Mastered 2: Ten Tales of Sensual Surrender

by Opal Carew

  “This is beautiful.”

  “It was a gift from an elderly woman in a village my SEAL team kept safe from insurgents.”

  Corinne looked from the quilt to him. “How long were you there?”

  “Six months.”

  “Sounds like you became quite close with the woman.”

  Nate smiled. “She became an honorary grandmother to our team. We all still keep in touch. I miss her.”

  “I’m so glad you had her while you were so far from home.”

  Again, her concern for him warmed him. It meant more to him than maybe it should. Corinne was a caring, loving person. He couldn’t read more into her concern than that, despite how much he wanted to.

  As she continued to roam his living room, her gaze caught on the closed door at the end of the hall that led to the basement. Though Corinne had never been down there, she knew Nate also had a dungeon below stairs. He and Steven had spoken of it in her presence.

  Corinne wrapped her arms tightly around herself. Nate could see the pulse in her throat begin to flutter. Seeing her battle her fear felt like a punch to his gut. Words weren’t going to reassure her. The time for words was over and letting her draw this out was only increasing her agitation. It was time to get their hour started.

  Nate went to her and took her hand lightly in his. It was colder now than when they’d been outside. He turned her gently away from that door and led her into his bedroom.

  * * *

  Corinne’s breath was coming quickly. Her mouth felt as dry as dust. She hated feeling afraid and since things spiraled out of control with Steven, it seemed she felt afraid more times than not.

  She wouldn’t have come here with Nate if she believed he intended to harm her. She didn’t expect, didn’t fear this would be Steven all over again. No. She had no justification for all this fear and apprehension she was feeling. Work through it. Let yourself work through it. Corinne heard, Julie, her therapist’s voice in her mind.

  But seeing that closed door that she knew led to Nate’s dungeon, she couldn’t fight back the fear. She couldn’t willingly go down there with Nate.

  As she was about to tell him that, he turned her away from the dungeon and toward the hall that led to the bedrooms. To his bedroom.

  He flicked the light switch. Soft light filtered down from a shaded fixture in the ceiling. It was clearly a man’s room. Purely masculine from the comforter, sheets and area rug in earth tones with the rug stretching across dark wood flooring to the heavy, massive bed and bureau.

  What was this? Why were they in his bedroom? Confused, she looked up at him.

  Nate brushed his knuckle softly down her cheek. “Okay?”

  He wasn’t taking her to the dungeon. Relief swept over her, leaving her legs weak. Tears pricked her eyes. She blinked trying to clear them before Nate could see but he must have seen them regardless. He brought both of her hands to his mouth and kissed each softly.

  He was being so patient. So kind. So gentle. Overcome by it all, she blinked back more tears and said softly, “Okay.”

  Nate released her hands and went to the bed. He sat on the edge then patted the spot beside him.

  Corinne took careful, measured steps to him. Gingerly, she sat where he’d indicated.

  “Do you remember your safe word?” Nate asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Tell me.”

  “It’s ‘Stop’.”

  “Who are you here with?” Nate said gently. “Say my name.”

  “Nate.”

  He nodded. “Lie down, Corinne.”

  Chapter Seven

  He hadn’t asked her to undress. Did he want to do that himself? Nerves jumping, she scooted over to the center of the big bed and braced herself to feel his hands on her, removing her clothing. He hadn’t undressed or asked her to undress him. Did that mean she would be the only one unclothed?

  She forced herself not to cover herself with her hands, to keep her hands at her sides though she couldn’t stop herself from balling her hands tight in her agitation.

  But Nate didn’t remove her clothing. Didn’t touch her at all.

  “Raise your arms,” he said softly. “Over your head, Corinne.”

  Her breathing quickened. He was going to restrain her. She had loved being restrained, bound and helpless while her Dom pleasured her and knew she was pleasing him in return. But that was early in her time with Steven. Before being restrained meant being brutalized.

  “Who are you with, Corinne? Say my name?”

  Nate’s voice penetrated the haze of fear that threatened to overtake her. “Na-te.”

  He nodded. “Now raise your arms.”

  Slowly, Corinne complied.

  “I want you to keep your hands above your head at all times. Do not lower them.”

  Tense, she waited but he didn’t touch her. He wasn’t going to cuff or tie her?

  “Now, close your eyes. Do not open them without my permission,” Nate said.

  He didn’t blindfold her. What was he doing? All she knew for sure was that he wasn’t doing anything as she’d expected.

  “I’m going to leave you for a moment,” Nate went on. “I want you to maintain this position. I’m trusting you to keep your arms where they are and your eyes closed.”

  When he left the room, she could open her eyes. She could move her arms. But she found she didn’t want to. She wanted him to know his trust in her hadn’t been misplaced and deep down she felt a stirring of something . . . something she hadn’t felt in so very long. She wanted to obey him.

  She heard his footsteps retreat then return. The mattress shifted as he resumed his position on the bed.

  “Corinne, are you all right?”

  “Ye-es.”

  “Say my name.”

  “Yes, Nate.”

  Something soft touched her forehead then gently trailed across her brow, down each cheek, across her chin. So soft. So gentle on her skin and was followed by Nate’s fingertips.

  He brought whatever he held to her nose. Fragrant. A flower. A rose. Corinne inhaled deeply. She could smell Nate too. The skin of his fingers where he held the petals. His own unique and wonderful masculine scent.

  He moved the rose lower to her neck. She was still fully clothed but Nate continued down her body, trailing the petals across the modest neckline of her blouse. Slowly, down the center of her body, across each breast, each nipple, then moving to the very core of her. Her breathing picked up. Her heart beat harder.

  Nate took his time, moving slowly. So slowly. Leaving no part of her untouched. Whereas earlier she’d clenched her fists out of apprehension and fear, now she found her fingers curling and uncurling as her senses, long buried, slowly awakened, slowly unfurled.

  Nate’s patience was unending. Over and over he kept up the gentle stimulation, heightening her awareness. She held her breath, awaiting the caress of the rose on her sensitive skin and anticipating the brush of his fingers that followed it.

  She made a sound low in her throat, then stiffened. Was she allowed to show her feelings? Not all Dom’s wanted their subs free to express themselves. Steven hadn’t.

  She wanted . . . She wanted . . . She just wanted.

  “Corinne.”

  Nate’s deep voice broke through her thoughts.

  “Never hide what you’re feeling from me. I want it all. I expect it all. We clear?”

  “Yes.” While he spoke, he continued to caress her. The sensation of the rose and his fingers on her became her sole focus. She was finding it hard to speak. Her senses, so long deprived, were on overload but she managed to respond, managed to add his name. “Yes, Nate.”

  By the time Nate stopped caressing her body, Corinne was sure she could feel every one of her nerve endings. Her body felt as if had just been roused from a deep slumber. She heard another sound. A soft pop.

  What was that? Just that fast, cold sweat broke out on her body. Fear sweat. She shivered. She wanted to open her eyes to see what had made that so
und and if it meant more pleasure or pain . . .

  But Nate had either anticipated her fear or was attuned to her body and had picked up on her physical reaction to not knowing what had made that sound.

  “Who are you with, Corinne?” Nate said.

  She swallowed. “Nate.”

  “Open your mouth for me.”

  His voice sounded thick, husky. Was he going to straddle her? An image of Steven fucking her mouth flashed in her mind and she whimpered.

  “Corinne.”

  This wasn’t Steven. This was Nate.

  Something brushed across her lips. Chocolate. As the candy melted on her tongue, she felt Nate’s lips touch hers. The chocolate, she realized, was held between his teeth.

  Gently, he ran the candy across her mouth, caressing her lips with it, melting it against her skin. She couldn’t help but lick it. Every time she did, she licked Nate.

  More chocolate melted. Over and over her tongue brushed against Nate’s mouth, over it, inside it.

  She drew in a long breath through her nose and when she released it, it trembled. Heat suffused her body. Moisture seeped from her core, dampening her panties. She arched her body, seeking more of Nate’s mouth.

  Nate fed her another piece of chocolate in the same way. His tongue delved into her mouth. She met it with her own. Her eyes were still closed, but she could feel him bent over her. So close. She could smell his scent blending with the chocolate. With each breath she took, she breathed him. Breathed Nate.

  He fed her a small sliver of the chocolate, the last sliver, passing it from his mouth to hers. With her eyes closed, her other senses were sharper. She heard him move away from her. He wasn’t gone longer than a heartbeat. As soon as she swallowed the chocolate, he was back.

  “Who are you with, Corinne?”

  “Nate.” Her voice sounded breathless.

  “Open your mouth for me.”

  She did. There was a pause. This time, his lips touched hers without the buffer of the chocolate. But just touched. Just caressed. So lightly, then slowly, so slowly he began to feed her shallow sips of liquid. Champagne. So the popping sound she’d heard had been Nate popping the cork on the bottle.

  Corinne swallowed, then again. Nate continued to dribble small drops of Champagne onto her tongue and when he emptied his mouth, he replaced the Champagne with his tongue, sweeping it into her mouth.

  Corinne sighed into his mouth and met his tongue with her own, brushing, stroking, caressing. He tasted of the champagne and the chocolate. She could smell both and the fragrance of the rose that clung to her over-heated skin. And, distinct through all that, she smelled Nate. Would she ever taste chocolate or champagne or smell a rose and not think of him?

  His mouth moved over hers. His tongue delved into her mouth, deepening the kiss. Corinne kissed him back.

  Against her mouth, he said softly, “Who are you with Corinne?”

  She had to find her voice to respond. “Nate . . . Nate.”

  “Keep your eyes closed but lower your hands.”

  Her mind was slow to process, so caught up was she. Her limbs felt heavy but eventually they responded.

  He stroked her lips with his own. “Now, unsnap your jeans. Lower your zipper.” Nate groaned. “I can smell your arousal.” He swallowed audibly. “Touch yourself, Corinne. Tell me how wet you are.”

  Corinne pressed her fingers to her cleft. She gave a soft moan. “Wet. Very wet.”

  She heard Nate swallow again before he said, “Rub your clit in a slow circle.”

  At her first touch, her body bowed.

  “More. Over and over.” Nate said.

  Corinne stroked herself. Her bud swelled and began to drip. Her fingers became soaked. She moved her head from side to side on the pillow.

  Nate inhaled sharply, then exhaled long and loud. His breathing had grown uneven. She could feel each harsh breath against her cheek. Could feel the heat of his body.

  “Corinne, now bring your fingers, slick with your own juices, to your lips. Rub your lips with your fingers. Coat your lips in your own juices.”

  Corinne had never done that before but the idea excited her. She spread her moisture on her lips.

  “Taste yourself. Run your tongue across your lips. Tell me how good you taste.”

  She did as he’d told her then licked her lips slowly. “Good.” She moaned long and deep.

  Nate’s breathing grew more ragged, erratic. “Touch your clit again, Corinne. Keep touching yourself until I tell you to stop.”

  Nate ran his tongue over her lips. He groaned. He ran his tongue over her again and again and again. Each sweep was faster, more urgent. More hungry.

  Corinne arched up to meet his tongue as she continued to stroke herself, becoming more and more aroused. She wasn’t going to last but she couldn’t come before he’d granted her permission.

  Nate must have sensed how close she was. He broke away. He was panting. Each breath harsh and ragged. A drop of sweat fell from his brow onto hers.

  “Come, Corinne. Come for me. Come now.”

  Corinne fisted the sheets with her free hand and cried out. Her body shuddered with the force of her release.

  When her body finally stilled, Nate said softly, “You are so beautiful. Open your eyes now.”

  Nate had kept the light dim. Still, she blinked at the brightness after having had her eyes closed for so long. She looked up into Nate’s face. He hadn’t moved but was still leaning over her. His eyes were dark with passion. His features pulled taut with the strain of his arousal. Sweat glistened on his brow. His chest heaved with each hard breath. But he smiled.

  “Our hour is up.” He held her gaze another instant, then backed away from her.

  He was obviously in need of release. She was acting as his sub tonight, meant to please and satisfy him. She bit her lip, now feeling apprehensive again. She couldn’t bring herself to offer him the use of her body or any part of it to ease himself.

  “What about you?” she asked softly.

  He gently brushed her hair back from her cheeks. “You pleased me well tonight. As to the rest, we’ll get there.”

  His touch like his voice was tender. Corinne’s throat clogged rendering her incapable of speech at the moment.

  She got to her feet. She was wobbly. Nate held her steady while she regained her balance.

  She was feeling so much after having felt nothing for so long. A part of her felt sorry the hour was over but another part knew she couldn’t have handled any more right now. She needed time to process it all.

  “You shouldn’t drive,” Nate said. “I’ll take you home.”

  “Can you call a cab instead?”

  She didn’t want to hurt him. God, that was the last thing she wanted to do after all he’d just done for her, but she needed to be on her own right now. Away from him. She was filled up with him right now. He seemed to be in every part of her. Each time she inhaled, she could smell him. Her skin tingled as if his fingers still stroked her. She needed to be alone to think.

  He didn’t appear hurt or offended by her request. He looked like he understood.

  “Leave your car key. I’ll make sure your car is back at your apartment tonight.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  He stroked his thumb across her cheek. “It will be in your parking lot later this evening.”

  She went to her purse and removed her key, leaving it on his nightstand.

  When the taxi pulled up, Nate walked her out to it. He gave the cabbie a few bills then bent over her slowly. Eyes open, he watched her as he slowly lowered his mouth to hers. His kiss was soft, feather light then gone.

  He opened the car door. Corinne watched Nate as the cabbie drove away and continued looking in that direction even after he’d disappeared from view.

  Chapter Eight

  At school the next day and then later at work, Corinne’s thoughts were consumed by Nate. He’d told her that as a Dom, his first priority, his entire focus was h
is sub. Her desires. Her pleasure. Her safety. Her aftercare. Corinne recalled the Dom/sub code: Safe. Sane. Consensual.

  A Dom would push his sub to discover her limits, test her boundaries, urge her past her fears, all to enhance her sexual pleasure. He would do so gradually, introduce her to new things gradually. Never inflict pain for the sake of inflicting pain and he would work his submissive up to each level of pain, work her up to face her fears, learning her threshold and how much she could take and what would greater fulfill her.

  Yesterday, with Nate, had been like nothing she’d ever experienced. It was as if he’d seen inside her and given her exactly what she’d needed to move toward reclaiming her sexuality. Except she herself hadn’t known what she’d needed. Now that she’d had time to process the experience, she knew she wanted more. Last night she’d taken a step out of the dark place she was in to one where she’d glimpsed light. That was the best way she could describe what had happened yesterday. She’d moved a bit out of the darkness. Nate had made that happen.

  “Coffee, here, please!”

  Corinne blinked. Mr. Heaton, the elderly man now seated in her section, was a regular at the diner. She snatched a cup from under the counter then hurried over with the pot and filled his mug.

  “How are you tonight, Mr. Heaton?”

  “Arthritis is acting up a bit, but other than that, can’t complain. Hope you brought an umbrella. Heard we’re in for some rain later tonight. Wouldn’t want you to catch cold.”

  Corinne smiled. “Thank you. And yes, I did.”

  She talked a bit more, exchanging pleasantries, enjoying the interaction, and just being out with people again. In the short time she’d been back in Blake, she’d made friends with the other two waitresses who worked at the diner and was slowly getting to know a few of her classmates. She hadn’t known how much she’d miss human contact until she’d had that taken away. Steven had kept her isolated.

  Things were winding down for the evening. She had only another half hour left on her shift then she could go home, put up her feet. The bell above the door rang. Nate walked in. Her eyes latched onto him. To the big body that moved like a panther. To his handsome face. To those piercing eyes that commanded her attention. As if she could look anywhere else now that he was near.