her. It was the act itself that had always gotten the best of her. Or, she supposed, the worst.
Chapter Eight
Cal unrolled the soft rope, eying her up. He paced slowly behind her, watching as the muscles in her back tensed, as her grip tightened then loosened on the cushion. He admired the stilettos still on her feet and grinned to himself. Yellow was a good color for her. It clashed beautifully with her raven locks.
He stepped back, running the rope through his hands and deciding on how he would approach this. A grin grew on his face and he rounded the sofa, crouching before her. Her eyes were closed and she looked in pain.
“Lania, what’s hurting?” he asked, caressing her cheek. Her eyes shot open and those beautiful green eyes were deep and enc
hanting. Her gaze lowered and her cheeks turned red. “Lania?” He waited and watched as she squirmed.
“I need to pee,” she mumbled.
“Pardon me.”
She released an exasperated breath and looked him straight in the eye. “May I use the washroom, please, Sir?”
Cal wanted to grin. It took a lot for her to say it and he knew it. She was the one used to being on this end of the game. “Yes, you may.” He watched as she slowly eased up and tensed her arms. He admired her every step as she crossed the room, her back ramrod straight, chin notched, shoulders back, and shit if elegance didn’t come to mind as she strutted across his room half-naked.
Lania fell against the closed door and let the tears fall. Her stomach constricted painfully and the bile rose to her throat. She wiped her clammy hand across her forehead and cursed the tremble in it. She caught sight of her reflection in the mirror and gasped in horror. How the hell had she turned to this pathetic waif of a shell that she once was? How had he taken the upper hand and gotten her in this disarray of chaos?
She wiped at the dreaded tears and crossed to the sink, blasting the cold water. She splashed her face, washing away the evidence that he had hurt her, humiliated her. She froze when she heard the knob rattle behind her.
“Lania?” His voice was full of concern and it tugged at her heart. How could she feel anything for this man who dared degrade her in such a manner?
She ignored him, turned the water off, and grabbed the fluffy white towel, blotting at her face, and gaped at the bloodshot eyes staring back at her. Her lipstick was gone, her eyeliner smudged under her eyes, and she could see the stupid wrinkles she worked so hard to hide that very morning with the makeup she had so tediously applied. How dare he bring her to this state of sorry affairs!
Cal stood, listening. There was only silence, and then he heard the click and the door swung open.