Rough Cut

by Mari Carr

  “Good. Now tell me you want this. Tell me you want this bondage.”

  She shuddered.

  “Tell me,” he repeated.

  “I can’t.”

  “You can. You will. Tell me you want me to fuck you. Tell me you want me to take possession of you. Because that’s what I’m going to do, Gwen. You belong to me.”

  “No,” she whispered brokenly, her voice betraying her. She wanted everything he was doing to her. He knew it. He just needed to break through her damn resistance.

  “Say it.” He refused to back down until he heard the words. He wasn’t going to let her escape her true nature any more. “Say it.”

  She closed her eyes, her body trembling with need.

  “God dammit, Gwen. I can’t go on unless you say it.” His body was aching, but he wouldn’t concede, wouldn’t compromise.

  “Ty, please,” she cried. “I need you.”

  Upon second glance, he realized her pent-up passion caused her to shake. She was at the precipice of entering this new reality and he wouldn’t let her turn back now.

  He bent toward her and kissed her passionately, intensely. He’d been wrong to try to ease her into this type of relationship, wrong with his subtle approach. Clearly she thought she could escape the truth, escape him. No doubt she thought they’d been merely playing a game. It was time to take off the mask, time to reveal his true nature.

  He narrowed his eyes, waiting for the words.

  “I want you to take control. Own me,” she said. “I’m yours. Only yours.”

  He broke away and donned a condom before gripping her hips firmly. He pulled her legs apart, placing one over the back of the leather seat and the other over his shoulder. She was totally open, helpless to anything but him and his body’s demands. He seated himself to the hilt in one thrust.

  “You’re mine, Gwen,” he hissed as he pounded himself into her willing flesh. Her orgasm began almost immediately and he pulled out completely as she screamed in frustration.

  “I haven’t given you permission to come,” he said.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks and her body shook violently as she fought against the handcuffs on her wrists. He was grateful for the soft lining.

  “Please,” she begged. “Please let me come.”

  His eyes narrowed and he fought against returning to her hot body. There was one more concession, one more part of her he needed.

  “Please what?”

  She looked at him, confused for only a moment. He knew the second she understood his question.

  She swallowed heavily and nipped at her bottom lip, her discomfort apparent. He continued to watch her, feigning a patience he didn’t really possess. Unfortunately, there was a part of him that needed to hear the word desperately enough that he refused to move forward without it.

  “Please, Master,” she whispered.

  He kissed her gently, rewarding her compliance, aware of how difficult it had been for her.

  He leaned forward, placing his cock inside her again, fucking her in earnest. Over and over he pounded into her hot cunt, her screams, her demands for more fueling the wildfire raging inside him. Harder and harder he thrust, demanding that she give him everything, every part of her body. She was his. God dammit, she was his and he wouldn’t allow her to withhold anything from him.

  “Come.” As she flew apart, he felt her drag him into the abyss with her. Two souls lost in a conflagration of white-hot stars and fiery rays as bright as the sun. Hot jets of sperm erupted and he silently wished his seed were free to flood her body, free to plant itself within her womb. The image of Gwen carrying his child invaded his mind and he realized exactly how much he wanted from this woman.

  For several minutes, neither of them moved. Then he reached up to unlock the clasp of the cuffs. In one deft movement, he twisted her around until she sat facing him upon his lap, his cock still buried within her.

  He kissed her gently before pushing her head against his shoulder. He fought back a grin at her drowsy cuddle. After every intense orgasm, she fell into a semi-comatose state, and he loved being able to leave her this satiated, this fulfilled.

  “When we get home, I’m going to fill your ass with my own hard flesh. No more toys.”

  She pushed away from him and he wondered what she was thinking. Her smile, though sweet, didn’t seem to reach her eyes.

  “I’m going to take you so far into the darkest night, Gwen, you won’t ever want to see the sunshine again.”

  She shivered in response to his promise and he drew her back toward him.

  As the limo pulled up in front of Ty’s mansion, he helped her put her sundress on, setting her to rights before the chauffeur opened the door. He led her into the house and up the stairs.

  “Ty,” she said once they’d reached his bedroom, stopping just inside the threshold of the doorway. “I was thinking I’d like to spend tonight in the guest house.”

  “What?” he asked, confused by her sudden about-face.

  “Today’s been pretty tiring, and I need a break.”

  “A break.” He was well aware of the fact that her idea of a break was his idea of running away. “If you’re feeling overwhelmed by what happened in the limo—”

  “It wasn’t just the limo,” she interrupted. “I mean the whole day, the trailer, the set. I really need a little bit of time to myself to sort some things out.”

  He nodded, despite the fact he had no intention of letting her spend the evening alone. He suspected she was hoping to use the time to build up her defenses and to put off facing some pretty serious facts about herself.

  “Why don’t you tell me what it is you need to think about? Maybe I could help.”

  She shook her head, walking to the dresser to retrieve some of her personal items.

  “What the hell are you doing?” He couldn’t contain the growl that escaped his lips and she turned to look at him, startled.

  “I told you. I’m moving back down to the guest house.”

  “I thought you were spending one night there. Now you’re moving out? What happened, Gwen? What happened to scare you off?”

  “Nothing. I’m not scared.” Her voice increased in volume and he could hear the panic in it. “I just need a damn break. Things are moving too fast, going too far.”

  “I’d say they’re not moving far enough. Which part was it, Gwen? The spanking? The handcuffs? The idea of me taking your ass? Which part has you turning into a coward?”

  He meant his taunt to sting. She was a proud woman and him calling her a coward would cut deep. Hopefully it would jar her enough to talk to him.

  “Maybe it’s just you. Have you considered that?”

  Touché. She had some barbs of her own to toss. Pity for her, conceit and arrogance were traits he had an abundance of.

  “No,” he answered smugly. “That lie never crossed my mind.”

  Her hand clenched around the hairbrush she was holding and he wondered for a moment if she would throw it at him. She swallowed heavily and he worried that she truly was frightened. Then he watched her skin flush, heard her soft, panting breaths, saw her nipples tighten. Her gaze darted toward the door and he sensed her plotting her chances at escape.

  “You won’t make it,” he warned.

  As always, her body reacted to the dare before her mind had time to catch up. She darted around him, but he beat her to the door, slamming and locking it before she could make it to the hall. With one hand, he gripped her waist as she tried to race away from him, forcing her roughly against the wall. He held her trapped as she struggled for freedom. “You know your word.”

  She fought him with the determination of a wild horse refusing to be tamed. As she struggled, her body’s signals declared her arousal, her excitement. She truly loved the chase, loved his harsh treatment.

  “God dammit. Say the safe word or hold still.”

  She froze and he wondered if she would call his bluff, use her safe word to cry halt. When she remained silent
, he tried to understand what had happened to change her mind so suddenly. His mind could only grasp on one reason.

  “‘The Darkest Night’,” he said.

  “I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to recreate that story.”

  He shook his head at the determination in her tone. “That makes no sense, Gwen. For one thing, our reenactments of your stories have been loose representations at best. In fact, the only story we’ve truly been delving into since you moved in here is ‘The Darkest Night’. We’ve been gradually working our way toward a BDSM relationship since the very first day.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I would never do something like that.” Her words sounded flat, and the second they passed her lips he knew she realized they were a lie.

  “What did I tell you about lying to me? You want me to spell it out for you. I’ve pulled your hair, spanked your ass, handcuffed you to the limo and issued some pretty hardcore sexual demands for over a week. You’ve submitted your body, your mind, your soul to me. Why is that so hard for you to admit? To accept? You like being tied up in bed. Pain brings you pleasure. So what?”

  He gripped her upper arms firmly, pushing her against the wall. As always her body reacted to his powerful actions and a groan escaped before she could restrain it.

  “Why are you trying to humiliate me?” Her voice was broken, sad.

  “Humiliate you? That’s not what I’m doing. Jesus, Gwen. I’d never do that. I’m just trying to make you see that there’s nothing wrong with what we do together.”

  He watched tears form in her lovely blue eyes and he cursed his anger, his frustration. She was upset and he should be gentle with her, but he couldn’t contain the beast she’d unleashed from its cage with her threats to leave.

  Fear gripped him—hard. She couldn’t leave. He needed her. Needed every part of her. Her mind, her body, her soul, her love.

  “Look at me. Damn you, look at me!” she cried.

  He took a deep breath as he studied her flushed face. Her breathing was accelerated and he could clearly detect her nipples protruding from her sundress. She was seriously aroused. The knowledge hit him like a brick and as always he felt his body answer the call. His cock thickened and hardened and he had to fight against the instilled instinct that demanded he pull down his pants and take her immediately.

  Her eyes saddened when she realized he’d seen the truth. Her voice, when she finally spoke, drove splinters into his heart. “It’s not natural to like pain, but I do. The second you slammed me against this wall, my body went into overdrive. It’s not natural to want to be held down, tied up, but my pussy is soaked because your hands are gripping me so tightly. I didn’t mean to drag you into my mess, Ty. I swear to you, I didn’t. I really think it’s better for both of us if I leave now.”

  “You act like you have some terrible disease. So what if you like pain and bondage with sex? I don’t see—”

  “Stop,” she yelled. “Just stop. It’s not the pain or the bondage. Don’t you see? It’s everything. I should be able to control this. I’ve always been able to push it away. But with you, it’s too strong, too overpowering. I won’t make you do things that disgust you just to please me.”

  “Disgust me?” His voice, like his temper, flared red-hot. “You think I’m disgusted by you? Jesus.” He shoved his hard cock roughly into the vee of her thighs. “Does this feel like disgust to you?”

  He released his too-tight grip on her arms when she cried out, then moaned with desire.

  “Shit.” The impulse to hit something was tearing at his insides and he had to move away from her. If he looked at her again, he’d throw her onto the bed and pound his cock into her soft, willing body until she never questioned his passion for her again.

  “You’re going to have to explain why you think you disgust me, Gwen. Have I made you feel that way?”

  Christ. Had he? Had all his fears come to light? He’d been too rough in the trailer, in the limo. What if he’d hurt her? Scared her?

  “No, of course not.” She was leaning against the wall and in her face, he could see the defeat and despair. He watched her close down, watched her barricade herself behind her self-erected walls. He sighed. He felt like he was trapped in a dark room without a speck of light, her thoughts locked so tightly away from him.

  “Then what is it? Why are you running away from this? From us?”

  “I just need some time to—” He waved the rest of her words away.

  “To hell with time!”

  Her temper broke in the face of his fury and she pushed away from the wall and took an angry step toward him. “What’s the matter, Ty? Afraid you won’t get your precious screenplay written? I’ve signed the contract. I’ll finish the stupid thing. You don’t need to fuck me to get that.”

  “Is that what you think?” he yelled. “That I’m fucking you for the story? Jesus Christ, Gwen. That’s quite a high opinion you hold of me. Maybe you and Bambi aren’t so different after all.”

  “Why don’t you just admit that you need this movie? That you’ll do anything to see it made?”

  “Who told you that?”

  “My agent mentioned it when I returned to New York to pack my things. She’d spoken to your agent, who apparently wasn’t as thrilled by the bargain we’d struck as you were.”

  “And you honestly think I’m having sex with you to ensure that you’ll stay and finish writing the script? I have a contract for that. Besides, up until this point, I haven’t seen you resisting me very hard.”

  She sucked in an angry breath, but he shook his head, halting any reply she might have made.

  “I’ve changed my mind. It’s not me you think so little of. It’s yourself.”

  She gasped at his harsh words, but he couldn’t regret them. Never once since her return to his house had she indicated she understood his need to make this movie. Never once had she asked him why it was so important.

  “Do you know why I want to make this movie?”

  She shook her head and he tried to not react, to soften toward the tears he saw forming in her eyes.

  “Because I believe in your story. It moved me, Gwen. It changed me in ways I can’t even begin to explain or understand. I want to show these characters to the world.”

  “I thought you wanted to make a break from the cookie-cutter heroes you portray.”

  “I do,” he admitted. “And you’ve given me the perfect vehicle for that escape.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me how much it meant to you?”

  He shrugged. “For this very reason, I suppose. I didn’t want you to think I was using you for the script.”

  “I never thought that.” Her answer was soft and he could see she meant what she said. He breathed a sigh of relief until her next words.

  “I’m leaving,” she said.

  “No, you aren’t.” He knew he should simply let her walk out the door, but his heart would never let her take the first step away from him.

  There was something frightening her, lurking inside and keeping her at a distance. Something that their interlude in the limo had set free. He knew she was merely picking a fight, hoping to escape and he grinned. She didn’t know him very well if she thought he’d let her go so easily.

  They’d both been avoiding this conversation—hell, any conversation—since her return from New York. They’d been so wrapped up in the delight, the joy, of their newfound sexual relationship that they’d forgotten to talk to each other. “What happened to you, Gwen? Who hurt you?”

  A small, strangled sob escaped her lips and he reached out to grasp her trembling hands. “Tell me. Tell me so we can deal with it and move on.”

  She shrugged, but he watched as she valiantly stemmed the tears threatening to fall. “Don’t you see? It’s me. There’s something wrong with me.”

  He shook his head, but she dismissed his gesture. “I’ve always found my love affairs boring and sex more frustrating than fulfilling. A few years ago, I met a nice man and we started dat
ing. He was romantic and sweet and for the first time in my life, I’d truly fallen in love. One night, I drank a bit too much champagne. Scott and I went to bed and in my tipsy state, I asked him to spank me. He was appalled, mortified, and I tried to retract my words, blame the alcohol, but he knew my request had been sincere. He tried to give me what I wanted. He loved me enough that he actually forced himself to try. It was a terrible experience for both of us, and eventually our sex life died, dragging the love right along with it.”

  “He was an idiot. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you.” Ty was surprised to see the sad, disbelieving smile it evoked on her lips.

  “I can’t ask you to—” she paused, searching for the words. “If you felt like I was— I couldn’t stand it if you—”

  “Shit, Gwen. Have you listened to a word I’ve said? I want the same damn things. I want you so badly I can taste it.”

  “It won’t stop with the spankings.”

  “What?”

  “I want more than that. So much more.”

  He looked at her and realized what lay at the heart of her fears. He had been wrong to try to initiate her slowly. She’d mistaken his caution for reticence, misunderstood that he wanted exactly what she did.

  “You want the whip?” he asked softly. “The cane? I’d give that to you. Gladly.”

  She trembled as he spoke the words. “I couldn’t ask you to do that to me. It’s too much, too abnormal.”

  He laughed. “You think you’re abnormal? What the fuck do you think I am? What kind of man wants to hurt the woman he loves? Wants to control her every desire, her every word.” He turned around and walked away from her lovely face to stop himself from seeing the disgust she must feel at his admission. If her own desires frightened her, what would his do to her? He grabbed the bed frame to still the shaking in his hands.

  She didn’t answer for such a long time, he wondered if she’d snuck out. Escaped.

  “You love me?” she whispered.

  He turned at her question as his words replayed in his mind. “Yeah.” There was no point in denying the truth. “Yeah, I do.” He shrugged, helpless to the emotion that had run over him like a freight train the first moment he laid eyes on her. He gave her a small smile when she continued to stare at him silently. “I think this is the part where you tell me you love me too. Might be a nice touch if you throw in something about my rock-hard abs and sexy face.” He was desperate to wipe away the sadness, the fear in her eyes while covering up the fact he was completely terrified himself.