At His Mercy

by Tawny Taylor

  “Sure, I can see that.” At least now she understood why his respect for her seemed to yo-yo up and down. And she was willing to admit if an old friend of hers had told her those kinds of things, she’d be reacting first, checking the facts second. “But you said ‘was’. Does that mean you’re not friends with Stacy anymore?”

  “I don’t know yet if she lied to me or if she was just passing on false information unintentionally. Until I do know, I’m keeping my distance. It’s just better that way.”

  “Then I’m sorry that you’ve maybe lost a friend over this. It’s all very sad, and I never felt it was worth it.”

  “So we’re clear on that now, right?”

  “Yes. I’d say you acted as any human being would. Emotions were running high. You were confused and angry, maybe trusting someone who was trying to manipulate you.”

  “You’re being so understanding about it all.”

  “I still have my job, and my insurance, thanks to you. Maybe it’s a little easier being understanding because of that.” She hesitated. “Will you tell me now what happened after I left that day? Between you and Matt?”

  “We had a little talk. I guarantee he’s not going to whisper a word about your situation.”

  “Okay. That’s all you’re going to tell me?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Fine. What about you? We’ve spent all this time together tonight and you haven’t said a word about a new job. Did you find one?”

  “I’m fine.” He looked fine. In fact, he looked better than fine, but that didn’t stop the sudden pang of regret from stabbing her in the gut and making her feel a little sick. He’d given up a great job for her. Even if he told her he’d found something ten times better, she’d still feel somewhat guilty. “I didn’t have to go back to working for my father’s company.”

  “You don’t like working for your father?”

  “It’s not bad work. It’s just that, since graduating from grad school, I told myself I wasn’t going to ask for his help anymore. And I haven’t, for years. I’m my own man. Make my own decisions and pay the prices for my own mistakes.”

  “I understand.” She studied his face for a moment. That adorable chin and emotion-riddled eyes. The thick wave of hair that always tumbled over his brow. For just the briefest of moments, she could see the vulnerable young man Kyler had once been, the one who had set out to prove to his father that he had finally grown up and was ready to stand on his own two feet. “That means a lot to you.”

  “Yeah,” he said casually. She knew better than to buy the easygoing tone of his voice. The truth was in his eyes.

  There was this long moment of silence. Finally, she broke it. “I wish I could say I’m sorry for what Becker did, but I hate to admit this—don’t take it the wrong way—I’m kind of grateful. In a very small way.”

  His eyes widened with surprise. “What do you mean?”

  “If he hadn’t tried to blackmail me, would you ever have taken the chance with me?” When he opened his mouth to speak, she added, “Honestly?”

  His jaw snapped shut. He stared at her for one, two, three excruciatingly long seconds. Then he shook his head. “Probably not.”

  “Can I ask why not? Does that question make me sound as pathetic and desperate as I think it does?”

  “Sure you can, and no it doesn’t. There were several reasons why, but mainly I wouldn’t because you worked for me.”

  “And I don’t work for you anymore.”

  “Exactly.” His smile wasn’t exactly beaming, but at least his expression brightened slightly. “Which brings me to the second thing I wanted to talk to you about—the dungeon.”

  “Oh that.” She giggled nervously, the memory of him catching her on her knees flashing through her mind. “I’m sorry for snooping. I was…um, looking for my keys so I could go home.”

  “It’s okay. I’m actually not bothered that you found out. It’s not something I would want to broadcast to the world, but I want you to know. If you hadn’t discovered it on your own, we’d be having this conversation anyway.”

  Was that significant? Did he sit every woman down on the first date and tell her he had bondage gear in his house? “Okay.”

  “Forgive me if I ask you some silly questions, but I need to get a feel for what you do and don’t know. Do you understand what that room is used for?”

  “Well…” She imagined herself bound in that swing, Kyler standing between her spread legs. Her face grew so hot, she wondered if steam might be coming off it. “I’m guessing you participate in some kind of bondage play.” She hoped he wasn’t into the scary, hardcore stuff. Needles, blood, severe pain. She couldn’t imagine him doing those kinds of things, not with what she knew of him. But she supposed anything was possible. They’d spent very little time together.

  “That’s correct. I’m a member of a very private and exclusive group. We come together once a week.”

  She nodded, glanced down to toy with the corner of her napkin. This was a very uncomfortable conversation. Not so much because she was shocked or horrified, but more because she was so unsure of what exactly Kyler was getting at.

  Did he want to take her to the dungeon? Do things to her in there?

  A part of her thrilled at that thought. The rest of her was extremely nervous.

  He captured the hand that was picking at her napkin. His palm rested on the top of her hand. His fingers twined with hers. “What are you thinking, Elena?”

  She looked at his face, in his eyes. “Believe me, I’m not judging you, Kyler. Not at all.”

  “But?”

  “But this thing with you has been a bizarre rollercoaster ride, from the moment you got in my car back at the restaurant. And the bondage, submitting…I’ll admit, I’ve been curious about domination and submission for a long time. I’ve even considered going to a play party. But it’s very new to me, and it’s going to take a lot of trust for me to feel comfortable. I guess I’m not the kind to blindly trust someone, especially if I’ve been hurt by him before.”

  He nodded. His gaze delved deep into her eyes. “I know. I’m very sorry. I guess there’s no going back and starting over, is there? As much as I want to.”

  “I want that too. But it’s a little hard to forget.”

  “I understand.” This time it was Kyler who dropped his gaze first. He stared down at their hands, hers still beneath his, his tapered fingers splayed between hers. He rolled his wrist and fingered his watch with his other hand. “It’s getting late. You have to work tomorrow. Do you want me to take you home now?”

  “No. Not at all.”

  His gaze leapt to her face again, and she saw something there. Something she couldn’t quite read . “Are you certain?”

  She smiled. Nodded. “I-I want to see where this is going. I’ve always been attracted to you. Since the first time I saw you at work. There’s a connection, a strong one. I’m scared. You hurt me. I can’t tell you how much. But I can’t just walk away from you.”

  “The feelings were mutual, believe me.” He cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb over her lip. “I’m…scared too. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. I waited a long time, watched you. I don’t want to fuck up again. I don’t ever want to hurt you.” And then he blinked, and that…whatever it was…she’d seen in his eyes was gone, and a strength and sense of purpose that commanded her attention shone in its place. “You are a very special woman.”

  His words echoed in her head. He’d called her special, and that’s exactly how she felt. Not because he’d bought her presents or rented a room at this country club. But because he’d let down his guard for those few precious seconds.

  Yes, a man could be powerful and dominant, and yet still be vulnerable at times. He’d just shown her it was possible.

  “I…um, wow. Thank you.” Her face was going to ignite. The air between them was so superheated, she could practically hear it crackle, like burning paper. She just hoped he’d have the patience for her
. No, she hoped it was fair asking him to be patient. Needing to change the subject, she asked, “Has it been a long time since you’ve been involved in a relationship?”

  “A couple of years.”

  “Why so long?”

  “I wasn’t ready. I was in a bad place. For a long time. If I’d let myself get involved with any woman, I would’ve hurt her.”

  “So that’s why…” That statement answered so many questions for her. Such as why he seemed to be such a loner. Why the rumors about him had started. And why he’d seemed so distant and unapproachable until now.

  He released her face. His eyes, however, held her there as effectively as any physical restraint would. She felt herself wanting to surrender to this man, or more specifically to the feelings she had for him. She wanted to know everything about him, his darkest secrets. She ached to belong to him. To know that he wanted her, no others.

  Oh God, it had been such a long time since she’d let herself feel anything for a man. It was terrifying in one way, thrilling in another.

  “I need to ask,” Kyler said, slowly. “Are you absolutely sure you feel the need to submit to a man? Sexually? Are you ready to explore this side of yourself?”

  Chapter Five

  Kyler’s question hadn’t shocked Elena. But that still didn’t keep her from feeling a skittery unease.

  Her tongue felt heavy. She couldn’t speak for at least a handful of heartbeats. “I-I’ve read a little about it, and I’ve done a lot of thinking. But honestly, I don’t know much at all, so I can’t be sure I truly understand what it’s all about. A lot of the stuff I’ve seen on the internet is either confusing or downright intimidating. Scary.”

  He nodded, pulling his chair next to hers, until they were wedged closely to each other. He leaned in, and she could literally feel the heat radiating from his body. She felt herself drawing nearer, pulled into the heat. “I think a lot of people feel that way when they first start exploring the lifestyle.” He studied her carefully for a moment then rested a hand on top of hers. His fingers twined between hers. “Despite all the confusion, it’s worth stepping out and taking some reasonable risks. I’ve been a Dom for a long time, and I usually can sense these things in people, especially women.”

  “What do you see in me?” she whispered, her breath wedged in her throat.

  He tilted his head and inched closer still, until their mouths were nearly touching. His breath warmed her lips, a gentle caress. “A natural submissive. A woman who craves complete surrender to a powerful, dominant man. A woman who wants to trust and love her man with everything she is.”

  He was right about that last bit for sure.

  She let her eyelids fall closed and relished the sensual tension winding through her body. He was so close, and he smelled so good, and this moment, oh God, this moment was so amazing.

  Would he kiss her already?

  She lifted her heavy eyelids and met his smoldering gaze. She could read so many things in those eyes of his. On the very surface she saw raw, almost savage desire. No man had ever looked at her like that before. It was positively thrilling.

  And below the surface, she saw something even more compelling. As their conversation meandered from one subject to another, over the next two hours, she saw the very beginnings of true caring. There, in those sparkles, when he talked about her. When he asked her questions about herself, her fears, her dreams.

  This man was looking for a long-term relationship.

  God help her, so was she.

  He was looking for a woman who wished to join him in his lifestyle, a woman who would willingly surrender all control and power to him. To love and be loved.

  She wanted to be that woman.

  Finally, as her fears eased and her need to answer the urgent call thrumming through her body overtook her, she asked the question she hadn’t been ready to speak at the beginning of the evening, “Will you show me how, Kyler? How to submit?”

  “Yes, if that is truly what you want.”

  “It is. I think. I mean, I want to try.”

  He kissed her then. Hard and long. His tongue swept into her mouth to dominate hers. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a crushing embrace. She surrendered to him, welcoming him to take everything from her, to strip her bare of every defense, to topple the walls she’d erected around her heart, to claim her body.

  As their kiss continued, the tension in her body swelled, until she was hot and tight and ready. She sighed into their joined mouths, begged, “Please, Kyler.”

  He broke the kiss, stood, took her hand and led her from the country club. They got into the car and he sat, pulled her toward him. His hands slid up her thighs as she leaned forward, taking the hem of her dress with them. The car rolled smoothly down the driveway.

  Hands on her waist, he guided her onto his lap, facing him, legs straddling his hips. Her bent knees rested on the seat. The rigid bulge in his pants rubbed against her wet pussy. She rocked her hips back and forth, desperate to rub away the pounding ache between her legs.

  He kissed her neck and shoulders. Caressed a breast through the thin, satiny cloth of her dress. The other reached around her back, fingers splayed against the small of her back, just above her buttocks.

  The man was the worst kind of tease. He taunted her nipple, nipped her neck until goose bumps tingled and prickled her skin. Skimmed the outer shell of her ear until she shivered and begged for him to stop.

  She was going to die. Long before they reached his house.

  Finally, he eased her off him. She now sat on the seat, her legs spread. His hungry gaze dropped to her lace-covered pussy, to the center of her pulsing agony.

  He bent over her sodden panties. “Thank you. For giving me this little bit of trust. I promise I won’t take it for granted.”

  She believed him. She wanted to tell him as much, but she was too overwhelmed and desperate to speak. Instead, she simply nodded.

  He inhaled and the corners of his mouth pulled into a sexy half-smile. “You smell so damn good. I have to taste you.”

  Oh God, yes.

  His hands skimmed up her thighs, and he caught the sides of her panties, pulled them down. She drew her legs together and lifted her feet, until he had them completely off.

  He positioned her on the seat, next to him, facing him. He hooked one of her knees over his shoulder, and the other leg slowly lowered to the floor. The cool air eased the burning in her wet flesh, until he lowered his head to taste her.

  Oh God.

  He parted her folds with his fingers. His tongue swept up and down along her crest, stopping for a moment to torment her clit and then moving down to thrust into her vagina. Then, adding to the sweet agony, he pressed two fingers into her tight canal, filling her.

  When he suckled her sensitive clit, she soared to an instantaneous climax. All the tension that had built in her body from the moment he’d arrived at her house tonight snapped, and pulse after pulse of wet heat pounded through her body.

  She was still wobbly when they pulled up in front of Kyler’s house. The skirt of her dress fell to the ground when she stood up. The material caressed her bottom as she walked, a naughty, sexy sensation. She leaned against Kyler as they climbed the front stairs and entered his home. She curled her fingers around his hand as they walked up to the dungeon.

  He paused just inside the door. “In this room, I am your Dom and you are my submissive.” He turned to face her, gently slid a hand up her arm and around to the back of her neck. “My sole focus is you. Your pleasure. Your pain. Are you still scared?”

  “A little.”

  He nodded. “With our history, it’s hard to trust. I understand. But over time, it’ll be easier. I’ll make it easier, earn your trust.” He walked around her back, tugged the zipper of her dress down. The garment skimmed down her body, landing in a puddle of black satin and glittering jewels at her feet. “I need you to kneel now, Elena.” He held her hand as she stepped out of the gown and then lowered to her kn
ees. He guided her body into the right position, buttocks up, head down, spine arched.

  “Good. Now wait here. Eyes down, bottom up. It’ll feel best if you completely turn yourself over. Let go of your fears and reservations.”

  She lifted her head the second she heard Kyler leave the room. She checked out every piece of furniture she could see from her position. The swing in the corner. The bench she’d sat in when he’d discovered her snooping.

  So embarrassing.

  Ironic, maybe tonight she’d be on that bench again, this time with Kyler kneeling before her, his thick cock gliding in and out of her pussy.

  Her back was to the door but she knew when he’d returned. A whoosh of heat swept up her spine. Her back tightened as he approached.

  This was it, she was about to experience her first time—and maybe her last—in a dungeon with a real, honest-to-God Dom.

  When he walked around and stopped before her, she couldn’t help stealing a quick peek.

  Leather. Oh yum. She stared. He narrowed his eyes a smidge, but the sparkle never left them. “Eyes down, Elena.”

  “Sorry.”

  He stood before her, his booted feet planted wide, “There are as many varieties of Domination and submission as there are people who participate in them. Whether it’s a lifestyle, as full-time Master and slave, or something much more transient, is up to each person to decide. You need to determine what you’re looking for. I want to help you.” He stooped in front of her. “Have you ever been inside a dungeon?”

  “No. Never.”

  “Come with me.” He helped her to her feet, showed her every piece of equipment, explained each one. Then he asked, “Do you have any questions?”

  She sure did. One big question. “What if I don’t like what you’re doing?”